vstars Chapter 107 First, delete the South Heavenly Gate.
Chapter 107 First, delete the South Heavenly Gate.
"I'll go delete some too."
After these words were spoken, the hilltop fell silent for a moment.
The next moment, the Bull Demon King laughed first.
He slapped his thigh, causing the pebbles at his feet to bounce up.
"That's more like you!"
"Defend the mountain my ass, charge up!"
Red Boy was even more direct, holding his Fire-Tipped Spear horizontally and spewing white vapor straight from his nostrils.
"I'm going too."
"Those guys ran fast, otherwise I could have burned another batch."
Tang Sanzang stood to one side, his robes still stained with blood and ash. He looked up at the sky, the prayer beads in his hand now replaced with dark, heavy bone beads. After listening to Sun Wukong's words, he asked only one question.
"Where to?"
Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, grinned.
"South Heavenly Gate".
As soon as those three words were uttered, the surrounding group of demon generals all gasped.
That's no ordinary checkpoint.
That's the face of Heaven.
Anyone who dares to attack that place is essentially slapping the entire Heavenly Court to the ground.
Chen Fan glanced at Sun Wukong, and his mind settled down.
This monkey isn't crazy.
He chose the most opportune place to strike.
The Heavenly Court has just issued a decree to forcibly remove Flower Fruit Mountain from the rules of Heaven and Earth. If you stay below and guard it, you'll only be attacked. If you charge up there, the Heavenly Court will be in a panic.
Chen Fan said directly, "Attack the South Heavenly Gate, no problem."
"The Decree to Delete Boundaries hangs in the sky; the source is right there."
"If you smash the door, chaos will ensue."
"They want to delete Flower Fruit Mountain, right? Then let's delete their facade first."
Upon hearing this, Zongwu stretched his neck out.
"Are you really going?"
The Bull Demon King glanced at him sideways.
"nonsense."
"They've got a knife to your throat, and you're still cowering?"
Tang Sanzang nodded.
"To hold out is to wait for death."
"Only by attacking can we survive."
These words were spoken very plainly, but everyone on the field understood them perfectly.
Even Tang Sanzang stopped thinking about the way back.
That's it.
The white dragon horse came from behind and was about to speak when Sun Wukong looked at him first.
"Little White Dragon, don't go."
The white dragon horse was taken aback.
Why?
"Huaguo Mountain needs someone to keep things in check."
Sun Wukong pulled his staff back a little.
"Those heavenly soldiers just suffered a loss, they won't be satisfied. And that bastard Liu Er isn't dead either, he'll definitely come back again."
"You guard the mountain. Anyone who dares to touch the gate, kill them on sight."
The white dragon horse frowned, clearly displeased.
"I can fight on the front lines too."
Chen Fan walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
"We must fight on the front lines, but we must also secure our rear."
"The most valuable thing now is not the South Heavenly Gate, but the spirit of Flower Fruit Mountain."
"If you hold this place, Wukong and the others will dare to go all out and fight fiercely."
The white dragon horse stared at Chen Fan for two breaths, gritted its teeth, and nodded.
"OK."
"Anyone who dares to come, I'll chop them up first."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a bell rang out from the horizon.
thump—
thump—
Knock nine times in a row.
Each blow felt like a slam into everyone's heads.
Immediately afterwards, a huge golden pattern emerged from the clouds. The pattern was neither like the Buddhist swastika nor the Taoist talisman, but more like a seal stamped by the government, lying horizontally across half the sky.
Zong Wu immediately cursed upon seeing this.
"Again?"
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
That's not a new order, it's an extension of an existing one.
Sure enough, Li Tianwang's face soon appeared in the golden pattern.
His face was so cold it was hard, even his beard looked taut.
He looked down through the clouds, and the sound rolled down with a thunderous roar.
"Demon Monkey".
"You really think you can turn the world upside down just because you won a game?"
Sun Wukong looked up.
"Stop talking nonsense."
Li Tianwang's face twitched, and his eyes grew even colder.
"The Heavenly Court anticipated that you would lose control."
"The first time I suppressed you for five hundred years, it was just a trial and error."
"This time, there is already a second plan to suppress the monkeys."
"If you dare to come out of seclusion, I'll suppress you again."
"This time, it's not five hundred years."
"It's so heavy it'll crush your very soul."
A group of monsters on the mountaintop felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.
The monkey was suppressed a second time.
These words are too sinister.
This shows that from the very beginning, the Heavenly Court never intended to let Sun Wukong live in peace.
He even planned out his route after he escaped.
The Bull Demon King spat a mouthful of bloody saliva into the sky.
"Pooh."
"You talk as if you can really control it."
Red Boy was even more ruthless, raising his hand and unleashing a ball of fire.
The fireball shot into the air and crashed into the golden pattern, sizzling as it burned.
"Come down here if you dare."
Li Tianwang completely ignored him and only stared at Sun Wukong.
"The Southern Heavenly Gate has been upgraded with nine layers of boundary-clearing barriers."
"Every time you come, you die."
"If Flower Fruit Mountain doesn't perish today, it will perish tomorrow."
You can protect someone for a while, but not forever.
After hearing this, Sun Wukong suddenly laughed.
Li Tianwang's heart skipped a beat at his laughter.
"Are you done talking?"
Li Tianwang frowned.
Sun Wukong slammed his golden cudgel on the ground.
The entire mountain trembled.
"Then I'll go take a look too."
"What kind of bird do you look like, you monkey who's been suppressing the enemy for the second time?"
boom!
The gold pattern exploded.
It wasn't Li Tianwang who scattered it; it was Sun Wukong who swung his staff and shattered the face from a great distance.
Gold dust flew everywhere in the sky.
There was a moment of silence on the mountaintop, then the entire Flower and Fruit Mountain exploded.
"Shoot it!"
"Go for it!"
"Delete the South Heavenly Gate first!"
The shouts came one after another, startling the birds in the forest into flight.
On Chen Fan's side, a system notification also popped up.
[Ding! Detected that the host has initiated a key plot reversal: a shift from defense to offense.]
[Reward: Journey to the West Points +180000]
[Reward: 3 Boundary Resist Fragments]
[Note: The Ninefold Boundary Barrier has a rule-erasing effect; please proceed with caution.]
After reading it, only one sentence popped into Chen Fan's mind.
really.
There's no gate on the other side of Nantianmen, it's a huge pit.
The bigger the pit, the bigger the profit.
He put away the system panel and was about to speak when there was another commotion in the distance.
A demon soldier covered in blood tumbled and crawled up the mountain.
"Report!"
"A third group of people escaped along the Yun Road to the southeast!"
The Bull Demon King turned around and yelled, "Who escaped? Explain yourself!"
The demon soldier knelt on the ground, panting heavily.
