Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

He waited for a moment, but received no response.

They exchanged another glance with the white-faced ghost soldier, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

The pale-faced ghost soldier whispered, "Old Black, something's not right."

The document clearly pointed to this place, but the monkey vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.

This...this doesn't make sense!

The dark-faced ghost soldier pondered, "Unless,"

Before he could finish speaking, a voice suddenly came from the void.

"What brings you two underworld messengers here so late at night?"

The voice seemed to be right next to my ear.

The two ghost soldiers shuddered and quickly looked around, but couldn't see a single person.

Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the void.

The figure was around forty years old, with a thin face, wearing a moon-white Taoist robe, a silk sash around his waist, and cloud-patterned shoes.

A gray sable perched on their shoulder, its amber eyes gazing at them silently.

A tiny jade mouse peeked out from my arms, its little eyes blinking curiously.

It was Li Yan.

The two ghost soldiers were startled at first, but then, sensing the aura around them, they felt a slight chill.

That aura was as clear as water, as deep as an abyss, with a faint sense of chaotic flow.

Although they had served in the underworld for hundreds of years and had seen many immortals, they had never seen such a sight.

The black-faced ghost soldier cupped his hands and said:

"This immortal master, I am a soul-collecting ghost soldier from the underworld, sent by King Yama to collect the soul of Sun Wukong from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower Fruit Mountain."

"May I ask, Immortal Master, have you seen that monkey?"

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"We did meet."

The two ghost soldiers' eyes lit up.

Where is he?

Li Yan did not answer, but only looked at the approval documents in their hands.

The three characters "Sun Wukong" on the document have now returned to normal and are clearly visible.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that the handwriting trembles slightly, as if it were there but not there.

Within Li Yan's inner mirror, the eye of cause and effect had already opened.

The document was covered with countless threads of cause and effect.

It is as thick as a child's arm and connects to the ten courts of the underworld.

As thin as a hair, it connects to the six departments of Heaven.

There was also a faint, almost imperceptible golden thread that connected to that unknowable place.

And Sun Wukong's name appears and disappears amidst the intertwining of countless causal threads.

Li Yan understood.

This matter of soul-stealing may seem ordinary, but it actually involves a wide range of issues.

If Sun Wukong were to be taken away, he would be furious and cause chaos in the underworld, thus erasing his name from the Book of Life and Death.

At that time, one will be entangled in cause and effect, burdened by heavy karma.

When the Heavenly Court investigates in the future, this will be irrefutable evidence.

The demon monkey caused chaos, trespassing into the underworld and altering life and death.

But what if we don't let them take it?

Those two ghost soldiers came on orders; if they return empty-handed, they will be punished.

Although they were just lowly soldiers, they were also caught in a situation beyond their control.

Li Yan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Gentlemen, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

The dark-faced ghost soldier said, "Please speak, Immortal Master."

Li Yan said, "That Sun Wukong is a stone monkey born from the earth. He absorbed the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. He has achieved great success in his cultivation and has already attained the status of a Taiyi Golden Immortal."

"A Taiyi Golden Immortal?"

The two ghost soldiers both paled.

They were just lowly soul-reaping ghosts, only capable of catching the souls of ordinary living beings.

Taiyi Golden Immortal, what kind of existence is that?

Even in the Heavenly Court, he was a supreme ruler.

How dare they try to seduce the soul of such a being?

The pale-faced ghost soldier trembled and said, "Immortal, please don't tease me."

If that monkey were truly a Taiyi Golden Immortal, why would his name appear on the official document?

Li Yan smiled slightly.

"Officers, have you noticed anything unusual about the name on that document?"

Upon hearing this, the two ghost soldiers quickly lowered their heads to take a closer look.

Upon closer inspection, the clues became clear.

The three characters "Sun Wukong" were clearly visible, yet they faintly shone with a golden light.

The golden light was extremely faint.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that the handwriting is slightly trembling.

The black-faced ghost soldier's expression changed drastically.

"This...this is..."

Li Yan said slowly, "Beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements, the Taiyi Golden Immortal has transcended the cycle of birth and death and is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Underworld."

"His name is on the Book of Life and Death, but it is merely a shadow of the past, not his present self."

"If the two officers forcibly seize it, they will be seducing an old shadow, not the body itself."

"To evoke old memories is futile."

He failed to reach her, and thus committed a transgression.

And this angered the monkey, who, in a fit of rage, stormed in, and the two officers…”

The two ghost soldiers were already sweating profusely from hearing this.

The pale-faced ghost soldier trembled as he cried, "Immortal Master, save us!"

Li Yan shook his head slightly.

"Saving you is not difficult. However, you must promise me one thing."

The two ghost soldiers hurriedly said, "Please speak, Immortal Master! Not just one, but ten, we'll agree!"

Li Yan said, "After you return, report to King Yama truthfully that Sun Wukong has attained the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, transcended life and death, and is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the underworld."

"As for the matter of the approval document, it is an old relic, a mistake made by mistake. I beg Your Majesty to investigate."

The two ghost soldiers exchanged a glance, their faces showing reluctance.

