Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything-Chapter 256: Disgusting Task
Looking at his character panel, Jiang Liu felt a mix of worry and joy in his heart.
The worry was that the Experience Points needed for leveling up were indeed becoming more and more numerous, now requiring 2 million Experience Points to level up.
Of course, the joy came from the improvement in his level, which was certainly a good thing.
Level 35, having been in this world for over a year. If using the terms of online games, reaching level 35 in more than a year would indeed be slow.
However, when viewed from the perspective of "Journey to the West," progressing from an ordinary person to the Controlling-Law Realm in just over a year could be considered remarkably fast.
Thinking of his current level, Jiang Liu’s gaze fell on his Black Jade Prayer Beads.
Legendary Level equipment, with only one special effect, which was to reduce the equipment level requirement by 5.
In other words, he should be able to wear level 40 equipment now.
Invisibly, this would elevate his strength to another level.
"Master, I apologize for neglecting you, as my daughter and I are reunited after a long separation. Please accompany us back to the palace, and I will make sure to express my gratitude properly!" the King said, his joy from the reunion with Princess Baihua Xiu stabilizing slightly as he noticed Jiang Liu and the others who had been standing nearby.
Then, he enthusiastically invited Jiang Liu and his companions into the palace.
"Amitabha, I understand the King’s feelings," Jiang Liu said, his palms pressed together as he chanted a Buddhist phrase softly.
During their conversation, they naturally entered the palace following the King’s warm invitation.
Naturally, the rewards he had promised earlier were indispensable, and Jiang Liu did not refuse the offered ten thousand taels of gold.
Along the way, he had many expenses, especially with Zhu Bajie, the big eater, whose food intake could match that of a dozen people.
If it were possible to pay, Jiang Liu naturally did not wish to exploit the common people under the guise of begging for alms.
...
Let’s not dwell on the situation in Treasure Elephant Country for now; elsewhere, in the Purple Bamboo Forest, Guanyin sat quietly by the Lotus Pond, holding some Spirit Fruits in her hand and carelessly tossing them into the pond.
Fish and shrimp in the Lotus Pond scrambled for the food, but Guanyin’s mind was filled with numerous thoughts.
This time, Jiang Liu had invited her to enjoy mutton using a charcoal copper pot, a gesture Guanyin appreciated deeply.
Although they parted on less than cheerful terms, she had to admit that the delicacies Jiang Liu had crafted were indeed delicious.
Moreover, what pleased Guanyin the most was Jiang Liu’s thoughtfulness, showing that he still cared for her despite some benefits, which eased some tensions over the Black Lotus disputes.
However, thinking of Sha Wujing, Guanyin’s brows slightly furrowed again.
Sha Wujing’s behavior that day was unusual, and Guanyin felt something was amiss.
With her wisdom, few things in the Three Realms could be concealed from her. No drunkenness, no drugging, no witchcraft, yet Sha Wujing still blurted out nonsense.
"No wonder, I’ve always felt that Xuanzang had some reservations about Sha Wujing. I merely thought it was because in his previous nine lives he was devoured by him, a result of karma. But, was it because of Sha Wujing himself?"
Thinking of the usually silent Sha Wujing and his recent outbursts, a realization dawned on Guanyin.
"Bodhisattva, what does it feel like to be kissed by a pig!?"
Thinking of Sha Wujing, it was inevitable for Guanyin to recall his question to her.
And this question, upon recall, made Guanyin grip the Spirit Fruit in her hand a bit tighter, immediately pulverizing it.
The fish and shrimp that were scrambling for food in the Lotus Pond could feel the Bodhisattva’s displeasure, quickly diving to the bottom of the pond, disappearing from sight.
Thinking of Sha Wujing, Guanyin felt very displeased, her thoughts far from clear.
If she wished for clarity of thought, this matter could not just be left unresolved.
After all, she was of the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm, and Sha Wujing? Merely a Heavenly Immortal, his cultivation only a fraction of hers. How could she let the insult pass?
Did she no longer care about the dignity of an immortal?
With a thought, Guanyin raised her hand, and soon, a faint glow of red appeared, followed by a strand of Red Thread appearing in her hand.
"Amitabha, the trial of love is the hardest to overcome. Xuanzang, Wukong, and Bajie all have their own love tribulations. Wujing cannot remain unaffected! This last strand of Red Thread will let you face your destiny, adding to the eighty-one hardships," Guanyin murmured to herself.
And with that, she gently threw the strand of Red Thread, which, following her motion, disappeared into the void.
Leaving aside what Guanyin was planning as retribution for Sha Wujing, elsewhere, in a secluded mountain, Sha Wujing was alone, feeling very displeased.
It had been several days since he left the Journey to the West Team, and he had already traveled thousands of miles away from Treasure Elephant Country. However, due to his appearance, in these few days, several groups of human cultivators had attacked him, claiming he was an evil Demon and intending to Exorcise him.
If it had been before he joined the Scripture Seeking Team, he would have just killed these people, given that he was a Demon.
But having joined the scripture-seeking team, Jiang Liu couldn’t just kill indiscriminately, so these days, even though he possessed the cultivation level of a Heavenly Immortal, he was ironically chased around by a bunch of cultivators from the Returning Void Realm and Divinity Transformation Realm.
One day, Sha Wujing sat on a cliff in the remote mountains, staring at the distant scenery, yet feeling a profound sadness in his heart.
