At dinner, Anna Yang was still bustling about, but this time, she wasn't alone.
Perhaps it was to make a good impression, or perhaps Rainflower Monastery had always been this way—Shirley Shi's diligence surprised Skylar Loft.
Helping Anna Yang cook and tidy up the table was one thing, but she even remembered to pour tea and serve water to Skylar Loft, attending to him with utmost obedience.
This made Skylar Loft quite pleased; he kept glancing at Anna Yang, as if showing off, while chatting endlessly with Jade Cauldron about respecting one's master.
In the end, Anna Yang simply slammed down the jar and declared she was going out for some fresh air, then walked away.
Monkey King thought to himself: Skylar Loft must really be starved for respect.
Just think—his disciples are all unruly monsters with bad tempers who know nothing about respecting their master, and Skylar Loft himself is always joking around, never acting like a proper teacher.
This made Monkey King curious about what kind of Daoist temple Cloudrise Pavilion really was.
Finally, seeing Monkey King squatting in the corner studying scrolls, Skylar Loft came over and asked, "The weather's nice tonight. Why aren't you outside practicing your staff like usual?"
"Aren't you just asking the obvious?" Monkey King stretched and replied.
Skylar Loft leaned in close to Monkey King's ear and murmured, "We saw him just now—his face was bruised and swollen, and he won't be getting out of bed anytime soon. If not for his master's decent medical skills and some mysterious life-saving immortal pill, he'd be dead by now. You should've seen him grinding his teeth when I accepted Shirley Shi as my disciple—he nearly coughed up blood. Hahaha, this is exactly the kind of thing I love to do!"
"I'm not afraid of him. In his current state, there's nothing he can do. Who knows who else he knows—you said yourself an immortal pill came from somewhere. What if someone else shows up? I'm not so foolish as to go out looking for trouble." Monkey King lowered his head and continued reading the scroll.
"Honestly, you could go outside to practice your staff—it wouldn't matter. There are two Spirit-Transformation cultivators here: one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, and one of the Ten Immortal Disciples. No Daoist in the Kunlun Mountains would be stupid enough to try anything at our cave entrance. And those with high enough cultivation wouldn't risk turning against the two of us for that guy's sake."
Monkey King glanced up at Skylar Loft, thinking that he had a point.
Skylar Loft knew every detail of Monkey King's earlier actions.
Are all Spirit-Transformation Daoists that perceptive? Monkey King turned slightly to look at Jade Cauldron, who was focused on writing something nearby.
Probably not.
From what he knew, Spirit-Transformation Daoists were divided into many categories, all quite complex. Even with the same training, differences in talent led to different results, and even within the Spirit-Transformation realm, there were many levels.
For example, Master Sage Subhuti and Skylar Loft are both considered Spirit-Transformation cultivators, but their powers are worlds apart.
Take Erik Yang, for instance—he's in the Spirit-Transformation realm. The Heavenly Court has at least three to five hundred generals in the same realm, but anyone who thinks they could take down Erik Yang by ganging up on him is just ignorant.
Monkey King withdrew his gaze from Jade Cauldron and focused again on his book, asking casually, "Let's talk about when we're heading back."
At this, Skylar Loft's expression froze for a moment before he forced a smile. "Isn't it nice staying here?"
"So you're saying you don't want to leave?" Monkey King stared at Skylar Loft, expressionless.
"Not leaving? That's not it. It's rare for you to get out, brother—don't you want to go out and relax a bit?"
"Everyone here looks at me like they've seen a ghost, and there are Heavenly Soldiers outside. Where am I supposed to relax?"
Skylar Loft tilted his head, thinking for a moment. "You have a point, brother. How about this: in a few days, let's leave here and stay at my Cloudrise Pavilion for a while. No one there discriminates against demons. What do you say?"
Monkey King's cheeks twitched, his breathing grew rapid, and he clenched his teeth tightly.
His hand gripping the scroll pressed it so hard that it bent slightly.
Seeing this, Skylar Loft quickly hurried away.
Days passed one after another. Monkey King spent his time buried in books and learned a great deal, but his heart still longed to return to Crescent Star Cave.
For him, mastering the Seventy-Two Transformations and Cloudwalker Step was the true path—only then could he escape his current predicament.
Skylar Loft kept stalling, but seeing Monkey King's temper grow worse by the day, his attitude slowly softened.
Outside the cave, the selection of Heavenly Soldiers and generals continued, showing no sign of ending.
As for Shirley Shi, ever since arriving at Golden Mist Cave, her behavior had been exemplary—she was the model disciple, winning Skylar Loft's favor. In her free time, she would chat with Monkey King, her gratitude for being accepted as Skylar Loft's disciple overflowing.
About half a month later, a voice suddenly came from outside the cave.
"Is Master Jade Cauldron here? Is Master Jade Cauldron here?"
At that moment, Jade Cauldron was out for some unknown reason, leaving only the other four inside the cave.
Shirley Shi was puzzled by the caller, while Anna Yang's expression changed slightly as she looked toward the cave entrance in confusion.
Exchanging a glance, Skylar Loft signaled to Monkey King: "Go take a look."
Without thinking much, Monkey King grabbed his trusty Cloudwalker Staff and headed outside the cave.
Before he even stepped outside, Monkey King could already sense dozens of varying spiritual energies beyond the cave.
This puzzled him somewhat, but surely Skylar Loft wouldn't set him up, right? Anna Yang might not know who's outside, but Skylar Loft must have sensed them already.
Stepping out, Monkey King squinted against the blinding sunlight, everything before him a dazzling white.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice: "That's him!"
Monkey King squeezed his eyes shut, then slowly opened them—only to see a blinding field of silver light!
Rows upon rows of Heavenly Soldiers, their silver armor gleaming, white wings spread wide, and spears flashing coldly!
Among them stood several junior Heavenly Generals!
At the very front was a burly Heavenly General, and behind him—a familiar face: Louis Wang!
The moment he saw that face, Monkey King's heart trembled; his grip on the Cloudwalker Staff tightened.
Louis Wang clearly hadn't recovered yet—bandages wrapped his body, a cane in his hand, and his face still swollen.
But... Skylar Loft definitely knew who was outside—so why did he send Monkey King out to check?
Before Monkey King could figure it out, the Heavenly General waved his hand and shouted, "Seize that demon monkey!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Heavenly Soldiers immediately raised their weapons and surrounded Monkey King.