Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

At the Eastern Temple, Maitreya Buddha sat quietly on his lotus platform.

Having spent considerable effort tracking down the Money Rat, and after setting up a trap for over half a month to catch it, it was naturally worthwhile to personally make the effort.

Therefore, at this moment, Maitreya Buddha calmly waited, hoping the Money Rat would bring some good news.

Although the Money Rat didn't have much combat ability, its Earth Escape Technique was unrivaled in the world, so it should be quite safe for self-preservation.

Its skills in theft and treasure hunting were even more outstanding.

"Hmm, it's been some days since the Money Rat left. Logically, it should have almost found the whereabouts of the Calamity Book by now?" Maitreya Buddha pondered in his heart, counting the days mentally.

As if to confirm Maitreya Buddha's inner thoughts, just as this idea surfaced, the ground in front of him suddenly bulged a little.

Soon, the yellow-furred Money Rat emerged from underground.

"How is it? Have you found what I sent you to look for?" Maitreya Buddha's eyes slightly brightened as he asked the Money Rat emerging from the ground.

The Money Rat, seemingly unable to speak, didn't answer Maitreya Buddha's question.

However, it opened its mouth and spat out an item, which was precisely the Calamity Book.

Logically, the Calamity Book was larger than the Money Rat, so it shouldn't be possible to hide it in its stomach.

Yet, it was stored inside as if its stomach was linked to some kind of two-dimensional space.

"It truly was found!" Seeing the Calamity Book spit from the Money Rat's mouth, Maitreya Buddha's eyes lit up with joy.

As he spoke, he picked up the Calamity Book, secretly curious.

How many calamities of the current Journey to the West for Scriptures have occurred?

Boom!

Just as Maitreya Buddha was about to open the Calamity Book, a sudden loud noise caught his attention.

It seemed that someone was attacking the Eastern Temple?

Upon hearing this disturbance, Maitreya Buddha frowned slightly, then got up and walked outside.

At this moment, many monks in the Eastern Temple also came out, evidently drawn by the commotion outside.

Among these monks, quite a few were of the Taiyi Realm, and some were even of the Great Luo Realm.

As one of the Three-World Buddhas, although his power currently couldn't compare to that of the Tathagata, Maitreya Buddha clearly had his own following.

"Who is that!?"

Looking at the figure hovering in mid-air, dressed in a Shadow Robe, everyone in the Eastern Temple turned pale.

They naturally recognized this attire—just the other day, when the Ming Sect was founded, Randeng Buddha battled fiercely before suffering a humiliating defeat and retreating.

This incident was now the hottest topic across the Three Realms and Six Paths.

Who would have expected it to happen so soon? This mysterious figure had actually come to the Eastern Temple?

Moreover, judging by the appearance, the visitor was obviously hostile!

Randeng Buddha, among the Three-World Buddhas, had the highest cultivation level, even surpassing the Tathagata by half a notch.

Even Randeng Buddha was utterly defeated and fled, so who in the Eastern Temple could block this person?

"Sir? Might I ask why you have come to our Eastern Temple!?" Maitreya Buddha spoke up with a grave face, addressing the figure hovering in mid-air, who was Jiang Liu.

"Why? You don't know what you've done yourself?" Jiang Liu floated in the air and spoke.

"What I've done? When exactly? Please, sir, speak clearly!" Maitreya Buddha looked bewildered at Jiang Liu's words.

Since his own resurrection, he had mostly stayed within the Eastern Temple, reclusive and unexplored, so how could he have offended this terrifying figure without reason?

"Hmph, just a moment ago, a Money Rat appeared before me and stole something from me. That Money Rat is right here in your Eastern Temple. Do you really think you can still deny it!?" Jiang Liu coldly snorted, speaking in a deep voice.

"Sir, have you perhaps misunderstood something? While it's true I sent out the Money Rat, I assure you it didn't bring back anything else but the Calamity Book I already possessed!"

Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, Maitreya Buddha's heart sank, and he hurried to explain.

"The very thing I'm speaking of is the Calamity Book!" Jiang Liu stated.

"Sir, that Calamity Book is related to the Journey to the West for Scriptures, and it belongs to the Buddhist Sect. How could it possibly be your possession!?" Hearing Jiang Liu's claim, Maitreya Buddha couldn't accept it and questioned back.

"Hahaha..." Listening to Maitreya Buddha's retort, Jiang Liu burst into laughter, as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing.

Maitreya Buddha looked at Jiang Liu in bewilderment, completely unable to understand why he was laughing.

"That statement is utterly ludicrous!" After laughing for a long time, Jiang Liu finally stopped, appearing almost breathless from laughter.

The monks of the Eastern Temple also looked at each other, utterly confused about what Jiang Liu found so amusing.

What's so funny about this?

"Do you in the Buddhist Sect actually claim things as yours? Don't you just take whatever catches your eye?" Jiang Liu retorted.

"Sir, watch your words!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the expression on Maitreya Buddha's face turned ugly as he spoke in a deep voice.

