Journey to the East Part Two: The Celestial River Divine Iron

"As a young, high-ranking monk, how can I hide behind a foolish disciple! I must use Buddhist teachings to convert them myself.

Like this—Hiyah!"

Sanzang thrust out a palm, and the resulting gust of wind kicked up yellow sand, leaving a deep gully.

"But Master Sanzang, aren't you a Caster?"

With a casual palm strike from Sanzang, Li Ye could discern astonishing power, strengthening his muscles with magic power to achieve immense strength.

"Of course, a Caster fights up close! Only then can the profoundness of Buddhist teachings be truly demonstrated!"

Sanzang's words were resonant, as if stating an irrefutable truth.

Li Ye nodded, showing he understood: "Master Sanzang, your martial arts are indeed impressive. Did your disciples teach you?"

"Yes and no. I learned some things during my temple training, but Wukong and the others taught me much more."

"Master Sanzang, may I take a look at this?"

After their conversation, Li Ye became even more curious about Sanzang's Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff and couldn't resist wanting to try it out.

Sanzang readily handed the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff to Li Ye, saying, "Be careful!"

As Li Ye took the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff, he felt his body sink slightly into the yellow sand.

"Master Sanzang, how do you transform it into the Golden Cudgel or the Nine-Toothed Rake?"

Li Ye tried swinging the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff, but apart from a jingling sound, there seemed to be nothing special about it.

It was just a slightly heavier staff.

"Wukong's weapons? Let me think!"

Sanzang, seemingly understanding what Li Ye wanted to see, took back the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff, gave it a casual wave, and handed it back to Li Ye.

What kind of intelligence is this?

Li Ye's brow twitched.

When the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff in Li Ye's hand transformed into the black iron rod, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, Li Ye immediately felt an immense mass appear in his hand.

His feet sank directly into the yellow sand!

So heavy—

This was Li Ye's first impression of the Ruyi Jingu Bang. He then tried to swing it, and even a slight movement made him feel the crushing weight, nearly causing him to drop it.

This forced Li Ye to use magic power to strengthen his muscles just to wield it normally.

Strangely, the Ruyi Jingu Bang gave Li Ye a sense of familiarity.

It was as if he had seen a similar Noble Phantasm somewhere before.

This was incredible, as Li Ye had only encountered the mystical for a few days and had seen very few Heroic Spirits, so how could he have seen a similar Noble Phantasm?

Yet, Li Ye was certain that not long ago, he had closely observed the appearance and activation of a similar Noble Phantasm.

Soon, a thought that he dared not approach finally surfaced in his mind.

Rhongomyniad.

The Holy Lance, one of King Arthur's legendary armaments, the anchor of the star-bound storm. Legend said its true form was a Tower connecting the inner and outer worlds.

And the Ruyi Jingu Bang in Li Ye's hand was the Divine Iron that anchored the Celestial River. Like Rhongomyniad, it was not originally a weapon but an ambiguous existence given form by later generations.

Rhongomyniad was barely maintained in its Noble Phantasm form by the thirteen restraints of the Round Table, while the Ruyi Jingu Bang was personally pulled out by Sun Wukong and forcibly used as a weapon.

In a sense, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, which anchors the Celestial River, is also an anchor that sustains the world.

Oh my god.

So the Ruyi Jingu Bang is a top-tier Noble Phantasm, similar to the Holy Lance?

If Li Ye's intuition was correct and his deduction held true, then the true Ruyi Jingu Bang was an ultimate Noble Phantasm on par with the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.

Even the Golden Cudgel that Sanzang could summon upon manifesting was extraordinary!

It possessed at least most of the Golden Cudgel's power!

As Li Ye realized the weight of the Golden Cudgel in his hand, a thought quietly surfaced in his mind.

Can I use it?

This was a bold and arrogant thought. Sun Wukong, who wielded the Ruyi Jingu Bang, was undoubtedly a high-ranking existence who had become a Divine Spirit. How could someone like Li Ye use his armament?

He didn't meet the requirements in terms of status or usage.

But as if compelled, Li Ye raised the Golden Cudgel and slammed it down heavily!

The magic power belonging to the Holy Grail within him surged out. In less than an instant, Li Ye could feel the magic power output exceeding his own by several times!

The effect of this strike was incredibly apparent: the space within a ten-meter radius centered on Li Ye was frozen.

Yes, frozen.

The sandstorm that should have howled towards the sky, the wind that rustled fiercely, all came to a silent halt. The sand particles scattered in the air were visible in every detail.

Li Ye could clearly see each grain of sand and clearly feel the world that had stopped.

The world within ten meters fell into a standstill.

'This is the Ruyi Jingu Bang, anchoring the Celestial River—'

Anchoring—

A Noble Phantasm, equal to the Holy Lance, that sustains the world.

The Lion King, having assimilated with the Holy Lance, even established a world of the [Tower] based on the Holy Lance. If that's the case, the Ruyi Jingu Bang could achieve the same feat.

Li Ye's movements didn't cease. He swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang incredibly slowly, as if that single motion consumed most of his strength.

The infusion of magic power never stopped. Relying on the infinite magic power provided by the Holy Grail, Li Ye used the Ruyi Jingu Bang once more.

At the tip of the ever-extending Ruyi Jingu Bang—

Space began to crack.

Through the fissures, stars could be glimpsed.

If it can anchor the Celestial River, it must be able to cleave through the sky.

The first strike fixes space, locking the enemy's actions. The second strike directly pierces the immobile enemy.

Crack.

It was like a black hole appearing on the ground. Both color and sound vanished, with only nothingness continuously spreading.

The lingering scent of myth.

Twisted nothingness tore everything apart, devouring it.

Both the sandstorm and the yellow sand continuously disappeared into that void.

'!'

Almost simultaneously, Li Ye cut off the magic power output. As the Golden Cudgel detached from Li Ye's hand, all anomalies instantly vanished, as if nothing had ever happened.

But Li Ye knew exactly what had occurred in that moment.

Several meters away, a bottomless pit appeared before him.

Space shattering for less than a few breaths caused such destruction. What power does the true Golden Cudgel possess?

"Oho, you can use Wukong's authority too? What a touching scene. Wukong used to do the same when he wanted to spar with me, freezing space before sneakily hitting my head."

Sanzang, standing nearby, exclaimed with nostalgic wonder, seeing Li Ye actually able to wield the Golden Cudgel.

'This isn't even a Noble Phantasm release, just a normal application—'

Li Ye, drenched in sweat, swallowed hard. He found it hard to imagine how exciting Sanzang's daily life must be.

'Golden Cudgel, anchor—'

Li Ye didn't linger on the Ruyi Jingu Bang's power. After returning it to Sanzang, he pondered his newly emerged thoughts.

Although Li Ye was curious why he could use some of the Ruyi Jingu Bang's authority, as he shouldn't possess such qualifications, a more important idea occupied his mind.

"Master Sanzang! Do you still need disciples?"

(Welcome to the group, I hope everyone can discuss together!)