Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"Imperial Brother? Have you already returned from seeking the scriptures?" Li Shimin's eyes slightly brightened as he looked at Jiang Liu descending from mid-air.

Due to disasters such as the plague caused by Heavenly Retribution in the past, Li Shimin didn't actually have a favorable impression of the Buddhist Sect, although the circumstances were beyond his control, so he didn't show it.

At this moment, seeing the dazzling Buddhist Light, with either a Buddha or Bodhisattva descending, Li Shimin stepped forward to greet them, but felt some apprehension in his heart. Who knows if the appearance of the Buddhist Sect is a good or bad thing?

But now, seeing Jiang Liu appear, Li Shimin quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

"Your Majesty, my Journey to the West for Scriptures is not yet complete. I am merely returning halfway!" Jiang Liu replied upon hearing Li Shimin's inquiry.

"Imperial Brother, you returned halfway, surely there must be something very important, right?" After nodding slightly, Li Shimin immediately continued to ask Jiang Liu.

"Your Majesty, should we really speak here?" Jiang Liu asked in return.

"Right, let's quickly return to the hall to discuss..." Understanding Jiang Liu's words, Li Shimin nodded and immediately led Jiang Liu to turn around and head towards the hall.

Naturally, the civil and military officials outside followed them, one after another returning to the hall.

"Your Majesty, I've come today to offer a treasure to Your Majesty!" After returning to the hall and everyone stood in place, Jiang Liu stood in the center of the hall and said to Li Shimin, who was seated on the throne.

Jiang Liu's words caused many of the civil and military officials in the hall to look at each other in confusion.

Holy Monk Xuanzang's Journey to the West for Scriptures has lasted more than seven years. There was an incident with the Demon Clan emerging from the Demon-Suppressing Hall and another with a passage to the Demon Realm appearing at Jinshan Temple, requiring his return to help, but he has never returned halfway otherwise.

Yet today he specifically returned to present a treasure?

"Oh? Imperial Brother, what kind of treasure made you return halfway on your journey to the west?" Li Shimin's face showed a surprised expression as he curiously asked Jiang Liu.

"Your Majesty, it is precisely this item!" Without wasting words, with a raise of his hand, Jiang Liu retrieved the Kongdong Seal from the space where it was kept.

The golden aura of destiny and virtuous merits almost solidified, swirling around the Kongdong Seal.

"What is this thing? It looks extraordinary!" Looking at the Kongdong Seal in Jiang Liu's hand, Li Shimin was unfamiliar with it yet his eyes were magnetically drawn in.

The civil and military officials on the hall also showed confused expressions, whispering amongst themselves.

Yet, regarding this treasure, none of these civil and military officials could recognize it.

"Holy Monk, could this be the legendary Kongdong Seal?" At this moment, Yuan Tiangang suddenly stepped forward excitedly to ask Jiang Liu.

"That's right, Taoist Yuan, this item is the Kongdong Seal!" Jiang Liu nodded and replied seriously.

"Oh? What treasure is this Kongdong Seal?" Li Shimin and others on the hall were naturally drawn to the conversation between Yuan Tiangang and Jiang Liu.

"Your Majesty, this Kongdong Seal is the Supreme Treasure of our Human Clan!" Upon hearing Li Shimin's inquiry, Yuan Tiangang reluctantly tore his gaze from the Kongdong Seal, while speaking to Li Shimin.

Knowing that Li Shimin and the civil and military officials were unfamiliar with the Kongdong Seal, Yuan Tiangang calmed his emotions slightly and explained, "In the ancient times, the Three Realms — Heaven, Earth, and Human — had three emperors, each ruling a realm!"

"The Immortal Realm was ruled by the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Realm controlled by Yama, and the Human Realm? Naturally overseen by the Human Emperor!"

"The Kongdong Seal symbolizes the Human Emperor and gathers the destiny and virtuous merits of the Human Clan! Among the Three Realms, there is no distinction between high and low!"

"Among the Three Realms, there are no distinctions of rank!" Hearing Yuan Tiangang's words, the civil and military officials in the hall began discussing loudly.

Even Li Shimin, seated on the throne, suddenly stood, earnestly staring at the Kongdong Seal in Jiang Liu's hands.

If the Three Realms have no distinction in hierarchy, then logically, their rulers should also be of equal status, right?

"It's said that before the Shang Dynasty, rulers were all Human Emperors. Thus, during the Shang-Zhou conflict, King Zhou could command countless extraordinary figures. However, after this battle, many deceased entered the Investiture of the Gods, becoming immortal gods employed by the Heavenly Court, and the Kongdong Seal vanished, leaving no Human Emperor in the mortal world..."

That's a lot of information!

Yuan Tiangang's words naturally reached Li Shimin's ears, bringing attention to the immense information contained within.

Firstly, did many extraordinary figures die in the Shang-Zhou conflict and become immortals serving the Heavenly Court?

Does this mean? The Human Emperor was once capable of commanding immortal-level experts, contending against the Heavenly Court? This is a power that the present Human Realm sorely lacks.

Secondly, was it because of that great war that the Kongdong Seal disappeared? Therefore, there is no Human Emperor in the world?

