Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Dodging was too late; Jiang Liu could only hastily construct a layer of Vajra Mantra defense for himself, then watched helplessly as the oncoming sword slashed towards him.

A pain shot through his body, and Jiang Liu could feel his health bar immediately drop a bit. Looking towards his attacker, he saw a human cultivator hovering mid-air, a young man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

A flying sword, under his control, moved with a life-like agility.

"Eh? You—you're from the Human Clan!?" Looking at Jiang Liu, the man who had attacked him wore a face of astonishment, exclaiming in surprise.

In his heart, Master Qingxu indeed felt quite amazed. Originally, from a distance, he saw a figure flying through the air, with a pair of sinister-looking black bone wings on its back. Master Qingxu thought it must be a demon, for how could humans have such wings? Or rather, how could humans fly on their own? Usually, they used Controlling Artifacts Flight or directly soared on clouds, right?

But unexpectedly, on closer inspection, it turned out that the one flying in mid-air wasn't any demon but a human.

"Is it really okay for you to strike without asking right from wrong!?"

Watching the flying sword return to its owner's control and slot back into its scabbard, Jiang Liu's expression darkened, and he felt somewhat reluctant to retaliate.

Initially, being attacked, in Jiang Liu's view, was like having experience points delivered to his door. But since it was a misunderstanding and the other party had no intention to continue the attack, Jiang Liu felt it wouldn't be right to persist in a conflict.

And more importantly, if they really fought and his health bar emptied, it wouldn't just result in severe injuries and unconsciousness, but death.

"I'm sorry, Little Monk, I... I was a bit too impulsive..." Hearing Jiang Liu's annoyed words, Master Qingxu showed an expression of embarrassment and guilt as he hurriedly apologized.

"Character panel!" Not saying too much, Jiang Liu's gaze settled on the other person, and immediately in his heart, he silently called out 'character panel'. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

Quickly, a semi-transparent character panel appeared in front of Jiang Liu.

ID: Master Qingxu.

Gender: Male.

Profession: Taoist Priest.

Level: 42.

Equipment: Dragon-Slaying Sword (Perfect Level): Requires level 40, Attack Power +...

After looking at the other party's character panel, Jiang Liu understood this was a cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Realm.

However, to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and already attaining the Cultivation Level of the Divinity Transformation Realm? Indeed, that was exceptional talent.

To know, within the Great Buddha Temple of Great Tang, the monks of the Divinity Transformation Realm were not young.

"Alright then, if it's just a misunderstanding, let's part ways here!" Shaking his head, Jiang Liu had no intention to engage further and turned around, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment!"

However, seeing Jiang Liu turning to leave, Master Qingxu called out to retain him, and while glancing at the Black Sky Bone Wings on his back, he said, "Little Monk, this Dharma Treasure on your back doesn't seem quite fitting for you. I suggest you switch it soon, otherwise, incidents like today won't be scarce!"

"What? Are you, sir, intending to present me with a Dharma Treasure that enables flight?" Hearing Master Qingxu's words, Jiang Liu turned his head sideways and gave him a sharp look as he asked.

"That, I actually don't have such a Dharma Treasure on hand right now. How about I return to my sect to see if there is one?" Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, Master Qingxu looked a bit embarrassed, pondered briefly, and then spoke.

"Are you joking!?" The words of Master Qingxu made Jiang Liu look at him skeptically.

A flying-type Dharma Treasure, casually mentioned, and he was really planning to give one to him? Was that true?

Was this guy a fool? Or was he a tycoon like the Third Prince Nezha, casually handing out precious items as if it was nothing more than a small gesture?

"Oh, I am Master Qingxu, a disciple of Heavenly Sword Observatory. What might I call this young master monk?" Seeing Jiang Liu stunned, Master Qingxu spoke up, introducing himself.

"My name is Xuanzang. I am a monk from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, on my journey to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures!" Hearing Master Qingxu's words, Jiang Liu replied, with no intention to hide anything.

"How about it? Would you, Monk Xuanzang, be willing to visit my Heavenly Sword Observatory?" Hearing Jiang Liu's introduction, Master Qingxu nodded slightly and then extended his invitation.

"Very well, since that is the case, I will not refuse the offer!" After pondering for a short while, Jiang Liu nodded and agreed.

If the other party really intended to give him a flying Dharma Treasure as compensation, Jiang Liu would accept it with a clear conscience.

Of course, if the other party had other ideas or intended to calculate against him, wouldn't that mean Jiang Liu now had a 'Heavenly Sword Observatory' instance at his disposal?

Fighting monsters and leveling up, isn't that delightful!?

No matter what their intentions were, for Jiang Liu, it was all beneficial and harmless. Given the circumstances, and the chance to stall for some time, Jiang Liu naturally had no intention of refusing.

"Alright, let's go then!"

Hearing Jiang Liu's words and accepting the suggestion, Master Qingxu nodded without saying much and turned around, ready to lead the way in front.