That remark completely insulted the entire Buddhist Sect, so of course he had to refute it.

Being rebuked by Maitreya Buddha like this, Jiang Liu actually apologized: "Sorry, I indeed misspoke! I should have used your Buddhist Sect's words instead!"

At this point, Jiang Liu paused slightly, then said to Maitreya Buddha: "I should say, the Calamity Book is destined for me!"

Maitreya Buddha: "..."

Jiang Liu's words made the corners of Maitreya Buddha's mouth twitch slightly.

This phrase, "it is destined for me," is usually spoken by people of the Buddhist Sect.

Today, when Jiang Liu said this at this time, it seemed particularly ironic.

"You seem to have a substantial bias against my Buddhist Sect, sir!" Maitreya Buddha's face turned blue and white, and after a moment of silence, he spoke to Jiang Liu.

There's nothing he can do, really can't win, so Maitreya Buddha can only engage in verbal sparring for now.

If he could win, with Jiang Liu speaking like this, Maitreya Buddha would have acted long ago; there would be no need to waste words here.

"Stop with the nonsense, the Calamity Book is destined for me. If you willingly hand it over, that would be best; if not, I'm afraid I must act!" After mocking Maitreya Buddha for a few sentences, Jiang Liu did not intend to waste much time and spoke directly.

The words could be said to exude dominance.

"This..." Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Maitreya Buddha showed a hesitant expression on his face, caught in a dilemma.

Hand it over? Without the Calamity Book, how do I proceed with the Journey to the West?

But if I don't hand it over, can I withstand it if it comes to a fight?

"It seems you really don't want to hand it over! Alright! I fought Randeng Buddha previously, and he was defeated and fled; being one of the Three-World Buddhas, I'm curious to see how your strength compares!" After waiting for a few breaths, seeing Maitreya Buddha's indecisive expression without an answer, Jiang Liu nodded and said.

While speaking, the Tai Chi Diagram unfolded directly, transforming into a White Jade Golden Bridge, linking Jiang Liu and the void.

Having spent over tens of millions in the marketplace to purchase the Tai Chi Diagram, to be honest, Jiang Liu has not yet experienced it himself; instead, the Good Corpse got to experience it first.

Taking this opportunity, let me experience the power of this Tai Chi Diagram myself.

In the void, an indescribably immense power followed the White Jade Golden Bridge transformed by the Tai Chi Diagram and poured into his body.

Jiang Liu could clearly feel that under this infusion of power, his strength was incomparably strong.

Before, he had used a Max Level Experience Scroll, and at that time, the power at level 100 was already astonishing.

But now, purely in terms of Attack Power, it has even surpassed the strength possessed during the Max Level Experience Scroll.

"Wait, sir, let's discuss this..."

Seeing Jiang Liu unfolding the Tai Chi Diagram without a word and directly employing this move, Maitreya Buddha turned pale with fright and hurriedly spoke.

But as for Maitreya Buddha's words, Jiang Liu completely ignored them, raising his hand and pointing toward Maitreya Buddha, releasing a streak of light from between his fingers.

Though this move was just the most basic attack, not even regarded as a skill, under the amplification of 1.2 billion Attack Power from the Tai Chi Diagram, this streak of light could be said to possess the might of earth-shattering power.

Watching the oncoming attack, Maitreya Buddha turned pale with fright, immediately raising his hand, and a cyan-colored flag appeared in his hand.

This attack landed on the cyan-colored flag, causing it to dent deeply.

But the remaining attack was blocked by Maitreya Buddha, evidently, the cyan-colored flag withstood the majority of the attack's power.

"This is!?"

Seeing the cyan-colored flag Maitreya Buddha revealed, Jiang Liu's face changed slightly.

At the same time, his eyes were filled with more anger!

Jiang Liu certainly recognized this cyan-colored flag before him, it is one of the Innate Five-Directional Flags, the Green Lotus Treasured Flag.

The Green Lotus Treasured Flag was originally Maitreya Buddha's, and later, after giving my Brocade Kasaya to Ksitigarbha, Maitreya Buddha's Green Lotus Treasured Flag was compensated to me and transformed into the Green Lotus Buddha Robe.

Later, after slaying Maitreya Buddha, a Divine Level Unsealing Talisman dropped, and Jiang Liu unsealed the Green Lotus Buddha Robe.

The complete Green Lotus Buddha Robe, at that time, was unscathed by anyone's attacks; it was like I had a cheat code for invincibility.

Unfortunately, later at the Lion Camel City incident, the Green Lotus Buddha Robe was swept away by Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light.

Unexpectedly, after going around in a circle, this Green Lotus Treasured Flag ended up back in Maitreya Buddha's hands?

It seems Zhunti returned it to Maitreya Buddha as protection?

(PS: Let's just update these two chapters today; got a bit stuck with the new book, redrafted three times but wasn't satisfied, so I deleted and rewrote it, feeling a bit worn out...)