The closer they got, the stronger the influence of the seal. The majestic phenomenon started concealing itself, becoming undetectable by others.
“As long as we don’t attempt to touch the seal, the second layer of the seal wouldn’t display its might and wouldn’t stop us from getting closer.” Yan Zhaoge mumbled.
Feng Yunsheng nodded, “However, the first layer of seal outside could easily prevent others from getting near it.”
Yan Zhaoge subconsciously looked towards the top of the mountain in an attempt to find out whether the six-words mantra talisman written by the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha was still around.
However, that spot was already empty.
“Let’s go down first.” As Yan Zhaoge spoke, the two held their hands and walked down towards the mountain foot.
Upon reaching the mountain foot, they first walked around the external mountain range and discovered nothing.
The raging roar was still resounding non-stop beside Yan Zhaoge’s ears. It seemed to be resonating from all corners of the mountain range, making it hard for him to determine the source.
They continued walking deep within the mountains.
Here, they finally came in contact with the brilliant mist.
The brilliant mist didn’t undergo any transformation, nor did it forbid the two from entering.
After passing through the mist, Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng both looked at each other, “The same person didn’t lay down the two layers of seals.”
The seemingly useless first layer of seal that didn’t hinder their entry was far stronger than the second layer of seal outside.
Without accounting for being discovered by the Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Bull Demon King, and the others, Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng could still attempt to break through the second layer of seal. However, the first layer of seal right in front of them was impossible to be broken through forcefully.
“The Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha laid this down in the past?” Feng Yunsheng looked towards Yan Zhaoge with a perplexed expression, “Didn’t the Buddhist monk Sanzang open it up? The Buddha’s six-words mantra that should’ve been on top of the mountain can’t be found anywhere here as well.”
“Is this the remnant of the seal, or was a new seal laid down?”
Yan Zhaoge didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he sunk deep into thought.
After a while, he said, “Let’s continue walking inside.”
After walking for a while, the continuous raging roar suddenly stopped.
All kinds of sounds suddenly converged.
However, Yan Zhaoge felt a chill down his spine.
He felt as if a pair of eyes were staring at him.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1367 - Great Sage Equalling Heavens!
Yan Zhaoge could only feel a gaze silently staring at him out of nowhere.
He looked towards Feng Yunsheng. The two knew each other well enough, and no words were required to be said. Feng Yunsheng said, “Previously, I wasn’t able to hear it. However, I can see it now.”
“We’ve already entered the internal part of the first layer of seal. This seal wouldn’t hinder us from meeting the other party,” said Yan Zhaoge.
The reason why the roaring sound disappeared wasn’t because the source stopped roaring.
The source wasn’t an existence that was being suppressed here. Instead, it came from an unresigned intent filled with rage which materialized itself within the space.
If the owner ignored it, it would remain in this space eternally.
When the person suppressed here noticed Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng, he shifted his attention towards them, causing the voice to disappear naturally.
The ruthless and tyrannical gaze was sufficient in causing a chill down other people’s spine.
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng both reaffirmed themselves mentally and continued walking towards the insides of the mountain.
As they were walking, they felt something and raised their heads together.
A pair of bronze mirror-like eyes were staring at them!
The gaze was no longer invisible. Instead, it seemed like a mirror light that illuminated through anything within the boundless darkness. Nothing would be able to escape its illumination.
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng’s body felt numb while being stared at by this gaze.
The feeling seemed to exist between reality and illusion, and it was continually transforming. It would ignore the two’s Immortal physique and directly affected their souls, causing their minds to go blank. Otherwise, it would ignore their soul and affect their physique, rendering them unable to move at all after being paralyzed.
The phenomenon of chaos loomed within Yan Zhaoge’s eyes, while the devilish blue-black flames within Feng Yunsheng’s eyes transformed into empty darkness.
After the feelings transitioned for a few rounds, the two finally managed to stabilize their soul and physique once more.
