Chapter 87: Rewards Settlement
However, Ao Tu thanked Lao Jun for the grace of salvation.
It turned out that earlier, while Ao Tu was comprehending the Purple Gold Red Gourd and verifying his own bloodline, he unfortunately got lost in the innate laws of the Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, his mind and spirit depleted, and he fainted on the spot.
Fortunately, the Purple Gold Red Gourd spat out a breath of innate chaos qi, restoring Ao Tu’s lost mind and spirit, allowing him to wake up.
Therefore, Ao Tu came today to express his thanks.
Lao Jun smiled and said, “No! No! It was not I who acted, but the gourd’s spirit protecting its master.”
Lao Jun raised his hand, taking the Purple Gold Red Gourd over, weighed it, and said:
“This gourd was originally picked by me from a celestial vine when heaven and earth first split apart. I have always used it as a container for pills, but I did not expect it to recognize you as its master. So, I give it to you. However, do not use it to show off and seek victory; treat it only as a protective treasure.”
Lao Jun tossed the gourd over, and Ao Tu hurriedly caught it, overjoyed, saying:
“Thank you, Dao Ancestor!”
He bowed deeply, but Lao Jun’s figure was already gone from before him.
Ao Tu held the Purple Gold Red Gourd, delighted beyond measure. This was his first innate spiritual treasure, with boundless power.
Although Lao Jun had instructed him not to use this gourd to show off and seek victory, no matter what, he now had one more trump card.
Guanyin Bodhisattva had cultivated for so many years and still did not have a single innate spiritual treasure!
On the other side.
After Golden Horn and Silver Horn were taken away by Lao Jun, Wukong went down to rescue the Master.
Li Tianwang was eager to find the Precious Pagoda.
Li Tianwang rushed into the cave, turning Lotus Cave upside down, and finally found the Precious Pagoda, letting out a big sigh of relief.
At the same time, Wukong rescued the Master, his junior brother Nezha, and a group of heavenly generals.
Afterward, Li Tianwang ordered the heavenly soldiers and generals to capture the group of monsters in the cave, preparing to annihilate them with heavenly thunder.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Heavenly King, hold off for now.”
Seeing it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, Li Tianwang did not dare to be disrespectful and said, “What instructions does the Bodhisattva have?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “This place is rarely visited by people. These little demons have cultivated with difficulty. Let them live.”
Li Tianwang said, “This… might not conform to the heavenly rules.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Heavenly King, that demon dragon has not been caught yet. If you kill the group of monsters under him, it may not benefit you.”
Li Tianwang thought it made sense and said:
“Since the Bodhisattva pleads for them, they shall be spared.”
He then ordered his heavenly soldiers to release those little demons back into the mountain forest.
The little demons dispersed.
The gods returned to heaven to report, Guanyin Bodhisattva went straight back to the South Sea, and Tang Sanzang and his disciples set off westward again.
Everything seemed calm as before, restored to its original state.
Only a little fox stumbled through the mountains, anxiously running to Lotus Cave, only to find it already deserted.
The ground was scarred from lightning strikes, the vegetation charred from fire, the rocks no longer majestic as before, reduced to piles of powder.
The little fox ran to the outskirts of the mountain, gazing westward, unable to hold back tears, saying:
“Great King, I will wait for you here.”
In mid-air, the White Bone Spirit couldn’t help saying to Ao Tu:
“Great King, take her with you. In the future, I will protect her.”
Ao Tu said, “You can’t even protect yourself, yet you want to protect others?”
The White Bone Spirit opened her mouth but had nothing to say.
Tiger Vanguard stood on the other side, silent.
For him, whatever the Great King told him to do, he would do.
The little fox gazed westward for a long time, wiped her tear stains, and walked back step by step.
Suddenly, the ground’s vegetation grew, all things sprouted, old trees budded, and withered grass germinated.
The little fox stared dazedly at this scene.
The land struck by lightning recovered to normal; the vegetation burned by fire burst with new life.
In front of the little fox, a peach tree grew, with a large immortal peach hanging on it, brimming with immortal qi.
The little fox reacted, looking around and saying:
“Great King, Great King, please, take me with you!”
