Chapter 24: The Body of Crimson Lotus Flame is Complete!

  This trip to the Heavenly Palace has added another burden on Sun Wukong's shoulders. He needs to find the remaining three pieces of the Five-Colored Divine Stone, find Xiao Bailong and Lao Sha, and come up with a plan to rescue the leaders of the demon tribes in the Heavenly Palace. Finally, he also wants to visit Bodhi Patriarch and Zhuangzi of the Five Elements Temple. After all, they were injured because of him. With Sun Wukong's current abilities, as long as he doesn't encounter multiple Buddhas forming an array to trap himself, he has nothing to fear. In the past, he was always timid because he had the monkeys from the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits to worry about, but this time, without any worries in the back of his mind, what is there to be afraid of?

  Next is to wait for Zhu Bajie's new body.

  In the blink of an eye, forty days have passed. During this time, the entire Heavenly Court was in chaos, with almost 60% of its military strength dispatched to search for Sun Wukong's whereabouts. This can be seen as a testament to how much the Tathagata hates Sun Wukong. Logically speaking, after just obtaining the Heavenly Court's territory, what should be done is to consolidate military power and familiarize oneself with the environment of the Heavenly Court. However, none of these things did the Tathagata do; instead, immediately after entering the Heavenly Court, he dispatched troops to search for Sun Wukong.

  Within these forty days, Sun Wukong killed seven waves of Buddhist soldiers who came to probe. Although it was said that one wave would come every seven days, this made Sun Wukong realize that he could no longer stay in this place for long. However, there were still seven days before Zhu Bajie's physical training ended. In any case, during these seven days, Sun Wukong could not let Zhu Bajie be affected in the slightest. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.

  On the forty-third day, another wave of Buddhist soldiers who came to investigate were killed by Sun Wukong. Among them were even several top-level Buddhas. Moreover, it seemed that in this Buddhist sect, there were suddenly many unfamiliar faces. Listening to these lower-ranking Buddhist soldiers say, the Heavenly Court had somehow gained a new Buddha called Guangming Zi Zai Fo. And judging from his actual power, he was far superior to the Tathagata. In front of him, the Tathagata seemed more like a subordinate.

  Sun Wukong was very puzzled, when did the Buddhist sect have such a powerful person? I'm afraid his strength is even above mine. Is he a hidden strongman in the Buddhist sect? How strong is the knife edge of the Buddhist sect? It's worth noting that before the Tathagata, it was just a golden immortal cultivator during the time of the Multi-treasured Daoist. However, after Laozi transformed into a Buddha, his cultivation suddenly skyrocketed at an unimaginable speed. In the end, he was able to attain enlightenment and became a sacred being in the Buddhist sect. This kind of cultivation speed is frightening to hear, not just for the Buddhist sect, but for the entire immortal world as well.

  It seems that the Buddhist sect's foundation is not as simple as I imagined. It appears that from now on, I must be extremely cautious in my actions and cannot underestimate the Buddhist sect just because my strength has increased greatly.

  No use thinking about it anymore, even if you think too much, there's no point. Monkey King Sun Wukong turned around and walked towards the stone room where Tang Sanzang was. There were still three days left, and everything would be clear soon. Whether it was a soul flying away or a surge in power, it all depended on these three days. However, based on Sun Wukong's observation, the latter possibility seemed much greater.

  This is the credit of that section of Osmanthus tree branch. Pangu Great God is so great, and it's just a twig transformed from his eyelashes, which is also infinite benefit for Zhu Bajie. Thinking of this, Sun Wukong couldn't help but feel a slight heat in his heart. If Pangu Great God's eyelashes have such powerful ability, then the Five-Colored Divine Stone left by Nüwa Niangniang, who is almost as famous as Pangu, will have how much more enormous power? If he can really find the other three pieces and successfully merge them into his body, his actual strength will surge to what extent? Even if it's not comparable to some ancient great gods, it's probably still quite terrifying. At that time, what grudges can't be avenged? What is there to fear about annihilating the Buddhist sect?

  At this moment, Sun Wukong's heart had an unprecedented sense of urgency. The urgency to find the divine stone, the urgency to enhance his own strength.

  However, even if it's urgent, they still have to wait for Zhu Bajie for three days. Three days later, it will be the time to set off. Everything will eventually come to an end. Thinking of this, Sun Wukong walked into the stone room where Tang Sanzang was in. He only saw that the original flame giant egg had now become a solid crystal-like shape. From the outside, he couldn't see how it was inside. But Sun Wukong didn't dare to use his fiery eyes to take a look, fearing that he would disturb Tang Sanzang. So, Sun Wukong could only sit cross-legged not far away, quietly waiting for Zhu Bajie's rebirth day.

  It's possible that Sun Wukong himself hasn't even realized it, but since waking up from the injuries of this great war, something seems to have quietly changed within him. The previous impetuousness and shallowness are slowly disappearing, while a steady and cautious temperament is slowly forming. However, his original overbearing and arrogant aura has not decreased in the slightest, and instead seems even more pronounced than before. A steady, thoughtful, and considerate Sun Wukong who is also full of overbearingness and combativeness is taking shape. It's a contradiction, yet it makes perfect sense!

