Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"How is it possible? You monk are talking nonsense. My Monkey Brother is proficient in the seventy-two transformations, how can he not transform into a pine tree? That's impossible!" Upon hearing this old monk's words, Zhu Bajie immediately shook his head and said.

"Yes, Elderly Abbot, my second senior brother is right, how could my senior brother not transform into a pine tree? You are mistaken!" Sha Wujing also nodded along at the side, saying to the old monk.

However, the old monk's face remained very calm, with eyes quietly focused on Sun Wukong, paying no mind to Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie's words, and said, "Is what I said true?"

Sun Wukong's eyes carried awe as he looked at the old monk before him, then he nodded and said, "Indeed, you old monk do have some skills to calculate that I, Old Sun, cannot transform into a pine tree!"

After speaking, Sun Wukong stepped back two paces, silently acknowledging the old monk's supposed calculation ability.

As for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing beside him, they looked at each other with astonished expressions on their faces.

Could it be true that senior brother said this old monk calculated it correctly? How is that possible?

Why can't senior brother transform into a pine tree? This completely defies common sense!

It's like a mathematician unable to solve a linear equation, it's totally illogical.

"Second brother, senior brother indeed seems never to have transformed into a pine tree!" Though Sha Wujing was also secretly shaken, after a moment of silence, he suddenly said to Zhu Bajie.

"Could it be that Monkey Brother really can't transform into a pine tree?" Upon Sha Wujing's reminder, Zhu Bajie also pondered for a moment, then his face showed a puzzled expression.

"Monkey Brother..."

Zhu Bajie, filled with bewilderment, placed his eyes on Sun Wukong, saying, "You are proficient in seventy-two transformations, surely you can transform into a pine tree, right? What's going on?"

"Alright, Bajie, I, Old Sun, cannot transform means cannot transform, why keep digging deeper?"

Back then, it was because I showed off in front of my fellow apprentices in Sanxing Cave, transforming into a pine tree, that Ancestor Bodhi expelled me, leading Sun Wukong never to transform into a pine tree since. Naturally, Sun Wukong is unwilling to say this reason.

"Amitabha, I never expected you, Elderly Abbot, to truly calculate the past and future. Such abilities are indeed admirable!"

After staging a scene, Jiang Liu then clasped his palms in respect, expressing his admiration and amazement to the old monk.

"How about it? Master, is there anything you wish to calculate?" With his perpetual confident smile, the old monk turned his gaze onto Jiang Liu, asking.

"My Dharma name is Xuanzang, a monk journeying to the Western Heaven for the scriptures. May I ask, Elderly Abbot, will my journey to the Western Heaven be smooth?" Since believing in the monk's calculated abilities, after some thought, Jiang Liu asked the old monk.

With Jiang Liu's inquiry, Sun Wukong and the others also focused their gaze on the old monk, awaiting his answer.

Indeed, will this journey to the Western Heaven be smooth?

Sun Wukong and the others naturally want to know.

"It is said that a high monk from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land will go to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from Buddha, seeking the Tripitaka to save all beings. Unexpectedly, it is you, my poor eyes have failed!" After Jiang Liu stated his identity, the old monk appropriately displayed his amazement.

With that, the old monk paused slightly, then continued, "As for whether your journey westward will be smooth, I need to calculate it carefully, and I ask the high monk to wait a moment!"

With those words, the old monk made a gesture of beginning a calculation, lowering his eyes and started calculating with his fingers.

Next to him, Sun Wukong and the others kept their eyes on the old monk, with no intention of interrupting.

However, they were all somewhat tense inside.

Is the journey westward smooth? They don't really care about that, what they truly care about is whether the final battle at the Western Spirit Mountain will be smooth.

If they could know a bit in advance, that would be ideal.

This calculation seemed extremely difficult, as a layer of fine sweat appeared on the old monk's forehead, and the calculation took a long time without conclusion.

This also made Sun Wukong and the others show some anxious expressions on their faces.

Finally, after concentrating for calculation for about an hour, the old monk's fingers finally stopped, and he opened his eyes, using his broad sleeves to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"How about it? Old monk, did you calculate anything?" Before Jiang Liu could speak, the impatient Sun Wukong couldn't help but ask the old monk.

"Amitabha, fortunately, I did not fail the task. I have indeed calculated some things!" The old monk nodded in response.

"Oh? Then what exactly did you calculate, tell us!" Zhu Bajie also leaned forward, interjecting.

"Let's talk about this Journey to the West for Scriptures. Throughout the journey, it has never been easy, full of hardships!" The Old Monk spoke first.

