Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 649 - 643: A Unique Pilgrim [Seeking Subscriptions]_1

Tang Sanzang arrived at Five Finger Mountain.

At this time, Sun Wukong was suppressed under Five Finger Mountain, yet within a hundred-mile radius, no one dared to approach.

The area for ten miles around had become a forbidden zone. Even the celestial gods and Buddhas in the sky dared not set foot within the territory of Five Finger Mountain.

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged below, a stark contrast to his previously suppressed self, unable to move freely—almost a completely different person.

By now, Sun Wukong's strength had grown immensely powerful.

Although he only displayed the Pinnacle Daluo realm, in reality, he had long been capable of breaking through to the Quasi-Saint Realm, and even to more unfathomable realms.

But he had always been suppressing his cultivation, lest breaking through his cultivation realm would cause Five Finger Mountain to collapse.

If that drew the attention of all the celestial gods and Buddhas, especially catching Tathagata's eye and leading to him being suppressed even more firmly, it would be a greater loss than gain.

Sun Wukong had already met Sha Chen's avatar. The two had communicated deeply for a long while. Consequently, Sun Wukong learned of Sha Chen's existence and also knew very well that Sha Chen was the one who had been helping him for 500 years.

He also understood the scheming and plotting of the celestial gods and Buddhas—everything was to make him embark on the Journey to the West.

Sha Chen had even told him that Buddhism wanted him to become their lapdog, to serve and die for Buddhism.

If Sun Wukong had been suppressed from the start with no chance of turning things around, 500 years would have been enough to drive him mad and to force his submission.

But soon after his suppression, he received help from Sha Chen, who sent an avatar to guide his cultivation and also provided him with many cultivation resources.

Sun Wukong constantly improved his strength during his suppression, growing ever stronger.

Therefore, although suppressed, he never gave up resisting.

And so, even though suppressed, he never submitted. When Sha Chen revealed the truth to him, he naturally thought of defeating all the celestial gods and Buddhas to obtain justice for himself.

He was the dignified The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, yet he was being played like a puppet on a string by the Heavenly Court and Buddhism.

How could the proud Sun Wukong accept this situation? Naturally, he planned to wait until he was powerful enough to seek revenge.

He also wanted to immediately overturn Five Finger Mountain, smashing it to ruins, and then rush to Lingjiu Mountain to confront Tathagata.

But Sha Chen told him that with his current strength, going straight to Lingjiu Mountain would only mean facing another Five Finger Mountain.

Furthermore, once Tathagata was prepared, he would surely suppress him so thoroughly that he would never recover.

If Sun Wukong wished to escape then, it would become very difficult, and Sha Chen might not help him again.

Therefore, after much contemplation and hesitation, Sun Wukong, weighing the pros and cons, decided to lay low for the time being.

And now, after hundreds of years of waiting, someone had finally come to this place.

Moreover, the visitor was not the two great schemers, Tathagata and the Goddess of Mercy, but a member of Buddhism.

Tang Sanzang defied the prohibition and arrived beneath Five Finger Mountain, where he saw The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, being suppressed.

At this moment, Sun Wukong was again lying at the cave's entrance, his head poking out, looking at Tang Sanzang. A sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes.

He was harboring the intention to toy with this individual; because the man before him was from Buddhism, Sun Wukong planned to play him to death.

To vent the boredom of all these years and also to take revenge on Buddhism, to gain some interest in return!

Sun Wukong said, "Great Monk, where do you hail from, and where are you headed?"

Tang Sanzang replied with a smile, "I come from the Great Tang in the East, on my way to the West to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. Passing through here, I saw this place devoid of life, with only you breathing.

"So I came specifically to seek your companionship. Besides, you are immensely powerful, ferocious, and utterly inhumane. I imagine all the celestial gods and Buddhas fear you. With you here, I reckon they wouldn't dare approach."

Sun Wukong had intended to bare his fangs, but to his surprise, this very Monk before him was the scripture-seeker he had been waiting for.

Moreover, this scripture-seeker seemed somewhat different. He had encountered several scripture-seekers before; they all came to invite him out of the mountain and ask him to guide them.

Of course, there were also reckless scripture-seekers who courted death by trying to coerce him, pressing on his head and threatening him. But it was said that all those scripture-seekers died along the way.

This scripture-seeker was different from those before, neither asking for help immediately upon arrival nor acting condescendingly.

But this scripture-seeker seemed to want to avoid all the celestial gods and Buddhas and instead keep company with him.

Could it be that this scripture-seeker already knows my identity?

Sun Wukong's brow furrowed. Tathagata had been frank with him: the scripture-seeker was Jin Chanzi, reborn for the tenth time. This time, he was an ordinary mortal without memories of his past lives, a blank slate regarding everything.

He shouldn't have recognized Sun Wukong on his journey; Sun Wukong had expected to introduce himself.

But judging by this current scripture-seeker's attitude, he didn't seem very afraid of him—a monster with a hairy face and a thunderous mouth.

Sun Wukong said, "Do you know me?"

Tang Xuanzang replied, "I have heard of you. You are The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who caused havoc in Heaven 500 years ago. It's said that even 100,000 celestial soldiers and generals besieging the Mountain of Flower and Fruit could not defeat you. In the end, it was the Little Saint, Erlang God Yang Jian, who bested you by a single move and captured you."

Sun Wukong sneered, "Merely 100,000 celestial soldiers and generals, nothing more! Besides, Erlang God Yang Jian couldn't have defeated me. If Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad hadn't ambushed me with the Vajra Bracelet, I wouldn't have lost."

Tang Xuanzang said, "Regardless, you are now a prisoner, and you are being suppressed here. Anyway, you can't get out, and I don't want to undertake the Journey to the West. Why don't we just keep each other company and be neighbors here?"

Sun Wukong finally understood. This scripture-seeker before him was truly different; he actually didn't want to undertake the Journey to the West.

His interest was piqued. "Why do you not wish to undertake the Journey to the West, yet you continue to travel westward?" he asked.

Tang Xuanzang answered, "You dislike being here, so why are you suppressed beneath Five Finger Mountain?"

Sun Wukong was rendered speechless by this retort. Baring his teeth and grimacing, he almost couldn't resist climbing out of the cave to seize Tang Xuanzang.

Sun Wukong then said, "It seems you're also being forced. But do you know your origins? You cannot escape this destiny."

Tang Xuanzang laughed. "If I cannot escape this destiny, then neither can you. According to Buddhism's predetermined path, you are supposed to be the first disciple I subdue."

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected this scripture-seeker to know so much.

He continued, "You're no ordinary mortal. Though I can't see it clearly, I, Old Sun, can detect Mana within you."

Once again, Sun Wukong's brows furrowed and he activated his Fiery Golden Eyes, carefully scrutinizing the bald Monk before him.

Tang Sanzang stood openly in place, allowing him to look, and then asked with a smile, "What did you see?"

Sun Wukong's expression grew solemn. "You actually cultivate Taoism, not Buddhism! The Mana in your body isn't formed from Buddhist merit but from the methods of the Taoist Three Pure Ones."

Tang Xuanzang couldn't help but laugh. "It seems you, monkey, do have some skills. No wonder my master values you."

Sun Wukong assumed Tang Xuanzang knew his background and understood that Tathagata Buddha was Tang Xuanzang's master.

Sun Wukong scoffed, "Old Tathagata naturally values me, Old Sun, but I refuse to be his lapdog."

Tang Xuanzang knew he had misunderstood and laughed heartily. "The master I spoke of is not the one on Lingjiu Mountain, but the one at the Flowing Sand River!"