Chapter 747
The Tightening Hoop's Mutation: Defying Fate
After reading the mutation information, especially the first one, "Reversing Yin and Yang," Lin Zhu almost burst out laughing! Good heavens! A head massage? Boosting cultivation? This isn't a magic spell, it's clearly a VIP cultivation accelerator! It can even confuse the secrets of heaven? This system's creation is truly wicked, and... thoughtful!
He barely hesitated, his gaze sweeping over the mutated requirement. "Ten thousand merits of divine water? Just got it, haven't even had a chance to warm it up yet. A post-natal treasure? Containing the laws of 'imprisonment' or 'protection'..."
His mind raced, and he immediately remembered something in the corner of his system space that he had always kept "unlocked"—something he had casually acquired during his "treasure hunt" in the Western Paradise—the Muni Light-Stabilizing Pearl! This thing was a Buddhist treasure blessed by Amitabha Buddha, containing supreme concentration and protective light; it was absolutely qualified!
"Sacrifice! Instantly mutate!"
Lin Zhu silently recited in his heart.
[Confirmed offering of 'Water of Ten Thousand Merits' and the 'Muni's Light-Stabilizing Pearl'...]
[Sacrifice successful! Mutation begins...]
[Mutation complete! Obtained. Tightening Band!]
Almost the instant the system notification indicated completion, Lin Zhu sensed a fundamental and unpredictable change in the internal structure of the dark golden circle within his sleeve. Although its appearance and aura remained unchanged—cold, ancient, and with a faint sense of constraint—its core was completely different.
"Tsk tsk, these effects... I'd like to try wearing them myself."
Lin Zhu secretly rejoiced. This thing was simply a scam... no, it was a divine artifact that helped people cultivate!
Sure enough, the system then issued a new task.
[Ding! Continuous mission triggered. Use a counter-strategy.]
[Task objective: Persuade/induce Sun Wukong to voluntarily wear the mutated headband.]
[Mission Rewards: One bottle of the special elixir 'Pillar of Strength', one special elixir 'Asura Annihilation Pill'.]
[Notes on the pills. **Pillar Pill:** Provides a temporary and significant boost to physical strength and power. Side effects include mild osteoporosis and temporary fluctuations in intelligence afterward. **Asura Annihilation Pill:** Ignites latent Asura fighting spirit, dramatically enhancing combat power across all aspects for a short period. Severe side effects; use with caution.]
Upon seeing the name and notes of the pill, Lin Zhu's lips twitched again.
The items this system gives out have increasingly bizarre names and increasingly sinister effects. However, it would be foolish not to take the rewards, and this task is perfect for navigating the situation.
Once the decision was made, Lin Zhu's expression instantly transformed from "impatient and about to leave" to "thoughtful" and then to "suddenly realizing".
He turned around, his face showing a hint of "apology" and "fairness." With a flick of his wrist, the dark gold headband, which had just undergone mutation and remained unchanged in appearance, reappeared in his hand.
He did not approach Buddha, nor did he look at Guanyin again. Instead, he walked straight to Sun Wukong, who was still frozen in place, looking at him with a complicated expression.
Amidst the astonished and uncertain gazes of Buddha and Guanyin, and the puzzled look on Sun Wukong's face, Lin Zhu reached out and handed the headband to Sun Wukong, speaking calmly, even with a hint of "returning the headband to its rightful owner."
"Here you are, monkey. I was just checking who owned this thing. Now that I see it clearly, it's definitely not the one I lost. Since it's not mine, it should naturally be returned to... well, to the rightful owner. Here you go."
This attitude is a complete 180-degree turn... no, a 360-degree turn! Just a moment ago, he was grabbing the money with such righteous indignation and cursing the Buddha mercilessly, but in the blink of an eye, he has become so "reasonable" and "honest"?
Not only was Sun Wukong stunned, but even the enormous golden Buddha figure in the sky visibly paused, and the surging Buddha light around it faltered! The Buddha's majestic voice rang out, filled with deep doubt and vigilance.
"Lin Yushen, what do you mean by this?"
Lin Zhu raised his head, looked at Tathagata, spread his hands, and had an innocent look on his face that said, "I'm very reasonable."
"It's nothing special. As the God of Law Enforcement, I value evidence and rules above all else. I just examined it carefully, and the crafting techniques and Buddhist imprints on this headband are indeed from the same lineage as Mount Ling, and not mine."
"Since it doesn't belong to me, what would it look like for me to keep it? It should naturally be returned. I misunderstood Buddha earlier, thinking you were trying to forcibly take it; my attitude was poor. Buddha, please forgive me."
His words were so impeccable, as if he weren't the one who had just pointed at someone and yelled "letting out a spiraling, colorful, explosive fart."
