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

In his panic, he looked down at his dantian and saw that the once golden spiritual root had withered like ashes, his cultivation was gone, and he had become a mortal body, so fragile that it seemed to break at the slightest touch.

"No...impossible!"

Tang Sanzang suddenly sat up, his face ashen, his hands trembling as he pressed them to his chest.

The feeling of powerlessness that seeped from his very bones made this once-renowned monk feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He recalled the eerie scarred monk from the previous night, and the seemingly harmless cup of tea, never imagining that it would lead to such a tragedy.

"My spiritual roots... my Buddha-nature... are all gone! What... what should I do? How can I continue my journey to the West?"

Pigsy was squatting to the side eating wild fruit when he heard this. He turned his head, squinted at Tang Sanzang, and immediately laughed.

The fat face bared its fangs, revealing a gloating, sinister smile.

"Oh, Master, what's wrong with you? Don't you always recite 'All things are empty, life and death are like a dream'? Why do you seem so lost today, with your spiritual root destroyed? Haha, could it be that the airs of a high monk can't withstand the taste of mortal life after all?"

These words were like a sharp thorn, piercing straight into Tang Sanzang's heart.

He was already in a state of turmoil, and upon hearing this, his blood boiled, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he abruptly stood up, pointing at Pigsy and shouting angrily: "You audacious fool! You pig-headed idiot, how dare you mock your master? I have spent my life cultivating myself, upholding the great principles of Buddhism, and now that I have suffered this calamity, instead of comforting me, you come to mock me? Sun Wukong! Quickly teach this impudent monkey... no, this impudent pig twenty lashes, to see what the proper order of master and disciple is!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong flipped down from the treetop, and with a flick of his wrist, his golden cudgel transformed into a size as thick as a bowl.

He scratched the monkey's head and awkwardly advised, "Master, although Pigsy has a sharp tongue, it's normal for you to be a bit irritable now that your spiritual root has been destroyed."

But fighting and killing are ultimately not in accordance with the Buddha's will.

"Come here, let me, Old Sun, give you a shoulder massage to calm you down."

"Don't say any more!"

Tang Sanzang was so angry that his hair and beard stood on end, and his voice was as sharp as a knife, "If you don't obey, I will recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra for two hours and let you taste the pain of a splitting headache! Although I have no cultivation, this mantra is still here!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong's monkey face fell, and he could only shake his head helplessly. With a flick of his staff, he lashed out at Bajie's leg.

With the first blow, Pigsy cried out in pain, kicking wildly with his pig hooves, and cried out, "Master, spare me! I didn't mean to! Ouch, Brother Monkey, go easy on me, this leg is my livelihood!"

The second strike, the third strike... Although Wukong was measured in his movements, the wind from his staff howled, raising clouds of dust.

Pigsy rolled on the ground in pain, pleading, "Master, can we fight somewhere else? If you cripple my legs, how am I supposed to carry the load? Hit my hands! Hit my hands! Or my arms, I'm strong enough!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang snorted coldly: "What an unrepentant beast! In that case, I'll give you thirty lashes on that useless bottom! Wukong, give him a good beating, let him learn his lesson!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was terrified. He curled his pig tail and fled in panic, clutching his head: "Thirty strokes? Master, you're going to kill me! Help! Guanyin Bodhisattva, please save me!"

Just as the stick was about to fall, a golden light suddenly split open in the sky, lotus flowers bloomed, and a compassionate and solemn Bodhisattva figure appeared in the air—it was Guanyin Bodhisattva.

With a wave of her jade-like hand, the shadow of her staff froze in mid-air. Wukong withdrew his staff and stepped back, saying respectfully, "Bodhisattva, what brings you here?"

Guanyin glanced at Bajie, her eyebrows furrowing slightly: "Pig Wuneng, you fool, you never learn! You have no sense of propriety, how can you be a protector of the Dharma? If it weren't for Tang Sanzang's leniency, you would have been banished back to Gao Village long ago!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy shrank back, muttering, "Bodhisattva, please understand, I was just joking..."

Guanyin turned to look at Tang Sanzang and said softly, "Master Xuanzang, you have your heart set on the Eastern Land and have gone through eighty-one tribulations. You should have attained Buddhahood."

