Chapter 96

A flash of complex emotion crossed the Bull Niu Mowang's eyes as he sighed: "In the primordial era, the Demon Emperors Di Jun and Taiyi were such peerless heroes. With the River Map and Luo Book in their hands and the Chaos Bell at their side, they commanded the ten great Demon Sages and billions of demon soldiers, ruling over the celestial stars and shaking the primordial world with their might. Yet, in the end, during the Lich War, both perished, and the great Demon Heavenly Court vanished like smoke!"

"Since then, although some seniors with profound cultivation survived, they have harbored suspicions and grudges against one another. Thus, no leader capable of rallying all has appeared among the demon race since. And now that the current Heavenly Court has been established, the demon race has lost its chance forever."

The Bull Niu Mowang set down his wine cup and sighed: "Seventh brother, it is not that your big brother wants to dampen your spirits. As we are now, occupying mountains as kings and living freely, the Heavenly Court may look upon us with disdain, but they will not truly strike to kill. But once we raise the banner of the 'Demon Alliance,' the Heavenly Court may no longer sit idly by, and there will be no room for maneuver."

The Bull Niu Mowang's words did not frighten Sun Wukong.

If Su Chen had not stopped him back then, he would have dared to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace all by himself; now that he had his brothers behind him, he feared the Heavenly Court even less.

Beside him, the Flood Dragon Niu Mowang, also a bold one, spoke up: "Big brother's words, while reasonable, are perhaps too much about boosting others' morale and diminishing our own. The current Heavenly Court is powerful, but if we can unite, we may not be without the strength to contend."

He was ambitious and had always wanted to recreate the glory of the demon race from the ancient era; establishing the Demon Alliance was undoubtedly an opportunity for him.

"Contend? With what?" the Lion Shi Tuo Wang said in a muffled voice. "Just us few, or this mob gathered here at Flower Fruit Mountain? If the Heavenly Court sends just a few divine generals down, we'll be in for a rough time."

He had a mysterious background and understood the strength of those ancient great gods of the Heavenly Court, so he dared not underestimate them.

"Fourth brother is right." The Yu Rong Wang, who had been quiet, also spoke up.

"The Heavenly Court is powerful; this is an indisputable fact. If we clash head-on with them now, it is truly like throwing an egg against a rock. Moreover, big brother is right; once the Demon Alliance is established, we will become the target. By then, not only the Heavenly Court, but I fear those bald donkeys of the Western Heaven and those human cultivators will all aim their spears at us."

"I agree with fifth brother's view." The last one, the Gibbon King, also nodded. "I still think it's enough for everyone to live their own lives, supporting each other from afar. There is no need to bind ourselves together and make such a big scene, only to invite disaster."

For a moment, the six Great Sages were divided into two factions.

Sun Wukong and the Flood Dragon Niu Mowang were in favor of establishing the Demon Alliance.

The Bull Niu Mowang, Lion Shi Tuo Wang, Yu Rong Wang, and Gibbon King held opposing or reserved opinions.

Sun Wukong looked at the situation, feeling both anxious and angry.

"Big brother, fourth brother, fifth brother, sixth brother! Why are you all so afraid of that old man, the Jade Emperor?"

"Seventh brother!" The Bull Niu Mowang interrupted him in a deep voice. "This is not a question of fear, but of whether we can win. We all have families behind us, thousands upon thousands of soldiers; we cannot gamble their lives on a moment of hot-headedness!"

"I..." Sun Wukong was choked for words.

He looked around and found that, except for the Flood Dragon Niu Mowang, the other brothers seemed to have been persuaded by the Bull Niu Mowang.

Feeling depressed, he picked up the wine jar, wanting to pour it into his mouth.

"Monkey brother." Su Chen reached out and held down his wine jar.

Sun Wukong turned to look at Su Chen, his eyes full of appeal.

Su Chen smiled slightly at him, signaling him to be calm.

Then, he stood up and bowed again to the Bull Niu Mowang and the others.

