Others follow advice and imitate celebrities, but you start by pretending to be a god?

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, but did not respond immediately.

At this time, Huli Daxian slowly said: "In this case, how about we compete in meditation? Since you are from the Zen school, you must have some experience in meditation. This shouldn't be considered bullying, right?"

"Meditation?" Tang Sanzang and his disciples looked at each other in bewilderment. Before they could speak, the King of Chechi spoke first, "The Imperial Master is wrong. Since that monk is a Zen Buddhist, he must be well versed in Zen, and that's why he dared to obey the emperor's order and ask for the sutra. How can you bet with him on this?"

Huli Daxian shook his head slightly, with a smile on his face: "My meditation is very special. It has a nickname, called 'Cloud Ladder Manifesting the Sage'."

"The ladder appears? What does this mean?" King Chechi looked puzzled, and the civil and military ministers around him also cast curious glances, waiting for the explanation of the great immortal Huli.

The Immortal Hu Li said slowly: "This is a method I learned before I became enlightened. It requires a hundred tables, fifty of which are stacked to form a meditation platform. They are stacked one by one, and no one is allowed to climb up with their hands, nor with ladders or stools. Each person rides on a cloud, goes up to the platform and sits down, and agrees not to move for a few hours."

After hearing this, King Chechi immediately understood that this was not just a simple meditation, but a comprehensive test of the meditator's character, courage and concentration. These three are indispensable, otherwise it would be futile to go to the throne.

So, King Chechi asked again: "Tang monk, our Second State Master wants to bet with you on the 'Cloud Ladder Manifesting Sage' sitting meditation, do you dare to accept the challenge?"

After this question, Sun Wukong also fell silent. Seeing this, Zhu Bajie couldn't help but ask: "Big Brother, why don't you say anything? Is your meditation method not working?"

Sun Wukong shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "This is embarrassing for me. Although I have great magical powers, I can carry mountains and chase the moon, move stars and constellations, overturn rivers and seas, and rip open stomachs and dig out hearts, but the only thing I am weak at is sitting in meditation."

At this time, Tang Sanzang spoke up: "I know how to sit in meditation." He went on to say, "When I was young, I met a Zen monk named Fang Shang who preached about the fundamentals of life and death, and how to concentrate the mind and spirit. I also sat in meditation for two or three years at the critical juncture of life and death."

Hearing this, Sun Wukong clapped his hands in approval and accepted the fight. Soon, the ladder was built and they began to compete in sitting meditation.

Sun Wukong stood aside, thinking to himself: "Since the Taoist priest proposed such a duel, he must have come prepared. I can't let him succeed. Later, I have to use some magical powers to help Master win this competition."

Two newly built platforms stood tall. The Great Immortal Huli rode up on a cloud and landed steadily on one of the platforms.

On the other side, Sun Wukong transformed himself into a auspicious cloud and floated up with Tang Sanzang and landed on another high platform.

The platform was over a hundred feet high and was shaky as if it would collapse with a gust of wind.

There is only a few feet of space for people to stand, but when they sit cross-legged, the place is completely occupied, with no extra space at all.

Therefore, when sitting cross-legged on it, one not only has to withstand the psychological pressure, but also has to have sufficient concentration and sense of balance, all of which are indispensable.

Even Sun Wukong had to admit that he probably wouldn't be able to sit still if he were asked to.

At this time, there was silence between heaven and earth. On the Five Phoenix Tower, King Chechi asked the other two state masters beside him whether the two state masters could win in this meditation competition.

Immortal Yang Li stroked his goatee and said confidently, "Although Senior Brother Hu Li looks a little unsteady on the surface, he is actually the most patient among the three of us. In the past, when we were practicing the Golden Elixir Method, Senior Brother Hu Li sat for several years without moving. Now that Senior Brother Hu Li has achieved success in his practice, he can sit for hundreds or thousands of years without any worries."

Immortal Lu Li also smiled and said, "Even if that monk dies of exhaustion, he will not be able to defeat you, Senior Brother."

In the audience, Zhu Bajie heard this and thought to himself that something was wrong. He quickly said to Sun Wukong, "Big Brother, did you hear that? If we continue to sit like this, we don't have to go to the West to obtain the scriptures. We will just die in this car!"

"Shut up, idiot! I have my own plans!" Sun Wukong scolded in a low voice, "From now on, don't talk to me again."

This sound came from Zhu Bajie's ear. It turned out that Sun Wukong had transformed into a cicada and flew towards the stage. He realized that if the competition continued like this, the outcome would be unpredictable, and the waiting time was unknown. Therefore, Sun Wukong was not prepared to continue waiting, but to "take an unconventional approach" and use some tricks.

He flew onto the platform and saw that the platform where his master Tang Sanzang was was still shaking and swaying with the wind.

