Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

White Dragon Horse, hooves heading west, carrying Sanzang Monk of Tang trotting along three...

Uh, accompanied by three disciples, leisurely heading towards the Western Heaven.

If someone unaware sees their journey to the west, it would simply look like a sightseeing tour.

"Hey, hey, disciples, it's already late! Hurry and rest!" Jiang Liu spoke after looking at the sky and indeed, it was near dusk.

Since the business with Zhurong, in the blink of an eye, another week's time had passed.

In this week, Jiang Liu and his group had walked about two to three hundred li.

Because it's winter now, the sky gets dark very early.

If calculated in terms of one's previous life experience, around seven o'clock in the summer evenings it's still light, but come winter, around five in the evening, it's already dark.

So, if one were to say which season Jiang Liu liked the most, it would naturally be winter!

The early darkness allows him to rest early and not have to continue on the journey.

Isn't that great?

After taking out the Exquisite Immortal Mansion, Jiang Liu and his companions entered inside.

Since everyone's progress in recent days had been delightful, Jiang Liu was in quite a good mood and asked, "Disciples, what shall we eat tonight?"

"Master, whatever you make, I love to eat, hehehe..." Zhu Bajie, acting like a flattering sycophant, was the first to speak, even licking his lips as if drooling.

"I, Old Sun, don't really mind!" Sun Wukong uncharacteristically didn't oppose Zhu Bajie's words, shrugged and said.

Indeed, Zhu Bajie's words resonated with Sun Wukong, as he found the master's cooking undoubtedly delicious.

"Master, I think we should have hotpot. It feels the best to eat hotpot during winter!" Meanwhile, Sha Wujing didn't follow the typical response pattern of "Senior Brother and Second Brother are right," but offered his own suggestion.

"Hotpot? Sure!" Listening to Sha Wujing's suggestion, Jiang Liu thought for a moment and agreed with a nod.

Eating hotpot in winter does indeed feel most appropriate.

Since they decided on hotpot, everyone naturally began preparing it.

Everyone was quite adept at preparing hotpot, so soon, the Taiji Yin-Yang Pot was presented, the broth boiled, homemade chili oil and spicy sauce were added, emitting a pungent aroma that made Zhu Bajie sniff deeply a few times.

The hotpot base was ready, the wine was warmed, and the master and disciples were about to start putting the dishes in.

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound at the door.

"Our Exquisite Immortal Mansion seems to be placed on a cliff, right? It's already dark, who could be knocking?" Sha Wujing appeared baffled upon hearing the knock.

However, despite speaking, Sha Wujing rose to open the door anyway.

Jiang Liu and the others were also inwardly astonished.

It's dark, in the wilderness and on a cliff, and suddenly, someone is knocking at the door? Indeed quite a peculiar situation.

Soon, Sha Wujing brought someone in, a middle-aged man in a red robe, exuding a festive aura.

"Master, Tianxi Star happened to be passing by, so he came in to ask for a cup of wine!" Without waiting for Jiang Liu to open the character panel to see the guest, Sha Wujing spoke, indicating he recognized this person.

"Tianxi Star? How come you have time to descend today? Usually, don't you enjoy fine food and drink in the Heavenly Court? Back in the day, I, Old Pig, envied you the most!" Looking at the man who walked in, Zhu Bajie greeted him with a smile.

"Marshal Tianpeng jests with me. My position as Tianxi Star is just a sinecure, nowhere near as prestigious as yours, managing eighty thousand naval troops, lofty and powerful!"

Listening to Zhu Bajie's words to him, Tianxi Star laughed, reciprocating with a compliment to Zhu Bajie.

"Tianxi Star!?" Hearing the identity of the man in front, Jiang Liu secretly marveled.

One of the celestial star abodes? This position isn't as renowned as those of Greedy Wolf or Army Penetration, but why does it sound familiar to me?

Where have I heard of it?

Character panel!

Secretly astonished, Jiang Liu looked at Tianxi Star before him, murmured to himself, and opened the character panel to take a look.

ID: Tianxi Star (White).

Gender: Male.

Profession: Deity.

Level: 61.

Equipment: ...

"A level 61 white panel? Barely considered a Heavenly Immortal level?" Jiang Liu murmured to himself as he looked at the panel of Tianxi Star.

To Jiang Liu, a mere Heavenly Immortal now naturally seemed like a minor character.

"Huh? Wait, I remember now..."

The white panel of level 61 naturally didn't concern Jiang Liu, but soon a thought crossed his mind. Wasn't this Tianxi Star exactly King Zhou of the Investiture of the Gods period?

In the War of Investiture, King Zhou ultimately self-immolated on the Star-Plucking Tower, after which he was made Tianxi Star by the Investiture of the Gods, wasn't he?

