Chapter 420

Luode's finger pointed at the back of Lingji Bodhisattva, killing him utterly, the death energy destroying his soul and cutting off all vitality.

The great divine beings of this world are indeed formidable; even if one's head is severed, one's own deathly divine power still exerts a dual effect on both body and spiritual soul.

The deity governing death is simply that powerful.

Everyone present was stunned; who could have imagined that the Bodhisattva of Ling Mountain would die so simply, felled by a single finger of this great divine being?

"Hahaha! He's dead, Lingji dog thief, Lingji evil thief, you're dead, you actually died, hahaha, good death, good death!" The happiest person present was none other than the Great Sage Yellow Wind.

He has suffered terribly at the hands of this Lingji Bodhisattva his whole life; originally he only wished to bless a mortal land, originally he only wanted to find a place of refuge for his rat demon subordinates.

Who would have thought he would be subjected to various schemes by the other party; even after becoming their disciple, he was never spared, reduced to a state of neither human nor ghost.

"My heavens! Lord Wu Tian is truly formidable; this, this is a Bodhisattva of Ling Mountain!

Even if his cultivation does not match that of Guanyin Bodhisattva, he is still a Bodhisattva fruit position, yet he was killed by a single finger!" The horse-headed man spoke.

Even Sun Wukong's expression at this moment was extremely astonished; facing this Bodhisattva of Ling Mountain, he had suffered a great loss, and compared to Guanyin Bodhisattva, he could be subdued in an instant.

How exactly was this Lingji Bodhisattva killed? My old self actually saw not a single clue, although the Fiery Golden Eyes are not present.

But the monkey's eyesight is still there, yet he cannot see how this Bodhisattva was killed at all.

"Yellow Wind, are you willing to follow me?" Luode turned his head to look at the Great Sage Yellow Wind and asked.

"Yellow Phoenix! My old self tells you this person is called Wu Tian the Great Divine, a great divine being.

Following him brings only benefits, no drawbacks; my old self is the one this great divine saved, you must think clearly." Sun Wukong immediately stepped before the Great Sage Yellow Wind and spoke.

"Hahaha! It seems Wu Tian the Great Divine indeed intends to accomplish something great.

Thanks to Wu Tian the Great Divine's favor! Though I am untalented, I am willing to follow Wu Tian the Great Divine as a vanguard officer." The Great Sage Yellow Wind laughed heartily.

"Wise choice, rise and speak!" Luode pointed with his hand, a stream of vital energy directly entered the Great Sage Yellow Wind's body; he could see that this yellow-furred weasel had been tormented terribly.

His vital essence and energy were nearly depleted; if not replenished, he could die at any moment, anywhere.

To refine Sun Wukong's root energy, he forcibly activated the Yellow Wind Great Formation for over a hundred years, which greatly drained him, or rather, during his time at Ling Mountain, at the Lingji Bodhisattva's side, he also suffered some.

With the infusion of vital energy, the Great Sage Yellow Wind's condition improved visibly at a speed discernible to the naked eye; his originally aged and even slightly hunched frame instantly straightened and grew tall, his whole person appearing more full.

"Yellow Wind thanks you, Wu Tian the Great Divine for your aid." The Great Sage Yellow Wind knelt before Luode and spoke.

Indeed a great divine being; merely pointing at oneself once, one's life began to recover, even the lost lifespan began to restore.

Originally I could live at most another hundred or so years, but now in this state, I can certainly live another thousand years at least.

"Hmm! The living beings of this place should not suffer this tribulation; you go gather all those who have turned from humans into rat demons and their descendants born thereof; I will turn them back into humans, as for those originally rat demons, they need not come." Luode spoke.

"Wu Tian the Great Divine's mercy, Wu Tian the Great Divine's great kindness! The old king, on behalf of all the citizens of the Sihali Kingdom, bows in gratitude." The old king suddenly wept, speaking through tears.

