Chapter 1420

The substitute monkey shook its head, its expression growing even lazier: "Fate is fate; why force it?"

Liu Er let out a long sigh, his expression darkening.

In truth, he held Sun Wukong in utter contempt: "Such a privileged birth, such a heavenly opportunity—and yet you're so lazy? Then again, a child of destiny wouldn't know how precious opportunity is. Heh, since you don't value it, taking your opportunity isn't robbery—it's rightful gain."

The two stayed on Fangcun Mountain for a while, then mounted auspicious clouds and headed toward Huaguo Mountain.

Both had cultivated under Patriarch Puti, learning identical divine arts.

The substitute monkey used the somersault cloud; Liu Er used the somersault cloud too.

With a single somersault, they shot straight toward Dongsheng Shenzhou.

In but a moment, Huaguo Mountain came into distant view.

The substitute monkey's gaze sharpened—he clearly saw demonic auras surging skyward, nothing like the auspicious clouds and lucky mists from when they'd arrived.

"What demons dare cause trouble on my Huaguo Mountain?"

Liu Er's eyes turned cold. "Brother, let me test his mettle."

Though the monkeys of Huaguo Mountain weren't his subordinates.

Liu Er wasn't the type to plead for monkeys' sake.

But his current persona was Sun Wukong's younger brother, the second-in-command of Huaguo Mountain.

If he didn't act enthusiastically now, how could the play continue?

Before Sun Wukong could answer, Liu Er's figure vanished from the somersault cloud.

Thanks to Patriarch Puti's private tutoring, Liu Er's foundation, though not as strong as the original Sun Wukong's, had barely reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal level.

At this time, no gods or celestial mounts from heaven had descended to the mortal realm.

On earth, demons stronger than him could be counted on one hand.

Naturally, no being on Huaguo Mountain could surpass him.

In but a few breaths, several demonic auras on Huaguo Mountain vanished.

The substitute monkey stood in the sky, seeing everything clearly.

Only after Liu Er finished his display did the substitute monkey slowly descend to the ground.

"Great King, you're back!"

"Mm, monkeys, I'm back!"

"The Great King's back! The Great King's back!"

The monkeys of Huaguo Mountain erupted in joy, their faces glowing with genuine smiles.

Liu Er thought silently: "I just cleared your enemies, and you're not this thrilled? But a lazy lump returns, and you're overjoyed? These monkeys are just as addled as Sun Wukong."

Though displeased, Liu Er forced himself to attend Huaguo Mountain's welcome banquet.

Unlike the Journey to the West he'd seen, Huaguo Mountain's losses were virtually nonexistent.

For some reason, demons like Hunshi Demon King had only just gathered near the Water Curtain Cave, never having had time to harm the monkeys.

This was, of course, the work of the hidden Sun Wukong.

Liu Er didn't know this, so he guessed: "Perhaps I rushed back too eagerly, showing off my powers and angering the Patriarch—hence these monkeys escaped unscathed."

Thinking this, Liu Er grew even more displeased at the monkeys clustered around Sun Wukong.

I did so much—why don't these monkeys come to praise or flatter me?

Instead, they're elevating that lazy monkey to the heavens!

"Brother, I've heard there's a Divine Needle of the Eastern Sea, left by Yu the Great to control the floods. Why not go retrieve it as our weapon? Then we can use it against future foes?" Mid-feast, Liu Er suddenly spoke up.

The substitute monkey shook his head: "I have no taste for combat. What use is that needle to me? But if you want it, take it. Just know—it's a matter of great consequence; it may yet bring disaster."

Liu Er had been waiting for this exact reply. He smiled: "Brother, rest easy. Any trouble I cause, I'll bear alone—I won't drag Huaguo Mountain into it."

With those words, he set down his cup and vanished without a trace.

The substitute monkey saw clearly: a streak of Jin Guang plunged into the Eastern Sea—Liu Er had already set off to seize the divine weapon.

"Once stepping into Taiyi, one neglects the Dao-heart, grows arrogant. If one fails to break through the bonds of fame, profit, and achievement, even becoming a Da Luo is in vain!"

The substitute monkey was, after all, a puppet who attained enlightenment.

He deeply cherished life itself.

He regarded fame and Daoic achievement as trivial.

Even Liu Er the macaque scheming against him, he believed could be saved.

After all, life is so precious.

He had once been an inanimate object, transformed into a sentient spirit—he knew better than anyone how hard the crafting of life truly was.

Yet—he gave countless warnings, and Liu Er turned a deaf ear, obsessed only with becoming an immortal, a Buddha, a patriarch, never truly comprehending the world's fame and profit.

Under great fame and great profit, the stakes run so deep—how could any ordinary being bear them?