The great doors thundered open.
Six-Eared Macaque strode in like a meteor, and in an instant stood before Master Sage Subhuti and Monkey. He offered Subhuti a simple bow and loudly declared, "Disciple Wukong, greets Master!"
His resounding voice echoed slowly through the vast hall.
Master Sage Subhuti straightened his back slightly and sighed softly, "You’ve come?"
Monkey’s gaze sharpened slightly, and one hand quietly tightened its grip on the Golden Staff.
With a turn, Six-Eared Macaque tapped his Iron Sentinel lightly on the floor, tilted his head, and eyed Monkey: "Did you think you were the only one who could protect Tripitaka on the westward road?"
At this moment, both of them were deliberately—or unconsciously—watching each other’s weapons. The tension in the hall seemed to freeze solid.
Just then, Clara Heart hurried in. Seeing Monkey and Six-Eared Macaque locked in a standoff, she stopped in shock, keeping her distance and watching from afar.
Monkey’s gaze slid slowly toward Clara’s direction. Six-Eared Macaque also turned, casting a look at her.
With a subtle lift of his brow, Six-Eared Macaque drawled, "I heard every word you said. What, can’t look after the woman you care about and won’t let anyone else step in either?"
Monkey’s facial muscles twitched; his glare at Six-Eared Macaque was so fierce his eyes seemed ready to split. His grip on the Golden Staff was so tight it creaked.
Everyone present found their eyes drawn to Monkey’s hand gripping the Golden Staff.
Master Sage Subhuti watched quietly, betraying no emotion; Clara’s eyes widened and she held her breath. Six-Eared Macaque stared hard at Monkey, grinning as he said, "Sorry, I misspoke. She’s always been close to me. Not just her—Anna Yang too. Master Sage Subhuti is my teacher, and the one who should escort Tripitaka west for the scriptures ought to be me..."
Before he finished, a buzzing sound rang out—something exploded in Monkey’s mind. A rush of hot blood surged to his crown, consuming all reason.
He glared at Six-Eared Macaque and began to laugh—a twisted, ferocious smile.
Master Sage Subhuti’s eyes widened, his hand unconsciously tightening around his Divine Wand.
Of those present, only Six-Eared Macaque remained unmoved. Yet, as he stared at Monkey, he was already bracing himself for battle.
Gradually, Monkey’s laughter faded. His bloodshot eyes fixed on Damon, and with a voice hoarse and guttural, he spat out each word: "I—want—your—life!"
Clara froze in shock.
...
At that moment, thirty miles away, Lord Genesis and Lord Skygate were watching the direction of Crescent Star Cave from afar.
"Both Monkeys have gone to Crescent Star Cave. Tell me, what do Luke Lao and Seth Bodhi actually want to do?"
"Do you think he’s still the same Luke Lao from eight hundred years ago? Maybe they’re out of moves too. This situation isn’t something you can just control at will."
"Should we get a little closer? We can’t see anything from this far away."
"Closer? The two Monkeys are one thing, but do you think those two old masters are easy to deal with?"
Before he could finish, a deafening crash echoed from afar—the entire Hall of Silent Meditation was blasted into the sky!
Both of them were stunned on the spot!
"Ahahaha, angry now, are you? Want to kill me? It’s not that easy!"
In the wild, swirling currents, the Hall of Silent Meditation scattered like dead wood in autumn. The surging air currents swept outward in a frenzy, distorting even the light itself.
"Easy or not, you’ll only know once you try!"
The Golden Staff shot up, piercing the clouds, then crashed down, gouging a massive ravine into the earth.
Even the landscape itself was changed...
Hidden barrier formations within Enlightenment Peak were forced to activate, and multicolored spiritual power surged skyward, illuminating the heavens.
Caught off guard, the disciples of Crescent Star Cave could do nothing but flee for their lives.
Far away, Lord Skygate and Lord Genesis instinctively began to retreat.
With every wave of impact, torrents of air swept through, tearing down every building in their path.
Ancient trees couldn’t withstand the storm for even a moment—they were ripped from the ground and hurled into the sky one after another.
Yvonne Rain clung to Aiden Chen, pressing herself flat against the ground, pouring all her spiritual power into resisting the incoming currents. If Clara Heart hadn’t been prepared from the start, she might have been swept skyward too, despite her cultivation. But even so, that was all she could do.
With all her cultivation and protective artifacts, standing at the very heart of the battle, Clara Heart used every ounce of her strength just to keep herself from being blown away.