I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

He originally intended to use Journey to the West to stabilize the Heavenly Way, but the rise of the human way became an aid instead.

Hongjun had a thought and transmitted his voice to the Heavenly Realm: "Li Bai, continue to absorb the pure energy, I will not stop you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he set up a symbolic chaotic barrier on the fourth level of heaven—as thin as a cicada's wing, yet enough to warn Li Bai not to be too presumptuous.

Li Bai was currently on the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm, holding a wine gourd and gulping down pure energy.

Suddenly, a chaotic force drifted over like a veil, blocking his path.

Li Bai was taken aback, his drunkenness subsiding slightly: "The Dao Ancestor is interfering?"

He gave it a tentative push, and the barrier rippled like water, without any backlash.

Hongjun's voice rang in my ears: "Boy, that's enough."

I observe that your lord possesses extraordinary talent; this change is the will of Heaven.

Li Bai laughed heartily and put away the gourd: "Thank you for your kindness, Dao Ancestor!"

Knowing this was a symbolic warning, he took a detour and continued his ascent to higher heavens.

Hongjun withdrew his divine sense and took out the strand of Jiang Wang's hair.

Fragments of the Great Dao could be faintly seen shimmering within the strands of hair.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, pouring the power of chaos into it. Instantly, scenes of celestial secrets appeared: Jiang Wang refining pills, refining pure energy, suppressing fragments... His talent for the Great Dao was actually the source of primordial chaos! Hongjun's eyes flashed with brilliance: "If this child were to be used by me, the Three Realms could be at peace."

He tucked the strands of hair into his sleeve, secretly plotting and waiting for the right opportunity.

Outside Lotus Cave on Yalong Mountain.

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged under an ancient tree, and the aphrodisiac in his body finally began to subside.

The Thousand-Year Spring Poison was originally a trap set by Laozi, causing him to be consumed by lust and unable to control himself.

But these days, he used the Golden Cudgel to suppress his inner demons and borrowed the spiritual energy of the earth's veins to refine the toxins, and finally regained some clarity.

"Master! I, Old Sun, am coming to save you!"

Wukong gritted his teeth and stood up. With a sweep of his fiery eyes, he saw a faint demonic aura rising from the cave entrance.

Just as he was about to break down the door, the entire Lotus Cave collapsed with a deafening roar! The mountainside was as if it had been struck by a giant hammer, with rocks flying everywhere and dust filling the air.

Wukong was shocked: "What is it?!"

With a flash, he rushed into the dust and mist. A golden light shot into the sky, and Tang Sanzang held the Nine-Ringed Staff. The staff head shone brightly with spiritual light, and his cultivation had actually reached the mid-stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal! Three years of imprisonment did not make him depressed. On the contrary, he used the spiritual energy of the demon cave to break through the bottleneck.

"Monster, die!"

Tang Sanzang shouted loudly, brandishing his staff, which transformed into a golden dragon and rushed straight at King Golden Horn.

Pigsy and Sandy followed closely behind. Pigsy's rake was as heavy as a mountain, and Sandy's staff was as powerful as a tide. The three of them worked together to turn Lotus Cave upside down.

Golden Horn and Silver Horn were originally attendants of Laozi. They descended to the mortal realm and set up a scheme to imprison Tang Sanzang for three years, intending to use this opportunity to refine his Buddhist nature.

But who would have thought that Tang Sanzang, while in prison, would meditate and comprehend the Dao, and his cultivation would increase dramatically, making him no longer the ignorant man he once was.

"Second Brother, how did this bald monk get so strong?!"

The Silver Horned King, holding a purple-gold gourd, unleashed a gust of demonic wind, which was easily shattered by Tang Sanzang's staff.

King Golden Horn turned pale and tilted the jade bottle in his hand, trying to capture the souls of the three people. However, Tang Sanzang was protected by Buddhist light, and the jade bottle actually backfired on him.

"Damn it! How could he have..."

Jinjiao and Yinjiao thought they had victory in the bag, but unexpectedly, as the earth's veins expanded, human fortune surged in, allowing Tang Sanzang to break through to the next level, and the two were immediately at a disadvantage.

The commotion caused by the collapse of Lotus Cave scattered the mountain monsters.

Sun Wukong rushed into the battlefield and was overjoyed to see his master safe and sound: "Master! You're alright?!"

Tang Sanzang smiled slightly, a trace of vicissitude flashing in his eyes: "Wukong, your master is well."

These demons have imprisoned me for three years; now it is time to settle accounts!

