Zhu Bajie looked at Sun Wukong and whispered, "Brother Monkey, we can only resort to the last method now."
"What method?"
"Take out your Token and let him open his eyes!"
Sun Wukong's eyes lit up, that's right! I, Old Sun, am now a monkey of status and background as well. He reached forward and grabbed a Token from the void, clutching it in his hand. On the front of the gold Token were two big characters, 'Judicial,' below which was a pattern of crossed swords and sabers. The back also held two big characters, 'Gouchen.'
The Land god's eyes changed, he exclaimed in shock: "Judicial Celestial!" He hurriedly prostrated: "I pay my respects to the Judicial Celestial. I beg the Judicial Celestial's forgiveness."
Sun Wukong sneered coldly, "Land old man, can you speak now?"
The Land god lifted his head, his face sporting a flattering smile: "Great Saint, if you had said you were the Judicial Celestial earlier!
Now Great Saint, just ask away. I shall spare no detail, cooperating with the Judicial Celestial to administer justice is every divine being's responsibility and duty."
Sun Wukong put away the Token and asked: "What is the background of that villain? Where has he taken my Master?"
The Land god did not hesitate at all and directly betrayed Jiang Ziya: "Great Saint, this person is named Jiang Ziya, who once was the Prime Minister of the Zhou Dynasty, and now resides in seclusion in Kunlun Mountain, having established a Kunlun Sect..."
He really had been a Prime Minister once, Sun Wukong scratched his ears and cheeks, inquiring: "Where has he taken the little Monk?"
"The humble god only knows they headed North; where exactly they went I do not know, I beg the Great Saint's forgiveness!"
Sun Wukong immediately somersaulted up into the sky, turning into a streak of light headed North.
Zhu Bajie hastily said: "Sha junior brother, you watch over the horses and luggage; I'll go help the senior brother!"
"Okay~" Sha Wujing answered loudly.
Zhu Bajie also riding on a cloud, called out loudly, "Brother Monkey, wait for me!"
Zhu Bajie chased Northward, feeling anxious in his heart, hoping Sun Monkey wouldn't impulsively kill Jiang Ziya; that would make things serious.
...
When Tang Sanzang slowly came to his senses, he was inside a wooden house, lying on a bamboo bed, feeling somewhat dizzy.
Tang Sanzang propped himself up and stood, touching his forehead, recalling the events preceding, he spoke to himself: "Has my tolerance for alcohol decreased? How could I black out after just one cup?"
He looked around, hey~ this isn't the high-class room I booked! So simple and crude, unfit for human living. How could the innkeeper leave me in such a place?!
Tang Sanzang quickly got up and straightened his clothes, striding out with righteous indignation to find the innkeeper to argue his case. He opened the door, and the sight was dim.
Outside there was a small plaza with no sky visible, the ceiling made of rocks and dirt, and above the rocks were embedded Bright Pearls that emitted a faint glow, illuminating the space for hundreds of meters around, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
Tang Sanzang stopped in his tracks, looking around in panic: Where... where is this place? An ominous sensation rose in his heart.
"Hehe~ Saint Monk, you're awake!"
Jiang Ziya approached slowly from the distance, holding a Big Cauldron in his hands, with intricate patterns engraved upon the great hall's surface.
Tang Sanzang's heart raced, a terrifying scene appearing in his mind: the Big Cauldron sitting on the ground, flames raging below, chunks of meat and broth bubbling inside.
Tang Sanzang stumbled back two steps, forcing a smile and saying, "I, this Monk, have seen the elder. After getting drunk last night, I somehow ended up here, please kindly send me back.
If it's too late, my Senior Disciple, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong, Junior Brother, Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy Zhu Bajie, and Third Disciple, General Juanlian Sha Wujing, will start to worry."
Jiang Ziya stroked his beard, laughing heartily: "Saint Monk, don't be afraid, they won't find this place." With a casual toss, the Big Cauldron suddenly flew out and with a thunderous sound landed on the ground.
Tang Sanzang hurriedly grabbed the door and with a bang, closed the door shut, propping it with all his might, while a layer of cold sweat formed on his forehead. He looked up in terror and shouted loudly, "Wukong, come save me! Your Master is down here!"
A sudden forceful surge of energy came from behind.
"Ah~" Tang Sanzang screamed in fright, was flung into the room, and flailed in the air like a large toad.
He crashed onto the wooden bed, groaning as he slowly rolled over on the bed.
Jiang Ziya appeared in front of the door, lifted and extended a leg in mid-air as if it was nothing, then retracted his foot with a smile and said, "Saint Monk, I have a favor to ask of you."
Tang Sanzang groaned and said with a pained expression, "Can I refuse?"
"That won't do!"
Jiang Ziya reached out and grabbed Tang Sanzang, who immediately flew back into Jiang Ziya's grasp.
Jiang Ziya said with a smile, "Saint Monk, Buddhist Disciples should take joy in helping others, don't you agree? Besides, I have no ill intent towards you."
Tang Sanzang replied with a miserable look, "Old sir~ One should be honest, your barely missing writing 'ill intent' all over your face."
Jiang Ziya touched his own face, puzzled, "Is it that obvious?" He then picked up Tang Sanzang and walked outside.
Tang Sanzang hastily called out, "Old sir, I have neither grudge nor enmity against you, why would you harm me? If you're looking for wealth, I can give you money—enough to rival the wealth of nations?"
"Old man that I am~ I have no interest in wealth!"
Tang Sanzang quickly said, "My three disciples possess great Divine Skills and also have connections in the Underworld, I can arrange for them to secure you a favorable next life."
"Hehe~ you're quite an amusing monk, but I do not seek the next life, just this one."
Jiang Ziya arrived next to a Big Cauldron, casually threw him in, and Tang Sanzang screamed as he flew into the cauldron.
Jiang Ziya clapped his hands and turned to leave.
Tang Sanzang popped his head out from the cauldron, somewhat panicky he said, "Old sir! I'm a complete stranger to you, with no grudges or enmity, and you don't seem to be a violent thief, why would you make things difficult for me?!"
Jiang Ziya stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said, "Do you really want to know?"
Tang Sanzang nodded repeatedly, desiring even in death to be an enlightened ghost.
"You are the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada of the Spiritual Mountain, ancient legends say that the Golden Cicada King is the King of Ten Thousand Gu, fierce and overwhelming, yet extremely delicious in taste, very much loved by the Saints.
If anyone could find a piece of Golden Cicada's flesh and offer it as a sacrifice to the Saints, they would receive the Saint's blessings, be immortal, and never perish."
Tang Sanzang's eyes widened, @#&*~which bastard wants to harm me?
He shivered with fear and said, "Old sir, that's not true! You wouldn't really think of cooking me up and offering me to some Saint just because of a lie, would you?"
"Ha ha~ Of course not."
Tang Sanzang let out a slight sigh of relief.
"You're Tang Sanzang, not the Golden Cicada."
Jiang Ziya looked around, content, and said, "The Golden Cicada is a creature of the earth, and this place is where the Earth Veins converge. Here, I can use the essence of the earth to return you to your original form and restore your Golden Cicada Body.
Don't worry, it won't hurt!"
He flipped his hand, and a cauldron lid flew up from the side. Tang Sanzang, terrified, immediately ducked his head, clang~ the lid landed on the cauldron.
Jiang Ziya walked to a distant cushion, floated up gently and descended, sat cross-legged on the cushion, closed his eyes, and formed a Seal with his hands.
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