The Tusita Palace boy who had just cracked the door open quickly slammed it shut again, leaning back against the gate and gasping for breath.
"What happened?" another boy whispered.
The other four boys stared wide-eyed, watching him in terror.
"It’s... it’s bad. The demon monkey is right outside the door."
"Right... right outside the... the door?"
"Hold the door—I’ll go report to Master."
"O-okay... okay."
The boy dashed off toward the main hall as fast as he could.
......
Amid chaos, countless immortals soared into the sky, rushing toward Cosmos Hall.
Yet it was as if the sky had been sealed by an invisible cage. No matter how they struggled or screamed, not a single soul could escape the bounds of Calmforge Palace.
With a deafening boom.
In the chaos, a Heavenly General flung a strand of spiritual power at Monkey’s face. It exploded, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At once, everyone fell silent, holding their breath and staring in shock.
A gentle breeze swept through, scattering the dust and revealing a furry silhouette.
On that face struck head-on, not a single hair had fallen. He gazed calmly at the Heavenly General who attacked him.
Everyone involuntarily swallowed hard.
The Heavenly General recoiled in terror and tried to flee, but wherever he ran, the immortals around him scattered even faster.
Monkey’s gaze remained locked on the Heavenly General, and after a moment, he began to smile.
The Heavenly General stopped in his tracks, staring at Monkey in terror, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Relax, I won't kill you."
"R-really?" For a moment, the Heavenly General actually cried out in relief.
Monkey’s expression hardened, his voice turning cold: "I lied."
Before the words had even faded, Monkey’s eyes flashed with silver light. The Heavenly General suddenly let out a pig-like scream, clutching his own throat as he fell to his knees. His muscles swelled, bursting through his armor.
Monkey watched with a blank expression.
All the immortals stared in horror.
With a sickening pop, the Heavenly General’s body exploded like an overinflated bladder.
The immortals around him scrambled to dodge the spray of blood.
The severed head traced a perfect arc through the air, landing at Monkey’s feet. Its eyes were still bulging like bronze bells, bloodshot, the mouth twitching open and closed until the last breath faded.
All the immortals held their breath, eyes wide, staring at Monkey.
Monkey let his mouth droop as he slowly shook his head, his gaze lazy as he looked at the severed head. He raised the Golden Staff and brought it down on the head.
With a dull thud, the head was smashed to pulp—brains and blood splattering everywhere.
In that instant, some immortals screamed, but most clapped their hands over their mouths, not daring to utter a sound.
......
"Master—! Master! It’s bad! The demon monkey is already at the palace gate!" The boy shrieked as he stumbled across the threshold, tripping and falling, then scrambling up to kneel behind Lord Lao.
In the dark chamber, Sparrow curled into a ball, her small hands anxiously twisting a silk handkerchief. Her heart was pounding in her throat.
Lord Lao slowly lowered his head, gazing at the shattered stones on the ground. He exhaled a cloud of mist and smiled vacantly. "I know, my child."
With just those words, Lord Lao said nothing more.
The boy glanced in surprise at Zhenyuan, but Zhenyuan merely waved him off, signaling him to withdraw.
The boy bowed his head, hesitating for a long while before softly asking, "That demon monkey... Master, do you have any way to deal with him?"