“If I had left the Journey to the West world, I would have perished long ago.”
Meng Qi, hidden far away in Mount Tianzhu, opened his eyes. The final sigh of the “Undying Demon God” echoed in his mind, leaving him both startled and doubtful.
It wasn’t just about leaving Tianzhu Mountain, but about completely departing from the world of Journey to the West. This implied that what drove “Him” into seclusion wasn’t the state of being “neither alive nor dead,” but rather the need to rely on the unique environment of the Nine Nether Fissures to barely sustain existence.
What other reason could there be for not being able to leave the Journey to the West world? Was it related to the secrets of the Sacred Mountain battle or the reason He had not returned to the Buddhist sect? Thoughts swirling, Meng Qi didn’t dwell too deeply—he currently had almost no clues and lacked the ability to investigate, so it was better to leave these thoughts for later.
He slowly stood up, took a step forward, and a cloud of somersault magic rose beneath his feet, carrying him upward as he flew eastward.
Soon, an endless expanse of blue waves appeared below, with golden lights transforming into fish-like shapes leaping about. The vastness of the sky and sea stretched out majestically before him. Meng Qi had already crossed from the Western Cattle Continent to the Eastern Divine Continent, arriving at yet another Eastern Sea.
He stretched his vision and expanded his divine consciousness, calculating the Dragon Palace’s location while slowing his speed and flying deeper into the ocean.
Suddenly, his heart stirred. He slightly adjusted his course, flying close to the sea surface. Dozens of breaths later, he saw surging tides, with numerous strangely shaped sea creatures clustered among the waves—elders with heavy, mottled turtle shells on their backs, strong men wielding terrifying claws, fish generals with mouths shaped like long spines or monstrous bodies, and giant lobster soldiers. Countless in number, they covered the sea, their demonic auras rising to the heavens, forming dark clouds above the waves.
“Prime Minister Turtle, Emperor Crab, Salmon Monster, Tuna Monster, Giant Lobster Monster… What am I thinking…” Meng Qi twitched his face slightly, redirecting his thoughts. “This must be the Dragon Palace’s navy?”
He pondered briefly, adjusted his headpiece, the Fan Yun Crown, releasing a stream of clear energy that transformed into a chaotic celebration cloud. From it emerged a handsome white-robed monk who appeared barely an adult, with red lips and white teeth, each step producing lotus blossoms, untouched by worldly filth, and exuding an otherworldly aura. Within moments, he arrived near the aquatic army, his body faintly emitting demonic energy added by his original form.
“Prime Minister Turtle, please halt!” The white-robed monk Meng Qi called out. His voice was not loud but spread across the surrounding sea area, warm and pleasant, instantly dispelling all irritation.
Upon hearing this, the elder with the heavy turtle shell raised his hand, halting the aquatic army. He stroked his long beard and looked at Meng Qi with puzzlement. “Master, you seem unfamiliar, not of the Eastern Sea’s aquatic race. What urgent matter brings you to seek me?”
Many demon clans had voluntarily or forcibly joined the Buddhist sect in the past. Though some later left, they had learned Buddhist martial arts and often dressed as monks. Therefore, Prime Minister Turtle was not particularly surprised.
“I come from the Western Cattle Continent; naturally, you wouldn’t recognize me, Prime Minister,” Meng Qi clasped his palms together with a smile. “May I ask where the Dragon Palace is? I have urgent matters and must see the Dragon King.”
“Urgent matters? Unless the sky is falling, the King probably won’t see you. He’s quite troubled right now,” Prime Minister Turtle instinctively replied, as Meng Qi’s displayed aura was clear, solemn, and majestic, almost rivaling the Dragon King’s.
Wherever one goes, cultivation level and strength are always the main reasons for receiving courteous treatment.
The Eastern Dragon King was once the water deity ruling the boundless Eastern Sea under the Celestial Court. As a true five-clawed dragon, his cultivation level was likely nearly legendary. Coupled with the Dragon Palace’s long existence and unique nature, there were countless powerful restrictions. Without reaching the legendary level, it was best not to forcefully intrude… Holding this mindset, Meng Qi curiously asked, “The Dragon King dominates the Eastern Sea, with mighty generals and strong soldiers under him. And Prime Minister, with your wisdom and insight, what could possibly trouble you? Perhaps I can help. Though I may not be skilled, I do possess some special abilities.”
He had always been shamelessly flattering, smoothly complimenting Prime Minister Turtle and others.
Prime Minister Turtle’s sly small eyes flickered a few times before he sighed. “Ah, the Princess ran off with a human, and the King is furious, deeply resenting that man for betraying his kindness!”
“Betrayed his kindness?” Meng Qi, experienced in listening to stories, smoothly followed up.
Wasn’t it supposed to be demons running rampant? In the Journey to the West world, there was actually a human capable of seducing a dragon princess?
Prime Minister Turtle spat. “Xu Xuan is a remnant of the human race. Out of pity for his talent, our King never acted against him. When Xu Xuan incurred the wrath of the King of the Sea and was gravely injured, the King took him into the Dragon Palace, hoping to recruit him. But that ungrateful wretch, shameless and immoral, seduced the Third Princess Ao Zhen. After recovering, he fled with her. Moreover, the Third Princess took the Ninth Princess Ao Qing with her, making the King so angry he’s lost his appetite and cannot hear music. He has dispatched the entire aquatic force to capture them, even sending me out.”
“Recently, we heard that Xu Xuan has become quite successful, even forming a sworn brotherhood with the King of the Sea. This is a looming threat to the Dragon Palace!”
