Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

As Jiang Liu spoke, expressing willingness to acknowledge guilt, yet with a heart concerned for all living beings under heaven, he requested the Jade Emperor to postpone his punishment until after he successfully completed the Journey to the West for Scriptures. The Jade Emperor nodded in agreement, and so the matter of Jiang Liu being brought to the Heavenly Court due to the murder of Emperor Ziwei was temporarily brought to a close.

Naturally, Jiang Liu wasn't inclined to linger in the Heavenly Court. After bidding farewell to the Jade Emperor and others, he turned to take his leave.

"Holy Monk, may you have a safe journey..." As Jiang Liu turned and left, the deities in Lingxiao Hall all spoke in unison, bidding Jiang Liu farewell with great enthusiasm.

For those unaware, it might truly seem as if Jiang Liu had come to the Heavenly Court as an honored guest.

"Thank you all for seeing me off! We are bound to meet again..." Jiang Liu expressed his gratitude to those like Emperor Zhenwu who had accompanied him all the way to the South Heavenly Gate.

"Holy Monk, you flatter us!" Following Jiang Liu's thanks, these immortals echoed in unison.

After exchanging a few more words of farewell, these deities watched as Jiang Liu went further away.

Ah, besides Jiang Liu, the Tathagata and his followers also bid farewell as they left.

Having had an unpleasant encounter with the Jade Emperor, since Jiang Liu had departed, the Tathagata naturally had no intention to remain in the Heavenly Court.

Jiang Liu left the Heavenly Court, yet flying in the air before him was the Tathagata.

Shortly after leaving the South Heavenly Gate, the Tathagata turned his head slightly, and looked at Jiang Liu, who was trailing behind by about half a body length, saying: "Xuanzang, your prestige now surpasses mine by far!"

Indeed, the Tathagata had observed the scenario just now, where the deities in Lingxiao Hall, including Emperor Zhenwu, were all eager to curry favor with Jiang Liu, while he seemed to be only a secondary consideration in the farewells.

If not for him, these deities would not have accompanied Jiang Liu to the South Heavenly Gate before stopping.

"Buddha, you overpraise me. Such words put me in a difficult position," Jiang Liu, unmoved by the flattery and currying favor from the gods, earnestly shook his head at such remarks.

"There is no need for this; I am delighted to see you receiving such treatment!" The Tathagata smiled kindly upon observing Jiang Liu's response.

Yet, as he spoke, he seemed to have recalled something, looking at Jiang Liu with a profound sigh.

"May I dare ask, Buddha, the reason for your sigh? If there is any service I may render, I am willing to go through fire and water..."

Seeing the Tathagata sigh before him, regardless of whether this sigh was genuine or not, Jiang Liu could not pretend not to have heard it, so he inquired of the Tathagata.

"Xuanzang, it is your sincerity I sigh over. Though favored by the Heavenly Dao and possessing extraordinary cultivation and divine skills, your heart is too earnest..." The Tathagata spoke, looking at Jiang Liu.

"Me? My heart earnest?" The Tathagata's words made Jiang Liu pause in surprise.

To think the Tathagata would evaluate him thus.

However, upon reflecting on what he did in Lingxiao Hall to prevent the conflict between the Tathagata and the Great Jade Emperor from ceasing prematurely, where he could have been declared innocent thanks to the intercession of the deities, but chose instead to accept blame, perhaps such an evaluation was indeed reasonable?

For others to say this might not matter much, but for the Tathagata to declare him earnest? Jiang Liu was somewhat bemused internally.

Is this like being sold yet counting one's own money? Though he schemed against the Tathagata, he still thinks he is a good person?

"Amitabha, the Jade Emperor is, after all, the master of the three realms, and killing Emperor Ziwei's disciple is indeed a crime. How can I let the Jade Emperor be put in an awkward position because of the gods' pleas for me? If there were no distinction of superior and subordinate, what would happen?"

Since the Tathagata claimed his heart was earnest, Jiang Liu didn't mind playing humble, uttering a Buddha mantra before responding.

This statement pleased the Tathagata greatly, making him nod slightly.

Though outwardly seeming like it was for the Jade Emperor, given such thoughts of superior and subordinate concerning the Jade Emperor, wouldn't Xuanzang be even more respectful toward me?

How could one not be fond?

For the Buddhist Sect, advocating equality among all beings, thoughts of hierarchy are discouraged, but naturally, the Tathagata wouldn't correct Jiang Liu.

After all, equality among beings is just a slogan; otherwise, why are there divisions such as Three-World Buddhas, King Buddhas, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas within the Buddhist Sect?

The concept of hierarchy, being a beneficial position for the Tathagata, gave him no reason to oppose it.

But given the situation, the Tathagata sought to increase favor with Jiang Liu, thus he expressed mock helplessness: "Alas, do what you deem right! About your capital punishment, it will just require more attention from me!"

