Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Bowing his head, Jiang Liu sipped his porridge and nibbled on his vegetable bun, remaining silent.

Daoji merely sat in a daze, evidently feeling that his worldview had been greatly shaken by the situation between the Demon Clan within the borders of the Great Tang and the Emperor of Tang.

In Daoji's mind, he had always thought that the Demon Clan and the Human Clan were irreconcilable enemies, nearly always engaging in a fight to the death upon meeting, yet he hadn't expected the truth to be like this, that the Emperor of Tang wanted to keep some Great Demons to restrain the other demons.

"Brother, do you think what's being done is right?" After a long silence, Daoji's gaze fell on Jiang Liu, hoping to find an answer from him.

"There's no absolute right or wrong," Jiang Liu silently sighed upon hearing Daoji's inquiry, thinking it seemed he would have to give him some proper guidance. Well, what could he do? wasn't he the elder brother?

"Setting aside whether the method is right or wrong for now, let's look at the situation. Just as Saint Monk Longhai mentioned, at least compared to other small countries on the border, the people within the Great Tang do live and work in peace and contentment. If the outcome is good and doesn't harm others' interests, there is nothing wrong with it..."

This made Daoji lower his head in thought. It was only after some time that he looked up and said, "So, that day in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, you let the Little Witch go on purpose, Brother? Were you thinking of doing the same as the Emperor of Tang, using the Little Witch to control the situation in the Demon Cave?"

"He knew that I had intentionally let the Little Witch go?" Daoji's words secretly alarmed Jiang Liu.

He had thought Daoji was completely unconscious at the time but hadn't expected that he was still somewhat aware.

However, since Daoji had come up with his own story, Jiang Liu kept a straight face and nodded slightly along with Daoji's words, "Indeed, the Little Witch possesses the Samadhi Demonic Fire and she may very well return to the Demon Cave and take the Demon King's throne. In time, with our relationship, she might play some role, no matter how small."

"Amitabha, Brother, your foresight and strategy are truly admirable. I am utterly convinced!" Daoji said, looking up to Jiang Liu with sincere admiration.

The days he had spent with Jiang Liu, everything he had seen and learned, made him feel that Jiang Liu was unfathomably profound, to the point that Daoji had turned into an adoring fanboy.

"By the way, we're setting off to subdue demons and eliminate evil tomorrow. I have a Buddhist Treasure here, which I would like to give to you..." Jiang Liu placed his palm behind himself and then drew it forth, his hand now holding a beautifully crafted monk's hat, the Azure Crown they had obtained from the Electric Light Leopard.

Although the Fine Level quality was decent, for Jiang Liu who already possessed the Vidyaraja Crown, this piece of equipment was now useless.

And since it required level 20 to equip, in Jiang Liu's view, giving it to Daoji could not be more appropriate.

Isn't Daoji about to break through to the Body Tempering Realm? From a level perspective, the Body Tempering Realm corresponds to being above level 20, right?

"Ah? You're giving me another Buddhist Treasure?" Daoji was both surprised and delighted to see the Buddhist Treasure Jiang Liu had brought out, recalling how just a few days ago, in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, he had received an Arhat Mace from him.

"Do you want it or not?" Seeing Daoji's reaction, Jiang Liu didn't beat around the bush and made as if he was going to take it back.

"I want it, I really do. Thank you, Brother!" Even though he knew Jiang Liu was just putting on an act, Daoji quickly reached out to grab the Azure Crown.

He looked it over joyfully, then placed it atop his head.

As soon as he donned the Azure Crown, he could clearly feel the power contained within the Buddhist Treasure, significantly boosting his defensive abilities.

"By the way, Brother, I saw you take that hat out from behind you. Do you have a pocket back there? Where exactly did you keep such a big hat?"

"This..."

"Also, ever since the time at the Demon-Suppressing Hall, I've felt something odd. I don't know where you hide your Demon-Subduing Staff, but whenever you need it, you just take it out."

"And the Arhat Mace you gave me, the potion you used to heal the little witch—I've never seen where you stow them away either."

"Furthermore, when I went in, I packed a bag, but the essentials for eating, dressing, and daily life ran out quickly. You clearly didn't bring anything, so how do you still have so much?"

...

Within the boundaries of Great Tang, sects stand in great numbers, including Buddhist Sects that cultivate Buddhism and Taoist Sects that cultivate Taoism. However, no matter the sect, they all belong to the citizens of the Great Tang.

Consequently, after the Emperor of Tang made clear his intentions to subdue demons and eliminate evil, not only the Imperial Heavenly Master Hall would take action, but cultivators from other sects would also contribute, more or less.

The next morning, Great Buddha Temple summoned eighty-one martial monks, including Jiang Liu and Daoji, to prepare for departure, personally led by Master Fanhai.

The journey to subdue demons spanned several hundred li beyond Chang'an City, and walking on foot, one could not know how long it would take. Thus, Master Fanhai threw something with his hand, and a palm-sized boat swelled with the wind, transforming into a huge ship that appeared before everyone.

"Wow, is this the large Dharma Treasure, the Heavenly Dragon Ship? I've long heard of it, but today is my first time seeing it," Daoji exclaimed with wide eyes, astonished.

"Gentlemen, board the ship. With the speed of the Heavenly Dragon Ship, we will reach our destination in roughly one Chinese Hour," Master Fanhai said, nodding with a satisfied expression in response to Daoji's amazement. He beckoned the disciples to board the ship, and once they were aboard, the giant vessel launched and soared through the skies.

"So, it's truly worthy of being the most powerful temple within Great Tang, isn't it? Having such treasures for travelling..."

Even Jiang Liu, standing at the edge of the Heavenly Dragon Ship, watched Chang'an City grow smaller and more distant, couldn't help but feel inwardly moved.

Although he had taken a few flights in the modern era, the experience of flying in the ancient skies aboard a Dharma Treasure was entirely different.

"Xuanzang, Daoji, once we land, try not to stray too far from me," said Master Fanhai as he approached the two, speaking while Jiang Liu was gazing down at the rapidly retreating landscape.

"Although this demon-slaying mission has Great Buddha Temple merely responding to the call of the Emperor of Tang, and the main force will be the Heavenly Master Hall, it is still the clash of two Great Demon Kings, and the outcome is uncertain. I cannot easily explain if anything happens to any one of you..."

"Understood," Jiang Liu and Daoji nodded in agreement.

Elsewhere, high in the sky, a massive flying vessel, like a palace, sailed through midair, carrying cultivators of various forms.

Some cultivators wore Taoist robes and held horsetail whisks, meditating in stillness.

Some cultivators shouldered long swords, their stances tall and upright.

Explore more at empire

There were even cultivators who had set up a pill furnace, busying themselves with bottles and jars.

Dressed in tight-fitting clothes with flying daggers at her waist and wielding a long whip, Princess Gaoyang also stood on the flying vessel, gazing at the sea of clouds on the horizon.

"With this demon-slaying mission, given Jiang Liu's disposition, he will surely participate, right? How wonderful, I will see him again..."