Chapter 114: Reward Settlement
Yet the demon was finally annihilated.
Great Emperor Zhenwu rescued the trapped gods.
Wukong also went to rescue his Master and Junior Brothers.
Guanyin Bodhisattva walked in the Blood Sea Cave, carefully searching for something, but found nothing.
After Wukong rescued Tang Sanzang and the others, he saw Guanyin Bodhisattva and asked: “Bodhisattva, what are you looking for?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Li Tianwang’s Precious Pagoda, have you seen it?”
Ba Jie said: “Bodhisattva, I have seen it. The little nephew fitted that broken pagoda with a wooden handle and used it as a colander. It should be in the kitchen now.”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva hurried to the kitchen.
In a vegetable basin, she finally found the Precious Pagoda.
The Precious Pagoda at this time had lost all its Buddha’s Light and was as dull as a mortal object.
Guanyin Bodhisattva removed the wooden handle from the Precious Pagoda and took out a can of Golden Lacquer.
Wukong said: “Bodhisattva, what is this?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “This is the Golden Lacquer granted by Buddha Ancestor. When leaving, Buddha Ancestor specially instructed me to repair this pagoda.”
With that, Guanyin Bodhisattva poured the Golden Lacquer onto the Precious Pagoda. Soon, the Precious Pagoda regained its Buddha’s Light.
Guanyin Bodhisattva picked up the Precious Pagoda and hurried out of the demon cave.
Wukong and the others followed her out.
All the gods were outside.
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked around for Li Tianwang but could not find him.
Wukong helped search but did not see him either.
While Guanyin Bodhisattva and Wukong were searching, they saw True Warrior Emperor and hurriedly asked: “Emperor, have you seen Li Tianwang?”
True Warrior Emperor said: “Li Tianwang’s divine soul was severely injured, and Nezha took him away.”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva was greatly shocked and hurriedly asked:
“Where did he go?”
True Warrior Emperor pointed to the distance.
Guanyin Bodhisattva hurriedly chased after him.
Wukong followed as well.
In the distance, on a cloud, Nezha was holding the Demon Slaying Sword in one hand and carrying Li Tianwang under the other.
Seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva hurriedly said: “Nezha, stop!”
Nezha turned back, saw Guanyin Bodhisattva, and pretended to be puzzled: “Bodhisattva, why are you here?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva came over and said: “Nezha, what are you doing?”
Nezha said: “My father’s divine soul is damaged, and I am healing him.”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva carefully observed and saw no injuries on Li Tianwang’s body, realizing that Nezha had no intention of harming his father.
Guanyin Bodhisattva then took out the Willow Branch from the Jade Pure Bottle and waved it over Li Tianwang, repairing his divine soul.
Li Tianwang woke up.
Seeing this, Nezha held the Demon Slaying Sword and laughed: “Father, you’re awake.”
Upon waking, Li Tianwang’s eyes had not yet opened when his left hand first groped for the Precious Pagoda, but it was not there; his right hand groped again, but still no pagoda.
Opening his eyes, he saw Nezha carrying him in one hand and holding the Demon Slaying Sword in the other, poised at his neck, grinning fiercely at him.
Li Tianwang’s eyes widened, and he fainted again.
Nezha laughed inwardly but showed nothing on the surface, instead asking: “Bodhisattva, what’s wrong with my father?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “The Heavenly King’s injuries are severe; he still needs proper rest.”
Nezha said: “In that case, allow me to first take my father back to Cloud Tower Palace to recuperate.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva, afraid that Li Tianwang would see Nezha and faint again, hurriedly said:
“Wait, let me take him. I’ll escort the Heavenly King back to Cloud Tower Palace and then cast a spell to treat his injuries.”
Nezha said: “Then I’ll go with the Bodhisattva.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Nezha, you stay here and return to the Heavenly Court with the gods, so you can report to the Jade Emperor on behalf of your father.”
Hearing this, Nezha said: “Hmm, that’s right. Then Nezha thanks the Bodhisattva.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “No need to thank me.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva then took Li Tianwang and left.