No one responded.
The little fox shed tears again.
Holding the immortal peach, unwilling to eat it, she returned to Dragon Welcoming Cave.
Time passed again, and Tang Sanzang and his disciples left Flat-Top Mountain.
【Settlement in progress, total obstruction of one hundred fifty-nine days.】
【Obtained reward magic: Immobilization Spell.】
【Obtained reward: Seven-Leaf Lingzhi Grass.】
【Obtained reward acquired spiritual treasure: Alms Bowl.】
【Obtained reward: Eight-Nine Arcane Arts.】
【Obtained reward supernatural power: Sixteen-Foot Golden Body.】
【Excess days of sixty-nine automatically carry over to the next side quest; next side quest: Exorcise Demons in Wuji Kingdom.】
——
【Entering mission area】
【Current side quest: Exorcise Demons in Wuji Kingdom】
【Mission requirement: Obstruct the pilgrim in Wuji Kingdom area; rewards settled based on obstruction time.】
【Mission rewards: 3 days/pear, 7 days/Bodhi Seed, half a month/acquired spiritual treasure Kassaya, one month/spiritual root Three-Grade Black Lotus, one season/supernatural power One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, half a year/Ancestral Witch Essence Blood, one year/innate spiritual treasure Soul Scattering Gourd, three years/innate spiritual treasure River Diagram and Luo Book, twelve years/Chaos Bell, sixty years…】
【Current progress: sixty-nine days】
Within Wuji Kingdom, Baolin Zen Temple.
This monastery is forty li from the royal city, built by imperial decree of the King, hidden in the mountain forest. It is truly a fine monastery.
Brick walls red with clay powder, golden nails on the door.
Pavilions hide by the ridge, palaces concealed in the mountains.
Where clouds gather and mists linger, fragrant haze misty.
Outside the building, Zen monks lecture, expounding the sutras on emptiness.
Ao Tu descended from the air, shaking his body, transforming into a monk.
You see his appearance:
Compassionate face, Buddha’s light surrounding, Kassaya draped over his body, reciting true sutras, a monk of great virtue, great perfection, great truth, great awakening.
Beside him, Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit transformed into attendant disciples, following on left and right.
Tiger Vanguard knocked on the courtyard door.
A monk from the courtyard came out and, seeing Ao Tu’s appearance, respectfully said:
“High Monk, from where do you come?”
Ao Tu said, “This poor monk comes from the Western Paradise Spirit Mountain Great Thunderclap Temple to save a good person who has fulfilled his karmic tribulations here.”
The monk, hearing this, said joyfully:
“Buddha, I am that good person!”
Ao Tu smiled and shook his head, saying:
“Your cultivation is not yet sufficient. Go quickly and call your abbot!”
The monk then realized, hurriedly going to call the temple’s abbot.
The monastery abbot, hearing of this, rushed over and, seeing Ao Tu’s appearance, respectfully bowed and said:
“I did not know the true Buddha had descended; this disciple failed to welcome you from afar!”
Ao Tu said, “Clean the meditation room thoroughly, and afterward, you will have your merit.”
The abbot kowtowed repeatedly, overjoyed: “Yes, this disciple will go prepare now!”
The abbot led his disciple subordinates to clean the main hall meditation room, inviting Ao Tu to reside there.
At night, the resentful soul of the King of Wuji Kingdom drifted outside the city.
The throne in the city was occupied by that demonic Taoist. Unable to seek justice, he dared not approach the city, only drifting outside, lonely and helpless, for nearly five years.
At this time, Tiger Vanguard leaped into the woods, opening his mouth to spit out a gust of evil wind.
The resentful soul of the King of Wuji Kingdom immediately lost control, swept away by the evil wind.
It turned out this tiger had become a spirit, innately possessing supernatural powers to control souls, also called a ghost servant. As the saying goes, “to act as a ghost servant for the tiger,” which originates from this.
Tiger Vanguard used one gust of evil wind to bring the King of Wuji Kingdom to Baolin Zen Temple. The King of Wuji Kingdom felt dazed and drifting, and when he opened his eyes, he was already inside the temple.