For over five hundred years, indeed over five hundred years! The people of this nation were transformed by Lingji from humans into mice, even bearing countless descendants, all rat demons; today they can finally be freed from this curse.

"The entire city's populace, gratitude knows no bounds!" The Great Sage Yellow Wind knelt on the ground and spoke.

He owes this place's populace the most; because of him, the populace was punished by the gods and buddhas of heaven, resulting in this state of neither human nor ghost, neither demon nor ordinary.

For several hundred years, his heart has constantly blamed himself, constantly fantasizing about refining Sun Wukong's root energy, then obtaining great divine power and great magic to lift this curse.

Who would have thought that today his wish would finally be fulfilled.

After the Great Sage Yellow Wind emerged, all the demon clans of Yellow Wind Ridge fell silent, having been reorganized by the Great Sage Yellow Wind.

Originally the rat demons among the demon clans naturally returned to under the Great Sage Yellow Wind's command; while those rat demons who were once humans, some came, but some did not.

"Wu Tian the Great Divine, those who did not come are all descendants of the former Sihali Kingdom's citizens; although we have all been turned into rat demons,

but those truly capable of cultivation are few and far between; most have long since died, entered reincarnation; now most of the Sihali Kingdom's citizens are born as rat demons, already over a dozen generations." The Sand King knelt before Luode and spoke.

For hundreds of years, from birth they have been rat demons, even their parents, their grandparents' generation were all rat demons; suddenly demanding they become humans, this is not greatly different from Lingji Bodhisattva turning human folk into rats.

The descendants of those who turned into rat demons no longer wish to return to humanity: "Wu Tian the Great Divine, if so, let them continue as rat demons; I will lead them, as long as I, the Great Sage Yellow Wind, live one day, I will lead them." The Great Sage Yellow Wind spoke.

Luode nodded, pointed downward, divine power enveloped all rat demons wishing to become human, then he employed vast magic to remove their demon forms, restoring them to humanity.

This also included the already completely mad eldest son of the Sand King, the Prince of Sihali Kingdom.

"I, I have returned to human form." The crown prince, who had spent hundreds of years in a dazed, stiff state, looked at himself, now restored to humanity, and spoke in disbelief.

"My son, hundreds of years have passed, you became this way, hundreds of years have passed, we have finally returned." The old king lunged toward his eldest son and spoke.

"Brother has returned, all have returned, we have all returned." The somewhat foolish second son spoke.

"Hahaha! The five-hundred-year curse is finally lifted."

After settling the affairs of the Sihali Kingdom's citizens, Luode again used vital essence to restore the Stone Mother, enabling her to manage the stone essences of this mountain range.

And he promised her, given the opportunity, he would persuade her husband and son to return.

This Stone Father, Stone Mother, Stone Child, are not evil demons, but mountain gods guarding a region.

Sun Wukong also retrieved another root artifact, the Ear of Angry Listening, from Lingji Bodhisattva's skull, obtaining his second root artifact.

The root artifact reintegrated into Sun Wukong's body; the monkey's body emitted a golden light, his physical form became more formidable, and his magic increased considerably.

Sun Wukong then found the local earth deity, had him act, melting and refining the residual stone fragment of Shigandang, casting it into an iron staff weighing about a thousand jin.

"This iron staff is somewhat light, but barely sufficient; when Old Sun retrieves all his root artifacts, he will take back the Golden Cudgel." Sun Wukong brandished the newly forged iron staff, performed a staff flourish, and spoke.

"I originally intended to have a divine artificer reforge your armor, but his skill is truly too high.

Now even the worst weapons he forges are somewhat too excellent for you; when you regain all your cultivation, I will have him act, to reforge your weapons and armor." Luode spoke.

In Luode's view, Sun Wukong's Golden Cudgel is merely a makeshift thing; apart from being able to change size and weighing over ten thousand jin, it has nothing remarkable.

As for his armor, it is merely taken from the East Sea Dragon Palace, nothing but ordinary armor, even inferior to some armor in the Heavenly Palace.

