Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything-Chapter 564: Celebrating New Year Inside and Outside the Book

Jiang Liu, who remained in the Illusionary Demon Cave, felt the seconds slipping by...

In the first month, he could neither eat nor sleep well, and even his originally well-proportioned body had slimmed down considerably.

Next to him was an ancient well, the very place where the female ghost crawled out from. How could he possibly get any sleep?

But even the most terrifying things, seen every day, eventually became less frightening as time wore on.

By the later stages, even when a female ghost emerged, Jiang Liu felt some nervousness, but the fear was much diminished.

It seemed as though encountering ghosts hundreds of times every day in the Illusionary Demon Cave had forcibly cured him of his fear of ghosts, hadn't it?

Soon, nearly two months had passed.

Jiang Liu flashed behind the female ghost, watching as her health bar dwindled. He reached out and grabbed her from behind.

Then, a swath of azure lightning erupted from Jiang Liu's palm, enveloping the female ghost's entire body and eliciting a piercing scream from her mouth.

As the health bar emptied, the form of the female ghost dissipated like smoke.

Notification: You have gained 308,000 Experience Points and 500 taels of money.

Notification: Your level has increased by 1, current level is now 64.

"Level 64, huh? I've advanced 3 levels in two months? Not bad at all, this Illusionary Demon Cave truly is a holy leveling ground!" Jiang Liu felt a quiet satisfaction as he received the system's notification.

However, after checking his character panel, his expression darkened again.

He had spent two months in the Illusionary Demon Cave and had acquired roughly 2 billion Experience Points, which took his level from 61 to 64.

But with each level up, the required Experience Points for the next level were increasing.

Now, to reach level 65, he needed a staggering 8 billion Experience Points.

"Terrifying! I need 8 billion Experience Points just to get from level 64 to 65? What about when I reach level 99? How many will it take then? A hundred billion? Or a trillion?" Jiang Liu complained to himself as he looked over the Experience Points needed for his next level.

However, complaints aside, he had checked his character panel and the female ghost hadn't emerged from the ancient well again.

Could it be that today's battle was over?

A thought suddenly struck Jiang Liu; he wanted to see what was truly inside the ancient well.

Once this idea emerged, it clung to his mind like a stubborn parasite, impossible to shake off.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Liu approached the ancient well with curiosity and looked down into it.

However, just as he peered into the well, unexpectedly, it transformed into a puff of green smoke and vanished.

"What does this mean?" The ancient well where the female ghost had been appearing just disappeared? Jiang Liu was somewhat astonished.

"Could it be? After these two months, have I truly overcome my fear of the female ghost, and so the Illusionary Demon Cave has removed that method of haunting?" Jiang Liu wondered silently for a moment before speculating.

After thinking it over, could it really be explained that way?

At that moment, Jiang Liu felt uncertain again.

The female ghost was gone and would no longer appear. He genuinely didn't know what would happen next.

The Illusionary Demon Cave had the ability to conjure up the things he feared the most.

In fact, after two months had passed and his fear of female ghosts had vanished, Jiang Liu thought that if he continued to grind down hundreds of them each day, his leveling speed would remain quite fast.

Beep beep beep...

Just as Jiang Liu was lost in thought and secretly anxious about what might come next in the Illusionary Demon Cave, suddenly, a beeping sounded in his mind.

It was a notification from the social section, indicating that someone from his friends list was messaging him—it was none other than Sun Wukong.

"Master, how have you been in the Illusionary Demon Cave?" The message was from Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, you took Fairy Zixia to the Flower Fruit Mountain. Have you been enjoying yourself these past few days and finally remembered your master?" Jiang Liu replied to Sun Wukong's message.

"Master, what are you saying? How could I forget about you? Look, it's New Year's Eve today, and I'm sending you a message at once," Sun Wukong quickly responded after Jiang Liu's message was sent.

"What? New Year's Eve!?" At Sun Wukong's words, Jiang Liu was slightly startled.

But upon further reflection, he realized that he had been in the Journey to the West world for over three years now, and just before entering the Illusionary Demon Cave, the weather had indeed cooled down.

Two months had passed since then, so for it to be New Year's Eve today seemed quite normal, didn't it?

"New Year's Eve, huh? In that case, it's been almost three and a half years since I arrived in the world of Journey to the West?"

Recalling his initial days upon arriving in the Journey to the West realm, where he had stayed at the Jinshan Temple during a hot summer, and now it was New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu murmured to himself in reflection.

"Master, you're trapped in the Illusionary Demon Cave and can't come out, right? We won't be able to celebrate the New Year together?" Sun Wukong had no idea what Jiang Liu was thinking and sent a message over.

"Yes, it's impossible now. If you guys are willing, my fellow disciples can go celebrate together!"

