Chapter 21: Give you a bird to play with

The five-colored divine light stretched across midair, blocking the way to Heaven's court tightly.

Sun Wukong hoisted the Golden Cudgel onto his shoulder, cocked his head, and stared at the woman before him.

Pretty.

Indeed pretty.

More alluring than seven spider demons combined, and colder than Chang'e of the Vast Cold Palace.

But Sun Wukong is now allergic to beautiful women.

Especially those with feathers.

"Play a tune?"

Sun Wukong poked his ears, looking utterly impatient.

"This old monkey is a rough fellow; I don't understand those refined tricks."

"If you really want to play, go play on the ruins of Ling Shan."

"Go see off that old Tathagata; you might even earn a couple of rewards."

Kong Xuan's face sank.

That lofty cold arrogance showed a hint of a crack.

She is the Peacock Great Bright King.

She is the foremost person below the Saint.

She is the first peacock in heaven and earth, the legitimate offspring of the Primordial Phoenix.

When has she ever been treated as a singing minstrel?

"Monkey."

Kong Xuan's voice was soft, yet it carried a bone‑chilling chill.

"You plucked my brother's feathers."

"And you flung him until he became crippled."

Golden-winged Great Peng Eagle.

That is her maternal brother.

Although that fool is usually arrogant and overbearing, even wanting to go to Ling Shan as an uncle, that does not give others the right to wantonly insult the phoenix bloodline.

"Oh."

Sun Wukong suddenly understood.

He slapped his forehead.

"You mean that bald‑feathered chicken?"

Sun Wukong reached into his bosom and fumbled around.

He pulled out a gleaming golden feather.

It was the feather he had casually plucked from the Golden‑winged Great Peng Eagle back then, originally intending to keep it as a toothpick.

"Here you go."

Sun Wukong tossed the feather away casually.

The feather floated down and landed at Kong Xuan's feet.

"There, it's returned."

"No need to thank me."

Kong Xuan lowered her head.

She gazed at the feather stained with blood.

It was the Peng's most cherished top feather.

Now it was tossed aside like trash.

Boom!

The five‑colored divine light suddenly surged.

The previously calm sea of clouds was instantly torn apart.

Blue, yellow, red, white, black.

These five colors represent the most fundamental Five Elements law of heaven and earth.

They intertwined, forming a huge light wheel that slowly turned behind Kong Xuan.

"Ignorant of life and death."

Kong Xuan raised her hand.

The light wheel followed her motion, emitting a deafening hum.

"Today."

"I will, in place of that worthless brother, take care of you, you reckless monkey!"

Swish!

A streak of red light fell without warning.

Fast.

Too fast.

It even surpassed the speed of thought.

This is Kong Xuan's signature killing technique.

The five‑colored divine light sweeps away everything.

As long as you remain within the Five Elements, as long as you still use Five Elements treasures, as long as you are a living being composed of the Five Elements.

Then there's no escape.

Then the Burning Lamp Daoist, now the Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, was made to Doubt life by this move, even the Sea‑Soothing Pearl was snatched.

Back then, True Body Saint subduing Kong Xuan also took great effort.

Red light instantly engulfed Sun Wukong.

Kong Xuan's mouth corner was just about to curl a cold smile.

It's over.

Being hit by the red light, one will be forcibly drawn into her Five Elements space.

Even a Golden Immortal, after entering, will turn into pus.

"Just this?"

A teasing voice came from the red light.

Kong Xuan's expression froze.

The red light dissipated.

Sun Wukong stood in place.

Not a single monkey hair was lost.

He even yawned and stretched.

"A bit warm."

Sun Wukong patted off the dust on his body.

"Not even close to Taishang Laojun's Eight‑Trigram Diagram."

"Any other colors?"

"Want to go up together?"

"Give this old monkey a rainbow bath."

"How is that possible?!"

Kong Xuan's pupils contracted sharply.

Her five-colored divine light can even wash away lotus incarnations like Nezha, and even holy fleshly bodies like Yang Jian.

"Why can't this move affect this monkey?"

"Unless..."

"He is not within the Five Elements?"

"But that's impossible!"

