Chapter 25: The Barbecue Stall in Front of Lingxiao Hall

The Exquisite Treasure Pagoda still hung in Mid‑Air.

Inside, Li Jing's Cànjiào had weakened considerably, turning into intermittent hums.

"Nezha… I want water…"

"Rebel son… turn the fire down a bit… it's five‑point cooked…"

Nezha listened to the voice from the tower, his expression was vivid.

A bit satisfying.

Also a bit awkward.

After all, that's his own father.

Even though this father forced him to death once five hundred years ago, and just now threatened him with his mother.

But bloodline, that thing, really fucking sucks.

"Alright."

Sun Wukong passed by Nezha, patting his shoulder.

"That's Samadhi True Fire; it can't kill a Golden Immortal, at most it just strips a layer of skin."

"Let him remember it well."

"So he won't keep using a broken tower to scare people when he goes out later."

Nezha nodded.

He glanced at Yin Shiniang in his arms.

Yin Shiniang's Pale Complexion, but her gaze was firm.

"Go ahead."

She nudged Nezha.

"Don't worry about me."

"Go do what you want to do."

Nezha took a deep breath.

He placed Yin Shiniang on an auspicious cloud, setting up a protective shield.

Then.

He turned.

He fell in step with Sun Wukong.

This time.

No looking back.

……

Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

It was already a mess, like a bowl of porridge.

When the news that Nan Tian Men had been broken arrived, no one took it seriously.

After all, the Four Heavenly Kings were just gate‑keeping security captains.

But when the news that Li Jing had been swallowed by his own Treasure Pagoda spread, the entire hall instantly blew up.

That was the Pagoda‑bearing Heavenly King!

Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Army!

He was killed in an instant by that old Taoist at first sight?

And with such a humiliating method?

"Your Majesty!"

Tai Bai Jinxing plopped to the ground, his hat crooked.

"That… that is the Chaotic Demon God!"

""Li Tianwang's Treasure Pagoda may be powerful, but before the Demon God it's just a toy!""

"We… we should retreat!"

The Jade Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne.

His hand gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Retreat?

Where to retreat?

He is the ruler of the Three Realms.

If a monkey forces him to abandon the hall and flee, how will he survive thereafter?

That fat Tathagata probably could wake up laughing even in his dreams.

"Why panic!"

The Jade Emperor slammed the table.

"I am the Great Celestial Venerated by the Dao Ancestor!"

"I command ten thousand heavens, I dominate the Three Realms!"

"A mere demon monkey, a lone cultivator, what can they do to me?!"

The words just fell.

Boom—

The great doors of Lingxiao Hall were kicked open with a single foot.

The two doors, forged from star‑steel over countless millennia, flew into the hall like broken planks.

He directly smashed the two rows of Heavenly Generals who were trying to rush out to guard the carriage.

Sunlight.

The glaring sunlight streamed in through the great doors.

In that backlight.

Three figures slowly walked in.

The one in the middle carried a Tiěbàng, was covered in monkey hair, and wore a wildly defiant expression.

The one on the left stood on a wind‑fire wheel, brandishing a fire spear, radiating killing intent.

The one on the right was an old Taoist priest.

He looked completely ordinary.

Yet with each step, the entire Lingxiao Hall trembled slightly.

It was as if this palace, which embodied the authority of the Heavenly Dao, was bowing to him.

"Yo."

Sun Wukong walked into the great hall.

He looked around in a circle.

The civil and military immortals who were usually aloof now huddled their necks, looking like quails.

Some hid behind the pillars.

Some squeezed under the tables.

Even the Barefoot Immortal, who always mutters the "Heavenly Law", was barefoot now, curled up in a corner playing dead.

"How lively."

Sun Wukong planted the Golden Cudgel into the ground.

Clang!

The floor of the entire hall shuddered.

"Why are you silent now?"

"Weren't you just noisy a moment ago?"

"Come, continue the music, continue the dance."

A stretch of Deathly Silence.

No one dared to reply.

The Jade Emperor sat on the high platform, staring intently at Sun Wukong.

His gaze seemed to want to devour him alive.

"You reckless monkey!"

The Jade Emperor's voice trembled slightly, yet he strained to maintain imperial authority.

"You trespassed the Heavenly Palace, injured a heavenly deity, and destroyed public property."

"This is a capital crime!"

"If you withdraw now, I consider your cultivation difficult; perhaps I may spare you a whole body!"

Pfft.

Sun Wukong laughed.

He laughed, bending forward and backward.

He laughed until tears streamed down.

He pointed at the Jade Emperor, turned his head, and said to Nezha beside him:

"Listen."

"Is this old fellow scared dumb?"

"Even now he's still here trying to show off against old Sun?"

Nezha let out a cold snort, saying nothing.

He merely held the fire spear, its tip already aimed at the Jade Emperor's throat.

Sun Wukong stopped laughing.

His expression on his face instantly turned cold.

