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

His gaze was calm as he scanned the river, calculating a countermeasure in his mind.

Although Juanlian is from the same sect, he is aloof and possesses the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique passed down by Pangu. His strength is unfathomable, and if they were to fight head-on, it would be difficult for Juanlian to gain the upper hand.

As he was pondering, a white light suddenly streaked across the distant horizon, shrouded in ethereal mist, and slowly landed on the shore.

Jiang Wang looked up and saw an old man with white hair and beard, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, carrying a whisk on his back. It was none other than the Antarctic Immortal.

As soon as the Antarctic Immortal landed, his gaze fell on Jiang Wang and Sun Wukong, and he said in a solemn tone: "Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Mount Ling is in trouble, and the journey to obtain the scriptures has been cut off. Are you aware of this?"

Jiang Wang was startled and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Why do you say such things, Immortal Elder? Mount Ling is a sacred Buddhist site; how could there be any trouble there?"

The Antarctic Immortal sighed, gently waved his whisk, and slowly said, "The Buddhist sect has gone too far. They have used the Weak Water to poison millions of lives and spread their hegemonic ideas, which has angered the four sages of the East."

Now, the Jade Emperor, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, the Supreme Lord Laozi, and the Master of the Heavenly Gate have personally led thousands of experts to besiege Mount Ling, and the Buddhist sect is in grave danger.

The journey to the West is probably no longer possible.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang felt a chill run down his spine. If Mount Ling were truly breached, what would become of their journey westward? He forced himself to remain calm and asked, "Immortal Elder, do you have any countermeasures?"

The Old Man of the South Pole shook his head, but turned his gaze to the river and said in a deep voice, "Saving people is the most important thing right now. Pigsy and Sandy are both in the Weak Water. If we don't rescue them quickly, their lives may be in danger."

Upon hearing this, Wukong immediately became anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks, and said, "The Immortal is right! I, Old Sun, will go and fish that idiot out right now!"

Jiang Wang pressed him down and whispered, "Don't act rashly. The Curtain Roller is quite powerful. Does the Immortal Elder have a good plan?"

The Antarctic Immortal nodded slightly, waved his whisk, and a beam of white light transformed into a rainbow, shooting straight into the heart of the river.

Jiang Wang felt a blur before his eyes, and the mist on the river was dispelled by the white light, making the figures of Juanlian and Bajie clearly visible.

Bajie was bound by a water rope and couldn't move. He kept cursing and swearing: "Roller Curtain, you heartless bastard! I, Old Pig, have treated you well. How could you be so cruel to me!"

Rolling up the curtain ignored him, his gaze fixed warily on the Antarctic Immortal, and said in a deep voice, "What do you mean, Immortal? This is a private matter between me and Pigsy, what does it have to do with you?"

The Old Man of the South Pole smiled faintly, waved his whisk again, and white light, like a net, enveloped the curtain and Pigsy together.

Juanlian was shocked. The mysterious light in his palm rose again, trying to break through the net, but he found that the white light was unusually flexible and actually trapped him tightly.

Seeing this, Jiang Wang exchanged a glance with Wukong, and the two of them moved quickly, leaping into the river and rescuing Bajie while Juanlian was trapped.

As soon as Pigsy was freed, he immediately started cursing: "Roller Curtain, you heartless bastard, I, Old Pig, will remember this!"

The curtain roller gave a cold snort, seemingly disdainful.

Just as Jiang Wang was about to offer some advice, Bajie angrily exclaimed, "Master, Wukong, do you know that this guy is practicing the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, personally passed down by Pangu! Tsk tsk, that's a top-tier technique, and I, Old Pig, am extremely envious!"

Upon hearing this, the Antarctic Immortal turned his head sharply, his gaze like lightning, and stared at the curtain, saying, "Nine Revolutions Profound Technique? Sha Wujing, you really cultivated this technique?"

Juanlian's expression changed slightly, as if he sensed something was wrong. Before he could speak, the Antarctic Immortal stepped forward and pointed with his whisk. Juanlian felt a tremendous force strike him, and his vision went black as he fainted.

Jiang Wang and Wukong were both stunned, while Bajie was even more dumbfounded, muttering, "What is the Immortal doing? It's just a cultivation technique!"

