Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

The Ming Sect Master is Jiang Liu, and the Vice Sect Master? That's Red Boy.

For Jiang Liu, at this time, his focus should be on the Journey to the West for Scriptures, on how to enhance his personal power as much as possible.

As for the operation and management of the Ming Sect? Naturally, that was handed over to Red Boy!

For Jiang Liu, at this point, Red Boy was like the grand steward of the Ming Sect. Jiang Liu didn't bother with anything else—if he subjugated any force? He would just throw it to the Flame Cloud Cave.

For instance, the Black Bear Demon from Black Wind Mountain and the Holy Monk Jinchi? He would just throw them to the Flame Cloud Cave, and Red Boy would naturally handle it well.

Similarly, now that he had also subjugated the Jing River Water Clan? He would also simply throw them into the Flame Cloud Cave!
Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

After instructing the Dragon King of Jing River and his clan to stay at the Flame Cloud Cave, Jiang Liu and the others had no intention to keep going forward; instead, they stayed by the Black Water River.

Meanwhile, Jiang Liu personally got down to work, digging a hole in the ground with his own hands. Spending hours on the task, he finally dug a large pit and placed Muzha's body inside...

...

Leaving aside what Jiang Liu was up to, over at the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea was carefully accommodating a Superior Immortal who had come from the Heavenly Court, none other than the Shuide Star Monarch who governed the Water Clan.

"Star Monarch, please take the seat of honor!" Shuide Star Monarch was a second-rank Righteous God of Heavenly Court and, more importantly, the direct superior of the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. Therefore, facing Shuide Star Monarch, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea was also carefully putting up a smiling face.

Besides, the Dragon King of Eastern Sea was just a regional deity from the Lower Realm, while Shuide Star Monarch was part of the power center of Heavenly Court.

"Hmm, Dragon King, this Crystal Palace really is exquisitely embellished!" Without any intention to be polite, once Shuide Star Monarch sat in the principal seat of the Dragon Palace, he took a moment to survey the scene and nodded with approval.

The Dragon Clan loved to collect treasures from all over the world; this was a well-known trait recognized across all realms.

Every time he visited the Crystal Palace, Shuide Star Monarch couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy. After all, his own residence in Heavenly Court was not as luxurious as this Crystal Palace.

"Where does the Star Monarch's abode lie but in Heavenly Court itself, which truly overlooks all three realms!" spoke the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, still carefully maintaining his smile.

While Shuide Star Monarch envied the luxury of the Dragon Palace, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea perhaps envied even more that Shuide Star Monarch's residence was located within the Heavenly Court.

The luxury of the palace wasn't the main point; where the palace stood was all that mattered.

"Hahaha, Dragon King, you certainly have a way with words!" Upon hearing this, Shuide Star Monarch laughed and commented.

At that moment, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea gave a meaningful glance to the Chancellor Tortoise beside him.

Chancellor Tortoise nodded, then brought out a tray. On the tray, there were nine fist-sized pink pearls.

"Star Monarch has come from afar; I have some special products here that I would like to offer you. Please don't decline..." The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea said with an ingratiating smile as he presented the nine fist-sized pink pearls.

"Well then, since that's the case, I won't be polite!" Looking at the nine immaculate pink pearls, Shuide Star Monarch nodded with satisfaction, pleased with the Dragon King's compliance.

"Dragon King, Dragon King, a guest has arrived, a distinguished guest has arrived..."

Just then, suddenly, a crab general hurriedly rushed into the palace, shouting loudly.

"What is this ruckus? Have you no sense of decorum? Can't you see I have an honored guest here? Who has come? Let them wait!" the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea told the crab general with evident irritation.

"No, the person who's come is, it's Sun..." Seeing the Dragon King's demeanor, clearly intending to make the visitor wait, the crab general became even more anxious and his speech more inarticulate.

"Old Dragon King, how grandly you carry yourself!" However, before the crab general could finish speaking, all of a sudden, a loud shout rang out.

At once, a monkey burst through the water and, leaping forward, jumped into the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea.

"Great Sage!?"

Seeing the monkey entering the palace, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea quickly got to his feet and came forward with a welcoming smile, saying, "Great Sage, how come you have time to grace my Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea with a visit?"

Sun Wukong did not rush to answer the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea but instead turned his head to look at Shuide Star Monarch and said, "Old Dragon King, I thought you had some important guest that even I, Old Sun, had to wait for. Turns out it's Shuide Star Monarch, Star Monarch, we've seldom seen each other..."

During the conversation, Sun Wukong casually greeted Shuide Star Monarch.

"Great Sage, it's been a while!" Shuide Star Monarch, who had been sitting at the head of the table with an air of composure, couldn't remain seated as he saw Sun Wukong entering the palace. He immediately stood up with a smile on his face and greeted him.

Just kidding. Although he was Shuide Star Monarch, a righteous god of the second rank in Heavenly Court, not long ago, Star Monarch of Warring States, who held the same status, was killed by Great Sage Sun, right? Even the Jade Emperor merely put on a show of punishment.