"And then? What happens when we reach the Great Thunder Monastery?" Sun Wukong eagerly pressed for answers.

"As for when you arrive at the Great Thunder Monastery, it seems there is a conflict between you and the Buddha. I foresee a great battle, and the Buddha himself takes action against you!" The Old Monk continued after glancing at Sun Wukong.

"What about the outcome? What was the result of that battle?" Sha Wujing also took a few steps forward, unable to resist asking.

"Amitabha, Wukong, Wuneng, Wujing, the few of you shouldn't say too much. If we were to confront the Tathagata, the outcome would undoubtedly be a defeat!" Before the Old Monk could answer, Jiang Liu spoke up to Sun Wukong and the others, interrupting their conversation.

Jiang Liu's words left Sun Wukong and the others perplexed as they looked at him, feeling that their master's words were quite strange.

The Old Monk mentioned that after reaching the Great Thunder Monastery, Tathagata would strike against them, which isn't surprising since their goal for the Journey to the West was to overthrow the Immortals and Buddhas in the heavens.

But why would their master say they were bound to lose?

If that's really the case, wouldn't their journey to the Western Heaven be meaningless?

"Elderly Abbot..."

Ignoring the doubts in Sun Wukong and the others' hearts, Jiang Liu clasped his hands and turned to the Old Monk, bowing, "Being able to predict these things is indeed very important to us. Here are the Divination Coins, please accept them, Elderly Abbot!"

Upon finishing his words, Jiang Liu raised his hand and took out a hefty Gold Ingot, presenting it to the old monk.

The Old Monk gave Jiang Liu a deep look, but without any intention of declining, he accepted the Gold Ingot handed by Jiang Liu and put it away.

After a slight pause, the Old Monk said again, "Master Xuanzang, you head to the Western Heaven, and what awaits is an attack from Tathagata. What do you think now?"

"This... I, the monk, do not know..." Jiang Liu shook his head, looking bewildered.

It seemed that upon learning this news suddenly, his mind was a little confused, and he didn't know how to respond.

"The Master seems somewhat off!" Seeing Jiang Liu's reaction, even Sun Wukong and the others seemed to realize something was wrong.

They looked at each other, then one by one, fell silent, only focusing their eyes on Jiang Liu and the Old Monk.

"Amitabha, Master Xuanzang, you set out to the Western Heaven for the well-being of all living beings, yet waiting for you at the Great Thunder Monastery is an attack from Tathagata. Under such circumstances, I think it might be better not to seek the Scriptures! How about turning back?" the Old Monk suggested to Jiang Liu.

"This..." Listening to the Old Monk's suggestion, Jiang Liu hesitated.

Although he didn't nod in agreement directly, he also didn't shake his head to refuse.

"Indeed..." Within the Great Thunder Monastery, the Golden Hair Lion transformed into an Old Monk to test Jiang Liu, and Tathagata had long wrapped a trace of Divine Sense around the Golden Hair Lion to observe the situation.

Following the Old Monk's suggestion, Jiang Liu surprisingly didn't reject it outright, which made Tathagata sigh slightly in his heart.

Even though he had guessed that Jiang Liu would certainly have some concerns about the Buddhist Sect, witnessing the scene unfold so vividly still gave Tathagata a sense of disappointment.

"All right, Bodhisattva of Golden Light, you may return now. Your task is complete!" At this point, Tathagata certainly did not hope Jiang Liu would really turn back, so he gave instructions to Bodhisattva of Golden Light.

"Amitabha, Master Xuanzang, you must consider what to do next, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you further!" As Tathagata gave his instructions, the Old Monk, in the guise of the Golden Hair Lion, took his leave.

However, at this time, Jiang Liu kept his head down, appearing deep in thought, and didn't seem to notice the Old Monk's farewell, as if he hadn't heard it.

Soon after, the Old Monk turned and left.

"Master, what's going on!?" After the departure of the Old Monk, Sun Wukong and the others hurriedly gathered around Jiang Liu to ask.

"Wukong, I'll explain this matter to you later..." Jiang Liu took out the Exquisite Immortal Mansion, giving no immediate explanation to Sun Wukong and the others.

After his words, Jiang Liu led Sun Wukong and the others into the Exquisite Immortal Mansion to rest.

Meanwhile, at the Great Thunder Monastery, Tathagata also withdrew his Divine Sense.

Since Xuanzang really has apprehensions and defenses against the Buddhist Sect, it's indeed necessary to appease him.

This Western Journey for Scriptures is at its critical juncture; no unexpected events can occur!

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