The Antarctic Immortal, however, looked solemn and said in a low voice, "The Nine Revolutions Profound Technique is the method by which Pangu created the world. Its power is boundless, but few people in the world know about it."

If this matter were to become public knowledge, Juanlian would undoubtedly become the target of public criticism, further complicating the crisis at Lingshan.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Wang and the other two, and said in a deep voice, "Come with me to Mount Ling. This skill of raising the curtain may be a glimmer of hope for Buddhism."

Jiang Wang felt a chill run down his spine, vaguely sensing that this matter was not simple, but he had no other choice but to nod.

With a flick of his sleeve, the Antarctic Immortal swept up Jiang Wang, Wukong, Bajie, and the unconscious Juanlian, transforming them into a beam of white light that headed straight for Mount Ling.

Along the way, Jiang Wang was filled with unease. The siege of Ling Mountain and the exposure of the Curtain-Raising Technique made him feel uneasy.

Wukong, however, seemed completely unconcerned. Grabbing his golden cudgel, he muttered, "What do I care about being besieged by saints? I, Old Sun, want to see who dares to block my way!"

At the foot of Mount Ling, war drums thundered and battle cries echoed.

Looking into the distance, Jiang Wang saw that the golden light of Mount Ling was dim, and the Buddhist light was suppressed by streams of immortal energy and demonic energy. Corpses lay everywhere in front of the mountain gate, and blood flowed like a river.

The four sages sat high on the clouds. The Jade Emperor held the Haotian Sword, its sword energy surging. The Primordial Heavenly Lord summoned the Pangu Banner, and the chaotic energy surged. The Supreme Lord Laozi held the Taiji Diagram, and the black and white energies flowed. Behind the Tongtian Sect Master, the Zhuxian Sword Formation appeared and disappeared, and the killing intent soared to the sky.

The two Buddhas, Jieyin and Zhunti, stood atop Mount Ling, their faces pale, clearly exhausted.

Upon arriving, the Antarctic Immortal flew straight to the Primordial Heavenly Venerable and respectfully said, "Master, Sha Wujing possesses the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, which may help us quell this chaos!"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent. The four sages turned their gazes to the unconscious Juanlian, their eyes filled with greed and murderous intent.

The Jade Emperor sneered, "The Nine Revolutions Profound Technique? How could such a supreme treasure fall into the hands of Buddhism?"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable flicked his sleeve, and the Pangu Banner trembled, sending chaotic energy rushing towards the rolled-up curtain.

Laozi and Tongtian Jiaozhu were not to be outdone, unleashing the Taiji Diagram and the Zhuxian Sword, their killing intent palpable.

Jiang Wang was terrified and quickly protected Bajie and Wukong, whispering, "Retreat quickly!"

The Antarctic Immortal was caught in the deadly trap. He brandished his whisk and struggled to resist, but gradually lost ground.

Rolling Curtain remained unconscious, completely unaware that he had become the focus of the saints' struggle.

Looking at the chaotic battle, Jiang Wang felt bitter; the journey westward had been so arduous.

He took a deep breath, his gaze resolute, and whispered, "Wukong, Bajie, follow me and fight your way out to save Juanlian!"

Wukong grinned and raised his golden cudgel high: "Alright, I, Old Sun, have been holding back a lot of anger!"

Despite his complaints, Pigsy gripped his nine-toothed rake tightly and followed closely behind Jiang Wang.

The battle became increasingly chaotic. Jiang Wang and his two companions rushed into the melee. At the summit of Mount Ling, killing intent filled the air and blood splattered into the sky.

Jiang Wang had only one thought in his mind: no matter what, he must protect his fellow disciples and uphold his determination to go west!

As night fell, the golden light at the foot of Mount Ling gradually dimmed, and the once clamorous war drums fell silent, leaving only the whisper of the wind through the forest.

Jiang Wang stood on a solitary peak in the distance, his robes fluttering in the night wind, but his gaze was calm and serene as he watched the distant sacred mountain shrouded in golden light.

His figure disappeared into the darkness, as if he had become one with the world, and no one noticed his presence.

The moonlight shone on his profile, outlining a cool and aloof face, yet his brows held a hint of an enigmatic smile.