Heaven and earth, all things belong to the Five Elements.

To jump outside the Three Realms, not being in the Five Elements, is merely a stage of cultivation; it doesn't mean the physical body truly escapes material basis.

"Unless he is a Chaotic Demon God!"

"Only Chaos Realm is undifferentiated by the Five Elements, indifferent to Yin and Yang."

"I don't believe it!"

Kong Xuan screamed.

She panicked.

The five-colored light wheel behind her spun wildly.

Blue, yellow, red, white, black.

Five beams of light shot out together, twisting to kill.

Space was torn apart.

Surrounding clouds vanished instantly.

"This strike could turn a continent into nothingness."

Sun Wukong didn't dodge.

He planted the Golden Cudgel into the ground.

He crossed his arms.

He let those five terrifying beams of light blast onto his body.

Hum—

Light blazed.

A thin layer of grayish qi appeared on Sun Wukong's body surface.

That is Chaos Realm qi.

It is the origin of all things, and also their end.

Five Elements law struck the Chaos Realm qi flow.

Like snowflakes falling into boiling oil.

Sizzle—

It's gone.

It was assimilated.

It was devoured.

Sun Wukong stood at the center of the light, bathed in energy capable of destroying heaven and earth.

He even curled his lip in disdain.

"The strength is too small."

"Didn't you eat?"

Kong Xuan completely panicked.

The divine ability she prided herself on actually failed.

This is like a swordsman who suddenly discovers his sword turned into noodles.

That feeling of helplessness made her want to vomit blood.

"This little peacock."

The Bodhi Patriarch, who had been standing aside watching the show, suddenly spoke.

He had his hands behind his back, sizing up Kong Xuan up and down.

That gaze.

Not like looking at a Quasi-Saint powerhouse.

Rather like picking a donkey ready for farm work at a livestock market.

"The feathers are quite bright."

"The legs are also quite long."

"Just that the temper is a bit explosive."

The Bodhi Patriarch turned his head to look at Sun Wukong.

"Disciple."

"I think you also lack some leg strength."

"This Somersault Cloud is fast, but after all it's not impressive enough."

"If one were to ride this peacock to the Heavenly Court..."

The Bodhi Patriarch stroked his chin.

"It should be quite cool."

"Ride?"

"Treat him, Kong Xuan... as a mount?"

"This is humiliation!"

"This is naked humiliation!"

Kong Xuan only felt a "boom" in his mind, his reason completely snapped.

"She is the son of the phoenix!"

"She is the king of all birds!"

"Even a Saint must address her as 'Dao Friend'!"

"Want to ride her?"

"Dream on!"

"Old Daoist!"

"You're courting death!"

"Screech!!!"

A sharp cry rang through the nine heavens.

Kong Xuan's figure disappeared.

In its place was an enormous peacock.

Too big.

Its wings spread, spanning tens of thousands of zhang.

It blotted out the sky and covered the sun.

The entire sky of Xiniu Hezhou instantly darkened.

Those gorgeous tail feathers, each like a flowing river of stars, exuded a suffocating pressure.

The aura of a Quasi-Saint peak erupted without reservation.

The lower realm.

Countless demons trembled, that fear stemming from deep in their bloodlines.

All birds paid homage.

"Go die!"

The huge peacock opened its mouth.

A jet of five-colored flame spewed out.

That was its natal true fire.

Nothing is unburnable.

Sun Wukong raised his head to look at the great bird that blocked the sun.

He whistled.

"Hu."

"This true form is big enough."

"If roasted and eaten, it could last half a year."

But the Bodhi Patriarch shook his head.

"Too big."

"Takes up space."

"And blocks the light."

He stretched out a hand.

Right hand.

Index finger.

That hand is ordinary.

The finger is slender, the joints distinct, with no trace of magical energy fluctuation.

Just like that, lightly, a finger points upward.

Then.

Point down.

"Lie down."

Only two words.

No incantation.

No seal.

But at the instant that finger descends.

Heaven collapses.

An indescribable terrifying gravity suddenly appears on the back of that ten‑thousand‑zhang peacock.

That is not ordinary gravity.

It is the weight of the entire Chaos Realm void.

