Light in the deep sea flickered and vanished, the Heavenly General’s screams drowned out by the surging currents.
......
The entire Heavenly Court was tangled in chaos. Immortals argued in confusion, while General Lee hurriedly recalled the Heavenly Generals he’d just sent to search for the demon monkey’s corpse. The Daoist disciples exchanged bewildered glances, unable to make sense of the situation.
The Heavenly General in charge of communications suddenly roared at the Jade Tablet, but neither the Jade Tablet nor the copper mirror responded at all.
Upon the dragon throne, the Jade Emperor’s expression had become impossibly grave.
As time passed, a disturbance gradually rose outside South Heaven Gate.
The fleets that had originally planned to return all stopped to watch, and even the North Sea Dragon King, eager to get home, dared not make another rash move.
A Daoist disciple from Five-Fruits Temple slowly approached Zhenyuan, who sat quietly in meditation nearby. The disciple glanced at the uncertain crowd behind him and asked softly, “Master, I’m worried about the Ginseng Fruit Tree in our courtyard. Should we set sail for home now, or continue to stay here?”
Zhenyuan kept his eyes tightly shut, took a deep breath, and said, “Do nothing—just watch and wait.”
“As you command, Master.”
After a long while, Zhenyuan opened his eyes and slowly rose to his feet. The disciple hurried over to support him, but Zhenyuan waved him off.
“I must make a trip to Tusita Palace. All of you, wait here quietly. No matter what happens, do not act rashly.”
With that, he turned and soared away on a cloud, never once looking back.
Suddenly, a Daoist in the crowd behind him screamed, “Look, there’s an image!”
Everyone except Zhenyuan turned to stare at the copper mirror.
Inside the High Sky Throne Hall, atop South Heaven Gate’s city tower, everyone’s eyes were wide with shock.
On the copper mirror, a faint light shimmered; in the pitch-black darkness, something seemed to be floating.
“What is that? Can we reach him?”
“Not yet, there’s no response at all.”
“So what’s going on now? Did he accidentally lose the copper mirror?”
“This... I can’t say for certain either.”
After a moment, a flash of light burst from the copper mirror. As the light slowly faded, they seemed to see the Heavenly General’s face.
But before anyone could laugh in relief, they were all stunned, their faces twitching uncontrollably.
Their mood plummeted from the clouds straight into the abyss.
......
In the depths of the sea, Monkey—already battered beyond recognition—lay sprawled in the muddy seabed, playing with the Heavenly General’s severed head and the copper mirror.
Beside him, the Heavenly General’s body—already torn to pieces—drifted slowly away with the current.
Monkey’s blood, mixed with the Heavenly General’s, stained the waters all around a deep red.
Monkey tossed the Heavenly General’s head aside, gripped the Jade Tablet, and abruptly sat up. Facing the copper mirror, he began to speak slowly.
......
The Jade Emperor had already risen from the dragon throne, gripping the armrest tightly. “What did he say?”
“He said...”
“Speak!”
The Heavenly General knelt and said, “He asked if anyone had just laughed out loud... and also...”
Every immortal present shrank back, silent as cicadas in winter.
The Jade Emperor’s teeth ground together audibly as he roared, “Keep going!”
“He also said... we don’t need to go looking for him. He’ll be coming to Heaven soon himself, and we should wash our necks and wait.”
“Insolent demon monkey—!” The Jade Emperor suddenly exploded in fury, sweeping everything off the dragon desk and roaring, “Smash the copper mirror! Smash it immediately!”
......
“You useless fools! Hahaha! The throne rotates—this year it’s my turn! Hahahaha!”
In the deep sea, Monkey clutched his face, laughing madly and rolling across the seabed.
His eyes, black as the abyss, welled with tears of laughter—yet the seawater hid them from sight.
His wounds healed at a rapid pace, but the damage had been so severe that he was still far from recovered.
Far off, the Nine-Headed Wyrm and King Macaque stood in silence.
King Macaque frowned and said, “Is the Great Sage alright? He seems... a bit mad.”
“Anyone would lose their mind after this.” The Nine-Headed Wyrm stepped forward and walked slowly toward Monkey.
“Who’s there?” Monkey suddenly arched his back, baring his teeth and growling low.
“It’s us.” The Nine-Headed Wyrm casually lit up his spiritual energy.
Seeing them, Monkey relaxed and collapsed to the ground.
“Are you alright?” King Macaque asked softly.
Monkey glanced down at his still-exposed ribs. “It’s nothing. As long as the medicine’s effects last, these wounds will heal quickly.”
“I’m not talking about your wounds—I mean your rage.”
