In the howling wind, Monkey King unleashed every ounce of his strength and charged forward.
In that instant, the entire world before him blurred into streaks of light, leaving only the distant, calmly smiling face of Lord Genesis suspended in midair.
Before Monkey King’s staff could even brush the edge of his robe, Lord Genesis’s Jade Wish-Scepter began to glow softly in his hand.
Monkey King’s Golden Staff struck nothing but empty air.
Lord Genesis, along with the World-Bearing Banner and the Jade Wish-Scepter behind him, vanished without a trace.
Just as Monkey King steadied himself, a tremendous suction force surged up from the ground before he could react.
The earth had already sunk deep, forming a massive pit without a sound.
His limbs, his body—everything felt unbearably heavy.
This time, instead of falling as he had before, Monkey King erupted with powerful spiritual energy and broke free in an instant.
The surge of spiritual force nearly sent him crashing into the mountainside.
Barely managing to halt his momentum, Monkey King sensed Lord Genesis hovering less than a hundred zhang behind him.
“Well? Did you really think brute strength alone could make you invincible?” Lord Genesis said, his expression unchanged.
......
“As expected of Lord Genesis!”
“With Lord Genesis taking action, let’s see what tricks that demon monkey has left!”
“Your Majesty! You should order South Heaven Gate to send troops to assist Lord Genesis and seize this chance to wipe out Blossom Mountain!”
The immortals in the Hall of Divine Might broke into delighted smiles, but the Jade Emperor only watched quietly, unmoving.
......
At South Heaven Gate, General Lee’s brow remained furrowed.
Nezha clutched the dispatch at his chest, his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Generals slowly carrying the barely breathing Marshal Silver off the battlefield.
......
Monkey King twisted sharply and lunged at him again, but before his staff could get close, Lord Genesis vanished just as before.
Immediately, another wave of suction struck.
Monkey King broke free with a fierce effort, once again charging toward him.
This happened dozens of times—the World-Bearing Banner had already carved out massive pits across the ground, and Monkey King was growing increasingly impatient. Yet he still hadn’t touched even the edge of Lord Genesis’s robe.
By now, the battle had devastated the Hall of Life and Death, the entire Netherworld, even the Stygian River and all surrounding mountains and rivers—nothing remained intact.
The landscape had changed countless times.
If not for the Eighteen Hells existing in a separate space, they would have been destroyed as well.
The entire central region of the Netherworld had become a wasteland of shattered rocks, utterly barren.
Of the Ten Judges of the Underworld, only King Brightcourt remained, hiding far away with the last surviving souls, watching from a safe distance. They ceded thousands of li around the battlefield, sweating nervously at a war they dared not join.
“You can’t kill me like this.” Monkey King hovered in midair, calmly watching Lord Genesis. “What are you trying to do—stall for time?”
Lord Genesis slowly stroked his long beard and smiled faintly. “Killing you would be far too easy. Once time runs out, you’ll die on your own. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize one—the Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill works the same way.”
Blood vessels in Monkey King’s eyes pulsed and spread.
“Heh heh, another one hoping to see me consumed by killing qi. Too bad there’s nothing on you worth taking.” Monkey King slowly backed away, turning to leave.
Just then, Lord Genesis gritted his teeth, and a curved force field appeared, trapping Monkey King at its center without touching him.
“You’d best stay and spar with me for a while.”
“So, you’re not just stalling—you’re buying time for someone, aren’t you?” Monkey King grinned. “Let me guess... Avalon Mountain’s cultivators?”
Lord Genesis’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“Looks like I guessed right.” Monkey King laughed even harder, leaning back and retreating.
“So what if you did? Do you really think you can get there?” Lord Genesis slowly spread his arms.
"Give it a try. How else will you know?"
In the next instant, Monkey spun and hurled himself forward in a reckless charge.
Lord Genesis thrust both hands out, unleashing a colossal suction that swept up everything around Monkey.
With a thunderous roar, the ground of the Netherworld split open like a cake struck by a giant fist—gouged wide down the middle.
[Omitted: Irrelevant line]
Inside Qi Tian Palace, Ruby slowly lowered her sword, slid it into its sheath, and strode purposefully toward the exit.
"Where are you going?" Shortbeak barked.
"If you won't march, I'll march alone."
"What do you hope to accomplish by marching out? The Great Sage's opponent is Lord Genesis—it's a war far beyond your reach! The Great Sage ordered us to hold Blossom Mountain, so that's what we'll do!"
Ruby stopped, turned slowly, and fixed Shortbeak with a steady gaze. "The Great Sage may have been reckless this time—I know many of you are dissatisfied. But tell me, did the Great Sage ever save you?"
Shortbeak was struck silent.
Louis Quickpaw stood aside, silent.
"Nigel Wyrm, you've always been a powerhouse. Back then, the Great Sage traded just two Peaches of Immortality to win your loyalty to Blossom Mountain. Honestly, that was a bargain. Even if you don't go today, no one would blame you."
"And the Five Demon Kings—you and we have always used each other. If you don't wish to fight this war, I understand."
"But Shortbeak, Louis, Rhino—what about you? Don't blame Ruby for calling you by name. Do you remember my first name, 'Ruby'? If you do, you must remember how you got here. Without him, you'd have died long ago—maybe on the way to Dragon's Pool, maybe in Dragon's Pool itself, or maybe in one of Heaven's purges against Blossom Mountain."
"He found me in the woods, and I've never forgotten. What about you? If something happens to him, how do you plan to keep living? Ruby can't imagine it, so Ruby must go—even if it means dying in the Netherworld, even if my soul is scattered."
Turning away, she drew a deep breath, slid her sword partway from its sheath, then snapped it back with a ringing clang. She called out, "Listen well! True hearts are revealed in times of peace. Now the Great Sage is at death's door—whoever marches and returns victorious will redraw Blossom Mountain's power map!"
[Omitted: Irrelevant web novel prompt]
Ruby shot Shortbeak a final glare, then strode out of the hall.
The assembled officers exchanged glances, all eyes settling on Shortbeak.