Great Demon Sun Wukong

Twelve Layer Heavens

"Haha, Great Sage, I've arrived, I've arrived! I didn't expect you all to act so quickly."

"Tianpeng Brother, it's you who are too slow. So, did you get it?"

"Haha, do you even need to ask? Look what this is."

After speaking, the demon pulled a Vajra Circle off his arm and spat out a small fan from his mouth.

"Brother Tianpeng, your skill is truly impressive, you've not only taken the Vajra Bracelet, but you also got the Banana Fan. This time, let's see what the Supreme Elder Lord can fight me with."

"That old goat has used me as his mount for thousands of years, paying this much is only right. Great Sage, let's not talk much, and continue fighting our way up. Right, has Brother Bull arrived yet? Why isn't he with you?"

"Old Bull is at the Western Heaven Gate. You'd better go quickly and lend her your strength. Inside and out, we'll open the Western Heaven Gate. I'll continue to fight upwards. Hey, Brother Tianpeng, take the Twenty-Eight Constellations with you."

"Alright. Finally, we will have a grand battle, and I'll be fighting side by side with Old Bull. Haha, thrilling, thrilling!"

Thirty-Three Layer Lihen Heavenly Palace

"Supreme Elder, save me, please, Supreme Elder, save me quickly!"

"Brother Wen Quxing, what's the matter that you're so panicked? I am at a crucial moment in my alchemy, you mustn't disturb me."

"Oh no, why still concoct elixirs? That Monkey has attacked the Heavenly Palace again, he's almost reached the Jade Emperor's Lingxiao Palace. Supreme Elder, if you don't intervene, that Monkey will overturn your Eight Trigrams Furnace again."

"Oh dear, this is serious. Follow me, I am going to retrieve the Vajra Bracelet and the Banana Fan. How did that Monkey get up here again?"

The Supreme Elder hastily put down the elixir he was holding and ran to the Treasure Pavilion in a panic.

"Where's my Vajra Bracelet? Where's my Banana Fan? And, and my Green Ox is gone too!"

Looking at the empty Treasure Pavilion and the ox pen, there was not a shadow in sight. The Supreme Elder quickly calculated and said, "It's bad, my Green Ox has stolen my treasures to help that Demon Monkey. Go and inform the Jade Emperor, tell him I'm going to ask my younger brother, Master Tongtian, for help, and the Jade Emperor must hold on for a moment. Hurry, hurry!"

"Yes, yes, much obliged, Supreme Elder."

Western Heaven Gate, Bull Demon King

"Wahaha, Old Bull, it's been hundreds of years since we last saw each other?"

"You as the Green Ox are still just as robust. You've been the Old Man's mount for hundreds of years, and you've finally made it to today. You've suffered."

"Why mention this? Back in the day, out of all you brothers, I was the least useful, so this undercover job fell to me. Fortunately, I didn't just let that old goat ride me all these years for nothing. Now his Vajra Carver and Banana Fan have become my treasures and won't listen to his commands anymore."

"Well, let's not talk about that. Later, I must capture that old goat to avenge our brotherhood."

"Good. Haha, by the way, where is old Flood Dragon? Haven't seen him around."

"That fellow is fighting Zhu Bajie at the bottom of the Heavenly River. Old Flood Dragon planned to lead troops to help the Roc at the North Heaven Gate, but then Zhu Bajie started quarreling with him, claiming that the Heavenly River Guards originally belonged to him, and now Flood Dragon has killed them all, he's demanding compensation."

"Haha, Zhu Bajie actually cares about his Celestial Soldiers now. No worries, I'll go and persuade him. Brother, you go assist the Roc at the North Heaven Gate."

"Alright, take care, Brother Tianpeng."

"Hm."

Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie and the Flood Dragon Demon King were fighting fiercely. Both of them were skilled at water battles and their abilities were quite evenly matched, so neither had won after half a day of combat. Zhu Bajie was swinging his Nine-Toothed Rake with ferocity, preventing the Flood Dragon Demon King from getting close; he could do nothing but use a string of purple bells to create a water dragon to clash against the rake.

As the intense battle continued, a strong wind blew, forcibly separating them. Before Zhu Bajie and the Flood Dragon Demon King could continue their fight, Tianpeng had already stood between them.

"Enough, enough, we're all family here, what's the use of fighting each other?"

"Tianpeng, you come judge. We agreed that after we breached the Heavenly River to let him in, he wouldn't harm my eighty thousand Celestial Soldiers. But this wretch killed them all as soon as he got in, not sparing a single one for old Zhu. If I don't fight him, who will I fight?"

"You stinking pig, you still blame me? As soon as I entered, your Celestial Soldiers charged at me; am I not supposed to fight back, am I supposed to just let your soldiers kill me?"

