Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

As Jiang Liu spoke, Guanyin Bodhisattva neither agreed nor refused, but simply gazed steadily at Jiang Liu.

The meaning behind this was self-evident.

"Ahem..." Feeling awkward under the stare of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jiang Liu scratched his head.

Although there was a saying about asking for the moon and settling for less, directly asking for Guanyin Bodhisattva's signature Dharma Treasure, the Jade Clean Bottle, was indeed a bit excessive.

It was like asking Sun Wukong for his Jingu Bang. Could that even be possible?

"Good one, Xuanzang. You repeatedly say you don't want anything from me, yet your first request is for the Jade Clean Bottle. Are you trying to trick me!?" Seeing that Jiang Liu had stopped mid-sentence, Guanyin's expression lightened slightly, but her words were still filled with irritation.

"Amitabha, merciful Bodhisattva..." Hearing Guanyin's words, Jiang Liu composed himself and explained, "Disciple truly doesn't desire any treasures, but if I really said I didn't want anything, I feared it might unjustly tarnish the Bodhisattva's reputation, after all, the moral of the story of Zi Gong redeeming a man is still known to me!"

Upon saying this, Jiang Liu paused to think and then continued, "Actually, whether you give me something or not isn't the main issue. As long as you, Bodhisattva, could casually help the disciple remove the..." from the Nine-Ring Staff.

"Enough..." Not caring whether Jiang Liu's words were sincere or not, upon hearing him mention the Nine-Ring Staff, Guanyin did not allow him to continue and waved her hand, saying, "I understand your intentions. Here, I will grant you a treasure."

As her words fell, Guanyin looked pained as she gazed at the Willow Branch in her Jade Clean Bottle, bit her lip, plucked a leaf from it, and threw it to Jiang Liu.

"Bodhisattva, aren't you being too stingy? Just a leaf to satisfy my master!?" Seeing Guanyin's actions, Sun Wukong complained unfondly.

"You rascal monkey, do you know that my Willow Branch is an Ancient Spirit Root, comparable to Immortal Zhenyuan's Ginseng Fruit Tree and the Empress's Peach Tree? This leaf takes nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine years to grow, incredibly precious..." Guanyin said with a look of utmost distress.

Immortal Zhenyuan's Ginseng Fruit Tree, though it matures once every nine thousand years, it can bear thirty fruits at a time.

The Empress's Peach Tree, with its Purple Pattern Peaches, also flowers and fruits every nine thousand years, but the tree still has one thousand two hundred specimens!

And Guanyin's Willow Branch? Immersed all year in the Divine Water of the Jade Clean Bottle, it takes nine thousand years to grow just one leaf!

For Guanyin Bodhisattva, this was naturally incredibly precious.

Not to mention, Guanyin herself, with three golden hoops, was the type to keep two for herself!

Leaving aside the dialogue between Guanyin Bodhisattva and Sun Wukong for the moment, Jiang Liu's gaze fell on the Willow Leaf in his hand.

As Jiang Liu looked down, the attribute information of this Willow Leaf naturally appeared before him.

Willow Leaf (Consumable): Using this Willow Leaf can achieve any desired purpose, strengthen equipment, enhance skills, facilitate attacks, defense, imprisonment, healing...

"Hiss!" Seeing the attribute information for this Willow Leaf, Jiang Liu inhaled sharply.

Who would have thought that this Willow Leaf was so amazing? It was practically omnipotent!

For example, if he encountered a formidable opponent he couldn't defeat, wanted to kill the opponent, this leaf could act as an attacking tool?

Or say, if faced with a powerful foe he still couldn't beat, and wanted to block an attack, it could also be used as a defensive tool?

It could even be used as a special equipment strengthening stone, a healing tool?

It could even enhance his own skills?

If he wanted to increase his Cultivation Level, eating it should also grant him Experience Points, right?

Omnipotent!
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Looking at this consumable Willow Leaf, Jiang Liu felt that it was truly an omnipotent item.

No wonder Guanyin kept this section of the Willow Branch ever-fresh in her Jade Clean Bottle; he hadn't expected Guanyin to possess such a treasure!

At that moment, Jiang Liu suddenly recalled the original story where Guanyin gave Sun Wukong three life-saving hairs, saying that if Sun encountered difficulties on his journey to the West, these life-saving hairs could adapt to the situation and help him escape danger.

Could it be that these three life-saving hairs in the original story were transformed from Guanyin's three Willow Leaves?

Otherwise, where else could those three hairs in the original story have come from!?

"Alright, Xuanzang, this Willow Leaf can adapt to any difficulty you encounter and solve the problem for you. Consider this a reward from me. There's still much to take care of in the Purple Bamboo Forest, so I shall take my leave!"

Glancing reluctantly at the Willow Leaf in Jiang Liu's hand, Guanyin then averted her gaze, forcing herself not to look any longer, and spoke to Jiang Liu.

