Chapter 41: Minghe Laozu

Netherworld.

There is no sun or moon here, only an ever‑persistent gray mist.

The other‑worldly flowers along the Yellow Spring Road bloom a ghastly red, as if they have just drunk their fill of blood.

At this moment, Fengdu City is in utter chaos, like a pot of congee.

The Gate of Ghosts, once orderly, is now packed with limbless undead soldiers, each discarding armor and wailing for their parents.

"Hold! Hold for me!"

Qin Guangwang stands on the city wall, his throat hoarse from shouting.

Yet the Book of Life and Death in his hand trembles like a winnowing sieve.

Outside the city.

The Wangchuan River, once black, has turned a scarlet red.

Blood waves roll, each higher than the last, slamming against the walls with a sizzling, corrosive sound.

Countless Asura warriors clad in blood‑colored armor trample the blood waves like a swarm of locusts.

Leading them.

Is a red‑robed Dàorén seated upon a twelfth‑rank blazing red lotus.

Minghe Laozu.

The old fellow looks grim and fierce, with two murderous long swords hanging at his sides.

Yuan Tu, Abi.

Innate Spirit Treasure that kills without touching karma.

"Kṣitigarbha child."

Minghe's voice is hoarse, like a metal sheet scraping glass.

"Fómén has collapsed, yet you still cling on to what strength?"

"I'll stew that broken dog of yours as a snack for me, the Ancestor; perhaps if I'm pleased, I'll even take you on as a gatekeeper."

Inside Fengdu City.

Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva sits cross‑legged on the back of Dìtīng, his Golden Body dim, a Bloodshot line at the corner of his mouth.

Yet he still presses his palms together, his gaze steadfast.

"Amitabha."

"Minghe, you act contrary to the order, you will surely face Heavenly punishment."

"Heavenly punishment?"

Minghe laughs maniacally.

His laughter shakes the walls of Fengdu City, causing dust to cascade down.

"Hongjun is in seclusion, the Saint has fallen, Heavenly Dao no longer intervenes, who will condemn me?"

"I, the 480 million blood deity offspring, am Heaven itself!"

He waves his hand.

"Young lads, charge for me!"

"Destroy this Fengdu City, the living souls are yours to devour!"

At that moment.

The grayish sky above suddenly splits open.

Not the slow kind of split.

It is ripped apart violently.

A massive foot covered in golden hair steps out from the fissure.

Immediately after,

A Tiěbàng of boundless length appears.

"Boom!"

The Tiěbàng, like a pillar of the sea‑stabilizing needle, plunges straight into the churning sea of blood.

The massive shockwave shatters the blood waves for hundreds of miles around.

Tens of thousands of Asura warriors at the forefront cannot even utter Cànjiào, being turned instantly into blood mist.

"Who?!"

Minghe's complexion changes dramatically, the blazing red lotus beneath him erupts with crimson light, shielding his body.

"It's your grandfather!"

Sun Wukong descends from the heavens, planting a foot on the tip of the Tiěbàng.

Clad in Golden Armor, his red cape flutters in the dim wind.

Kong Xuan follows behind, covering his nose with a disdainful expression.

"How stinky."

"This place is even more disgusting than Lion‑Camel Ridge."

King Yama looks up, tears streaming down.

He cares not for propriety, shouting toward the sky:

"Great Sage!"

"At last you're here! If you don't come soon, Little Wang's old bones will be boiled into soup!"

The tone is more intimate than meeting one's own father.

Minghe squints, sizing up Sun Wukong.

Although I've heard that this monkey has been causing a ruckus lately, even the Heaven Court got involved.

But who is Ming He?

A fossil‑level figure who has been alive since the Purple Sky Palace.

In his own Blood Sea arena, even a Saint dares to touch him.

"Who do you think I am?"

Ming He sneered, his finger lightly stroking the Prime Slaughter Sword.

"So it's that clueless Bi Ma Wen."

"What?"

"Tired of the peaches above, you want to taste the ancestor's blood?"

Sun Wukong dug at his ear.

He flung his earwax toward Ming He.

"Old thing, did that mouth just come out of a latrine?"

"I just became a Saint, just looking for someone to spar with."

"I heard you claim you're unkillable?"

"Come, let me try—how many pieces I can smash you into."

Ming He roared with anger.

"Arrogant!"

"Just a newly promoted Quasi‑Saint… hmm?"

He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly got stuck.

Something was off.

The aura on this monkey… why can't I see through it?

That bottomless pressure even made the blood deity child inside him tremble.

Could it be…

"Afraid?"

Sun Wukong grinned with a snarl.

"If you're scared, kneel, kowtow three times, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."

Ming He's expression shifted unpredictably.

He had survived in the Blood Sea for so many years by relying on a single word: "steady."

This monkey is a bit strange.

Since he can't match him in strength, then…

Ming He's eyes rolled.

He clapped his hands.

The Blood Sea suddenly split.

Dozens of graceful women rose from the sea.

They were Asura witches.

The most gorgeous, most lewd beings recognized by the Three Realms.

They wore only a few strips of sheer veil, their snow‑white skin barely visible, eyes hazy as if they could lure a person's soul away.

"Great Sage, why must you get angry?"

Ming He put on a smiling face.

"All this fighting and killing harms harmony."

"These are the exquisite specimens carefully cultivated by my clan; if Great Sage likes them, feel free to take them."

The witches swayed their waists, letting out coquettish sighs that made faces blush, drifting toward Sun Wukong.

Some stuck out their tongues, licking their lips.

Some cast seductive glances.

Such blatant temptation could drive any male creature mad.

Kong Xuan frowned, five‑colored divine light behind him flickering.

"Shameless."

He is a germ‑phobe; seeing this scene makes him want to vomit.

Sun Wukong stood on the staff.

Watching the flock of chirping birds gathering around.

He blinked.

"What is this thing?"

"A hairless female monkey?"

Ming He was momentarily stunned.

"Great Sage laughs, this is…"

"Get out of the way!"

Sun Wukong suddenly shouted.

"You're blocking the path of my Golden Cudgel!"

He made a move with his hand.

The massive Golden Cudgel quickly shrank and landed in his palm.

Then he swept horizontally.

Bang bang bang!

Those witches who hadn't yet managed to cling to their bodies were like flies being swatted by a fly.

They burst open.

All the allure and temptation, before this stick, are just shredded meat.

Blood rain rained down.

Ming He's Smile froze on his face.

This monkey…

Is he blind?

Or is he lacking in that regard?

"Give face, no face."

Sun Wukong flicked the blood off his staff.

"I only recognize monsters with this stick, not Beauty."

"Since you don't want to kneel."

"Then go die!"

His form flashed.

Space folded.

In the next instant.

Sun Wukong's furry face was already pressed against Ming He's nose.

The Golden Cudgel roared with a world‑shattering howl.

Aimed at Ming He's heavenly spirit cover.

It smashed down.