The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 283 - 250: Green Ox Demon Captures Tang Sanzang

Chapter 283: Chapter 250: Green Ox Demon Captures Tang Sanzang

The Rhinoceros King had willingly lowered his cultivation level to match Wukong in a challenge of supremacy.

Though the two could be considered peers, they hailed from different sects. The Three Pure Ones had always had their disputes, and once their disciples started fighting, it was a real battle. Wukong was a disciple of the Spiritual Treasure Celestial Venerable, and the Rhinoceros King was the mount of the Morality God. When these two fought, they reached a point where life and death were at stake, naturally holding back somewhat, but this battle was also about defending their sects’ honors!

Since his birth, the Rhinoceros King had followed Laozi, braving countless storms with him, and when they traveled west through the Hangu Pass, he had even been infused with great fortune!

Previously, Laozi had sent two Child disciples to block the way, but their mana was too weak, and Wukong had sent them back to Doulu Palace in a couple of moves, knowing they were Laozi’s Alchemical Child, so he had not struck to kill. However, this Rhinoceros King was different, having profound strength and being battle-hardened. Both of them had exerted nearly all their strength in their fight.

The Rhinoceros King skillfully wielded his spear, while Wukong, wielding the Jingu Bang, leapt from side to side. Considering just their martial arts, these two could fight for days and nights!

The Rhinoceros King took out a talisman, shouting, "Behold the talisman!"

A flash of golden light from the talisman and suddenly the void was filled with dense clouds. It was a Divine Sky Talisman, used to summon the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.

Wukong, however, was not afraid upon seeing this. He had learned the "Divine Sky Torrential Rain" from Chi Songzi and had mastered the Divine Sky Taoist Magic to perfection. The thunder summoned by this talisman was merely lower-level divine thunder, not the wild, fierce kind! Wukong produced a small city from his hand, the "City of Thunder," which he had conquered in the Sea of Thunder from an Ancient Thunder God!

If it’s about playing with thunder, that Thunder God is the ancestor! If it’s about wind, then it’s Gongyang who’s the ancestor! And for rain, it’s Chi Songzi who is the ancestor!

The Rhinoceros King summoned the divine thunder, striking towards Wukong. Wukong raised the City of Thunder in his hand, offered it to the sky, and immediately thunder flashed. The divine thunder that struck into the City of Thunder was instantly devoured. The City of Thunder grew larger in the wind and turned into a small fortress. One hundred and eight ancient thunder cannons fired simultaneously, launching thunder like cannonballs, bombarding next to the Rhinoceros King!

The Rhinoceros King was startled, not expecting Wukong to possess such ability, and hastily pulled a large pen from his hand. This pen was the Immortal Pen of the Three Kingdoms’ immortal Zhuang Zhou, who was transformed by Zhuang Zhou and was meant to spread Laozi’s teachings about alchemy. As Laozi’s mount, the Rhinoceros King, who often went to and from Doulu Palace, was very familiar with Zhuang Zhou. This time, coming to the mortal realm, he specifically borrowed the Immortal Pen from Zhuang Zhou.

This Immortal Pen was extremely powerful, creating a talisman with every stroke, capable of drawing talismans in the void. The Rhinoceros King wrote a "Shield" character in the void, immediately transforming it into a huge shield. He continued with characters for "Sword, Spear, Kill, Blade, Stone, Wind, Thunder, Fire," and in an instant, falling stones, flying swords, heavenly blades, divine spears, and fierce fires emerged from the void.

Wukong quickly stored the City of Thunder and wielded the Jingu Bang in his hand, performing a sweeping strike like a whirlwind sweeping away leaves. The Jingu Bang quickly enlarged and with a loud bang, swept away all the talismans in the sky, shattering them into pieces.

The prowess of the Immortal Pen was in drawing talismans. Although drawing talismans in the void had considerable power, it still couldn’t compare to using good materials. When Zhuang Zhou used this pen to write "Free and Easy Wandering," it was indeed extraordinary!