With a flick of his wrist, the nine rings on his staff rang out in unison, transforming into nine golden rings that locked onto the Golden Horn and Silver Horn.

King Golden Horn dodged in a sorry state, while Silver Horn spewed out gourd-shaped demonic fire, which was extinguished by Sandy with a single blow of his staff.

The two were forced to retreat one after another, and Silver Horn shouted, "Brother, ask Laozi for help!"

Jinjiao gritted his teeth, took out the communication talisman given to him by Laozi, and a golden light shot into the void: "Grandpa Laozi, save us! This bald monk's cultivation has greatly improved, we can't stop him!"

From the void, Laozi's voice faintly echoed, tinged with anger: "Fools! The earth's veins have changed, and humanity's fortune has increased. How could you fail?"

A flash of golden light appeared, and a supreme and wondrous technique descended, barely stabilizing the situation.

But Golden Horn and Silver Horn knew that this journey to the West was no longer the same.

Xiniu Hezhou has expanded three times in size, and the original journey to the West, which was 97,200 li, has been stretched to nearly 300,000 li in the blink of an eye! The pilgrimage team faces a long and uncertain road ahead.

Wukong brandished his golden cudgel, its shadow like a mountain: "Monster, take this from me!"

Although the effects of the aphrodisiac in his body had subsided, they still lingered, and his staff techniques were subtly fiery.

Tang Sanzang steadied himself and looked into the distance. He saw that the mountains and rivers of Xiniu Hezhou were like a scroll painting, with the horizon far beyond reach.

"Wukong, this world has changed, and the journey to the West is three times longer than before."

But this is fate; we must rise to the challenge.

On the battlefield, dust gradually settled.

The four of them worked together to force the Golden Horn and Silver Horn back against the cave wall.

The Golden Horn and Silver Horn's distress talismans have been issued; Laozi's help is ready to arrive at any time.

However, the three of them were already on guard.

These three years of imprisonment were merely one link in the chain of Heaven's will. Now, with the earth's veins being reshaped and humanity rising, the journey to the West has quietly shifted.

With a thought, Sun Wukong vaguely sensed an unfamiliar fluctuation of fortune—the storm that Jiang Wang had unintentionally stirred up.

On the secluded island, Jiang Wang put away the Kongtong Seal, looked at the calmed fragments in the gourd, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Three hundred portions of Heavenly Fortune, six mysterious stone tablets, a change in the Journey to the West, and the prosperity of humanity.

All of this was just a minor episode on his alchemy journey.

Li Bai, far away in the celestial realm, continued to absorb the pure energy; Hongjun in Zixiao Palace secretly peered into the Great Dao; Bodhi on Pingding Mountain was furious but helpless; the pilgrimage team on Yalong Mountain, facing a journey of 300,000 li, was reborn from the ashes.

The格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall structure and overall situation) of the Three Realms changed because of him alone.

Jiang Wang closed his eyes to rest, while the Hunyuan Pill murmured in his sea of ​​consciousness: "Master, what is the next step?"

Jiang Wang opened his eyes, his gaze deep: "Continue refining."

Once Li Bai has cleared the celestial realm, I will directly seize the foundation of the Heavenly Dao.

On Xiniuhezhou, winds and clouds surge.

Bodhi Patriarch stood atop Pingding Mountain, gazing at the mountains and rivers that had swelled three times in size, and sighed, "The way of Heaven is declining, while the way of man is rising."

This journey to the West may not be the original plan.

He flashed into the void, secretly deducing the situation, but all he saw was chaos.

The name Jiang Wang haunted my mind like a ghost.

In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun put the strand of hair into the Chaos Pearl and murmured to himself, "Jiang Wang, I will surely obtain your talent for the Great Dao."

With a wave of his sleeve, the barrier of chaos was reinforced, yet a sliver of a crack remained—a symbolic obstruction, but in reality, an indulgence.

Li Bai was on the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm, his wine gourd wide open, absorbing pure energy like a whale sucking up water.

Hongjun's obstruction was nothing more than a cat-and-mouse game.

At Yalong Mountain, the battle temporarily ceased. Golden Horn and Silver Horn retreated to the bottom of the cave, awaiting Laozi's aid.

Tang Sanzang put away his staff, his cultivation level stabilized at the mid-stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal. Three years of arduous cultivation had made his Buddhist heart even stronger.

"Wukong, Bajie, Sha Wujing, the journey to the West has changed. It's 300,000 li. What is there to fear?"

Sun Wukong scratched his head and laughed: "Master is right! With my old cudgel in hand, who cares about 300,000 or 3 million!"

