Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Li Nianfan smiled, “From the beginning of 'Journey to the West', the ending had been predetermined. The group would gain the Truth eventually. Although there seemed to be challenges everywhere, it was all part of the journey. Don't you feel that the entire journey seemed to have been planned by someone else all along?”

“The journey had been planned by someone else all along?” The young man was deep in thought. He felt something was off.

Li Nianfan continued, “Let me put it differently. How many challenges can you find in the story that could actually cause them harm?”

“This…” The young man became hesitant.

When he first heard 'Journey to the West', he was captivated by the story. Thus, he paid close attention to every word, learning the story by heart. Therefore, when he was questioned by Li Nianfan, nine thousand, nine hundred and eighty-one challenges flashed in his mind, and yet, he realized a shocking problem!

n.o.body had told him this before, and he had never realized it himself. Now that it was pointed out by Li Nianfan, he realized that the challenges were nothing—they always had protection from the others.

As a cultivator himself, he knew well enough that even one minor mistake could cost him his life. In comparison to the challenges faced by the group in the story, it was like child's play!

Could they still be considered as challenges if they did not put one's life at risk?

Li Nianfan smiled. “To me, 'Journey to the West' is just a vacation for the group, where they traveled from East to West. It is a record of their journey, encounters, and sights.”

Vroom!

The young man jolted and sank into his seat. His eyes went blank and his lips twitched slightly. He wanted to refute but did not know where to start.

He recalled all the scenes in his head. The more he thought about it, the itchier his scalp became. It seemed that among all of the challenges the group had faced throughout the journey, the biggest challenge came from the Women Kingdom where they were almost convinced to stay and give up on their mission.

In other words, as long as they remained determined, their arrival at the destination was a definite result. In simpler terms, it meant their paths had been pre-set by the others. As long as they remained determined and did good deeds, they would eventually reach their goal.

Li Nianfan tried to make it as simple as possible. He said, “Although there were always challenges, Buddha had the layout for five hundred years. Apart from arranging for Wukong to protect the monk, different G.o.ds were guiding and helping them throughout the journey. Even when they faced powerful demons who tried to take their lives, there were always external forces helping them. The smaller demons were easily killed.”

If he put it this way, it was apparent that it seemed more like a vacation.

However, if this was true, the motivational journey of challenges instantly became a journal of their vacation. The truth sent chills down the spine of the young man, giving him gooseb.u.mps all over.

Li Nianfan had the same look of awe in his eyes. Senior Wu Cheng'en was indeed a genius. There were too many details and deeper meanings in this 'Journey to the West' novel, causing one to be stunned.

He sighed. “Look at society today. If one had no relations to the Immortals, the children of the businessmen would become businessmen, the children of the farmers would become farmers, and the children of politicians would become politicians. Since birth, everything has somehow been predetermined, making it hard to change the path's course. It's almost impossible for an ordinary person to become a cultivator—extremely difficult—while it's easy for cultivators' children to do the same thing.”

Li Nianfan had always felt this way since he was in the previous realm. The only challenges those rich kids would face were their wealthy parents sending them overseas to study.

The young man's pupils dilated as a look of awe and disbelief appeared on his face. “This…this…this…”

Even though Li Nianfan did not make it too specific, he knew that he was like the monk from the story! As the son of the Lord of Azure Ville, he was the so-called 'rich kid' and his path had been set up for him long ago. The so-called breakthrough, the so-called interrogation of Insights, and the outdoor retreat had all been accomplished under the guidance of others. Even when he went to kill demons as tests, they were all prepared for him by the others. It would be a joke to consider these as challenges.

The young man stood up gradually. “Sir, your words have provoked me deeply. Allow me to insist on paying for your meal today.”

With that, he placed a couple of Spiritual Stones on the table. “Goodbye for now.”

His mind was still a mess. He wanted to go home right away to digest what he had learned today. Thus, he left in a hurry.

Watching his retreating back, Li Nianfan could not help but smile to himself. What an impatient man. However, he seemed like a kind person.

Li Nianfan picked up the Spiritual Stones and examined them closely in his palm. It was truly nice befriending local tyrants. Because of that, he earned some stones!

“Daji, we have money now! I'll bring you around today and see if there's anything you'd like to buy.”

Azure Ville was located behind the foot of the mountain. It was in a well-hidden spot. Blocked by trees and hills that s.h.i.+elded them from natural disasters, it was a spot only cultivators could find.

Qin Manyun sat in a garden. Her brows were furrowed as if she was worried. Sitting opposite her was a beautiful young lady in a long, green dress. Her beauty was as exquisite as Qin Manyun's—she had dark hair and fair skin along with beautiful eyes that sparkled with an indescribable charm. Perhaps it was due to her being older than Qin Manyun that she exuded a sense of elegance and decorousness.

The both of them sat in the garden and instantly, they became the most charming flowers, making the rest of the flowers in the garden seem rather dull. The decorous young lady smiled faintly. Her posture was refined. “Sister Manyun, your teacher's a good man. Surely, he'll be able to go through the natural tribulation with no harm.”

Qin Manyun sighed. “I thought I could meet with your father and ask him for some tips. What a shame.”

The decorous woman comforted her, “Don't hurry. Once the ceremony has ended, I'll personally bring you to him. By then, your teacher will be able to break through to the Cross Tribulation realm with success. It'd be great news.”

“Well, thank you in advance, Sister Ziyao,” Qin Manyun said. She looked at Gu Ziyao and asked curiously, “Uncle Gu asked all the Cross Tribulation cultivators to leave the valley. Is it due to some changes in the upcoming ceremony?”

Gu Ziyao hesitated for a moment and said, “As you know, the Ceremony's seal has been getting weaker every year, with each ceremony further weakening the seal. After all these years, the power of the seal has…well, as of two days ago, the seal has somehow loosened to its extreme. My father was terrified.”

“How could this be? Did anything happen recently?” Qin Manyun frowned.

Gu Ziyao shook her head with a worried look. “I'm not sure, but I overheard my father saying that there have been some changes in the realm. However, he doesn't know if it's for better or worse.”