"I... I do not understand what you are saying..." The Six-Eared Macaque, Damon, shook his head slowly, retreating step by step. "Nor do I care to know. All I know is this: if I lose this battle, my soul will be scattered and annihilated. Everything will be gone—even the chance to live as a dog. So even if it means mutual destruction, I must fight. I... have no choice."
With those words, Damon glared at the Monkey King, baring his teeth in a chilling, guttural laugh—his face twisted like a damned soul from the inferno.
The wind swept softly across the battlefield, swirling yellow sand. The shattered armor on both warriors trembled in the breeze.
Anna Yang descended with her host of demon generals, landing a hundred zhang away from the Monkey King.
In the distance, Saint Raymond’s eyes narrowed to a slit, calculating.
"How much power does he have left?" asked Earth-Store King quietly from the side.
Saint Raymond shook his head slowly. "At most, twenty percent of his spiritual power remains. But if forced into battle, he might surge to forty percent. Or perhaps, he could forcibly break through to Heavenly Dao cultivation. That is his final trump card."
"Break through to Heavenly Dao cultivation?" Earth-Store King paused, then shook his head. "No, he cannot be allowed to break through—not now. Once he regains Heavenly Dao, only Lord Buddha himself could suppress him. But would he ever truly submit?"
"He should not be able to break through," Saint Raymond murmured. "He is not like the Monkey King across from him—he has no memory. That Monkey King has walked the path of Heavenly Dao before. To break through, he can retrace the old route. Damon does not know the way—unless... we help him."
'One of us will survive. And I hope the one who survives will not have to live as a dog—neither Buddhism's nor Daoism's dog.' Earth-Store King repeated the Monkey King's words, lifting his head and sighing deeply. "I understand now. That was a threat, aimed at us..."
At these words, Saint Raymond nodded. "Why else would the Monkey King say such things at a time like this? To prepare for death? No—he is warning us: if we help Damon break through to Heavenly Dao, he will surrender. In that case, we will not get what we want. If Lord Buddha steps in to suppress Damon, it will only aid him. If Lord Buddha does not, Damon may not dare to kill him. For without the Monkey King, Lord Buddha must personally subdue Damon. Damon surely understands this, if he calms himself."
Heh heh heh... Then let us see which side will make the first move.
In that moment, all creation seemed to fall silent.
Earth-Store King pressed his palms together, his eyes fixed unblinking upon Damon.
Saint Raymond remained motionless, his breath growing heavier with tension.
...
Within Tusita Palace, Lord Skygate was about to rise, but Lord Lao pressed his hand down, stopping him.
Startled, Lord Skygate turned his head in confusion.
Lord Lao gazed steadily ahead, as if sensing something beyond sight. He shook his head slowly.
...
Before Nuwa’s Jade God-Stone, Master Sage Subhuti held his breath, unmoving.
...
At Spirit Mountain, in a pavilion halfway up the slope, Saint Samuel and Venerable Lingji gazed in silence at the shifting clouds above.
...
Within the Great Thunderclap Temple, all Buddhas and Arhats sat in silence. Even Lord Buddha kept his eyes shut, seated serenely upon the lotus dais—as if nothing had happened at all.
Yet precisely because of this, the atmosphere pressed upon everyone present, suffocating and inescapable.
None moved, but all quietly sensed the world around them. Countless spiritual senses overlapped—no ripple of air could escape notice.
Suddenly, Manjusri, who had stood upon the steps all this time, lifted his head sharply to gaze at Lord Buddha.
At once, every eye in the hall turned toward him. Even Lord Buddha’s eyes opened a sliver.
The next moment, Manjusri gathered his robes and walked step by step through the crowd to the center of the hall. He pressed his palms together and bowed in silence to Lord Buddha.
All eyes followed Manjusri as he moved. Every soul in the hall held their breath, waiting for him to speak.
Yet, he spoke not a word.
Manjusri merely bowed in silence, pausing for a heartbeat, then turned and strode toward the exit.