"Six Ears..."
"The Six-Eared Macaque is not dead!"
"He led the remnants of that new pilgrimage group and retreated through the side cloud path!"
"Judging by the direction, they're heading towards Heaven!"
Chen Fan's eyes darkened.
That bastard, he's got a really tough life.
Despite the fierce fighting earlier, they still managed to survive.
Tang Sanzang's face also turned cold.
How many people are left in the new pilgrimage group?
"There are only a few left."
The demon soldier quickly replied.
"Pigsy lost an arm, and Sandy was also seriously injured. Many of the golden-armored generals protecting the scriptures died. But Six-Eared Macaque is still holding on, shouting all the way that he wants to see a higher-ranking plot officer."
Plot Officer.
As soon as those three words were uttered, Chen Fan frowned.
Li Tianwang and Jianglong are already annoying enough.
Liu Er still needs to ask someone higher up for help.
That means there's an even more powerful force behind Heaven's scheme.
Zongwu felt a chill run down his spine.
"Is there an even higher position for this thing?"
Chen Fan sneered.
"Of course."
"There is never just one person who writes a play."
Sun Wukong swung his staff, his eyes flashing with even more ferocity.
"Then we should attack even faster."
"Wait until they've all gathered before bothering me again?"
"I don't have the time or inclination for that."
The Bull Demon King immediately agreed.
"right."
"Strike while the iron is hot and kill him."
Tang Sanzang took a step forward.
"Let's go now."
Chen Fan glanced around and immediately began assigning tasks.
"The White Dragon Horse stayed behind to guard Flower Fruit Mountain."
"Zongwu, you go with him. Keep a close watch on Shannei Zhaiwen, Jingmian, and Jiukeng. If anyone tries to coordinate an attack from within, arrest them first."
Zongwu patted his chest.
"Leave it to me."
"If anyone dares to cause trouble in the mountains this time, I'll skin them alive."
"Bull Demon King, lead three thousand elite demon soldiers and charge straight at Wukong."
"Red Boy, you're in charge of burning the edges of the barrier. Start by tearing a hole."
"Tang Sanzang, you stay with the middle route. Your old Buddhist aura will be useful against the Heavenly Gate Formation."
Tang Sanzang didn't waste any words and nodded directly.
Chen Fan looked at Sun Wukong one last time.
"You're in charge of something."
"What?"
"Break down the door."
Sun Wukong was amused.
"I know how to do that."
After making the arrangements, everyone stopped dawdling.
Huaguo Mountain immediately sprang into action.
The demon soldiers assembled, their banners billowing, and the clanging of armor echoed one after another.
On both sides of the mountain path, many little demons looked out with red eyes and clenched fists.
They knew they might not be able to go to heaven.
But today's battle is no longer simply fought for Wukong.
It's to prove a point for the entire Flower and Fruit Mountain.
If they really trample on the South Heavenly Gate...
From now on, anyone who says that demons can only live on their knees should think twice.
Chen Fan walked at the front, and looked back once before leaving the mountain.
The white dragon horse had transformed into its dragon form, coiled atop the mountain, its head pressing down on the clouds, gazing in all directions. Its killing intent was no less than that of any of the vanguard's.
With him guarding the rear, at least half of the security is guaranteed.
Further on, Sun Wukong somersaulted into the sky.
The golden cudgel cast a long shadow in the clouds.
The Bull Demon King caught up with him on a cloud.
Red Boy rode on his fiery wheels, his whole body resembling a chaotic ball of real fire.
Tang Sanzang didn't fly too fast, but stepped up one step at a time. With each step, a circle of black and gold Buddha seals rose up beneath his feet, as if he were forcefully treading a heavenly path.
Chen Fan followed in the middle, the wind whistling painfully in his ears.
The higher you go, the heavier the pressure becomes.
As expected, the Heavenly Court activated its defenses.
They had only gone halfway when the sea of clouds ahead split open nine times.
Layer upon layer of golden curtains stood there.
Each layer is covered with densely packed characters for "delete".
The characters looked alive, twisting and turning, and just looking at them made your head spin.
Zongwu didn't come along; he was lucky.
If he actually saw it, he'd probably throw up on the spot.
The Bull Demon King cursed, "Is this supposed to be a door?!"
"This is a wall plastered with face paint!"
Red Boy made the first move.
With a flick of the Fire-Tipped Spear, the Samadhi True Fire swept over in an instant.
The first layer of golden curtain immediately turned red from the heat.
The deleted character above trembled violently, as if it were in pain.
The Bull Demon King seized the opportunity and smashed it down with his trident.
Click!
The first barrier has cracked.
The faces of the heavenly soldiers and generals behind them turned pale on the spot.
They were originally standing neatly, feeling that with nine layers of barriers pressing down on them, even the fiercest demon could only crash into them and bleed.
Who would have thought that the outermost layer would crack on the very first encounter?
"Block it!"
"Quickly reinforce the formation!"
"Don't let them near the door!"
The shouts created a chaotic scene.
Sun Wukong wouldn't listen at all.
He crashed headfirst into the crevice, the stick sweeping across.
More than a dozen golden-armored generals flew out along with their weapons.
One unlucky guy crashed into the second barrier and bounced into a bloody mess.
Chen Fan could see it clearly.
The heavenly soldiers were already afraid.
Fear leads to chaos.
When things are in disarray, the doors become easier to dismantle.
"continue!"
With a shout, Red Boy's flames raged even more fiercely, while the Bull Demon King relentlessly attacked the barriers. Tang Sanzang chanted incantations, but the chants weren't Buddhist scriptures; instead, they sounded like a reverse scripture. With each word that pressed down, the deleted words dimmed a little.
The Heavenly Court's front line was instantly forced to retreat.
The second level: Shattered.
The third layer, swaying.
On the fourth layer, cracks have already begun to appear.
Sun Wukong, caught up in the thrill of the battle, knocked a star lord away with a single blow and was about to storm the central gate when a dog's bark suddenly rang out from behind the South Heavenly Gate.
Not big.
It can penetrate nine layers of clouds.
The next moment, all the heavenly soldiers seemed to have found their leader and quickly moved aside to both sides.
A figure slowly emerged from the tall gatehouse.
Silver armor.
Three-pointed double-edged knife.
The vertical eye on its forehead hasn't opened yet.
Chen Fan looked up and his heart sank.
The gatekeeper was none other than someone else.
It was Yang Jian.
Chapter 152 Yang Jian Blocks the Door
The area in front of the South Heaven Gate suddenly fell silent.
The heavenly soldiers who had been shouting battle cries just moments before were now all shrinking to the sides. Some were even trembling, their weapons nearly falling off their feet. It wasn't that they wanted to retreat; the moment that figure appeared on the gate tower, the scene changed.
