Chapter 23: In Dire Straits, Heaven Opens; the Old Dog Rules the Road

Nezha charged too fiercely.

The wind‑fire wheels plowed two deep grooves in the ground before they barely stopped in front of Sun Wukong.

He didn't speak.

He just stared fixedly at Sun Wukong.

His eye sockets were red as a rabbit's.

Tears swelled in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Five hundred years have passed.

Since that monkey was pressed under Five Elements Mountain, forced to drink molten copper and iron, forced to bow to the Buddhist Gate.

Nezha never went back to Mount Huaguo.

Nor did he ever go to Ling Shan.

He dared not go.

He feared seeing the once‑heroic Great Sage reduced to a fawning dog.

Not long ago.

He heard rumors of the True and False Monkey King.

He heard that the monkey had been beaten to death.

Nezha drank for three days and three nights at Chen Tang Pass, smashing Li Jing's pagoda into a pit.

He wanted to go to Ling Shan and fight to the death.

But Supreme Unity Immortal firmly blocked him.

Now.

That figure stood right before his eyes.

He wore locked golden armor and a phoenix‑wing purple‑gold crown.

Although his fur had changed somewhat and his aura became unfathomably deep.

But that untamed, rebellious spirit.

Exactly.

It was him.

"It's really you..."

Nezha's voice choked.

He surged forward and grabbed Sun Wukong in a tight embrace.

His strength was great.

He squeezed so hard Sun Wukong's bones creaked.

"You're not dead..."

"You bastard, you really aren't dead..."

Nezha buried his head in Sun Wukong's shoulder.

His tears finally could not be held back.

They streamed down.

They soaked Sun Wukong's monkey fur.

Sun Wukong pushed him away disdainfully.

He couldn't push him off.

All he could do was sigh.

He reached out and patted Nezha's back twice.

"Enough, enough."

"How old are you, still sniveling?"

"Like a woman."

"Not afraid of being laughed at."

Sun Wukong spoke with disdain.

But a flicker of softness flashed in his eyes.

Although the Three Realms are vast,

few truly care for him.

This little brat who never grew up counts as one.

Nezha sniffed.

He loosened his grip.

He roughly wiped his face.

"Who cried?"

"The wind was strong, it got in my eyes."

He glanced at Kong Xuan beside him.

Then he glanced at the dying Golden‑winged Great Peng in the distance.

Finally.

His gaze fell on the silent Bodhi Patriarch.

That old Daoist.

Dressed in worn‑out Daoist robes.

It looks ordinary.

But as soon as Nezha's divine sense approached, it was like a mud cow entering the sea, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Unfathomable!

More terrifying than his master, the True Person of the Great Ultimate!

Even... more terrifying than the Jade Emperor!

Ne Zha's heart jolted.

He hastily performed a salute.

"Junior Ne Zha pays respects to senior."

Bodhi Patriarch nodded slightly.

"Good foundation."

"Just a bit too much demonic energy."

"Is that a lotus body? It's a bit crude; later have your master swap it for a Chaos Azure Lotus rhizome."

Ne Zha listened, stunned.

Chaos Azure Lotus?

That's a legendary treasure!

Does this old senior have such a big tone?

"Don't just stand there."

Sun Wukong interrupted his wandering thoughts.

"How did you end up here?"

"Not staying in Heaven as the Third Prince, why run to this godforsaken place?"

Mentioning Heaven.

Ne Zha's face changed instantly.

Anxious, angry.

And helpless.

"Monkey, don't go to Heaven!"

"Hurry up and leave!"

"That old coot, the Jade Emperor, has gone mad!"

Ne Zha grabbed Sun Wukong's arm and tried to pull him the opposite way.

"How is he mad?"

Sun Wukong didn't budge.

He retorted.

"Heaven-Earth Severance!"

Ne Zha gritted his teeth and squeezed out these four words from between his teeth.

"He activated the ancient great formation, cutting off all passages between Heaven and the mortal realm."

"Not only that."

"He also summoned the thirty-six thunder generals, the 100,000 Heavenly River Navy, and even called out those reclusive old monsters."

"Right at Nan Tian Men!"

"He's laid a net of heaven and earth, just waiting for you to walk into it!"

