Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and Nezha earnestly stared at Jiang Liu again.

They needed to plead for Jiang Ziya, but they also couldn't let the Jade Emperor think they were colluding with Jiang Ziya.

How exactly should they plead? It was a conundrum!

"Holy Monk, I'm still a child. For this kind of exhausting and brain-racking issue, if you've figured something out, just say it. Why make me waste the effort pondering it?" Nezha said to Jiang Liu after staring at him for a moment.

Nezha's words amused Jiang Liu, who almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A child? Although he had always maintained the appearance of a child, his actual age was around two thousand years. In front of Jiang Liu, did he qualify to call himself a child?

Of course, this was just a jest in his heart, and Jiang Liu didn't mean to say it out loud.

"Actually, regarding how to plead, I do have a general idea!"

Since Nezha wanted him to state it clearly, Jiang Liu didn't hold back, saying, "I will first make a trip to the Lingxiao Hall and speak on behalf of Jiang Ziya. At that time, you all should unite and show support for me, indicating your agreement!"

"Holy Monk, you will speak first?" Nezha looked at Jiang Liu in surprise, not having expected his solution to be this.

Thinking it over, if he spoke first and they showed support, it indeed seemed reasonable.

"But, without reason, why would Holy Monk speak for Jiang Ziya? The motive must be convincing, right?" Li Jing interjected, looking at Jiang Liu.

"Indeed, Holy Monk, besides the motive, our reason to support you must also be convincing, right?" Nezha nodded in agreement, giving his opinion.

When it came to strategizing, Li Jing and Nezha might lack the capacity, but once Jiang Liu proposed a plan, they were adept at filling in the gaps.

"Naturally, I've considered this issue…"

Nodding, Jiang Liu said, "As for why I am pleading for Jiang Ziya, I can say that he once conversed with me and pointed out many matters concerning the people of destiny during the Immeasurable Kalpa. I owe him a karmic debt, so it is only right for me to repay it, isn't it?"

"Mm, indeed, this reason is quite convincing!" Li Jing nodded, approving the explanation given by Jiang Liu.

What motive could be more compelling for Jiang Liu to plead, than owing Jiang Ziya a karmic debt?

"As for why you all choose to support me…" Jiang Liu pondered silently at this point.

Li Jing and Nezha did not interrupt Jiang Liu but watched him contemplate deeply.

"At that time, we will put on a show!" After a while of thinking, Jiang Liu had an idea and spoke up.

"Acting?" Li Jing and Nezha looked at Jiang Liu questioningly, not understanding the meaning of his acting.

Jiang Liu then laid out his plan for Li Jing and Nezha.

Hearing Jiang Liu's explanation of acting, both Li Jing and Nezha widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Holy Monk, are you sure this can work?" Li Jing asked with some skepticism.

"Yes, although those immortal gods in the Investiture of the Gods were conferred by Jiang Ziya, but…" Nezha also showed a doubtful expression, staring at Jiang Liu.

"Rest assured, I am fully confident this will succeed!" Jiang Liu replied with assurance, patting his chest in the face of Li Jing and Nezha's skeptical looks.

After carefully observing Jiang Liu's confident demeanor, Li Jing and Nezha chose to believe him without further words.

"In that case, we will contact other brothers, and act according to plan when the time comes!" Nezha's delicate yet earnest face displayed a serious expression.

The discussions between Jiang Liu and Li Jing had pretty much reached a conclusion. They spent some time discussing logistical details before going their separate ways to take action.

Li Jing and Nezha began discreetly contacting some close brothers from the Investiture of the Gods, preparing to speak in support of Jiang Ziya according to the plan.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Palace of the Heavenly King, Jiang Liu hid himself and waited for the right opportunity.

Apart from Jiang Liu's actions, the Jade Emperor was in a fit of rage and needed to execute Jiang Ziya to establish his authority.

Knowing that dragging out the matter would not benefit him, the Jade Emperor quickly set the date for Jiang Ziya's execution after his capture and publicly announced it.

Indeed, with the Jade Emperor announcing the exact time for Jiang Ziya's execution, the entire Heavenly Court and the Three Realms trembled.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ziya, who had been missing for two thousand years, reappeared. Moreover, after his reappearance, he secretly incited the Immortal Gods on the Investiture of the Gods to defy the Jade Emperor. No wonder the Jade Emperor wanted to execute him in anger.

At this time, it was indeed a tumultuous period, and the Jade Emperor's recent situation was indeed awkward. It was a time when he needed to restore his authority, so it could be said that Jiang Ziya had hit the muzzle of the gun.