"Congratulations to Your Majesty on reclaiming the Kongdong Seal. This is a blessing for the entire Human Clan!" Regardless of Li Shimin's thoughts, Yuan Tiangang spoke up, congratulating Li Shimin.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" At this moment, all the civil and military officials in the grand hall spoke in unison.

Whether they understood it or not, in any case, this seemed to be a good thing, right?

Since it was a good thing, it would naturally be the best for everyone to congratulate His Majesty together, all sharing in the joy.

"All of this thanks to the Imperial Brother!" However, Li Shimin did not rush to acknowledge the congratulations from the civil and military officials but instead focused his gaze on Jiang Liu and spoke.

"Naturally, this Kongdong Seal is the Supreme Treasure of the Human Clan. Master Xuanzang managed to obtain it and even returned it to the Human Clan. This achievement is indeed difficult to fully express!" Yuan Tiangang nodded in agreement, looking at Jiang Liu with admiration and amazement.

It is precisely due to the awareness of the Kongdong Seal's value that Yuan Tiangang clearly understood the difficulty involved in acquiring it.

Similarly, it was because of this awareness that Yuan Tiangang realized the immense determination required for Jiang Liu to hand over the Kongdong Seal.

Such a Treasure, even the Immortals and Buddhas in the heavens would struggle to resist, wouldn't they?

Yet, Xuanzang managed to withstand the allure of the Kongdong Seal and presented it before His Majesty, such unwavering determination is truly astonishing.

"Your Majesty, in the current realm of the Human Clan, only you are qualified to wield this Divine Artifact!" Without intending to waste more time on these praises, Jiang Liu directly presented the Kongdong Seal before Li Shimin.

Seeing the Kongdong Seal presented before him, Li Shimin naturally extended both hands to accept it.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty on regaining this Supreme Treasure of the Human Clan. This is indeed a fortune for the Great Tang, a fortune for the Human Clan, and a fortune for the heavens and earth!" As Li Shimin reached out to receive the Kongdong Seal, Jiang Liu spoke, saluting Li Shimin and exclaiming loudly.

The others in the grand hall, with a leader as an example, naturally knew what to say, following suit and shouting one after another.

As the Kongdong Seal fell into Li Shimin's hands, the civil and military officials in the grand hall shouted loudly, and in an instant, within the entire Imperial Palace, a dazzling rainbow light shot straight into the stars, piercing through the heavens and earth!

In the Heavenly Court, above the Lingxiao Hall, the Great Jade Emperor sat quietly on his throne without saying a word.

The Immortal Gods in the Lingxiao Hall, according to the usual rules, carefully reported on their work to the Jade Emperor, speaking cautiously, fearing that a louder voice might anger the Jade Emperor.

"Cough cough..." After sitting for a while, the Jade Emperor suddenly coughed lightly a few times, prompting the Immortals in the Lingxiao Hall to remain silent, as quiet as if one could hear a pin drop.

Not long ago, there was a rumor that the Jade Emperor was that mysterious man in black. Therefore, after a chaotic battle among the Quasi-Saints, the Jade Emperor, at the center of this conflict, naturally suffered severe injuries.

Although the Hongmeng Purple Qi was not stripped away, these injuries were not something that could heal quickly. Consequently, in recent days, the Jade Emperor attended court with injuries.

Anger! Although he said little, the Jade Emperor was secretly furious in his heart.

Being injured to such an extent as the ruler of the three realms, how could he save face?

Most importantly, all of this stemmed from Kong Xuan. The Jade Emperor held no good feelings towards Kong Xuan, nor towards the Buddhist Sect.

If only his strength could match Kong Xuan's, the Jade Emperor would have long since sought revenge.

"Kong Xuan, I'll remember this debt today, and one day, I'll settle it properly..." The Jade Emperor silently murmured to himself, his inner voice almost gritting teeth.

Boom!

However, at this moment, suddenly, the Jade Emperor sensed a tremor throughout the entire Lingxiao Hall.

At the same time, as far as the eye could see, a dazzling rainbow light shot straight into the sky.

"Thousand-Mile Eye, Wind-Listening Ear, go see what is happening here!"

Seeing the dazzling rainbow light before him and feeling the soaring destiny it contained, the Jade Emperor sat up, asking aloud.

Such soaring destiny, could it be that Xuanzang has already obtained the True Scriptures, completing the Immeasurable Kalpa of the Journey to the West, and might not even possess it?

Even after completing the Journey to the West for Scriptures, such a scene of energy rushing towards the stars was unlikely, so what event at this time could lead to such a spectacle?

More terrifyingly, as the rainbow light shot straight into the stars, the Jade Emperor could clearly feel the destiny surrounding him drop in an instant!

As the ruler of the three realms, the Jade Emperor naturally gathered the destiny of the heavenly, earthly, and human realms.

But with the Kongdong Seal returning to the hands of the Human Clan, the destiny of the Mortal World shifted, and naturally, the destiny that originally gathered on the Jade Emperor also followed suit, decreasing.

Destiny, although invisible and intangible, indeed exists, and even Saints value it greatly.

Without rhyme or reason, his destiny decreased? The Jade Emperor's face darkened.