Yang Jian stood on a high place, his three-pointed, double-edged sword hanging diagonally in his hand.
They weren't putting on airs.
They didn't make any harsh statements.
He simply stood there, and the chaotic energy in front of the South Heaven Gate seemed to be contained by a hand.
The Celestial Hound crouched at his feet, baring its teeth and growling softly.
The six brothers from Meishan also arrived.
Kang Anyu, Zhang Boshi, Li Huanzhang, Yao Gonglin, and Guo Shen stood upright in front of the door, flanked by two walls, like a living wall.
Zhu Ganglie clicked his tongue and lowered his voice.
"This is quite a show of force. Erlang Shen himself has come to block the door."
Sun Wukong slung his golden cudgel over his shoulder, looked up at Yang Jian, and grinned.
"An old acquaintance."
Yang Jian also looked at him.
"Sun Wukong".
"It's been so many years, and you still look the same."
Wukong raised his chin.
"You haven't changed either. You still love guarding the gates of Heaven."
Upon hearing this, several of the heavenly generals behind him turned green with rage.
Who would dare speak to Yang Jian like that?
But Yang Jian wasn't annoyed.
He stepped down from the gate tower, his foot landing in mid-air, yet the clouds held him firmly. With his second step, he stood before the crowd, several dozen feet away from Sun Wukong.
"Today I will guard the South Heavenly Gate."
"Just guard the gate."
"I don't concern myself with Buddhist affairs. Your feuds with the Buddha and your grievances with Mount Ling are none of my business."
Chen Fan raised his eyelids.
That's an interesting statement.
I do not stand in the Buddhist community.
They didn't stand with them either.
I stood right in front of the door.
Sun Wukong's smile deepened after hearing this.
That's a roundabout way of putting it.
Let me put it bluntly for you, Old Sun.
He pointed towards the Heavenly Gate.
"You're here to block our way today."
Yang Jian nodded.
"Yes."
Wukong twirled the golden cudgel, and the tip of the cudgel slowly pressed down, pointing straight at the Heavenly Gate.
"That's easy."
I'm going there today.
"Just delete this broken door while you're at it."
The heavenly soldiers were in an uproar.
"Delete the portal?"
"Are you crazy?!"
"This is the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
"He's really daring!"
Yang Jian's eyes didn't move; he simply held the knife horizontally.
"Get past me first."
That's not a strong statement.
But as soon as I stepped out, the air in front of the door tightened.
Pigsy instinctively took a half step back, cursing under his breath.
Sha Wujing gripped the crescent shovel tightly, and the veins on the back of his hand stood out.
The White Dragon looked up at the gate tower, then at Yang Jian, and whispered, "This guy is tough to beat."
Red Boy, who was the least likely to believe in superstitions, snorted.
"Difficult to fight?"
"I'll give it a try first."
Just as Chen Fan was about to speak, Red Boy had already darted out.
This kid was as fast as fire; with a leap, a burst of crimson flames exploded in mid-air. He flicked his fire-tipped spear, the tip pointing directly at Yang Jian's chest.
"Erlang Shen, take this shot!"
Yang Jian stood still.
He only raised his hand when Red Boy rushed within five zhang.
A knife.
Very simple.
There are no fancy designs.
As the blade pressed forward, a layer of cloud in front of it collapsed.
Red Boy's expression changed, and his Fire-Tipped Spear bent halfway through its thrust. He was sent flying back, flames and all, as if he had crashed into a mountain.
boom!
Red Boy landed, his feet dragged for more than ten steps, the soles of his shoes were worn so badly they were smoking.
He felt a tightness in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat. He forced himself to swallow the blood back, his eyes wide with shock.
"What kind of force is that?!"
The people behind also paused for a moment.
He pressed Red Boy back with a single blow.
It was just a casual slash.
The heavenly soldiers were stunned at first, then they all exploded.
"The True Lord is mighty!"
"I knew it! Even the wildest monkey has to stop!"
"Who else dares to break in!"
"Weren't you very fierce just now? Why are you quiet now?"
No sooner had he shouted than a stick flew past Tian Jiang's nose, smashing a door brick behind him into pieces with a loud bang.
Sun Wukong turned his head to look over.
"Try saying it again."
That day, my legs went weak and I just shut up.
Tang Sanzang, however, kept his eyes fixed on Yang Jian.
He didn't look at the knife, nor at the Howling Celestial Dog.
He was looking behind Yang Jian.
More precisely, look at the faint lines on his back.
It seems to emanate from the very bones.
It's so faint that ordinary people can't see it at all.
But Tang Sanzang was too familiar with such things after his journey through the Debt Ladder and the Hoop Treasury.
That's not an ordinary divine rune.
It has a sense of censorship.
Tang Sanzang's eyes darkened, and he took half a step forward.
"Chen Fan".
Chen Fan turned his head to the side.
"You saw it too?"
"Um."
"He has markings on his body."
Tang Sanzang lowered his voice.
"It's very similar to those traces of deletion before."
Chen Fan stared at Yang Jian's back, his pupils slightly contracting.
His attention was focused on the knife, and he actually missed that.
The pattern wasn't pasted onto the nail.
It's on the body.
It looks like a lock, and also like a seal.
Chen Fan's mind raced for a moment.
Yang Jian's statement just now, "I only guard the gate and don't concern myself with Buddhist affairs," wasn't an attempt to distance himself; it was more like drawing a line.
He can't retreat.
We can't help either.
He's stuck here because of something.
Before Chen Fan could think about it further, Sun Wukong had already started walking forward.
"Old Yang."
"Just blocking the door is pointless."
"Come on, let's fight first and then talk."
Yang Jian gripped his sword.
That's exactly what I was thinking.
The next moment, the two moved at the same time.
boom!
A blur appeared before everyone's eyes.
Sun Wukong's staff and Yang Jian's sword collided in mid-air before the gate. It wasn't just a spark; the entire cloud layer seemed to plummet. The stone pillars on either side of the South Heavenly Gate hummed loudly, and tiles on the gate tower instantly shattered.
The first strike.
No one could see who made the first move.
The second strike has already followed.
Wukong flipped over and swung his staff downwards. Yang Jian parried with his sword, and the cloud platform beneath his feet cracked instantly. Before the cracks could spread, Yang Jian flicked his wrist, the blade sliding along the golden cudgel to slice straight at Wukong's wrist.
Wukong sheathed his staff, raised his knee, twisted his body in a half-circle, and swept the end of his staff horizontally.
Yang Jian took a step back, his bangs fluttering in the wind from his staff, his vertical eye still closed.
The two fought faster and faster.
The sky was filled with afterimages.
One day, I craned my neck to look at it, and after only three breaths, my eyes started to sting and tears welled up in my eyes.