However, the ways of Heaven are impermanent, and calamities are imminent. Why not comprehend the true meaning of "all phenomena are empty"? Though one's spiritual roots may be destroyed, one's Buddha-nature remains.

Do not be bound by external things, lest you be stirred by the anger of ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's emotions calmed down slightly, but he still had many doubts.

He took a deep breath and forced his palms together, saying, "Bodhisattva, have mercy."

But... my spiritual roots have been destroyed, could it be the work of the Bodhisattva? Did he deliberately cut off my escape route for the sake of our journey to the West?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin sighed and shook her head, saying, "Master, you are overthinking it."

This humble monk was unaware of this matter, nor was it done by our Buddhist sect.

Tang Sanzang, you are a genius of unparalleled talent, with a deep affinity for Buddhism. This tribulation must have its cause and effect.

Don't panic; the truth will come in time.

When everyone heard this, they looked at each other.

Sun Wukong's monkey eyes darted around, and he spoke first: "Bodhisattva, since it wasn't you, it must have been the work of that scarred monk! I, Old Sun, think something's wrong. That guy is clearly Jiang Wang's disciple, who specializes in doing all sorts of underhanded things."

"I'll immediately use my sharp eyes to investigate and find the mastermind behind this!"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin shook her head slightly: "Wukong, this matter is probably not related to Jiang Wang."

Although the scarred monk is strange, the method of destroying spiritual roots requires a deep understanding of heavenly secrets and cannot be accomplished by ordinary means.

Moreover, although Jiang Wang is ambitious, he wouldn't go so far as to directly attack Tang Sanzang's spiritual root; that would alarm the Three Realms.

Sha Wujing pondered for a moment, then said, "Master, I think this matter might be because you, Tang Sanzang, have been under some kind of secret spell."

For example, that cup of tea might contain a curse from Heaven, or perhaps the primordial poison of a remnant of the Jie Sect? Could we follow the clues and trace it back to its source?

Guanyin nodded, but said, "What Sha Wujing said makes sense, but the secrets of heaven are in a state of chaos, and it is difficult to see the whole picture at this moment."

Tang Sanzang, you should rest and recuperate. The Buddha has made arrangements for the journey to the West.

This humble monk takes his leave.

After she finished speaking, her figure gradually faded, the golden light dissipated, leaving only a wisp of lotus fragrance.

The squad fell silent.

Tang Sanzang slumped to the ground, muttering to himself, "The truth...where is the truth?"

Wukong and Sha Wujing exchanged glances, while Bajie rubbed his bottom and muttered, "Oh dear, this is going to be interesting."

Master, do you think we might just be having a run of bad luck and have encountered some great calamity?

Everyone was puzzled. An invisible gloom hung over their hearts like dark clouds, and the journey westward suddenly became fraught with difficulties.

At the same time, a figure quietly landed in Chang'an City; it was Jiang Wang.

He wiped away the scars on his face, restoring his handsome scholar appearance, a triumphant smile playing on his lips.

Just now, when he destroyed Tang Sanzang's spiritual root in the wilderness, he thought it was just a casual strike. But then the system's cold voice suddenly rang in his mind: "Ding! The host has successfully destroyed the target's spiritual root, triggering the hidden mission 'Severing the Buddha's Root, Disrupting the Journey to the West'."

Rewards: +50 to Comprehension, and one experience point lottery draw.

Current points +1000.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang was first taken aback, then overjoyed.

"Haha! This system is really something! I never expected that a casually discarded system would bring such a pleasant surprise."

"With improved comprehension, won't my cultivation advance by leaps and bounds? And there's a lottery... Come on, I, Old Jiang, won't be polite!" With a thought, the system interface appeared, a golden light flashed, and the lottery wheel spun, finally stopping at "Superior Grade Spirit Pill."

One grid.

"Not bad, not bad. One bottle of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir is enough for me to go into seclusion for half a year."

Jiang Wang put away the reward, humming a little tune as he walked into the city inn, filled with unexpected joy, and completely unconcerned about the turmoil caused by the Journey to the West team.

On the other side, in the ancestral land of the Shouyang Mountain people, in a misty cave, Zhao Gongming, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao, the three siblings, knelt on a prayer mat, their brows furrowed.

