The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 83 - 083: Wukong Seeks Help at Three Stars Cave

Chapter 83: Chapter 083: Wukong Seeks Help at Three Stars Cave

Wukong left the Southern Sky Gate and entered the Dongsheng Immortal State, heading towards Flower-Fruit Mountain.

He employed his VLOOKUP(A1025,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0) with incredible speed, and having just ascended to the rank of Daluo Golden Immortal, he flew wildly, arriving in the realm of Ao Lai Kingdom in an instant.

With another somersault cloud, Wukong plunged right into Flower-Fruit Mountain, where a little demon spotted him and shouted loudly, "The Great Saint has returned, the Great Saint has returned!"

The Six Great Demon Kings hurriedly emerged from within the cave, just in time to see Wukong dismount his cloud.

"My word, Old Sun, I thought you were enjoying yourself so much in the Heavenly Court that you had forgotten all about us brothers and wouldn’t be coming down," the Macaques King couldn’t help but curse.

"Haha, Fifth Brother, no offense, no offense! I’ve had a great opportunity in the Heavenly Court. Look, how is my cultivation?" Wukong laughed and said.

Upon a closer look, everyone was shocked to find that Wukong had indeed reached the realm of the Daluo Golden Immortal, and they exclaimed, "You’ve actually become a Daluo Golden Immortal?"

Wukong let out a mischievous laugh and said, "Brothers, follow me into the cave abode, I have some nice things for all you brothers."

The six brothers were curious about the benefits Wukong had received in the Heavenly Court and followed him into the cave abode. Once inside, Wukong took out the Swallowing Dragon Stele. With a flash of light from the dragon’s eye, they saw a pile of Immortal Peaches, precious fruits, and fine wine on the ground, leaving the six brothers dumbfounded for a moment.

"The Heavenly Court was going to hold an Immortal Peach banquet, but Old Sun here managed to steal all the Peaches of Immortality from the Heavenly Court at once. I wonder if the Jade Emperor will be so angry he could die?" Wukong chuckled mischievously, grabbed a peach that ripened every three thousand years, and took a bite, "These Peaches of Immortality contain congenital True Qi. Mortals who eat them can immediately become Human Immortals, and there are two other types that can turn you into Earth Immortals and Heavenly Immortals instantly when you eat one."

Ox Demon King couldn’t help but yell, "Son of a gun, Monkey, you stole all the Heavenly Court’s Peaches of Immortality? You’ve got some nerve!"

Wukong, brimming with pride, said, "Let’s us hold our own Immortal Peach banquet, gather all the demons from below the heavens, and stand toe to toe with the Heavenly Court. Big Brother, what do you think?"

Peng Demon King joined in, "Seventh Brother has a point. We are still weaker than the Heavenly Court in terms of strength for now. Why not use these Immortal Peaches to hold a banquet and unite with the great demons and monsters, so we can stand up against the Heavenly Court when the time comes!"

The Seven Great Saints already had considerable renown, and over the past few years, many weaker demon kings oppressed by the Heavenly Court had come to pledge their allegiance.

Suddenly recalling someone, Wukong realized that this person’s divine skills were vast and might well be on par with a Daluo Golden Immortal of the second or third heaven. He said to Peng Demon King, "Third Brother, you’re faster than me. I remember a formidable person. Could you help me extend an invitation?"

Peng Demon King asked, "Who is it? How formidable?"

Wukong replied with a smile, "This is a great demon. Its mana is probably around the second or third tier of a Daluo Golden Immortal, but its innate divine ability is extremely powerful. It once endured a palm strike from Buddha Ancestor, and even managed to sting him in return, causing Tathagata to cry out in pain."

Peng Demon King was startled and said, "Such a character exists? I shall go and see for myself, and will return shortly."

Wukong described the Scorpion Demon’s cave abode. Peng Demon King transformed into his true form, which was that of a Gold-Winged Great Peng, let out a roar, and flew tens of thousands of miles in an instant, far outpacing Wukong’s speed.

