With a thunderous roar, the dome of the Netherworld burst open.
Monkey plummeted down like a falling meteor, slicing through the mountain peak.
Inside the Netherworld, all the ghosts and Ghost Messengers were stunned. A heavy silence fell.
The impact site happened to be near the Hall of Life and Death. King Brightcourt rushed out of the main hall, eyes wide with shock.
In an instant, a flash of golden light shot out from the shattered dome, streaking toward Monkey’s landing spot. At the same time, Monkey had already risen from the swirling dust, gritting his teeth and charging forward to meet it.
“Wh—what is happening?” The moment King Brightcourt recognized Monkey’s figure, goosebumps erupted across his skin. He shouted in panic: “Quick, summon Earth-Store King!”
“Yes, sir!” The Ghost Messenger beside him, terrified, spun around and hurried away.
At that moment, the two Monkeys were already locked in fierce combat high in the sky.
Amid the raging winds, Damon Six-Ears darted effortlessly back and forth, while Monkey was already beginning to falter.
A drop of fresh blood splattered into Monkey’s eye. Though he instantly evaporated it with his spiritual power, it still left an opening.
Seizing the opening, Damon Six-Ears flickered behind Monkey and slammed him down from the sky with a heavy blow of his staff.
Another deafening crash shook the earth. Dust billowed at the impact site like raging waves.
……
A Skyward Legionnaire rushed into the High Sky Throne Hall.
By now, every notable immortal in the Heavenly Court had gathered in the grand hall. Seeing someone come to report, the immortals widened their eyes anxiously, watching in uneasy anticipation.
The Skyward Legionnaire dropped to one knee and saluted, "Your Majesty, the two demon monkeys have fought their way into the Netherworld!"
"The Netherworld?" At these words, the God of Fortune swallowed hard, muttering, "Last time disaster struck, it… it also started in the Netherworld."
The hall fell even deeper into silence.
Seated on the Dragon Throne, the Jade Emperor blinked in stunned silence, unable to utter a word for a long moment.
Seeing this, General Lee stepped forward, sweeping his sleeve and commanding, "Investigate further!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Skyward Legionnaire silently bowed and departed. Yet the hall remained shrouded in silence, with all the immortals exchanging uneasy glances.
"It’s… it’s not necessarily a bad thing, right?" the God of Wealth stammered. "Last time, the Netherworld was under the Heavenly Court’s control. This time, it’s the Buddhist Order’s affair. If anyone is to rescue them, it should be the Buddhists. So… it shouldn’t involve us, right?"
What began as a statement ended as a question. Yet who could truly answer it?
All the immortals, intentionally or not, glanced at the Jade Emperor seated on the Dragon Throne.
Another great battle had erupted, and the dignified Heavenly Court now seemed like a candle in a storm—unable to act, liable to be snuffed out at any moment.
Now, the Dragon Throne felt like a sheet of red-hot iron—whoever sat on it was doomed to misfortune.
After a long pause, the Jade Emperor could only ask cautiously, "General Lee, what about South Heaven Gate…?"
"All defenses are in place, Your Majesty. Please rest assured."
Such reassurance. Hearing it, the Jade Emperor could only force a bitter smile.
……
On the barren plain of Lionback, the demons had all fled. Only the Buddhas remained, standing silently, waiting for something unknown.
A Ghost Messenger quietly appeared behind Earth-Store King, bowed, and said, "Venerable, the Netherworld…"
"I already know. You may return." Earth-Store King replied without looking back.
But the Ghost Messenger simply stood there, occasionally glancing up at Earth-Store King, his expression gripped by fear.
"I said, you may go." Earth-Store King repeated.
Summoning his courage, the Ghost Messenger stammered, "Does Venerable have any orders for me to carry back?"
After a long silence, Earth-Store King answered bluntly, "No."
Hearing this, the Ghost Messenger bowed in silence and turned to leave.
Once again, only the figures of the Buddhas remained on the desolate ground, all eyes quietly fixed on Earth-Store King.
Earth-Store King pressed his lips together and murmured, "I can’t manage this anymore…can’t manage it."