Tang San sat on it, looking a little messy. Sun Wukong looked at the Tiger Power Immortal opposite him, and saw that he was sitting steadily on the high platform, as if he weighed a thousand pounds, making the high platform firmly rooted, and even if an ordinary wind blew, it did not shake at all.

Sun Wukong's flaming eyes swept over and saw that the vitality of heaven and earth was being inhaled and exhaled with the breathing of Huli Daxian. He could not help but exclaimed in surprise: "What a great Huli Daxian, he is actually practicing on this! If this continues, even if the Second National Master practices till the end of time, Master will not be able to defeat him!"

Thinking of this, Sun Wukong flew over, transformed himself into a seven-inch long centipede, and crawled towards the nose of Huli Daxian. This scene was far away from below, and no one could see it clearly.

The Great Immortal Huli closed his eyes and practiced, seemingly unaware of anything in the outside world.

However, at this moment, the sound of an eagle's cry came from the sky, and a hawk soared into the sky and headed straight towards the Great Immortal Huli.

On the Five Phoenix Tower, some civil and military officials cried out in surprise. Offstage, Zhu Bajie saw this and thought to himself, "Is this Senior Brother Tian's move? What a great move!" However, the hawk did not come for Tiger Power Immortal, but went straight for Sun Wukong.

"Where did this eagle come from?" Sun Wukong was shocked. Before he could change, the eagle grabbed the centipede body he had transformed into.

"This eagle is ruining my good deeds!" Sun Wukong was about to transform to escape, but a restraining force came from the eagle's claws.

"Huh?" Sun Wukong was startled, but the hawk spoke in human language: "Sun Wukong, you are a bad monkey, you have no morals! Others are meditating and fighting, why are you playing tricks?"

When Sun Wukong heard the voice, he was stunned. The voice was actually from the Six-Eared Macaque!

"It's you?" Sun Wukong exclaimed.

"Of course it's me!" Six-eared Macaque sneered, "Your master and my Chechi Second State Master were fighting, but you intervened. As a disciple of the Great State Master, how could I just sit there and watch?"

As they spoke, they had already left a certain distance. The six-eared macaque transformed into his original form, and clouds immediately appeared under his feet, holding him up. Sun Wukong, who had transformed into a centipede, also shook himself and returned to his original form.

"That Second National Master is a Quanzhen Taoist. He wants to compete with my master in meditation, which is not equal to ours. What's wrong with me, Sun Wukong, using some tricks?" Sun Wukong defended.

"That's a farce!" Six-eared Macaque shook his head. "If we are not equal, why did you accept the fight in the first place? I came here this time because of Master's order not to let you do anything tricky in the fight. Therefore, don't mess around, you must compete with them in an upright manner."

"Otherwise," the six-eared macaque said with a hint of threat in his tone, "if you provoke my master to come out of the mountain, you won't be able to cross this car late."

After hearing this, Sun Wukong was indignant. He was the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, a man of pride, how could he have been threatened like this?

At that moment, Sun Wukong hesitated for a moment and had to admit that if Lin Nan really attacked, he would be hard to resist. He sighed and compromised, "Forget it, let's each use our magic to decide who is better, and I won't interfere anymore."

Sun Wukong's attitude softened significantly as he said this. After hearing this, the Six-Eared Macaque finally stopped talking, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he also turned around and returned to the Five Phoenix Tower.

"Great Protector!"

"Master Renxin!"

As soon as they saw the six-eared macaque returning, the civil and military officials came forward to greet him with a respectful attitude.

The Immortals Lu Li and Yang Li also nodded slightly. They smiled and asked, "But the Grand Master sent you here?"

"That's right. My master ordered me to witness this battle between Buddhism and Taoism." The Six-Eared Macaque responded.

At this time, Sun Wukong downstairs proposed a new suggestion: "I don't know when this meditation competition will end. Why don't we try something else?"

"Oh? What do you want to compete in?" asked the Immortal Luli on the Five Phoenix Tower curiously.

Sun Wukong answered confidently, "I have great magical powers, and I can do anything. I can kick the sky and dig a well, stir the sea and turn the river, carry a mountain and chase the moon, change the constellations and move the stars. I can do all kinds of wonderful things. Even beheading and brain cutting, opening the abdomen and taking out the heart, these strange things are no problem for me."

Deer Power and Sheep Power smiled at each other after hearing this. Deer Power said, "Before we became immortals, we also practiced some small skills. It is these magical powers that allow us to chop off heads and put them back together, open abdomens and remove hearts, and even bathe in boiling oil."

After hearing this, Sun Wukong laughed loudly: "If that's the case, then let's compare these methods." Then, he said loudly, "However, if you are not careful with these magical powers, you will lose your life. If you want to compete, you have to take your own life and death responsibility."