When Peng Demon King arrived at the Pipa Cave in Women’s Kingdom, he did not find the Scorpion Demon. Annoyed, he returned to the Water Curtain Cave and scolded, "Rowdy Monkey, you dare to fool me! Where is this Pipa Cave?"

Wukong furrowed his brows and said, "Oh no! That’s right... If the Scorpion Demon stung Tathagata, and it surely hurt his face, how could he possibly let her go unpunished? He must have captured her and then placed her on the Journey to the West as one of the eighty-one challenges... Silly, silly me!"

"This fairy is quite formidable; those trident forks are her naturally formed pair of pincers. The one that causes pain when it stabs is a hook on her tail, called the Reverse Horse Poison. She is a Scorpion Demon. Previously, she listened to Buddha Ancestor preach at the Vajra Monastery. Tathagata, upon seeing her, pushed her with his hand without reason, and she turned the hook around and stung Tathagata on his left thumb. Tathagata, unable to endure the pain, immediately ordered her to be captured by Vajra, but she ended up here. To save Tang Sanzang, it might be better to ask for help from another, as I cannot get close to her."

Wukong recalled the original words of Bodhisattva Guanyin, that Tathagata was stung by the Scorpion Demon, and how could he easily let her go? Obviously, she was subdued by the Buddhist sect and then sent to the Journey to the West to become one of the eighty-one challenges. Later, Wukong invited Mao Ri Ji to subdue her, and although Mao Ri Ji’s mana was weak and should not have been able to kill her so easily given the mutual restraint, it was clear that there was something strange about it. And now, Mao Ri Ji had already been killed by the seven brothers.

Most likely, most of the eighty-one challenges were arranged by the Daoist and Buddhist sects. Wukong couldn’t help but sigh with a bitter smile, thinking he could use these Peaches of Immortality to win over powerful demons, but that plan seemed unfeasible now.

Peng Demon King asked, "What are you talking about? What Journey to the West?"

Wukong said, "Never mind, I’ll keep these Peaches of Immortality for my own enjoyment. To contend with Heavenly Court, these demons and monsters probably don’t have our resolve! Moreover, those who are lured by Peaches of Immortality are merely selfish opportunists, nothing like comrades who would stake their lives for each other. It’s better to bestow these peaches upon the Seventy-Two Cave Demon Kings, hold a small Peach Gathering, and possibly nurture a formidable Golden Immortal or two out of them."

Wukong suddenly remembered something and said, "I’ll take three thousand Purple Patterned Yellow Core Peaches to give away, you all wait here for a moment, and upon my return, we shall drink heartily once more."

Wukong used the Swallowing Dragon Stele to collect three thousand Peaches of Immortality and departed, riding the clouds straight to the Southern Toad Continent, then arrived at the former site of Slanted-Moon Three-Star Cave.

"Disciple is grateful for the care of Master and Elder Sister. Having obtained many Peaches of Immortality, I specially come to pay respects. I consider myself brave, yet I’ve also stirred up a calamity. Should a catastrophe befall me, I beg Master, the great Elder, for your mercy, and extend a helping hand. Disciple bows his head and offers thanks to Master, the great Elder!" Wukong placed the three thousand peaches in the mountains and kowtowed toward the mountain gate.

Yet the place was desolate, but Wukong felt certain someone was there!

Subhuti was no ordinary individual, most likely possessing the strength of high beings like those of the Ming River. Otherwise, how could he be a strategist within this great game? Wukong’s future path was fraught with difficulties, requiring utmost caution. If he could get assistance from this hidden master, fortune would surely turn in his favor. However, this enigmatic master was reluctant to make appearances, and getting him to act would be no easy feat.

Wukong left three thousand Peaches of Immortality, knelt in wait for an hour, but his master did not show up, leaving him extremely disappointed.

Just as Wukong was preparing to get up and leave, suddenly a green light flashed, and Wusheng appeared before him, saying, "Wukong, what trouble have you caused that you defy your master’s orders and run back to the Slanted-moon Three-star Cave to seek your master’s help?"