Monkey froze for a moment, then slowly smiled. “What do you think? You were so close and I couldn’t even sense you… My mind feels like a tangled mess, though I still know what I’m doing. It’s just… my perception is all scrambled. Soon, I won’t be able to use any spell that requires a calm mind.”
“Why not go back?” the Nine-Headed Wyrm said quietly. “The Jade Cauldron Immortal is still at Blossom Mountain—maybe he can help. If this keeps up, you’ll die for sure.”
Monkey shook his head slowly. “You’re too naive. Not even Lord Skygate’s Slaying Immortals Sword Array could hold up, so what could the Jade Cauldron Immortal do? Besides, since I took the pill, I never planned to come back alive.”
“Is it really worth it?”
“Worth or not doesn’t matter.” Monkey sneered. “It’s because I kept weighing the cost that I gave Lord Lao the chance to hurt Belle. If I couldn’t calculate anything, maybe he wouldn’t have dared. Anyway, I’ve lived long enough—anyone who crosses me, I’ll drag them all down with me.”
The Nine-Headed Wyrm and King Macaque fell silent.
“Go back—return to Blossom Mountain. Don’t worry about me. I told you, I’m no longer your king, so you don’t have to answer to me.”
“I’m already happy you came. But this battle—you can’t interfere. This isn’t a war with Heaven, it’s a war with all the great powers… This is my private affair. It’s not your concern.”
Monkey picked up the Golden Staff beside him and slowly used it to support himself as he stood.
“Your private affair?” The Nine-Headed Wyrm snorted. “When this battle is over, if you lose, will Blossom Mountain still exist? Is this really just your private affair?”
“So what should I do?” Monkey retorted.
“This...”
Leaning on the Golden Staff, Monkey hunched over, passing the two as he walked by. “You’re right. If I lose, Blossom Mountain won’t survive. And right now, it looks like I’m almost certain to lose. I still don’t know how to get into South Heaven Gate, or rather... that method might not work. But if I don’t fight this battle, will Blossom Mountain survive?”
He stopped behind the Nine-Headed Wyrm and King Macaque, chuckling softly. “If I don’t fight, Blossom Mountain doesn’t really exist either. Our glorious victories were only because the great powers stood by and watched. Did you really think we won?”
“We’re all just birds in a cage—Lord Lao’s caged birds. Either die honorably in battle, or live obediently as prisoners. I don’t know what you’d choose, but I won’t compromise. Because if I did... living on by sacrificing a woman... Heh, I’d rather die. Sorry, I was never a proper ‘demon king.’”
For a moment, the Nine-Headed Wyrm and King Macaque were at a loss for words.
Monkey raised his head to gaze into the endless darkness above, murmuring, “Maybe Blossom Mountain should just dissolve. Live well, and don’t worry about me.”
......
Outside Crescent Star Cave, the roar of cannon fire erupted.
Yu Yi rushed into the Hall of Silent Meditation, but before he could speak, Master Sage Subhuti said calmly, “Let them be. A few warships can’t break the mountain’s protective array.”
“Who? Who dares attack Enlightenment Peak?” Old Ninth asked in a low voice.
Lingyunzi replied softly, “It’s the monsters from Blossom Mountain. Only they have cannons that size. They’re not here to attack—they’ve come to call for reinforcements.”
“We’re really just going to ignore this? What kind of sect are we?” Danny Crimson’s gaze swept across the crowd.
Master Sage Subhuti simply sat in silence, eyes closed, resting. He did not argue.
In the great hall, all the senior disciples silently watched the plaque bearing Monkey’s name hanging on the wall. Not a word was spoken.
......
On the deck, Yi Su paced anxiously, gazing toward the main peak of Enlightenment Mountain.
“No response at all. What now?”
Beside her, Many-Eyes Monster frowned deeply. “That’s not right—what’s going on? They should either drive us off or help. How can there be no response? Is there something hidden here?”
“I’m asking what we’re supposed to do now!” Yi Su snapped.
“Wait.”
“Wait?”
Many-Eyes Monster wiped the sweat from his brow and said seriously, “Yes, we wait right here. Keep firing until they come out.”
......
In Tusita Palace, Zhenyuan walked slowly across the rubble to stand behind Lord Lao, gazing at the Heavenly Dao Stone shattered into countless fragments. He asked softly, “Is there any hope?”
Lord Lao shook his head numbly, his expression blank.
Zhenyuan let out a long sigh and sat beside Lord Lao. “I never dreamed things would come to this. What is Master Sage Subhuti really planning? Hmph... Forget Lord Genesis and Lord Skygate—even he wants to break through to Heavenly Dao cultivation?”