All Heavens: Sharing Talents with Countless Mes

But seeing Sun Wukong's pale face, Chu Yang knew that there was no other choice now. This Sorrowful Cloud Ravine should not be far from Longevity Mountain; this was their only hope.

“Alright, let’s go to Wuzhuang Temple!” Chu Yang made the decision. “Master, please rest for a while. We’ll set off as soon as it’s light. The fog in Sorrowful Cloud Ravine is strange. Bai Ling shouldn’t be able to find this place for a while. We’ll wait until the yang energy rises at dawn and the fog dissipates a bit before we move out.”

Tang Sanzang nodded without saying a word. He walked to the fire, stopped chanting the scriptures, and instead sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to rest. He needed to conserve his strength; he knew that on the road ahead, he couldn't continue being a burden who only cried for help.

Chu Yang rearranged several more concealed defensive formations at the cave entrance, then returned to the campfire and began to fully activate the sword spirit within his body, absorbing the spiritual energy of the surrounding world to restore his overdrawn mana.

The night remained long and cold.

The wind outside the bamboo grove still howled mournfully.

But in this cramped cave, the three beating hearts are like a volcano about to erupt.

The darkness before dawn is always the deepest.

After an unknown amount of time, when the faintest glimmer of dawn outside the cave entrance finally pierced through the thick black mist of Sorrowful Cloud Gorge, Chu Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

"It's dawn. Let's go."

Chu Yang stood up, extinguished the campfire on the ground, and covered up the traces of ashes.

Tang Sanzang quickly stood up as well. He straightened his tattered inner robe, and although it lacked the splendor of his brocade cassock, his posture was more upright than ever before. He didn't even reach for the nine-ringed staff that symbolized his identity as a pilgrim, but instead walked towards the cave entrance with his hands empty.

With Chu Yang's help, Sun Wukong struggled to his feet. He shrunk his golden cudgel into the size of an embroidery needle and put it in his ear, because he no longer had the strength to even swing it.

"Brother...this white dragon horse..." Sun Wukong glanced at the white dragon horse grazing outside the cave, hesitating. The white dragon horse was too conspicuous and would easily expose him.

"We can't lose the horse," Chu Yang said decisively. "The White Dragon Horse is also the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King, and it's a bargaining chip for us when facing the Buddhist sect. Besides, Master needs a mount given his current physical condition."

Chu Yang walked up to the white dragon horse, took out a yellow talisman from his storage space, and stuck it on the horse's head with a snap.

"This is a concealment talisman, which can mask the horse's scent and spiritual energy fluctuations." Chu Yang patted the horse's back. "Master, mount up. We must leave Sorrow Cloud Ravine as quickly as possible and head straight for Longevity Mountain."

Tang Sanzang mounted the horse with stiff movements, but without the slightest hesitation.

Chu Yang helped Sun Wukong, and the three of them and their horse quietly left the bamboo forest cave, embarking once again on the thorny and dangerous road to the west.

Although the white mist in Sorrowful Cloud Stream had thinned somewhat, it was still chillingly cold. The morning dew pattered on the withered yellow leaves, making an extremely faint dripping sound.

Instead of taking the official road, they deliberately chose those wild paths with complex terrain and overgrown weeds. Chu Yang led the way, using the Sword of Slaying Karma to cut through the thorns blocking the path, Sun Wukong followed behind despite the excruciating pain in his soul, and Tang Sanzang rode the White Dragon Horse at the rear, constantly alert to any movement behind them.

"That guy... he's really patient."

After walking for about two hours, Sun Wukong suddenly stopped, looked up at the sky above, and his eyes were extremely cold.

Through the gaps in the tree canopy above the canyon, one could vaguely see a giant white crane circling high in the sky above Sorrowful Cloud Gorge. Its dark golden pupils, like two extremely dazzling searchlights, were frantically scanning every inch of the land below.

Bai Ling did not leave. His leg had been injured by Sun Wukong's golden cudgel, and he was currently burning with rage, conducting a thorough search of the heavens. The Zhou Tian Bodhi Net in his hand was ready to be activated at any moment, and would not hesitate to cover up any clues found.

"Monkey King, don't look at him. Look down and hold your breath," Chu Yang whispered, pulling Sun Wukong into a dense thicket of bushes. Tang Sanzang quickly led the white dragon horse into the thicket as well.

A giant crane swept overhead, bringing with it an extremely cold gust of wind. The oppressive aura of the immortals terrified the surrounding wild beasts, causing them to lie prone on the ground, not daring to even breathe.