"I can't see clearly..."
"I can't see it at all!"
"Is this still a True Lord who hasn't opened his Heavenly Eye?"
"How come Sun Wukong is even more powerful now!"
The noise in front of the gate was incessant.
On the thirtieth move, the horizontal plaque in the center of the South Heavenly Gate cracked open with a snap.
When Li Jing saw this from afar, his face turned pale.
"Stop them! Stop them now!"
The deputy general standing next to him was dumbfounded.
"How do we stop them?"
"Are you going?"
Li Jing's lips twitched, but he didn't respond.
In the field.
Sun Wukong deflected the three-pointed double-edged sword with a single blow of his staff, laughing so hard that his eyes disappeared from his grin.
"happy!"
"You're quite the doorman, aren't you!"
Yang Jian turned his blade and pressed down again.
"You haven't lived these past few years in vain."
boom!
Another head-on collision.
The shockwave sent hundreds of nearby soldiers sprawling and staggering. Several who were standing close by had their armor shatter on the spot, and they scrambled backward.
Pigsy clicked his tongue in amazement.
"The monkeys have really gone berserk."
Sha Wujing frowned.
"Yang Jian didn't hold back either."
"No."
Chen Fan stared at the arena and shook his head.
"He stayed."
"His eye hasn't opened yet."
"And he kept leading the car to the side."
Zhu Ganglie was taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
Chen Fan raised his hand and pointed.
"Look at where they're shooting."
Upon closer inspection, everyone realized that this was indeed the case.
Every time Yang Jian received a move, it appeared to be a head-on clash, but in reality, he shifted the battle focus to the left side of the gate tower. That was the area with the fewest heavenly generals, and also the weakest point of the South Heavenly Gate formation.
It looks like they're fighting.
It's like they're moving around.
Tang Sanzang's gaze deepened.
"He doesn't want to completely shut us down."
"He's just putting on an act."
Chen Fan remained silent.
This scene is too strange.
A person like Yang Jian wouldn't act in such a meaningless play.
If he really wanted to hold out to the death, the six brothers of Meishan would have surrounded him long ago, and Xiaotianquan wouldn't have just squatted there watching.
But now, none of the six brothers have moved.
The Celestial Hound simply stared at them, without pouncing.
Just then, Red Boy wiped his mouth, suppressing his anger, and was about to charge again.
"I'm not convinced, let's go again!"
Chen Fan grabbed him.
Don't go.
"If you go up again, you'll just be throwing your life away."
Red Boy gritted his teeth.
"So, we'll just watch them fight like this?"
"Watch."
Chen Fan's eyes flickered.
"Yang Jian doesn't seem like he's here to fight to the death."
Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard in the arena.
Sun Wukong and Yang Jian retreated simultaneously.
One landed on the broken threshold.
A person stands in the broken clouds in mid-air.
The two looked at each other.
No one was breathing.
Nobody benefited.
The South Heavenly Gate was already cracked.
Cracks spread out like a spider web from the middle to the left. Stones were still falling from the corners of the gatehouse, making a clanging sound below.
The heavenly soldiers who were watching were completely dumbfounded.
"The South Heavenly Gate...is it really cracked?"
"How long have they been fighting?"
"A few more taps, and the door's really gone!"
Li Jing felt his scalp tingle and was so anxious he was jumping up and down.
"True Lord! We can't let him hit us anymore!"
Yang Jian seemed not to hear.
He looked at Sun Wukong and suddenly spoke.
"If you force your way through again, the gates of heaven will collapse."
Sun Wukong raised his staff and shrugged.
"Wouldn't it be better if it collapsed?"
Yang Jian stared at him.
"When the gate collapses, the great formation behind it will begin."
"By then, I won't be the only one guarding this place."
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
This is no longer a reminder.
This is clearly telling them that they can't keep fighting like this.
Sun Wukong could also hear it.
He twitched the corner of his mouth.
"You're talking a lot today."
Yang Jian didn't answer, but his gaze swept over Chen Fan and then over Tang Seng.
That glance was quick.
No one else noticed.
Chen Fan's heart stirred.
The next instant, Yang Jian's voice rang directly in his ear.
It's not an opening.
It is a sound transmission.
"A stick of incense."
Chen Fan's expression remained unchanged, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Yang Jian continued, "I will only block the obvious path."
"Go and steal it."
"Don't force your way in."
Chen Fan even paused for a moment.
Before he could react, a second telepathic message landed in Sun Wukong's ear.
"monkey."
"Don't actually smash the door."
"There is a gap behind the third gatepost on the left."
"You can get in."
Sun Wukong raised an eyelid.
Yang Jian remained calm, still standing in front with his sword, as if nothing had happened.
The heavenly soldiers below were still shouting.
"True Lord, capture them!"
"They can't hold on any longer!"
Why haven't the Meishan brothers made a move yet?
Yang Jian coldly swept his gaze over.
At a glance.
All sounds went silent.
Chen Fan slowly exhaled and turned his head to look at Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang was also looking at him.
They both saw the same thing in each other's eyes.
accident.
We must remain vigilant.
Seeing their strange expressions, Zhu Bajie asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? You two look like you've seen a ghost."
Sun Wukong had already put the staff back on his shoulder.
He's not playing anymore.
He just stared at Yang Jian and grinned.
"So this is how you enforce the rules when you're a gatekeeper."
Yang Jian stood there, gripping his sword, his face expressionless.
"You only have one stick of incense left."
Red Boy was stunned.
The little white dragon was also stunned.
Sha Wujing was even more confused.
Pigsy's eyes widened instantly. He looked around and muttered a curse in a low voice.
"No way?"
"Which side is Erlang Shen on...?"
Chapter 153 Erlang Shen's Deal
The wind pressure was very low in front of the South Heaven Gate.
The heavenly soldiers stood in two rows, none of them daring to move first.
The scene, which was just moments ago filled with shouts of fighting and killing, suddenly felt like someone had grabbed its neck.
Zhu Ganglie looked around and couldn't help but curse again.
"I fucking don't understand."
"You're guarding the gate, yet you let people in?"
Yang Jian ignored him.
He only looked at Sun Wukong.
"A stick of incense."
"It's outdated, I'll make my move."
Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, grinned.
"You're more pleasing to the eye than you were back then."
"Enough with the nonsense," Yang Jian said calmly. "If you're going in, then come in; if not, then get lost."
The Bull Demon King exhaled a heavy breath from his nostrils, gripping the iron cudgel in his hand tightly.
"Monkey, this bastard used to fight you to the death, but today he's suddenly giving way. There's probably a trap."
Red Boy nodded.
"I also think it's wrong."
"These gatekeepers of Heaven, they may open the door with their mouths, but they're usually stabbing people in the back."
