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

After speaking, he waved his sleeve, and the two boys shrank in size and disappeared into his sleeve.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

Those villagers, who toiled day and night in the fields, faced a fate worse than death. Laozi's single word promised them "wealth and honor in the next life."

In the end, the immortals and gods were high above, regarding mortals as worthless weeds. Although the elder was compassionate, he knew that the wrath of heaven was difficult to defy, and could only bow his head: "Laojun is compassionate, Tang Sanzang is ignorant."

Pigsy and Sandy exchanged glances, and Pigsy muttered under his breath, "This old Taoist priest is so heartless..."

Sha Wujing shook his head, signaling for silence.

The two boys revealed their true forms, trembling with fear, and took out the only remaining Seven Star Sword from their sleeves—the sword was missing three hilts and had lost its luster—along with the damaged Jade Purification Bottle—the bottle mouth was shattered and all spiritual energy had been lost.

The boy said in a trembling voice, "Master, I know I was wrong..."

Lao Jun nodded, and was about to take them back to the Heavenly Court on a cloud when he suddenly saw the clouds churning ahead and a figure blocking the way. It was none other than Patriarch Bodhi.

The patriarch had white hair and beard, deep eyes, and held an ancient whisk in his hand. Behind him, the shadow of Mount Sumeru could be faintly seen.

"Laojun, please wait."

The old patriarch Bodhi's voice was like an ancient bell, distant and steady, "I have a confidential matter to discuss with you, concerning the grand plan to eliminate demons and seize treasures, which must not be leaked."

Laozi was taken aback by these words, his eyes flickering: "What is the matter, Patriarch? This is not a secluded place..."

Bodhi Patriarch remained silent, then with a flick of his whisk, the Sumeru Boundless Array suddenly unfolded deep within the clouds: the void within the array twisted, as if Mount Sumeru were hidden within a mustard seed, isolating the secrets of heaven and concealing all conversations.

With a flash of light, Laozi and Bodhi Patriarch disappeared into it, while the two boys, ordered by Laozi to wait on the clouds, stood there blankly.

Silence reigned in the clouds. The two boys exchanged a glance, and the golden boy whispered, "Silver brother, Master and the Ancestral Master have discussed this; they must be trying to exonerate us..."

Yintong nodded, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart: "I hope so..."

Unbeknownst to them, a chilling aura was quietly approaching from the shadows.

Jiang Wang, a great demon, has been lurking for a long time.

His figure was like a ghost, draped in a black robe, and his eyes burned with hatred.

Long ago, when Laozi was refining elixirs, he burned his entire clan to the ground. Jiang Wang was the only survivor and vowed revenge.

Taking advantage of the two children descending to the mortal realm, he sneaked into Pingdingshan, secretly manipulating demonic energy to aid the wicked, all in order to lure Laozi out.

Jiang Wang sneered, and with a flick of his hand, black light split the void, aiming straight for the two children's backs.

The golden boy, alert, turned around and shouted: "What kind of demon are you!"

The Seven Star Sword was barely drawn from its sheath when it was pierced through the chest by the black light, and blood gushed out.

Silver Boy cried out in alarm. Smoke billowed from the shattered jade bottle, protecting him. Jiang Wang laughed loudly: "Boy, you stole treasures and descended to the mortal realm, committing countless sins. I will send you on your way!"

The demonic hand, like a hook, tore open the silver boy's throat. The two boys' eyes widened, their souls dissipated, and their bodies fell from the clouds, turning into two wisps of green smoke.

Jiang Wang, having succeeded, grinned maliciously.

He took a deep breath, his body contorted, and he transformed into the likeness of Sun Wukong: with the golden cudgel in hand, a ferocious monkey face, and fiery eyes flashing.

He muttered, "Monkey, your madness is just what I need to borrow."

Having said that, he somersaulted on his cloud and headed straight for the South Heavenly Gate.

The guard at the South Heavenly Gate met "Sun Wukong".

They arrived, and not daring to be negligent, they allowed them to enter.

Jiang Wang went straight into the Tushita Palace, where young boys and girls were busy refining elixirs, with roaring furnaces and the fragrance of medicine filling the air.

He suddenly revealed his true form, a black-robed demonic figure, his demonic aura soaring to the sky: "Laojun, today is your retribution!"

The demonic hand swept wildly, causing the palace beams and pillars to collapse. The young boys and girls screamed and scattered, only to be swept away by the demonic energy and turned into blood mist.

The alchemy furnace overturned, flames scattered, and herbs were burned to ashes.

Jiang Wang laughed loudly, destroyed the golden and silver furnaces, smashed the alchemy pavilion and jade platform, and then transformed back into the appearance of Sun Wukong. With a sweep of his staff, he escaped from the Tushita Palace and disappeared into the horizon.

