Chapter 29: Quicksand Hard To Cross
However, Tang Sanzang recited the Golden Fillet Spell, which instead made Sun Wukong sober up.
Though Sun Wukong had regained his senses, he still could not break the formation.
At this moment, Sun Wukong remembered the three save life hairs given to him by Guanyin Bodhisattva, so he plucked one and transformed it into a drill, intending to drill through the formation.
Ao Tu had been observing Sun Wukong’s movements from the formation platform.
Due to the formation’s obstruction, he could see Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong could not see him.
At this time, Ao Tu saw Sun Wukong pluck out a save life hair, fearing that Sun Wukong would ruin his formation diagram, so he recited “collect.” Immediately, the sky cleared and the earth brightened, the red sand dispersed, and all things were retracted into the diagram.
Sun Wukong looked around and saw Ao Tu, who was collecting the formation diagram not far away. He said in great anger: “Demon Dragon, it’s you again! What demonic arts did you use to harm Old Sun? Take this!”
He raised his cudgel and struck!
Ao Tu blocked with the Mysterious Gold Iron Rod Spear and immediately felt his arm go numb.
In terms of martial prowess, Sun Wukong’s skill was absolutely top-tier.
Ao Tu did not immediately use the Five-Fire Divine Flame Fan; he wanted to test the extent of Sun Wukong’s strength so he could have an estimate in mind later.
Ao Tu opened his mouth and spat out a burst of golden light, containing a massive amount of killing intent.
Sun Wukong recited “grow,” transforming the Golden Cudgel to the thickness of a mountain waist, standing it in front of him, completely blocking Ao Tu’s golden light.
With a dragon roar, Ao Tu transformed into a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, riding clouds and mist, spraying golden light as he charged at Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong mounted his Somersault Cloud, holding the Golden Cudgel to fight back, utterly unafraid.
The two clashed in the air: divine dragon against spiritual monkey.
Ao Tu’s dragon claw reached out, turning into ten rays of golden light.
Wukong’s iron rod danced wildly, resembling a raging wind.
Tiger Vanguard had been sent by Ao Tu to watch Ba Jie and Tang Sanzang; hearing the sounds of battle, he hurried back to provide support.
It had to be said that Sun Wukong was indeed powerful.
Relying solely on his strength, he was far beyond ordinary immortals and gods, and his martial arts were extremely strong. That iron rod—brush it lightly and one dies, bump it slightly and one perishes; graze it and the skin breaks, brush it and the tendons are injured. Though somewhat exaggerated, he was truly difficult to handle.
Relying on the Dragon Clan’s innate bloodline talent, Ao Tu forcibly fought him for over thirty rounds, gradually falling behind. He was struck on the dragon tail by an iron rod, losing two or three scales, and fell back to the ground, reverting to human form.
Tiger Vanguard blocked in front of Ao Tu and said: “Great King, you go first; I will cover the retreat!”
Ao Tu said: “Don’t rush; it’s not time for that yet.”
Sun Wukong laughed: “No more boasting! Today, I will make you two demons perish together!”
Ao Tu laughed: “Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, in terms of martial arts, I cannot beat you. But fighting isn’t just about martial prowess! Look at the treasure!”
Ao Tu summoned the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan and fanned it three times, immediately sending blazing flames skyward with firelight rushing to the heavens.
“Oh no!” Sun Wukong knew how powerful this fan was; he did a somersault and turned to flee.
Ao Tu did not pursue relentlessly but flew to Sha Seng’s hut and blew a gust of wind, flipping the hut over.
Tang Sanzang and Ba Jie inside the hut were blown tumbling to the ground; Ao Tu grabbed the two and flew into the Flowing Sand River.
Seeing this, Sha Seng followed them into the Flowing Sand River.
At the bottom of the Flowing Sand River was a pillar; back when Sha Seng was demoted, he was punished every seven days, tied to this pillar and pierced through chest and flanks more than a hundred times by flying swords.
Ao Tu tied Tang Sanzang and Ba Jie together to the pillar.
Seeing Ao Tu, Tang Sanzang recalled the ordeal at Yellow Wind Ridge and could not help but shed tears like rain, saying:
“Pitiful me, a monk who left home, encountering this demon again and being captured here. I still don’t know which household is hosting my monkey disciple for a banquet, where he has gone to indulge in pleasure, or when he will return. Who would know I have encountered a demon and am suffering here!”
