Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 87 Reward Settlement
Now, Ao Tu bowed and thanked Laozi for saving him.

It turns out that before, Ao Tu was trying to comprehend the Purple Gold Red Gourd to verify his own bloodline, but unfortunately he got lost in the innate laws of the Ancestral Dragon's essence blood, which damaged his mind and spirit, causing him to faint on the spot.

Fortunately, the purple-gold gourd expelled a breath of primordial chaos energy, which restored Ao Tu's lost mental energy, allowing him to regain consciousness.

That is why Ao Tu is here today to express his gratitude.

Laozi laughed and said, "No! No! It wasn't me who made the move, but rather the gourd's spirit that protected its master."

Laozi raised his hand, took the purple-gold gourd from him, weighed it in his hand, and said:
"This gourd was originally plucked from a celestial vine when heaven and earth were first created. I always used it as a gourd to hold elixirs, but I never expected it to recognize you as its master. So, I'm giving it to you. Just don't use it to show off or be overpowered; treat it only as a protective treasure."

Laozi tossed the gourd over, and Ao Tu quickly caught it, overjoyed, and exclaimed:

"Thank you Daozu!"

He bowed deeply, but the figure of Laozi was no longer there.

Ao Tu held the purple-gold-red gourd with great joy. This was his first innate spiritual treasure, possessing boundless power.

Although Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao) instructed him not to use the gourd to show off his strength and compete, he still had an extra trump card.

Guanyin Bodhisattva has cultivated for so many years, yet she doesn't possess a single innate spiritual treasure!

the other side.

After Jinjiao and Yinjiao were taken away by Laozi, Wukong went down to rescue his master.

Li Tianwang, on the other hand, was in a hurry to find the pagoda.

Li Tianwang rushed into the cave and turned the lotus cave upside down. He finally found the pagoda and breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, Wukong also rescued his master, junior brother Nezha, and a group of gods.

Afterwards, Li Tianwang ordered his heavenly soldiers and generals to capture the demons in the cave and prepare to annihilate them with heavenly lightning.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Heavenly King, please wait."

Upon seeing that it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, Li Tianwang dared not be disrespectful and asked, "What are your instructions, Bodhisattva?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "This place is rarely visited by humans, and these little demons have not had an easy time cultivating. Let them live."

Li Tianwang said, "This... is somewhat against the rules of Heaven."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Heavenly King, the demon dragon has not yet been captured. If you kill his demons, it will probably do you no good."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianwang thought it made sense and said:
"Since the Bodhisattva has pleaded for their lives, we should let them go."

He then ordered his heavenly soldiers to release the lesser demons back into the mountains.

The little demons dispersed.

The gods returned to heaven to report their orders, and Guanyin Bodhisattva went straight back to the South Sea. Tang Sanzang and his disciples set off for the westward journey once again.

Everything seemed calm and peaceful, returning to normal.

Only a little fox stumbled and ran anxiously through the mountains to the Lotus Cave, only to find it deserted.

The ground was scarred by lightning, the vegetation was charred black from fire, and the mountains and rocks were no longer as magnificent as before, only dust remained.

The little fox ran outside the mountain, looked westward, and couldn't help but shed tears, saying:
"Your Majesty, I will wait for you here."

In mid-air, the White Bone Demon couldn't help but say to Ao Tu:

"Your Majesty, take her with you. I will protect her from now on."

Ao Tu said, "You can't even protect yourself, yet you want to protect others?"

The White Bone Demon opened her mouth, but had nothing to say.

Tiger Vanguard stood on the other side, without saying a word.

For him, he did whatever the king told him to do.

The little fox gazed westward for a long time, dried its tears, and walked back step by step.

Suddenly, grass and trees began to grow on the ground, all things sprouted, old trees budded, and withered grasses began to sprout.

The little fox stared blankly at this scene.

Land struck by lightning returns to normal; vegetation scorched by fire is reborn.

In front of the little fox, a peach tree grew, with a huge fairy peach hanging on it, exuding an ethereal aura.

The little fox realized what was happening and looked around:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please, take me away!"

No one responded.

The little fox shed tears again.

Holding the peach, reluctant to eat it, they returned to Yinglong Cave.

