Journey to the West: Great Saint Equal to Heaven

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva brought his hands together and, with a gentle smile, said, "I've long heard of the Great Sage's valor, unparalleled in the Three Realms. As an unworthy monk, I'm willing to experience the Great Sage's formidable moves. If I win, I ask the Great Sage to accompany me to the Pure Land."

Boom.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang smashed down.

Since it was time to fight, Sun Wukong was not one to dally with idle chatter.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva uttered the sacred name and formed the Buddha's Seal with his hands; the Ten Directions World trembled as immense power surfaced.

Representing supreme force, he naturally didn't fear a head-on collision.

Clang.

A loud noise, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva was sent staggering back.

The Buddha's Seal was shattered by the staff, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva was also repelled.

Just from that strike alone, he was at a disadvantage.

Sun Wukong sneered coldly and said, "I know you're one of the Western Three Saints, with divine powers even surpassing Manjusri and Samantabhadra, representing supreme force, but don't forget, I am the Great Sage Equalling Heaven."

The Great Sage, on par with Heaven.

And in the Three Realms, Heaven is the most noble.

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva brought his hands together and floated away.

Lady Dragon of Wealth's beautiful eyes widened in shock.

Just like that, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva left?

"That staff blow from Old Sun just now must have broken at least seven of his bones," Sun Wukong said, grinning from ear to ear.

Lady Dragon of Wealth was astonished; Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva was actually injured.

She hesitantly asked, "Why didn't the Great Sage accept Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva's invitation?"

"Among Heaven and Amitabha Buddha, which is higher?" Sun Wukong countered.

"Naturally, Heaven," responded Lady Dragon of Wealth without hesitation.

As soon as the words were spoken, she understood.

Heaven is higher than Amitabha Buddha, and Sun Wukong's title is Great Sage Equalling Heaven.

Standing on equal footing with Heaven, in name, he ranked even higher than Amitabha Buddha, and of course, he would not become a subordinate to him.

"Had Amitabha Buddha himself come, Old Sun might have considered it, but Mahasthamaprapta? He counts for nothing," Sun Wukong said with a cold sneer.

The Western Three Saints?

He once considered even the Tathagata beneath his notice.

Even Amitabha Buddha, revered as the Supreme Honored Buddha, wasn't he also overshadowed by the Tathagata when the latter was alive?

"Old Sun already has a lineage of his own, no less than the Buddhist Sect," Sun Wukong said proudly.

Lady Dragon of Wealth was curious about Sun Wukong's lineage.

No one knew of Sun Wukong's lineage; it was known only that he was a naturally spirited monkey who had attained enlightenment, but where he acquired his skills was a mystery to all.

"Great Sage, whom did you learn from?"

Sun Wukong immediately changed the subject, "From today, you will stay at Huaguo Mountain. Soon, Old Sun will set up defenses here. Unless someone has divine skills twice as strong as Old Sun's, they will absolutely be unable to break in."

Is there anyone in the Three Realms with divine skills twice as powerful as Sun Wukong's?

Lady Dragon of Wealth could not think of anyone.

Even the Tathagata Buddha, back when suppressing Wukong, had his hand broken and transformed into the Mount of Five Fingers, and only after affixing a true word seal containing supreme divine power could he suppress Sun Wukong for five hundred years.

Even without Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong would only have been delayed a few more centuries before breaking free.

After suppressing Sun Wukong, the Tathagata Buddha also sought Nirvana to cultivate anew, which explained how he came to be stung by the Scorpion Demoness later.

With his Golden Body, how could he have been injured by the Scorpion Demoness?

On the journey to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures, the True and False Monkey King incident occurred when Sun Wukong was replaced.

Even when his powers were reduced to one-tenth, Tathagata could not easily kill him but could only seal him in the nineteenth layer of hell for thousands of years.

Lord Taishang once said that after Sun Wukong had eaten the peaches of immortality, drunk Immortal Wine, and stealthily consumed five Gourd Golden Pills, he possessed an Immortal Body. Even the Tathagata could not kill him and could only seal him away.

Having been in the nineteenth layer of hell for thousands of years, he had long since recovered all his mana.

Searching through the Three Realms, very few could be found whose power and divine abilities surpassed his.

