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

Deep within the Crystal Palace of the Western Sea, the Yaksha patrol team roamed beneath the waves like ghosts. Suddenly, a Yaksha rode in at breakneck speed, leaving a trail of turbulent water behind it.

He rushed to the main hall, knelt before King Aoshun's throne, and cried out in a voice as urgent as a raging storm: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, along with Pigsy and Sandy, are lingering by the Ancestral Dragon Abyss! The three of them are acting suspiciously, as if they want to go down into the abyss to rescue Tang Sanzang!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Shun's dragon body trembled, and his hair and beard stood on end.

He was originally from the lineage of the West Sea Dragon King. Who in the dragon race didn't know about the forbidden land of Ancestral Dragon Abyss? It was the dark place where the ancient dragon ancestor was born, unfathomably deep, devouring countless living beings.

If Sun Wukong and his two companions were to actually go down into the abyss, they would stir up the dragon's blood and cause a great disaster.

He suddenly stood up, his dragon claws gripping the coral scepter, and was about to gather his shrimp soldiers and crab generals to personally stop him.

In an instant, the image of the aged yet unfathomable face of Ancestor Jiang Wang appeared in his mind.

"Ancestor Jiang..."

Ao Shun muttered to himself, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

After the ancient war between the three races, the dragon race was reduced to ashes. Fortunately, with the protection of Jiang Wang, they had a chance to rise again.

That human alchemy master is no longer the weakling he once was. If the dragon race continues to fawn over Buddhism, they will likely end up pleasing neither side.

Moreover, Ancestor Jiang once stated that only by joining forces could the human race and the dragon race resist the dual oppression of the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect.

Sun Wukong saving Tang Sanzang was merely a family matter within the pilgrimage lineage; why should the Dragon Clan interfere? Ao Shun took a deep breath, and the gloom in his dragon eyes dissipated.

He waved his hand to stop the Yaksha's panic: "No need for further words."

Since Sun Wukong and his two companions loved to cause trouble, we let them be.

"Pass down the order: everyone in the Dragon Palace must remain strictly neutral and not interfere in matters concerning the Ancestral Dragon Abyss."

The Yaksha was taken aback upon hearing this, hesitated before bowing and retreating.

Sitting alone in the hall, Ao Shun gazed at the flickering candlelight on the crystal wall and thought to himself: The Ancestor's plan is profound, and undercurrents will soon surge in the Three Realms. The best course of action for the Dragon Clan is to simply observe the situation quietly.

At the edge of Zulong Abyss, the sea wind howled, and the mouth of the abyss was like a black hole opened by a giant beast, swallowing and spewing out cold mist.

Sun Wukong stood on the edge of the cliff, his golden eyes fixed on the bottom of the abyss, the shadow of his staff stretching long behind him.

Pigsy squatted to the side, his ears drooping, his fat face ashen: "Brother Monkey, this abyss is pitch black, there's definitely nothing good in there! If Master falls in headfirst, the three of us will become sitting ducks! I think we should go to the Western Paradise to get reinforcements!"

Sha Wujing nodded vigorously, gripping his crescent-shaped shovel tightly: "What my senior brother says is true."

This place is unfathomable, and the feng shui formations are filled with demonic energy.

In my opinion, we should first go to the West Sea Dragon Palace and inquire about it. We should try to persuade that old dragon; he'll surely know some inside information.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's monkey face darkened. He pulled out his golden cudgel and slammed it on the ground, causing the cliff rocks to tremble. "Inquiring? By the time you finish your dawdling, Master will be nothing but dust! I, Old Sun, have crossed mountains and valleys, fought demons and monsters, and I've never been afraid of this chasm! Let's go down and save them!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy's legs went weak as noodles, and he lay motionless on the ground, saying, "Oh, Brother Monkey, you go by yourself! I'll keep watch for you!"

Sha Wujing sighed and was about to dissuade him when suddenly a dragon's roar was heard in the wind, and a white figure broke through the waves—it was none other than the White Dragon Ao Lie.

He transformed into human form, his handsome face filled with anxiety, and stood in front of the three: "Senior Brother! Junior Brother Bajie! Junior Brother Sha! You must not go down into the abyss! The Ancestral Dragon Abyss is the birthplace of the ancient dragon ancestor. The dragon blood in the abyss is black and yellow, mixed with karmic power and demonic energy. It can be called a dead land in the three realms! Even quasi-saint powerhouses who enter it will hardly come back alive!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow and pointed his staff directly at Ao Lie: "Little White Dragon, you've come at the perfect time! Tell me quickly, what kind of monster is hiding in this abyss? Master has been in there for so long, yet there's not a sound?"

