NOVEL WEB Chapter 660_2
The Profound Immortals, True Immortals, and Golden Immortals comprise the strength of those charged with protecting Chen Sanzang, the celestial and immortal figurehead.
Though they are said to be protectors, they merely monitor Chen Sanzang for anomalies or any misfortunes during his westward journey to retrieve the scriptures, so those behind them can promptly address any issues.
"They can conceal their aura, but if these people are transcended, the higher-ups will send more to monitor as well."
"No matter how many come, isn't it just as many heads delivered to us? Just enough to enhance cultivation to the Taiyi Golden Immortal peak."
Chen Sanzang cast a nonchalant glance at the dispersed immortals and gods in the sky, evidently noticing that these guys had their small circles and teams.
"I need to make some preparations, first release Little Kongkong to ensure these guys can't escape at all, and then transcend them all."
Old Xi indicated needing a moment, as some preparation was still necessary.
"Old Xi, you really are useless!"
"Why is this Golden Cicada taking such a long time to get the scriptures?"
"We've been watching for a year, and it feels like this Golden Cicada isn't on a quest for scriptures going west but is just sightseeing."
"How does this guy know the Joyful Buddha's practice method? Is he also selecting some top-grade mountain spirits and wild demon beauties for joyous dual cultivation?"
"Why does this Golden Cicada seem so unreliable?"
"Wasn't it said this life's Golden Cicada has a Heavenly Immortal level of cultivation? Why can't it be detected?"
...
The Five Directions Jiedi gathered together, chattering incessantly.
At this moment, it had been a year since Chen Sanzang left the Great Qin Capital, yet he hadn't even left the Great Qin Empire's region.
Not to mention, there was still half the journey to the Five Elements Mountain left, and at this pace, it might take another year!
Once he exits the range of the Great Qin Empire and encounters various tribulations, Chen Sanzang's speed will likely slow even further, making the journey to the Western Heaven Great Leiyin Temple potentially take decades!
Starting out in his youthful prime, traveling the long road of life, reaching the destination when he's old and gray-haired— is this an attempt to outshine all the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas?
Golden Head Jiedi, Silver Head Jiedi, Paragate Jiedi, Boluo Monk Jiedi, and Mahakaruna Jiedi calculated the time Chen Sanzang needed, instantly feeling stumped.
"Shall we send someone down to manipulate things a little, speed him up?"
Golden Head Jiedi rubbed his bald head, sensing that Chen Sanzang was deliberately stalling for time, but he had no proof.
"Look, he's searching all over the mountains for little demons again; how many victims has he wrecked now?"
Watching the unrestrained Chen Sanzang drag a charming female demon into a cave to discuss Buddhist teachings, the guardians all facepalmed in disbelief.
"This is the ninety-ninth victim; it's just unclear if this female demon will end up being transcended by the Golden Cicada or sent to the underworld to meet Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and be reborn favorably in the future."
Paragate Jiedi spoke somewhat sourly, especially since some female demons, after serving the Golden Cicada well, were sent to Ksitigarbha's place and obtained great fortunes.
It's known that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has good relations with the Golden Cicada, and any demon sent by the Golden Cicada is allowed to hear the Dao in Ksitigarbha's place.
Ksitigarbha is a top Daluo Golden Immortal, and the Daofa he speaks on has great utility even for them, possibly helping them to break through to the True Immortal realm and reach the Golden Immortal level.
As for those who did not serve the Golden Cicada well and even sought to eat the Golden Cicada's flesh to achieve immortality, they were all transcended by a certain shameless person through Buddhist enlightenment.
Most egregious of all, when any female demon revealed their true form and matched a certain bald donkey's taste, even the corpses were turned into fine cuisine, devoured completely.
The Six Ding and Six Jia, Five Directions Jiedi, Four Value Officials, and the Eighteen Guardian Jialan escorting the Golden Cicada all found the Golden Cicada odd—he didn't remotely resemble a high monk of enlightenment.
They couldn't understand why in this lifetime Golden Cicada exhibited such heavy-handedness and unrestrained licentiousness or how in this life he earned the title of 'Master Sanzang.'
Especially notable is that, despite committing so much evil, the Golden Cicada has remarkably pure Buddha Essence, even seemingly comparable to the Buddha's Essence.
Absurd!
"Shall we report it? I feel something is off with this Golden Cicada; carrying on like this, he's more likely to become a great demon than a Buddha!"
"Or, should we wait a bit more? Once he releases Sun Wukong, things might improve, as the monkey is stronger and could potentially curb his evil acts."
Time flies, and another year went by in the blink of an eye.
Chen Sanzang had quite a delightful time on his journey, always looking for caves in the mountains or forests. Every beautiful female demon he encountered was converted by him.
Those who complied gained great fortune.
Those who did not complied gained great transformation.
The former, after being converted, were sent to the Netherworld to be reincarnated into the Great Qin Empire as humans in their next life.
The latter, after being transcended, were sent to the Western Paradise; whether they could meet the Buddha, who knows?
After all, the great transformation was given to them, and if they failed on their own, who could they blame?
Ultimately, he merely transcended the other party, incidentally claiming all their legacies, including cultivation levels, even bodies.
For example, a certain female rabbit, attracted by the vastness of Buddhism and wishing to join the Buddhist sect, was packed and transcended by Chen Sanzang to the Western Paradise.
He then casually turned the rabbit head into a spicy delicacy, which indeed tasted divine.
Riding a small tiger, Chen Sanzang finally arrived at the Great Qin Empire's border, outside the Two Worlds Mountain.
Watching the barren peaks resembling five fingers reaching into the sky, he had to admit, the Tathagata Buddha was indeed formidable, worthy of being the former great senior brother of the Jie Sect.
"Old Xi, if I don't climb the mountain to pay respect, can I forcibly break this seal and release Little Kongkong?"
Looking at the peaks shooting into the sky, Chen Sanzang had no desire to climb, especially as these Five Elements Mountain peaks were barren; there wasn't even a chance to seek seclusion or encounter lovely young ladies.
"If you completely transcend Golden Cicada and inherit all his cultivation, then you can forcibly break it."
Old Xi did a bit of probing and discovered that the Five Elements Mountain was linked to the earth veins, gathering the Five Elements power of Heaven and Earth to form a shackle, coupled with the Buddha Seal to lock it down.
Nonetheless, this seal was not incredibly strong and could be forcibly broken by a Daluo Realm expert.
The reason no one has released Sun Wukong is that the Buddhist Sect has stationed people here, and no Daluo Realm expert wants to offend them.
After all, the reputation of the two sages of the Buddhist Sect isn't great, and anyone aiding the monkey would only court trouble with the Buddhist Sect.
"Damn it, do I really have to climb the mountain to pay homage to Tathagata, huh, today I'll pay my respects, but tomorrow, I'll make him pay me back tenfold!"
Chen Sanzang grumbled bad luck, but didn't immediately climb the mountain; instead, he headed towards where Sun Wukong was imprisoned.
"Little Kongkong, your Master of Heavenly Destiny has come to pull you into the fold."
Seated on his little tiger, Chen Sanzang drank wine while chanting a Buddhist mantra.
"Hmm, I always thought monkeys were supposed to be skinny and lean. How come Little Kongkong has grown so plump?"
Chen Sanzang remarked, surprised to see that this specific version of Brother Monkey was more rotund than any he had seen before. The monkey's face had turned into a round ball, full of comedic charm.