The dark-faced ghost soldier said, "Immortal Master, I am but a lowly ghost soldier, how dare I speak to King Yama in such a manner?"

Li Yan smiled slightly.

"You dare not, but I dare."

After saying that, he took out a jade talisman from his bosom.

The jade talisman was crystal clear, with a chaotic halo sealed within it.

It was the [Communication Jade Talisman] he had previously crafted.

He handed the jade talisman to the black-faced ghost soldier.

"Take this talisman back with you. If King Yama asks about it, present this talisman to him. I will explain the situation to him."

The black-faced ghost soldier took the jade talisman and felt a warm, gentle energy flow from his palm straight into his mind.

He felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that this talisman was extraordinary, and quickly put it away.

"Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!"

The two ghost soldiers bowed repeatedly and turned to leave.

Li Yan called out to them.

"Wait a minute."

The two ghost soldiers turned around.

Li Yan said, "Take another look at the name of Sun Wukong on that document."

The two ghost soldiers bowed their heads as instructed.

Upon seeing this, they were completely stunned.

The words "Sun Wukong" on the document had disappeared.

Instead, a faint golden light appeared.

The golden light flowed, faintly forming the character "无" (meaning "nothing").

The dark-faced ghost soldier said, "This...this is..."

Li Yan said, "When I was speaking with you just now, I had already removed the name of that old figure from the document."

"When you go back, just say that the document spontaneously combusted and the name disappeared. It has nothing to do with you."

The two ghost soldiers were dumbfounded.

half an hour.

thump!

The black-faced ghost soldier knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Immortal Master, your supernatural powers are vast! Immortal Master, your heart is filled with compassion!"

"I...I have no way to repay you, I am willing to serve you like a cow or a horse!"

The pale-faced ghost soldier also immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

Li Yan raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"There's no need for that. You should hurry back and report."

The two ghost soldiers then stood up, expressing their deepest gratitude, and transformed into two gusts of yin wind, disappearing in an instant.

Li Yan stood there, gazing in the direction where the two gusts of cold wind had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

The sable nuzzled against his cheek on his shoulder.

In my arms, the jade mouse poked its little head out and squeaked twice.

"Those two ghost messengers, they're gone?"

Li Yan nodded.

"They're gone."

Will they come back?

Li Yan smiled slightly.

"Not for now."

After saying that, he turned and looked towards the iron bridge, under the shade of the pine trees.

There, Sun Wukong was still leaning against the pine tree, fast asleep.

Its furry head drooped on its chest, snoring loudly.

Li Yan walked up to him and looked down at him.

Moonlight filtered through the pine branches, casting dappled shadows that fell upon his hairy face.

In his sleep, the monkey frowned slightly, as if sensing something.

Enjoy reading "Gou Zai's Journey to the West: Attaining Immortality" and savor the reading experience.

With a slight thought, Li Yan opened his Eye of Cause and Effect once more.

All around Sun Wukong, the gray-black thread that had been trembling among the countless causal threads had now calmed down.

But the other two, one a dark blue line as thick as a child's arm.

A faint golden thread was still trembling slightly, its frequency a few degrees faster than before.

Li Yan understood.

This soul-stealing affair is merely the prelude.

The real show is yet to come.

He took a deep breath and sat down cross-legged.

It stood quietly guarding Sun Wukong's side.

The moonlight, like water, spills across the mountains and forests.

In the distance, inside the Water Curtain Cave, the snores of a group of monkeys were deafening.

Nearby, beside the iron plate bridge, a waterfall cascades down like a ribbon.

Li Yan closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the grotto.

That small world, spanning three thousand miles, is slowly turning.

Above the dome, the starry sky is dazzling.

On the earth, dragon veins meander.

In the center, the nine-petaled golden lotus blooms quietly.

Golden patterns flow endlessly on the petals.

Within the heart of the flower, that single point of chaotic light trembled slightly.

Li Yan's thoughts stirred slightly, triggering the Eye of Cause and Effect.

The chaotic light suddenly shone brightly.

Countless causal lines extended from his body, connecting in all directions.

He observed carefully and identified them one by one.

Several more golden rays of good fortune, each as thick as a child's arm, appeared at that moment.

One of them leads to the direction in which the two ghost soldiers disappeared.

That is the good deed he sowed today.

If the opportunity arises in the future, it will surely bring about a good outcome.

Li Yan nodded slightly and continued to observe.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

Among the countless causal lines, one, as thin as a hair and grayish-black in color, was connecting to the north.

That direction was exactly where the aura they had sensed earlier was located.

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

He immediately activated the [Guicang] tortoise shell.

Chaotic light surged from the tortoise shell, instantly enveloping the gray-black line layer by layer.

The thread struggled for a moment in the chaotic light before finally calming down.

Li Yan let out a long breath.

The northerners were still secretly observing.

Today's soul-stealing incident is probably also related to him.

However, due to his extremely high position and secretive nature, it was difficult to get a full picture of him in a short time.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, suppressing his thoughts.

The most urgent task is to protect Sun Wukong.

As for the northerners, we can only deal with them gradually.

He closed his eyes and continued his practice.