Thinking back to the first time he had played Mahjong with Sun Wukong and the others on New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu felt a sense of nostalgia and spoke up.

"Alright then, Master, can you help me contact Bajie and the others? Ask everyone's opinion and see!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, Sun Wukong nodded and said.

Although he couldn't go out himself, Jiang Liu was still very willing to act as a liaison for his disciples.

After separately getting in touch with Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Little White Dragon, the disciples collectively agreed to go to the headquarters of Ming Sect at Flame Cloud Entertainment City to celebrate the New Year.

Firstly, it was a chance for everyone to have a lively time together.

Secondly, it was an opportunity to foster good relationships with the sect followers of the Ming Sect during this festive time.

Once the plans were settled, Jiang Liu naturally discussed the matter with Demon King Ox and his son, who were very supportive and quickly set things in motion.

Soon, Flame Cloud Entertainment City's affairs were handed over to the little demons under their command, and the business of the Entertainment City was even more booming on New Year's Eve.

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Then, in the original Flame Cloud Cave, everyone quickly gathered and decorated the place festively.

Demon King Ox and his son Red Boy naturally played host, with Red Boy also being the Vice Sect Hierarch of Ming Sect.

Sun Wukong attended with Fairy Zixia, Zhu Bajie brought Zhuzhu, Sha Wujing also arrived, along with White Dragon Horse and his daughter—these folks were the core members of Ming Sect.

Next, there were Holy Monk Jinchi, Black Bear Demon, the three immortals Tiger, Deer, and Sheep, Scorpion Demon, the lineage of Dragon King of Jing River...

Inside the Flame Cloud Cave on New Year's Eve, everyone came together in a bustling and harmonious atmosphere, with toasts being exchanged all around.

"It's a pity Master isn't here, otherwise it would have been great for all of us to eat hotpot together tonight..."

However, as everyone sat around the dining table, Zhu Bajie suddenly spoke up with a touch of emotion.

"Bajie, on such a festive day as today, if you want to eat Master's cooking, of course, Master will oblige you!"

No sooner had Zhu Bajie's words ended than Jiang Liu sent a message.

"What!? Master? What do you mean? Can you get out of the Illusionary Demon Cave?" Zhu Bajie asked in astonishment upon hearing Jiang Liu's words.

"I can't get out, but to celebrate the New Year with you guys is still something I can manage!" Jiang Liu did not elaborate much in response to Zhu Bajie's question.

Then, Jiang Liu sent a message to Red Boy, asking him to clear the dishes from the table because he wanted to personally cook a pot of hotpot for everyone.

On such a festive day, naturally, it's best to gather around and share a hotpot!

By this time, everyone had gathered inside the Flame Cloud Cave. Hearing Jiang Liu's words, how could someone who couldn't be there in person prepare a New Year's Eve hotpot for everyone?

Everyone was a bit surprised.

Without explaining much, Jiang Liu started preparing right away in the Illusionary Demon Cave, and soon, all the ingredients were ready. The Eight Trigrams Hot-Clear Pot was set up, and a large pot of broth was boiling nicely.

After preparing a portion for himself first, he then threw all the hotpot and ingredients into the Gang's Treasury en masse.

Subsequently, Red Boy opened the Gang's Treasury.

Indeed, the Eight Trigrams Hot-Clear Pot and all were brought out and placed on the table.

"Wow, that's the taste, Master's amazing!" Seeing the hotpot retrieved remotely, Zhu Bajie snorted with his pig nose, exclaiming with a surprised and delighted expression.

"Hold on, the place of honor has to be reserved for the Sect Hierarch!" Just as Zhu Bajie was about to start eating, Red Boy spoke up and stopped him.

"What!? Didn't Master say he couldn't come?" Red Boy's words left Zhu Bajie stunned again.

Amid everyone's surprised gazes, Red Boy then took out a Mystical Mirror and placed it at the head of the table.

The image in the Mystical Mirror flickered, and soon, Jiang Liu's likeness appeared on it.

From within the Illusionary Demon Cave, Jiang Liu raised his hand and greeted everyone.

Inside Flame Cloud Cave, watching Jiang Liu's reflected image eating hotpot, Sun Wukong and the others found it quite endearing.

Although Master couldn't be there in person, being able to gather online like this was better than nothing.

"Cheers, to one and all!"

Sitting at the place of honor, Jiang Liu in the Mystical Mirror raised his glass first, signaling to everyone.

Sun Wukong and all the others also raised their glasses and followed Jiang Liu's lead, downing the wine in unison.

On the festive occasion of New Year's Eve, the atmosphere was convivial!

(PS: The world within the book is celebrating the New Year, and it happens to be New Year's Eve in reality too. Happy New Year to everyone!)