"Wait!" However, Jiang Liu spoke up to halt him, saying, "I have several disciples accompanying me. If we are to go, wait for my disciples to join us, will you?"

"How old are you to have your own disciples!?"

Seeing Jiang Liu's face still carrying traces of youthful innocence, looking impossibly young, merely a junior monk, yet having disciples? This brought a look of astonishment to Master Qingxu's face, almost unable to believe his ears.

"Alright, let's head down!" Nodding slightly, Jiang Liu did not intend to explain much. As his voice fell, he directly descended and landed right on the White Dragon Horse's back.

"A demon!? Little Master Xuanzang, when you mention disciples, you mean them!?"

Master Qingxu, having descended by controlling his artifact, looked at Sun Wukong and the others, his complexion inevitably changing slightly.

Being a human monk, to have taken a few evil demons as disciples? No matter how one looked at it, it gave off a very strange feeling.

"That's correct, each of them is my disciple. Let's proceed, Benefactor Qingxu," Jiang Liu said with a nod as he sat atop the White Dragon Horse.

"Then, let's, let's proceed..." Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Master Qingxu's face showed a hint of difficulty, but after a moment of silence, he nevertheless nodded his head.

There was no helping it. Although he was not keen on bringing several demons back to the observatory, since he had extended the invitation, he couldn't very well go back on his word, could he?

"Little Master Xuanzang, do none of your disciples know the art of flight?" However, after waiting for a moment, seeing that Jiang Liu and his company were simply walking on foot, Master Qingxu was slightly taken aback and asked with some surprise.

"All of my disciples are certainly capable of flight, but as a poor monk traveling to Western Heaven to venerate the Buddha and seek the scriptures, it is necessary to take one step at a time all the way to Western Heaven.

Hence, the pace is a bit slow, and cannot compare to flying, which must have caused you trouble, Benefactor Qingxu!" Jiang Liu nodded and explained, his tone remaining modest and courteous as he spoke.

Regret, Master Qingxu really felt some regret at this moment!

Why the impulsive offer after spotting a pair of black wings, and then inadvertently agreeing to provide a flying Dharma treasure?

What now? Not only does he have to bring back a group of evil demons, but also walk step by step the entire way?

The distance which would have taken merely half an hour by controlling artifacts to fly, might now require two or three days on foot.

Putting aside what was going on in Master Qingxu's mind, under his leadership, Jiang Liu and the others slightly changed direction, heading northwest.

"By the way, Benefactor Qingxu, does your Heavenly Sword Observatory also consist of sword cultivators like yourself?" Amidst the walk, Jiang Liu was in no rush to cultivate and instead started to make casual conversation with Master Qingxu beside him.

"Indeed, our Heavenly Sword Observatory primarily cultivates the path of the sword. Our founding master has already joined the Immortal Rank and is in fact the Ancestor Lv Dongbin from the Upper Clarity Eight Immortals!" Responding to Jiang Liu's inquiry, Master Qingxu nodded and then said with a proud expression.

"Eh? Are you a grandson of that lad, Lv Dongbin!?" Overhearing Master Qingxu's words, Zhu Bajie suddenly interjected with surprise.

"You impudent demon, how dare you address my great ancestor by name!?"

Hearing Zhu Bajie's words, referring to Lv Dongbin as a lad, Master Qingxu's eyes widened, clearly displeased, and admonished Zhu Bajie.

"Heh heh heh, you little Taoist priest, quite the temper you have there. Back when your old pig was in heaven, the likes of Lv Dongbin would have to call me 'Marshal' with respect. You little priest, seems to be more accomplished than him!" Zhu Bajie was not angered by the young Taoist priest's scolding; instead, he just smiled and replied.

"Is this a power not described in the Journey to the West? The Taoist lineage of Lv Dongbin? Heavenly Sword Observatory!?" Without paying attention to the conversation between Master Qingxu and Zhu Bajie, Jiang Liu's thoughts were stirring quietly to himself.

This so-called Heavenly Sword Observatory wasn't mentioned at all in the original story.

"By the way, Benefactor Qingxu, why wander around instead of diligently cultivating in the Taoist temple? Is there something the matter?" With a seemingly casual demeanor, Jiang Liu asked Master Qingxu.

"Well, indeed something has happened!" On hearing this, Master Qingxu readily nodded with a candid appearance.

"Some five hundred li to the west, there lies Treasure Elephant Country. I've heard that the Princess of Treasure Elephant Country was abducted by a demon and has been missing for many years. Therefore, an Imperial List was issued to search and rescue the Princess. I was on my way to have a look. Who knew that I would encounter you mid-air!"

Nodding, Master Qingxu did not hide anything and told Jiang Liu his business frankly.

Five hundred li away? Treasure Elephant Country!?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu became slightly moved: "It seems the plot with the Yellow-Robed Monster is about to start, isn't it!?"