Only then did Lady Dragon of Wealth understand Bodhisattva's painstaking effort.

Indeed, staying by Sun Wukong's side was the safest.

Next, Sun Wukong took the Dragon Girl into the Water Curtain Cave.

All the furniture here, fully furnished, was of an immortal kind and untouched by a speck of dust.

After settling the Dragon Girl in, Sun Wukong left.

He set up measures around Huaguo Mountain; anyone who wandered in by mistake would be transported out.

If someone tried to force their way in, they would be blasted with a hit equivalent to his full force.

Without mana surpassing his by double, they couldn't break through in a short period.

As long as his arrangements were triggered, Sun Wukong could sense it immediately and rush back at top speed.

After finishing all this, Sun Wukong scratched his head.

How should he face the Lady Dragon of Wealth?

Bodhisattva Guanyin had suggested marrying the Lady Dragon of Wealth to him.

This instead put him in a difficult position, unsure of how to interact with her now.

"I'll take it one step at a time," he muttered.

After all, he was quite acquainted with the Dragon Girl, so it wouldn't be too awkward.

The monkeys of Huaguo Mountain were curious about the Lady Dragon of Wealth and, seeing she meant no harm, quickly surrounded her and played with her.

Every day the Lady Dragon of Wealth taught scriptures to the little monkeys and in no time, the sparkle in the eyes of these Huaguo Mountain monkeys grew even brighter.

A few of the monkeys had opened up quite a bit of spiritual wisdom and were close to becoming spirits.

They regarded the Lady Dragon of Wealth with great respect, almost as if she were their Mistress.

Sun Wukong did not concern himself with these matters; he sat atop the mountain peak daily, his birthplace, looking out at the ocean, his thoughts unknown.

Day after day, the quiet life was eventually disrupted.

A deity descended and arrived at Huaguo Mountain.

Gold Star Taibai, this old servant stopped in front of Huaguo Mountain, his face displaying a warm smile, and he loudly stated, "Gold Star Taibai, under the command of Great Emperor Ziwei, seeks an audience with the Great Sage Equalling Heaven."

Sun Wukong revealed a smile.

Great Emperor Ziwei ultimately couldn't resist any longer.

Gold Star Taibai, an old acquaintance indeed.

With a thought, the barrier of Huaguo Mountain automatically opened, revealing a passage.

Gold Star Taibai walked in unhurriedly.

The Lady Dragon of Wealth also heard the noise and stood by Sun Wukong's side.

Her eyes showed a hint of hostility; a part of the reason for Sun Wukong's havoc in the Heavenly Palace was due to this old servant's bad advice.

Now with the Jade Emperor deceased, and he had come again, it was likely another scheme to trick the Great Sage.

Upon seeing the Lady Dragon of Wealth, Gold Star Taibai paused for a moment, then with a hint of surprise said, "I had not expected to find the Lady Dragon of Wealth visiting the Great Sage's abode, my apologies for the oversight."

The Lady Dragon of Wealth's expression was unfriendly as she said, "I am not a guest here, I live here."

Gold Star Taibai was somewhat confused, the Lady Dragon of Wealth not staying with Guanyin but living in Huaguo Mountain instead, naturally raised questions.

"I made a bet with Guanyin, and as she lost, she promised the Lady Dragon of Wealth to me," said Sun Wukong nonchalantly.

Gold Star Taibai looked surprised, then after a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "So she is now the Great Sage's wife. My apologies for my earlier indiscretion, I hope the Great Sage's wife won't hold it against me."

The Lady Dragon of Wealth's face turned slightly red, but ultimately she did not retort.

That was indeed Bodhisattva's intent all along.

"I must also congratulate the Great Sage, for joining in matrimony," Gold Star Taibai said with a smile.

Sun Wukong neither confirmed nor denied, instead he asked, "Weren't you the Jade Emperor's confidant? How come you now serve under Ziwei? Have you turned traitor?"

Gold Star Taibai gave a bitter smile and said, "The Great Sage shouldn't tease this humble deity. Now that the Jade Emperor has perished, the Heavenly Court has disbanded, a fact known throughout the Three Realms. With the Great Sage's divine skills, you must already be aware of this. I had no choice but to find a new branch to perch on."

"What brings you here?" asked Sun Wukong in a casual manner.