Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"Master Xuanzang has arrived!?" Upon hearing the news, Li Jing and Nezha, the father and son duo, were slightly taken aback.

At this time, the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team should be in the critical latter stages, right? Why would Master Xuanzang visit them without reason?

However, despite the surprise in their hearts, Li Jing nodded and said, "Quickly, invite him in!"

Since it was Master Xuanzang who had arrived, the dispute between the father and son was temporarily put aside.

Immediately, Jiang Liu was led into the Palace of the Heavenly King.

"This humble monk greets the Heavenly King and the Third Prince..." As he walked in, Jiang Liu clasped his hands together in greeting towards Li Jing and Nezha, displaying a humble and respectful manner.

"Master Xuanzang, it's been a long time!" Looking at Jiang Liu, Li Jing nodded and said.

Li Jing held complex feelings towards Jiang Liu, given that his son Muzha had died at the hands of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team back then.

Similarly, the infamous reputation of Master Xuanzang had recently spread across the three realms, so it was impossible for Li Jing not to harbor some fear in his heart.

"Master Xuanzang, may I ask what brings you here today?" Offering Jiang Liu a seat and serving tea, then the Third Prince Nezha asked Jiang Liu.

"Today, this humble monk is here about Immortal Jiang Ziya!" Jiang Liu replied directly, without beating around the bush.

"Oh?" This remark caused Li Jing and Nezha to exchange glances, each bearing an expression of astonishment.

Immediately, Nezha looked at Jiang Liu with some curiosity and said, "Mage, as far as I know, you and Jiang Ziya have no association, right? What is the purpose of your visit?"

"No, Third Prince, actually this humble monk does have some connection with Jiang Ziya..." Jiang Liu shook his head slightly, correcting Nezha.

With this statement, Jiang Liu paused briefly and then asked, "Third Prince, do you know where Jiang Ziya has been residing since the Battle of Investiture?"

"I don't really know!" Hearing this, Nezha shook his head and said.

Since the Investiture, Jiang Ziya seemed to have disappeared, and indeed, there were very few who knew his whereabouts in the world.

"Indeed, they do not know Jiang Ziya's whereabouts over the years..." Nezha's answer was within Jiang Liu's expectations.

Having found Nezha and Li Jing, Jiang Liu naturally wouldn't hide the truth and said, "Previously, there was an incident where an underground prison at Maitreya Buddha's Eastern Temple broke open, and countless Demons emerged. Do you still remember?"

"Of course I remember. Back then, Master Xuanzang, you made a grand vow to handle the chaos caused by those Demons before continuing your Journey to the West. Such a compassionate heart earned great admiration from all beings of the three realms!" Nezha nodded in agreement.

"Actually, when it comes to that matter, this humble monk feels a sense of shame!" Jiang Liu admitted with an appropriate expression of guilt.

Nezha and Li Jing looked at Jiang Liu in confusion, waiting for him to continue.

"Indeed, though this humble monk made a grand vow, it wasn't purely out of compassion, but rather, taking responsibility for one's actions..." Jiang Liu explained.

"Could it be? The reason the underground prison broke open back then..." Listening to Jiang Liu, Nezha understood his implication and asked with a startled expression.

"Yes, indeed. The reason why the underground prison broke open was partly due to my unavoidable responsibility!" Jiang Liu nodded and replied.

"The world only knows that the underground prison broke open because of the conflict between the black-clothed mysterious person and Maitreya Buddha, but they wouldn't have thought that you, Holy Monk, also relate to it!" Nezha remarked with a mix of emotions.

This comment made Jiang Liu's expression slightly odd. Even when he admitted that the matter was related to him, Nezha still didn't suspect him to be the black-clothed mysterious person?

However, thinking about it, it made sense. Besides Jiang Liu, both his Evil Corpse and Good Corpse impersonated the black-clothed mysterious person...

Moreover, he once publicly fought against the black-clothed mysterious person, providing a perfect alibi.

So, it was reasonable for Nezha not to suspect him as the black-clothed mysterious person.

Since Nezha didn't have suspicion, Jiang Liu naturally wouldn't voluntarily explain.

Then, Nezha showed a puzzled expression and said, "Holy Monk, you mentioned Jiang Ziya's whereabouts over the years relate to Maitreya Buddha's underground prison?"

Indeed, weren't they originally discussing Jiang Ziya's whereabouts over the years? Why did Master Xuanzang lead the conversation to the underground prison?