Of course, before Jiang Ziya's execution, several Immortals came forward to plead with the Jade Emperor, but they were all sternly rejected by him.

Thus, deterred by the Jade Emperor's might, gradually no one dared to plead for Jiang Ziya.

Just like that, time passed smoothly, second by second.

As the time for Jiang Ziya's true execution drew nearer, simultaneously, in another part of the Heavenly Court, at the Thunder Department, Jiang Liu, who had been biding his time, revealed himself directly.

Jiang Liu came to the palaces of the Thunder Department and directly found Wen Zhong, the Deity of Universal Response and Thunder under the protection of the Nine Heavens.

"I wonder, Holy Monk Xuanzang, what brings you here today?" Wen Zhong, riding the Ink Qilin, appeared in front of Jiang Liu and asked.

"It's nothing much. I heard that you, as the Deity of Universal Response and Thunder under the protection of the Nine Heavens, have an extraordinarily high cultivation level, so I wanted to challenge you..." Jiang Liu said humbly and politely to Wen Zhong.

"Challenge? Why challenge for no reason?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Wen Zhong furrowed his brow slightly and said.

"Of course, it's not a pointless waste of effort; there is a wager!" Jiang Liu smiled slightly, then flipped his hand, and a bright mirror appeared in his hand.

"This item is called a Treasure-Seeking Mirror. Just call out the treasure you want to know about in front of this mirror, and it will guide you to the treasure's location..." Jiang Liu introduced to Wen Zhong after taking out the Treasure-Seeking Mirror.

With that said, Jiang Liu paused slightly and continued, "If you can defeat me in the challenge, I'll give you this Treasure-Seeking Mirror!"

"No need, I don't want to challenge you. Master Xuanzang, you were able to defeat the mysterious man in black back then, Wen Zhong is not your match!" However, Wen Zhong showed no interest in Jiang Liu's words and waved his hand dismissively.

"I haven't finished my words; don't be hasty. In the challenge, you can use any treasures and Divine Spells, whereas I will not use any treasures. How about that?" Seeing Wen Zhong's unwillingness to agree, Jiang Liu lowered his demands and said.

"Oh? Are you serious? You won't use any treasures?" Hearing this premise, Wen Zhong became a bit interested.

"Yes, indeed!" Jiang Liu nodded seriously and replied.

After glancing at the Treasure-Seeking Mirror in Jiang Liu's hand and pondering for a moment, Wen Zhong asked, "Then, if I lose, what do you need me to do? Just say it!"

"It's simple. Recently, hasn't Jiang Ziya been captured by the Jade Emperor? The execution day seems near. I just need you to take the lead in pleading for Jiang Ziya." Jiang Liu answered.

"Pleading for Jiang Ziya? Now the Emperor does not allow anyone to plead. Even if I do, it won't make him change his mind!" Wen Zhong shook his head and replied.

"You don't have to worry about whether the Emperor will change his mind. I only need you to plead as much as possible then. How about that?" Jiang Liu said earnestly, waving his hand.

"Well, if that's the case, I might as well give it a try..."

Upon hearing that he only needed to do his best and wasn't required to achieve anything definitive, it seemed that losing wouldn't be too troublesome. Moreover, if he won, the Treasure-Seeking Mirror was indeed a fine treasure.

"Very well..." Once Wen Zhong nodded in agreement, Jiang Liu wasted no words, nodded, and then moved his body, putting away all his equipment.

Jiang Liu was seen in simple gray and white monk robes, barefoot, looking indeed as if he had no equipment on him.

Looking at Wen Zhong, he was atop the Ink Qilin, holding Twin Maces, appearing mighty and unyielding.

"In that case, I won't be polite!" Seeing that Jiang Liu indeed had no intention of using any treasures, Wen Zhong, with the mindset of striking first, acted directly.

With a roar, the Ink Qilin charged toward Jiang Liu, while at the same time, Wen Zhong's Twin Maces swung directly at Jiang Liu's head.

"Vajra Mantra!"

Seeing that Wen Zhong was indeed of the Daluo Golden Immortal cultivation level, Jiang Liu naturally did not underestimate him, raising his hand to cast a Vajra Mantra on himself.

At this time, the various Divine Generals in the Thunder Department were attracted by the battle and came to observe.

A battle between Master Xuanzang and the Deity of Universal Response and Thunder? And Xuanzang stipulated not to use any treasures? So who would win this battle?

Everyone was curious, and it was also the best opportunity to see Master Xuanzang's skills.

(PS: Only realized in the evening that today seems to be the author's Gregorian calendar birthday. Originally planned to write another chapter tonight, but forget it, might as well go out for a late-night snack to celebrate? Wah wah wah…)