With a heavy clang, Monkey was knocked backward, suspended in midair, facing off against Six-Eared Macaque across the void.
In the sky, Heavenly Tribulation raged. Fierce winds swept past his ears, making the strands of his fur tremble.
Staring past Six-Eared Macaque, he widened his eyes, watching the golden light shine over Tripitaka, watching the Buddha-radiance slowly spread. His mind went blank.
In that moment, the entire world fell silent, leaving only Six-Eared Macaque’s sharp laughter echoing through the air.
Everyone stared blankly at Tripitaka.
Perhaps this was an ending no one had ever imagined. After all the twists and turns, after a journey of one hundred and eight thousand li, in the end, they had come full circle—back to the starting point from six hundred years ago, and even the origin from eight hundred years past. Not even Spirit Mountain had been reached, let alone the Dharma Debate.
Beneath the holy light, the bloodstains on that already tattered monk’s robe slowly faded, turning into a dazzling golden kasaya like those of the other Buddhas.
A ripple spread across that cold face; the dust and blood on his skin scattered into motes, replaced by lifeless gold.
Everyone was stunned.
Monkey stared in terror and shock, gazing at that handsome face now stripped of all emotion, at a look as if the soul had been snatched away in an instant.
A point of golden light appeared at the edge of the sky, slowly descending like a star falling to earth, inching closer and closer to Tripitaka. It was the Buddha-spark. When that spark fused with Tripitaka, the Buddha-body would be fully formed. Everything would return to the origin—the moment before Monkey entered Crescent Star Cave. From that point on, Tripitaka would be no different from any other Buddha.
Monkey gaped, stunned, forgetting even to breathe. His heart pounded violently, a breath caught in his throat. In this moment, he even forgot to try to stop it.
Yet even if he tried to intervene, how much chance did he have? Not to mention getting past Six-Eared Macaque, could he overcome Lord Buddha and all the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain? The fusion of the Buddha-spark and flesh came from Tripitaka’s own heart. Tripitaka had already chosen this path—who could possibly stop him?
Lord Skygate clenched his fists, about to step forward, but Lord Lao stopped him.
“This is the last chance.” A voice sounded in Monkey’s mind—it was Lord Lao: “Kill him. Once he becomes a Buddha, what you have pursued will have no room left to turn back!”
Monkey gripped Iron Sentinel tightly, breathing heavily. His gaze wandered across heaven and earth.
“Kill... kill him?” Monkey slowly laughed.
At the same time, Lord Lao’s voice also sounded in Nuwa’s mind.
“Your Ladyship, this isn’t the outcome you wished for. Leave it to me to handle!”
Nuwa, too, stared blankly, astonished as she looked at Tripitaka, and smiled.