Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Looking at the latest calamity that appeared, the Golden Hair Lion slowly closed the Calamity Book in his hand, a deep smile spreading across his face.

Remember the time when Bodhisattva Guanyin, then Maitreya Buddha, and even Vidyaraja Kongxuan personally got involved? They were all incredibly busy because of the eighty-one calamities of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, weren't they?

In the end, every single one of them ended up with a miserable fate.

Guanyin fell into demon possession, Maitreya Buddha met his demise, and even Kongxuan, who was hailed as the strongest quasi-saint, almost died and is now in seclusion recovering...

But when it comes to me? Except for the beginning, when I followed the instructions of Xuanzang—no, the Sandalwood Merit Buddha—and acted out a few plays, the recent few calamities I've completely watched as a bystander.

There wasn't anything I needed to do; each calamity resolved itself one by one.

What difference does it make if Maitreya Buddha and Vidyaraja Kongxuan were strong? The troubles they struggled with, I just needed to sit back and quietly observe.

This kind of feeling naturally brought great comfort to the heart of the Golden Hair Lion.

If I were to easily finish the final calamity, with my contributions, when the Great Thunder Monastery rewards accomplishments, perhaps I might even earn the fruit position of Buddha?

By then, I would truly be someone of prominence!

"Already sixty-three calamities have passed; counting this, only eighteen are left before it ends? Hmm, probably won't take more than a few years, right?" Putting away the Calamity Book, the Golden Hair Lion laid back, comfortably resting in a leisurely manner.

Meanwhile, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong continued on their westward journey.

During the day, they completed instances, and at night, they awakened skills, these days passed rather mundanely.

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, seven or eight days went by.

During these days, nothing noteworthy happened on the road.

With the current Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team, naturally, there were no demons or ghosts foolish enough to cause them trouble.

Demons with low cultivation were just delivering experience points for free, while those with high cultivation understood the power of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team, and naturally would not come to seek death.

Of course, during these uneventful days, Jiang Liu was focusing his attention on the situation in the Heavenly Court.

According to news from Nezha, recently the Jade Emperor's means have been impressive; despite losing the God-Beating Whip, he managed to subdue quite a few Immortal Officials and Divine Generals who originally had turbulent thoughts.

"Hmm, having ruled over the Three Realms for so long, with quasi-saint strength, if given more time, he can likely stabilize the turbulent waves of the Heavenly Court, don't you think?" Understanding the present state of the Heavenly Court, Jiang Liu secretly nodded.

Naturally, Jiang Liu did not want to give the Jade Emperor time to settle those turbulent waves.

Hence, he secretly pondered how to cause trouble for the Jade Emperor, at least to hinder him.

While Jiang Liu was contemplating how to trouble the Jade Emperor, suddenly, he received news.

The Empress's birthday was approaching, and the Heavenly Court had started widespread invitations for prominent immortals and Buddhas to prepare for the Peach Banquet.

The Peach Banquet was originally an event to curry favor, organized by the Jade Emperor and Empress. Given the current circumstances, this Peach Banquet's scale is said to be more lively and dignified than before.

"Oh? The Peach Banquet, huh? This is truly a rare opportunity!" Receiving this news, Jiang Liu's eyes subtly glimmered.

The Jade Emperor and Empress want to use this Peach Banquet to win favor, but if I'm able to disrupt it, wouldn't that be quite a slap in the face for them?

Not only would they fail to win favor, they might even be greatly embarrassed!

Of course, going to the Peach Banquet to cause trouble is one thing, but having legitimate reasoning is another.

"Master, what have you been thinking about lately? You look absent-minded." Recently, as Jiang Liu contemplated disrupting the Peach Banquet, he often became distracted, leading Sun Wukong to ask Jiang Liu curiously.

At the same time, Pig Bajie and the others also turned their curious gaze toward Jiang Liu.

Nothing's happened recently, so what's Master's mind preoccupied with?

"Wukong, I heard the Empress's Peach Banquet is about to be held!" Jiang Liu glanced at Sun Wukong, and replied with a subtle smile.

"Oh? The Peach Banquet!?" Hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes lit up, his mind naturally recalling the scene of himself indulging at the Peach Banquet five hundred years ago.

Just thinking about it made Sun Wukong salivate, almost licking his lips.

"Forget it, this matter doesn't concern us..."

After a moment of silence, Sun Wukong shook his head, saying somewhat helplessly: "Now I belong to the Buddhist Sect, and we're on the Journey to the West for Scriptures, the Jade Emperor old man won't invite us to eat peaches!"