He then intercepted Jiang Liu's attempt to speak, saying: "Enough, Xuanzang, don't say more! You feel guilty and deserving of the Jade Emperor's capital punishment because you believe it was correct!"

"But to me, you accomplished the grand mission of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, meritorious to all under heaven! If I let you suffer capital punishment, how would I bear this! You seek peace in your mind, and so do I…"

"Amitabha, Buddha's sincere care for his disciple, I will remember it in my heart! I dare not forget!" With the Tathagata having said things to this point, what else could Jiang Liu say? He could only nod, looking deeply grateful as he spoke.

The words of the Tathagata, what is their purpose? Isn't it just to make Jiang Liu feel grateful towards him?

Seeing Jiang Liu's deeply grateful expression, the Tathagata nodded subtly, feeling very satisfied within his heart.

With such gratitude, if in the future he needed to resurrect a few people, or if he accidentally faced a calamity, how could Xuanzang stand by and watch?

As the head of the Buddhist Sect, possessing the cultivation level of a Quasi-Saint, there aren't many situations that can lead to my demise. However, ultimately, I am not an indestructible Venerable Sage.

No one can predict the future; securing Xuanzang's loyalty is undoubtedly a safe retreat, isn't it?

The atmosphere between the Tathagata and Jiang Liu seemed very amicable, with the Tathagata appearing protective, and Jiang Liu expressing heartfelt gratitude. If an outsider were to see this, they would surely sigh emotionally.

The Tathagata turned and returned to the Great Thunder Monastery, as the head of the Buddhist Sect, naturally, he had many matters to handle.

As for Jiang Liu, he naturally turned back to the Journey to the West team. But as he watched the figure of the Tathagata slowly disappear, Jiang Liu secretly pursed his lips; feeling nauseated by the false appearance he had just acted out.

After Jiang Liu left the Lingxiao Hall, he closed the video connection between him and Sun Wukong. After reporting safety, it was enough to calm Sun Wukong and the others.

However, when Jiang Liu returned to the Journey to the West team, Sun Wukong and the others were all eagerly awaiting him.

Seeing him return, they swarmed towards him.

"Master, you've had a hard time coming back from the Lingxiao Hall! Let I, Old Sun, massage your legs!" Sun Wukong, the fastest, jumped forward, and because of his height, hugged Jiang Liu's leg and said.

"Master, Let I, Old Pig, massage your shoulders!" Following Sun Wukong's actions, proud of being in a bootlicking role, naturally Zhu Bajie wouldn't fall behind, he quickly stepped forward with a shameless smile towards Jiang Liu.

"Wait, what are you guys doing?" Seeing Sun Wukong and the others, Jiang Liu said with a chuckle and sorrow.

"Master, we all know what happened to you in the Heavenly Court; the entire Lingxiao Hall was pleading for you! Such acts, who in this world has such qualifications, even I, Old Sun, admire it greatly!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Sun Wukong couldn't help but speak.

In Sun Wukong's view, when he was the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, he was already quite influential in the Heavenly Court.

But when he really disrupted the Peach Banquet and stole the Supreme Elder Lord's Golden Core, did anyone plead for him? Was there ever the entire Lingxiao Hall pleading for him?

Comparing with this point, he was far inferior to his Master!

"Wukong, when did you get influenced by Bajie?" Seeing Sun Wukong's appearance, Jiang Liu felt that no matter how he looked, it wasn't quite right, he shook his head and sighed.

This Sun Wukong in front of him, acting like a bootlicker, is he still the unruly Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong, in his memory?

"Okay, the two elder brothers..."

Meanwhile, the White Mouse Demon couldn't hold back and stepped forward, speaking to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie: "I am the Holy Monk's maiden, naturally, these massaging tasks should be done by me. How am I supposed to behave with you guys like this?"

Alright, the White Mouse Demon's words made sense, so Sun Wukong loosened his hold on the leg.

"Master, when you showed I, Old Sun, the video, the entire Lingxiao Hall was already pleading for you; what happened exactly before that? Can't you tell I, Old Sun?" Sun Wukong asked Jiang Liu after loosening his monkey grip.

"Yes, yes, Master, I, Old Pig, am also very curious!" Zhu Bajie also nodded, rarely agreeing with Sun Wukong.

With a slight smile, Jiang Liu didn't intend to hide it, and began to briefly narrate what happened in the Lingxiao Hall to Sun Wukong and the others.

…

Meanwhile, Master Xuanzang killing Emperor Ziwei had already caused a stir in the Three Realms.

Afterwards, Xuanzang being captured by the Jade Emperor and taken to the heavens for punishment attracted attention from countless beings.

Then Xuanzang returned safely, many secretly investigated.

What exactly happened in the Heavenly Court? Why was Xuanzang released so easily?

Afterwards, the existence of the Soul-Returning Spell also caught everyone's attention.

For a time, countless mighty beings in the Three Realms and six paths were shaken!