Then Sun Wukong volunteered, "I know how to chop off heads, rip open abdomens and take out hearts, and bathe in a frying pan."

Upon hearing this, King Chechi looked at the two great immortals. The two great immortals nodded and agreed: "It's okay to have a competition."

The six-eared macaque standing by did not say much, but just watched quietly. Seeing this, the king ordered his men to prepare everything needed for the competition.

Deer Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal, one competed with Sun Wukong in cutting open his belly and taking out his heart, while the other competed with him in taking a bath in an oil pan. The six-eared macaque watched this scene and shook his head slightly.

King Chechi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why did the Great Protector shake his head?"

The six-eared macaque slowly replied, "I'm afraid it will be hard to tell who will win this fight."

"Why?" King Chechi asked in confusion, "Isn't this kind of competition enough to reveal the true method?"

The six-eared macaque nodded and explained, "Sun Wukong is the former Great Sage Equaling Heaven. He has an indestructible body. As long as he doesn't want to, even the divine sword executioner in heaven can't hurt him at all."

"He once caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and all the punishments there were useless to him." The Six-Eared Macaque continued, "In addition, he has seventy-two transformations. Even if his body is destroyed, he can recover quickly, which is equivalent to having seventy-two lives."

The words of the Six-eared Macaque shocked the King of Chechi: "So, the Third and Fourth State Masters have no chance of winning, right?"

The six-eared macaque shook his head and said, "No, the Third and Fourth State Masters have already achieved the status of True Immortals, formed the Golden Elixir, and refined the Holy Fetus. Even if they shed their bodies, they can still use the Golden Elixir to reshape themselves and the Holy Fetus to regenerate. Therefore, they will not lose in such a fight."

After hearing this, King Chechi felt relieved and a little emotional: "So, this monk who looks like the Great Protector has such a background. It is a blessing for Chechi that the three national masters have such strength."

After sighing, King Chechi became a little worried: "If that's the case, what's the point of fighting?"

"It's meaningless." Six-eared Macaque said calmly, "The victory or defeat of a duel is just a display of the level of magical power, and it does not represent the true meaning of Buddhism and Taoism. Moreover, the growth of Chechi does not rely entirely on the magical power of several national masters."

"Your Majesty, just treat it as an eye-opener. There is no need to take it too seriously." The Six-Eared Macaque advised.

After hearing this, King Chechi nodded repeatedly: "That's true. Even if these monks have great magical powers, they can't mean anything and can't change the situation in my Chechi."

The words of the Six-Eared Macaque eased the worries of King Chechi. Soon, the competition over there began.

Sun Wukong was the first to demonstrate his magical powers of taking a bath in an oil pan and cutting open the abdomen and taking out the heart. Not to be outdone, the Deer Power Immortal and the Sheep Power Immortal also demonstrated their own magical powers.

During this process, Sun Wukong did not do anything tricky, after all, the six-eared macaque was watching eagerly. Therefore, after this fight, the two sides could only be considered a draw.

This duel was a feast for the eyes of King Chechi and his ministers, and it opened their eyes. They had never seen such a miraculous display of magical powers, and they were all amazed.

When the competition between Sun Wukong and the immortals Deer Power and Sheep Power ended, the meditation competition between Tang Sanzang and the immortal Tiger Power was still going on on the high platform.

……

At this time, the six-eared macaque appeared again. He looked at Sun Wukong and said calmly, "There is no point in fighting like this. You, Sun Wukong, can't win."

When Sun Wukong heard this, his eyes shone, and he said defiantly, "Who said that? If we compete again, I will definitely win."

The six-eared macaque shook his head slightly and said, "Even if you can beat the second, third, and fourth national masters, so what? And my master is the national master. If we continue to compete like this, can you beat him?"

Sun Wukong was silent, but he had to admit this in his heart. He had been defeated by Lin Nan before, and he knew that Lin Nan's strength was unfathomable. At the moment, only three of Che Chi's four great masters were present, and the most important great master was missing. Even so, he was unable to defeat them in the battle.

So, Sun Wukong asked in a deep voice: "What do you think? How can you give us the pass and release the five hundred imprisoned monks?"

The six-eared macaque swept his eyes over Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong and the others, and said slowly, "The teacher said that he wanted to complete the debate with your master here that was not completed in Chang'an, the Great Tang Dynasty."

"Go and ask your master if he is willing." Six-eared Macaque continued, "If he is willing, I will go back to the mountain to ask the master."

When Sun Wukong heard this, he knew that what was going to happen next had nothing to do with him. He did not agree immediately, but said, "I will ask Master later."

As he spoke, Sun Wukong's figure flashed, rose up, and instantly came to Tang Sanzang. He told Tang Sanzang everything that the six-eared macaque had said, and waited for his decision. (End of this chapter)