He thought to himself that he once was General Juanlian, even a confidant of the Jade Emperor, yet now, he had fallen to such a plight.
"Alas..." Thinking of his recent tribulations, Sha Wujing couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.
Indeed, being a demon had no advantages, always being the target of everyone’s attacks.
If he truly just wanted to be a demon and occupy a Water Mansion, life could have been blissful.
But deep down, he didn’t want to be a demon; he aspired to be among the Immortals and Buddhas, not to consort with demon kind.
A lone demon creature—this life truly wasn’t meant for living.
Whoosh!
Putting aside the sorrow in Sha Wujing’s heart and the strengthened resolve of the scripture-seeking team to return to their celestial positions, at that moment, suddenly, an auspicious cloud appeared on the horizon, followed by two Heavenly Generals clad in golden armor.
"Divine Generals, this is the disruptive demon who also injured many of my disciples. Please, divine generals, bring this evil demon to justice promptly!" An old man, his face bruised and swollen, bitterly pointed at Sha Wujing while standing beside the two Heavenly Generals.
Sha Wujing recognized him as the Returning Void Realm cultivator who had previously tried to subdue him but ended up being beaten by him. Unexpectedly, he had managed to summon the Heavenly Generals from the heavens to subdue him.
"What kind of evil demon dares to be so arrogant!" The two Heavenly Generals, imposing in their demeanor, said to Sha Wujing, their weapons trembling in their hands as they pointed at him.
If he were still recognized as General Juanlian or known by the Heavenly Generals, it might have been a different story. But since his fall to the mortal world, Sha Wujing had lost his original appearance. Now resembling a three-meter-tall, incredibly muscular demon, naturally, even acquaintances from the Heavenly Court could not recognize him.
"Both of you, stop, I...I am not an evil demon..." Seeing the two Heavenly Generals about to attack, Sha Wujing hurriedly tried to explain.
"You’re not an evil demon? Then what are you!" Seeing Sha Wujing trying to explain, the two Heavenly Generals frowned slightly and questioned him.
"I, I..." Hearing these two Heavenly Generals question him, Sha Wujing stumbled over his words, unable to speak.
Why had he left the Journey to the West Team in the first place? Wasn’t it to hide and keep Guanyin from noticing his presence? Therefore, he couldn’t divulge his name.
But if he didn’t reveal that he once was General Juanlian, or that he was a member of the scripture-seeking team, how could he identify himself?
"Hmph, you deceitful demon, trying to buy time, are you!?" Seeing Sha Wujing at a loss for words, the two Heavenly Generals spoke sternly.
In the midst of their speaking, their weapons trembled and they attacked Sha Wujing.
Facing the attack of two Demon Generals, Sha Wujing, naturally lacking the will to fight, turned and fled.
This Heavenly General had the cultivation of a Heavenly Immortal, not weaker than himself, and more importantly, he was unwilling to reveal his identity, so he didn’t dare to use the Demon-Subduing Treasure Staff. Outnumbered and outmatched, how could Sha Wujing be a match for these two Demon Generals combination?
So, he had no choice but to turn and flee for his life.
"Evil demon, don’t you dare escape!" Seeing Sha Wujing fleeing, the two Heavenly Generals naturally became more invigorated, shouting loudly as they chased in his direction.
...
Inside the Royal Palace of the Treasure Elephant Country, the King indeed kept his word and immediately brought out ten thousand taels of gold.
This so-called ten thousand taels of gold wasn’t just a hollow promise of rewarding with ten thousand copper coins; it was genuinely ten thousand taels of gold.
Jiang Liu didn’t stand on ceremony, accepting all ten thousand taels of gold without hesitation, and quickly stowed them away into his inventory space.
"Oh, Master Xuanzang, how was the princess rescued? Could you tell us about it!?" As soon as Jiang Liu had stowed away the gold, the King immediately asked him.
"Oh, it was quite the fierce battle, so intense that it dimmed the heavens and blotted out the moon!" Jiang Liu nodded and described a completely fictional battle.
Descriptions like a palm strike shattering the sky, or lifting a mountain and hurling it like a stone at the opponent...
His narration was a vivid depiction, echoing the fight scenes from fantasy novels of a previous life, leaving the King speechless with astonishment.
"In the end, the demon threw the princess out, unable to defeat us, and turned to flee for his life. We prioritized rescuing the princess, naturally catching her, so the evil demon managed to escape!"
After a spirited explanation that showcased the potential of a storyteller, Jiang Liu concluded.
"Ah! The evil demon escaped? What should we do now? If you, master, leave, what if the evil demon comes back for revenge? Master, please see it through to the end, remove this evil demon completely," hearing the outcome, the king grew anxious and pleaded.
This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.
TIP: Quest "Exorcise the Demon" triggered. Quest requirement: Eliminate the Yellow-Robed Monster. Success reward: Experience Points 8000000, reward Epic Level Treasure Chest*1. Failure penalty: Deduct Experience Points 8000000. Accept/Refuse?
As the King voiced his plea for help, the system’s prompt also sounded.
Seeing this passive quest trigger, Jiang Liu’s lips twitched slightly—an 8 million Experience Points reward for this quest? The head of the Yellow-Robed Monster was indeed valuable!
However, this temptation was but a momentary flicker; Jiang Liu naturally refused.
He couldn’t just be swayed by profit when he had already made a promise. Was this quest from the system just to annoy him?
