Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Great Tang, Chang'an City.

Recently, Chang'an City has been incredibly lively.

Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin, announced to the world, gathering a hundred kings from other nations to converge here. This spectacle of hundreds of kingdoms paying homage naturally made the citizens of Chang'an City, and even the entire Great Tang, feel exceptionally excited and honored.

In the following days, it was not uncommon to see Immortal Gods flying through the sky, escorting various kings to descend upon Chang'an City.

Initially, these commoners found it quite novel and pointed fingers, but eventually, they became accustomed to it.

The existence of Immortal Gods, initially, was something far beyond the reach for the people of Great Tang.

But today, having seen so much, these people seemed to feel it was no longer distant.

Unconsciously, the mindset of the citizens of Chang'an City had undergone some change.

On this day, Jiang Liu and Li Shimin stood together on the plaza of the Imperial Palace, watching as two rays of light appeared from afar, approaching them.

Tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival, and it seems there are two more kings arriving.

"Jiang Liu…"

Suddenly, Li Shimin spoke, saying to Jiang Liu: "Recently, Yuan Tiangang Daoist mentioned that the number of people going to the Taoist temples to worship is steadily decreasing. Similarly, even the visitors to the temples have also decreased significantly!"

"Oh? What's the reason?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu was slightly taken aback and turned his head to look at Li Shimin beside him, asking.

"I've had someone investigate this matter, and the conclusion is that recently there have been many appearances of Immortal Gods, and the common people have seen so much that the sense of distance is gone. Consequently, there is unconsciously a reduction in reverence," Li Shimin replied.

"Is that so? That does seem reasonable." After listening to Li Shimin, Jiang Liu contemplated for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Indeed, the more unattainable and high above something is, the more the common people would revere it.

When the Immortal Gods have integrated into the people's daily lives, naturally this reverence will disappear like smoke.

Not to mention, back during the Era of Deification, when the Human Emperor ruled the world, there were many Divine Level beings in Chaoge City, and there was absolutely no distinction in status between Immortals and the Human Clan. Therefore, the Human Clan had no reverence for the so-called Immortals and Buddhas.

It wasn't until the Jade Emperor became the ruler of the three realms, and the Immortals and Buddhas were high above, that led to the people revering the Immortals and Buddhas. The Taoist temples and temples thus became places for the Human Clan to worship.

"Does Your Majesty have any thoughts?" After secretly contemplating for a moment and understanding the reason for this situation, Jiang Liu then looked at Li Shimin and asked.

"The reverence for Immortals and Buddhas comes from being high above, but if people see them often, that reverence will fade. To reestablish the Human Emperor, it's not just about building momentum for myself, but also about diminishing the people's reverence for Immortals and Buddhas to some extent," Li Shimin turned his head and said to Jiang Liu.

"Indeed, what Your Majesty says is reasonable!" Nodding, Jiang Liu agreed.

With that, after a slight pause and some contemplation, Jiang Liu then said: "If it's possible to have many Immortals and Buddhas integrate into the populace, this indeed could greatly diminish the Human Clan's reverence for them. This matter could definitely be worth a good planning!"

The headquarters of Ming Sect is over by Flame Cloud Entertainment City, originally Red Boy's territory, while the branch is placed in the Miefa Nation.

At this time, Jiang Liu indeed had the thought of relocating the headquarters to Chang'an City.

If the headquarters of Ming Sect were moved to Chang'an City, then not only would the Immortal Gods within Ming Sect reside in Chang'an City, but it might even attract Immortals, Buddhas, and Demons to come to Chang'an City to have fun?

Over the years, Flame Cloud Entertainment City has held events that many Immortals, Buddhas, and even Demons enjoy playing there, almost forming a habit.

At that time, more and more Immortal Gods and Demons would appear before the people, naturally causing the Human Clan's reverence for Immortals and Buddhas to plummet!

Of course, this is currently just an idea, and though there is an intent to move in this direction, how exactly to proceed still needs careful planning.

The current focus, however, is still on the matter of hundreds of kingdoms paying homage.

After Jiang Liu and Li Shimin generally talked about this topic, they ended the conversation without delving deeper.

"By the way, how many Kings have arrived now?" Changing the topic, Jiang Liu then asked Li Shimin.

"I asked about this today; the vast majority have arrived, only a few can be counted on one hand remain," Li Shimin replied.

This is about creating momentum for himself, and it's also the first step towards reestablishing the Human Emperor, so naturally, he paid great attention to it.

As the saying goes, a good start is half the success.

"That's good!" Hearing that the majority have arrived, Jiang Liu also nodded.

"The development of this matter is really changing with each passing day! Who could have thought there would be a day like this?" Looking at the horizon, as the sun gradually leaned west, Li Shimin suddenly sighed with emotion.

"What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu turned his head to glance at Li Shimin and then asked, clearly not understanding why he made such a remark.

