I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Sun Wukong glared at him, muttering, "Stingy old man."
He could only tuck the jade bottle into his bosom, leap into the air, and transform into a golden light, leaving the Tushita Palace.

When Sun Wukong returned to the human world and landed at Guanyin Temple, he found the temple in complete disarray.

The once magnificent palace is now charred black, and the air is filled with a pungent smell of burning. The monks are filled with fear and whisper among themselves.

Sun Wukong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly went to find Tang Sanzang, only to find Tang Sanzang sitting upright in the abbot's room, his face pale, his hands tightly gripping the Buddhist prayer beads, as if he was trying to suppress the unease in his heart.

Sun Wukong scratched his head and grinned, "Master, I'm back. What happened? How did the Zen temple burn down like this?"

Tang Sanzang opened his eyes, his gaze filled with reproach: "Wukong, do you know that the brocade cassock was bestowed by Guanyin Bodhisattva and is extremely precious? Yet you flaunted it everywhere in the temple, which aroused Elder Jinchi's greed, and he wanted to set fire to it to seize the cassock."

But the fire spiraled out of control, Elder Jinchi was burned to death, and his cassock vanished without a trace!

He paused, his voice low, "Just now in the abbot's room, I vaguely sensed a demonic aura. I'm afraid a demon took advantage of the chaos to steal the cassock."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong flew into a rage, jumped up, and cursed, "You thieving demon, how dare you steal my things!"

He turned to ask the monks and learned that someone had seen a black bear spirit near Black Wind Mountain. Without saying a word, he rode the clouds straight to Black Wind Mountain.

On Black Wind Mountain, the vegetation is lush and dark, and the mountain wind howls, carrying a chilly atmosphere.

Sun Wukong landed in front of the Black Wind Cave. The cave door was tightly closed, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.

He kicked open the cave door, but it was empty. There was no sign of the black bear spirit, not even a shadow of the cassock.

Undeterred, Sun Wukong sought out two of the Black Bear Spirit's friends—a snake demon and a wolf demon.

Seeing Sun Wukong's menacing demeanor, the two demons trembled with fear and hurriedly said they didn't know where the Black Bear Spirit was, nor had they ever seen any cassock.

Sun Wukong refused to believe it. He swung his golden cudgel and killed the two demons in no time. Blood splattered on the spot, and their corpses lay strewn about.

He returned to Black Wind Cave and kept watch all night, but still saw no sign of the Black Bear Spirit, which fueled his anger even more.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through his head; the headband had activated, causing him to writhe on the ground in agony.

Tang Sanzang's voice came from afar, tinged with impatience: "Wukong, come back at once!"

Sun Wukong covered his head, cursing as he rode a cloud back to the Zen temple.

Tang Sanzang's expression darkened further when he saw that the man's hands were empty: "Where is your cassock?"

Sun Wukong scratched his head and had no choice but to lie: "That black bear demon was cunning and escaped with the cassock. I couldn't catch him."

Tang Sanzang stomped his feet in anger: "You impudent monkey, how could you be so incompetent! You have three days to find the cassock, or don't blame me for punishing you with a spell!"

Sun Wukong felt aggrieved, but dared not argue. He could only ride his cloud again and search for two days within a thousand miles, but still found nothing.

He stood atop a mountain, gazing at the distant, swirling clouds, gritting his teeth: "That black bear demon runs faster than a rabbit! Fine, I, Old Sun, will go find Guanyin Bodhisattva. This cassock was given to me by her; if I lose it, she'll have to pay for it!"

With a leap, he transformed into golden light and headed straight for Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea.

On Jiang Wang's side, the next morning, three hundred young people had gathered outside Zhonghua Village. They were all dressed simply but had bright eyes, filled with anticipation and awe for the future.

Jiang Wang slowly walked out of the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said slowly, "Since you have been chosen as vanguards, you must be loyal and help Li Shimin unify the human race."

He raised his hand and waved it, and three hundred golden rays entered everyone's bodies. Instantly, spiritual energy overflowed, and everyone felt their power surge. They all knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude.

Jiang Wang watched this scene with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, but also a hint of worry.

Will the fate of humanity truly return to him as he desires?
Sun Wukong stood in a dense forest in the Southern Continent. The blazing sun overhead was blocked by the thick foliage, leaving only dappled light spots on the ground, like scattered gold.

His golden cudgel rested casually on his shoulder, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, making his golden fur appear even more dazzling.

He frowned, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. He looked up at the sky and muttered, "That black bear demon is really cunning. He stole the cassock and disappeared without a trace, making me, Old Sun, run around everywhere!"

Although his words were a complaint, there was a hint of stubbornness in his tone, as if no problem in the world could stump him, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

However, the matter of the kasaya is no small matter.

That cassock was not only a token of Tang Sanzang's faith, but also a Buddhist treasure, crucial to the great undertaking of the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

Sun Wukong searched the surrounding area for miles, traversing mountains and valleys, and investigated every monster's lair, but he couldn't even detect the slightest trace of the Black Bear Spirit.