The enormous Buddha image remained silent for a moment, golden light swirling in its eyes, seemingly using its supreme divine power to carefully examine the headband in Lin Zhu's hand and Lin Zhu's current expression. The examination revealed... the headband was indeed the original one; its aura, structure, and the Buddha's power and laws contained within were exactly the same as when it was personally crafted by him, without any trace of being switched or altered.
Lin Zhu's expression, though still carrying that annoying laziness, seemed... a bit clearer in his eyes, not like he was plotting anything.
'Could it be... that this fellow is truly afraid? Afraid that I will invite the Sage? Or perhaps, afraid of completely offending the Western Paradise and having a difficult time ending it?' Buddha pondered in his heart. Although he felt that Lin Zhu's sudden submission was somewhat strange given his past misdeeds, the fact that the golden headband had been recovered and verified by him made him relax a little.
Perhaps this scoundrel is all bark and no bite; he initially tried to extort money from me by robbing me, but now that he sees my firm stance and even invoking the saint, he knows he won't get anything out of me, so he backs down.
This idea allowed Tathagata to regain a slight sense of control over his Daoist mind, which had been agitated by Lin Zhu. As long as the bindings were tightened, the plan could continue!
"Hmph, it's best that Lin Yushen can distinguish right from wrong."
The Buddha's voice regained its superior indifference, as if the rage from before had never occurred.
"In that case, please give the golden headband to Sun Wukong to wear. The journey to the West cannot be delayed."
He turned his gaze back to Sun Wukong on the ground, his gaze once again turning cold and oppressive.
"Sun Wukong, the golden headband is here. Wearing it and protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West is your only way out and your last chance. Do not remain stubborn!"
However, having just experienced the ups and downs, and been pulled back from the abyss of despair by Lin Zhu, and witnessed firsthand how Lin Zhu toyed with Tathagata and snatched a sliver of life from under the Buddha's palm, Sun Wukong's mindset at this moment was completely different from that of the monkey who was ashen-hearted and ready to accept his fate just moments before!
That suppressed arrogance and rebellious spirit, like dry tinder meeting a spark, ignited once more! And it burned even more intensely, even more… rationally. "Pah!"
Sun Wukong spat on the ground, met Tathagata's oppressive gaze without fear, and sneered.
"You old bald monk! Who do you think you are? You dare to order me around? You want me to wear this damned collar and become your dog in the Western Paradise? Dream on! I, Old Sun, would rather be slapped to death by you and have my soul scattered than suffer this humiliation!"
He spoke with unwavering conviction and great momentum, as if he had transformed back into the fearless Monkey King.
The Buddha's expression, which had just eased slightly, instantly darkened again, and the veins on his forehead seemed to bulge.
He had thought that after the absolute suppression and Lin Zhu's "softening," Sun Wukong would recognize reality and obediently submit. Unexpectedly, this monkey, because of Lin Zhu's interference, reignited its rebellious fury, becoming even more arrogant than before!
'Damn Lin Zhu! He ruined my plans!' Buddha was furious, and his killing intent toward Lin Zhu was almost tangible.
He plotted for many years, cooperating with the Heavenly Court to suppress Sun Wukong for five hundred years, tempering his spirit, and arranging numerous "tests" and "enlightenments" so that this unruly monkey would eventually "willingly" wear shackles and become the sharpest and most controllable knife on the journey to the West.
Just when it seemed like the final step was about to be taken, Lin Zhu, that troublemaker, completely disrupted the rhythm, giving Sun Wukong a glimpse of the possibility of "resistance" and the hope of "external assistance"!
Although his clone was currently weaker than Lin Zhu's true body, he had already secretly summoned a supreme expert who was stationed in this region and responsible for monitoring the Journey to the West. If he could delay them for a moment, and that expert arrived, they could join forces with Guanyin and his clone to launch a sudden attack, and perhaps they could even capture Lin Zhu!
At that time, Lin Zhu, this "hope," will be completely crushed, tortured, or even eliminated in front of Sun Wukong. This will not only completely defeat Sun Wukong's will to resist and make him obediently wear the headband, but also eradicate Lin Zhu, this troublemaker who has repeatedly caused trouble. It's a win-win situation!
However, before taking action, Buddha still tried to give a final "routine" persuasion, which was both a procedure and a way to buy time.
He suppressed his anger and asked in a powerful voice.
"Sun Wukong, what do you want from me to wear this headband and protect the Dharma on the journey to the West?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong revealed an extremely sarcastic sneer on his monkey face. He glanced at Buddha, then looked at the dark gold ring in Lin Zhu's hand, and suddenly changed the subject, his tone carrying a cynical provocation.
“I, Old Sun, have said I would never listen to you, you old bald monk! If you have any shame, I, Old Sun, will not yield! But…”
He drew out his words, turned his gaze to Lin Zhu beside him, and a complex light, extremely subtle and only Lin Zhu could understand, flashed deep in his eyes. He also lowered his voice a little, but it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.
