Chaos Spirit Field

Zhao Shanhe pulled out the tight-fitting curse from his bosom and said to Yuan Hong, "Yuan Hong, it's not too late to regret now. Once you put it on, it will be difficult to take it off."

Yuan Hong's face was filled with helplessness. He knew that once he put on the golden hoop, he would become a lackey of Buddhism, but he had no choice. So he said, "Master, do I have any other choice?"

Zhao Shanhe replied: "I hate forcing others the most. Let me be frank with you. The golden hoop is more overbearing than the Five Elements Mountain on your body. This is your own choice. Don't regret it. My name is Xuanzang. Don't recognize the wrong master." After saying that, he slowly put the golden hoop on Yuan Hong's head.

Yuan Hong felt that the tight headband didn't seem to have any effect, and he couldn't help but feel contemptuous. He said, "Master, can you help me remove the Five Elements Mountain from my body now? Ah!"

A shrill scream echoed through the Five Elements Mountain. Yuan Hong realized that he had underestimated the power of the Tightening Curse. The pain from the depths of his soul far surpassed the pain brought on by the Five Elements Mountain. Zhao Shanhe said coldly, "Yuan Hong, it seems you don't want to be Sun Wukong. You've wasted my Tightening Curse. Goodbye."

Yuan Hong looked at Zhao Shanhe's departing figure in horror and shouted, "Master, I know I was wrong and I will never do it again."

Zhao Shanhe stopped, turned around, and stared at Yuan Hong coldly. "You can still speak complete sentences, it seems you really know your mistakes. This tight spell of yours has an automatic recognition function. If you have second thoughts, you will suffer a fate worse than death. Its punishment acts directly on the soul. If you do it again, I will not show mercy."

Yuan Hong had already experienced the feeling of the golden hoop, and knew that what Zhao Shanhe said was true. He should not have agreed to go on the journey to obtain the scriptures. This bald man seemed to be more cruel than the Emperor of Heaven. He didn't know how he had offended him to be so hostile.

Zhao Shanhe saw Yuan Hong had calmed down. He was stunned by the sight of the Five Elements Mountain, as it lacked the six-character motto. Unlike the Five Finger Mountain, this thing was created by the Celestial Emperor, making it difficult to properly rescue Yuan Hong. If it were another identity, it would only take a kick. But Xuanzang, still a mortal, was still a question of what to do.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, observing from the shadows, saw Zhao Shanhe circling the Five Elements Mountain and finally realized something was amiss. According to the original plan, the Emperor of Heaven would take the Five Elements Mountain away as soon as Xuanzang and Yuan Hong reached an agreement. Was that even possible now? The thought of it gave her a headache. Crucially, she was completely helpless against the Five Elements Mountain.

Yuan Hong saw Zhao Shanhe scratching his head anxiously and was speechless. This monk seemed a little unreliable. He said, "Master, if you have no other options, you can ask the Buddhist sect for help."

Zhao Shanhe said stubbornly, "Who said I can't do anything? I'm looking for the center of the formation."

"Master, have you found it?"

"It turns out that the center of the formation is blocked by your monkey head. It made me look for it hard but still can't open it."

Yuan Hong said aggrievedly: "Master, I want to leave, but I can't move."

Zhao Shanhe said embarrassedly, "Master forgot about this. Please be patient."

Yuan Hong truly regretted it. He felt that Monk Xuanzang was deliberately humiliating him by actually meditating on his head. This was indeed the case. Zhao Shanhe wanted an obedient monkey, not a rebellious one. Trampling on its dignity was only the first step. The journey to the West was still long, so he had to find something to do, like monkey training.

Guanyin Bodhisattva left the Five Elements Mountain and reported the matter to Buddha Tathagata.

"Report to the Buddha, the pilgrim has stopped at the Five Elements Mountain."

The Tathagata Buddha said, "The Five Elements Mountain is a test for those seeking the scriptures. If they cannot even pass this level, it proves that they have no destiny with Buddhism. Guanyin Bodhisattva, you just need to wait patiently."

Guanyin Bodhisattva did not find a solution, so she had to leave the Great Leiyin Temple and came to the Five Elements Mountain. She saw Zhao Shanhe still sitting on Yuan Hong's head to practice.

At this moment, Zhao Shanhe opened his eyes and said, "It is a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar. Guanyin Bodhisattva, why don't you show yourself to see me?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva showed up and asked in confusion, "Xuanzang, how did you find me?"

Zhao Shanhe took a deep sniff and said, "Fragrant! As the saying goes, beauty is known by its fragrance. The faint lotus fragrance of the Bodhisattva is so fresh and unworldly that no other smell can mask it."

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked curiously, "What does the Queen of Heaven smell like?"

"The fragrance of peony is noble and full of conquest."

"Where's the Moon Goddess?"

"The rich sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance permeates every inch of the skin, making it impossible to stop."

Yuan Hong, standing at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain, was stunned. Who was this monk? He suddenly felt a little panicked. Was it too late to regret now?

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "Xuanzang, the Buddha said that the Five Elements Mountain is a test for you, and Buddhism will not intervene."

Zhao Shanhe didn't panic after hearing this. He calmly jokingly said, "As for the test, I'm afraid we're helpless. There are only three people in Buddhism who can dissolve the Celestial Emperor's magical powers: my master, the Sage Zhunti, and my uncle, the Sage Jieyin. They can't take action right now. Besides them, there's also the Tathagata Buddha, who can't leave the Great Leiyin Temple. The others are far less powerful than the Celestial Emperor, so naturally they can't dissolve the Five Elements Mountain."

Guanyin Bodhisattva thought so too. She asked, "Xuanzang, do you have a way to solve the Five Elements Mountain?"

Zhao Shanhe spoke eloquently, "There are many people in the world who can dissolve the Five Elements Mountain, but few dare to do it. The only one I can ask is my sworn brother Zhao Zilong. If he were to take action, it would only take a moment."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Do you need me to help you go to Sanxian Island?"

Zhao Shanhe shook his head and said, "I have an agreement with Zhao Zilong. I must go and invite him personally, otherwise he won't come. Dissolving the Five Elements Mountain may be difficult for others, but for someone like me who possesses the five elements, it's just a minor inconvenience. Guanyin Bodhisattva, you've heard so many secrets. We are in the same boat. From now on, we will stick together and live and die together!"

At this moment, Yuan Hong, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interrupted and asked, "Master, what kind of secret is this?"

Zhao Shanhe smiled slightly and said softly, "The Emperor of Heaven also has the Five Elements spiritual roots. No wonder he asked Wen Zhong to kill me at all costs. It's not just because I have an affair with the Queen of Heaven, but also because I might pose a threat to his position as the Emperor of Heaven."

A layer of dense beads of sweat instantly appeared on Guanyin Bodhisattva's forehead. This time, she was killed by Yuan Hong. Why was she asking such nonsense? She secretly regretted it. She should have left just now. It was probably too late to escape now... Yuan Hong was even more panicked at this moment. This was not a journey to obtain scriptures, but a rebellion. Now he was on the pirate ship, it was too late to regret.

Zhao Shanhe couldn't help but laugh at the panicked Guanyin Bodhisattva and Yuan Hong. He said soothingly, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, great crises often bring great opportunities. The reason you haven't achieved Buddhahood is because you lack the courage. If you can seize this opportunity, you might be able to break free from your constraints and achieve enlightenment."