Left with no other choice, he had to ride the clouds and head straight for Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea to seek help from the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva.

On Luojia Mountain, a gentle breeze blows through the purple bamboo forest, rustling the bamboo leaves as if whispering the pure Zen spirit of Buddhism.

Guanyin sits serenely on a lotus throne, with a halo flowing behind her, her appearance solemn and dignified.

She held a clean bottle in her hand, from which willow branches swayed gently, sprinkling droplets of dew.

As soon as Sun Wukong landed, he couldn't wait to shout, "Bodhisattva! That black bear demon stole my master's cassock! I've searched everywhere but can't find any trace of him. You must give me an explanation!"

His tone was urgent, with a hint of accusation, and his sharp eyes were fixed on Guanyin, as if trying to discern something from her face.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin was slightly taken aback, as if she had not expected it.

She closed her eyes and pondered for a moment, her slender hand gently stroking the clean bottle, as if she were trying to deduce the secrets of heaven.

After a while, she opened her eyes, a hint of doubt flashing in them, and whispered, "Black Bear Demon... I arranged for this demon to cultivate in Black Wind Mountain, how could it do such a thing?"

Her tone carried a hint of confusion, as if she were asking herself a question, or perhaps explaining it to Wukong.

Then, she took out a crystal-clear ice bead from her sleeve. Inside the bead, a faint blue flame flickered, emitting a cold light.

She said softly, "This bead is called 'Azure Flame Guide,' and it can be used to track the whereabouts of the cassock by following the aura of a spiritual treasure."

"Wukong, come with me."

Although Sun Wukong had doubts, seeing Guanyin's solemn attitude, he didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only nod and follow closely behind.

The ice bead flew out of Guanyin's hand, transformed into a streak of blue light, and soared into the sky.

The azure flames drew an arc in the air, seemingly guiding the way with a spiritual quality, and the two followed closely behind, walking on clouds.

The wind howled along the way, and mountains and rivers rushed past beneath his feet, but Wukong had no heart to appreciate the beauty of the world. He was only thinking about finding the cassock as soon as possible so that he could report back to his master.

However, the direction in which the blue flame flew made Wukong even more puzzled.

The point of light did not point towards Black Wind Mountain or any demon cave, but flew straight towards the depths of the South China Sea.

Wukong's heart tightened, and he thought to himself, "Could this black bear demon really dare to hide in the Bodhisattva's territory?"

He glanced sideways at Guanyin and saw that her expression was becoming increasingly serious, her brows furrowed, as if she too had sensed something was wrong.

Finally, the azure flames stopped before a misty, celestial mountain. Wukong looked closely and was astonished to find that this was none other than Mount Luojia! His heart skipped a beat, his fiery eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Bodhisattva, what's going on? How did the cassock end up on Mount Luojia?"

Guanyin did not answer, but simply gazed at the spot where the blue flame had stopped.

It was a serene lotus pond, its waters crystal clear, reflecting the sky and clouds. Lotuses bloomed in the pond, their petals glistening and emitting a faint fragrance. The azure flame slowly sank, eventually disappearing into the pond, leaving only a ripple.

Wukong could no longer contain himself and leaped to the edge of the pool, his fiery eyes piercing straight to the bottom.

A golden light flashed at the bottom of the pond, revealing the missing brocade cassock! He was furious. He turned and glared at Guanyin, shouting, "You Bodhisattva! The cassock is clearly at the bottom of your lotus pond, yet you made me, Old Sun, run around everywhere. Are you deliberately playing a trick on me?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's expression changed slightly, and she waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Wukong, you've misunderstood! How could I have hidden this cassock?"

Her tone was urgent, as if she had no way to defend herself. She then closed her eyes and deduced what had happened. After a moment, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she whispered, "This is... the work of Jiang Wang!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was taken aback and scratched his head, asking, "Jiang Wang? Who's that?"

Guanyin's expression was complicated as she slowly said, "Jiang Wang is the Western Sect's lifelong enemy. He acts unpredictably and his methods are extraordinary."

If this person gets involved in this matter, there must be a deeper meaning behind it.

She paused, then continued, "This kasaya is no ordinary garment; it is the Flaming Banner that rises from the ground, a supreme treasure of Buddhism. Together with the Nine-Ringed Staff—also known as the God-Slaying Spear—it is a key innate spiritual treasure for enhancing the strength of Buddhism."

Fortunately, Jiang Wang seemed unaware of his true nature; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Although Wukong was puzzled by these words, he saw that Guanyin's expression was solemn and knew that this matter was of great importance.

He said no more and turned to go down into the pond to retrieve his robe.

However, as soon as he jumped into the pool and reached out to grab the robe, he found that the robe was firmly pressed down by a stone the size of a millstone.

Wukong snorted coldly, thinking to himself, "How dare a mere stone block my way?"

He gripped the stone with both hands and used all his strength to try to move it.

To his surprise, the stone remained motionless, as if it had merged with the bottom of the pool. No matter how hard he exerted himself, it did not even tremble.

