Northwest of the Southern Lands.
Under the moonlight, a gentle breeze stirred, causing the branches of the trees to tremble softly. Everything on the small hillside was especially tranquil.
The chaos in reincarnation, brought on by the severe destruction of the Netherworld, had yet to manifest in the mortal realm. But it would, soon enough.
Once again, it was a turmoil just like the one six hundred years ago.
A flash of white light—Monkey King’s figure appeared in the northwest of the Southern Lands.
He touched down lightly, steadying himself on a small hillside. His hand trembled as he clutched his chest, gasping for breath.
There was hardly a patch of sound flesh left on him. Blood soaked through his shoulder, streaming down his arm and dripping from his fingertips to the ground.
Perhaps this was the toughest battle he had fought since stepping onto the Limitless Way of Heaven. His opponent was someone with cultivation equal to his own.
He had known despair before, along this journey. But this time, it was more than mere despair... He lifted his head slightly, staring blankly toward the west.
A bright full moon hung silently in the sky. In the night, everything was so quiet it seemed one could forget all their troubles.
After a long while, his vision began to blur.
Everything was fate—inescapable, unavoidable. All he could do was grit his teeth and stubbornly endure.
He clenched his jaw and leapt up, forcing out what little spiritual power remained, transforming into a streak of golden light that shot toward the Western Isle.
......
Southwest of the Northern Jambu Continent, another flash of white light appeared—Damon Six-Ears’ figure materialized among the clouds.
The moment he saw the bright moon, a rush of images flashed through his mind: swirling dead leaves, blood-stained feathers, and... a pair of eyes that devoured.
His heart lurched violently, as if something had surfaced in his memory. But in the next instant, all the images were swept away, leaving only the agonizing pain from the Golden Circlet tightening on his head.
He frowned deeply and reached up, nearly losing grip on the Golden Staff. Thankfully, the pain didn’t last—it was only a fleeting moment. As the images faded from his mind, the agony quickly subsided.
He tilted his head back and stared at the sky, dazed: “What was I just... remembering?”
He tried to recall, but nothing came to him—as if everything had been nothing more than an illusion.
He shook his head lightly, took a deep breath, and, still dazed, headed toward the Western Isle.
......
From the Heavenly Court, two streaks of golden light could be clearly seen: one departing from the Northern Jambu Continent toward the Western Isle, and one from the Southern Lands, also heading for the Western Isle. Where they passed, clouds parted and the sea split.
The intersection of those golden lights was precisely where Tripitaka stood. There, crowds of Buddhas and hordes of demons gathered, and Spirit Mountain was now only a thousand li away.
......
Inside the High Sky Throne Hall, the Jade Emperor silently watched through an ancient bronze mirror, unable to say a word.
None of the immortals present made a sound. Every single one of them remained silent.
Everyone knew this was only the beginning—just the beginning. Starting from the Netherworld, everything would begin to unravel, and the Sixfold Wheel of Reincarnation would once again collapse completely.
Yet even so, what could they do? The Buddhist Order cared for nothing but its Dharma and would not intervene. And the Heavenly Court, said to rule the Three Realms—what power did it have to intervene?
After a long time, the Jade Emperor could only let out a bitter laugh and threw the bronze mirror to the ground with force. At this moment, he cared nothing for his dignity.
......
In the courtyard of Tusita Palace, Clara Heart gazed up at the lush green leaves overhead.
“Don’t overthink it. At this point, no one can change what’s happening.” Sparrow spoke softly from beside her, pushing a cup of hot tea toward Clara.
Clara glanced down at the steaming tea, reached out to cradle it, but hesitated to lift it.
“Sparrow, who do you... want to win?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want either of them to die. Because... they’re both Monkey.”
As she spoke, tears welled up in Clara’s eyes.
“It’s never been up to us, has it?” Sparrow said blankly. “What we think doesn’t matter at all.”
......
In the attic, Lord Lao stroked his long beard, his eyes narrowed to slits.