Saint Raymond silently nodded beside him.
All around, the Buddhas continued to stand in silent vigil.
"Where is Tripitaka?" one Buddha suddenly asked.
Another Buddha replied softly, "He was carried away by Barry Bear. They say… he’s returned to where they first set out."
"He wants to travel alone?"
"He must not be allowed to depart." Saint Raymond coughed twice and said, "Intercept him. Until matters are resolved, protect him well."
"Understood." The Buddhas immediately rose, soaring westward into the sky.
In an instant, only Saint Raymond, Earth-Store King, and Manjusri remained.
"They’ve gone to stop Tripitaka—what about us?" Manjusri asked softly.
Earth-Store King smiled faintly. "We’d best not go. If we did, we’d probably draw Master Sage Subhuti out."
……
Beside the dried-up creek, Barry Bear gently set Tripitaka down. He bowed, "Master Tripitaka, we’ve arrived."
Tripitaka glanced at Barry Bear and shook his head helplessly, a complicated smile on his face.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to the companions trailing behind—Marshal Silver and the others. Pressing his palms together, he bowed, "Please stop here, everyone. From now on, let me walk this road alone."
"There’s still a thousand li to go," Marshal Silver said softly. "Let us escort you for this last stretch."
Tripitaka shook his head. "Didn’t I walk all ten thousand li just like this?"
"It’s different now…" Marshal Silver began, but couldn’t finish the thought. In the end, he simply nodded in silence.
Louis Quickpaw watched this exchange, astonished.
"What? You agree to let him go alone?" Louis Quickpaw scoffed. "I can’t accept that."
Tripitaka couldn’t help but look over at Louis Quickpaw.
Louis continued, "Master Tripitaka, please don’t blame me. It’s not that I don’t want to listen to you. But… with the Great Sage absent, if anything happened to you, even dying a hundred times wouldn’t make up for it. I beg your forgiveness."
(This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page for more!)
With that, Louis Quickpaw bowed to Tripitaka, apologizing in advance.
Seeing this, Tripitaka could only force a bitter smile.
He was powerless not only against the two Monkeys, but also against these demons who claimed to protect him.
From Five Elements Mountain onward, it’s always been this way…
Enough. What’s the point of dwelling on it? Better to simply walk his own path.
Shaking his head, Tripitaka turned and walked away.
Just then, a streak of golden light descended from the sky. In an instant, a group of Buddhas appeared before Tripitaka, blocking his way.
"Master Tripitaka, please wait." The leading Buddha said gently, "The westward road is perilous. Until the Fighting-Victory Buddha has settled his own affairs, we must ask you to wait here for him."
Tripitaka was taken aback by this.
"Wait… for Six-Ears Damon?" Louis Quickpaw’s brow twitched as he waved his hand.
Immediately, a crowd of demon generals stepped in front of Tripitaka, both sides locked in a standoff.
Seeing the tense standoff, Tripitaka’s expression was caught between laughter and tears. For a moment, he truly wondered: Had he really walked this road himself?
He took a deep breath, parted the crowd blocking his way, and stepped up to the leading Buddha. Pressing his palms together, he bowed, "Venerable, please allow Tripitaka to depart. If I feared danger, I wouldn’t have set out west in the first place, would I?"
"This is the will of Saint Raymond. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Master Tripitaka."
"What difficulty?" Tripitaka smiled faintly. "Isn’t Saint Raymond’s intention simply for me to reach Spirit Mountain safely? If the Fighting-Victory Buddha catches up, so be it. If not, it doesn’t change the larger situation. Isn’t that right?"
"Well…"
Just as the leading Buddha hesitated, King Bullhorn behind Tripitaka gritted his teeth, raised his iron staff, and shouted, "Out of the way! We’ve escorted him all this way—now you want to interfere, what’s the meaning of that?"
At this, the Buddha frowned and looked at King Bullhorn. "If Master Tripitaka insists on departing, I have no reason to stop him. But… since our Buddhist disciples have already intervened, it’s no longer your place to protect him!"