Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

The instant his fingers touched the weeds—

Those half-closed, golden eyes, like dusty gems, suddenly opened!

There was no initial confusion upon awakening, only a violent, manic, and domineering aura that seemed to have been accumulating for five hundred years, almost materialized, piercing Tang Sanzang's mind like two cold, sharp swords!
"!!!"

Tang Sanzang was so frightened that he trembled all over and almost fell to the ground, and he quickly pulled his hand back.

The monkey opened its eyes, its gaze fixed on Tang Sanzang. It grinned, revealing a ferocious smile filled with endless repression and longing. Its voice was hoarse and dry, yet it asked each question clearly.

"You... are you the monk sent by the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty to the Western Paradise to seek Buddhist scriptures?"

This direct question, coupled with that terrifying gaze and smile, made Tang Sanzang's heart pound wildly again.

His first instinct was to turn and run again, but as soon as he moved his foot, he remembered Liu Boqin's words—he can't get out! Buddha is holding him down! What's there to be afraid of!
Thinking about it this way, my courage returned a little.

He composed himself, straightened his chest, and tried to make his voice sound steady and powerful, carrying the dignity of a "holy monk," as he answered.

"It is indeed this humble monk! Who...who are you? Why are you imprisoned here?"

Upon hearing his affirmative answer, Sun Wukong's heart erupted with volcanic joy! They've come! They've finally come! The pilgrims Lin Zhu spoke of! His hope for escape!
At the same time, his heightened senses, honed by five hundred years of suppression, clearly perceived that two familiar auras were "watching" this place from high above.

One ray of righteous energy, imbued with unfathomable holiness and a playful spirit, belongs to Lin Zhu! The other ray of Buddha's light, radiating coldness and tension, belongs to Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Lin Zhu was indeed there! And he was protecting them! Sun Wukong felt much more at ease and confident.

He knew that the key to his escape lay with the monk in front of him, who seemed a little timid but was also trying to appear calm.

He forcibly suppressed the rage and hatred that had been boiling in his heart for five hundred years, tried his best to suppress his ferocious smile, and made his voice sound as "gentle" as possible when he spoke to Tang Sanzang.

"Monk, don't be afraid. I, Old Sun, am not a monster, much less a 'good person'... Bah, I've misspoke. Come closer, I have something important to tell you."

Hearing Sun Wukong's "gentle" invitation, and seeing the monkey's fierce eyes but his miserable state of being trapped under the mountain and unable to move, Tang Sanzang's guard lowered a bit.

He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, curiosity and the desire for a "powerful bodyguard" prevailed. He carefully moved forward a few more steps, came to the edge of the stone box, and looked down at Sun Wukong, whose head was the only part of his body showing.

Looking at the mortal face so close to him, a face that held a mixture of wariness and curiosity, Sun Wukong felt a complex mix of emotions.

This was the "master" he had been waiting for for five hundred years? He looked frail and weak, and his eyes still held the panic from when he was scared away earlier. He didn't seem like a master at all. But he could sense that this monk seemed to be tainted with a trace of... Lin Zhu's aura? And a very faint aura of demonic blood? This combination was quite peculiar.

However, with escape imminent, these minor details were unimportant. Sun Wukong suppressed the fleeting thought that this monk might not be a kind person after all, and tried his best to conceal the violence and ferocity that had accumulated on his face for five hundred years, replacing it with a sufficiently "sincere" expression as he began to speak.

"Master, please forgive me. I, Old Sun... am not some mountain spirit or monster. I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago!"

He paused deliberately, wanting to see the monk's reaction.

Tang Sanzang's eyes widened slightly, clearly the words "Havoc in Heaven" had a significant impact on him, but his gaze was more blank, as if he didn't understand the title very well, only thinking that "it sounds impressive."

Sun Wukong didn't mind and continued to speak in his hoarse but as steady a voice as possible.

"Because of my arrogant nature back then, I made a grave mistake. The Buddha of the Western Paradise used his supernatural powers to turn my palm into this Five Elements Mountain, which pressed me down here. Five hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye! I eat iron balls when I'm hungry and drink molten copper when I'm thirsty. My suffering is unbearable."

As he spoke, a genuine sense of resentment and unwillingness naturally crept into his voice, and it wasn't an act.

“Some time ago,” Sun Wukong changed the subject, looking intently at Tang Sanzang.

"Guanyin Bodhisattva, acting on the Buddha's decree, passed by this mountain. She told me that my sins were grave, but the Buddha, in his compassion, considered the difficulty of my birth and upbringing and showed me a clear path. She told me to wait here in peace, and soon a holy monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East, on his way to the Western Paradise to worship the Buddha and seek the true scriptures, would pass by."