Tang Sanzang remained silent.
He looked at Yang Jian with a somewhat somber expression.
Chen Fan stood behind, his mind racing.
Yang Jian is not Li Jing.
It's not about subduing dragons.
These kinds of people are the most troublesome.
He doesn't easily get carried away with passion, nor does he readily take sides.
He's willing to give way, so he must want to exchange something for it.
Thinking of this, Chen Fan took a step forward.
"Erlang Zhenjun, may I have a word with you in private?"
Yang Jian glanced at him.
"You are Chen Fan."
"I've heard of it before." Chen Fan smiled. "You have quite a bad reputation, don't you?"
"It's bigger than I thought," Yang Jian said.
After he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved.
A thin layer of silver light enveloped one corner of the gatehouse.
People outside could see them opening their mouths, but they couldn't hear a sound.
Pigsy's eyes widened in surprise.
"They've actually started negotiating?"
The Bull Demon King's face darkened further.
"Monkey, do you really believe him?"
Sun Wukong grinned.
"Listen to it first."
In the silvery light, the sound of the wind subsided considerably.
Yang Jian stood still, without beating around the bush, and his first sentence was very direct.
"The decree to delete boundaries was not the Jade Emperor's original intention."
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan's eyes narrowed.
The golden cudgel on Sun Wukong's shoulder also sank slightly.
Chen Fan stared at Yang Jian.
"You continue."
Yang Jian said, "The Jade Emperor issued a decree to seal off the boundary, suppress the chaos, and block your path. The real decree to delete the boundary was issued directly from the Heavenly Mandate Correction Department by someone bypassing the Lingxiao Palace."
"The Correction Division?"
The little white dragon frowned beside him.
This was the first time he had ever heard of this name.
Chen Fan was no stranger to him.
Judging from the previous deletions and alterations, the forced restoration methods, and the actions that seemed like patching up loopholes, he had long suspected that there was a place in Heaven specifically for fixing plot points.
Now, it finally matches up.
"So," Chen Fan slowly began, "those golden tokens outside the South Heavenly Gate weren't something the Jade Emperor insisted on erasing Flower Fruit Mountain from; it was the Correction Department that acted first and reported later."
"Yes," Yang Jian said.
The Bull Demon King's face twitched upon hearing this.
"fart."
"The Jade Emperor doesn't know, who would dare to issue such a major decree?"
Yang Jian glanced at him.
"Knowing and giving instructions are not the same thing."
"The bigger the trouble you cause, the more the Jade Emperor needs to remain calm."
"The Buddhist sect is watching, Laozi is watching, and all the immortals are watching."
"He has to sit in the middle, and no one can lean to the side."
"The Revision Division knew exactly this point: they did the job first, then forced him to admit it."
After these words were spoken, the room fell silent.
Chen Fan's mind was racing.
That makes sense.
Why has the Heavenly Court been acting so strangely lately?
Ruthless, yet not ruthless enough.
They stopped him, but not to the point of obstruction.
It's like two hands in the sky trying to control the direction.
Sun Wukong, carrying his staff, squinted at Yang Jian.
"Are you telling me all this to try and use me as a tool?"
Yang Jian nodded.
"Yes."
He spoke so decisively that even Zhu Bajie was stunned.
"You actually admit it?"
Yang Jian ignored him and continued to look at Sun Wukong.
"I won't vote for you."
"I will not join you in rebellion."
"I only make one deal."
Chen Fan smiled.
"That's just like you."
State your conditions.
Yang Jian's voice was very steady.
"First, you may enter the Heavenly Court."
"Secondly, I will give you a way to bypass most of the guards and go straight into the rear treasury of the Heavenly Mandate Correction Department."
"Third, whether you smash the repair shop or not, whether you take anything from inside, is up to you to decide."
"I only want one result."
Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow.
"What was the result?"
"Don't break through the South Heavenly Gate."
Yang Jian explained it very clearly, word by word.
"You've already broken the gate's authority, and you've saved face."
"If you continue your rampage, the Heavenly Court will not only stop you, but will also surround you together with the Buddhist sect."
"At that point, even if the Jade Emperor didn't want to stand, he would have to."
The Bull Demon King sneered.
"To put it bluntly, they want us to be the knives, but they don't allow the blades to get too bloody."
"You're quite the calculator."
Yang Jian looked at him.
"You can choose not to answer."
"If I make my move now, with 100,000 heavenly soldiers surrounding you from behind the gate, plus the Nine Luminaries and the Twenty-Eight Constellations, you'll all be able to stay here today."
The fat on the Bull Demon King's face twitched.
He is not satisfied.
But he knew that Yang Jian hadn't boasted.
Behind this gate tower, the real cards haven't been played yet.
If it really penetrates, it can fight.
Nobody knows how many will be left after the fighting is over.
Tang Sanzang finally spoke.
"You want to correct the inverted rules because they overstepped their authority."
"Or is it because they crossed your line?"
This was the first time Yang Jian had looked at him properly.
"Xuanzang, you are more troublesome than the rumors say."
Tang Sanzang carried his staff, but there was no smile on his face.
"You answer."
Yang Jian remained silent for two breaths.
"Yes, we have them all."
"The Department of Correction has overstepped its bounds in recent years. They want to interfere in the human world, the underworld, and the heavenly court. What was originally just correcting deviations has now turned into using the name of heaven to change people, events, and even life and death."
"I don't like it."
Sun Wukong laughed when he heard this.
"You have quite a few things you don't like."
Yang Jian said, "But I don't like you either."
"You've made a huge fuss."
"If you really turn the South Heavenly Gate into a river of blood, the Jade Emperor will immediately issue a severe decree. At that time, it won't be the Cultivation Department that dies, but you who will die first."
Chen Fan looked at him and suddenly asked a question.
"Is there also the Buddhist influence behind the Deletion Order?"
Yang Jian's eyes flickered.
It's very light.
But Chen Fan saw it.
"It seems so."
Yang Jian neither admitted nor denied it.
"Knowing too much is not a good thing."
"That means I guessed right," Chen Fan said.
Even the little white dragon gasped in surprise.
The Buddhist sect used the Correction Department as a pretext for their actions.
The Jade Emperor did not explicitly nod in agreement.
Yang Jian didn't want to escalate the matter to the point where the Heavenly Court would completely side with Buddhism.
This game is definitely not a straight line.
Instead, several groups of people were each making their own plans.
Zhu Ganglie smacked his lips.
"No wonder you held back just now."
"You're not guarding the gate, you're controlling the heat."
Yang Jian did not deny it.
Sun Wukong slammed his golden cudgel into the ground.
"OK."
"I'll take half of this deal."
Yang Jian looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I won't break through the door."
Sun Wukong grinned.
