Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Lao Qi suddenly felt that his mind was filled with much more information, some about his master's Cave Heaven, and some about the practice of cultivation. This greatly alleviated his sadness from parting, as knowing where his master resided meant he needn't fear not seeing him again in the future.

Seeing that Lao Qi's emotions had calmed down, Lu Yu then left the Western Sea on a cloud mist. He had already delayed a great deal of time in the Western Sea, and if he lingered further, he feared he might not catch up with the monkey escaping his confines.

Calculating the time, Tang Monk estimated that he would soon arrive at Two Realms Mountain. He dared not delay at all and flew directly towards Five Elements Mountain. At these times, Lu Yu especially envied the Monkey's Somersault Cloud—comparing his own skill of riding the clouds to the Somersault Cloud felt like comparing a bicycle to a racing car, the gap was simply too large.

Meanwhile, as Lu Yu sped along, a monk with a compassionate demeanor and handsome appearance also arrived at the base of Five Elements Mountain. He heard the monkey's shouting.

Following the voice, he then saw the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, who had been suppressed under Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years.

For some reason, Tang Monk always felt that the monkey with the face of Thunder Lord, which was so familiar to him, seemed known, yet he couldn't remember why. Nevertheless, he proceeded to ask, "Who are you, and why are you suppressed under this mountain?"

The monkey, looking at the familiar yet strange monk before him, remembered the scene of their first meeting. He couldn't believe that five hundred years had transformed the vibrant Golden Cicada into this appearance.

"I am the Great Sage Equalling Heaven who caused Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. Having committed a grave offense, I was suppressed here by the Buddha Ancestor. Previously, a Bodhisattva Guanyin came bearing the Buddha's decree, heading to the Eastern Land to seek the Scripture Seeker.

I beseeched her to save me, and she urged me to no longer commit violence, to take refuge in Buddhism, and to diligently protect the Scripture Seeker on his pilgrimage to Western Heaven. If I succeed, there will be benefits. Thus, day and night I remain cautious, fearing every moment, simply waiting for my master to rescue me and free me.

I wish to protect you in your quest for the scriptures and become your disciple."

Although the monkey said this, his mind was filled with the scene of meeting Golden Cicada; the karma between this master and disciple had been determined that day, and now it was merely the right time manifesting.

Upon hearing this, Tang Monk was overjoyed. For some reason, since he had met the monkey, his heart was filled with joy, as if he was meeting an old friend from years past. The only similar feeling he had was from meeting a green robe master during his childhood, thus hearing the monkey's offer to be his disciple and escort him to Western Heaven to seek the scriptures filled him with profound joy.

"But I am merely a mortal, how could I possibly save you from your predicament?" Tang Monk couldn't help but express his doubt.

The monkey pointed upward and said, "On top of this mountain, there's a Golden Suppression Charm placed by Buddha Tathagata. If you just go up and lift the charm, I will be free."

Tang Monk looked up and indeed saw a Golden Suppression Charm on Five Elements Mountain, bathed in a brilliant Buddha Light, shining with six radiant characters: Om, Ma, Ni, Pad, Me, Hum. These were truly the sacred words of Buddhism, so he climbed all the way to the summit and approached where the Golden Suppression Charm was located.

He prostrated sincerely and prayed silently in his heart. Suddenly, a gentle breeze rose on the flat ground, gently lifting the charm into the air, and a voice from heaven said, "I am the Custodian of the Great Sage. Today his plight is fulfilled, and we will return to see Tathagata to hand in this seal."

Tang Monk and Bo Qin, who had accompanied him, hurriedly bowed in deep reverence, but the Garuda in the sky could not dare accept Tang Monk's grand gesture and quickly ascended on a cloud mist towards Western Mount Ling.

Yet, the monkey smirked, dismissing the returning of the seal as merely an excuse to avoid his achievement of perfect merit. The seal had long been mere scrap paper; it was only due to fear of Golden Cicada seeking revenge upon attaining full merit that he had conjured an excuse to dodge Tang Monk's bow.

Tang Monk staggered down the steep mountain and, looking at the monkey still trapped under it, asked, "The charm has been lifted; how will you come out?"

The Monkey chuckled and said, "Master, you go further away so I can come out; otherwise, startling you would be my sin."

As Tang Monk complied and moved off into the distance, he soon heard the Monkey's voice saying, "Further, even further."

It was only when the Five Elements Mountain was nearly out of sight that the Monkey's voice faded, followed by an earth-shattering sound. A massive noise spread across the Three Realms, sending the surrounding wild beasts and birds into a frenzy as the ground began to tremble with thunderous roars.

"Open for me!" the Monkey shouted loudly.

The majestic Five Elements Mountain instantly developed cracks that grew larger and larger until, with a loud bang, the whole mountain was split open by the Monkey. Huge boulders fell from the sky like meteors crashing to the earth.

A massive golden silhouette appeared where the Five Elements Mountain once stood. It was a golden Monkey's phantom, clad in Golden Armor, wearing a Golden Crown, and stepping on Cloud Shoes, looking mighty and awe-inspiring. The Monkey declared his liberation in this manner and informed the beings of the Three Realms that the Great Sage Equalling Heaven had returned.

Discerning individuals noticed early on that not only was the Monkey's aura more impressive than before, but the Five Qi in his chest had already transformed into a domain of its own, clearly a sign of the Five Qi to the Origin.

"After years of silence, Five Qi to the Origin, this Monkey's talent is truly astonishing."

"He truly is the main character of this great calamity. Such a fate and enlightenment, yet it was still up to him to seize it."

The great beings of the Three Realms were moved, as they had already noticed that the Monkey had unknowingly reached the Five Qi to the Origin, stepping into the league of the Great Spiritual Practitioners.

Actually, Lu Yu had already unknowingly influenced the Journey to the West. If not for his guidance, allowing the Monkey to step out of his stubborn fixation in time, he would not have reached the Five Qi to the Origin so quickly.

Without giving up on himself, the Monkey indeed practiced furiously during these five hundred years. Even in his days of seeking knowledge, he had never worked so hard, which is why the Monkey's strength had grown far stronger than Lu Yu remembered.
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However, Lu Yu just laughed heartily not far away, realizing the Monkey wasn't showing off but rather, after being imprisoned for so many years, his clothes had long since turned to dust, leaving him no time to cover his body, akin to streaking in front of the powerful beings of the Three Realms.

For the Monkey, who cared much about his face, this was undoubtedly torture, thus he used golden light to obscure his appearance.

Now, Lu Yu only regretted not having a camera from his past life, for capturing a photo of the Monkey at that moment would have been a profoundly meaningful souvenir.

Just then, a tiger, panicked by the noise in the mountains, spotted the laughing Lu Yu. For a beast that had been hungry for many days, Lu Yu was like a piece of walking tender meat, utterly delicious.

The tiger had already positioned itself for the hunt, its tiger eyes firmly fixed on Lu Yu, ready to strike.

Lu Yu laughed and clapped his hands, "The Monkey's tiger-skin skirt is secured."