Meanwhile, deep within the clouds, inside the immeasurable Sumeru Array.

The old patriarch Bodhi said in a deep voice, "Laojun, Sun Wukong's madness was not innate, but was caused by the great demon Jiang Wang."

Jiang Wang lurked on the westward journey, intending to stir up trouble and use the monkey to throw the Heavenly Court into chaos.

Upon hearing this, Laozi gripped his whisk tightly: "Jiang Wang? That demon burned my dantian two years ago, how could I forget? But how could the monkey have fallen for it?"

Patriarch Bodhi's eyes flickered slightly as he avoided direct eye contact: "The details will be kept secret for now; the Patriarch has his own arrangements."

"We need your help to vanquish demons and seize treasures..."

The two discussed for a long time, and as the array of light gradually dissipated, Bodhi Patriarch put away his whisk and drifted away, saying, "Laojun, until we meet again."

His figure disappeared into the clouds, leaving behind a lingering doubt: Why did the patriarch set up such a tight formation? What secrets does the great plan to exorcise demons hold? Laozi stepped out of the formation, and the clouds were empty; the two boys had vanished without a trace.

He caught a faint whiff of blood, his brow furrowed, and with a quick calculation, a divine secret emerged: the two children's souls had dissipated, and the murderous intent was intense, yet he could not deduce who the killer was.

The formation was so isolated that even the Patriarch couldn't be kept in the dark? Laozi was puzzled and was about to investigate further when suddenly a strong wind blew from the sky. Prince Nezha arrived on his Wind-Fire Wheels, his face filled with anxiety: "Patriarch, something has happened at the Tushita Palace! Sun Wukong broke in and caused widespread destruction. The attendants were killed or injured, and the alchemy furnace was burned down!"

Upon hearing this, Laozi was struck dumb, his hair and beard bristling: "What is it?!"

He hurriedly rode the clouds back to the South Heavenly Gate. Upon entering the Tushita Palace, he saw that the palace was in ruins, the beams and pillars were broken, bloodstains were everywhere, the corpses of young boys and girls were scattered all over the ground, the golden and silver furnaces were overturned, the embers of the elixir were burned, and the medicinal herbs were charred black.

Laozi, enraged, brandished his whisk wildly, causing the void to tremble: "Monkey! I refined your golden elixir, and you repay kindness with enmity?!"

Nezha followed closely, shaking his head and saying, "Ancestor, this matter is strange."

How did Sun Wukong, in his madness, manage to enter the Heavenly Court? The gatekeeper said, "His figure appears normal, but his murderous aura is too heavy, unlike the monkey's usual behavior."

Upon hearing this, Laozi calmed down slightly, took out a precious mirror from the Water and Fire Gourd, and used the mirror's light to trace back to the source.

In the mirror, a black-robed demonic figure appeared, destroying the palace and killing children. His demonic hands were like hooks, and he grinned incessantly before transforming into a monkey and leaving.

Lao Jun's pupils contracted: "Jiang Wang! That demon is disguised as a monkey..."

He recalled the strange behavior of Patriarch Bodhi earlier: setting up an array to conceal the truth, discussing how to eliminate demons, but not mentioning Jiang Wang at all.

"Master, could it be that you have ulterior motives?" Laozi was in a state of turmoil. With a wave of his whisk, the mirror shone again, and he descended to the mortal realm to check on Sun Wukong's condition.

On the journey to the west, Sun Wukong sat cross-legged in the cave of the Bodhi Patriarch, his eyes lifeless, muttering to himself, looking like a madman.

Laozi, observing from afar, was certain the creature hadn't left his side, and felt somewhat relieved. Little did he know, this "madness"...

It was already Sun Wukong in disguise.

Two and a half years ago, when Laozi was refining elixirs, he imprisoned the Monkey King under the Five Fingers Mountain, a humiliation he would never forget.

After Wukong awoke, he secretly plotted to use Jiang Wang to avenge this great grudge.

A slight smile played on his lips, a sly glint in his eyes: "Laojun, you refined my elixir, I'll destroy your Tushita Heaven, and our grudges will be settled."

At the foot of Pingdingshan Mountain, Tang Sanzang and his disciples packed their belongings and continued their journey westward.

The elder looked back at the mountain peak and sighed, "The path of immortals and gods is lofty and cold."

Mortals are like dust, what can be done?

Pigsy scratched his head: "Master, don't think about those things."

Laozi is protecting his own page, which I, Old Pig, can't stand, but I can't fight against the rules of Heaven.

Sha Wujing nodded: "That's right."

The road to the West is fraught with demons; set off swiftly!