It is the Suppression of the Three Thousand Dao.

"Ga—!!!"

Kong Xuan's murderous cry instantly turned into a Cànjiào.

The massive body, as if struck down by an invisible giant hand, was hammered down.

Rumble—

Space shattered.

The ten‑thousand‑zhang peacock's body begins to twist and deform during its rapid fall.

It is being forcibly compressed.

"No—!!!"

Kong Xuan struggles.

Five‑colored divine light frantically brushes, trying to counter that finger.

But before absolute power.

Law?

That's a joke.

One hundred thousand zhang…

Ten thousand zhang…

One thousand zhang…

One hundred zhang…

Ten zhang…

Kong Xuan's body shrinks further.

That world‑crushing pain makes each of her bones wail.

Finally.

That sky‑blocking behemoth.

Turns into a palm‑sized little bird.

Its feathers are all ruffled, its head drooping.

Pat—

Falls into the palm of the Bodhi Patriarch.

Kong Xuan faints.

She is crushed into unconsciousness.

Her Quasi‑Saint cultivation is completely sealed by that single finger.

Now she.

Is just a slightly prettier wild chicken.

The Bodhi Patriarch flicks the little peacock's head with his finger.

"Now it looks better."

He casually tosses it.

The little peacock, still rolling its eyes, draws a parabola in the air.

Landing precisely in Sun Wukong's arms.

"Take it."

The Bodhi Patriarch claps his hands.

As if he had just dealt with a trivial matter.

"Consider it a gift."

"Just a casual bird walk."

"A little pastime."

Sun Wukong fumbles and catches it.

He cupped it in his palm and looked.

This little thing is now only about the size of a fist.

Its five‑colored tail feathers drooped, looking pitiful.

Who could have thought.

Is this the haughty Peacock Great Bright King from earlier?

"Hey."

Sun Wukong was amused.

He stretched out a finger and flicked Kong Xuan's little head with a brain‑burst snap.

"Wake up."

"Dinner's ready."

The little peacock shivered all over.

Half‑asleep, it opened its eyes.

It saw the enlarged face of Thunder Duke.

"Cheep?"

It instinctively let out a sound.

Then it snapped back to reality.

Shame!

Want to kill itself!

But it realized it couldn't even self‑destruct a demon pill.

Its body was empty, unable to muster any cultivation energy.

"Don't waste your effort."

Sun Wukong placed the little peacock onto his shoulder.

That spot had originally been where the Golden Cudgel belonged.

"Be honest."

"Otherwise I'll send you to keep company with that younger brother of yours."

"I heard he's currently lacking a warm bed."

The little peacock stiffened all over.

Its two claws clutched Sun Wukong's chainmail tightly.

It dared not move.

It even rubbed Sun Wukong's ear in a flattering way.

It was truly frightened.

That old Taoist.

Too terrifying.

Simply not human!

"Master."

Sun Wukong teased the new pet on his shoulder.

He was in a great mood.

The annoyance from earlier when the road was blocked had long vanished.

"We have this bird now."

"Then should we head to the Heavenly Court…"

"Time to settle up?"

Sun Wukong lifted his head.

His Fiery Golden Eyes once again gazed at the towering Heavenly Palace.

Nan Tian Men was already within arm's reach.

On the huge archway hung a plaque bearing the three big characters "Nan Tian Men".

Golden light glittered.

The gate was tightly shut.

The Four Great Heavenly Kings were absent.

Only a thick golden light curtain enveloped the entire Heavenly Court.

The Celestial Star Array.

Had opened.

It sealed the Heavenly Court.

This was the Jade Emperor's attitude.

"I don't see you."

"You don't even think of coming in."

"Shrinking turtle."

Sun Wukong sneered.

He shoved the little peacock on his shoulder into his chest.

"Hold on tight."

"Old Sun will take you out to see the world."

"Look at this so‑called ruler of the Three Realms."

"How did (you) wet your pants?"

Sun Wukong raised the Golden Cudgel.

No nonsense.

Directly at that layer, the defensive array that claims it can block a Saint's strike.

Smash it down!

"Open the door!!!"

"Check the water meter!!!"