Chapter 632: Tang Seng Breaks Down: How Could I Have Feelings? I

Upon hearing this, Zhi Zun Bao could only give up.

"Then we can only abandon the plan for everyone to escape together."

Zhi Zun Bao's reaction was exactly what Tang Seng had anticipated; whether it was the monkey or Zhi Zun Bao, neither had ever been one to prioritize brotherly loyalty.

"Smart choice," Tang Seng said calmly, without contempt; for the Six-Winged Jin Chan, human morality held no weight.

"Now, begin setting up the Ascension Altar."

Zhi Zun Bao asked again: "As long as we set up the Ascension Altar, the Ascension Passage will open?"

"No," Tang Seng shook his head, "there is a high chance it will open! What is your identity? The Pillar of Heaven Stone, representing the destiny of a top-tier mid-realm world. Even if the Lord of Tai Xuan had no desire to get involved, he would still let you pass for the sake of this world."

"A chance is enough," Zhi Zun Bao's carefree expression vanished, replaced by calmness; "as long as there's a chance to escape, everything else doesn't matter."

Zhi Zun Bao believed Tang Seng's words.

This was not because Tang Seng's story was compelling, but because he had long sensed impending danger.

For the Pillar of Heaven Stone, sensing a crisis of fate was not difficult.

Although he had previously not known his own identity, nor where the danger came from.

Only after Tang Seng arrived and told that story did his sense of crisis nearly vanish.

This was the fundamental reason he trusted Tang Seng.

"Good that you've come to understand," Tang Seng smiled. "Once you leave, the destiny shifts, Lingshan's scheme turns to dust—haha, when the time comes, Buddha's expression will be truly exquisite."

Zhi Zun Bao had no interest in Buddha's expression.

He had merely heard a story; his memories had not yet returned.

To him, Buddha was merely a stranger.

He felt no deep hatred—only a desire to leave this place that made him feel danger.

Under Tang Seng's guidance, Zhi Zun Bao swiftly set up the altar.

The altar was simple: only a jade slip and an incense burner.

"So shabby?" Zhi Zun Bao doubted. "Shouldn't we prepare three sacrificial offerings?"

Tang Seng was speechless: "This is to pay homage to Tai Xuan Realm, to pledge allegiance and open your own Ascension Passage—not to worship ancestors. No need for so many formalities. A world's benefits are already immense."

"That's true," Zhi Zun Bao nodded, his expression turning solemn. He lit an incense stick and offered sincere worship.

"I, the Pillar of Heaven Stone, hereby submit: I wish to ascend to Tai Xuan Realm, and I wish this realm to submit to Tai Xuan Realm. I humbly beg the Lord of Tai Xuan for approval."

He recited it once, then again—yet received no response.

Zhi Zun Bao looked at Tang Seng, suspicion rising: "Monk, is the other side refusing? Or are you mocking me?"

"Such a major matter? Of course it requires thought," Tang Seng said dryly. "If you encountered this, would you immediately agree without considering the risks?"

"Come to think of it, yes," Zhi Zun Bao nodded, secretly embarrassed—he might well have agreed without a second thought.

Tai Xuan Realm.

Zhang Taixuan was playing with Yuki-no-hiina when a prayer voice rang out; upon listening closely, he immediately recognized which world it came from.

"Tang Seng really wants to drag me into this!" Zhang Taixuan mused, weighing the gains and losses. "But the benefits of a top-tier mid-realm are too great to pass up—worth a risk."

With the Thirty-Three Heavens Technique, plus the existence of Tai Xuan Realm.

He was inherently invincible.

After all, a top-tier mid-realm represented the Great Luo status.

Once Buddha entered his realm, even a Jin Xian—or even a Tai Yi Jin Xian—would be indistinguishable, all easily suppressed.

The power of a mid-realm was immense.

"Approve the opening of the Ascension Passage—temporarily permit only the Pillar of Heaven Stone to ascend!"

"Approve the world's submission!"

With a thought, the Heavenly Book and Earth Book within Tai Xuan Realm's Dao Space flew out, hovering before him, radiating boundless divine might, ready to meet the coming battle.

"Lord Tai Xuan, what's happened?" Yuki-no-hiina asked curiously.

Zhang Taixuan smiled: "Nothing major—just preparing for a realm's submission."

"A realm's submission?" Yuki-no-hiina was stunned. "That's not major?"

In her mind, even the chance to become an immortal was a monumental event.

And yet, her beloved didn't even care about a realm's submission?

"Indeed, my taste is excellent!" Yuki-no-hiina secretly rejoiced. "Yukino, if you won't act, I will. I won't let this opportunity slip away."

Compared to Yuki-no-Yukino, Yuki-no-hiina was far more proactive.

Long ago, at a banquet, Yuki-no-hiina had established contact with Zhang Taixuan and became a regular guest of Tai Xuan Realm.

The Great Journey to the West world.

Zhi Zun Bao and Tang Seng waited quietly for the altar's response. After a while, the jade slip atop the altar began glowing, and a cold voice spoke: "Approved: opening of the Ascension Passage…"

"Success!" Tang Seng beamed. "Indeed, this gift was large enough—even Lord Tai Xuan could not refuse."

Zhi Zun Bao was also overjoyed: "Approved! I can ascend!"

The two exchanged glances, each seeing the other's joy.

Zhi Zun Bao could escape fate; Tang Seng could outwit Lingshan.

It was a perfect win-win.

Both were elated.

At that moment, a portal opened in the void. Zhi Zun Bao looked toward it, then at Tang Seng.

Tang Seng snapped: "Stop dawdling—get going!"

A warmth flickered through Zhi Zun Bao's heart. "Thank you, Master!"

Saying this, he crossed through the portal and stepped inside.

(Li Mahou) The next instant, the gateway vanished on the spot.

"Master?" Tang Seng's eyes reddened, and a pang of sour bitterness welled up in his heart. "How could that be? Am I not the Six-Winged Golden Cicada? Treacherous by nature, savage and violent—how could I have feelings? No, it must be that damned Tathagata playing tricks!"

Tang Seng clutched his head, unable to accept that he had developed feelings.

A fiendish bug of heaven and earth—what need has it for feelings?

What he did not know was that the most wondrous thing in the world was the passage of time.

Countless ages had passed, and the once incomparably terrifying Six-Winged Golden Cicada was no longer pure.

In his hollow heart, a single thread of color had appeared—that was the radiance of human nature!

"Feelings—ah, how could I have feelings!" Tang Seng howled in agony. His skin split apart inch by inch, and a terrifying insect blazing with golden light crawled out from within—eyes crimson, mouthparts razor-sharp—emitting a shrill, piercing shriek: "I am the Six-Winged Golden Cicada! Today I shall return to my true nature and sever the past!"