"I'll smash the Correction Department anyway."
"Whoever blocks your way from behind will get a beating."
Yang Jian said calmly, "Okay."
The Bull Demon King immediately frowned.
"Monkey, you really believe him that much?"
"If the back storage area turns out to be a hole, we'll all be buried in it."
Tang Sanzang also looked at Chen Fan.
Clearly, he was waiting for Chen Fan to make a decision.
Chen Fan touched his chin.
There are definitely pitfalls.
"But this road is definitely real."
"What Yang Jian wants to see most right now is not us dying on the road, but that we actually make a huge mess of the Correction Department."
"He wants to use us to get things done, but he doesn't want to get himself involved."
"This person is bad, but his badness is useful."
Zhu Ganglie laughed when he heard this.
"That's a pretty harsh comment."
The Bull Demon King was still unhappy.
"I hate people who leave things half-said the most."
Yang Jian seemed not to hear him and took out a thin silver sheet from his sleeve.
When that thing appeared, even the surrounding light seemed to be suppressed.
There are no words on it.
It's a line.
Silver lines meandered slowly across the paper, as if they were alive.
"This is a road map."
"Enter through the side gate, pass the Star Patrol Platform, go around the Mansion of Fate, and then descend into the Cloud Well."
There is an old door at the bottom of the well.
"Go inside, and you'll find the rear storehouse of the Repair Department."
The little white dragon took the silver page, and after just one glance, his back tensed up.
"This picture is real."
"There is a secret mark of the Heavenly Court on it."
"And it's a very old print."
Yang Jian said, "Not many people know about the old route."
Chen Fan took it and examined it carefully for a few moments, then his heart sank.
This image is incredibly detailed.
They even marked down to which floor tile would make a sound and which covered bridge had a night shift change.
The fact that Yang Jian could produce this shows that he had been keeping an eye on the Cultivation Department for quite some time.
Sun Wukong looked at him and suddenly grinned.
"You prepared quite early."
Yang Jian remained expressionless.
"I'm just keeping something in reserve."
Chen Fan put the picture away.
"One last question."
Why did you choose us?
Yang Jian looked at him, his voice flat.
"Because others dare not."
"Also because you guys are crazy enough."
After he finished speaking, the silver light shield slowly dissipated.
The wind from outside blew in again.
The soldiers on both sides became even more nervous after they finished talking.
Especially those star officials who had just been knocked down by Sun Wukong, their faces turned pale.
They thought that Erlang Shen was coming out to fight a big battle.
As a result, the door is not closed, and the knife has not been drawn.
This is even scarier than a real fight.
The Bull Demon King moved closer to Chen Fan and lowered his voice.
"Really leaving?"
"Let's go," Chen Fan said.
"Do you really believe him?"
Believe only half, keep the other half to yourself.
Tang Sanzang nodded.
That's enough.
Red Boy licked his lips, his eyes blazing with fury.
"If Curry really has a gem, then this trip will be worthwhile."
Zhu Ganglie chuckled.
"I just like to take alternative routes."
Sha Wujing was a man of few words. He simply held his demon-subduing staff horizontally in the crook of his arm and stood silently at the back of the group.
Sun Wukong stepped inside.
He paused when he reached Yang Jian's side.
"Jiro."
Yang Jian turned his head to the side.
Sun Wukong's laughter was a bit wild.
"You did a good job setting up the door today."
Yang Jian replied calmly.
"Don't die in there."
Sun Wukong laughed loudly and stepped over the South Heavenly Gate.
The others followed closely behind and went inside.
Along the way, the heavenly soldiers all around retreated.
No one dared to stop them.
No one dared to ask any more questions.
The sight sent chills down the spines of all the defending generals.
The majestic South Heavenly Gate was actually entered by this group of people.
We'll just charge in.
Erlang Shen himself watched them go in.
One of the lieutenants couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a trembling voice, "True Lord... are you just going to let them go like this?"
Yang Jian did not turn around.
"Hold your position."
The lieutenant was so frightened that he quickly shut his mouth.
Chen Fan and his group hurried along the map.
The further in you go, the farther away the clamor from the Heavenly Court becomes.
This road is very remote.
It's as if the Heavenly Court deliberately forgot about it.
Below the Star Observatory, a few old lamps were still lit, their flames small.
Beside the Sunken Cloud Well, a mottled iron gate is half-buried in the cloud wall.
Pigsy went up and pushed the door, but it didn't budge.
"How many years has this thing not been turned on?"
Little White Dragon followed the map and tapped three times on a black brick next to the door.
With a click.
The iron gate slowly cracked open.
A blast of cold air emanated from inside.
It's not yin energy.
It's like an old warehouse that's been sealed off for too long, containing many things that shouldn't be exposed to the light.
Red Boy raised an eyebrow.
"interesting."
The Bull Demon King hoisted the iron cudgel onto his shoulder.
"I'll say it one more time before I go in."
"Yang Jian is not someone you can completely trust."
Tang Sanzang gripped his staff tightly.
"Nobody fully believes him."
"We believe in the path before us."
Just as Chen Fan was about to step inside, he suddenly remembered the last look Yang Jian gave him.
That's strange.
It's like a reminder.
It's like watching them make fools of themselves in advance.
He paused for a moment.
"Wait a minute."
Everyone stopped.
"What's wrong?" Sun Wukong asked.
Chen Fan glanced at the crack in the door and whispered, "Yang Jian missed something."
Zhu Ganglie was stunned.
Which sentence?
Chen Fan repeated slowly.
"He said that someone we least wanted to see, but had to see, was being held in the back of the cell."
Upon hearing this, the expressions on everyone's faces changed.
The person you least want to see?
Who?
Who is the Buddha?
The Jade Emperor's people?
Or...someone who should have died long ago?
A golden light flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes, and he raised his hand and used his staff to push open the iron gate.
Black smoke billowed behind the door.
A figure was sitting at the deepest part of the back storage room.
Hearing the noise, the man slowly raised his head.
Chapter 154 Tang Monk in the Back of the Library
As soon as the iron gate opened, the smell from the back warehouse rushed out.
It doesn't smell like blood.
It smells like incense.
The fragrance was cloying, like the stale wax piled up on a temple altar, making one's nose feel stuffy.
Zhu Ganglie cursed first.
"Damn it, this place is even more disgusting than a Buddhist temple."
Chen Fan didn't reply, but instead raised his hand to suppress the crowd.
There's a lot behind the door.
It looks like a hollowed-out mountain belly.
Rows of black iron racks stood on both sides, each rack holding a talisman. The talismans emitted a pale golden light, illuminating faint Buddhist patterns. The ground was not paved with bricks, but with whole slabs of bluestone, the cracks of which were engraved with small characters.
Chen Fan glanced at it, and his face darkened.