Only after Guanyin Bodhisattva left did Nezha could not help bending the corner of his eyes and laugh slyly.
Wukong saw Nezha laughing happily and originally did not want to mention that matter.
But at that moment, only he and Nezha were left. If he did not say it now, he would have to continue the Journey for Sutras, and who knows when he would see Nezha again.
Wukong thought for a moment, still called out to Nezha, and told him that matter.
Hearing this, Nezha stood stunned in place, his smile fading, and said despondently:
“He…”
Soon, Tang Sanzang and his disciples resumed the Westward Journey.
The master and disciples passed Broken Arm Mountain and continued westward.
On the other side, True Warrior Emperor and Nezha led the gods back to the Heavenly Court to report to the Jade Emperor.
Once all affairs were settled.
This day.
Wukong said: “Master, this disciple has some personal matters. Please have Master and Junior Brothers go ahead; this disciple will catch up soon.”
Tang Sanzang said: “What personal matters?”
Wukong said: “Old Sun recently had an old acquaintance who died, so he is going to pay respects.”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang said: “The dead take precedence. Wukong, you go.”
Wukong nodded and rode a cloud away.
Ba Jie said: “Senior Brother really… besides those in Heaven, what other old acquaintances does he have?”
Sha Seng said: “That’s right, but all the divine generals in Heaven are fine. I wonder which old acquaintance of Senior Brother died?”
Ba Jie said: “Maybe some demon…”
Suddenly, Ba Jie stopped, thinking of something.
Sha Seng said: “Second Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
Ba Jie said: “Junior Brother Sha, protect Master well. I’ll go check on Senior Brother!”
With that, Ba Jie turned and cloud-rode in the direction Wukong had gone.
Sha Seng was baffled.
Broken Arm Mountain, Blood Sea Cave.
The banner of “Great Sage of the Peaceful Blood Sea” still fluttered at the top of Broken Arm Mountain.
The reason no one took down the demon banner was that on either side of the great banner stood half of a severed Dragon Subduing Pile.
On the severed edges of the Dragon Subduing Piles were terrifying Axe Lights, so no immortal or god could approach, hence no one removed the great banner.
At the foot of the mountain, someone had built a grave and erected a Stone Tablet inscribed with: Friend of Great God of the Three Altars Nezha, Friend of Great Sage, Equal of Heaven Sun Wukong, Tomb of Ao Tu.
Below were placed incense bowls and sacrificial plates, with three Steamed Buns piled on the left and three fresh Immortal Peaches on the right.
Nezha stood barefoot on the tablet, stomped down twice, and looked around, hoping that the demon dragon would suddenly charge out to fight him, but after waiting a long time, no one appeared.
Nezha lowered his head and sat on Ao Tu’s Stone Tablet.
Soon, Wukong arrived on a cloud.
The two looked at each other in silence.
Wukong said: “I heard he was severely injured and perished in a puff of smoke. Sadly, not even a piece of tattered clothing was left to make a cenotaph.”
Nezha was silent, then took out an Alms Bowl from his bosom.
This was Ao Tu’s Alms Bowl.
In the past, Ao Tu had used this Alms Bowl at the Demon Slaying Platform to trap an Asura. Later, Ao Tu was seriously injured and turned into a rainbow to escape without time to retrieve the Alms Bowl.
Nezha had retrieved the Alms Bowl for Ao Tu.
Nezha held the Alms Bowl and said: “I wanted to keep this to settle some scores with that demon dragon, but now… forget it, give it back to him!”
Nezha threw out the Alms Bowl, cast a spell to place it in the tomb, and then cast another spell to seal the tomb shut.
The two picked up incense.
Wukong said: “Pay respects!”
Nezha nodded, and the two were about to bow when suddenly a voice came from afar.
“Senior Brother, don’t bow yet, wait for me!”
Ba Jie flew over.
Wukong said: “Idiot, what are you doing here?”
Ba Jie looked at the tombstone and sighed: “Old Pig is also here to see him off.”
Ba Jie raised his hand and carved words on the tombstone: “Marshal Tian Peng Zhu Bajie…” (In this book, the two characters Bajie were given by the protagonist.)