The mirror-like gaze didn’t go overboard either, and the gaze was suddenly retracted.
Then, a silhouette descended from the sky and appeared in front of the two!
After Yan Zhaoge made out his appearance, he couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching.
Although his figure wasn’t that huge, he seemed domineering enough simply by crouching there. He appeared to be capable of carrying the entire heavens; his feet seemed to be stepping on the Netherworld’s Yellow Springs, while his head seemed to be supporting the whole Nine Heavens.
He had an apish and hairy face. He wore a phoenix feather purple golden crown, and he was clad in golden armor. He wore a pair of lotus silk root cloud-stepping shoes and held a rod by his hand. Currently, he was staring at both Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng.
Seeing the ruthless golden fur primate that seemed to be unbounded by any rules, Yan Zhaoge couldn’t calm himself down despite already guessing the other person’s identity.
The one that appeared in front of them was the legendary Monkey King, the Great Sage Equalling Heavens – Sun Wukong!
However, if Sun Wukong is here, what about that Victorious Fighting Buddha outside?
Did the Buddha mistake him for someone else?
Or was this monkey fake instead?
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng both stared at each other. They could make out the uncertainty within each other’s gaze.
“A Jade Clear disciple and A Devil’s successor?” The ruthless monkey started speaking first.
He looked at both Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng with a confused gaze.
“How queer, how queer!” The monkey looked at Feng Yunsheng, “At first glance, you’re a Devil’s successor. However, why can I feel that your foundations originated from the Jade Clear and Grand Clear?”
He looked at Yan Zhaoge again, “You’re even weirder… Wait, you cultivate all Three Clears?”
The monkey laughed suddenly, “Interesting, truly interesting!”
Before the laughter stopped, the monkey suddenly gasped, “You’re such a strange person!”
In a short period of time, his expression had continuously transformed many times. In the end, his expression turned back into his confused expression as he stared at Yan Zhaoge and remained silent.
“What did he make out?” Numerous thoughts flashed across Yan Zhaoge’s mind. Without any change in expression, he cupped his hands towards the monkey, “Jade Clear disciple – Yan Zhaoge. This is my wife, and also my junior apprentice-sister of the same sect. Due to specific reasons, she now possesses the power of the Nine Underworld’s Great Devils. However, she isn’t a Devil’s successor.”
“How should we call you?”
Hearing Yan Zhaoge’s question, the monkey raised his head and laughed, “I wonder how long have I remained in this mountain? Even a junior doesn’t recognize the Old Sun anymore?”
Hearing how the monkey referred to himself as Yan Zhaoge blurted out, “Eastern Continent of Superior Deity’s Aolai Kingdom’s Mountain of Flo
wer and Fruit’s Water Curtain Cave’s owner – Great Sage Equalling Heavens – Monkey King Sun Wukong!”
“
Oh?
So you still recognize me,” said the monkey with a smile. “Why did you pretend not to know me then?”
After Yan Zhaoge remained silent for a while, and said, “Because, not long ago, I saw another Great Sage Equalling Heavens.”
The monkey’s eyes widened upon hearing Yan Zhaoge’s words.
Boundless murderous and ruthless intent leaked out from him, causing even the mountains to shudder.
“He’s outside of the mountain?” The monkey couldn’t control his rage anymore. His body instantly expanded fanatically, causing the entire Two Boundaries Mountain to experience an earthquake!”
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng quickly stabilized themselves and stepped backward.
The monkey had already gone crazy, and veins were appearing on his eyes. His figure transformed into a larger size than the sun itself, as if he was about to burst through the skies.
However, a seemingly non-existent seal suddenly appeared and enveloped the entire Two Boundaries Mountain.
A brilliant fog even more majestic than the cosmos’ galaxy sealed the Two Boundaries Mountain off and started suppressing the lunatic towering monkey.
The monkey’s figure started to shrink speedily. He was forced backward by the fog and knocked against the mountain’s rocks.
When Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng looked closely, they saw an unremarkable spiritual stone embedded into the mountain’s rocks.
Half of the spiritual stone was exposed outside, while the other half was buried within the mountain’s rocks.
The monkey’s figure was forced into the small stone. As he attempted to escape once more, he was sealed back inside.
After repeatedly attempting to escape many times, the monkey still refused to give up. He rampaged around and let out an angry roar.
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng could hear his roars. They subconsciously covered their ears, and yet they felt as if their eardrums would shatter soon.
“Such strength! He’s been sealed for such a long time and shouldn’t have been able to exert his strength at all. And yet, he’s still capable of causing such a huge commotion.” Yan Zhaoge now understood. The monkey that appeared in front of them was merely a projection of himself.
The spiritual stone by the mountain’s rocks was his original form after being sealed.
“I might’ve said some vague stuff previously. Please don’t blame me, Great Sage,” said Yan Zhaoge. “The one outside isn’t called the Great Sage Equalling Heavens anymore. Most people would refer to him as the Namo Victorious Fighting Buddha.”
“What nonsense is that Namo Victorious Fighting Buddha!” scolded Sun Wukong.
Yan Zhaoge could hear that something was wrong. He purposely said, “Indeed, indeed. You were the one that protected the Buddhist monk – Sanzang and helped him acquire the Buddhist Scriptures, causing the teachings of Buddhism to descend upon the East once again. Such course of action drove the flourishing of the central Blessed Lands of Saha and Buddhism in the East. Then, you attained Buddhism Enlightenment, and transformed into a Buddha…”
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by the monkey, “Nonsense! Since when did I turn into a Buddha?”
Yan Zhaoge wasn’t displeased by the monkey disrupting his words. Instead, he immediately asked, “If that’s the case, you weren’t suppressed here once again after acquiring the Buddhist Scriptures, turning into a Buddha, and attaining Buddhism Enlightenment?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1368 - Battle of the Journey to the West
“Acquire the Buddhist Scriptures? Turn into a Buddha? Attain Buddhism Enlightenment?” Monkey Sun let out a weird laugh.
Only, although he was laughing, his laughter was filled with rage and unresigned.
“Is attaining Buddhism Enlightenment something to be highly-regarded for?” He yelled loudly, “I’ve never cared about it before!”
“Liar! They planned on lying to me from the start! Spreading Western Buddhism to the North and teaching Buddhism to the world. Is that a glorious feat? In the end, such a feat required stepping through the corpses of my comrades. Who would desire such things?”
Yan Zhaoge sunk deep into thought.
Feng Yunsheng couldn’t help but ask, “Great Sage, since you’re here, then that Victorious Fighting Buddha outside… Could he be the Six-Eared Macaque?”
After knowing that their destination was the Five Elements Mountain, Feng Yunsheng had brushed up on her knowledge regarding the mid Journey to the West era.
Most of her knowledge was acquired from the legends and tales. After all, that era had already passed long ago.
However, Feng Yunsheng was also aware of the true and false Monkey King’s story.
According to the myths, on the way to obtain the Buddhist Scriptures, a Six-Eared Macaque of unknown origins had stolen the identity of the Great Sage Equalling Heavens – Sun Wukong and caused tremendous havoc throughout the world. No one was able to identify the real Wukong and the imposter.
It wasn’t until the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha appeared that the Six-Eared Macaque was forced back to his original form and ended up being killed by Sun Wukong instead.
If the monkey here was the true Great Sage Equalling Heavens.
Then, who was that Victorious Buddha Monkey that attained Buddhism Enlightenment?
“Could it be, the real Monkey King was suppressed, while the Six-Eared Macaque took the opportunity to swap his identity?” asked Feng Yunsheng.
The monkey remained silent. However, his indignant emotions slowly calmed down.
