Chaos Spirit Field

The hail continued to fall until dawn. Zhao Shanhe looked at the devastation on the ground and couldn't help but sigh. The Wu Clan had almost been wiped out that year, and they deserved it. Even if they were powerful, they couldn't act so recklessly.

Zhu Bajie couldn't help but ask, "Master, what kind of monster is in this Black Water River that has such great magical powers?"

Zhao Shanhe replied with a melancholy look on his face, "Xuanming, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, has Xuanming True Water that can turn water into ice. It will be difficult for us to cross the river."

Sun Wukong had heard of the fame of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, so he suggested, "Master, why don't we take a detour?"

"Master wanted to take a detour, but the Buddhist sect wouldn't allow it." Zhao Shanhe felt helpless. His entire journey had been arranged by his opponent, leaving him feeling incredibly frustrated. But to gain more merit and power, he could only silently endure it, no matter how uncomfortable it was.

Zhu Bajie said anxiously, "Master, we can't be trapped by the Black Water River forever, right?"

Zhao Shanhe replied helplessly, "Bajie, Master spoke with Xuanming last night. He promised not to attack, but he also wouldn't take back the Xuanming True Water."

Zhu Bajie asked, "Master, you know everything, but is there no way to deal with this Xuanming True Water?"

"If the Xuanming True Water becomes ownerless, it will not be difficult for me to collect it. The key lies in Xuanming. Let's go meet him again."

Zhao Shanhe and his companions came to the Black Water River again. Zhu Bajie touched the water and found it icy cold. He said, "Master, I, Zhu Bajie, can transform into my true form, Zhu Ganglie, and swim a maximum of 800 miles in the Black Water River."

After feeling the water temperature, Sha Seng said dejectedly, "Master, Sha Seng is incompetent. He can't even swim a mile."

Long Shisi touched the water of the Black Water River and said, "Master, this Xuanming True Water is a treasure. We can't let it go. Little Shisi can only swim a hundred miles at most."

Zhao Shanhe came up with a plan upon hearing this. He smiled and said, "Nine hundred miles is only half the distance of the Black Water River. It seems we need to talk to Xuanming. Wukong, call for help."

Sun Wukong used his golden cudgel to stir up the Black Water River. Xuanming came out with an angry face and shouted, "Xuanzang, I have already said that I will not interfere with your crossing of the river. Don't push your luck."

Zhao Shanhe replied with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Xuanming, I'd like to introduce you to a treasure. My eldest disciple's weapon, the golden cudgel, is the magic needle used by King Yu to control floods. Just stirring the water with it will cause turbulent waves and shake the mountains. Wukong, three times each morning, noon, and evening. I didn't sleep well last night because of the hailstorm, so I'll go back and catch up on some sleep."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Ming stopped Zhao Shanhe and said, "Xuanzang, please don't go too far."

Zhao Shanhe replied, "Xuanming, the Queen Mother Hou Tu sacrificed herself for the Wu Clan, yet you want to make things difficult for her husband. Who is going too far? If you can't stand it, get out of here right away. Wukong, change it to once every half hour. Don't disturb my sweet sleep."

Xuanming was furious. This meant he wouldn't have a moment's peace, but he didn't dare attack. The Wu clan's backer was Hou Tu Niangniang. If she lost her protection, the Wu clan would be destroyed in an instant. Every member of the Wu clan was a walking bag of merit. Although he had selfish motives, he didn't dare gamble with the Wu clan. So he said, "Xuanzang, I can't afford to offend you. I'm leaving now."

Zhao Shanhe quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanming, your treasure has been left behind. Aren't you going to take it with you?"

Xuan Ming smiled and said, "I don't want it anymore. You can do whatever you want with it."

Zhao Shanhe smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanming, you said it yourself. The Wu people are upright and self-reliant. If we go back on our word, we will be ridiculed by the world."

Xuan Ming hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Xuanzang, you are truly cunning and cunning. I was almost tricked by you. If you have the ability, take the Xuan Ming True Water away. I will not even frown."

Zhao Shanhe said to Zhu Bajie, "Bajie, transform into your true form, Zhu Ganglie, and carry me across the river."

Zhu Bajie said bitterly, "Master, I can only swim 800 miles."

Zhao Shanhe said earnestly, "Bajie, eight hundred miles is not your limit. I believe you can do it. Keep going."

Unable to disobey his master's orders, Zhu Bajie had no choice but to bite the bullet and transform into Zhu Ganglie and come to the Black Water River. Zhao Shanhe jumped onto his back and gave him orders.

"Bajie, the goal is nine hundred miles. Master believes you can do it."

"Master, eight hundred miles is my limit."

Zhao Shanhe said with a stern face, "Bajie, if you fail to complete the mission, you will be punished by the Tightening Curse. Your Master is keeping an eye on you.

After arriving at their destination, Zhao Shanhe smiled with satisfaction and said, "Bajie, look, we're here! Sometimes, you just need to push yourself to create miracles."

However, at this time, Zhu Bajie was already exhausted and panting, with no strength left, and shivering from the cold. He panted and complained, "Master, I really have no strength left. What should I do for the remaining 900 miles?"

Zhao Shanhe smiled and said soothingly, "Don't worry, let Long Shisi carry me for the rest of the journey. After all, he is my personal mount. Little Shisi, get down quickly and carry me on your back."

Long Shisi replaced Zhu Bajie and did not move. He said, "Master, if you have any tricks, use them quickly. Little Shisi can't swim at all. It's too cold here."

Zhao Shanhe replied, "Don't worry, soaking for a while will do you good. This place is just right."

As they were talking, Xuanming suddenly appeared in the air. He sneered, "Xuanzang, your disciple Zhu Bajie is quite capable, having swum so far. However, I must warn you that after dark, the power of the Xuanming True Water will be even stronger. You'd better be careful, as the sun is about to set."

Zhao Shanhe looked at Xuanming and smiled faintly. "Thank you for your reminder, Daoist Xuanming. If you have nothing else to do, please leave as soon as possible. I will be collecting your treasure shortly, and I'm worried you might regret it."

After hearing this, Xuanming's face suddenly turned gloomy. He said angrily, "Xuanzang, if you have the ability, then go ahead and give it a try. I am not a man who goes back on his word."

Zhao Shanhe replied with a smile: "That's good, Calabash Brothers, it's up to you." After that, he took out a blue gourd, which was grown from the gourd vine he got in Pingdingshan. There were seven in total, each with a different color and effect.

The gourd was just a gourd; it hadn't transformed into the Calabash Brothers. Zhao Shanhe held the gourd toward the river below him, and saw the Black Water River gradually become clearer. Xuanming watched all this with a painful expression, truly shooting himself in the foot.

Seeing this, Zhu Bajie couldn't help but complain, "Master, you have this magic gourd, why didn't you take it out earlier? I almost froze to death."

Zhao Shanhe said earnestly, "Bajie, stop complaining. You're really taking advantage of me. I did this for two reasons: one is to train you, and the other is to prevent someone from regretting their decision."

It goes without saying that this person is Xuan Ming. He feels extremely regretful and thinks that he has been taken advantage of.