Pigsy grunted, "Master, your cultivation level is astounding!"

Sha Wujing nodded: "Brothers, let's follow Master."

The void trembled, and Laozi's golden light descended, carrying away the Golden Horn and Silver Horn.

The pilgrimage team gazed into the distance, where the expanding Western Continent of Hezhou resembled an endless scroll, and the human fortune was like the rising sun.

The upheaval in the Three Realms has thus begun.

Jiang Wang, on the island, sensed all of this and smiled slightly.

The Saint-grade Primordial Pill hummed, and the four pill spirits spoke in unison: "Master, humanity is thriving, but the Heavenly Way is about to collapse."

Jiang Wang nodded: "That's right."

I will break Hongjun's scheme myself.

Li Bai, continue to devour, do not fail in your trust.

On the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm, Li Bai, though feeling the effects of the wine, walked with unwavering steps.

The chaotic barrier was like a light veil, which he easily broke through with a push: "Dao Ancestor, thank you for your guidance!"

As the pure energy entered his body, he laughed and recited a poem: "The sky is clear, the energy dissipates, and humanity flourishes; the journey to the West is a long one, spanning three hundred thousand li."

Brother Jiang's plans are known to all; who will ultimately prevail remains to be seen.

Bodhi, standing on Pingdingshan Mountain, pounded his fist against the rock face, causing it to crack: "Damn brat! Pingdingshan Mountain is 1,800 li long, and Xiniu Hezhou is three times that size. I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"

Unable to pursue the matter further, he could only secretly set up an array to protect the vital route to the pilgrimage.

Hongjun was in Zixiao Palace, studying the strands of hair, and fragments of the Great Dao shimmered like stars: "The source of primordial chaos, with unparalleled talent."

Jiang Wang, are you a pawn in my plan, or...?

He kept sneering.

The pilgrimage team set off, with Sun Wukong leading the way and Tang Sanzang riding a horse in the middle.

Along the 300,000-mile journey, demons roamed freely, but with the blessing of humanity, they moved with light steps.

With his spring poison relieved, Wukong's staff techniques became even more ferocious; Tang Sanzang, having broken through his limitations, was bathed in Buddhist light.

After the defeat and escape of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, Laozi was furious, but he also realized the change in the situation: "Humanity is rising, Heaven is declining, and the great plan of the Journey to the West needs to be rethought."

At the foot of Pingdingshan Mountain, mist swirled, and the faint cries of villagers could be heard from the forest.

In just three years, this land, which should have been peaceful, has become a hunting ground for the two demons, the Golden Horn King and the Silver Horn King.

They were originally attendants of Laozi, who stole the Seven Star Sword and the Jade Bottle from the alchemy furnace, descended to the mortal realm, transformed into demon kings, abducted living people, and devoured their flesh.

At the foot of the mountain, in the village, piles of corpses lay, thousands of wronged souls, their blood staining the yellow earth.

On this day, Tang Sanzang and his disciples passed through this place.

The elder rode a white dragon horse, with Sun Wukong, who was supposed to be protecting him, temporarily taken away by Patriarch Bodhi due to the previous farce of his mental breakdown. Only Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing accompanied him.

Pigsy carried his rake, lazily chewing on wild fruit, while Sandy carried the luggage, walking steadily.

Suddenly, shouts of battle arose ahead. Tang Sanzang reined in his horse and stopped, his brows furrowed: "Wuneng, Wujing, there are demons causing trouble ahead. Go and help them quickly!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a gust of wind swept in, and the Golden Horned King appeared, with a single horn on his head, covered in silver armor, wielding the Seven Star Sword, whose light cascaded like a galaxy.

The Silver Horned King followed closely behind, clad in silver helmet and armor, with black smoke billowing from his jade bottle, obscuring the sky and the sun.

The two demons grinned maliciously: "Bald monk, today you will be our meal!"

Tang Sanzang knew he could not back down. Although his cultivation was shallow, he had received the true teachings of Buddhism and held a nine-ringed staff and a brocade cassock, both of which were innate top-grade spiritual treasures.

With a wave of his staff, the nine rings on its head rang in unison, transforming into a golden chain that aimed straight for the Golden Horned King's throat.

King Golden Horn was surprised that the elder possessed such a divine artifact. He hurriedly used the Seven Star Sword to parry, and the sword and staff clashed, sparks flew, and the mountain rocks shattered.

Upon seeing this, the Silver Horned King overturned his jade bottle, and black smoke surged towards Tang Sanzang like a tide.