The old man of the South Pole and the curtain-roller were in a precarious situation, like candles flickering in the wind.

The old man of the South Pole had a white beard that fluttered in the wind, his whisk was broken, his immortal robe was torn, and blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth. He was barely breathing.

The one who rolled up the curtain was in even worse shape; his armor was shattered, his staff was broken in two, and he was kneeling on the ground, but his eyes still held an unyielding stubbornness.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and the killing intent, like an invisible giant net, firmly trapped the two of them.

The Old Man of the South Pole looked up at the sky and murmured, "What a deadly trap this is! Even I am powerless to reverse it..."

Before the words were even finished, a thunderclap suddenly resounded across the heavens and earth, the thunder like the roar of ten thousand dragons, shaking the mountains and dimming the stars. This thunder seemed to tear the sky apart.

Above Mount Ling, the six sages and the Jade Emperor simultaneously turned pale, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and collapsed onto the clouds.

The jade ruyi in the hand of Yuanshi Tianzun almost fell, the longsword of Tongtian Jiaozhu trembled slightly, the red embroidered ball in Nuwa Niangniang's hand dimmed, and Taiqing Laozi even clutched his chest, a trace of horror flashing in his eyes.

The Jade Emperor sat high on his nine-dragon chariot, his dragon robe stained with blood, his face contorted as if he were enduring immense pain.

He whispered, "The backlash from Heaven... How could this be?"

The six sages exchanged glances, their hearts trembling. They all began to calculate with their fingers, their gazes falling unanimously on the curtain roll.

Taiqing Laozi took the initiative, and with a wave of his sleeve, a beam of clear light enveloped the curtain-raising immortal and the Antarctic Immortal, pulling them back from the brink of death.

The Old Man of the South Pole was panting, his eyes full of doubt, while the Curtain-Roller gripped his broken staff tightly, looking up at the sky as if he sensed something.

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned and said, "Who is this child? How could he possibly incite a backlash from the Heavenly Dao?"

The Jade Emperor's gaze was gloomy. He slowly rose, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable majesty: "The Curtain-Roller is the one destined to face the tribulation of the Journey to the West, the one whom the Bodhi Patriarch took from my hands years ago."

Its destiny is intertwined with a great calamity; killing it will surely incur the wrath of Heaven.

Upon hearing this, all the saints were shocked.

The Tongtian Sect Leader sneered, "The one destined for calamity? No wonder the Heavenly Dao reacted so strongly when the killing intent arose."

Nuwa sighed softly, her tone tinged with complexity: "If we kill them, we can certainly fulfill the Dao Ancestor's command and receive unparalleled rewards, but under the backlash of Heaven, we may also find it difficult to escape our fate."

Taiqing Laozi stroked his beard, his gaze falling on Juanlian, and slowly said, "This boy has cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to the sixth revolution. He has a profound foundation and is a genius. However, he is destined to be a calamity. It is a twist of fate and destiny that has played tricks on him."

At the foot of Mount Ling, Jiang Wang watched this scene from afar, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he had already anticipated it.

He muttered to himself, "Roller Curtain, your fate is truly a headache."

His voice was so soft it seemed to be carried away by the wind, yet it carried a hint of mockery, as if he had everything under control.

The Jade Emperor's gaze shifted, sweeping towards Mount Ling, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "Since the Curtain-Raising Clan cannot be killed, why not end the Journey to the West calamity ahead of time? Since Buddhism has set up this scheme, why don't we join forces, destroy Mount Ling, and demote the Curtain-Raising Clan to a mortal, thus ending the calamity on its own!"

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun, Tongtian Jiaozhu, Nuwa Niangniang, and Taiqing Laozi were all taken aback, and then a strange light flashed in their eyes.

On Mount Ling, the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, changed their expressions drastically and angrily rebuked each other: "Jade Emperor! You want to destroy the foundation of our Buddhism? How can Heaven allow you to act so recklessly?"

With a wave of his hand, Jieyin unleashed the Radiant Golden Light Array of Ten Thousand Buddhas, its golden light surging like a tide and enveloping Mount Ling. Zhunti then summoned a Seven Treasures Tree, placing it horizontally in front of the array, ready for battle.