"If... if the Immortal Lord of the Prison is willing to personally put this ring on my old Sun's head, then for the sake of the Immortal Lord, I, old Sun... will cooperate with you on this journey to the West in the future, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, not only were Buddha and Guanyin stunned, but even Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow and looked at Sun Wukong with some surprise.
The Buddha was surprised.
'This monkey changes his mind quickly! Just a moment ago he was refusing to comply even at the cost of his life, and now he's willing to wear it? Although he added a condition... is it because of Lin Zhu?'
Little did he know that Sun Wukong had already come to a complete understanding, or rather, made an extremely difficult but incredibly clear-headed decision.
He could not relinquish his hatred for the Western Paradise, nor could he truly submit to the will of Buddha and don the shackles symbolizing eternal enslavement. However, in the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison, Lin Zhu had spoken to him seemingly casually, yet with profound meaning.
"Monkey, after you go down there, protect your master and complete your journey. Sometimes, acting is also part of cultivation... Of course, if you have the chance, it's not out of the question to give him a good beating in the Western Paradise."
Lin Zhu is a member of the Heavenly Court and a law enforcement deity, who already has an irreconcilable conflict with the Western Paradise. The Western Paradise has repeatedly targeted Lin Zhu, and Lin Zhu has also repeatedly humiliated the Western Paradise; the two sides are already mortal enemies.
Previously, when he was suppressed by the Buddha's absolute power and thought he was isolated and helpless, Sun Wukong fell into despair. But the appearance of Lin Zhu was like a ray of light in the darkness, allowing him to see another possibility—resistance does not necessarily have to result in immediate bloodshed; forbearance may be for a more fatal blow in the future.
Lin Zhu was able to pull him back from the brink of death in front of both the Buddha's avatar and Guanyin, and he could even outwit the Buddha and extort money from the Western Paradise. This in itself demonstrates Lin Zhu's extraordinary abilities and... reliability. Sun Wukong even felt that Lin Zhu could do things that even the Jade Emperor might not be able to or dare to do. In his most dangerous and helpless moments, it was Lin Zhu who came to his aid.
This affection and the "energy" it displayed made Sun Wukong regard Lin Zhu as the only "one of his own" he could trust and rely on at the moment.
Therefore, he chose to endure it.
Whether it takes a thousand years or ten thousand years, he can wait. He only waits for the day when he has accumulated enough power to avenge all the blood debts and humiliations against that hypocritical Western Paradise! Giving up on himself or throwing himself into the fire like a moth is the most foolish and ridiculous thing. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, a single possibility of revenge, he will never choose the path of utter destruction.
Wearing a headband given by someone else makes a world of difference. Wearing one given by Buddha is submission, acceptance of fate. Wearing one given by Lin Zhu... it could be a form of "cooperation," a kind of "enduring hardship to achieve one's goal," or even... a "signal" or "agreement" for a future counterattack.
Although he was still unclear about Lin Zhu's specific intentions, he believed that this prison god, who had repeatedly caused trouble for Xitian, would never genuinely help Xitian control him.
Therefore, he changed his tune. It seemed like a concession, but in reality, it was a strategic retreat to advance, passing the buck to Lin Zhu and securing for himself a position that appeared to be "forced" but actually left him with a lot of room to maneuver.
He decided to cooperate with the Western Paradise and play his part well. He would refrain from making unnecessary sacrifices for the time being, in order to prepare for a fatal counterattack in the future.
Sun Wukong secretly vowed that even if he could not see any hope in the end, even if this charade would go on forever, he would use all his strength at the most crucial moment to completely destroy this journey to the West, this carefully crafted "tale"! The desire for revenge was as firm as a rock, deeply rooted in the depths of his unruly soul.
Lin Zhu, who was standing to the side, took in the fleeting resoluteness and ruthlessness in the depths of Sun Wukong's eyes, and her heart stirred slightly.
He had originally intended to complete the system task and incidentally cause some trouble for the Western Paradise, but now he suddenly felt a subtle sense of foreboding. At the same time, his extraordinary spiritual sense suddenly detected that in the distance, deep within the seemingly calm Buddhist light and auspicious clouds, there was a faint, extremely subtle, yet chillingly piercing... threat!
As an "experienced person" who had been repeatedly tricked by the Western Paradise and even encountered a sneak attack by the Glass Buddha at Five Elements Mountain, Lin Zhu immediately became vigilant.
He knew these bald monks all too well; outwardly compassionate, their inner calculations were deeper than anyone else's. The Buddha's apparent "softening" and negotiation just now, however, was accompanied by a glint in his eye, suggesting that it was likely far more than simply waiting for him to "return" the golden headband. (End of Chapter)