The two discarded their magical treasures and resumed fighting fiercely with weapons in hand.

Tang Sanzang watched from below, deeply alarmed by the sight. The battle between the two above was immensely powerful, shaking the earth and mountains. If not riding the White Dragon Horse, he might have collapsed to the ground out of fear.

The Rhinoceros King and Wukong were fighting to honor their masters, leaving no room for holding back. The Rhinoceros King had suppressed his mana to the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal First Layer to fight with Wukong, yet the battle remained evenly matched.

Wukong considered himself nearly unbeatable within the realm of Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal First Layer, but this Rhinoceros King was exceptionally formidable, hardly inferior to him!

"Watch the staff!" Wukong flipped and struck eighteen times in quick succession, his staff technique crashing like waves, one wave stronger than the next.

The Rhinoceros King then spun his spear, aiming a counter-stab at Wukong’s chest, forcing Wukong to retreat. Wukong deployed his Three Heads and Six Arms technique, launching a fierce attack at the Rhinoceros King.

Bajie couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh no, it’s terrible, this demon is incredibly formidable; he is actually on par with Mr. Monkey!"

"Indeed, this demon defeated the two of us brothers with just one move. I really wonder who this divine being is, that he could compete with Mr. Monkey!"

Throughout this journey, the techniques Wukong had displayed were far from ordinary. Both men had long admired him, as the difference in strength was too great for them to not acknowledge it! Now, seeing a demon suppress his own mana and fight with Wukong, and even managing to fight to a standstill, was simply astonishing.

Seeing that the deadlock continued for a long time, Wukong then opened his mouth and spat out a whip; it was indeed the God-Beating Whip!

"Watch the whip!" Wukong cursed loudly as the twenty-one-segment God-Beating Whip immediately emitted golden light. However, Rhinoceros King wasn’t any immortal, and he held no divine status in the Heavenly Court, so the God-Beating Whip had no special effect on him; it was merely a slightly more powerful magical treasure.

Wukong continuously launched magical treasures, causing Rhinoceros King some panic. Sha Wujing couldn’t help but shout, "Mr. Monkey, put more strength into it, beat this demon to death!"

Upon hearing this, Rhinoceros King became furious. He pinched a spell, and the Vajra Bracelet on his wrist immediately flew up. As the Vajra Bracelet hovered in the air, it shook slightly, and Wukong instantly felt a tremendous suction force pulling at the Jingu Bang in his hand!

"Oh no, not good!" Wukong couldn’t help but shout.

Rhinoceros King laughed heartily and shouted, "Give it to me!"

With a clanging sound, Wukong’s Jingu Bang was immediately caught by the Vajra Bracelet, and then the God-Beating Whip and the Great Year Whip were also caught in it.

Rhinoceros King cursed, "Without your magical treasures, let’s see how you fight now!"

Wukong was furious, fighting Rhinoceros King with bare hands. Although he was only using fists and feet, the power behind each blow was extremely heavy, each punch and kick seemed as if they could split mountains and crack the heavens!

Without his magical treasures, Wukong still fought Rhinoceros King to an inseparable outcome. Initially, Rhinoceros King didn’t want to use magical treasures to claim victory, but having fought for half an hour without determining a winner, he grew impatient.

"Sun Wukong, this is all the skills you have, you’ve really disgraced your ancestors! Watch how I teach you to fight!" Rhinoceros King bellowed loudly.

Only to see Rhinoceros King hurl the Vajra Bracelet in his hand, striking Wukong at the back of his head and sending him tumbling dozens of times in the air, crashing onto a mountain unable to rise.

Rhinoceros King laughed loudly and said, "When you’ve properly learned your skills, come back and try to take someone from me!"

Rhinoceros King grabbed Tang Sanzang, took back the Vajra Bracelet, and then flew back to his cave abode on Golden Helmet Mountain.

Wukong, having been struck again by the Vajra Bracelet, was so enraged that he was gnashing his teeth. Considering it all, this was the third time he had suffered from this bracelet!

To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it at Starting Point (qidian.com) with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)