In the clouds, Laozi stood before the dilapidated palace, while Nezha bowed and said, "Ancestor, Jiang Wang is cunning and we need the Heavenly Court to join forces to eliminate him."

Laozi nodded, his anger still burning, but now tinged with a hint of wariness: Bodhi Patriarch, Sun Wukong, Jiang Wang… undercurrents were surging within them. The immortals and gods remained indifferent to mortals, and this journey to the West was likely to be even more turbulent.

The mountain wind howled, and the mist over Pingdingshan Mountain was like gauze, entwining the broken walls and ruins.

Those villagers who were abducted by the two demons used to be laughing and chatting at the village entrance where smoke rose from the chimneys, children chased chickens and ducks, and women washed clothes by the river.

Now, only an empty thatched hut remains, its door half-closed, the wind howling like ghosts wailing.

As Tang Sanzang rode onward, he saw an old woman kneeling before a grave, her withered hands clutching the earth, murmuring, "My love, you haven't finished your bowl of hot porridge yet..."

The elder felt as if his heart was being pierced by needles; his compassion turned into a warm current, but he was powerless to reverse the situation.

At the start of the battle, Tang Sanzang dismounted to meet the enemy. The nine-ringed staff in his hand was no longer an ordinary monk's staff, but a primordial spiritual treasure. The staff was engraved with Buddhist patterns, and each ring was like a golden bell, which could intimidate demons when it rang.

King Golden Horn swung his Seven Star Sword for the first time, and the sword light shone in seven points, like the Big Dipper appearing in the world, piercing straight for the elder's brow.

Tang Sanzang dodged to the side, flicked his staff back, the rings jingling, and the end of the staff swept across the sword, causing cracks to appear on the Seven Star Sword.

The Silver Horn King tilted his jade bottle, and black smoke, like a dragon, rushed towards them with a foul wind. Tang Sanzang spread out his brocade cassock, which seemed to come alive, layer upon layer, transforming into a seven-colored barrier. The black smoke collided with it, making a sizzling sound. The smoke swirled back, scorching the Silver Horn King's arm, tearing his skin and flesh.

Three hundred rounds, and the mountains shook and the earth trembled.

Trees broke, and the stream flowed backward.

King Golden Horn was sweating profusely, and the demonic light on his horn was dimming. King Silver Horn had exhausted seventy percent of the spirit in his bottle and was panting heavily.

Pigsy joined in, and with a swing of his rake, a great wind and thunder arose. Though lazy in his pig body, he was as fierce as a tiger in battle. The rake teeth hooked onto the Golden Horn King's silver armor, and with a tearing sound, the armor plates flew off, revealing flesh and blood.

With a blow to the back, Pigsy grinned maliciously: "Take this!"

King Golden Horn cried out in pain as the Seven Star Sword flew out of his hand and embedded itself in the mountain wall.

Sha Wujing wielded his crescent-shaped shovel, its blade gleaming coldly like the moon.

To save his brother, Silver Horn King created a bottle that flashed and formed a black mist around him, but it was cleaved open by Sandy's shovel, the blade reaching his chest and leaving him covered in blood.

Seeing the opportunity, Tang Sanzang wielded his staff like lightning, gathering his Zen power, and the head of the staff shone with golden light. It looked as if the Silver Horn King's heart was about to shatter.

Laozi appeared, his voice like the primordial sound of the Great Dao, containing the power of chaos.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt their muscles and bones go weak, and Tang Sanzang's knees buckled, causing him to kneel on the ground and refuse to get up.

Bajie's rake landed on the ground, creating a deep pit; Sha Wujing's staff trembled, and the crescent-shaped blade light dissipated.

The two demons knelt in worship. Laozi lightly touched their whisks, and their demonic forms faded, revealing their childlike appearances: the golden boy had a round face, and the silver boy had clear eyebrows and bright eyes, but a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.

When Tang Sanzang questioned him, his voice trembled, yet remained as firm as a rock.

He recalled the villagers' corpses: children with severed limbs, old men gnawing on bones, and women with tattered clothes.

Three years, over a thousand lives—and Laozi thinks he can erase it all with a promise of "wealth and honor in the next life"? Tears welled in the elder's eyes: "Laozi, the path of compassion extends far beyond one lifetime! How can those wronged souls, their families burying their children, bear such suffering?"

Laozi averted his gaze, waved his whisk, and the illusion reappeared: the soul of the deceased was enveloped in golden light and reborn into a wealthy family, living a life of luxury, with abundant harvests of land and property for his relatives, and enjoying a life of glory.

He said calmly, "The cycle of Heaven is endless, and cause and effect will be repaid in due time."

"I am not heartless, but I am acting in accordance with Heaven's will."

