Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 111 Battle Against Red Boy (Part 15)
Meanwhile, Ao Tu used the Soul-Scattering Gourd to spray out a sky full of red sand, instantly turning the tide of the battle.

All four heavenly generals fell to the ground.

Brokeback Mountain was piled up with fallen gods from all sides.

Those with strong divine power possess a slight degree of consciousness.

Those with weaker divine power were already unconscious.

Red Boy stared at the scene, his eyes filled with undisguised shock.

Ao Tu landed from the sky and said, "Red Boy, lock all these people in the dungeon."

Red Boy replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Red Boy set off and imprisoned these heavenly generals one by one in the dungeons.

Previously, Red Boy did not understand why Ao Tu had built so many prisons in his cave, but now he understands the mystery behind it.

Meanwhile, Wukong escaped to the heavens and met Thousand-Mile Eyes and Wind-Following Ears. The three of them returned to the Lingxiao Palace together.

The Jade Emperor asked, "How is the battle going in the mortal realm?"

Eyes and ears everywhere report:
"Your Majesty, King Li led his four generals to the mortal realm to subdue the demon. The demon raised a banner on Demon Mountain, calling himself 'The Great Sage Who Pacifies the Netherworld.' King Li ordered the demon banner to be burned, but the demon blocked it with a black lotus. King Li then ordered his four generals—Thunder, Fighting, Water, and Fire—to besiege it. After a fierce battle, the demon was overwhelmed and showed signs of defeat. King Li attempted to capture it with a pagoda, but the demon unleashed a crimson gourd, spewing out a sky full of red sand, which captured all four generals."

The Jade Emperor said, "This demon actually possesses such abilities?"

Wukong said, "Your Majesty, although that demon has some skills, he is no match for the gods and me, Old Sun. It's just that his gourd is powerful."

The Jade Emperor said, "Gourd."

Wukong rolled his eyes and found Laozi among the immortals. He went over and said, "Old man, I greet you."

Laozi asked, "Monkey, what do you want with me?"

Wukong smiled and said, "Old man, do you recognize that red gourd?"

Laozi said, "I have lived in the Tushita Palace for a long time and do not recognize any red gourd."

Wukong bowed and said, "Old sir, although you don't recognize him, you must know who does. I beg you to give me some pointers."

Laozi laughed and said, "You little monkey. I really don't recognize that gourd, but I've heard that the Buddha has supernatural powers that allow him to see through the three realms. Why don't you go and ask him to take a look?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong thought it made sense, and then bowed to the Jade Emperor to take his leave:
"Your Majesty, allow me to go and ask the Buddha to investigate the origins of that demon."

The Jade Emperor said, "Go."

Wukong left the South Heavenly Gate and swiftly rode his somersault cloud to Mount Ling.

Upon arriving at Vulture Peak, they were received by a Buddhist nun.

After Wukong explained his purpose, the nun invited him to enter the Great Thunderclap Temple.

The Buddha sat upon a nine-tiered lotus throne.

Wukong paid homage to the Buddha and recounted the events of the past, requesting the Buddha to investigate the origins of the demon.

Upon hearing this, the Buddha opened his wisdom eye and looked around. He saw the Six Hundred Mile Drill Mountain, the Broken Arm Mountain, the Blood Sea Cave, Red Boy, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, the gods and generals of Heaven, Li Jing, the Broken Pagoda, the Black Lotus, and the Blood Sea King.

Upon seeing the Black Lotus, the Buddha was slightly startled. He then looked closely at the Blood Sea King and found that he could not discern his origins, cause and effect, or his background.

Wukong asked, "Buddha, can you discern the origin of that demon?"

The Buddha said, "That demon is an anomaly; its black lotus is the most evil and wicked thing in the world. Guanyin, you shall accompany Wukong to exterminate the demon."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Disciple obeys."

The Buddha then said, "Come here, I will give you two things."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped forward.

The Buddha handed a golden relic and a cup of gold lacquer to Guanyin Bodhisattva, and then gave her some instructions. Guanyin Bodhisattva accepted the order and left Mount Ling with Wukong.

After Guanyin Bodhisattva left, the Buddha Tathagata instructed Manjushri Bodhisattva to go to Wudang Mountain to invite Zhenwu the Great. This matter will not be discussed further for now.
Guanyin Bodhisattva and Wukong rode on the clouds to Broken Arm Mountain and Blood Sea Cave.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, go down and challenge the demons to a duel."

