Chapter 27: Crimson Lotus Flame Body

  Upon hearing the sound, Sun Wukong knew that Zhu Bajie had finished his physical training. Unfortunately, his own injuries were too severe, and he couldn't even get up. Just as Sun Wukong was struggling to get up, a red light flashed before his eyes, and then he saw a fierce flame burning in front of him.

  Sun Wukong knew that the flames in front of him were Zhu Bajie. "Stupid, are you okay? Where's Master?" "Monkey brother, what happened to you? Who hurt you so badly? I'll go avenge you." "I'm fine, just need some rest. Where's Master? I have something to tell you all."

  "Alright, Monkey King, don't move. I'm calling Master over." As soon as he finished speaking, another burst of flames flashed by. In an instant, Tang Sanzang flew over on a lotus flower of flame, his face pale and clearly exhausted from excessive use of magic.

  "Master, Master. Are you alright?" Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and said: "I'm fine, just a bit drained from using too much magic. Wukong, how are you? How did you get so badly hurt?" "Master, Bajie, listen to me. After we retrieved the scriptures all those years ago..."

  Afterwards, Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie all about his discovery and inference. When Sun Wukong finished speaking, Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie stood there in stunned silence. The news was truly too shocking; if it hadn't come from Sun Wukong's own mouth, the two of them wouldn't have believed it no matter what. This was simply an overturning of their world. However, they also knew that Sun Wukong would never shoot his mouth off without a cause. He must have had conclusive evidence to say such a thing. But this was really...

  "I know this news can't be accepted in a short time. But it's okay, the Buddhist door won't send anyone for the time being. So we are safe for the next period of time. What we need to do next is to consolidate our strength and recover from injuries. Once we all reach the peak state, it will be time to set off again. However, Bajie, after I and Master recover from our injuries, you can go find Chang'e. I know you won't be able to put your mind at ease until you find her. Moreover, the secret of the Guanghan Palace cannot be discovered by the Buddhist door people. After you find Chang'e, come back and reunite with me and Master."

  Having said that, Sun Wukong closed his eyes. It was clear that after saying so much, his injured body could no longer bear it.

  Seeing Sun Wukong's injuries so severe, Tang Sanzang's heart ached with blood. With a wave of his hand, a nearly transparent small flower appeared above Sun Wukong's head. It spun rapidly and continuously, and as it spun, a rich spiritual energy and bloody force poured into Sun Wukong's body. Sun Wukong's injuries and almost depleted spiritual power were recovering at a visible speed.

  At this time, Tang Sanzang let out a slight sigh of relief, and a firm light flashed in his eyes. It seemed as if he had made some kind of difficult decision.

  "Zhu Bajie, go. Don't disturb your senior brother. Take this opportunity to get familiar with your current body and strength. If I'm not mistaken, you should have the power of a lower-ranking saint now. Work hard, and in the future, you can assist your senior brother."

  "Yes, Master."

  After going through this great change, it seems that everyone's character is changing imperceptibly. Sun Wukong has become cautious and wise. Tang Sanzang has become firm and decisive. Zhu Bajie has become sensible and brave. Everyone is growing up, whether in terms of strength or something else.

  Seven days later, Pan Si Dong. Originally, the mountains were all silent, but suddenly a fiery red light burst into the sky, its speed was almost unbelievable. Then, two simply dressed travelers appeared in the midst of the vast mountains. One of them had an exceptionally handsome appearance, while the other looked like a mischievous monkey jumping around.

  Seven days later, the northernmost small town in Beijuzhou welcomed two dusty monks. The two monks were Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang. After leaving Panxi Cave that day, the two of them didn't know which direction to go. Finding the remaining three divine stones sounds simple, but it's like finding a needle at the bottom of the sea in this vast world. The difficulty can be imagined, but there isn't much time to search slowly. Helplessly, they could only head north. Because Sun Wukong had heard that in the northernmost part of Beijuzhou, there existed a tribe called the Ice Clan, who were water spirits and might have some information about the water-attribute Five Elements divine stones.