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow.

"Such a grand mobilization?"

"Looks like my face still carries some weight."

"Anything else?"

Ne Zha hesitated a moment.

He lowered his head.

His fists clenched, making cracking sounds.

"And furthermore..."

"That old dog Li Jing."

"He put my mother... under house arrest."

"Inside the Exquisite Treasure Pagoda."

"He said... if I don't sever ties with you, if I don't bring back your head..."

"He will refine my mother inside the pagoda!"

Boom!

A surge of violent killing intent erupted from Sun Wukong's body.

The surrounding air instantly solidified.

Even the stones on the ground were shaken into powder.

"Li Jing."

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes.

In his golden eyes, flames burned like tangible fire.

"Five hundred years ago."

"I, Old Sun, have never liked that old dog."

Relying on that broken tower, they act all high and mighty all day.

Even scheming against their own wife and children.

Someone like that, worthy of being an immortal?

Sun Wukong turned his head.

He looked toward the Bodhi Patriarch.

Master.

This Heavenly Court doesn't seem very welcoming to us.

And that one called the Jade Emperor seems to want to spar with us.

The Bodhi Patriarch stood with his hands behind his back.

He gazed at the sky.

His expression was calm.

It was as if he heard not the Heavenly Court's great formation, but what to eat for dinner.

Heavenly Court?

The one in charge.

Is it called Zhang Bainian, right?

Nezha jumped in surprise.

Zhang Bainian.

That was the mortal name of the Jade Emperor during his tribulation.

After attaining the Dao, who in the Three Realms dares to call him by that name?

Even a Saint must give him some respect and address him as the Heavenly Emperor.

This old Taoist…

Seems that's what he's called.

Sun Wukong nodded.

Back then he was just a boy, lucky enough to pick up the Jade Emperor as a title.

Since they're not welcoming.

The Bodhi Patriarch smiled.

Then we break in.

Let him learn how to welcome.

The words just fell.

The Bodhi Patriarch took a step forward.

There was no earth‑shattering phenomenon.

The next second.

They were already at ten thousand meters altitude.

Sun Wukong gestured with a hand.

A Somersault Cloud materialized out of thin air.

Nezha, lead the way!

Today, old Sun will help you smash that broken tower!

Rescue Aunt!

Nezha looked at the old and the young.

Feeling that domineering aura that disregards everything.

The hot blood in his heart was instantly ignited.

To hell with the Ultimate Heaven Passage!

To hell with the Pagoda‑Bearing Heavenly King!

Turned!

Good!

Nezha stepped onto the Wind‑Fire Wheels.

He turned into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.

The party marched grandly, heading straight for Nan Tian Men.

On the road.

Occasionally they met a few patrolling Heavenly Court constellations.

Seeing this evil star formation.

They were terrified, souls fleeing, and turned to run.

Get lost!

Sun Wukong was too lazy to even draw his staff.

He gave a casual slap.

Just like swatting a fly.

Slap—slap—slap.

Those constellations with Golden Immortal cultivation were instantly turned into meteors, Cànjiào as they flew toward the horizon.

Not long after.

A towering Heavenly Gate appeared at the far end of the view.

Nan Tian Men.

At this moment.

The great gate is tightly shut.

A thick golden light curtain, like an upside‑down glazed bowl, envelops the entire Heavenly Court.

Beyond the light curtain.

Dense ranks of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals stand in strict formation, awaiting.

The Four Great Heavenly Kings hide behind the light curtain.

The King of Holding the Nation clutches a pipa, his hands trembling.

The Broad‑Eyed Heavenly King's red snake, frightened, curls into his sleeve.

"They're coming! They're here!"

"Quick! Reinforce the Great Formation!"

"Do not let them in at any cost!"

He watches that group of Heavenly Soldiers as if facing a great enemy.

Sun Wukong halts his cloud.

He slings the Golden Cudgel over his shoulder.

The five‑colored bird (Kong Xuan) perched at the end of the staff is being tossed by the wind.

"Zhang Bainian!"

Sun Wukong takes a deep breath.

His voice rolls like thunder, booming thirty‑three heavens away.

"Open that turtle shell of yours!"

"I, old Sun..."

"Here to bring warmth!"