In the main hall of the temple, faint wonderful sounds came, Buddha’s light shining everywhere. The King of Wuji Kingdom couldn’t help drifting over, entering the hall.
He saw in the great hall a Three-Grade Golden Lotus blooming, and upon the golden lotus sat a Buddha reciting true sutras, with waves of Buddha’s light and rings of merit.
The Buddha’s appearance was truly majestic and solemn:
Compassionate treasure countenance shining with golden light, Buddha’s light in ten thousand rays filling the hall’s dome.
Kassaya brushing brings heavenly flowers falling, true sutras recited open the earth’s veins.
Great virtue transcends the sea of birth and death, great perfection ferries the winds of karmic debts.
True awakening comprehends the three vehicles’ dharma, Spirit Mountain King Buddha sits upon the treasure lotus.
Seeing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom hurriedly knelt and paid respects to the Buddha.
Ao Tu said, “What resentful soul are you, and why do you intrude into my hall?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom wiped his tears and said, “Buddha, I am the King of this Wuji Kingdom!”
Ao Tu said, “Since you are the King of Wuji Kingdom, why are you in this state?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said:
“Eight years ago, my country suffered drought with no rain, vegetation withered, and the people starved. I followed the Three Sovereigns, opening the granaries to relieve the common people, praying daily and worshiping gods and Buddhas.
After three years like this, not a drop of rain fell, mountains and rivers dried up, and the state was on the verge of collapse. At that moment, a true Taoist priest came from Zhongnan Mountain. He ascended the altar, cast spells to summon wind and rain, instantly resolving our country’s crisis.
Grateful for his merits, I exchanged eight bows with him, becoming sworn brothers, sharing bed and board, treating him as kin.
Unexpectedly, during a spring outing, he coaxed me to the Imperial Garden, and at the well, he pushed me in, sealing the well mouth with magic, transforming into my likeness to usurp the throne.
Pitifully, I died unjustly in the well, my state seized by another, yet no one knew. I went to the underworld to seek justice, but the Ten Kings of Hell were all related to the demonic Taoist, and the earth gods and city gods treated the demonic Taoist as an honored guest. I could only wander outside the city, lonely and helpless, for five years. I beg the Buddha’s compassion to redress my grievance!”
Ao Tu said, “Excellent, excellent! This seat is the Spirit Mountain King Buddha. Because you, King of Wuji Kingdom, were good at offering food to monks, I came from Spirit Mountain to save you. But I was delayed by matters on the way and arrived late, not expecting you to suffer such harm.”
Hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom dared not blame Ao Tu and could only shed tears repeatedly.
Ao Tu said, “Do not grieve. This seat will save you and restore you to life, then capture that demonic Taoist and return your state and lands.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.
Ao Tu reached out, grasping the soul of the King of Wuji Kingdom in his hand, riding auspicious light, and in an instant arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Ao Tu said, “Where is the well?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom pointed it out.
Ao Tu looked and saw a banana tree there.
It turned out the demon had cast a spell to seal the well mouth to cover tracks, then ordered someone to plant a banana tree over it—truly undetectable by gods or ghosts.
Ao Tu chanted at the banana tree: “Om mani padme hum!”
In an instant, the banana tree moved aside, revealing the well mouth.
Ao Tu then said, “Well Dragon King, where are you?”
The Well Dragon King, hearing the Buddhist sound, hurriedly emerged and bowed, saying:
“Little Dragon pays respects to the Buddha. Which Buddha has descended?”
Ao Tu said, “Quickly send out the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom.”
The Well Dragon King dared not resist, returned to the well, carried out the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom, placed it outside, and respectfully said:
“This is the body of the King of Wuji Kingdom. I sealed it with the Fixed Appearance Pearl, so the flesh did not decay.”
Ao Tu nodded and casually tossed out a fire jujube.
Seeing it, the Well Dragon King hurriedly caught it, overjoyed, thanking him repeatedly, then dove back into the well.
The King of Wuji Kingdom saw his own body and hurriedly tried to enter it, but having died, his yang energy was exhausted, and he could not enter.
