The formation on the ground began to operate, and the black liquid seeping into its patterns gradually turned golden.
Suspended at the center of the formation, she floated gently, her purple dress billowing softly in the wind.
Lord Lao stood quietly to one side, watching.
She began to chant the incantation under her breath.
A faintly silver radiance formed a giant sphere of light, enveloping her within.
Flower-rain still drifted from the sky, clouds rolled gently, and bright sunlight fell upon the green leaves.
In this moment, she could no longer hear any sound from outside the sphere.
To her, the entire world seemed to transform into a pure painting of light and shadow, utterly silent.
In the distant grass, General Lee reached out to part the leaves, then quickly shrank back, gulping nervously.
"General, what's wrong?"
"It's... it's Lord Lao."
"Isn't Lord Lao supposed to be in closed-door cultivation?" General Titan also parted the leaves, only to recoil in fright.
"What's going on? Lord Lao and Belle are together... What are they doing?"
The generals exchanged bewildered glances.
General Lee slapped his forehead, his brows furrowed tightly: "Something's wrong, something's wrong... We've been set up from the start. Someone's been using us. Last night was actually a duel between great powers and Lord Lao... maybe more than one."
At his words, the faces of the surrounding Heavenly generals twitched, chills running down their spines.
With his back to the generals, Lord Lao slowly folded his arms and barked in a harsh voice: "All of you—come out!"
Startled, the Heavenly generals could only tremble as they stepped out of the grass.
Before General Lee could speak, Lord Lao snapped impatiently, "Don't ask anything, don't interfere. Immediately return to the Heavenly Court. Is that clear?"
General Lee widened his eyes, then slowly bowed and said, "Yes, sir. As you command."
...
Just then, within the Soul Token, a strand of golden spiritual power began to swirl silently, gradually forming a '卍' symbol. In that instant, the previously sealed Soul Token was activated.
...
In the bustling Ten Thousand Demons Hall, as the Monkey King was accepting congratulations from all the demons, he suddenly froze.
The demons followed the Monkey King's gaze and saw Skylar Loft, his face stricken with terror.
He stood there, dazed, head bowed, staring at the Soul Token in his hand as Belle's name slowly seeped across its surface in the color of blood.
In a flash, the Monkey King flew to Skylar Loft and snatched the Soul Token from his grip.
"What's going on?"
All the demons turned their faces toward him.
"What's going on! Tell me clearly—!" he roared.
His voice echoed slowly through the great hall.
The festive drums and music, the demons' cheers—every sound in the hall was cut off at that moment.
Everyone stared at the Monkey King in terror.
"I... I don't know either," Skylar Loft stammered, panic-stricken. "Soul Tokens... Soul Tokens aren't supposed to behave like this... They either shatter, or remain intact... This... this... Has someone tampered with it?"
The Monkey King suddenly recalled all of Belle's recent odd behavior—and that old fox, Lord Lao.
In an instant, the Monkey King transformed into a beam of golden light and vanished without a trace.
Everyone present was left stunned.
Anna Yang tore off her red bridal veil, eyes wide, staring in shock at the direction the Monkey King had disappeared.
...
Suspended in midair, Belle silently chanted the incantation.
Gradually, Belle felt herself growing drowsy.
"No, I can't. Lord Lao said I must not interrupt it."
She forced herself awake, her blue eyes wide, lips still moving in silent chant.
The drifting petals dried up like leaves, the clouds gradually solidified, and even the sunlight slowly lost its warmth.
In those blue eyes, the world slowly lost its color.
Is this what it feels like to disappear? she wondered.
...
"What's happening? Why isn't the Soul Token responding?"
In the biting wind, the Monkey King roared, clutching the Soul Token tightly as he spun at breakneck speed.
His Golden Staff was already gripped firmly in his hand.
"Who is it? Who has tampered with it?"
All of Blossom Mountain gazed upward in stunned silence, watching their king leap madly through the sky.
On the cliff, the Two Pure Ones stared in shock, eyes wide.
General Lee and his group were thrown into panic.
Monkey King darted about in the sky, frantic and lost. Lord Lao, alarmed, backed away step by step, finally casting one last look at Belle, still suspended in midair. He sent a message directly into Belle's mind.
"As long as you keep chanting, no one can break this secret art—not even him. If you endure until the ritual is complete, all pain will be lifted. Do you understand?"
Half-asleep, Belle opened her misty eyes and nodded silently.
...
Lord Genesis rose hurriedly and swept his sleeve. "No, we can't stay here any longer. While he still doesn't know we're here, we must leave at once."
"Why?"
"If something goes wrong and that monkey blames us for tampering, we're finished."
A breeze swept over the cliff, and the Two Pure Ones vanished without a trace.
...
High above, the Monkey King was still tumbling through the sky.
Everything around him blurred into swirling light and shadow.
He flew in wild panic, his gaze sweeping every corner, his grip on the Golden Staff tightening with every second.
...
Inside the hall, the demons stood dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances.
...
Turning, Lord Lao barked at the panicked Heavenly Generals: "What are you waiting for? Go, now! Do you want him to find you here?"
General Lee, finally regaining his composure, shouted, "Quick—retreat!"
At that moment, the Monkey King plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground.
The rock beneath his feet splintered and cracked.
He glared with bloodshot eyes, baring his fangs in a twisted grin. The sight sent a chill through the Heavenly Generals before him.
"What are you doing?" the Monkey King demanded.
Belle couldn't hear the Monkey King's voice; she could only gaze at him through tear-filled eyes.
A voice echoed in her mind: "Remember, once this spell begins, whether it succeeds or fails, you will die. If you endure to the end, all his pain will be erased. If you cannot endure..."
Belle nodded numbly, never daring to pause her chant for even a moment.
Pointing at Belle, the Monkey King swept his gaze over Lord Lao and the Heavenly Generals, his voice cold: "Come on, tell me—what is going on here? Tell me what the hell is happening—now!"
His furious shout soared into the sky, the soundwave rippling swiftly across the ground.
He grinned savagely.
All of Blossom Mountain pricked up their ears in terror.
"It's the Great Sage..."
"What happened?"
The Heavenly Generals in the hall exchanged terrified glances, then rushed outside with their weapons.
In a blink, only Anna Yang remained in the great hall.
She sat on the ground in a daze, a helpless smile on her lips as tears soaked her makeup.
War drums thundered, horns blared.
Lord Lao watched the Soul Token in the Monkey King's grasp, expressionless. Behind him, the demon army in black armor surged up like locusts, blotting out the sun.
A Heavenly General collapsed to the ground in shock.
Monkey King glared coldly. "If anything happens to her today, I'll send all of Heaven to the grave with her."
...
In the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave, Elder Gale sat motionless, jaw clenched tight.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
Beside him, Master Sage Subhuti stroked his beard and sighed, "What sorrow in life, what suffering in death..."