"That hairy beast, once I, Old Sun, am healed, I'll roast him and use him as a snack!" Sun Wukong muttered through gritted teeth in the bushes.

Chu Yang closed his eyes, feeling the pressure above gradually receding, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Brother Monkey, don't worry. He won't be able to find us. With my concealment formation and the natural barrier of this Sorrowful Cloud Ravine, even if the Buddha himself came, he wouldn't be able to find us without spending some time."

Chu Yang opened his eyes and looked westward.

"Once we leave this Sorrowful Cloud Ravine, and travel another hundred miles, we'll reach the territory of Longevity Mountain. Once we reach Zhen Yuanzi's gate, even if this birdman is arrogant, he won't dare to run wild there."

"go!"

Once Bai Ling's figure had completely disappeared into the clouds, Chu Yang immediately led the two out of the bushes and continued running westward.

They were like cheetahs lurking in the darkness, moving silently through the jungle. They didn't disturb any birds, nor did they break any branches. Every step they took was precise to the extreme.

This is the tacit understanding honed in dire circumstances.

Over the next few hours, they encountered Bai Ling's aerial reconnaissance three more times, each time narrowly escaping thanks to Chu Yang's exceptionally keen intuition and skillful cover. When the last rays of the setting sun finally managed to pierce through the gap above the canyon and fall upon them, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

The endless black cliffs finally came to an end. Before them stretched a vast, lush primeval forest. The air was no longer filled with the chilling, stench of decay, but instead with a refreshing, invigorating fragrance of grass and trees.

"We're out of Sorrowful Cloud Gorge!" Chu Yang exhaled a long breath, looking at the majestic mountain range in front of him, which was glowing with a purple-gold light under the setting sun.

That mountain was uniquely shaped and shrouded in mist. On its mountainside, several ancient Taoist temples, exuding an aura of Taoist wisdom, could be vaguely seen, appearing and disappearing in the mist.

"Longevity Mountain!" Although Sun Wukong's face was still pale, a hint of extreme excitement finally appeared in his eyes when he saw the mountain range.

"Master, brother, that's Wuzhuang Temple! We've arrived!"

Tang Sanzang also breathed a long sigh of relief, dismounted from the white dragon horse, clasped his hands together, and bowed to the distant mountain range. This was not blind worship of immortals, but a sense of relief after surviving a life-or-death ordeal and finally escaping a deadly trap.

"Monkey King, hold on. Let's go knock on the door." Chu Yang supported Sun Wukong, his eyes flashing with an extremely sharp light. "Whether we beg or steal, we must get this ginseng fruit today!"

The mountain path of Longevity Mountain is paved with perfectly polished jade steps, winding its way into the depths of the purple-gold clouds. On both sides are towering ancient cypress trees, and the clear cries of cranes can be heard from time to time from their crowns. If an ordinary cultivator were to come here, he would surely feel refreshed and invigorated, as if he had ascended to a fairyland.

However, the clear cry of the crane sounded like a steel needle piercing Sun Wukong's heart.

"This wretched mountain... how come it's teeming with so many hairy beasts!" Sun Wukong gritted his teeth, and with each step he took, the dark golden swastika mark above his head would flicker subtly. The excruciating pain, penetrating to the bone and tearing at his soul, caused his muscles to spasm uncontrollably. If Chu Yang hadn't been holding his left arm firmly, he probably wouldn't have even made it to the first step.

Chu Yang's face was equally pale. His blue robe was already stained dark brown with blood, and dried blood clots clung to his wounds, tearing with every step he took. The excruciating pain caused his forehead to be covered in cold sweat. But he gripped Sun Wukong's arm tightly, without uttering a sound.

"Brother Monkey, bear with it. Those white-feathered cranes are from Mount Ling, while the cranes here are wild cranes, they're different." Chu Yang panted heavily as he looked up at the magnificent Taoist temple that was faintly visible at the end of the stone steps. "We're almost there. The gate of Wuzhuang Temple is just ahead."

Tang Sanzang, leading the white dragon horse, followed silently behind them. The soles of his shoes were worn through by the rocks, and blood seeped from his toes, leaving faint, bloody footprints on the jade steps. But he did not stop, nor did he recite scriptures as usual. He simply watched in silence the two figures ahead, supporting each other and struggling for their lives.

A mountain breeze blew by, ruffling Tang Sanzang's tattered inner robe and bringing a chill to his bones. He looked up at the towering gate of Wuzhuang Temple, his eyes no longer filled with blind awe, but rather with a deathly calm.