Wukong was enraged and jumped out of the water, swinging his golden cudgel to strike, but Guanyin stopped him.

She said in a deep voice, "No! This stone is bound by a spatial barrier; it is difficult to move unless one has the power to break through space."

She went down into the pool herself to try, gently touching the stones with her slender hands, attempting to move them with her magic, but to no avail.

She looked up at Wukong and said with a wry smile, "This is Jiang Wang's doing, truly impressive."

It seems that our combined strength alone is insufficient to retrieve the robe.

Upon hearing this, Wukong became even more agitated.

He gritted his teeth and said, "In that case, I, Old Sun, will go find Master Bodhi right now! He is all-powerful and will surely have a solution!"

Having said that, he prepared to ride the clouds away.

However, after flying only a few feet, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the top of his head, as if countless steel needles were piercing his brain.

He screamed and fell from the clouds, clutching his head and rolling on the ground, crying out, "Master! Master! Don't chant that spell!"

It turned out that Tang Sanzang was anxious because Wukong had not returned for a long time, and had begun to recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra.

Upon seeing this, Guanyin's expression changed drastically. She hurriedly made a hand seal and chanted the Loosening Headband Mantra, attempting to alleviate Wukong's pain.

However, Tang Sanzang was thousands of miles away, and the power of the headband continued to flow. Although Guanyin's loosening spell had a mitigating effect, it could not completely counteract the effect.

Wukong rolled around by the pool, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot. He was in so much pain that he couldn't even hold onto his golden cudgel and fell to the ground with a crisp thud.

He gritted his teeth and roared, "Master... I, Old Sun... know I was wrong!"

But the pain came in waves, as if it were tearing him apart.

Guanyin stood to the side, her hand holding the vase trembling slightly, and she chanted the loosening spell more and more urgently.

She was extremely anxious, thinking to herself, "Wukong is the son of a great eon. If he is killed because of this, how can the great journey to the West continue?"

She exerted all her strength in an attempt to suppress the power of the headband, but Tang Sanzang's incantations seemed endless, clashing with her magic power from afar.

Wukong's screams echoed around the lotus pond, startling the lotus flowers in the pond and causing ripples to spread across the water.

He struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with despair, and he growled, "Bodhisattva... kill me! I, Old Sun... can't bear this pain!"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin was startled and quickly said, "Wukong, don't speak nonsense! You are crucial to the journey to the West, how can you speak of life and death so lightly?"

She gritted her teeth and urged her magic power again. The light of the Loosening Spell in her hands turned into golden rays, trying to suppress the tight headband on Wukong's head.

However, the clash between the tightening and loosening of the headband caused Wukong's pain to fluctuate, as if he were struggling repeatedly on the edge of life and death.

His figure swayed by the pool, his golden hair soaked with sweat, making him look disheveled.

By the lotus pond, the wind gradually subsided, leaving only the low growl of Wukong and the chanting of Guanyin.

The kasaya still lay quietly at the bottom of the pool, its golden light dim, as if mocking the supernatural powers and struggles of this world.

Jiang Wang stood by the Ba Bridge outside Chang'an City. The autumn wind blew, the willow branches swayed gently, and the river surface rippled with fine light.

He wore a blue robe, his long hair was casually tied behind his head, and he held the Kongtong Seal in his hand, with nine golden dragons coiled around it, and faint sounds of dragon roars could be heard.

A golden light flowed within the seal, as if it were alive. Jiang Wang's gaze, however, was somewhat complicated, as if he were deep in thought or waiting for something.

In the distance, the city walls of Chang'an stood majestically, with banners fluttering and warhorses neighing in the distance. It was Li Shimin's iron cavalry, about to embark on their expedition.

Jiang Wang looked down at the Kongtong Seal and muttered to himself, "The fate of the human race... is truly mysterious."

He could feel the immense power of the Indian and Chinese cultures, like a rushing river flowing into his body, warmly circulating through his limbs and bones.

His cultivation level was already at the peak of the sixth stage of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, and he was faintly touching the threshold of the seventh stage.

In recent days, the golden dragon in the Kongtong Seal has become increasingly active, occasionally spewing out wisps of golden mist that merge into his soul, making his mind increasingly clear.

In the distance, the sound of war drums rose, and Jiang Wang pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked up.

Li Shimin, clad in gleaming armor, rode a tall horse, followed by three hundred powerful human warriors.

These people were created by him using elixirs he stole from the Tushita Palace. Each of them possessed the cultivation of a human immortal or an earth immortal, making them invulnerable to swords and spears, and their aura was overwhelming.

Jiang Wang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile.

He still finds the astonishment on Laozi's old face in the Tushita Palace that day amusing.

"Your Majesty, the Turks are nothing but a rabble. We are willing to be the vanguard and trample the grasslands!"

A general with the cultivation level of an Earth Immortal clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming so loudly that the willow leaves by the bridge rustled down. (End of Chapter)