They are all numbered.
Jingzhu No. 1.
The second one.
Lord's Scripture No. 37.
Go further in.
At the deepest part, there is a lotus platform.
A monk sat on the lotus platform.
Fair-skinned. Slender. Gentle features. His robe was perfectly straight, even the folds looked like they had been measured with a ruler. He also held a string of prayer beads in his hand, every single bead intact, and was carefully moving them one by one.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
The moment that face appeared, everyone stopped.
Pigsy's mouth was wide open.
Sha Wujing almost smashed the crescent shovel in his hand to the ground.
The White Dragon looked directly at Tang Sanzang.
Because that face was exactly the same as the Tang Monk beside them.
Even the flesh on the earlobes, even the slight curve of the bridge of the nose, are the same.
Red Boy gasped.
"Is it really you?"
Tang Sanzang did not move.
The monk in the back row didn't move either.
The two Tang Monks, one standing and one sitting, were several dozen feet apart, like people in and out of a mirror.
Sun Wukong's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Fake."
The monk sitting on the lotus platform slowly spoke, and his voice was the same.
"This humble monk, Xuanzang, is ordered to travel west to save all sentient beings."
Pigsy's scalp tingled.
"Even their accents are the same."
Chen Fan stared at the monk's wrist.
There is a thin gold line on the inside of my wrist.
It looks like it was sewn on.
He took two steps forward and suddenly smiled.
"The standard version."
The monk looked at him with a flat, expressionless gaze.
"Item No. A001, according to the main template, is in good condition and can be used at any time."
Upon hearing this, even Tang Sanzang fell silent.
Pigsy exploded first.
"Damn it, is it really a spare part?"
Red Boy felt nauseous upon hearing this and slammed his Fire-Tipped Spear to the ground.
"I knew those bald monks in Buddhism were all scoundrels; they could even turn the pilgrims on their journey into batches!"
Chen Fan had already walked to the lotus platform and raised his hand to tap the monk on the shoulder.
hard.
It's not as hard as stone.
It's like iron wrapped in meat.
"Stop pretending, tell us your background."
The monk lowered his head, his voice remaining calm.
"Formed in accordance with the joint design of the Great Thunderclap Temple and the Heavenly Court's Correction Department. Purpose: To replace the out-of-control scripture carrier. Duty: To continue the journey westward, maintain the established route, and ensure the stability of the pilgrimage."
The more calmly he spoke, the uglier the expressions on everyone's faces became.
Pigsy's teeth were clenched so tightly they were practically chattering.
"Out of control?"
He looked at Tang Sanzang as he spoke.
"Does this mean that if Master doesn't listen, they'll just replace him with someone else?"
The template Tang Sanzang continued, "If the original scripture owner deviates from the teachings, refuses to implement them, or causes irreparable contamination, the replacement procedure will be activated. Memories can be implanted, identities can be overwritten, and sentient beings along the way can undergo cognitive repair."
The white dragon felt a chill run down its spine.
"Cognitive repair?"
Chen Fan sneered.
"Speaking like a human is brainwashing."
The template shows Tang Sanzang nodding.
"Yes."
That "yes" was an answer that was too crisp and decisive.
It's like saying you ate a meal today.
Red Boy raised his hand to set the fire on fire.
"Burn it, it makes me want to vomit."
Chen Fan grabbed him and pressed him down.
"Don't rush."
Tang Sanzang stood behind, without saying a word.
Chen Fan turned around and glanced at him.
No matter how timid or soft-spoken this monk usually was, he didn't utter a single word now. He just stared at his own reflection in front of him, as if he were looking at a corpse that had been skinned and then put back on.
Sun Wukong, carrying his staff, stares at the template of Tang Sanzang.
"How many are left?"
The template Tang Seng answered very quickly.
"One finished product. Three substandard products. Nine discarded products."
"Only Tang Sanzang?"
"The pilgrimage team all have a template library."
Even Sun Wukong's face darkened this time.
"lead the way."
The template of Tang Sanzang did not resist and got up to leave.
The movements were very steady.
Step by step, as if measured precisely.
The group followed him deeper into the back warehouse.
The further you go in, the stronger the smell of incense becomes.
The number of talismans on both shelves also increased.
Chen Fan casually tore off a piece, which read: Wukong Template, Suppression Version, Taming Failed.
Another point: The Wukong template and the Guardian version are too aggressive and have been shelved.
His eyelids twitched.
These bastards, they even want to mass-produce monkeys.
Further ahead, there was a row of huge iron cabinets.
Each cabinet door is inlaid with a bronze mirror.
The mirror shone, revealing the scene inside the cabinet.
Inside the first cabinet, there was a monkey-shaped human figure crouching.
He was wearing a golden headband, which locked his limbs.
The eyes were still golden, but they lacked spirit, as if they had been emptied.
Zhu Ganglie cursed him as soon as he saw him.
"This guy calls himself Wukong?"
Sun Wukong laughed instead.
It made people's skin crawl.
"Using me, Old Sun, as a model, and producing something like this, does it even deserve the surname Sun?"
The second cabinet was even more disgusting.
A fat monk embryo was soaking in liquid gold; before his belly had fully developed, a smile had already been etched onto his lips.
A sign hangs next to it: "Pigsy template, greedy type, suitable for harmonizing team atmosphere."
Pigsy's face turned green.
"Reconcile your ancestors."
The third cabinet.
A tall figure sat there, with prayer beads around his neck and an expressionless face.
Sha Wujing stared for a long time, his throat becoming dry.
"Even I have one."
Tang Seng calmly added to the template.
"The White Dragon template has been archived in another storage area, responsible for mount stability and route traction."
Little White Dragon slammed his fist into the cabinet door.
A crack appeared in the bronze mirror.
"Turns out I'm not even considered a human, I'm just classified as a mount."
Red Boy circled around the cabinets, feeling increasingly nauseous the more he looked at them.
"Wow, that's really something! Monkeys can do it, pigs can do it, monks can do it, and dragons can do it too. Is the next step to have even the Jade Emperor make a batch of backups?"
Chen Fan glanced around and saw several unfinished products in the corner.
Some only produced the head.
Some only sculpt half of the body.
Some had their chests open, and inside were not internal organs, but circles of golden scriptures, slowly crawling like living worms.
He was so shocked by what he saw that his scalp tingled.
This is not a form of human refining.
This is like taking a person apart into parts and then putting them back together in the way they want.
Tang Sanzang finally moved forward.
He walked up to the number "001" and stopped.
Two identical people, standing very close together.
The template shows Tang Sanzang looking at him.
"Original host detected. Recall recommended."
Zhu Ganglie almost spat out his drink.
"Recycle your mother."