Ao Lie swallowed hard, looked around to make sure no one was around, and then whispered, "The remnant soul of the Ancestral Dragon is hidden at the bottom of the abyss."

That was the leader of the dragon race, who commanded all dragons in ancient times and whose might shook the chaos.

Unfortunately, in the great war between the three races, the Ancestral Dragon was defeated by the Lich King, his physical body collapsed, and his soul resided in the Blood of the Abyss.

Only the First Emperor of Dragons and the Demon Ancestor Rahu survived and emerged from this abyss.

"Rahu?"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy's fat body trembled. "Isn't that the leader of the three thousand Chaos Demons? I heard that his demonic powers caused the heavens and earth to collapse, and the Dao Ancestor had to personally intervene to suppress him in conjunction with all the saints!"

Ao Lie nodded, a look of awe flashing in his eyes: "Exactly."

Rahu, the Demon Ancestor, possesses a body as deep as an abyss, capable of devouring the sun and moon, and his strength rivals that of a saint.

Back then, he entered the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, absorbed the dragon blood and demonic energy, and attempted to refine the Chaos Demon Body.

As a result, the Taoist Ancestor and the Buddha joined forces, with the assistance of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who finally tore apart his demonic body and sealed his soul at the bottom of Buzhou Mountain.

The dangers of the abyss are evident.

Eldest brother, although the three of you possess extraordinary supernatural powers, Master Tang Sanzang is a child of a great eon, and there may be divine protection for him when he enters the abyss.

If we rush in, there'll probably be nothing left but ashes!

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong narrowed his golden eyes slightly, and his heart wavered slightly.

When the master entered the abyss, there were no unusual phenomena in the heavens and earth, as if the abyss had lost its ferocity.

But what Ao Lie said was that both the Ancestral Dragon and Rahu were ancient demons, so how could he know that nothing had changed at the bottom of the abyss? As he was pondering, Ao Lie picked up a cliff stone, infused it with a trace of dragon essence, and threw it into the abyss.

All that could be heard was a "whoosh".

With a thud, the stone was thrown into a bottomless pit. In an instant, the mist in the abyss surged, and an invisible force surged out. The stone silently disintegrated in mid-air, turning into dust and scattering with the wind.

Upon seeing this, the three of them gasped in shock.

Pigsy's legs went weak and he sat down on the ground: "My goodness! This abyss eats stones like they're tofu. If I, Old Pig, were to go down there with my iron rake, wouldn't it just turn into a toothpick?"

Sha Wujing's face also turned pale: "Elder brother, we should not stay here any longer."

Let us wait patiently for news from our Master, or perhaps seek another method.

Sun Wukong gripped his golden cudgel tightly, the fighting spirit in his monkey eyes gradually fading.

He thought to himself: Master is blessed with good fortune and a long life; there will surely be a turning point.

Forcing your way in will be pointless and could even lead to serious problems.

"Alright, let's go back to Flower Fruit Mountain to mobilize our troops first, and then explore the bottom of the abyss!" The three of them each had their own plans, so they temporarily withdrew their troops, hid behind the cliff, and quietly observed the movements in the abyss.

Pigsy thought to himself: When Master comes out, I'll have a few more meals to calm my nerves.

Sha Wujing, concerned about the clarity or turbidity of the river, worried about the separation of master and disciple.

Sun Wukong sat alone on the rock, his staff across his knees, his eyes blazing: "Ancestral Dragon Abyss, once I, Old Sun, find a weakness, I will make you reveal your true form!" At the same time, beneath the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, the Xuanhuang Dragon Blood churned and rolled like boiling molten lava.

The enormous corpse of the alligator dragon was gradually disintegrating in the waves of blood, its scales peeling off and its flesh melting away, leaving only wisps of black mist swirling around it.

The bottom of the abyss was dark and gloomy. Tang Sanzang was transformed into the shape of a crab by magic and curled up in the remnant cavity of the alligator dragon's belly.

He was originally human, but after consuming the essence of the alligator dragon, his cultivation level skyrocketed, reaching the Earth Immortal realm. He was only one step away from breaking through the Heavenly Immortal barrier and returning to his original form.

"Master..."

Tang Sanzang gripped the crab claws tightly, recalling the bond between master and disciple, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

But hunger surged like a tide, leaving him no choice but to gnaw on the remains of the alligator dragon.

Every bite of flesh and blood that enters the stomach transforms into a warm current, cleansing the meridians.

The crab's body gradually emitted golden light, and its spiritual energy surged like a river bursting its banks, causing its cultivation level to rise layer by layer.

He thought to himself: Forgive me, forgive me, though this flesh is evil, it has helped this poor monk escape from his predicament.

