txolops Chapter 97 Baoxiang Kingdom - Jiang Liuer's Predicament in Wave Moon Cave
Chapter 97 Baoxiang Kingdom - Jiang Liuer's Predicament in Wave Moon Cave
Upon hearing this, the lesser demons replied "Yes, sir," and immediately rushed forward.
When Tang Sanzang saw this, he was terrified, his legs went weak and his feet went numb. He wanted to run, but he couldn't move his legs.
They were carried directly into the cave by those lesser demons.
A dragon stranded in shallow water is mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs.
Even though good things often come with many obstacles, who is like Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West?
The lesser demons, having captured Tang Sanzang, happily reported, "Your Majesty, we've brought the monk in!"
The old demon stole a glance and saw that Tang Sanzang was indeed a fine monk. He thought to himself, "This kind of fine monk must be someone from above, not someone to be trifled with. If I don't show him my power, how will he submit?"
Then he shouted, "Bring that monk in!"
The demons replied, "Yes!" and then pushed Sanzang inside.
This is a situation where one has to bow one's head when under a low eave!
Sanzang had no choice but to clasp his hands together in greeting. The demon asked, "Where are you, monk? Where do you come from? Where are you going? Explain yourself quickly!"
Tripitaka said, "I am a monk from the Tang Dynasty. I was ordered by the Emperor of the Great Tang to travel to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures. I passed by your mountain and came to pay my respects at the foot of the pagoda. I did not expect to disturb your majesty. I beg your forgiveness. I will return to the East with the scriptures I obtained from the West and my name will be forever remembered."
Upon hearing this, the demon chuckled loudly, "I said you were from a superior land, and it really is you. I was just about to eat you, but you've come at just the right time! Otherwise, would I have let you go?"
You are meant to be my prey, so naturally I'm bound to come running; I can't let you go, and I can't escape you!
So he ordered the little demon, "Take that monk away and tie him up!"
Sure enough, the lesser demons swarmed forward, bound the elder with ropes and tied him to the soul-fixing stake.
The demon, brandishing his knife, asked again, "Monk, are you traveling alone? How dare you journey to the Western Paradise alone?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, I have two disciples, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who are currently begging for alms in the pine forest. They also have a load of luggage and a white horse, which are also stored in the pine forest."
The demon was overjoyed: "What a stroke of luck! You, your two disciples, and that horse—just enough for us to have a meal!"
The little demons hurriedly said they would go and capture them, but the demon waved his hand: "No need to go out, just close the front door tightly. When they return from begging for alms, they will surely look for their master, and if they can't find him, they will naturally come here. Business that comes to our door is the easiest to do; we will just wait for them to walk into our trap."
Let's not even talk about Tang Sanzang's despair and being trapped in the monster's cave.
Meanwhile, Li Fa was resting at Wu Cheng Manor when suddenly his eyes lit up; the Merit Record had been updated.
[Target for execution: Yellow Robe Monster (originally Kui Mulang of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, who escaped to the mortal realm and, due to divine karma, has harmed countless people.)]
[Karma Assessment: Grade B, Upper]
Success rate of hunt: 60%
Killing it will yield:
[Optional Reward 1: Fifteen Jiazi of Mana from the "Creating Heaven and Earth Technique"]
[Optional Reward Two: Size of the Ruyi (can resemble the heavens and the earth, and can also be concealed)]
[Optional Reward 3: Foundation Evolution (once)]
After reading it, Li Fa felt both delighted and solemn.
To my surprise, the mission finally arrived, and the rewards were far more generous than ever before!
The power of fifteen Jiazi (a unit of time) is the result of nine hundred years of arduous cultivation! If I could obtain it, my cultivation would leap to a higher level.
The size of the Ruyi scepter further captivated him.
How could he not know this supernatural power? It could manifest as heaven and earth, transforming into a body ten thousand feet tall, standing tall between heaven and earth; it could also conceal itself, shrinking to the size of a mustard seed, hiding among the grass. When
When Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, he relied on this supernatural power to fight Erlang Shen to a standstill.
As for the evolution of the foundation...
Li Fa stared at those four words, lost in thought.
Although he has traveled through time and now relies on the treasure of the Merit Record, his foundation is still that of a mortal.
Although he possesses many supernatural abilities such as indestructibility, the Five Elements Escape Technique, and mastery of the Five Thunders, these are all external additions, not his own inherent foundation.
