CHAPTER 1060: CHAPTER 1060: CAPTURE XUANZANG

The Great Jade Emperor’s figure sat on his throne, his face dark and sullen.

After the Empress Qinghua, under his Four Regents, had her arm severed by Xuanzang and his group, she fell in the Demon Realm.

The Emperor of Longevity was also directly confronted by Xuanzang in the grand hall, questioned, and even engaged in a fight before a mysterious person appeared and killed him.

The deaths of these two people are somewhat related to Xuanzang, but not directly. Coupled with the fact that the Immeasurable Kalpa was in play, the Great Jade Emperor’s focus remained on finding and capturing the murderers of these Emperors.

However, the case of Emperor Ziwei was different; he was truly killed by the hands of Xuanzang and his companions.

This matter was not a secret, and if possible, many among the Immortals and Buddhas could find this out.

Although the Great Jade Emperor understood that all of this was due to the Immeasurable Kalpa, it was impossible to completely forgive Xuanzang’s actions because of it, right?

During the Deification calamity, the Sect of Intercepting was almost wiped out as well, yet even the Venerable Sage Sect Master Tongtian found it hard to swallow his anger.

Logically, it is all the same.

In the Lingxiao Hall, all the Immortals could feel the Great Jade Emperor’s anger, naturally giving rise to a shared enemy sentiment among them. Thus, they all remained silent, waiting to see the Emperor’s decision.

"Where is Li Jing!?" After a long silence, the Great Jade Emperor finally spoke.

"I am here!" Li Jing, holding an Exquisite Pagoda in his hands, stepped forward and said.

"I command you to lead the Grand Generals of the Three Altars and the Star Monarch Nine-Light to the Lower Realm and capture Xuanzang for me!" The Jade Emperor instructed.

It was not an invitation to heaven but a capture order, showing the Emperor’s wrath.

"Your servant takes the order!" Upon hearing the Great Jade Emperor’s command, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing nodded heavily, then turned around to assemble the troops.

With the decree issued by the Jade Emperor, the Heavenly Court’s operations were swift. Led by Li Jing, with Nezha as adjunct, and the Star Monarch Nine-Light beside them, accompanied by thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, they set off from the South Heavenly Gate, heading towards the Journey to the West route.

It didn’t take long for this force to appear before Jiang Liu and his companions.

On that day, Jiang Liu was sitting on the back of the White Dragon Horse, honing his Life Profession, when suddenly, the previously clear skies became noticeably darker.

Looking up, he could see a large stretch of white cloud cover approaching, these were not naturally formed clouds but were conjured by a Spell of Cloud Soaring and Fog Commanding, forming into a patch of white clouds.

Above the clouds, he could see banners fluttering and crowds of people.

"Master, be careful!" As this scene unfolded, Sun Wukong stood in front of Jiang Liu and warned.

Although, at this point, the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team had an overall strength that even surpassed Sun Wukong’s, he understood that his role was to escort his master to the Western Heaven; thus, whenever danger arose, Sun Wukong reflexively positioned himself at the forefront.

"It’s fine, nothing to worry about!" Watching Sun Wukong standing protectively in front of him, Jiang Liu shook his head with an unimpressed demeanor.

This scene, Jiang Liu had anticipated; with Emperor Ziwei dead by his hand, such news was bound to reach Heaven, prompting a response.

"Xuanzang, you have slaughtered Emperor Ziwei, a sin as grave as the sky. The Jade Emperor has ordered me to capture you!" Li Jing shouted downward at Jiang Liu from above the clouds, holding the Exquisite Pagoda in his hand.

Standing beside Li Jing, Third Prince Nezha’s expression turned somewhat awkward, though he remained silent.

But when Nezha’s gaze fell upon the figure behind Jiang Liu’s White Mouse Demon, his expression shifted slightly, and he abruptly said, "Father, isn’t that woman by the Holy Monk’s side your adopted daughter?"

"Greetings to my foster father, greetings to my foster brother..." Following Nezha’s words, the White Mouse Demon beside Jiang Liu stepped forward and slightly bowed to Li Jing and Nezha.

Looking down from above at the White Mouse Demon, Li Jing’s expression turned even more awkward. Under normal circumstances, recognizing the foster father and daughter would be of no issue when meeting the White Mouse Demon.

But now, in the midst of enforcing the law, having a reunion of father and daughter play out? What of the general’s dignity?

After a brief silence, Li Jing said, "White Mouse, step aside and do not interfere!"

While speaking, Li Jing helplessly turned his head slightly to look at Nezha and added, "In this situation, refrain from mentioning the adopted daughter or sister matters!"

"Yes, father!" Nezha regained his former composure, nodding emphatically.

Although Li Jing handled the situation well, the thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, and the Star Monarch Nine-Light, exchanged looks with odd expressions.