  Finally, the forty-ninth day has arrived.

  However, what arrived was not only the end of Zhu Bajie's physical training, but also a massive army of Buddhist soldiers. Sun Wukong did not know how the Buddha discovered his whereabouts, because although many Buddhist soldiers had come to investigate, Sun Wukong was absolutely confident that they would not be able to reveal any information before they died, even if it meant sending out a distress signal at the moment of death. Everyone died instantly without realizing what happened, and perhaps they did not even know how they died.

  Although Sun Wukong couldn't understand, what was supposed to come still came, just as Zhu Bajie was about to complete his great achievement. Looking at the sky full of Buddha soldiers and Buddhas, Sun Wukong was fearless. After using the混天绫 (Heavenly Rope) to set up a defensive circle for Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong slowly rose into the air.

  Looking at Sun Wukong, who was fearless in the face of tens of thousands of Buddha's soldiers, Erlang Shen's eyebrows were already furrowed. "Sun Wukong, didn't expect this, did you? Although you hid very carefully, I still found you. Today is your day of death."

  "Hmph, old monk as you are, I didn't think you'd be able to find your way here. You do have some skills, but I wonder how you managed to find this place? The Buddhist soldiers who came to scout ahead have all been killed by me, so it's impossible for them to go back and report."

  Sun Wukong can only try to delay the time as much as possible, best is to delay until Zhu Bajie successfully transforms. So he can only chat with Rulai about some nonsense.

  "Haha, Sun Wukong, you've always been so arrogant. You think killing my scout will keep you safe? How foolish! The day you escaped from Heaven, I immediately dispatched a million Buddhist soldiers to track you down. Within a month, all the scouts sent to other places returned safely, with only minor losses of no more than 30%. But this Pan Silk Cave is different - no matter how many soldiers I send, none return with any news. Your cleverness in killing my scout has actually revealed your location! You insignificant little demon monkey, today you will pay for your crimes!"

  Having heard this, Sun Wukong suddenly understood. The Buddha's army was like a net, but the only place that was missing a large piece was here at the Cave of Silken Threads. It was clear that there must be an extremely powerful demon king existing in this place. However, all the famous demon kings in the world, except for those who were dead or injured, had all become mounts in Heaven. And so, the demon king of the Cave of Silken Threads was about to appear.

  "Even if you find me, what's the use? What can your mere hundred thousand Buddha soldiers do to me?" As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Wukong's aura suddenly surged, and a domineering air of supremacy swept out. Many of the Buddha soldiers with lower strength turned pale on the spot, spitting out blood. Sun Wukong had actually injured many Buddha soldiers just with his aura.

  "Evil monkey, do not be arrogant, do not think that no one in this world can control you. Buddhist disciples, listen to the order, form the Great Array of Ten Thousand Buddhas to trap the evil spirit. Do not let the evil monkey escape." After saying these words, the Tathagata turned around and respectfully bowed towards the Buddha behind him: "Great Self-Buddha, from now on, please take action to subdue this evil monkey."

  "Hmph, a mere demon monkey, yet you're making such a big fuss. It seems that you're indeed becoming more and more useless." With that said, he didn't care about the Buddha's ugly expression, and with a wave of his sleeve, a golden lotus platform flew out from his sleeve and rapidly expanded in the wind. Then, this Buddha stood on top of the lotus platform. The next instant, the lotus platform had already appeared before Sun Wukong's eyes.

  Sun Wukong was originally quite disdainful of the Tathagata and others, but when that foot-treading lotus platform Buddha suddenly appeared before his eyes, Sun Wukong's heart couldn't help but jump. What kind of terrifying speed is this? He himself didn't even notice! It's probably three times faster than his own筋斗云 after merging with Nezha's wind and fire wheel. The newcomer's speed is already so terrifying, how strong must their actual strength be?

  The initial disdain was gone, replaced by tension and vigilance as if facing a formidable enemy. Sun Wukong knew that what followed would be an intense battle, and if he wasn't careful, he could very well die here. The Buddha's power before him far exceeded his imagination.

  But even so, Sun Wukong's heart was not a single thread of fear. Fighting, Sun Wukong has never been afraid. Even if the opponent is strong, Sun Wukong will not have a thread of terror in his heart. The only thing that exists is excitement, the kind of excitement and excitement that challenges a high mountain.

  "Are you Sun Wukong? The Sun Wukong who has been causing trouble for this generation of Buddhism?"

  "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking others for their names?"

  "Haha, interesting, interesting. How many years has it been since someone dared to speak to me like this? Since you want to know, I'll tell you, I am the Buddha of Freedom and Ease. As for my power, I am a superior saint. This time I came down, is to kill you. Haha. Don't think about escaping or resisting. Although your strength is strong, it's only at the level of a mid-ranking saint. You can't beat me."