"Alas, what a pity! It's been a long time since I, Old Pig, attended the Peach Banquet!" Zhu Bajie next to him also shook his head, saying this with a look of infinite regret.

"Peach Banquet? I was just watching from the sidelines..." Sha Wujing thought silently upon hearing this.

At such a high-level feast, as the General Juanlian beside the Jade Emperor, Sha Wujing naturally wasn't qualified to attend.

"Hey? Master, why did you suddenly bring up the Peach Banquet?" At this point, Sun Wukong turned his head in surprise and asked Jiang Liu.

"I was thinking, how can we go and stir up trouble at the Peach Banquet, preferably completely ruin it..." Facing Sun Wukong's inquiry, Jiang Liu directly answered without holding back.

These words stunned Sun Wukong and the others, and they looked at each other.

Obviously, they didn't expect their master to say such a thing.

"Master, you should ask Monkey Brother about that..."

Zhu Bajie was the first to speak, saying: "Back when I was Marshal Tianpeng, I attended the Peach Banquet. If you want to know what to watch out for, I can tell you, but if you want to know how to create chaos, I have no experience at all!"

At the end of his words, Zhu Bajie's gaze was fixed on Sun Wukong, his meaning was self-evident.

Not only Zhu Bajie, but also Sha Wujing and the White Dragon Horse were looking at Sun Wukong at this moment.

"Master..."

Under everyone's expectations, Sun Wukong spoke up, saying: "To speak of creating chaos at the Peach Banquet, I, Old Sun, indeed have some experience, but we don't have a proper reason now!"

Yes, before doing anything, you always need a justified reason, right?

Now, going to cause trouble at the Peach Banquet, without a suitable reason, we can't just go there simply to cause trouble, can we?

"Reason? Isn't there a ready reason?" Jiang Liu's lips curled up slightly as he spoke.

"Master, what do you mean?" Seeing Jiang Liu's confident look, Sun Wukong paused slightly.

"Have you forgotten? What's my identity now? Sandalwood Merit Buddha, logically, I should be qualified to attend the Peach Banquet, right?" Jiang Liu asked, looking at Zhu Bajie.

"With Master's current Buddha status, attending the Peach Banquet is indeed qualified!" Hearing this, Zhu Bajie nodded.

The status of Buddha along with the cultivation level of a Daluo Golden Immortal, naturally, he should go.

"Furthermore..."

Speaking here, Jiang Liu looked at Sun Wukong, saying: "Although Wukong has now entered the Buddhist Sect, his title of Great Sage Equalling Heaven has never been invalidated! With Wukong's current reputation and cultivation, he should logically also have the qualifications to attend the Peach Banquet, right?"

"As long as one is at the cultivation level of a Daluo Golden Immortal and among Immortals and Buddhas, logically, they should all have the qualifications to attend the Peach Banquet!" Zhu Bajie continued nodding.

That's the truth, powerful beings at the level of Daluo Golden Immortals, in the combined forces of Immortals and Buddhas, there are only a few dozens, each being a renowned existence, naturally all qualified to attend the Peach Banquet.

"Looking at it this way, the five members of our Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team should all now have the qualifications to attend the Peach Banquet. But if Empress doesn't invite us, isn't this looking down on us?" With a smile on his face, Jiang Liu continued.

"Hmph, indeed, if all the Immortals and Buddhas, the Great Luo Golden Immortals can attend, but the five of us master and disciples are not invited, then I, Old Sun, must go ask the Jade Emperor Old Man for an explanation!" Listening to Jiang Liu's prompting words, Sun Wukong nodded and said seriously.

"This..." Listening to Jiang Liu's words, Zhu Bajie showed a bit of hesitation in his expression.

Logically speaking, when Empress convenes the Peach Banquet, although Daluo Golden Immortals typically get invited, similarly, who Empress invites or doesn't invite should be entirely up to Empress, right?

To demand an explanation for not being invited? This action seems unjustified!

However, such matters always have many sides to them.

Back then, why did Monkey Brother wreak havoc at the Peach Banquet? Wasn't it because he wasn't invited, which made him furious?

"Very well, if that's the case, then let's wait, if we're invited, we'll find an excuse to make trouble at the Peach Banquet, if we're not invited, we'll just go uninvited!"

After having a good discussion with the disciples, Jiang Liu spoke to set the tone for the matter.

With the matter settled, Jiang Liu and the others began watching the Heavenly Court's moves.

In these days, the Heavenly Court was indeed preparing for the Peach Banquet, many people familiar to Jiang Liu received invitations.

For example, Erlang God, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, even Golden Hair Lion was invited because of his role managing the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team.

However, Jiang Liu and his party did not receive any invitation at all...