"Because, during all these years, Jiang Ziya has been imprisoned in the underground prison, and it was only when the prison broke open that he finally managed to escape!" Jiang Liu disclosed directly, dropping a bombshell.

"What!?" Nezha's tone suddenly rose several notches.

Even Li Jing, standing nearby, changed his expression in shock upon hearing this news—it was simply too startling for them.

"Holy Monk, are you saying that Jiang Ziya has actually been imprisoned all these years? That's impossible!" Despite trusting Jiang Liu's character, this news was still too shocking for Nezha. Shaking his head, Nezha found it unbelievable.

In the Great Deification Calamity, although Jiang Ziya didn't become a deity or immortal, he still had great merits, right?

And yet, he was still imprisoned like this? No matter how you think about it, it doesn't seem logical.

Upon hearing Nezha's exclamation, Jiang Liu didn't say much. He gave Nezha some time to slowly digest this shocking news.

After a moment of silence, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing spoke, his face showing a sudden realization, "So that's how it is!"

"Oh? Father? What have you understood?" Nezha turned to look intently at his father and asked.

"I've actually always wondered. The Deification War was something Jiang Ziya put all his effort into bringing about, so why is it that after all these years he would secretly contact the immortals to rebel against the Jade Emperor? Now that Master Xuanzang has said this, doesn't it become clear?"

"So that's how it is, no wonder!" Hearing his father's words, Nezha also showed a look of realization and nodded.

Indeed, for those unaware of Jiang Ziya secretly inciting the immortals to rebel against the Jade Emperor, it seemed strange and hard to understand.

But after this explanation, everything became clear.

"I didn't expect you and Jiang Ziya to have such a connection, Holy Monk. So your purpose in going to the heavens this time is also to rescue him?" Although the news was shocking, Nezha now understood Jiang Liu's purpose.

"Yes, if I can help, I naturally hope to offer whatever support I can!" Nodding, Jiang Liu responded.

"That would be great! With you willing to help, Holy Monk, the chances of success have significantly increased!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Nezha's face showed a broad smile.

The recent incident of Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang joining forces against the Jade Emperor was no longer a secret. With his help, the chances of success were naturally much higher.

Standing nearby, Li Jing opened his mouth but swallowed his words back down.

A while ago, when Nezha clamored to save someone, he could still dissuade him. But now, if Master Xuanzang was determined to rescue someone, could he stop him?

Moreover, and more importantly, if an ordinary person wanted to do such a thing, the success rate would be very low. But who is Xuanzang?

A man of destiny in the Great Western Journey, where events with very low probabilities get infinitely magnified, and many impossible things become possible.

"If Master Xuanzang really gets involved, then indeed, it's possible to rescue Jiang Ziya!" Thinking about this and Jiang Liu's identity, Li Jing murmured to himself.

Therefore, the words he initially wanted to say to stop them naturally failed to come out.

As he watched Jiang Liu and Nezha leaning together, they were already beginning to discuss how to rescue Jiang Ziya.

"Holy Monk, I think we should unite some high-ranking officials from the Investiture of the Gods and petition together for Jiang Ziya!" Nezha proposed his idea.

"No, doing so would definitely backfire!" Hearing Nezha's suggestion, Jiang Liu shook his head and disagreed.

"Why?" Nezha asked, looking at Jiang Liu with some confusion.

"Think about it, why was Jiang Ziya captured? Wasn't it because he secretly conspired with the immortals to rebel against the Jade Emperor? If at this time, a bunch of deities united to plead for him, wouldn't that further anger him?" Jiang Liu explained.

"Indeed, that's logical!" Hearing Jiang Liu's explanation, Nezha thought for a moment and agreed with a nod.

"But if none of us plead for Jiang Ziya, won't he be more likely doomed? The Jade Emperor isn't going to release him automatically, right?" Although he agreed with Jiang Liu's reasoning, Nezha quickly raised another question.

Not pleading is not an option, but pleading also escalates the conflict, leaving Nezha feeling quite troubled.

"We must still plead, but how we plead requires careful consideration!" Jiang Liu said.

"Oh? Holy Monk, do you have a plan?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words suggested he had some ideas, so Nezha pressed on further.

Beside them, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing also looked at Jiang Liu with curiosity. To be honest, the current situation was very tricky, and even he couldn't think of any good solutions quickly.

"Pleading is necessary, but when doing so, you must not let the Jade Emperor think you have already conspired with Jiang Ziya. That's the core issue!"