Just now, their master, Tongtian Daoren, personally gave the Hunyuan Pill to the human race. Although they obeyed the order, they had many doubts in their hearts.

Zhao Gongming spoke first, his voice deep and resonant: "What exactly is the meaning behind Master's actions? The Hunyuan Pill is the most precious treasure of the Jie Sect, how can it be given to the human race so easily? Although the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan is a remarkable person, he is ultimately an outsider. Wouldn't we be at a disadvantage?"

Bixiao nodded, and Qiongxiao echoed, "Yes, Master has always been protective of his own. This time, when he repays the kindness of the human race, he should leave some room for maneuver."

They gave it all to Xuanyuan; is there some hidden reason behind it?

Tongtian Daoren sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, his body radiating sword energy. Hearing this, he smiled slightly and said, "I have my own profound meaning."

This elixir is given to the human race for two reasons: first, to repay a debt of gratitude—the human race secretly helped the remnants of my Jie Sect evade the Heavenly Dao's pursuit during the Investiture of the Gods; and second, to protect myself.

If our Jie Sect were to monopolize the Hunyuan Pill, the human race would inevitably become suspicious, and the war between the Three Realms would reignite. Wouldn't we then be attacked from both sides? Moreover, directly consuming the Hunyuan Pill would be met with rejection in the human realm. The power of the Heavenly Dao would descend like thunder, and even a sage would find it difficult to protect himself.

Upon hearing this, the third disciple seemed to understand but not quite. Just as he was about to ask again, suddenly, from the center of the small world, a terrifying pressure rose up like a mountain collapsing! Purple qi came from the east, stretching for 30,000 miles, soaring straight into the sky, stirring up the wind and clouds.

The entire primordial land trembled, the mountains and rivers seemed to hum, and hundreds of millions of living beings looked up in shock.

"boom!"

A beam of golden light shot into the sky, and the figure of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan slowly emerged from the purple aura.

He was clad in a dark yellow imperial robe, a crown atop his head, and his brows radiated an imposing aura. Primordial energy coiled around him like a dragon, and his aura of attaining sainthood instantly shook the Three Realms! Xuanyuan laughed loudly, his voice booming like thunder: "I, Xuanyuan, have received great favors from the human race. Today, I borrow the Primordial Elixir to prove the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos! From this day forward, I will shoulder all responsibilities for the human race in times of trouble! As long as humanity endures, saints will live on forever!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the three realms were in an uproar.

While in an inn in Chang'an, Jiang Wang suddenly felt the Kongtong Seal in his bosom tremble violently, its golden light shining brightly.

His heart skipped a beat, and he murmured, "The Primordial Chaos Pill... was actually given to Xuanyuan? This human race, what a grand gesture! The movement of the Kongtong Seal signifies a great change."

He pushed open the window and gazed at the purple aura in the east, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

In the Shouyang Mountains, Zhao Gongming and his two companions were utterly dumbfounded.

Bixiao exclaimed in surprise, "Master, this... why doesn't the mortal realm reject Xuanyuan? Doesn't that Hunyuan Pill attract heavenly lightning punishment?"

Tongtian Daoren stroked his beard and smiled: "Silly girl, how could the human way reject its own sage? Xuanyuan was originally the leader of the human race. When the Hunyuan Pill entered his body, he was like a fish in water. Although the Heavenly Way is strong, it is difficult to go against the fate of the human way."

This is the will of Heaven; the rise of humanity is unstoppable.

In the Heavenly Palace of Lingxiao, the Jade Emperor sat enthroned on the ninth heaven. Suddenly, he felt a tremor in his heart, and his face turned deathly pale: "Xuanyuan... has become a saint? That Primordial Chaos Pill actually helped him ascend to heaven in one step! When... when will I be able to..."

A flicker of desire and jealousy flashed in his eyes, his fists clenched, and the golden bricks in the hall seemed to crack faintly.

In the far beyond the heavens, amidst the chaos, the Ancestor Hongjun sat cross-legged in the void, his body radiating Daoist energy.

The news of Xuanyuan's ascension to sainthood came like a tidal wave. His hair stood on end, and his eyes blazed with fury: "Xuanyuan! How could this scoundrel attain the Dao? The Primordial Elixir should be solely controlled by the Heavenly Dao. What virtue or ability does the human race possess? Stop him at once!"