Hearing this, Ao Tu laughed.
Tiger Vanguard said: “You mortal-eyed monk, you still don’t know you’ve fallen into my Great King’s scheme!”
Tang Sanzang, not understanding, saw Sha Seng behind and said in surprise:
“Fisherman, why are you with these two monsters?”
Hearing this, Sha Seng laughed: “Holy Monk, don’t you understand? I am the third scourge!”
He then told Tang Sanzang the whole story.
After learning the truth, Tang Sanzang realized he had wrongly blamed Wukong and silently recited Amitabha Buddha in his heart.
In fact, Ao Tu’s plan had not fully unfolded this time.
Originally, Ao Tu’s plan was to have Ba Jie gradually subdue the “Fierce Tiger and Demon Dragon,” then have Sha Seng capture the master and disciple pair into the river, maximizing the delay in time.
Even if Ba Jie went to the Heavenly Court for help, because Ao Tu had changed the Flowing Sand River to the Black Water River, Sha Seng’s identity would likely not be exposed, allowing even more time to be delayed.
But what Ao Tu did not expect was that the lazy oaf Ba Jie had no intention of seeking help at all; in the end, it was Tang Sanzang who could not hold back and told him to find the Bodhisattva.
If Guanyin Bodhisattva were brought in, the matter would definitely be exposed.
Ao Tu could only transform into Wukong’s appearance to stop Ba Jie, which disrupted the entire plan and led to the current situation.
Ba Jie realized Sun Wukong was Ao Tu in disguise and angrily cursed:
“Plagued demon dragon, you turned into Senior Brother’s appearance to fool me again!”
Hearing this, Ao Tu pinched Ba Jie’s ear and said:
“You oaf, you dare curse me! Men, set up the pot and boil him for me to eat!”
Tiger Vanguard said: “Yes!”
Ba Jie panicked and hurriedly begged: “Great King, Great King, what I said earlier was just nonsense; don’t eat me, my meat doesn’t taste good!”
Ao Tu laughed and looked at the system progress.
【Current progress: sixty-seven days】
Unfortunately, it was still twenty-three days short of one season.
Sun Wukong would probably go to invite Guanyin Bodhisattva next.
It would likely be hard to achieve the reward for obstructing one season.
So be it; there is a way to seek, and fortune comes by fate.
In the future, Tang Sanzang and his disciples would face countless more calamities; he could plan again later.
In the outer world, Sun Wukong saw his master and junior brother captured and felt it was extremely tricky.
Standing in the clouds, Sun Wukong shouted: “Demon Dragon, release my master quickly, release my master!”
Ao Tu simply ignored him, pretending to be deaf.
With no other choice, Sun Wukong strode forward, enlarged the Golden Cudgel, placed it in the river, and used a supernatural power to churn the rivers and seas.
Immediately, the Flowing Sand River’s waters surged wildly, raising waves and whirlpools, unrest above and below.
Ao Tu said: “Sha Seng, go out and fight that monkey. No need to linger; lead him down after being defeated.”
Sha Seng accepted the order and leaped out of the water surface, saying:
“Monkey, if you keep stirring, your master and junior brother will turn into pulp! Stop your hand! If you truly have the ability, fight me for three hundred rounds!”
Hearing this, Wukong stopped and said:
“You monster, such audacity! With flowery words you deceived my master and schemed against Old Sun. Who are you? Report your name!”
Sha Seng said: “I am not a monster; I am the Black Water River God, Sha Tuolong!”
Hearing this, Sun Wukong felt it somewhat familiar but did not think much: “Fine, you petty god, take this!”
He jumped down from the cloud and struck with a blow to the head.
Sha Seng raised his Treasure Staff to meet it; with a clang, he nearly stumbled.
Sun Wukong pressed on relentlessly with another blow.
Sha Seng barely blocked it, his tiger mouth splitting open.
Sun Wukong struck another blow; Sha Seng’s Treasure Staff nearly flew from his hand.
“What a fierce monkey!”
Sha Seng hurriedly dove back into the water.
“Petty god, don’t run!”
Sun Wukong chased after him.
Ao Tu had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Sun Wukong arrive, he activated the Acquired Spiritual Treasure Water Covering Seal. The small seal carried the qi of ten thousand waters and smashed onto Sun Wukong’s back, causing him to stagger.
