After killing the Immortal Lord of Myriad Laws at Jindou Cave and creating an ox to pin down the mountain, all five had undergone changes in their states of mind.
Zhu Bajie had fully comprehended the Nine Immortals, further stabilizing his foundation in the Dao;
Sha Wujin's Silent Immortal had returned to its rightful place, his sharpness drawn inward;
Little White Dragon's Numinous Immortal circulated, his vital energy clear and unobstructed;
Tang Sanzang had established his Dao as an Upper Immortal, steady as a mountain.
After reaching perfection as an Ultimate Immortal, Sun Wukong had added another layer of immortal defiance, his aura growing ever more unfathomable.
Yet the further they progressed, the more clearly all five understood.
The ordeal at Jindou Cave had been a contest of principles and laws, which immortal defiance could still overcome.
What remained would probably be even harder.
They all rode aboard the dragon carriage, each occupied with his own thoughts.
After traveling for an unknown length of time, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
A great river stretched across their path.
Its clear waters reflected the daylight and cloud shadows, blue-green ripples shimmering as it wound toward the distant silhouettes of mountains. Vegetation flourished along both banks, lush and green, yet few travelers were to be seen.
Only in the far distance could they vaguely make out a few low villages, cooking smoke curling upward in an extraordinary stillness.
The river was extremely wide, spanning several dozen zhang. Its current flowed neither swiftly nor slowly, forming tiny eddies as it headed east.
The sun hung high, its light dancing across the river like scattered gold, lending the scene a certain peacefulness.
The five had traveled so long that their lips were parched and their mouths dry. Dusty from the journey, with the sun