The flames of war seemed about to reignite, and the void surrounding Mount Ling began to distort, overflowing with killing intent.

Just then, a flash of purple light appeared in the sky, and a bolt of purple divine lightning, like a blade that splits the heavens, tore through the night sky and descended with boundless pressure.

Amidst the lightning, an aged figure slowly emerged, with white hair and a white robe, his aura vast as the starry sea—it was none other than Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Upon seeing this, all the saints and the Jade Emperor rose and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, Ancestor of the Dao!"

The Old Man of the South Pole and the Curtain Roller also lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Jiang Wang stood atop the solitary peak, his eyes narrowed, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said in a low voice, "The show is about to begin."

Hongjun's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice booming like a bell, carrying an undeniable majesty: "Why do you fight so incessantly, disturbing the Way of Heaven?"

The Jade Emperor spoke first, his tone tinged with indignation: "Reporting to the Dao Ancestor, the Buddhist sect has set a trap, intending to use the destiny of the Curtain-Lifter to harm us. The Bodhi Patriarch has even made threatening remarks, intending to overthrow the Heavenly Court!"

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti both cried out in protest: "Our Buddhist sect has no such intention! The matter of the curtain being rolled up is a misunderstanding!"

Hongjun closed his eyes, seemingly deducing the secrets of heaven. After a moment, he opened his eyes and slowly said, "This scheme was not set up by the Buddhist sect. It was arranged by Jiang Wang before his death to frame the Buddhist sect."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned.

Jiang Wang's name had already spread throughout the Three Realms. Although he had fallen, he left behind countless legends.

Some say he was born into the demon race and wanted to avenge his race; others say he was cunning and scheming.

Upon hearing the Dao Ancestor's words, the immortals couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

The Antarctic Immortal whispered, "Jiang Wang... is he really so ruthless and vicious?"

The curtain-roller's gaze flickered slightly, as if in doubt, but he remained silent.

Zhunti chimed in, "Dao Ancestor, you are wise! Jiang Wang has long been in league with Bodhi. Bodhi's death was also caused by Jiang Wang! The incident at Huangfeng Ridge was also fabricated by Jiang Wang manipulating the mountain god!"

Jieyin nodded, a sly glint in his eyes: "That's right. Jiang Wang is a cunning man, and we have all been deceived by him."

Standing at a distance, Jiang Wang heard this and a cold smile flashed in his eyes. He said in a low voice, "What a clever trick of shifting blame. Zhunti, you certainly know how to take advantage of a situation."

He tapped his sleeve lightly with his fingers, as if deep in thought, but his gaze grew increasingly profound.

Upon hearing this, the immortals began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Some lamented, "The great feud with the demon race is ultimately hopeless."

Someone angrily said, "Now that Jiang Wang is dead, the person with the same name must be his descendant. We must find him and take revenge!"

Even more immortals wondered, "Since Jiang Wang has perished, where is the Chaos Bell? How could such a supreme treasure have vanished without a trace?"

Taiqing Laozi frowned and slowly said, "The Chaos Bell is a supreme innate treasure. After Jiang Wang's death, it may have been hidden by him or fallen into the hands of others."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable sneered: "If the Chaos Bell appears in the world, it will surely cause great chaos in the Three Realms."

Hongjun's gaze swept across the rolled-up curtain, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He slowly spoke: "Juanlian has cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and has reached the sixth revolution. Although he is a person who is destined to face the great calamity, he is also a variable of the Heavenly Dao."

If we kill him, it may trigger immeasurable calamities; you must not act rashly.”

Upon hearing this, all the saints were startled and bowed their heads in agreement.

Hongjun paused for a moment, then continued, "The misunderstanding here has been cleared up. You may all leave."

The matter of the curtain must not be mentioned again; the Journey to the West and the Great Tribulation must not be interfered with; the Nine Revolutions Mystic Skill must not be coveted.

Those who disobey will be executed by me personally.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder rose again, and Hongjun's figure gradually dissipated, returning the world to silence.

The saints and the Jade Emperor exchanged a glance, each concealing their auras, and departed with complex emotions.

The Old Man of the South Pole lifted the curtain and said in a low voice, "Your fate has truly broadened my horizons." (End of Chapter)