Wukong said, "Bodhisattva, that demon's treasure is powerful, you must be careful."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I understand, go." Wukong descended from the clouds, raised his golden cudgel, and smashed the entrance to the Blood Sea Cave to pieces, shouting:
"Blood Sea Demon, hurry up and come out to your death!"

Inside the cave, Ao Tu heard the shouting and cursing outside and said to Red Boy:
"Your Uncle Sun is here again. If I lose this time, you'll tie your own hands and feet and wait for them to come and rescue you, understand?"

Red Boy nodded silently.

Ao Tu walked outside.

Red Boy couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty!"

Ao Tu turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Red Boy said, "Why don't you run away? You can't defeat all the gods in heaven."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's good that you understand this principle so early. But don't worry about me, I'm not afraid of those gods."

After saying this, Ao Tu walked out of the cave.

Once outside, Wukong stood holding his staff.

Ao Tu stepped forward and fought with Wukong for several rounds. Wukong flew into the sky, and Ao Tu chased after him.

When Guanyin Bodhisattva saw the two flying over, she took out her jade bottle, which shone with precious light, and came to subdue Ao Tu.

Ao Tu took out the Soul-Scattering Gourd.

Seeing this, Wukong turned and left.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was startled, not expecting Wukong to leave so quickly.

Red sand sprayed out from the Soul-Scattering Gourd.

The precious light emanating from the jade bottle was shattered in an instant.

Guanyin Bodhisattva hurriedly used her nine-tiered lotus platform to protect herself.

Ao Tu held the gourd and kept releasing red sand, causing the nine-tiered lotus platform to shimmer with precious light.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sat on a lotus platform and fled all the way to the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Ao Tu sprayed the entire sky and earth with crimson light, only stopping when he saw Guanyin Bodhisattva fleeing to heaven.

Guanyin Bodhisattva fled to heaven and saw Wukong there. She couldn't help but say:
"Wukong, why are you walking so fast?"

Wukong said, "Bodhisattva, it's not that I walk fast, it's just that the demon's gourd is powerful, and I have no treasures to protect myself. If I walk too slowly, I will be knocked down."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "You monkey, you left without saying goodbye, catching me off guard and getting hit by that demon's red sand, which damaged my lotus platform."

Wukong said, "Bodhisattva, this is my fault, but what should we do now?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "When we came here, the Buddha gave instructions. Please come with me to meet the Jade Emperor."

The two arrived at the Lingxiao Palace.

When the Jade Emperor saw Wukong bringing Guanyin Bodhisattva over, he laughed and said:
“The Bodhisattva has come here; he must possess supernatural powers to subdue demons.”

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva lowered her brows and said:
"I am ashamed to say that the demonic treasure was too powerful to subdue."

The Jade Emperor exclaimed in surprise, "Even the Bodhisattvas couldn't subdue the demon? That demon possesses such supernatural powers. I wonder who else could be sent to subdue it?"

All the gods were speechless.

Venus reported, “Your Majesty, demons and monsters possess great supernatural powers, and ordinary divine generals may find it difficult to subdue them.”

The Jade Emperor said, "You can't even subdue a mere demon from the lower realm?"

Venus said, “Your Majesty, please allow me to report. Previously, this old minister submitted a memorial requesting the reconstruction of the ancient star to ward off future disasters. The immortals replied, ‘With peace in the Three Realms, why bother with such efforts?’ Now that we have indeed encountered this powerful demon, it proves that my words were not wrong.”

The Jade Emperor said, "Since the immortals have made a mistake, your suggestion is granted. But how do we eliminate the demon?"

Venus said, “That demon is incredibly powerful and difficult to subdue in a short time. In my opinion, since that demon calls himself the Great Sage of the Blood Sea and the Netherworld in the mortal realm, why doesn’t Your Majesty issue a decree to grant him the title of Great Sage of the Blood Sea and the Netherworld, so that he will feel grateful for the grace of the Emperor and naturally submit to you?”

　I'll take a day off tomorrow to rest and then catch up on the missed updates. I was fine staying up late the past few days, but I couldn't handle it today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)