The elder was powerless to refute, and his heart was filled with despair.

Buddhist compassion, in the end, could not overcome the Jade Rules of Heaven.

The two children returned the treasures. The Seven Star Sword was chipped and broken, its former starlight now covered in rust. The Jade Bottle was shattered, the spiritual spring at its bottom had dried up, and a faint resentment lingered around it.

Laozi rolled up his sleeves and was about to leave when Bodhi Patriarch blocked his way.

When the Sumeru Boundless Array was deployed, the clouds churned like a sea, and the shadow of Mount Sumeru stood majestically within the array. Mount Sumeru could be contained within a mustard seed, preventing any spying.

The two figures disappeared into the light, which was as clear as a mirror, reflecting nothing.

The two children waited in the clouds. The golden boy bowed his head and asked, "Silver brother, will Master forgive us?"

Yintong forced a smile: "I will."

"The appearance of the Patriarch signifies a turning point."

Jiang Wang appeared, his black robes as dark as night, his demonic hand moving silently.

His hatred burned like fire. In the past, Laozi burned his entire clan of a hundred people with a single elixir of fire, and their ashes flew everywhere.

Taking this opportunity for revenge, his palm strikes were like knives; before the Golden Boy could even draw his sword, it was already pierced through. The Silver Boy's bottle shattered, and black smoke enveloped his body, but it couldn't stop the demonic hook from tearing his throat.

The two corpses fell from the clouds, the stench of blood spreading. Jiang Wang sneered, "Laojun, your servant, pay my clan's debt!"

Disguised as Sun Wukong, Jiang Wang somersaulted on his cloud, causing golden light to shine at the South Heavenly Gate. The guards bowed and asked, "Great Sage, what is it?"

"Monkey King"

With a flash of his staff, he shouted, "Old Sun has come to ask for elixirs!"

He went straight into Tushita Heaven, transformed back into his demonic form, and the palace children cried out in alarm, "Demon!"

Jiang Wang's demonic palm swept across, breaking beams and pillars, and filling the air with blood mist; the furnace fire overturned, pills rolled down and burned to ashes; herbs withered and their fragrance turned scorched.

When he destroyed the alchemy furnace, he struck it a thousand times, causing the furnace walls to crack and turning the once sacred place of alchemy into ruins.

The young girl cried out, and the young boy resisted, but they were all reduced to bloody, mangled pieces.

Jiang Wang laughed loudly and left, transforming back into his monkey form and escaping through the Heavenly Gate.

As Patriarch Bodhi departed, his whisk trembled slightly, and a calculating glint flashed in his eyes: Jiang Wang's mischief, the monkey's disguise, and Laozi's confusion were all in line with the Patriarch's wishes.

The grand plan to exorcise demons is fraught with hidden secrets; Bodhi smiles and disappears into the clouds.

When Laozi went into battle, he saw blood and a pungent smell in the clouds.

Calculating with my fingers, the secrets of heaven are obscured, and the murderer is shrouded in mist.

Nezha arrived, his Wind Fire Wheels blazing fiercely: "Ancestor, the palace is destroyed! It was the monkey's doing!"

Laozi rushed back and was heartbroken by the tragic scene in the palace.

A deafening roar shook the heavens, a whisk danced wildly, and the void cracked open.

The magic mirror revealed Jiang Wang's demonic image clearly, and Laozi gritted his teeth: "Demon!"

Suspecting something amiss with Bodhi: that the formation concealed heavenly secrets and was plotting to hide something.

He descended to the mortal realm to observe the monkeys; Wukong appeared mad, but in reality, he had awakened to the truth.

Sun Wukong chuckled to himself: Two and a half years of humiliation, today I will avenge myself.

On their journey westward, the four travelers faced scorching sun and billowing dust.

Sun Wukong awoke from the aftermath of the loss of the Heart-Loss Pill, filled with remorse, but he suppressed the gloom between his brows and transformed into a gentle breeze to return to the team.

When Tang Sanzang saw him return, he nodded slightly, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes: "Wukong, you're finally back."

"Stop being stubborn, let's keep going."

Wukong scratched his head and grinned, "Don't worry, Master, I'm perfectly sober this time."

Let's go!

Pigsy followed behind, huffing and puffing as he carried his rake, while Sandy remained silent, carrying the luggage and occasionally glancing at the distant horizon.

Tang Sanzang's cultivation has greatly improved, and Buddhist light flows faintly within his body. His eagerness is like a wild horse that has broken free of its reins. He travels day and night, and in ten days, he has covered six thousand miles.

Even though the horse, Bailong, was an incarnation of a dragon prince, its hooves were burning from the urging, and the master and his disciples were all covered in dust from their journey. (End of Chapter)