"Well, you couldn't just kill them all, right? After all, I've been Tianpeng Marshal for thousands of years, and now they're all dead."

"Look, Tianpeng, what battle doesn't have casualties? But Old Flood Dragon, you did go a bit too far. Here's the deal, how about I make Old Flood Dragon compensate you, is that okay?"

"Brother Tianpeng, you said it yourself. How will he compensate me?"

"Well, Old Flood Dragon, it's your turn to speak."

"Hmph, for the Monkey's sake, I'll let it slide. You wanted to go rescue Chang'er in the Moon Palace, didn't you? I'll accompany you."

"Heh, that's more like it. Brother Tianpeng, tell Brother Monkey I won't join the havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I'm off to wreak havoc in the Moon Palace."

"Alright, go on, you've never forgotten about Chang'er after all these years. Take care, both of you, the Moon Palace is guarded by Wu Gang; you must be cautious."

"Roger that, you hurry and help our Monkey Brother; I hear Yang Jian has arrived."

Yang Jian, also known as the Erlang God. A demigod with immense strength, limitless spells, the ability to turn beans into soldiers, master of the arts of mystique, with seventy-three transformations, the Divine Eye in his heaven, holding a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword, forged from the Five-Colored Stone that Nuwa used to mend the heavens, and accompanied by the Divine Beast, the Howling Celestial Dog.

Although he was the Jade Emperor's nephew from his sister's side, due to an issue with his mother, his relationship with the Jade Emperor wasn't that good, even becoming another joke in Heaven as "hearing the summons but ignoring the orders." Hence, with Heaven in peril, the Jade Emperor had no choice but to send for Erlang God. Whether he would come or not, even the Jade Emperor wasn't sure.

"Report, Your Majesty, the Erlang God Yang Jian has led the Meishan brothers to join the battle and is now engaging with the Monkey at the Twenty-Fourth Heaven."

"Fate is kind for he still remembers our kinship. Otherwise, I do not know what we would have done. While the Monkey has Yang Jian to contend with, what about the other Demon Kings? My ministers, does anyone have a good strategy?"

None of the attendees under the hall had an answer; they were not fools, but this time the Demon Clan had obviously been planning for a long time. What about Heaven? The prolonged peace had nearly made Heaven forget what war was.

"Worthless, what use is it for me to support you all if I must take to the battlefield myself?"

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, Wen Quxing has just reported that the Supreme Elder Lord has set out to seek the help of his junior brother, Master Tongtian. Moreover, the Great Emperor Ziwei, Great Emperor Gouchen, and the Great Northern Emperor of Banishing Demons have already arrived at Heaven, rushing to the Western Heaven Gate, the East Heaven Gate, and the North Heaven Gate. I believe they can surely hold off the enemy for a while. Once Master Tongtian arrives, that Monkey will definitely not have an easy time."

"Alas, that's the only way."

The battle between Sun Wukong and Erlang God at the South Heaven Gate.

"Haha, Monkey, it's been hundreds of years, and your mana has indeed grown."

"Indeed, indeed, I, Old Sun, have suffered a great deal in these hundreds of years. But you're not bad either, still managing to fight me to a draw."

"Let's not kid ourselves, Monkey. We both know our own strength. I know you haven't been using your full power, otherwise I would have been defeated long ago. But I have no choice, the Jade Emperor is after all my uncle. Even if I don't like him, I can't disregard this family bond. Sigh, what a dilemma."

"Heh, you've become more perceptive than before. When I made a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace, you fought me to death. Now, you've learned to be smart and don't gamble your life away for the Jade Emperor. Since that's the case, I won't make it difficult for you."

With that, Sun Wukong's Jingu Bang suddenly grew with the wind, and with a sweeping motion, he fended off the Erlang God.

"Six-Eared, Extending Arm, come out now."

No sooner had the voice fallen than two figures leaped out of nowhere, resembling the Great Sage by seven or eight likenesses, clothed in golden armor with a crimson cape, each wielding a bright silver sky-supporting stick. Unlike the Great Sage, one had six ears on his head and the other had oddly long arms; these were the Six-Eared Macaque and the Extending-Arm Ape from the Havoc-Wreaking Four Monkeys.

Just as Sun Wukong was about to leave, a flying Immortal Sword suddenly appeared from the sky, stabbing towards his face. The sword struck with such ferocity that Sun Wukong could not dodge in time and was forced to block. With a "clang," Sun Wukong was pushed back three large steps, and the Golden Hoop staff in his hand trembled ceaselessly.

"Who dares to sneak attack Old Sun like this, with such ruthlessness?"

Two clouds drifted in the sky, carrying two immortals exuding a Taoist aura.