"I am thinking about the Dragon Subduing Arhat of old. He had a cultivation level of the Heavenly Immortal Realm and was already an unbeatable existence within the Great Tang..." Li Shimin looked at Jiang Liu and began to speak.

These words made Jiang Liu silent, and his mind involuntarily recalled the incident where Daoji transformed into the Dragon Subduing Arhat.

Indeed, at that time, for Chang'an City, the Demon King and the Returning Void Realm cultivators were already the top-tier experts. The true spirit awakening of Dragon Subduing Arhat, that Heavenly Immortal level cultivation, was indeed an unbeatable presence.

Back then, a Heavenly Immortal above level 61 was indeed unreachable for me!

Moreover, Daoji transforming into the Dragon Subduing Arhat also served as a harsh warning to Jiang Liu.

Due to the true spirit awakening of Dragon Subduing Arhat, Daoji almost vanished, which reminded him of the Lingyun Crossing in the original work, where it should be the Tang Monk who died, but the one who achieved Buddhahood was Master Golden Cicada.

This incident led Jiang Liu to embark on the path of the Journey to the West for Scriptures with a mindset of self-preservation, progressing all the way to this point.

But over the years, beneath him, not to mention a countless number of Heavenly Immortals, there is also a pile of Taiyi True Immortals. Looking back now, indeed there is a feeling of how things change and people change.

"I recall on the Journey to the West, once seeing Daoji's reincarnated body. So many years have passed, I wonder how he is doing now!" Thinking of the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu naturally also remembered Daoji's reincarnation encountered on the Journey to the West.

However, after thinking for a moment, Jiang Liu shook his head secretly, tossing these chaotic thoughts away.

Reflecting on the past is generally something older folks do, right? I am not old yet!

More importantly, the Journey to the West is not over yet. Currently, at a critical juncture in my battle of wits with the Immortals and Buddhas, there isn't much time for me to sigh and lament the past.

Truly, to consider looking back, at least wait until the Journey to the West is complete, right?

As the saying goes, when reaching the top of the peak, one can see all the other mountains become small!

Without reaching the top of the mountain, how do I have the eligibility to see all other mountains small?

After chatting with Li Shimin for a few words, the two separated.

Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Li Shimin indeed has many matters to attend to personally, while Jiang Liu returned to his own palace, pondering about the details of moving the Ming Sect headquarters to Chang'an City.

Thus, with an uneventful night, when dawn breaks, the grand plaza of the Imperial Palace is bustling, and the grand feast where a hundred kings gather has already begun.

With Li Shimin at the forefront, adding a hundred human clan kings gathering, Jiang Liu squinted slightly, able to see a rainbow light soaring to the sky...

This rainbow light, while invisible to others, Jiang Liu could see it clearly with his eyes.

And he could understand that this represented the destiny of the human clan.

"It's said during the Era of Deification, Dixin desecrated the sage Nvwa in the Nvwa Temple, and in anger, Nvwa wanted to go to Chaoge City to settle accounts with King Zhou but saw Chaoge City's destiny like a rainbow soaring into the sky, blocking her way!"

"Thus Nvwa sought out the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb to seduce King Zhou with beauty, thereby ruining his establishment!"

"Today's destiny like a rainbow may not match King Zhou's Human Emperor era, but nearly all human clan leaders are gathered here, this destiny as if twisted into a single rope!"

Watching the rainbow light soaring into the sky above Chang'an City, Jiang Liu silently murmured in his heart.

"Greetings to Merit Buddha..." Just as Jiang Liu's gaze lingered on the rainbow light, secretly satisfied, suddenly, a general wearing armor approached Jiang Liu.

"So it's General Qin Qiong, what brings you here?" With a smile on his face, Jiang Liu asked as he looked at the man before him.

"Indeed, there is a matter to report to you!"

Standing before Jiang Liu, Qin Qiong was very respectful and said, "According to the list you provided, there should be a hundred kings arriving, but up to this point, only ninety-nine have arrived!"

"One hasn't arrived?" Hearing Qin Qiong's words, Jiang Liu's brows furrowed slightly.

Logically, all kings should have arrived in Chang'an City by last night, right? Today is already the day of the gathering of hundred kings, yet someone hasn't arrived?

"Which king hasn't arrived?" After pondering for a moment, Jiang Liu asked Qin Qiong.

"It's the King of Tiansha Nation in the northernmost part of North Julu State!" After glancing at the list, Qin Qiong answered.

"Northernmost part of North Julu State? It should be the most dangerous place, right? But because it's the most dangerous, a strong escort should have been sent..."

Pondering quietly for a moment, Jiang Liu promptly opened his friend's list to inquire about Gaoyang's situation, who was responsible for escorting the King of Tiansha Nation.

But at this moment, spiritual energy transformed into rain, immortal sound wafting...