“If this keeps up, things may turn against us,” Lord Skygate said slowly. “That Monkey truly has no regard for his own life. I thought he’d run and plot his next move, but he just charged in. Is it really worth fighting to this extent, all in one breath?”
“Plot his next move?” Lord Lao snorted. “Does he have any retreat left? You think this is the Three Realms of eight hundred years ago, when no one knew who Sun Wukong was and he could just hide away unnoticed? Even if he lurked for another eight centuries, he’d stand no chance against Damon Six-Ears backed by the Buddhist Order. And as for Six-Ears... if Monkey doesn’t die, do you think he’ll ever sleep soundly? The Three Realms are vast, but there’s no place left for Monkey now.”
“Maybe there’s another way?” Lord Skygate said, pulling a small box from his sleeve and placing it before Lord Lao.
At the sight of the box, both Lord Lao and Lord Genesis were momentarily stunned.
“Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill? You still have one left!”
“One more pill—limitless spiritual power!” Lord Skygate glanced at the two, his face wary. “Didn’t Lord Shakyamuni forbid Damon Six-Ears from ascending to Heaven’s Way? What Six-Ears lacks now is just spiritual power, right? So if Monkey gains limitless power, who do you think will win? Besides, even if another Heavenly Tribulation comes, it’ll be Six-Ears who faces death without the Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill!”
......
In the raging wind, Monkey gritted his teeth and sped toward Tripitaka’s location, crossing tens of thousands of li in an instant.
As his spiritual power surged violently, his wounds tore open bit by bit, the pain like someone stripping his flesh alive. But after all he’d endured to reach this point, what suffering hadn’t he faced? Would he really fear this now?
......
Deep within the Nuwa Temple, Master Sage Subhuti slowly rose and stepped toward the Emerald Wall.
“You’ve suffered, ‘Mother.’” He pressed his lips together, standing motionless as he gazed at the silent figure within the wall.
......
“But...” Lord Genesis lightly tapped the box with his finger, murmuring, “What you’re proposing would mean all beings of the Three Realms pay the price. Two limit-breaking demon Monkeys, both brushing the threshold of Heaven’s Way, unleashing war across the world, until Damon Six-Ears exhausts his power—what do you think the outcome would be?”
“Didn’t we once fight Monkey in a world-shaking battle ourselves? Six hundred years have passed since then, and the world has mostly healed. Six hundred years in the mortal realm is just six hundred days in Heaven. We have time to wait.”
“What if the Buddhist Order gives Damon Six-Ears a Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill too?”
“The Buddhist Order gives Damon Six-Ears a Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill?” Lord Skygate was momentarily stunned, then snapped, “As if they could ever make my Sevenfold Cloud-Veil Pill!”
Lord Genesis chuckled. “You still look down on them? Think about it. Wasn’t it our arrogance that got us outmaneuvered in the first place? Whether you admit it or not, the four Buddhas under Lord Shakyamuni now rival our own strength.”
“This...”
"I've already said it, whether you admit it or not," Lord Genesis shot Lord Skygate a look and said, "It'd be best if they can't provide it, but what if they do? Have you considered the consequences? At that point, it's likely two Monkeys will blast the Four Great Continents to dust! With limitless spiritual power, they could fight endlessly!"
"Impossible!" Lord Skygate flung his sleeve and stood up, shouting, "Isn't there still the Heavenly Tribulation? Absorbing too much spiritual power will inevitably trigger a Heavenly Tribulation! When that happens, one of them will have to be taken away! There's no way this battle can go on forever!"
"All the better," Lord Genesis spread his hands. "Two Monkeys, each carrying a Heavenly Tribulation, rampaging through the mortal world—what do you think that would look like? Don't forget, when he crossed his Heavenly Tribulation outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, half the gate was blasted apart. If that happens in the mortal realm, what then?"
Just as the two were about to erupt into a heated argument, Lord Lao suddenly raised a hand to stop them.
At once, both turned to look at Lord Lao.
Lord Lao tilted his head slightly, eyes half-closed, as if he'd just thought of something. He murmured, "Someone else has made a move!"