The King of the Sea and the King of the Sea… I heard that the Eastern Sea isn’t solely ruled by the Dragon King, with many powerful demon deities still existing. It seems it’s indeed true… Meng Qi nodded slightly. “I do have some skills in locating people. If the Prime Minister is willing to give it a try, please provide the birth dates and detailed information of Princess Ao Zhen and Ao Qing. If there are any personal belongings, that would be even better.”
I won’t break their karmic connections myself, but borrowing Ao Zhen and Ao Qing to meet the Dragon King isn’t a big deal. After meeting him, I can just return them to Xu Xuan.
Listening to the monk’s gentle and approachable heartbeat, Prime Minister Turtle pondered for a long time before saying, “Master, you clearly appear to be a great monk. Please help me.”
He revealed Ao Zhen and Ao Qing’s birth dates and detailed information and handed Meng Qi two pieces of the princesses’ jewelry.
After listening, deep within Meng Qi’s eyes, an ancient glazed lamp flickered, with the Flame of Dao quietly burning. Black and white karmic lights flowed and transformed, grasping the related karma.
Hmm, the karma connects to nothingness, actually managing to deceive my Karma of All Results… After Prime Minister Turtle finished speaking, Meng Qi had already reached a conclusion, slightly frowning.
Although my current “Karma of All Results” is only partially mastered, with accurate birth dates and detailed information, as long as no powerful beings interfere, even if they are in another universe, I can easily lock onto Ao Zhen and Ao Qing and summon them back across the distance.
Relaxing his brows, Meng Qi clicked his tongue. “This is getting interesting…”
Smiling, he said to Prime Minister Turtle, “Prime Minister, I will immediately find a quiet place to set up a barrier and perform secret techniques. If I have any results, I will report them to you at the Dragon Palace right away.”
“Good. If I am not at the Dragon Palace, you can look for me in the nearby sea area.” Prime Minister Turtle nodded in satisfaction, unaware that Meng Qi had already failed once in his calculations.
Meng Qi seized the opportunity. “By the way, how do I find the Dragon Palace?”
If he really couldn’t find Ao Zhen and Ao Qing, he would sneak in using the Eight-Nine Mystical Arts!
After Prime Minister Turtle answered, Meng Qi suddenly smiled. “I see the Prime Minister’s depth, the generals’ might, and the soldiers’ strength. Truly, the Dragon Palace’s invincible army! I feel admiration and would like to paint a scroll of this scene as a keepsake. Would that be acceptable?”
This praise delighted Prime Minister Turtle, whose eyes narrowed into lines, while General Crab, Fish General, and others all smiled broadly, inwardly praising the monk’s discerning eye and worthiness of friendship. They all struck their best poses.
Smiling, Meng Qi took out the “Multiverse Recognition Talisman,” activated its “recording” ability, and then pretended to paint a bit, letting Prime Minister Turtle and others critique the aquatic scene painting.
As the aquatic army strutted proudly and showed off their might, Meng Qi turned and left, heading deeper into the Eastern Sea. Silently, he uploaded his status and shared the majestic “group photo” of the aquatic forces, leaving behind four words:
“Seafood Feast!”
…
Ao Zhen and Ao Qing had vanished into thin air, making things more interesting. Meng Qi found an uninhabited island, sat down casually, and every tea-time he used the Karma of All Results once again, unhurried and patient, never giving up due to monotony.
An hour passed, then two, time slowly drifting by. As night approached, suddenly Meng Qi’s eyes shot out a foot-long karmic light, locating the connection between Ao Zhen, Ao Qing, and the outside world.
Found you!
Meng Qi moved his figure, grasping the connection, and sent out a handsome monk’s avatar to descend from afar.
Within the vast starry river of the Journey to the West world, there was a suitable-sized star, with dozens of planets orbiting around it on different tracks. The fourth one had a moderate temperature, normal day and night cycles, was covered with blue oceans, and had many lands, where cities could be seen everywhere, revealing numerous human kingdoms!
This place was countless eons away from the Four Great Continents. Even if a celestial immortal traveled through the starry river, without space-time channels or ultra-long-distance teleportation, it would probably take thousands or even tens of thousands of years to arrive.
This is the vastness of the universe.
In this place, Ao Zhen and Ao Qing believed that even if their father and the aquatic experts knew their location, they wouldn’t be able to come here, so their courage gradually strengthened, and they stepped out of their daytime refuge.
Just after strolling a bit in the brightly lit city, their vision blurred, and they saw a handsome white-robed monk.
Ao Zhen, gentle and delicate, felt her vision darken, her body swayed, and a bad premonition arose in her heart. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Are you the expert summoned by my father to capture us?”
“Amitabha, I’m afraid I must offend,” Meng Qi thought of how they had previously evaded his Karma of All Results and intentionally spoke this way.
Ao Zhen swayed again, a bitter smile on her face. “This is entirely our own fault.”
They had underestimated the extraordinary people in the world and carelessly left their safe haven.
“Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law will come to rescue us!” The fierce Ao Qing’s voice also trembled, her tone bold but her heart fearful.
Her brother-in-law possessed rare treasures, capable of sending herself and her sister deep into the starry ocean, surpassing even their father in amazement!
But the next moment, thinking of how this white-robed monk could still find their whereabouts, cross the vast starry ocean, and directly appear before them, she and Ao Zhen felt another wave of despair.
What a terrifying monk, even more mysterious and unfathomable than Xu Xuan!
Amid this despair, Ao Zhen’s eyes filled with tears, and she bitterly smiled again. “May I ask the Master’s Dharma name, so I can at least know who captured me?”
Meng Qi’s thoughts shifted, and he smiled slightly. “This humble monk is Fahai.”
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