What does it mean when the foundation evolves once?
Is it a complete transformation? Is it a rebuilding of the foundation of one's Dao? Or... an evolution of one's innate origin?
he does not know.
But it was precisely because he didn't know that he hesitated even more.
The power of the Fifteen Jiazi (a Chinese sexagenary cycle) is a real and tangible benefit.
The ability to change size at will is a wondrous and magical technique; mastering it will become one's own skill.
The evolution of the foundation... remains an unknown.
Moreover, the catalog requires the elimination of the Yellow Robe Monster.
But the Yellow Robe Monster is one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Killing him might attract the attention of the Heavenly Court, which is another question.
He pondered for a long time, finding it difficult to make a decision.
As he was lost in thought, Baili Bo entered from outside. Seeing him staring blankly into space, he asked in surprise, "Brother, why are you standing here in a daze? Is something troubling you?"
Li Fa snapped out of his reverie, waved his hand, and said, "I'm not worried, I was just thinking about some things."
Baili Bo leaned closer and whispered, "Brother, I was wandering around town just now and heard the women say that Lady Yu sends a 'tribute' to Wanzishan every month. Judging by the dates, it should be the day to send the tribute in the next couple of days."
Li Fa's heart skipped a beat: "Offerings? What kind of offerings?"
Baili retorted, "It is that 'young pig.' Every month, the Jade Lady would select twenty young children and send them to the Wave Moon Cave, saying that they were for the Yellow Robe Ancestor to use for practicing his skills."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa's gaze sharpened.
Twenty lives lost, once a month. How many innocent people must have died tragically during the thirteen years that the Yellow-Robed Monster has been in the mortal realm?
How can we get rid of the Yellow Robe Monster while minimizing the risk of exposing ourselves and Baili Bo?
After much thought, he suddenly came up with a supernatural power.
Seven Arrows with Nailhead.
It can kill enemies thousands of miles away, and even if the Heavenly Court investigates it later, it will only find that the Heavenly Secrets are obscured.
Perfect for this!
While Li Fa was deep in thought, Baili Bo, noticing his changing expression, asked, "Brother, you said you wanted to fight that yellow-robed monster, is that true?"
Li Fa came to his senses and nodded, saying, "Of course it's true. This demon has harmed living beings and its crimes are unforgivable. This scourge must be eliminated to appease the souls of the dead."
Baili Bo asked happily, "Then when shall we make our move?"
Li Fa said, "No rush. That Kui Mulang is a star spirit descended to earth, possessing great supernatural powers, and he also has the exquisite inner core of the relic in his hand. Fighting him head-on is not the best strategy."
Baili retorted, "Then, in your opinion, elder brother, what should be done?"
Li Fa said, "I have a secret technique called the Seven Arrows of Nailhead. It is an ancient curse technique that can kill people from a thousand miles away and destroy enemies invisibly. It can take the enemy's life without losing a single soldier."
Baili Bo exclaimed in astonishment, "Such supernatural power exists?!"
Li Fa said, "That's right. Back when King Wu was conquering King Zhou, this technique was used to kill even a Great Luo Golden Immortal. However, there are some taboos associated with using this supernatural power."
Baili Bo asked, "What taboo?"
Li Fa said, "Those who are not extremely wicked and evil should not be employed lightly."
Upon hearing this, Baili Bo immediately laughed and said, "That monster has been causing trouble in the mortal realm for a long time, which is just what we need."
Li Fa said, "Indeed, we need a single hair from him before we can perform the ritual. After he has paid homage for twenty-one days, we will ensure his death and the dissipation of his spiritual energy."
Baili retorted, "Then what you mean, brother, is..."
Li Fa smiled slightly: "Since they send offerings every month, let's take advantage of these offerings to make a trip to Wave Moon Cave."
Upon hearing this, Baili Bo nodded repeatedly, beaming with joy, and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Brilliant! This is what you call turning the tables!"
The two then changed their appearance, and Li Fa then ordered Baili Bo to bring twenty stones from the mountain. They made hand gestures and chanted incantations, and the stones transformed into twenty children.
The two of them transformed into two jade maidens under the Jade Lady's command, and borrowed two carriages from Old Man Wu, each carrying ten children, and left Wu Family Village, heading towards Wanzishan.