Because of the lies told by the Tathagata, Sun Wukong had been suppressed under the mountain for five hundred years, and his resentment, far from being diminished, had become as rich and potent as aged wine over time.
After five hundred years, one can imagine how far things had gone.
"Hehehe..." After recounting the events that had happened to him to Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong grinned and laughed mockingly, "That Guanyin really has some nerve, coming to I, Old Sun, claiming that my time of tribulation had ended. So the so-called end of my tribulation was just to serve as their lackey? If I, Old Sun, refuse, then I'd be suppressed under this mountain forever, isn't that right?"
"The old Tathagata might have been able to deceive me, but couldn't I, Old Sun, also deceive them? Hahaha, a golden body and true fruit? I, Old Sun, am already the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. What do I need that for? Did they think that suppressing me for five hundred years would break my spirit and make me beg pitifully, willing to become a servile dog of the Buddhist Sect?"
Jiang Liu sat quietly beside Sun Wukong, watching him erupt with pent-up resentment without interrupting, just silently listening.
However, it seemed like the roles between the two had reversed. Initially, it was Jiang Liu who had talked incessantly while Sun Wukong remained silent. But now, it was Sun Wukong who was constantly speaking while Jiang Liu sat in silence.
His five hundred years of accumulated resentment burst forth, and Jiang Liu could clearly sense the hatred in Sun Wukong's heart.
With such a mindset, the idea of him leaving the mountain to peacefully escort Jiang Liu to the Western Heaven was utterly impossible.
Yet, far from being disappointed, Jiang Liu felt even more elated.
Sitting quietly as his listener, after Sun Wukong's resentment had been fully vented and he again fell silent, Jiang Liu finally spoke up, "Monkey, are immortals keeping an eye on you all the time?"
"What you mean is surveillance, right? For five hundred years, they've watched me for what? Only to send the Local Deity to deliver some iron pills and copper juice every day," the monkey on the ground raised his head and glanced at Jiang Liu, speaking dispassionately.
"Now look around, does any deity or Buddha pay attention to us?" Jiang Liu's tone became more earnest, speaking softly.
"Hmm?" Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow inquiringly at Jiang Liu's attitude.
He listened carefully and after a thorough inspection, he shook his head, "No one is watching us. What's it to you? Little Monk, it seems you have some secret to share with I, Old Sun?"
"You also know about my situation. What do you think will happen to me when I reach Spirit Mountain?" Instead of answering Sun Wukong directly, Jiang Liu leaned against the mountain wall, sitting nearby and asked softly.
"Hehehe, reach Spirit Mountain, huh? You will die, that girl will die, everyone will die. So I advise you, Little Monk, to obediently go back and remain your Imperial Brother..." With a threatening tone, Sun Wukong grinned and spoke.
"Indeed, reaching Spirit Mountain would mean my death, and that's why I must resist for my own sake. Monkey, would you come out and join me in overturning these heavenly deities and Buddhas?" Jiang Liu nodded slightly, turned to face Sun Wukong, and spoke calmly.
The words were calm, but to Sun Wukong, they were like a clap of thunder, leaving him wide-eyed and shocked, staring incredulously at Jiang Liu.
These words had clearly taken Sun Wukong by surprise.
After a moment of stunned scrutiny, Sun Wukong shook his head again, "Hehehe, is this your intention? After sitting here for half a month, you've finally spoken. Do you think by using this tactic, you can trick me out of the mountain? I am not as gullible as I was five hundred years ago."
Sun Wukong was questioning his words, but Jiang Liu was not angry.
Having been deceived by the Tathagata, trapped under a mountain for five hundred years, it was only natural for Sun Wukong to be reluctant to trust anyone easily.
"If it's a lie, why not come out and see for yourself? If you find that I'm deceiving you, then you're free to roam the vast world. If you abandon the great endeavor of Scripture Seeking and leave, playing the Buddhist Sect for fools, wouldn't that be an even greater revenge?"
These words did indeed flash a considering look across Sun Wukong's brow. They made sense.
However, after pondering for a moment, Sun Wukong suddenly laughed again, "Although what you say makes sense, your cultivation level is simply too weak. Just any heavenly soldier could squash you to death. You want to overturn the gods and Buddha, which is brave and decisive, but you lack the strength."
"There's a saying, 'To be reborn from the ashes, one must first be placed in a desperate situation.' If you could attain earth-shaking cultivation levels within a few years, why couldn't I?"
"Interesting, you little monk, even though you're not that strong, your temper actually suits I, Old Sun's taste quite well," said Jiang Liu. Contrarily, this made Sun Wukong laugh and find him increasingly pleasant to look at, seeing in him shadows of his own fearless and undaunted past.
"Let me ask you, going to the Western Heaven, do you have any confidence you'll overturn those heavenly deities and Buddha?"
"Hahaha, no confidence, and you want me, Old Sun, to accompany you to certain death?"
"Yes, will you join me or not?"
Jiang Liu stood up, and with the aid of a streak of moonlight, he turned and climbed up the Five Elements Mountain, heading towards the Buddha Seal.
Sun Wukong lay on the ground, grinning from ear to ear, looking up at the sky with a defiant glint in his eyes.
Become a lapdog of the Tathagata in the Western Heaven? He would never want that, but if it was to overturn the deities and Buddha in the Western Heaven, then that was a different story.
As for the final outcome? At worst, he would die and his cultivation would be destroyed, which was still better than being pressed under the Five Elements Mountain, living and dying over and over, right?
He had long since climbed the Five Elements Mountain and knew where the Buddha Seal was located. Guided by the moonlight, after walking for half an hour, he arrived at the Buddha Seal.
Looking at the slightly yellowed Buddha Seal, Jiang Liu reached out and peeled it off.
It wasn't difficult at all, almost like peeling off an ordinary piece of paper.
However, as Jiang Liu peeled off the Buddha Seal, it seemingly sprang to life, slipping from Jiang Liu's grasp and transforming into a shining golden beam of light, flying towards the west.
"Master, come down quickly!" With the Buddha Seal removed, Sun Wukong obviously felt it and shouted impatiently.
With his call, the Five Elements Mountain began to tremble as if caught in an earthquake.
"So anxious, so impatient, monkeys truly are a hasty bunch," The shaking of the Five Elements Mountain was clearly because Sun Wukong couldn't wait to flip the mountain and burst forth. Jiang Liu quickly turned around and hurried down the mountain.
Once he descended the Five Elements Mountain, Jiang Liu ran even faster, heading into the distance, "Wait, you monkey, wait until I'm a bit further away before you start. I am your Master, you must listen to me, just wait a minute."
The Five Elements Mountain was directly lifted, and a giant ape, a hundred zhang tall, rose from the ground, standing upright while lifting the Five Elements Mountain.
A rough roar echoed through the three realms and six paths, making heaven and earth tremble.