He stepped up the stairs one step at a time.

The golden gourd warriors guarding the Jade Emperor tried to block him.

Sun Wukong didn't even glance at them.

He slightly released the aura around his body.

Bang bang bang!

The warriors were struck as if by an invisible heavy hammer, flung backward, crashing into the walls and falling unconscious.

No one could stop his advance.

He kept walking until he reached the Dragon Desk.

Sun Wukong stopped.

The distance between him and the Jade Emperor was less than three feet.

He could even smell the strong dragon‑scent on the Jade Emperor, along with the unmistakable odor of cold sweat.

"Zhang Bainin."

Sun Wukong called him by name.

Without any respect.

Five hundred years ago, I, the old monkey, was pressed under Wǔxíng Shān.

That's because my skills were lacking; I admit it.

But over these five hundred years.

You had people feed me molten copper and iron juice.

How is this debt to be settled?

The Jade Emperor swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

That sense of oppression from deep within his Línghún made him somewhat unable to catch his breath.

This monkey…… how did he become so strong?

Compared to when he caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace back then, he's stronger by countless folds!

That…… that was the Buddha's intention!

The Jade Emperor instinctively shifted the blame.

I merely…… merely went along with it!

Cooperated?

Sun Wukong sneered.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed the glass cup on the dragon table.

That was the Jade Emperor's favorite cup.

Just now one was broken; this is the newly replaced one.

Pop!

Sun Wukong, right in front of the Jade Emperor, crushed that cup into powder.

Glass shards scattered across the floor.

What a fine cooperation.

The Six-Eared Macaque affair—you also went along with it, right?

You used the demon-revealing mirror to expose the truth, yet pretended not to know.

Watching me, the old monkey, being impersonated and beaten to death.

You watched the show from above, enjoying it immensely, didn't you?

The Jade Emperor's face instantly turned ashen.

This matter, he was indeed in the wrong.

But he never expected that this monkey would know everything!

Who told him?

The Jade Emperor's gaze swept past Sun Wukong and landed on the old Daoist who had been standing motionless at the hall's entrance.

Bodhi Patriarch.

That old Daoist had his hands behind his back, leisurely scrutinizing the dome of Lingxiao Hall.

As if there were some peerless beauty up there.

He didn't even put the tense confrontation here in his eyes.

Not speaking?

Sun Wukong blew the powder from his hand away.

He patted the Jade Emperor's face.

Pap-pap sounded.

That sound, in the silent hall, was especially grating.

This is a slap to the face.

In front of all the heavenly gods and Buddhas, slapping the face of the supreme ruler of the Three Realms.

The Jade Emperor's face swelled to a liver-like hue.

Shame and indignation nearly overwhelmed him.

Enough!

The Jade Emperor shot up to his feet.

Dragon energy surged over his body, and the aura of a quasi-saint at peak exploded outward.

I am the Heavenly Emperor!

Even if you are a Chaotic Demon God, don't dream of humiliating me!

A golden longsword appeared in his hand.

Heavenly Sword.

A top-tier innate spiritual treasure.

It is a treasure bestowed by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, symbolizing the authority of the Heavenly Court.

Die!

The Jade Emperor thrust his sword forward.

The sword light was like a dragon, carrying magnificent heavenly might, straight for Sun Wukong's brow.

If this sword strike lands true,

even a Golden Immortal of the Great Luo would have both body and soul annihilated.

Sun Wukong did not dodge.

He didn't even blink.

He merely extended two fingers.

Ding.

A soft sound.

That Heavenly Sword, capable of cleaving mountains and rivers, was firmly pinched between Sun Wukong's two fingers.

Not able to advance even a hair's breadth.

Unable to retreat even an inch.

The Jade Emperor widened his eyes.

His face full of disbelief.

How is this possible?!

This is the Heavenly Sword!

"Just this?"

Sun Wukong curled the corner of his mouth in a sneering arc.

His fingers exerted slight force.

Crack.

That Heavenly Sword, which had followed the Jade Emperor through countless aeons, was a top-grade innate spiritual treasure.

It broke.

It broke into two pieces.

The sword tip fell to the ground, letting out a mournful wail.

The Jade Emperor was stunned.

He looked at the remaining half of the broken sword in his hand, his whole person as if his soul had been sucked out.

His belief collapsed.

"Looks like."

Sun Wukong casually tossed away the half blade in his hand.

"Your position, it's time for someone else to sit."

He kicked the Dragon Desk with one foot.

That table symbolizing supreme authority flew out directly, smashing several unfortunate celestial officials until their heads were bloody.

Then.

Sun Wukong plopped down onto the Nine-Dragon Golden Chair.

He crossed his legs.

He placed the Golden Cudgel across his knees.

He looked down at the stunned immortals below.

He grinned.

"From today onward."

"I, Old Sun, announce."

"The Heavenly Court... will be reorganized."

"Who else is in favor? Who opposes?"