Once I break through to become a Celestial Immortal, I will repay the favor to the Dragon Clan.

Suddenly, a dragon's roar resounded from the abyss of blood, and a vast, ancient soul rose from the blood waves—the remnant soul of the Ancestral Dragon! It resembled a giant dragon phantom, with menacing scales and claws, and its eyes flashed with demonic light. This ancient dragon ancestor, who once ruled over all dragons, was condemned to a life of unimaginable carnage during the great war between the three races, and his soul was imprisoned in the abyss, suffering the torment of karmic fire.

Today, the alligator dragon has undergone a physical transformation, its blood and energy are at their peak, making it a perfect opportunity for rebirth.

It followed the crowd and locked onto Tang Sanzang: "You little crab demon, you actually swallowed my dragon blood essence? Your physical body is still usable, but your soul is pure, just what I need! Come, offer up everything!"

The soul of the First Dragon surged forth like a tidal wave, attempting to enter Tang Sanzang's crab body, seize his body, and devour his soul.

Tang Sanzang's crab eyes were wide open, and he silently recited scriptures, but his crab body was too weak to withstand the demon's power.

At the critical moment, a wisp of calamity-level energy quietly emanated from the depths of his soul.

That was the mark of the great calamity of the journey to the West, with purple energy swirling around it, igniting the karmic fire of the red lotus! The karmic fire bloomed like a lotus, its crimson flames raging, instantly engulfing the soul of the Ancestral Dragon.

"what--!"

The remnant soul of the Ancestral Dragon howled in agony, its ancient sins piled high, its body wreathed in karmic flames that burned endlessly.

It intended to devour, but was instead tempered by the karmic fire, its dragon body twisted and its scales peeled off inch by inch.

The Red Lotus Karmic Fire is the flame of Heaven's punishment for evil, specifically designed to burn away sins.

The First Dragon recalled the great war between the three races, during which he slaughtered countless witches and demons, and his regret was like a knife: "I...I am the Dragon Ancestor, what do I have to fear from this fire!"

But the karmic fire was merciless, layer upon layer, refining his soul into pure dragon essence power.

Tang Sanzang bathed in the karmic fire on his crab-like body, yet felt no burning pain whatsoever; instead, he felt his soul relax.

The immense energy of the calamity protected his body, while the karmic fire helped him temper himself.

The power of the Ancestral Dragon surged into his sea of ​​consciousness like a river. He stretched out his crab claws, his crab body shone with golden light, his meridians expanded, and his mind became clear.

The Earth Immortal Realm was shattered in an instant, and the Gate to Heavenly Immortals burst open! The crab shell cracked, and a human form reappeared. Tang Sanzang sat cross-legged in the blood, his white robes fluttering, and a purple mark between his brows shimmering.

His soul surged, and his sea of ​​consciousness became as vast as the ocean, containing the essence of the Ancestral Dragon.

He opened his eyes and sighed, "Amitabha, the karma of the First Emperor has all entered into the karma of this poor monk."

The cycle of eons continues, the will of Heaven is clear.

Within the hidden realm, deep within Yue Garden in Chang'an City, Jiang Wang sat cross-legged before the alchemy furnace, his hair and beard as white as snow, toying with an ancient jade slip in his hand.

The incense from the furnace wafted gently, the lingering aroma of the Hunyuan Pill still present.

He suddenly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the void, looking towards the far north, far south, and far west.

Three beams of purple energy shot into the sky, radiating auspicious light, causing the hidden realm barrier to tremble slightly.

"It's done."

Jiang Wang's lips curled up slightly, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes.

Three direct disciples, Li Bai, Guo Ziyi, and Du Fu, simultaneously took the Hunyuan Pill and attained the Dao of Celestial Immortals! In the far north snowfield, Li Bai's sword energy surged, and with a flick of his wine gourd, purple energy transformed into a long river, and his sword intent, like frost and snow, overwhelmed everything, as he broke through the barrier.

At the southernmost volcano, Guo Ziyi's spear flashed like a dragon, flames engulfing him. As he attained enlightenment, the hidden realm trembled slightly. He laughed loudly, "Master's kindness, Ziyi will forever remember!"

In the far western desert, Du Fu's poetic inspiration surged like a tide, his brushstrokes flowing freely, purple mist condensing into mountains and rivers, Confucianism and Taoism merging, leading directly to a celestial realm.

The three figures teleported and appeared together in Yue Garden, kneeling before Jiang Wang.

Li Bai, as handsome as ever, cupped his hands and said, "Master, your disciple Li Bai, thanks to the grace of the Hunyuan Pill, has achieved great success in swordsmanship."

"I am willing to serve as your master, and sweep across the three realms with my sword!"