"Boom-thump-"

The melodious sound of bells emanated from the Taoist temple, echoing through the valleys of Longevity Hill, carrying a sense of tranquility and peace.

The three of them finally climbed the last stone step and arrived at the enormous vermilion gate of Wuzhuang Temple. A purple-gold plaque hung above the gate, bearing the ten large characters "Wanshou Mountain Blessed Land, Wuzhuang Temple Grotto Heaven," the calligraphy powerful and vigorous, exuding an inviolable supreme majesty.

Chu Yang took a deep breath, released his hand from Sun Wukong, stepped forward, grabbed the bronze beast-shaped door knocker weighing a thousand pounds, and knocked on it three times forcefully.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The dull knocking sound broke the tranquility in front of the Taoist temple.

After a full incense stick's time, the heavy vermilion door slowly opened a crack with a teeth-grinding creak.

Two exquisitely carved Taoist boys, with their hair styled in double buns, peeked out from the crack in the door. They wore Taoist robes woven from the finest ice silkworm silk, each holding a snow-white whisk. These two were none other than Qingfeng and Mingyue, the favorite attendants of Zhen Yuanzi.

Qingfeng's gaze swept casually over Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Seng. When he saw their blood-stained, ragged appearance, resembling that of beggars, his delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed in disgust.

"Where did this beggar come from, daring to make a racket in front of Wuzhuang Temple? Get lost and don't dirty the bluestone slabs of this blessed land!" Qingfeng impatiently waved his whisk, as if to drive away a swarm of annoying flies, and made as if to close the door.

Chu Yang's eyes turned cold, and he forcefully wedged one foot into the crack of the door, the hard deerskin boot directly blocking the heavy, vermilion wooden door.

"Wait a moment, you two celestial children." Chu Yang suppressed his anger and tried to make his tone sound as calm as possible. "We are not beggars. This is Tang Xuanzang from the Great Tang Dynasty, who is on his way to the Western Paradise to retrieve Buddhist scriptures. This is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong. I am Chu Yang, and I am a guard in the pilgrimage team. My elder brother encountered a powerful enemy on the way and suffered severe damage to his soul. We have heard that Zhenyuan Daxian's Wuzhuang Temple has ginseng fruit, a spiritual root of heaven and earth that nourishes the soul, so we have come to request it. We hope that you celestial children will be accommodating and inform him of our arrival."

Upon hearing the words "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" and "Journey to the West," Qingfeng and Mingyue paused slightly and exchanged a glance. Mingyue looked Sun Wukong up and down, who was slumped against the stone lion, barely breathing, and a mocking sneer suddenly appeared on her lips.

"Who do we have here? It's the stable boy who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago." Mingyue's voice was clear and crisp, but her words were as sharp as knives. "What? The mighty Great Sage Equaling Heaven back then is now lying on the ground like a stray dog? His soul has been smashed to pieces. What's the point of going on the pilgrimage? He might as well just find a pit and bury him to save himself from further embarrassment."

"You little brat...you're asking for it!"

Although Sun Wukong's soul was severely injured, his pride could not allow him to swallow such humiliation. He roared and struggled to reach for the golden cudgel in his ear, but the swastika mark immediately burst out with dazzling golden light. The excruciating pain instantly drained all his strength, and with a "bang," he fell heavily to the ground again, coughing up a mouthful of golden blood.

"Brother Monkey!" Chu Yang exclaimed in surprise, quickly turning back to calm Sun Wukong down. He then turned and stared intently at Mingyue, his eyes flashing wildly with a golden and a red light. "Little Daoist, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. We're here to ask for medicine, not to be humiliated. Zhenyuan Daxian and my elder brother have a history; if he were here, he certainly wouldn't tolerate such treatment of our guests!"

"Our master has gone to Shangqing Heaven to listen to the sermon of Yuanshi Tianzun. We are now in charge of Wuzhuang Temple." Qingfeng raised his head arrogantly, looking down at Chu Yang with his nostrils. "Don't try to get close to me with your old connections. The ginseng fruit is a spiritual root from the beginning of chaos, and only thirty of them are produced every nine thousand years. What are you people, daring to ask for the ginseng fruit?"

Chu Yang took a deep breath. He knew that it was pointless to reason with a child who had been by the side of a powerful figure for many years and was arrogant. He could only talk about making a deal.

“We won’t take it for free.” Chu Yang suppressed the urge to draw his sword, took out the “Eight-Treasure Glazed Red Lotus Cup” he had extorted from Bodhisattva Samantabhadra from his robes, and held it in his palm. (End of Chapter)