Ba Jie stopped his hand.
How to write the rest?
Writing “Master” wouldn’t do.
Writing “Great King” wouldn’t fit.
Ba Jie thought for a long time and finally wrote the character “Friend”.
After writing, he casually took a Steamed Bun from the offerings below and took a bite.
Nezha said angrily: “You!”
Ba Jie shook his head with a smile: “Third Prince, don’t be angry. If he were alive, he would surely give it to Old Pig to eat.”
The three held incense and bowed together.
Wukong and Ba Jie each left to continue protecting Tang Sanzang on the Journey for Sutras to the Western Heaven.
Nezha stayed in place watching for a while, until the incense burned out, then left.
After Nezha left, Ao Tu appeared.
Due to damage to his origin, Ao Tu’s complexion was still somewhat pale.
He came here to retrieve the Soul Scattering Gourd but unexpectedly ran into Wukong, Nezha, and Ba Jie, not expecting the three to be paying respects to him.
Ao Tu reached out and tore open the Void, revealing his aura. The Soul Scattering Gourd responded to the summons and appeared on its own, falling into Ao Tu’s hand.
Ao Tu beckoned again, retrieving the Alms Bowl from the tomb, then left.
Not long after Ao Tu left, Nezha returned on Wind Fire Wheels.
He held a steaming hot Steamed Bun in his hand, flew to Ao Tu’s tomb, threw away the one Ba Jie had bitten, and placed the new Steamed Bun there.
Suddenly, Nezha noticed something.
It was that when Ao Tu had just summoned back the Soul Scattering Gourd, he had revealed some aura, leaving traces here.
Nezha thus discovered it.
“Demon dragon! Damn demon dragon! Fooling me again!”
After some time passed.
In the Black Water River.
【Settlement Rewards in progress, total obstruction of three hundred forty days.】
【Received reward: Snow Lotus.】
【Received reward: Six-Revolving Golden Elixir.】
【Received reward: Purple-Veined Flat Peach.】
【Received reward: Demon Court · Great Zhou Tian Formation.】
【Received reward: Supernatural Power · Yuqing Divine Thunder.】
【Received reward: Demon Emperor Essence Blood.】
【Excess days of one hundred sixty automatically carry over to the next Side Quest; next Side Quest: Encountering Black Water River on the Road.】
——
【Entering Mission Area】
【Current Side Quest: Encountering Black Water River on the Road】
【Mission Requirement: Obstruct the Pilgrim in the Black Water River area; Settlement Reward based on obstruction time.】
【Mission Reward: 3 days/Jade Lotus Root, 7 days/Jade Lotus Golden Elixir, Half a Month/Great Demon Blood, 1 month/Spiritual Root · Bitter Bamboo, One Season/Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, Half a Year/Ancient Buddha Sarira, 1 year/Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation Diagram, 3 years/Innate Spiritual Treasure · River Diagram and Luo Book, 12 years/Chaos Bell, 60 years…】
【Current Progress: one hundred sixty days】
Demon Emperor Essence Blood appeared in Ao Tu’s hand; it was a drop of pure golden essence blood.
It contained an extremely powerful aura.
Just like the Sun.
Holding it in his hand, Ao Tu could feel the compatibility between his own bloodline and the Demon Emperor Essence Blood; they attracted each other.
This feeling was stronger and clearer than before.
It was probably because of the fusion of his bloodlines the previous two times that this change occurred.
However, the System’s next Half a Year reward surprised Ao Tu somewhat.
Ao Tu had thought it would be Qilin essence blood or Ancestral Phoenix essence blood.
Even repeating Ancestral Witch Essence Blood or Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood was possible.
Yet unexpectedly, it was Ancient Buddha Sarira.
This was a treasure completely unfamiliar to Ao Tu.
He did not know its effects.
But since it was placed at the Half a Year reward level, it should not be too bad.
Moreover, with the name of ancient Buddha…
No longer thinking much, Ao Tu swallowed and refined the Demon Emperor Essence Blood in one gulp.
The Demon Emperor Essence Blood boiled up inside Ao Tu’s body.