Clad in armor, Guo Ziyi's voice boomed like thunder: "Master, Ziyi's spear skills have reached perfection. I swear to protect the Hidden Realm with my life!"

Dressed as a scholar, Du Fu's eyes gleamed with poetic light: "Master, your disciple Du Fu, with a poetic heart that reaches the heavens, is willing to use his pen as a weapon to help the human race rise."

Jiang Wang stroked his beard and smiled, then waved his sleeve to help the three of them up: "No need for formalities."

The Hunyuan Pill is the culmination of my life's work. The three of you each possess unique talents, and your attainment of enlightenment will come naturally.

However, Heaven has many eyes and ears; quickly conceal your aura, lest the Heavenly Court notice.

Upon hearing this, the three simultaneously activated their hidden realm secret technique, causing the purple energy to recede like a receding tide, leaving only a faint glow around them.

Jiang Wang nodded, then looked up at a corner of Yue Garden, where he saw another wisp of purple energy rising, as gentle as moonlight—it was Chang'e attaining enlightenment! Chang'e, dressed in a white dress, her wide sleeves fluttering, merged the power of the Moon Palace with the Hunyuan Pill, attaining the realm of a Celestial Immortal.

She bowed gracefully: "Grand Ancestor, E'er thanks the Primordial Elixir."

May the moonlight shine eternally, protecting the hidden realm.

Jiang Wang nodded: "Good! Chang'e, you will hold the key to the Moon Palace. This time, your enlightenment will help the human race infiltrate the Heavenly Court and make a deeper plan."

They all held their breath and waited for their opportunity.

Everyone obeyed, their breaths ceased, and Yue Garden returned to tranquility.

Jiang Wang took out an ancient stone seal from his sleeve; it was the Kongtong Seal! The seal was dark yellow, with dragons and phoenixes intertwined, and it seemed to possess the grandeur of mountains and rivers.

He handed it to Du Fu: "Du Fu, this treasure is the most precious treasure of the human race, and it can break the bondage of the Investiture of the Gods."

The deities on the list are mostly henchmen of the Heavenly Court. With this seal, you can secretly persuade them to leave the list and join our human race.

"It is your responsibility to undermine the Heavenly Court and strengthen the human race."

Du Fu received the seal, his hands trembling slightly as he felt the immense power within it. His eyes burned with fighting spirit: "Master, rest assured! Your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations."

Let poetry stir our hearts, let seals break free from constraints; humanity shall rise, and the格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the three realms and their order) of the three realms shall be rewritten by us!

Li Bai raised an eyebrow: "Senior brother has the seal, I have the sword."

"Brother Guo's spear strikes, Chang'e shines on the moon; the four hidden saints, united, what fear do they have of the Heavenly Court?"

Guo Ziyi laughed loudly: "Exactly! The Ancestor's plan is far-reaching. We only need to follow the plan, and the undercurrents of the Three Realms will naturally surge."

Deep within the Dragon Palace of the Western Sea, the palaces forged from coral shimmer with a cold, dazzling brilliance under the reflection of the deep blue water.

King Aoshun sat on his throne, his aged yet majestic face now twisted into a dark, furious rage.

His dragon whiskers trembled slightly, as if each one carried endless resentment.

Your Highness, Yaksha knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold jade brick, his voice low and urgent: "Your Majesty, that wicked monkey Sun Wukong, along with Pigsy, Sandy, and the White Dragon Horse, has been guarding outside the Ancestral Dragon Abyss for three days, not daring to take a single step."

It was all because that brat Ao Lie had been too talkative, reminding them that there was great danger hidden in the abyss, possibly a trap.

Upon hearing this, Ao Shun's dragon eyes flashed with two crimson rays. He slammed his palm heavily on the armrest, and the sound of coral shattering was like a thunderclap, causing the entire dragon palace to tremble slightly.

"Ao Lie? That wretched creature!"

He roared, his voice echoing through the water, causing the aquatic guards in the hall to tremble.

Memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

It was Ao Lie's wedding night. The wedding hall was brightly lit with red candles and filled with guests. Who knew that the young man's fiancée would have an affair with someone else, making the whole palace aware of it.

Where was Ao Lie? That brat didn't dare to face him directly, and only dared to set fire to the back hall of the Dragon Palace to vent his humiliation! The firelight illuminated half of the sea, but it couldn't burn away the shame in his heart.

Ao Shun was furious and wanted to use the Jade Emperor to get rid of his good-for-nothing son. He secretly sent a secret letter to the Heavenly Court, but the Jade Emperor, considering the face of the Dragon Clan, only demoted Ao Lie and did not kill him.

From that day on, Ao Shun regarded Ao Lie as a thorn in his side. (End of Chapter)