Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Chang'an City, Imperial Palace.

Li Shimin was sitting quietly on his throne. Though the locust plague had finally been resolved, a matter of great joy, Li Shimin couldn't feel happy. His mind kept dwelling on the scene of Xuanzang leaving with Gaoyang.

"Alas..." After a long while, Li Shimin sighed deeply in his heart and shook his head silently.

To the Great Tang, he might be a qualified Emperor, but to Gaoyang, perhaps he wasn't a qualified father?

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Buddha has manifested at the Great Buddha Temple!" Just as Li Shimin was alone, wallowing in his guilt, suddenly, a eunuch hurried in and shouted loudly to him.

Immortals and Buddhas were always mysterious and revered, and deities like the Tathagata and the Great Jade Emperor were highly exalted. Normally, even the descent of an immortal was enough to cause a sensation, let alone the Tathagata.

Hearing this, Li Shimin abruptly stood up and rushed out of the hall.

Indeed, even in the Imperial Palace, and even under the clear, broad daylight, one could see the Buddhist Light descending from the Western Heaven and falling on the Great Buddha Temple, casting otherworldly scenes of ethereal sounds and heavenly flowers scattering, giving an impression of solemnity and peace.

Witnessing the phenomena at the Great Buddha Temple, an alarmed expression appeared on Li Shimin's face. He immediately ordered someone to hurry to the Great Buddha Temple to investigate.
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Upon receiving the Emperor's command, naturally a eunuch quickly made his way to the Great Buddha Temple.

"Could it be because of Jiang Liu?" As he gazed at the sight of the Great Buddha Temple, Li Shimin suddenly remembered the figure of Jiang Liu leaving with Gaoyang. Wasn't it in the direction of the Great Buddha Temple?

To cause such phenomena, just like when he had lit twelve incense scars, who exactly was this Jiang Liu!

Regarding the life and death of Gaoyang, Li Shimin had initially held no hope at all, not just from the methods of the mortal world, but even his prayers as Emperor to the deities above had garnered no response.

But now, seeing this scene, hope, as well as unease, began to stir in Li Shimin's heart.

Soon, the heavenly phenomena disappeared. After waiting for a moment, the person who had gone to investigate returned, running and kneeling in front of Li Shimin.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Xuanzang prostrated before the Buddha and requested the manifestation of the Tathagata, who responded to Master Xuanzang's prayers and has taken away Princess Gaoyang, saying she is to follow Guanyin Bodhisattva in her cultivation," the eunuch kneeling before Li Shimin paused slightly while speaking.

"What else is there?" Seeing the eunuch stammering, Li Shimin demanded sternly.

Alarmed by Li Shimin's displeasure, the eunuch quickly kowtowed and said, "Also, the Tathagata himself declared that Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang may meet again if fate allows."

"...", Li Shimin's expression shifted, understanding the implication of those words.

Gaoyang being personally saved by the Tathagata was certainly a joyful event, and though he was reluctant to let her go, Li Shimin felt happy that she could practice cultivation with Guanyin.

But the Tathagata saying Master Xuanzang might meet Gaoyang again in the future suggested that he was destined to go to Western Spirit Mountain!

It would have been one thing for an ordinary person to say this, but coming from the Tathagata himself, these words carried much more weight.

Moreover, Master Xuanzang was the first monk to receive twelve incense scars in all ages.

"Summon the Imperial Brother to the palace, confer upon him the titles of Holy Monk of Great Tang and State Preceptor, and make known to all under heaven!" Li Shimin spoke after a moment of silence.

The title of Holy Monk was highly revered. The title of Saint Monk Longhai, spontaneously called out by the people of the Great Tang, was more than deserved by him as the head of the Great Buddha Temple and the foremost monk of the Great Tang.

However, no matter how deserved, this title had not been formally bestowed by Li Shimin, the Emperor of Tang, and hence did not hold an official status.

But today, Li Shimin decided to formalize his recognition by conferring upon Jiang Liu, on top of admitting him as the Imperial Brother, the titles of Holy Monk of Great Tang and the position of State Preceptor, the significance of which was self-evident.

"As you command! However, Your Majesty, after the Holy Monk sought the Buddha's help to save the Princess, he fell into an exhausted sleep, and it is unknown how long he will sleep," said Li Shimin, stirring concern. Yet, the eunuch showed no objection and promptly nodded, then reminded him.

"Then you should go and notify the Great Buddha Temple to let the Holy Monk come to the Imperial Palace to receive his title as soon as he awakens," Li Shimin said after a moment's thought.

"Understood," said the young eunuch, unable to conceal his astonishment.

This was indeed a great honor. It was the first time His Majesty had decided to award someone and was personally waiting for the individual to wake up before proceeding.

...

Meanwhile, at the Great Buddha Temple, Jiang Liu, who had slept for a day and a night, finally woke up fully refreshed and with a clear goal concerning his journey to the West.

The required experience points to level up were increasing, and which among the immortals and buddhas had not cultivated for thousands, if not tens of thousands of years? How could he hope to match them within about twenty years?

Even with the aid of a game system, it was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

However, no matter how challenging, he must strive in his cultivation for self-preservation and not slacken in the slightest.

Having made up his mind, Jiang Liu opened the storage space before him and began putting on his equipment one piece at a time.

Vidyaraja Crown, Golden Cicada Buddha Robe, Sandalwood Buddha Beads...

Indeed, the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe was equipment that could only be worn at level 15. Having secluded himself with Princess Gaoyang in a small mountain village for about two months and occasionally cultivating with the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique, Jiang Liu had long advanced to level 15.

"The journey to the West has not officially begun, and while there's still a bit of time, I should go to the Demon-Suppressing Hall to significantly enhance my strength!" he mused.

With an unprecedented intense desire to improve his strength, Jiang Liu, now fully equipped, prepared to leave for the Demon-Suppressing Hall to level up through combat.

However, just as he had pushed open the door of the Zen Room, there were already disciples of the Great Buddha Temple waiting outside.

"Master Xuanzang, the Emperor of Tang has decreed that once you wake up, you are to come to the Imperial Palace to accept the appointment as State Preceptor, an honor of the Holy Monk," said the monk with an adoring gaze as he spoke to Jiang Liu.

Hearing this, Jiang Liu pondered for a moment. Although he was indifferent to the so-called position of State Preceptor and the honor of the Holy Monk, adding maybe not even 100 experience points to his significance, he still felt obliged to honor Emperor Li Shimin's dignity.

Thinking it over, Jiang Liu nodded and headed out of the Great Buddha Temple.

"Master Xuanzang, wait! The Abbot Longhai has ordered that if you are going out, you should use his Buddhist Palanquin…" the monk called out, seeing Jiang Liu walking away.

"No need, I will be quick," Jiang Liu answered without looking back.

Indeed, from now on, every minute and second of his time was precious. How could he afford to waste it with formalities?

Dressed in the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe and wearing the Vidyaraja Crown, because the twelve Scar of Precepts obscured his head, he walked swiftly without attracting much attention as he quickly made his way toward the Imperial Palace.

Yet, as he was halfway there, Jiang Liu suddenly paused in his steps.

Inside Chang'an City, not far away, there was a fortune-telling stall, where an old Taoist sat quietly. His appearance slightly resembled Yuan Tiangang.

"Could it be? Is he..." Jiang Liu thought, seeing the Taoist's appearance.

Just then, the previously clear sky darkened as if it was about to rain at any moment.

Soon after, a man in his forties, with a remarkable presence, walked directly into the fortune-telling stall.