“Victorious Fighting Buddha, Victorious Fighting Buddha, attaining the Buddhism Enlightenment. Since that crude had transcended to become a Buddha, that means they succeeded…” mumbled the monkey. “Western Buddhism being spread in the North, the Blessed Lands of Saha flourishing, Buddhism flourishing… They succeeded…”
After a while, he suddenly raised his head and looked towards Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng, “Brats, I’ve been suppressed here for a long time, and I’m oblivious of what had happened in the outside world. What happened during the journey to the west? Pray tell.”
After a moment of pause, the monkey added, “Tell me from the start… Based on what you’ve all heard, start from the time when I first met the Sanzang monk.”
Feng Yunsheng looked towards Yan Zhaoge with a perplexed expression. After seeing that Yan Zhaoge was still zoned out, she answered after thinking for a while, “My knowledge about it is limited. Hopefully, I won’t mislead you.”
She gathered her information based on the myths that seemed close to the truth and described them to the monkey.
The more the monkey listened to her description, the wider his eyes got. He was gritting his teeth, obviously trying his best to control his emotions.
Feng Yunsheng described how the pilgrimage was completed and how the monk attained enlightenment, causing him to regain the position of the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit. Then, she described how Traveling Monk Sun also managed to acquire the position of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, and how that monkey cried with both rage and sadness when the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha transcended.
After a long while, the monkey’s expression slowly calmed down, and he let out a long sigh.
Feng Yunsheng stopped saying anything. Yan Zhaoge, who had previously remained silent, asked out of the blue, “Do you regret asking this, Great Sage?”
“Why would I regret it?” The monkey got a little angry and yelled, “If I coveted becoming a Buddha, why would I remain trapped within this mountain!”
Feng Yunsheng was shocked, “Ever since you were first suppressed, you’ve never left the Five Elements Mountain?”
Then, who was the Traveling Monk Sun that appeared before the Six-Eared Macaque and protected the monk Sanzang to complete the pilgrimage?
Wh
o was the monkey that attained Buddhism Enlightenment and became the Victorious Fighting Buddha?
Or, could this monkey be the fake one? Could he merely be trying to deceive us?”
Feng Yunsheng suddenly felt a chill down her spine as well.
Yan Zhaoge was also staring at the monkey. He didn’t even conceal the suspicions within his gaze.
The monkey stared at him with a speechless look. Then, he said, “While I don’t covet it, someone else does. I am him, and he is I. However, I definitely wouldn’t do the things that he did!”
“Even if I was to be suppressed for a hundred thousand years, a million years, or even a hundred million years, I’ll still stand by my words!”
Seeing the monkey gritting his teeth, Yan Zhaoge said, “You’ve split into two in the past!”
Feng Yunsheng remembered what the Brocade Emperor had gone through in the past and immediately realized what had happened. She looked at the Great Sage Equalling Heavens in shock.
“Traveling Monk Sun wore the Golden Circlet and accompanied Sanzang on his pilgrimage,” said Yan Zhaoge word by word. “And yet, the Great Sage Equalling Heavens is still here?”
Traveling Monk Sun was Sun Wukong, while the Great Sage Equalling Heavens was also Sun Wukong.
However, Traveling Monk Sun wasn’t the Great Sage Equalling Heavens.
“
Hehe,
of course, I remained here!” The monkey’s pair of eyes were like mirrors. Sparks were jumping around within the mirror, signifying his stubbornness and unyieldingness.
Yan Zhaoge asked, “About that, Six-Eared Macaque…”
“I’m oblivious about other stuff that happened, and I’d like to ask you two about it.” The Great Sage Equalling Heavens laughed at himself, “However, I’ve always known of the existence of this Six-Eared Macaque. I even know when he’s alive and when he would be dead.”
“Traveling Monk Sun’s heart demon…” Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng both understood what he meant.
After Sun Wukong was split into two, the Great Sage Equalling Heavens that stubbornly opposed Buddhism continued being suppressed by the mountain, while the Traveling Monk Sun was willing to leave here and convert to Buddhism.
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