After a long time, Tang Sanzang and his disciples walked out of Pingdingshan.

[Rewards are being calculated; a total of 159 days of interception.]

[Received reward spell: Immobilize.]

[You have received a reward of Seven-Leaf Lingzhi Grass.]

[After obtaining the reward, the Heavenly Spiritual Treasure - Bowl.]

[Reward: Eight-Nine Arcane Arts]

[Received the reward: the Sixteen-Foot Golden Body.]

[The extra 69 days will automatically be carried over to the next side quest; the next side quest is: Exorcising Demons in Wuji Kingdom.]

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[Enter the mission area]

[Current Side Quest: Exorcising Demons in Wuji Kingdom]

[Mission Requirements: Block the pilgrims in the Wuji Kingdom area. Rewards will be calculated based on the time taken to block them.]

[Task Rewards: 3 days/Pear delivery, 7 days/Bodhi seed, half a month/Acquired spiritual treasure - Kasaya, 1 month/Spiritual root - Grade 3 Black Lotus, 1 season/Divine power - One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, half a year/Ancestral Witch essence blood, 1 year/Innate spiritual treasure - Soul-Scattering Gourd, 3 years/Innate spiritual treasure - Hetu Luoshu, 12 years/Chaos Bell, 60 years...]

Current progress: 69 days

Baolin Temple, within the territory of Wuji Kingdom.

This temple, located forty li from the capital, was built by imperial decree and is hidden in the mountains and forests. It is truly a fine temple. The brick walls are painted red and white, and the doors are adorned with golden nails.

Pavilions and terraces are hidden on the mountainside, and palaces are concealed in the mountains.

Where clouds gather and mist lingers, a fragrant haze hangs in the air.

A Zen monk outside the building spoke, expounding the Dharma and revealing the true emptiness.

Ao Tu descended from the sky and transformed into a monk.

You can tell from his appearance:
With a compassionate face, surrounded by Buddha's light, draped in a kasaya, reciting true scriptures, a virtuous and perfect monk, a truly enlightened one.

Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Demon transformed into attendants and disciples, following him around.

Tiger Vanguard knocked on the courtyard gate.

The monks from the courtyard came out and, seeing Ao Tu's appearance, quickly said respectfully:
"Where did the eminent monk come from?"

Ao Tu said, "This humble monk comes from the Western Paradise, from the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling, to help a good person who has completed his tribulation."

Upon hearing this, the monk was overjoyed and said:

"Buddha, I am a good person!"

Ao Tu smiled and shook his head, saying:

"Your cultivation is not yet complete; you'd better go and call your abbot!"

The monk then realized what was happening and hurriedly went to call the abbot of the temple.

Upon hearing this, the abbot of the temple hurried over. Seeing Ao Tu's appearance, he respectfully bowed and said:
"I was unaware of the true Buddha's arrival; I have failed to greet you properly!"

Ao Tu said, "Go and clean the meditation room. You will have merit afterward."

The abbot kowtowed repeatedly, overjoyed, and said, "Yes, disciple will go and prepare immediately!"

The abbot, along with his disciples, cleaned up the main hall and meditation room, and invited Ao Tu to live there.

As night fell, the wronged spirit of the King of Wuji Kingdom wandered outside the city.

The throne in the city was seized by that sorcerer. He had no way to appeal his grievances and dared not approach the city. He could only wander outside the city, lonely and helpless, for nearly five years.

At this moment, Tiger Vanguard leaped into the forest and exhaled a gust of evil wind.

The wronged spirit of the King of Wuji Kingdom suddenly became uncontrollable and was swept away by the evil wind.

It turns out that this tiger was a spirit, born with supernatural powers, able to control souls, and was also called a courier ghost. The saying "to act as a courier for a tiger" comes from this.

Tiger Vanguard swept the King of Wuji Kingdom into Baolin Temple with a gust of evil wind. The King of Wuji Kingdom felt dizzy and disoriented. When he opened his eyes, he was already in the temple.

From the main hall of the temple, faint melodious sounds could be heard, and waves of Buddhist light emanated from it. The King of Wuji Kingdom couldn't resist floating over and entering the hall.

