After endless waiting, just as Monkey King began to wonder if Bodhisattva Guanyin had somehow miscalculated the timing, the pilgrim finally appeared!
From his vantage, Monkey King saw a delicate-skinned monk riding a white horse, carrying a nine-ringed staff. Overcome with emotion, Monkey King's eyes teared up—finally, he could stretch his limbs and move about!
Five hundred years of confinement had nearly driven him insane.
"Ding! The Journey to the West Karma System is now officially online!"
"Ding! The Exchange function is now available!"
"Ding! The System Storage is now accessible!"
"Ding! The Attribute Panel is now open!"
Then, silence.
"...Huh?" Monkey King stared, dumbfounded. "System, that's it? You just leave me hanging?"
"What more does the host desire?" the system responded.
"A beginner's pack, of course!" Monkey King demanded.
"There is no beginner's pack available, but there is novice protection. The system can mask your true strength, making it impossible for even saints to detect. Should you wish to forgo this and receive a beginner's pack instead, please confirm," the system offered.
"System, you're really something," Monkey King muttered, immediately shaking his head.
Since the system offered concealment, he could secretly grow stronger.
"Host is advised against attempting a breakthrough for now. Reaching the Da Luo Golden Immortal level would require transcending tribulation, and the system cannot shield that from Heaven's gaze. Once sufficient Karma Points have been accumulated, you may exchange for artifacts to assist with future breakthroughs," the system explained.
"Fair point," Monkey King nodded. "Looks like my Karma Points are all going to depend on Tripitaka," he chuckled, his eyes glinting with excitement as he looked off into the distance, awaiting Tripitaka's arrival.
But after a while, his expression turned to confusion. "Where's Tripitaka?"
To his shock, the monk who was supposed to release him was nowhere to be seen. Did he seriously need to find a way to free himself?
Meanwhile, high above, the Five Noble Truths (Buddhism) were equally perplexed. They had watched as Tripitaka passed right by the Five-Phased Mountain without even a glance at Monkey King.
And there was the Monkey King himself, grinning like an idiot, making no effort to call out.
"Has the monkey gone mad? He sees the Golden Cicada Spirit but doesn't even ask for help!" Silver-Headed Guardian Deity exclaimed.
"If he doesn't get out, we'll be stuck on duty here indefinitely!" Maha Deva fumed.
"Let's wait and see. If Golden Cicada Spirit doesn't return by nightfall, we'll intervene and bring him back ourselves," Golden-Headed Guardian Deity declared.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for altering the path of the Journey to the West. Karma Points +1000!"
Monkey King blinked in disbelief. Was it supposed to be this easy to earn Karma Points?
Setting his confusion aside, he realized he needed to fetch his "master" before anything else.
"Earth Deity! Come out!" Monkey King roared.
A small, trembling old man emerged from the ground. "Great Sage, are you hungry? I've got some molten copper and iron pellets here for you," he offered cautiously.
Monkey King's eyes narrowed. This old man had been feeding him metal for five centuries. Once he was free, he would give him a piece of his mind! But for now…
"The pilgrim passed by without stopping. Go bring him here!" Monkey King commanded.
"Great Sage, please don't make things difficult for this old servant! My job is merely to oversee your… diet. I'm not responsible for anything else," the Earth Deity protested, trying to avoid the task.
"Oh? Well, when Bodhisattva and Tathagata come questioning, it'll be on you, not me. After all, it's not my fault; it's you who's obstructing the pilgrimage," Monkey King replied nonchalantly.
The Earth Deity paled, knowing he couldn't bear the blame for hindering the sacred journey.
"Yes, yes! I'll bring him immediately!" With a swish, the Earth Deity vanished.
"Ha! Some people just need a little push," Monkey King muttered.
The Five Noble Truths (Buddhism), observing from above, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like we won't have to step in after all. This monkey is more eager to get going than we are!" Golden-Headed Guardian Deity laughed, and the rest nodded in agreement. Watching over the Monkey King's prison had been an unbearably tedious task.
Finally, things were falling into place.
A short while later, the Earth Deity came rushing back, leading Tripitaka and his white horse at a brisk pace.
Tripitaka, looking bewildered, had barely registered the old man's appearance before he was informed that his "disciple" awaited him. Without a word, the old man had taken hold of his horse and led him directly to the mountain.
Had the Earth Deity not been elderly, Tripitaka might have struck him with his staff on the spot.
"Where is this disciple of yours?" Tripitaka asked nervously as he dismounted and scanned the desolate mountainside.
"Master, Master! I'm over here!" Monkey King called out, his head the only part of him visible above ground.
The Earth Deity, in true frustrating fashion, had failed to bring Tripitaka close enough to remove the seal.
"That… that's a demon! How can he be my disciple?" Tripitaka gasped, recoiling at the sight of Monkey King's head.
"Master, there are things you don't know," Monkey King began, suppressing his irritation. "Five hundred years ago, I caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace and was imprisoned here by Tathagatas punishment. Not long ago, Bodhisattva Guanyin came here and told me that a pilgrim from the Tang Dynasty would come to release me. In return, I am to escort you to the Western Paradise, obtain the sacred scriptures, and finally gain my freedom."
"Please, Master, help me!"
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