"Farewell, Bodhisattva!" Having received his benefit, Jiang Liu naturally had no more to say and bid her farewell.

As Jiang Liu's words fell, Guanyin Bodhisattva swiftly turned around and left.

"Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, you just left a single leaf, isn't that too stingy? Wait, don't go..."

Jiang Liu was playing the good cop, acting as if getting the leaf was enough and he should accept it graciously, but Sun Wukong played the bad cop, still loudly shouting that Guanyin Bodhisattva was very stingy.

However, Guanyin Bodhisattva ignored Sun Wukong's shouting and quickly transformed into Buddhist light, disappearing into the horizon.

"Ah, that Guanyin Bodhisattva, indeed a bit too stingy..." Watching Guanyin disappear so quickly, Sun Wukong still seemed a bit unwilling as he spoke.

"Alright, Wukong, this leaf is indeed a treasure!" Seeing Sun Wukong's demeanor, who truly seemed unwilling, and apparently unaware of the leaf's value, Jiang Liu spoke up.

"Oh? It really is a treasure! What does it do? Master, let me, Old Sun, have a look!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Sun Wukong's eyes lit up with curiosity and he asked Jiang Liu.

"I can't show it to you. This treasure can only be used once!" Jiang Liu shook his head in response to Sun Wukong's request.

This is a consumable item that can be used only once, how can it be shown off?

But, what could this willow leaf be used for? Jiang Liu pondered secretly in his heart for a moment.

Use it to strengthen a certain skill? Or to enhance a piece of equipment? Or maybe even eat it directly to increase Experience Points?

Jiang Liu pondered in his heart, and for a while, he felt none of these options seemed quite right.

After thinking it over, Jiang Liu decided to store the leaf away.

In the original story, Guanyin Bodhisattva told Sun Wukong that in times of peril, it could be used spontaneously to resolve difficulties, so he might as well keep it for now, just in case there's a key moment when it could come in handy!

Only once every ten thousand years could a leaf grow under the immersion of divine water; it was indeed a precious item.

...

"We have seen the Holy Monk! Thank you, Holy Monk, for saving our Chen Family Village!" Following Guanyin Bodhisattva's departure, the villagers who had been kneeling on the ground gradually stood up, loudly thanking Jiang Liu.

"Amitabha, everything done was merely my duty!"

For Jiang Liu, the incident at the Tongtian River naturally brought great rewards, and a smile was on his face.

Not only had he killed King Linggan, but he had also obtained an almost omnipotent willow branch, which naturally made Jiang Liu very happy.

After all, should the time come for a confrontation in Western Heaven with the Buddha Bodhisattvas of Spirit Mountain, the Carp Demon could cause trouble; better to resolve it ahead of time if possible.

"Regardless, Holy Monk, you have bestowed upon our Chen Family Village a great kindness. Please return to our village; we want to host a grand celebration for you, lasting seven days and nights!" the old village head, his beard flecked with gray, said with trembling excitement as he stood up and spoke to Jiang Liu.

The saying goes, 'with age comes wisdom, and with ghosts, cunning,' and this village head, having lived many years, was very clever.

First, since Jiang Liu and his companions had killed King Linggan, this was indeed a great favor that needed proper thanks.

Second, since the Holy Monk could talk so familiarly with the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva who relieves hardships and afflictions, they surely had to host them well.

It was best to let all surrounding demons and ghosts know that Chen Family Village was protected by the Holy Monk!

"Ah!? Celebrate for seven days and nights!? Isn't that a bit much? It's expensive, and besides, I am in a hurry on my Journey to the West!" Upon hearing the old village head's words, Jiang Liu looked a bit troubled as he spoke.

"Oh, that's right, Holy Monk. You are busy with your westward Journey to the West. Then, would a three-day celebration be acceptable? It can't be any shorter!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the old village head spoke reasonably.

"You old man, why aren't you playing by the rules? Changing your tune so quickly!?" Hearing the old village head's words, Jiang Liu's face darkened slightly as he inwardly complained.

Of course, while he complained internally, Jiang Liu spoke very urgently without a hint of hesitation, "Seven days it is then! Respecting the elderly and cherishing the young is a traditional virtue of our people of Great Tang. Although it may delay the great endeavor of our westward journey to obtain the scriptures, since the elder has said seven days, let's celebrate for seven days! A few days' delay won't matter much..."

As the words of Jiang Liu and the old village head fell, Chen Family Village, which was already festively decorated, immediately began to beat drums and gongs, launching into a grand celebration.

A full seven days and nights of revelry made Chen Family Village even busier than during the New Year.

After a whole day of noise, as night fell and it grew deeper, Jiang Liu and his companions finally returned to the accommodation in the villagers' houses and each rested.

However, Jiang Liu did not rush to rest but opened his storage space.

Only now did Jiang Liu have time to check what had burst forth after the execution of King Linggan.