But then, in the main hall, a golden lotus of the third rank bloomed, and on the lotus sat a Buddha, chanting scriptures, with waves of Buddha light and endless merit.

The Buddha's appearance was truly dignified and majestic:
His compassionate countenance appeared in golden form, and the Buddha's light shone brightly throughout the hall.

Where the cassock brushes, heavenly flowers fall; when the true scriptures are recited, the earth's veins are activated.

Great virtue can transcend the sea of ​​birth and death, and perfect wisdom can save one from the winds of karmic entanglements.

Having truly awakened to the wondrous Dharma of the Three Vehicles, the King Buddha sits serenely within a precious lotus.

Upon seeing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom immediately knelt down and paid homage to the Buddha.

Ao Tu asked, "What kind of wronged spirit are you, and why have you entered my palace?"

The King of Wuji Kingdom wiped away his tears and said, "Buddha, I am the King of Wuji Kingdom!"

Ao Tu asked, "If you are the ruler of Wuji Kingdom, why do you look like this?"

The King of Wuji Kingdom said:

"Eight years ago, our country suffered a severe drought, with no rain, no vegetation, and many people starved to death. I followed the example of the Three Sovereigns, opening the granaries to provide relief to the people, and praying and worshipping the gods and Buddhas every day."

For three years, not a drop of rain fell; the mountains and rivers dried up, and the nation was on the verge of collapse. Just then, a Taoist priest from Zhongnan Mountain arrived. He ascended the altar, performed rituals, and summoned wind and rain, instantly resolving the nation's crisis.

Therefore, I am grateful for his achievements, so I swore an oath of brotherhood with him, and we lived and slept together as brothers.

Unexpectedly, during the spring outing, he tricked me into going to the royal garden. When we got to the well, he pushed me into it and managed to seal the well opening. He then transformed into my appearance and took the throne.

"I pitifully died unjustly in the well, the state has been seized by others, and no one knows. I went to the underworld to plead my case, but the Ten Kings of Hell are all related to this evil Taoist, and the local earth gods and city gods treat him like an honored guest. I have been forced to wander outside the city, lonely and destitute, for five years now. I beg the Buddha for mercy to help me!"

Ao Tu said, "Excellent, excellent! I am the Buddha King of Lingshan. I came here to save you because you, the king of Wuji Kingdom, are kind and generous to monks. However, I was delayed on the way and arrived a little late. I did not expect you to suffer such harm."

Upon hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom dared not blame Ao Tu any longer and could only shed tears.

Ao Tu said, "Don't be heartbroken. I will save you and bring you back to life. I will also capture that evil Taoist and restore your kingdom."

The King of Wuji Kingdom was overjoyed upon hearing this and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Ao Tu reached out and grabbed the soul of the King of Wuji Kingdom. He then rode a beam of auspicious light and arrived in the royal garden in an instant.

Ao Tu asked, "Where is the well?"

The King of Wuji Kingdom identified it.

Looking around, Ao Tu saw a patch of banana trees.

It turned out that the demon had used magic to seal the well opening in order to deceive people, and then ordered people to plant banana trees. It was truly a case of no one knowing.

Ao Tu chanted to the banana tree, "Om Mani Padme Hum!"

In a short while, the banana leaves were moved aside, and the well opening was revealed.

Ao Tu then asked, "Where is the Dragon King of the Well?"

The Dragon King of the Well, hearing the Buddha's voice, hurriedly crawled out and bowed:

"Little Dragon pays homage to the Buddha. May I ask which Buddha has descended?"

Ao Tu said, "Quickly send out the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom."

The Dragon King of the Well dared not resist. He returned to the well, carried out the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom, placed it outside, and respectfully said:
"This is the body of the King of Wuji Kingdom. I sealed it with the Youth-Preserving Pearl, so the body was not destroyed."

Ao Tu nodded and casually tossed out a jujube.

Upon seeing this, the Dragon King of the Well quickly took it in his hand, overjoyed, and repeatedly bowed in gratitude before disappearing back into the well.

When the King of Wuji Kingdom saw his own body, he hurriedly tried to crawl inside, but he was already dead and his yang energy had been exhausted, so he could not crawl in.

(End of this chapter)