  So the two of them rushed to Beijuzhou without stopping. Finally, after seven days, they arrived at the last small town in Beijuzhou. Further north was the desolate and uninhabited Arctic tundra. Legend had it that even the great Da Luo Golden Immortal did not dare to set foot on that tundra, because the temperature of the Arctic tundra was simply too low. If Da Luo Golden Immortal's cultivation were to enter, his entire body's magical powers would quickly stagnate, and he would eventually be frozen into an ice block.

  The extreme north ice field is a famous life forbidden area among the three realms. Sun Wukong was still in those years when he was king of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, drinking with the demon kings, when the Python Demon King inadvertently revealed it. The Python Demon King said that he had once mistakenly entered the depths of the extreme north ice field, and was surrounded by a group of water spirits. If not for the East Emperor Bell left behind by the East Emperor Taizhen, he would have been dead without a chance to survive.

  That group of ice spirits has the strength of a Da Luo Golden Immortal, and is not afraid of extreme cold, moving freely in extremely cold environments. However, if an ordinary Da Luo Golden Immortal were to do the same without constantly wrapping their body in spiritual energy, they would find it difficult to even move, let alone fight.

  So, this extremely northern icy tundra has become a place that makes the vast majority of people turn pale with fear. However, no matter how terrifying it is, today Sun Wukong must take a step forward. Just like when he went to retrieve scriptures, knowing full well that even if he reached Western Heaven there would be no results, yet still taking one step after another without hesitation.

  There are some things, knowing the danger, knowing the futility, yet still have to go through it once. If you don't experience and try, everything is just what others say, then is your life still yours? Moreover, many times, only after personally experiencing it, will you discover that it's not entirely the same.

  After returning to the right path, Wukong and his two companions entered the city and went straight to an inn, where they rented two upper rooms. Then they began to sit cross-legged to recover from their fatigue on the road. At sunset, both of them had recovered to their peak state. After that, Sun Wukong went downstairs and ordered two vegetarian dishes. After finishing eating, Sun Wukong hesitated for a moment, then said: "Master, let the disciple go on alone from now on. Although Master is also in the realm of a saint nowadays, this extreme north ice field is extremely dangerous, if something unexpected happens, it would be terrible."

  "Oh? It's actually this dangerous? But you're going alone, and as your teacher, I'm even more worried."

  "Master, you are unaware of this. The world is divided into four major continents, but the four major continents are not only limited to the Buddhist sect, the Heavenly Court, and the Demon Clan. Outside of these three major forces, there are countless powerful tribes on the four major continents. For example, the Water Spirit Tribe in the far north ice field, the Barbarian Tribe in the western wilderness of Xīu State, and the Ancient Five Ancestors in the southernmost part of Zhān Continent, are all powerful forces that are not weaker than the Heavenly Court or the Buddhist sect. They just don't appear in the world for some special reasons. So, Master, although you have attained the realm of a saint, you are not skilled in combat after all. If you encounter the saints and masters of these ancient tribes, it will be difficult to resist. However, if it's only me, even if I can't win, I can still escape. So, Master, please don't get angry, everything I do is for your good."

  Having heard this, Tang Sanzang let out a faint sigh, knowing that if he followed, he would likely hold Sun Wukong back. However, letting Sun Wukong venture into danger alone was also unsettling. Thinking of this, Tang Sanzang stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers, producing a small transparent flower on the tip of his finger.

  "Wukong, the master knows that this trip is extremely perilous. If the master follows you, it's likely to drag you down. However, take this magical degree flower with you. At a critical moment, it can save your life. If you encounter danger, the master will also know the direction and rush to rescue you."

  Sun Wukong wanted to say something, but he raised his head and saw Tang Sanzang's unusually firm gaze, so he nodded. He made a false move with his hand, transforming into a flash of light that disappeared instantly.