"Haha, I wondered who it was, turns out it's just two old Taoist snouts. Supreme Elder Lord, what brings you here from Lihen Heavenly Palace instead of refining elixirs?"

"You reckless Monkey, it was enough that you caused great havoc in Heaven a thousand years ago. How come you've not learned your lesson, daring to act wildly in Heaven again? And you even dared to instigate my Green Ox to steal my treasures, truly detestable."

"Brother, there is no need for more words. This Demon Monkey does indeed possess some mana, to withstand a strike from my Immortal-slaying Sword and only be pushed back three steps is interesting. Brother, step back; let me set up the Sword Formation and execute this Monkey."

"Brother, be careful, this reckless Monkey is very cunning, we cannot afford to underestimate him."

Before Supreme Elder Lord could finish his sentence, Master Tongtian had already summoned his four Immortal Swords. They circled above Sun Wukong's head for a moment before settling into their positions in the southeast, northwest, and western directions. But just at that time, another unexpected change occurred.

A whisk of jade dust suddenly appeared above Sun Wukong's head, followed by a hearty laugh, "Brother Wukong, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now? You've even provoked Master Tongtian to take action personally? And he's setting up the Immortal-slaying Sword Formation too. If this formation is completed, Brother Wukong, your prospects do not look good."

"Haha, it turns out to be Brother Zhen Yuan ah. No worries, no worries. When it comes to the strong bullying the weak, your Brother Sun has long been accustomed to it, it's no big deal."

Following Sun Wukong's laughter, Master Tongtian and Supreme Elder Lord both looked towards an empty space. Master Tongtian curled his lips into a disdainful smile and said, "I was wondering who would be so bold as to disrupt my sword formation. It turns out to be none other than Zhen Yuanzi, the Master of Earth Immortals. What, were you too bored in your Five Villas View and decided to stir up trouble here as well?"

"Haha, now you can't say that. Sun Wukong is my sworn brother. As an elder brother, how can I stand by while he is being bullied? Otherwise, others will think we brothers have no one to rely on. Right, Brother Wukong?"

"Hehe, Brother Zhen Yuan is correct. It's not just some people who have brothers. Haha."

This series of teasing had truly enraged Master Tongtian. Just who was he? The revered Sect Hierarch of the Interception Sect, when had anyone ever dared to treat him this way?

Anger boiled in his heart, but he refused to let the monkey have the last word.

"Demon Monkey, if all you've got is sharp teeth and a quick tongue, then this is where you will meet your end."

With a motion of his hand seals, the four Immortal Swords flew outward, their blades radiating bright light. "Be careful, Brother Wukong. This old Daoist has expanded the range of the sword formation. Let's join forces to break it."

"Alright."

There was no time for more words. Sun Wukong transformed into the Heaven-Supporting Giant Ape, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, and with another wave, a Buddha draped in golden armor appeared, holding the Ruyi Jingu Bang, embodying the body of the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Both avatars, with the force of thunder and lightning, struck towards the south and north against the Immortal Executing Sword and the Immortal Trapping Sword. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong himself aimed for the Immortal Severing Sword. At the same time, Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand, and a branch-like magic treasure appeared in his hand. Clenching a magical decree, he aimed at the Immortal-slaying Sword.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom ripped through the sky, and a wave of mana clashed and spread out, knocking the celestial soldiers of the Twenty-Four Layer Heavens off their feet. As the sound subsided and the mana and True Yuan calmed, within the sword array, Sun Wukong and his two avatars trembled uncontrollably, their hands split at the tiger's mouth, with blood pouring out in great amounts. Zhen Yuanzi too appeared disheveled, holding only half of a tree branch, straining to stabilize the chaotic True Yuan within his body.

In this exchange, the superior party was immediately evident.

Sun Wukong raised his head, glaring at Master Tongtian outside the array, his eyes nearly bursting with rage.

Because Master Tongtian was calm and composed, obviously having suffered no loss at all. Zhen Yuanzi's expression was grim, but inside, his heart was churning with a massive storm. Both he and Sun Wukong had already severed their two corpses, but there was still such a huge gap between them and Master Tongtian. This time, it indeed seemed more likely to meet a grim fate than not.

"Hehe, is this the extent of your ability? Ants daring to match Heaven? Let me, the Sect Hierarch, put an end to you both."

With a sweep of his sleeve, a stream of blue light shot by—it was the Supreme Rank Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Qingping Sword.

Just as the blue light was about to pierce Sun Wukong, it was blocked by a Bodhi branch.

"Master Tongtian, bullying the less powerful doesn't seem quite proper, does it?"

Before Master Tongtian had the chance to see who it was, he heard Sun Wukong murmuring, "Master… Master?"