"I understand the concerns of all the Great Sages. What Bull big brother said is a seasoned and prudent view, and every word is reasonable."

As he spoke, he did not rush to refute, but first affirmed the Bull Niu Mowang's point of view.

But then, Su Chen changed the subject and raised a question.

"Does Bull big brother think that if we don't establish the Demon Alliance now, the Heavenly Court and the West won't take action against you? Especially Bull big brother, your territory is right under the nose of Western Buddhism."

Su Chen's question left the Great Sages present deep in thought.

The Bull Niu Mowang frowned and did not answer immediately.

Indeed, would the Heavenly Court let them go?

He did not know the answer, but he believed the probability of the Heavenly Court taking action against him was not high.

Because although they occupied their own territories, they had not done anything to harm the Three Realms, and the Heavenly Court could not find a legitimate reason.

Looking at the silent crowd, Su Chen knew his words had taken effect.

He decided to add more fuel to the fire.

"Great Sages, have you thought about why the Heavenly Court is dealing with Monkey brother like this this time?"

Su Chen's gaze swept over Sun Wukong and then looked at the Bull Niu Mowang and the others.

"Because Monkey brother has an extraordinary background, immense potential, and is not under their control. Therefore, they must find ways to keep him in their hands."

"And what about you all?" Su Chen's voice gradually grew louder. "Bull big brother has noble blood and great divine powers; Flood Dragon big brother comes from the Four Seas and has the potential to become a dragon, with high aspirations; Lion Shi Tuo Wang, Yu Rong Wang, and Gibbon King are all rare species of heaven and earth, powerful in their own right."

"In the eyes of those immortals in the Heavenly Court, how are you any different from Monkey brother?"

"You are all anomalies in their eyes, potential unstable factors!"

"Now the Three Realms are in turmoil, and I once received guidance from my teacher that a great tribulation of the Three Realms is coming."

"Once the great tribulation descends, slaughter will rise again in the world, and I fear you may not be able to pass through it safely."

"Brother Su Chen, what do you mean by 'great tribulation'?" The Flood Dragon Niu Mowang looked at Su Chen with sharp eyes. "Also, may I ask who your master is?"

"My teacher only mentioned the great tribulation to me by chance, and I don't know exactly what it is." Su Chen shook his head; naturally, he could not say he knew about the Journey to the West tribulation. "As for my master's background, forgive me for not being able to say."

"But I can be certain that the great tribulation is not far off."

Su Chen looked at the Bull Niu Mowang.

"Bull big brother, you are the eldest of our seven Great Sages, with the strongest power and highest prestige. Do you think that once the great tribulation comes, the Heavenly Court will not take the opportunity to deal with you demon kings who occupy your own territories?"

The Bull Niu Mowang's heart sank suddenly.

He was a smart man and naturally knew that the Heavenly Court would never give up the chance to eradicate them.

"Of course, if you all can abandon your territories and flee to the treacherous North Ju Luzhou to hide, perhaps you might have a glimmer of hope."

"But such behavior would likely not befit the reputation of you Great Sages."

Su Chen looked at the demon Great Sages present and continued.

"Then in your opinion, we must establish this Demon Alliance?" The Bull Niu Mowang looked at Su Chen.

Su Chen met his gaze and said, "Yes, I believe this is our only chance for survival."

"Establishing the Demon Alliance is not to contend for hegemony with the Heavenly Court, nor to become some Demon Emperor, but for self-preservation!"

"I am human, and if it weren't for Monkey brother, I wouldn't have waded into these muddy waters. When I left the mountain, my teacher advised me to live in seclusion and avoid the great tribulation."

"But I couldn't let go of Monkey brother, which is why I came to Flower Fruit Mountain."

Su Chen finished speaking.

Sun Wukong looked at Su Chen, deeply moved.

He knew best how powerful Patriarch Puti was and believed deeply in the warnings he gave Su Chen.

Since his master said there was a great tribulation, there must be one.

He wanted to tell the Bull Niu Mowang and the others that Su Chen's words were absolutely true, but Su Chen shook his head gently, stopping him.