The template Tang Sanzang continued, "The original scripture's pollution level is too high, making it unsuitable for the main journey to the West. I suggest erasing, replacing, and repairing the knowledge gained along the way."
This time, Tang Sanzang raised his head.
He asked very softly.
Do you know who you are?
The template for Tang Sanzang's reply is: "This humble monk is a pilgrim on a pilgrimage."
Do you know Jin Chanzi?
"The predecessor designated by Buddhism."
"Do you know what you're going to do on your journey westward?"
"Suffering. Spreading the Dharma. Returning to one's rightful place. Completing the great undertaking."
After listening, Tang Sanzang didn't ask any more questions.
He simply reached out and took the string of Buddhist beads from the template of Tang Sanzang.
The monk in the template did not resist.
Because this option is not included in the program.
Tang Sanzang glanced at the prayer beads and suddenly smiled.
He smiled faintly.
"The beads are all worn and worn. They're made quite realistically."
next moment.
Snapped.
With a flick of his wrist, he crushed the entire string of prayer beads.
The beads scattered all over the ground.
The template shows Tang Sanzang pausing for the first time.
It looks like something is stuck.
Tang Sanzang slapped him across the face.
not heavy.
But the sound is very crisp.
Everyone in Curry heard it.
The template of Tang Sanzang was slapped so hard that his head turned to the side, and a gash appeared on half of his face. There was no blood in the gash, only a layer of fine golden threads.
Zhu Ganglie was stunned at first, then suddenly gasped.
"Master, that was a really ruthless move."
Tang Sanzang shook his hand, his voice still soft.
"I'll take care of this face myself."
Chen Fan looked at him but didn't stop him.
Sun Wukong was even more direct, standing aside with his staff and watching the show.
Tang Sanzang struck again with his palm.
This time, the slap was applied directly to the forehead of the Tang Monk template.
A flash of Buddha's light appeared in his palm.
It is not the compassionate light of Buddha.
It was the anger that Tang Sanzang had been suppressing for years.
Click.
The template depicts Tang Sanzang's forehead split open.
He fell backward and crashed onto the edge of the lotus platform.
He mechanically repeated, "Replacement program...startup failed...suggestion..."
Tang Sanzang raised his foot and stepped on his mouth.
"Shut up."
With that kick, the chin of the Tang Monk template collapsed.
Red Boy watched with the most enjoyment and almost clapped.
"We should have done this a long time ago."
Just as Chen Fan was about to speak, the communication talisman in his pocket suddenly lit up.
It flashed and flickered, shining brightly.
He picked up a cassette player and heard Zongwu's hushed voice coming from inside.
"Don't burn down the warehouse, move things first."
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow.
"You found out too?"
"I just intercepted an internal order from the Correction Division. If the template database is compromised, the master file will be immediately transferred. If you burn this file, you won't be able to find anything later."
Zongwu paused for a moment, then added another sentence.
"Also, this thing isn't just a spare part."
"It is a line."
"Following the clues, we can find out who signed off on the goods, who inspected them, and who did the final assembly for the westward shipment."
Chen Fan's eyes lit up immediately.
That's a harsh statement.
Burning it is a way to release pent-up emotions.
Taking things away is what constitutes ransacking.
He put away the communication talisman and immediately spoke.
"Stop smashing everything. Move the goods from the warehouse."
Red Boy looked displeased.
"You still keep this piece of junk?"
"Keep it for later, so you can slap yourself in the face."
Chen Fan pointed to the iron cabinets around him.
"Who made these things, who approved them, who hid them—all of them must be dragged out and displayed to the public. Once they're laid out across the Three Realms, neither Buddhism nor Heaven will be able to keep them clean."
Pigsy slapped his thigh.
"I like this."
Sun Wukong laughed too.
"Alright, I'll go move some too. I'll also go see just how many stand-ins these bastards have done for me, Old Sun."
The group immediately took action.
The White Dragon was in charge of dismantling the talisman lock.
Sha Wujing carried the cabinet directly.
Zhu Ganglie was the most violent; he picked up an entire shelf of files and left.
Red Boy cursed under his breath, but his hands moved quickly, pulling up several half-finished products along with their cabinets and bases.
Chen Fan opened the general book next to him and became more and more alarmed as he read.
It's all clearly remembered above.
In a certain month of a certain year, Tang Sanzang's faith wavered, and he prepared to activate the Class B replacement.
In a certain month of a certain year, the probability of Wukong going out of control increased, and it was recommended to conduct additional tests on the restraint template.
In a certain month of a certain year, Bajie's ability to regulate emotions declined, and he reshaped his smiling personality.
The words, line by line, were like knives scraping at the heart.
It turns out that they had a backup team hanging over their heads the whole time.
If you don't listen, then replace it.
If you have an idea, then fix it.
If you want to resist, then delete it.
Just then.
A soft sound suddenly came from the deepest part of the back warehouse.
It felt like a piece of metal scraping the ground.
It's very light.
But everyone paused for a moment.
Chen Fan looked up.
Ahead was a black wall, with a crack appearing at some unknown time.
A hand first emerged from the crack.
The fingers are long and slender, but the joints are made of metal. The knuckles are covered with a layer of human skin-colored material, which looks real at first glance, but is creepy to look at upon closer inspection.
Immediately afterwards, a person slowly walked out.
He was wearing a kasaya.
The hem of the kasaya dragged on the ground, leaving a trail of tiny sparks.
His head was bald, with a dot of gold paint between his brows, but his face didn't resemble a monk's; it looked more like a mask that had been polished many times. A smile hung at the corner of his mouth, neither deep nor shallow, as if it were fixed in place.
The scariest part was his chest.
The robe was half-open, revealing not a physical body, but a series of rotating gears. In the center of each gear was a Buddhist seal, which was flashing intermittently.
Pigsy instinctively took a half step back.
"What the hell is this thing?"
The man raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the open cabinet doors scattered on the floor, before looking at the fallen template of Tang Sanzang.
He wasn't angry.
Instead, he clapped his hands lightly.
"They came really fast."
"I originally intended to wait for you to dismantle two more layers of the warehouse."
His voice sounded like it was being struck with a wooden fish.
He spoke slowly and deliberately.
The talismans around the back warehouse lit up simultaneously.
The scriptures on the ground also began to glow.
A sense of oppression, ten times stronger than before, suddenly pressed down.
The master book in Chen Fan's hand had become noticeably heavier.
Sun Wukong took a step forward, raising his golden cudgel horizontally.
Who are you?
The metal figure draped in a kasaya smiled slightly and placed his hand on the Buddha mudra on his chest.
"Revise the rear warehouse and the general production workshop."
"Chief Engineer of the Journey to the West Template"
You can call me—
He paused, and a golden light shone in his eyes.
"Mysterious craftsmanship".