Wukong gave a wry smile and said, "I was tricked, offended the Jade Emperor, and now I am in quite a bit of trouble."

Wusheng frowned and said, "Who tricked you? Just tell me, and your sister here will avenge you."

Wukong said, "I don’t know who it was. Sister, may I enter the cave to see our respected master?"

But Wusheng shook her head and replied, "The master said he won’t see you again. Don’t bother trying in vain. I’ll take these Peaches of Immortality, and when the time comes, I’ll speak well of you in front of our respected master and see if he is willing to make a move for you."

Wukong thought he would be leaving empty-handed this time, but he hadn’t expected Wusheng to eventually show up. It seemed that this sister of his was truly cold on the outside but warm on the inside, extremely protective of her own junior brother, and even dared to go against the master’s wishes to meet him. He felt secretly delighted in his heart, bowed to Wusheng twice, and said, "Then I will trouble sister to speak a few good words to our master on behalf of me. If a great disaster falls upon me one day, maybe master will save my life."

"Wait a moment," Wusheng suddenly said as Wukong was about to leave.

"Does sister have any advice?" Wukong asked.

"I need to tell you, the Slanted-moon Three-star Cave is going to be moved elsewhere. Also, that stele you took out just now, let me have a look at it," Wusheng said.

Wukong brought out the stele, and Wusheng glanced at the characters, over a thousand of them, first committing the character "sword" to her heart, and then examining each one after. Wusheng had studied the Sword Dao, so this character was obviously of great help to her. These characters had descended from the heavens, mysterious and of unknown origin, each hiding a special power. Understanding the true essence of these characters would grant one the power within. Confucius was able to use these characters as divine skills because he understood them.

"Alright, thank you. You may go now," Wusheng said.

"Does sister have any more advice?" Wukong asked.

Wusheng glanced at him and felt that this monkey head seemed to be quite scheming, so she said, "Just be sure to understand the situation clearly. Do not jump to conclusions easily, or in the end, you will only harm yourself."

Wukong thoughtfully made a bow and said, "Thank you for your guidance, sister. Wukong will now take his leave."

Wusheng waved her hand, gathered up the Peaches of Immortality with a flick of her sleeve, and said, "Go."

Wukong rode his cloud away, and Wusheng also left on her cloud.

Wusheng arrived before Patriarch Subhuti, knelt down, and said, "Master, Wukong has brought three thousand Peaches of Immortality this time. He says he is facing a great calamity and hopes you can help him."

Patriarch Subhuti slightly furrowed his brows and asked, "That monkey head, what else did he say?"

"Nothing more," Wusheng replied.

Wusheng released the three thousand Peaches of Immortality from her sleeve onto the ground, and the fragrance wafted through the air.

Wusheng suddenly remembered and said, "He also mentioned that someone was plotting against him, but he doesn’t know who."

Subhuti’s eyebrows furrowed even deeper, and he sighed suddenly, "That monkey head is indeed very clever!"

"Master, I think Wukong’s filial piety is commendable. Why not help him?" Wusheng suggested.

Patriarch Subhuti gave a wry smile and said, "How do you know I haven’t helped? Don’t say anymore, just put away these peaches for now and later on bring them to Doulu Palace."

Wusheng nodded in agreement.

"Do you still remember the characters on the Swallowing Dragon Stele?" Patriarch Subhuti asked again.

"I remember, I will write them down for master to see," Wusheng said. She then brought the Four Treasures of the Study and wrote down the thousand or so characters from both sides of the Swallowing Dragon Stele.

As each character was written, it vanished from the paper, and the image of that character in Wusheng’s mind also became blurry.

"Hmm... You may go," Patriarch Subhuti waved his hand, his brow furrowed even more deeply, and using great magical power, he rewrote the thousand or so characters with the Xia Dynasty Dragon Seal.

To find out what happens next, please wait for the following Chapter.