"As long as I sincerely repent, convert to Buddhism, take that holy monk as my teacher, and protect him on his journey westward, once we obtain the true scriptures and my merits are complete, I can atone for my sins and attain enlightenment."

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing his excitement, and looked at Tang Sanzang, saying each word clearly.

“Now that you have arrived, Master! You must be the pilgrim the Bodhisattva spoke of! I, Old Sun, have waited here for five hundred years, and today I have finally met you! Master! I wish to become your disciple, and from now on I will protect you, slay demons and monsters, and ensure your safe arrival in the Western Paradise to obtain the true scriptures! I beg you, Master, to have mercy and accept me as your disciple!”

This account is a mix of truth and falsehood, containing elements of real experiences, the message that Guanyin did indeed convey, and his own urgent desire and elaborate performance. It sounds sincere and the logic seems reasonable.

Especially the last "Master" and "Accept me as your disciple," were uttered loudly and urgently, full of anticipation.

Tang Sanzang was stunned. Havoc in Heaven? Suppressed by Buddha? Enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva? Waiting to become his disciple? This was a lot to take in.

He examined it carefully and it seemed there were no flaws.

Especially the title "Guanyin Bodhisattva," which still carries weight for him. Looking at the sincerity in the monkey's eyes, and the miserable situation of being imprisoned for five hundred years... it seems he really is just a powerful monster waiting for redemption, wanting to become an apprentice and learn magic?
He didn't detect anything obviously unusual from Sun Wukong's words and expressions. Instead, a sense of realization and secret joy gradually arose in his heart: "So that's how it is," and "I really am the chosen one." With such a formidable character who once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace as his disciple, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways on the road ahead? What would General Yin or Lord Xiongshan be compared to him!

However, high above in the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had been watching every move below with a tense mind, frowned more and more deeply.

It went so well.

This monkey, having been suppressed for five hundred years, was incredibly unruly and violent; she had personally experienced it firsthand.

When they first came to enlighten him, it took considerable effort, even resorting to the subtle threat of "eternal suppression," to barely get him to agree to support the journey to the West. But now, facing this mortal Tang Sanzang, who doesn't seem particularly outstanding, this monkey is behaving so "cooperatively"? His attitude is even bordering on "submissive"?
Although the hoarse voice and ferocious appearance were still frightening, the logic in his words and the "sincerity" made it seem as if he had rehearsed it countless times!
Something's fishy going on! Especially with Lin Zhu, that troublemaker, watching us like a hawk!
Guanyin's gaze, sharp as lightning, suddenly shot towards Lin Zhu, who stood calmly to the side. Her voice, cold and questioning, resounded directly in his mind.

"Lin Zhu! What exactly did you do to this monkey? Why is it so... docile?"

Lin Zhu seemed to only then notice her nervousness, slowly turning her head with an innocent expression that said, "What are you talking about? I don't understand." She shrugged and replied with divine thought, "Bodhisattva, what can I do to a monkey that's been imprisoned under a mountain for five hundred years? Feed him peaches? Whether he's tamed or not is none of my business. Maybe it was your Buddhist guidance that made him realize the truth and turn to Buddhism?"

"you!"

Guanyin was furious. She knew Lin Zhu would never tell the truth. But her suspicions ran deeper. She felt that the monkey's unusual behavior must be related to Lin Zhu.

Before she could continue questioning, Lin Zhu glanced down at the Five Elements Mountain, then at the Guanyin standing ready and the faint Buddhist aura appearing in the distance. He suddenly chuckled, his tone slightly mocking.

"However, I'm not just here to watch the show. Bodhisattva, look, isn't this Five Elements Mountain an illegal detention and restriction of the monkey's freedom? Back then, when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, wasn't that a case of gang fighting and disturbing public order? As the law enforcement god of the Three Realms, it's only reasonable for me to take a look at these old cases when I pass by, isn't it?"

"Unlawful detention? Group fighting?"

Guanyin was so choked by these words that her chest felt tight, and even her Buddha light swayed.

The Five Elements Mountain was created by the Buddha's supernatural powers to suppress demons and evil spirits, a supreme act of merit in maintaining order in the Three Realms! Yet this guy calls it a crime scene?! And a "law enforcement deity of the Three Realms"? He really knows how to pat himself on the back!
However, the faint "sacredness" about Lin Zhu, which was related to the order of the heavens, and the unpredictable methods he had previously displayed, made Guanyin dare not completely regard his words as a joke.

She knew that this guy's identity was mysterious and his background might be terrifyingly powerful. If he really insisted on interfering under the guise of "enforcing the law," he might not be able to change the general trend set by Buddha, but creating trouble and delaying time would be a piece of cake.