He was about to get up and wave his sleeve to break through the air when he suddenly felt a surge of dark current within his body—it was the internal struggle within the Daoist sect. The aftershocks of the three lineages of Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Tongtian had not yet subsided, leaving him unable to spare any attention. He could only give up in resentment: "So be it... the fate of humanity has already taken shape."

"After I quell the internal strife, I will settle accounts!"

Deep within the ancestral veins of the human race, in the Fire Cloud Cave, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, including Suiren, Fuxi, and Shennong, gathered together, with the Yellow Emperor sitting in the center, exuding an aura as deep as the abyss.

The power of the Hunyuan Pill circulated within his body, completely solidifying his position as a sage.

His gaze was piercing as he swept over the crowd: "Esteemed ancestors, since Fuxi drew the trigrams and Nuwa mended the sky, the human race has endured countless calamities, subservient to the demon and witch races, and suffered endless suppression."

"Now that I have attained sainthood, it is time to break this deadlock! Follow me as I deploy the Primordial Chaos Formation, absorb the power of the Heavenly Dao, break the suppression of the Kongtong Seal, and restore the destiny of our human race!"

Upon hearing this, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were filled with fervor.

Suirenshi held a fire staff, Fuxishi held a Bagua diagram, and Shennongshi held a grass whip; each took their place.

With a wave of his hand, Xuanyuan activated the Hunyuan Heluo Grand Array! Within the array, the illusory images of the Hetu and Luoshu appeared, the stars revolved, and countless runes surged forth like a tide, drawing in the power of the heavens.

The heavens above and Hongjun beyond the heavens both felt as if the way of heaven was being peeled away, causing them a dull ache.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, thunderclouds gathered above the Fire Cloud Cave, and the Heavenly Dao's suppression descended like a massive hammer, only to be neutralized layer by layer by the great formation.

Xuanyuan roared, "When humanity prospers, evil will retreat! Break!"

The golden light at the center of the formation exploded, and the phantom of the Kongtong Seal appeared. The supreme treasure that had been sealed by the Heavenly Dao suddenly broke free of its shackles, transformed into a dazzling golden light, and fell into Xuanyuan's palm.

In an instant, eight golden dragons soared into the sky from the seal! Their roars shook the heavens, their scales shone with golden light, and they circled the primordial land, sprinkling spiritual energy like rain.

Mountains and rivers are reviving, rivers are rushing, withered trees are coming back to life, and vegetation is lush and green.

Bathed in the dragon's aura, countless beings awakened their bloodlines, and the human race's fortune rose like the morning sun, flourishing ever onward.

Upon seeing this, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors recalled the humiliations of the past: Suiren drilled wood to make fire, but was hunted by the demon race; Fuxi created the Eight Trigrams, but was repeatedly obstructed by the witch clan; Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, and was poisoned countless times... Those past events intertwined with blood and tears surged into their hearts like a tide.

Xuanyuan was the first to sing: "Humanity will never perish!"

Suiren, Fuxi, and Shennong echoed in unison: "May humanity prosper forever!"

The song was as loud and clear as a bell, echoing throughout the three realms, making the demon mountains and ghost seas tremble with fear, and causing even Buddhist and Taoist sects to look on with disapproval.

In the Journey to the West team, Tang Sanzang gazed at the purple aura in the east, feeling a surge of emotion: "Humanity...is rising?"

Sun Wukong squinted and said, "Master, this commotion is quite loud."

It seems the human race is planning something big again. I, Old Sun, sense something amiss. The journey westward may be fraught with uncertainty.

Pigsy rubbed his bottom and muttered, "Fine, I'll change, just don't hit me again..."

Sha Wujing nodded: "The prosperity of humanity and the progress of the Journey to the West may be due to divine assistance."

Jiang Wang, in Chang'an, touched the unusual movement of the Kongtong Seal, his brows furrowing slightly: "The human race has made a brilliant move."

My plans need to be sped up.

Tongtian Daoren smiled slightly at Shouyang Mountain: "When humanity prospers, the Jie Sect flourishes. This situation is interesting."

Haotian, in the Heavenly Court, gritted his teeth: "Human race... Hmph!" (End of Chapter)