From a certain perspective, King Zhou seems to be the last Human Emperor in the history of the Human Clan, right?

In terms of status, the Human Emperor King Zhou and the Heavenly Emperor, Jade Emperor, ought to be of the same rank.

After King Zhou, all emperors considered themselves Sons of Heaven.

"Has King Zhou fallen to such a state now?" Watching King Zhou utter complimentary words to Zhu Bajie, Jiang Liu momentarily felt uneasy.

If it was an ordinary level 61 white panel entity complimenting Zhu Bajie, Jiang Liu wouldn't think much of it; it would be natural.

But now, for the almighty Human Emperor to fall to such a condition!?

Despite ancient legends portraying King Zhou as tyrannical and unjust, one thing was clear: as the Human Emperor, King Zhou held a very high status.

As the last Human Emperor, to have ended up as a minor figure in the Heavenly Court naturally evokes a sigh.

It's like two countries with kings having equal status, but ultimately one country was taken over by the other.

The once king now reduced to a mere county magistrate or even a minor jail head...

Such a stark contrast naturally provokes reflection and sighs of emotion.

"Greetings, Holy Monk!"

After greeting Zhu Bajie and the others, Tianxi Star then turned to Jiang Liu, offering a serious salute.

But Jiang Liu sidestepped Tianxi Star's salute, showing no intention of accepting it.

"You're too courteous. I dare not accept your salute! Since we have met, it is fate. Please take a seat, Xiaobai, add another chair!" While not overly warm towards King Zhou, Jiang Liu nevertheless fulfilled his duties as a host, inviting King Zhou to sit and instructing Xiaobai to bring another chair.

"Thank you, Holy Monk!" Jiang Liu's personal invitation to join them made King Zhou feel overwhelmed with favor.

As the saying goes, a phoenix fallen from grace is not as good as a chicken. Since being conferred the title of Tianxi Star, King Zhou felt that things have changed greatly; many who once obeyed him have now been deified, holding much higher status.

He had long become accustomed to this over the years.

Never expected that Master Xuanzang would still show such respect towards him.

Who, after all, is Master Xuanzang?

King Zhou was aware of recent events concerning Xuanzang and his party; Manjushri and Samantabhadra perished at his hands.

Master Xuanzang dared publicly oppose the Emperor of Longevity at Longevity Hall.

Each move of his seemed distant to someone now only identifiably as Tianxi Star.

And Xuanzang was indeed a figure not easily provoked by the Immortals and Buddhas.

Yet, he extended an invitation to someone like him, Tianxi Star?

This indeed left him somewhat flattered.

There are very few in the six realms of the three worlds who have the qualification to sit at the same table as Holy Monk Xuanzang and the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, aren't there?

Offering his hospitality, after inviting King Zhou to sit, Jiang Liu naturally had no intention to treat him differently as they drank and enjoyed the hot pot, which made King Zhou's eyes shine.

"Holy Monk, I consider myself accustomed to mountain and sea delicacies, but this hot pot is uniquely flavorful!" King Zhou exclaimed, savoring the food in the pot while drinking wine.

"If you like it, eat more until you're full!" Hearing King Zhou's words, Jiang Liu smiled slightly.

By a twist of fate, King Zhou happening to pass by sought a glass of wine here?

Whether that was true or not, Jiang Liu chose to believe it was for now.

If it were true, Jiang Liu didn't mind offering him a hot pot meal.

If it weren't true, and King Zhou had other motives for seeking him, Jiang Liu was willing to wait for him to speak up.

The hot pot feast left both host and guest thoroughly pleased, albeit the scene was messy.

The Taiji Yin-Yang Pot not only enhanced deliciousness and freshness but also had a special effect for sincere conversations.

Thus, after finishing the hot pot, in addition to Jiang Liu not putting on airs, King Zhou felt much closer to Jiang Liu and the others.

"Holy Monk, there is something I wonder if I should say?" As the hot pot meal neared its end, after some hesitation, King Zhou spoke.

"Speak freely!" Jiang Liu replied.

"It's like this: although the Human Clan still plays the leading role in the world, there is no Human Emperor now, thus the Human Clan is under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court! Over this matter, I feel both guilty and regretful in my heart!"

After organizing his words slightly, King Zhou spoke to Jiang Liu.

"Hmm!" Regarding King Zhou's statement, Jiang Liu nodded slightly, indicating for King Zhou to continue.

"Unfortunately, I am now insignificant, with low cultivation level, though regretful over the current situation, I am helpless. Thus, I came today to seek out the Holy Monk, hoping to request your assistance for the entire Human Clan!"