Years ago, the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers couldn’t even capture Sun Wukong, and now, facing the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team with only a few thousand, could they succeed if Xuanzang and his group resisted?

And moreover? Li Jing’s own daughter was with Xuanzang as his maiden?

"Old Li, you sent your daughter to be a maiden for my master Sun Wukong. Such a gesture of kindness, we, the master and disciples, have noted in our hearts. Since we are family, can’t we discuss matters calmly?"

Though Li Jing was reluctant to talk about matters of sworn kinship before the battle, how could Sun Wukong comply with his wishes? Thus, he proactively brought up the subject again.

"Nonsense, when did I send a sworn daughter to be a maiden for your master!" Sun Wukong’s words made Li Jing’s face change slightly, and he quickly rebuked in his defense.

Regarding Li Jing’s words, Sun Wukong did not say much, he merely chuckled and kept silent, not arguing with Li Jing.

Yet, Sun Wukong’s lack of argument seemed to lend more credibility to his words.

Many of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals started to ponder in their hearts: Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing’s sworn daughter? Though not a biological one, merely a sworn daughter, still, this identity is not ordinary, right?

And now she is merely a maiden beside Master Xuanzang?

If all this was not arranged by Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, it really seems a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?

The surrounding Star Monarchs were all giving Li Jing odd looks.

What was on their minds? Li Jing could naturally guess quite a bit, his demeanor becoming a bit anxious before he immediately spoke to Jiang Liu: "Master Xuanzang, could it be this matter was arranged by this Heavenly King? Could you explain? I believe, a monk does not tell lies!"

"Amitabha, Heavenly King Li, this matter is not important, no need to say more. Heavenly King Li, you have come for the matter of Emperor Ziwei’s death, haven’t you?" However, Jiang Liu did not wish to dwell on this topic, directly speaking to Li Jing.

As soon as these words fell, without waiting for Li Jing to speak, Jiang Liu continued: "Since it is the Jade Emperor’s command, I dare not defy it, so I shall accompany Heavenly King Li to the Lingxiao Hall!"

"Master!"

Hearing Jiang Liu’s words, there was no thought of resistance, and instead, he proactively wished to go to the Heavenly Court, causing Sun Wukong and the others’ expressions to change.

"Wukong, do not worry, when one does something, one must bear the responsibility. Since it is the Jade Emperor’s suspicion, how can I, as a master, defy it?" Jiang Liu shook his head towards Sun Wukong and the others, speaking seriously, evidently very earnest in maintaining the Great Jade Emperor’s dignity.

"But, Master, if you were to go to the Heavenly Court, alone, your life and death wouldn’t be in your control..." Hearing Jiang Liu’s words, Sun Wukong and the others’ faces still carried urgent expressions, speaking with concern.

Although, up to now, the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team and the Immortals and Buddhas have not formally torn face, inevitably, one day there will be a life-and-death confrontation.

To go alone to the Lingxiao Hall at this time? Isn’t that a bit too dangerous?

"Rest assured, your master has his own judgment!" Despite Sun Wukong and the others’ concerns, Jiang Liu showed no sign of worry, speaking calmly.

"Well, alright then..." Even with concern, Sun Wukong and the others have unconditional trust in Jiang Liu, and since he himself said so, after pondering for a moment, they nodded.

"Sigh..."

In the sky, the Star Monarchs and thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, hearing the dialogue between Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong, learned that Jiang Liu would not resist and instead comply by returning to the Heavenly Court, secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

What would the consequences be if a fight were to break out? It is truly hard to say.

Since Master Xuanzang is willing to comply, that is certainly for the best.

After bidding farewell to Sun Wukong and the others, Jiang Liu ascended into the air, arriving before Li Jing and his group.

Subsequently, Li Jing spoke to a nearby Star Monarch: "Put shackles and chains on him!"

Since it is capture, it should look like a capture, so putting on shackles and chains does make sense.

"Holy Monk, my apologies!" With Li Jing’s words, a nearby Star Monarch stepped forward, speaking to Jiang Liu.

"Amitabha..." Jiang Liu whispered a Buddha name, lowering his head and eyes, showing no intention of resistance at all.

Seeing Jiang Liu’s demeanor, this Star Monarch then placed the shackles and chains on him.

Looking at the runes flickering on the shackles and chains, it was evident these were magic artifacts specially crafted for Great Supernatural Power Experts.

"Alright, let’s head back!" Seeing that the shackles had been successfully secured, Li Jing nodded with satisfaction, leading the troops back.

"Drip drip drip..."

As Jiang Liu was being escorted by Li Jing towards the Heavenly Court, a notification sound rang in Jiang Liu’s mind.

Jiang Liu could guess what it was, directly opening his friend list.