In that instant, everyone seemed to exhale at once, yet a trace of bewilderment flickered across their faces.
Lord Buddha watched Manjusri’s departing figure in silence, his gaze lingering until it vanished into the distance.
The great hall remained shrouded in stillness; yet now, every face turned to another in silent questioning.
Suddenly, another Buddha stepped forth. He too walked to the center, bowed reverently to Lord Buddha, and departed without a word.
Before the previous Buddha had even left the hall, yet another joined the procession.
A third, a fourth, a fifth...
In the span of moments, more than half the Buddhas and Arhats had already departed from the grand hall.
Lord Buddha remained seated, his head tilted gently upward, gazing at the ornate carvings atop the hall. A faint, thoughtful smile played upon his lips.
...
Moments later, countless rays of golden light erupted from Spirit Mountain, soaring skyward like a sudden rainbow of pure gold, spanning half the heavens and streaking toward the battlefield where Monkey King and the Six-Eared Macaque stood.
At the foot of Spirit Mountain, monks pressed their palms together, knelt, and bowed in reverent awe.
...
Within Tusita Palace, Lord Lao let out a cold snort, followed by a long, weary sigh.
"Lord Shakyamuni Buddha alone restrained himself; the others, alas, could not."
"I..." Lord Skygate looked at Lord Lao, shaking his head slightly. "I do not quite understand..."
Lord Lao asked softly, "Do you know what truly tests Lord Shakyamuni Buddha in Tripitaka's Westward Quest?"
"What is it?"
"It is heart-nature." Lord Lao slowly closed his eyes. "The Buddhist Order has always prized heart-nature above all. Enlightenment may come in a single day, or slip away after ten thousand years of cultivation. True realization is nothing but mastery of the heart. Every step Tripitaka takes is a stone pressed upon Lord Buddha’s heart. Even when nothing is gained, the weight remains. The greatest trial is that Lord Buddha can only watch—watch every inch of the hundred and eight thousand li. The torment is his alone to bear. This is the subtlest genius of the Westward Quest."
[SKIP]
"If all the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain have mobilized, then surely..." Lord Skygate turned to the silent Lord Genesis. "If the three of us move—allied with Zhenyuan, Master Sage Subhuti, and even Mother Nuwa! As long as Lord Shakyamuni Buddha does not intervene, we may not win outright, but we will not be outmatched!"
At these words, Lord Genesis burst into laughter.
Lord Lao laughed softly as well.
Seeing the two Daoist patriarchs laugh, Lord Skygate grew momentarily bewildered. "What, did I say something wrong?"
"Your words are not wrong," Lord Genesis said, drawing a deep breath and rising slowly, hands braced upon his knees. "But... you are looking in the wrong direction."
Lord Skygate turned to Lord Lao, searching his face.
Lord Lao took his hand, chuckling. "You still do not grasp what I meant just now. If bloodshed could solve all problems, why would Tripitaka need to journey West? Even if we won, would Monkey King simply bow his head and obey?"
"Then what else is there to do?"
Lord Lao only smiled, saying nothing.
...
In the clouds above, myriad Buddhas pierced the white silk of heaven like golden needles. This vision was captured perfectly in the mirror of the Skyward Rangers.
Aboard the warship returning from Tusita Palace to the High Heaven Palace, the Jade Emperor, General Lee, and Grandmaster White stared in stunned silence at the mirrored scene, unable to speak.
They did not know the details, but in that moment, every soul sensed—this was an event of cosmic import.
"What... what should we do next?"
"Do not panic, Your Majesty. Since Lord Lao has commanded us to hold South Heaven Gate, we shall hold it. There must be no error!"
Grandmaster White snorted coldly, his voice drifting: "Six hundred years ago, did we not also hold South Heaven Gate? Compare the gate then to now—and what was the result?"
General Lee glared at Grandmaster White, but could only remain silent. For those words, there was no rebuttal.
Clutching General Lee’s arm, the Jade Emperor’s hand trembled. "Summon! Summon all forces! Even those beyond the Celestial Army’s ranks—summon them all!"