The elder remained calm, unfolding his brocade robe. The robe emitted a seven-colored Buddhist light, transforming into a light curtain that swallowed up all the black smoke and sent it back at him.

Silver Horn King grunted, the black smoke in the bottle backfired on him, forcing him to retreat three steps.

King Golden Horn roared, "Brother Silver, don't panic! Join forces and take down this bald monk!"

The two demons attacked together, their swords flashing and bottles shimmering. Tang Sanzang fought them both alone, his staff and cassock moving like dragons. They battled for three hundred rounds without losing ground.

Although the elder was physically weak, he was protected by a magical treasure, and every strike he made contained the power of Buddhist compassion, forcing the two demons to defend themselves.

Pigsy, seeing this with envy, threw down his rake, grinned, and said, "Master, it's me, Old Pig, here!"

With a sway of his body, he transformed into a nine-foot-tall giant, his rake whistling as it smashed towards the Golden Horn King's heart.

The Golden Horned King was locked in combat with Tang Sanzang when a gust of wind rose behind him. He hurriedly drew his sword to block the attack, but was struck on the shoulder armor by Pigsy's rake, causing blood to splatter.

When the Silver Horned King saw his brother in danger, he hurriedly turned back to save him. He spat out the monster from the Jade Bottle, which turned into black mist and entangled Bajie.

Sha Wujing sneered, "Don't be so arrogant!"

With a sweep of his staff, the crescent-shaped shovel slashed through the black mist like a knife, aiming straight for the Silver Horn King's waist.

The three masters and their disciples joined forces and turned the tide of the battle.

Pigsy, with his immense strength, wielded his rake like a mountain, aiming to strike the Golden Horn King's lower body; Sandy, with his steady staff and gleaming crescent blade, blocked the Silver Horn King's retreat; Tang Sanzang, positioned in the center, provided support, his staff revealing a Zen principle, his cassock transforming into a net of light, trapping the enemy invisibly.

The two demons were gradually losing ground. King Golden Horn gasped, "Brother Silver, hold on! Don't let these bald monks succeed!"

To save his brother, the Silver Horn King exposed a weakness in his chest, and Tang Sanzang's nine-ringed staff came crashing down like a meteor, striking straight at his heart.

Just then, a booming voice rang out from the mountaintop, like thunder: "Stop!"

The sound contained supreme power, silencing the mountains and forests, causing a buzzing in everyone's ears and weakness in their limbs.

Tang Sanzang's staff hovered in the air, Zhu Bajie's rake fell to the ground, and Sha Wujing's precious staff trembled.

The three masters and disciples knelt down together and looked up. They saw an old man with a flowing white beard coming down from the clouds on the mountain peak. He was holding a whisk and wearing a Taoist robe. It was none other than Laozi.

Upon seeing this, the Golden Horn King and the Silver Horn King were overjoyed and wept, kneeling down with a thud: "Master, save us!"

With a wave of his whisk, Laozi dispelled the demonic aura from the two demons, revealing their true forms as children: two exquisitely carved young boys, wearing lotus crowns and brocade robes, but covered in blood.

Laozi glanced at the three of them and said indifferently, "I am Laozi, these two boys are my Golden Boy and Silver Boy. They stole my Golden Furnace and Silver Furnace and descended to the mortal world to become demons. I will deal with them myself."

Why are you pressing me so relentlessly?

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's heart sank. He forced himself to stand up, cupped his hands, and said, "Laojun, I, Tang Sanzang, pay my respects."

However, these two demons abducted thousands of villagers from Pingdingshan over three years, devouring their flesh and accumulating a blood debt.

"This humble monk is on a journey westward by imperial decree, filled with compassion; how can I allow demons to run rampant? Does Laozi's obstruction disregard the lives of mortals?"

Although the elder's voice was weak, it carried the righteous spirit of Buddhism, and every word was like a nail, piercing Laozi's ears.

Upon hearing this, Laozi frowned slightly, lightly tapped the void with his whisk, and a phantom appeared before his eyes: a mountain village filled with wailing, piles of corpses, and rivers of blood.

He sighed: "The cycle of cause and effect continues; a mortal's life is but a snap of the fingers."

This humble Taoist priest can grant the deceased a rebirth into a wealthy family in their next life, bestowing upon their relatives a lifetime of glory, in order to repay their karmic debts.

The Heavenly Court has its own rules. These two children stole treasure and descended to the mortal realm; their crime is unforgivable. This humble Taoist will personally escort them back to the Tushita Palace and refine them with elixir fire to atone for their sins. (End of Chapter)