So naturally, Shuide Star Monarch held Sun Wukong in great awe.

Seeing that Shuide Star Monarch had wisely vacated the seat of honor, Sun Wukong made no pretense of politeness, leaped forward, and settled himself down at ease, his gaze falling on the Dragon King of Eastern Sea, he said, "Old Dragon King, I, Old Sun had nothing better to do, so I paid a visit to Flower Fruit Mountain. You're my neighbor, so I came to drink with you!"

"It's an honor for this Little Dragon to have the Great Sage come to the Dragon Palace for a drink. Servants, prepare the feast!" Hearing that Sun Wukong was merely there for a drink, the Dragon King of Eastern Sea internally sighed with relief and immediately gave orders to prepare the banquet.

Sun Wukong was straightforward. If he said he was there to drink, that's exactly what he intended to do without any roundabout intentions.

Moreover, being the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he didn't forget his old neighbor even after the rare visit to Flower Fruit Mountain; coming over for a drink touched the Dragon King of Eastern Sea's heart.

"Who would've thought that the Dragon King had such a good relationship with Sun Wukong!?" Shuide Star Monarch next to him also blinked in surprise, taken aback internally.

With that in mind, it seemed he shouldn't take the Dragon King of Eastern Sea lightly in the future!

Soon enough after the banquet was ready, Sun Wukong and the Dragon King of Eastern Sea, along with Shuide Star Monarch, were enjoying themselves in the Crystal Palace, tearing into meat and gulping down wine.

Although Sun Wukong's status and abilities were extraordinary, he didn't put on airs, so whether interacting with the Dragon King of Eastern Sea or Shuide Star Monarch, they got along quite harmoniously.

Of course, it helped that both of them were flattering Sun Wukong with smiles, making him squint with laughter.

"By the way, Great Sage, I've got a little something here. Since the three of us are together, shall we play a game?" After several hours of drinking, Shuide Star Monarch was feeling tipsy and unable to drink anymore. Seeing that Sun Wukong was still full of energy, shouting about getting drunk for three days and nights, he quickly changed the subject.

"Oh? A little something? What is it? Bring it out for I, Old Sun, to take a look!" Sun Wukong asked, his drunken eyes slightly bleary, looking at Shuide Star Monarch.

"Good, I guarantee you'll like it, Great Sage!" Nodding, Shuide Star Monarch took out a beautifully crafted set of poker cards from his sleeve.

"Great Sage, these were given to me by the Supreme Elder Lord when I met him the other day. They were forged in his Eight Trigrams Furnace and are called poker cards!"

"These poker cards, you see, have this game called 'Fight the Landlord' which is very interesting. Let me first explain the rules of 'Fight the Landlord' to you..." As he produced the elegant deck of poker cards, Shuide Star Monarch started to speak.

While speaking, he was actually about to explain the rules of Fight the Landlord to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong's expression became odd as he looked at Shuide Star Monarch, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, and then suddenly he burst into uproarious laughter; he even rolled over twice in his seat.

Shuide Star Monarch and the Dragon King of Eastern Sea exchanged glances, perplexed, looking at each other with confused expressions.

"Great Sage, why do you laugh!?" Utterly baffled, Shuide Star Monarch asked Sun Wukong.

"I'm laughing at you for trying to teach me, I, Old Sun, how to play Fight the Landlord. Hahaha, do you know that this card game of Fight the Landlord was something I, Old Sun, and my master played to pass the time on the Journey to the West!" After laughing for a while, Sun Wukong explained to Shuide Star Monarch.

"Uh, this..." Sun Wukong's words stopped Shuide Star Monarch in his tracks, leaving him feeling both amused and embarrassed.

It seemed he had made a fool of himself in front of Guan Gong.

"Hehehe, who would've thought that the game of Fight the Landlord has spread so wide? Even Heavenly Court has picked it up? And the Supreme Elder Lord even took the trouble to create some poker cards? How interesting!"

Nevermind what Shuide Star Monarch was thinking, Sun Wukong, with a smile on his face, muttered under his breath.

"Since you're already an expert, Great Sage, why don't we play a few rounds? I hope you go easy on me!" Invited by Shuide Star Monarch and now looking forward to it, he spoke up.

So Fight the Landlord was a game that came from the Journey to the West team? Then playing with the Great Sage would be the most authentic experience, right?

If he could learn even just a little bit and take it back to Heavenly Court, he was sure to impress everyone!

"Alright, alright, come on! These days, I, Old Sun, have been playing 'Legends of the Three Kingdoms'. Indeed, it's been a while since I played Fight the Landlord!" Sun Wukong put down his wine cup, feeling eager to play, and nodded in agreement.

"Legends of the Three Kingdoms? What's that?" After arranging the poker cards, Shuide Star Monarch asked with curiosity.

"Legends of the Three Kingdoms? That's a card game too, but way more fun than Fight the Landlord! When I have time, I'll teach you to play! The best thing is, 'Legends of the Three Kingdoms' can be played with two, three, four, or even five or six people..."