Inside the grotto, the nine-grade golden lotus swayed gently.

The gentle sunlight sprinkles down, nourishing this world.

Silent all night.

The next day, at dawn.

Sunlight filters through the pine branches, casting dappled shadows.

Sun Wukong slowly opened his eyes.

He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and looked around.

Seeing Li Yan sitting cross-legged beside him, he was taken aback.

"Brother? You... what are you doing here?"

Li Yan opened his eyes and smiled slightly.

"The king was drunk last night, and I was worried, so I stayed here to keep watch."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and grinned, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, brother. I'm not a good drinker, and I've gotten this drunk."

As he spoke, he stood up and stretched.

Suddenly, he frowned.

"what?"

Li Yan asked, "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "I had a dream last night."

"Oh? What kind of dream?"

Sun Wukong said, "I dreamt that two ghost soldiers came with a warrant to take my soul."

"They said my lifespan was about to end and they wanted to take me to the underworld."

"I was about to go with them when suddenly my vision blurred and the two ghost soldiers disappeared."

"Then I woke up."

"Brother, don't you think this dream is strange?"

Sun Wukong scratched his ear and said, "What am I thinking about all day? Why am I thinking about those two devil soldiers?"

Li Yan said, "Your Majesty need not worry. It was just a dream."

Sun Wukong nodded, then seemed to remember something.

"By the way, brother, before I fell asleep last night, I vaguely felt someone talking next to me."

But what are you saying, brother?

Li Yan shook his head.

"No. I've been here the whole time, without saying a word."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and muttered, "That's strange. I, Old Sun, clearly heard someone talking..."

Li Yan said, "Your Majesty may be hallucinating due to drunkenness. Alcohol can cloud judgment and also impair hearing. Just drink less in the future."

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Brother is right. I, Old Sun, will never drink so much again."

After saying that, he picked up Xiao Zuanfeng, who had somehow crawled up to his side, and strode towards the Water Curtain Cave.

"Kids! Wake up! The sun's already high in the sky!"

The shouts echoed through the mountains and forests.

The monkeys woke up one by one, and their playful noises began to rise.

Li Yan stood under the shade of the pine tree, watching the golden figure gradually disappear into the distance, remaining silent for a long time.

The sable nuzzled against his cheek on his shoulder.

In my arms, the jade mouse poked its little head out and squeaked twice.

"Does Your Majesty not know what happened last night?"

Li Yan shook his head, but his brows furrowed even more.

He was entangled by the aura of calamity, his mind gradually becoming tainted, and his heart subtly shrouded in the filth of calamity.

"Therefore, last night Your Majesty only drank a few jars of fruit wine, yet you were so overcome by its effects that intoxication clouded your mind, your magical powers were blocked, and you became completely unaware."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the stone chamber.

Back in the stone chamber, Li Yan sat down cross-legged.

He took out the mother talisman of the [Communication Jade Talisman] and held it in his palm.

The jade talisman was clear, with a faint halo of light flowing within it.

That was a wisp of divine thought he left in the sub-talisman.

If those two ghost soldiers present the talisman to Yama, Yama will surely probe it with his divine sense.

At that time, he will be able to use that talisman to communicate with Yama from afar.

Li Yan closed his eyes and focused his mind on the jade talisman.

Within the jade talisman lay a void.

In the void, a point of golden light flickered.

That was the divine thought he left in the talisman.

Li Yan sensed the golden light with his mind.

The golden light trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

That was a sign that the sub-symbol had not yet been activated.

Li Yan wasn't in a hurry; he simply waited quietly.

About an hour later.

That point of golden light suddenly shone brightly.

Li Yan was at a loss.

He immediately activated his divine sense and connected with the golden light.

In an instant, his vision blurred.

Upon closer inspection, I found myself in a grand hall.

The main hall was majestic and imposing, with a solemn atmosphere.

Ten green lanterns hang high above the palace roof.

Ten thrones were arranged in the hall.

On the throne sat the Ten Kings of Hell.

The ten kings sat upright, their gazes all fixed on the ghost soldier.

The black-faced ghost soldier held the jade talisman in both hands and raised it above his head.

"Your Majesty, that...that immortal is within this talisman."

Yama, the King of Hell, raised his hand in a gesture of invitation.

The jade talisman slowly rose and hung in the hall.

The gazes of the ten kings all fell upon the jade talisman.

Within the jade talisman, Li Yan's illusory image slowly appeared.

He stood in the hall and nodded slightly to the ten kings.

"This humble Taoist priest, Li Yan, greets the Ten Kings of Hell."

Yama, the King of Hell, spoke, his voice booming like a bell.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I have already heard about what happened last night from the two ghost soldiers."

Has Sun Wukong truly attained the status of a Taiyi Golden Immortal?

Li Yan nodded.

"I dare not deceive King Yama. Sun Wukong has indeed attained the status of a Taiyi Golden Immortal."

"The two ghost soldiers were ordered to collect souls, but this was a mistake, not their fault."

Upon hearing this, the ten kings looked at each other in bewilderment.

King Qin Guang asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you have any evidence to support your claim?"

Li Yan smiled slightly.

"The proof is here."