She suppressed the urge to retort, gave a cold snort, and stopped arguing with Lin Zhu, but secretly raised her vigilance to the highest level. At the same time, she relied even more on the backup plan she had brought with her—the Immovable King, renowned for his combat prowess and who had also advanced to the early stage of the half-step Quasi-Saint realm, was located further away behind the clouds.

He was personally leading Venerable Ananda, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the Five Directions Protectors who had just been reprimanded, along with eight hundred Arhats and hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers, all arrayed in battle formation, watching them intently! This was a powerful force that the Buddha had deployed to ensure Sun Wukong's smooth "return to his rightful place" and a safe start to the Journey to the West! With them around, even if Lin Zhuzhen wanted to do something, he would have to think twice!

Thinking of this, Guanyin felt somewhat at ease.

She glared coldly at Lin Zhu, as if to say, "You'd better behave yourself," then ignored him and turned all her attention back down below. The Buddha had strictly commanded that the birth of Sun Wukong could not be delayed; as long as the monkey obediently followed Tang Sanzang, other minor details could be tolerated for the time being.

Below, Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment, then carefully examined Sun Wukong's eyes—hmm, although they looked a bit fierce, they seemed quite bright; he probably wasn't lying. So, he nodded, adopted the air of a master, and began to speak.

“I see. Since you are sincere in your desire to do good, have taken refuge in the Buddha, and have been enlightened by the Bodhisattva, waiting here patiently, it can be considered that you and this humble monk have a karmic connection. This humble monk will then accept you as my disciple.”

Sun Wukong was overjoyed and thought to himself.

"It's done!"

On the surface, however, he became increasingly "submissive," repeatedly saying...

"Thank you, Master! Thank you for taking me in!"

“However,” Tang Sanzang changed the subject, looking at the majestic Five Elements Mountain in front of him, and then at Sun Wukong, whose head was the only part of his body showing, with a troubled expression.

"Since you have become my disciple, I will naturally rescue you. However... this humble monk is unarmed and has no tools. This mountain is so enormous, how can I possibly save you?"

Sun Wukong hurriedly said.

"Master, do not worry! This mountain is a manifestation of the Buddha's supernatural powers, and there is a six-character golden inscription written by him on the mountaintop to suppress it. Master, you only need to climb to the top, find the golden inscription, and peel it off. The mountain will naturally lose its magical power, and I, Old Sun, will be able to leave! Master, hurry up and go, do not delay!"

His tone was hurried and full of impatience.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was relieved. "So it's that simple? All I have to do is peel off the poster?"

Immediately, his desire for a powerful bodyguard, along with the intense insecurity stemming from his brother's tragic death and his own weakness, was ignited! He desperately needed this disciple, capable of wreaking havoc in the heavens, to protect him!

"Alright! You wait here, this humble monk will go up the mountain to remove the notice!"

Tang Sanzang responded with boundless pride.

He recalled that Guanyin Bodhisattva seemed to have mentioned that this monkey was exceptionally powerful, which gave him even more confidence.

He took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and subconsciously mobilized the meager spiritual power within his body, then stomped his foot!

"Hey!"

To his surprise, the ground trembled slightly as he stepped down, and he was lifted nearly three zhang (approximately 10 meters) into the air! He landed lightly on a protruding rock!
"what?"

Tang Sanzang was startled, but then overjoyed.

"This humble monk's Buddhist practice... is indeed so diligent!"

He attributed this to the practice of "wine and meat passing through the intestines" and "new Buddhism".

With his confidence soaring, he no longer hesitated. Using both his hands and feet, and relying on the agility and strength that his spiritual power brought him, which far exceeded that of ordinary people, he actually walked on the rocky, steep, and difficult Five Elements Mountain as if it were flat ground. With a few leaps and bounds, he quickly climbed towards the top of the mountain!
This scene caused a glint to flash in Sun Wukong's eyes below the mountain, Guanyin on the cloud to frown slightly, and Lin Zhu to reveal an even more amused smile.

Before long, Tang Sanzang climbed to the top of the Five Elements Mountain.

The mountaintop was flat, with a large square stone in the center. Sure enough, a long strip of gold paper was pasted on the stone, with six large gold characters written on it. The gold was glittering, and the faint sound of Buddhist chanting surrounded it, exuding a vast and majestic Buddhist power.

Those six characters were indeed—Om Mani Padme Hum, with tiny phonetic symbols appearing next to them?
As Tang Sanzang approached, he felt the immense Buddhist power and was filled with awe, daring not to be negligent.

He straightened his robes, faced west, knelt respectfully, clasped his hands together, and began to go through the "procedure." (End of Chapter)