"In that case, my old self thanks you; this attire has been worn for hundreds of years, and indeed it is time to change; Wu Tian the Great Divine, you say where shall we go next to seek my old self's root artifacts?" Sun Wukong bowed his hands to Luode and asked.

"Your remaining three root artifacts: one is with your elder brother, the Bull Demon King; one is with the Yellow Plum Old Buddha of Xiao Xiti; another is in the hands of the Hundred-Eyed Demon King of Pan Si Ling." Luode spoke. "In that case, Wu Tian the Great Divine, let us first go to Flaming Mountain! I will first discipline that unworthy son on behalf of my elder brother, then retrieve Old Sun's root artifacts." Sun Wukong planted his iron staff in the ground, gave a cold snort, and spoke.

From the Black Horse, he already knew what happened at Flaming Mountain; regarding Red Boy's affair, he also knew; this brat, three days without beating, he tears off roof tiles; this time he must be properly disciplined.

"This matter need not be rushed; earlier came one called Huang Po Yuanwai, a wild boar demon, saying his elder brother is Erlang Shen Yang Jian; he said you and Erlang Shen have some dealings.

I hope you will first go to Xiao Xiti, for your junior disciple Zhu Bajie also heads to Xiao Xiti; if you do not go, that pig's head may well die there." Luode spoke.

"Erlang Shen Yang Jian! Alas, my old self had forgotten this matter; that Erlang Shen indeed helped my old self; who would have thought that after hundreds of years, he still remembers my old self's affairs!"

There's that fool—never thought that after Old Sun died, he'd be the one most loyal and righteous. Back when we were fetching scriptures, he often tripped me up! Sun Wukong hoisted his staff onto his shoulder, speaking with deep emotion.

Speaking of this, he and Erlang Shen Yang Jian actually set up a scheme, but now it's no longer needed.

The memories he left with Erlang Shen Yang Jian aren't of much use anymore—after all, he's fully revived now.

The most important thing now is to retrieve his own few root instruments and restore his cultivation; everything else can wait.

"In that case, you must go to the Little Western Heaven—first bring back Zhu Bajie, then retrieve the root instrument from the Yellow Brow Old Buddha." Luode spoke.

"Let me, Old Sun, make this trip myself—I also have a score to settle with that Yellow Brow Old Monster." Sun Wukong spoke.

Having retrieved two root instruments on himself, plus the life essence granted by the Great God Wutian, the monkey still possesses some combat strength.

"Hmm! Then let's go—first to the Little Western Heaven." Luode spoke.

Upon hearing this, Wukong nodded, while Luode acted, sweeping all the rat demons of Yellow Wind Ridge, along with the citizens of Siharali Country,

the demon subjects under the Great Sage Yellow Wind, and the stone spirits, into his personal space, finding them a plot on the Little Flower Garden Planet to settle temporarily.

This divine ability once again shocked Sun Wukong—this great power actually concealed an entire world, surpassing even the Tathagata Old Man's palm-held Buddha Realm; his so-called Buddha Realm was merely a nation, but this is a full world!

The party quickly arrived at the Little Western Heaven, Sun Wukong wielding his Golden Cudgel as they marched forward.

Along the way, the snow zombies and various monsters were no match for the monkey; soon they encountered a white-faced monkey—none other than the Red-Butt Horse Monkey, one of Sun Wukong's former champions.

After Sun Wukong was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, this Red-Butt Horse Monkey fled, leaving Flower Fruit Mountain, wandering here and there, eventually becoming a disciple of the Yellow Brow Old Buddha.

"Impossible! Impossible! You—you're not, you're not the Great Sage, you're not the Great Sage—you're fake, you're fake!" Gazing at Sun Wukong, the Red-Butt Horse Monkey wore an expression of utter disbelief.

"Horse Monkey, you truly don't even recognize your own grandfather—back then, Old Sun treated you well, why did you turn to the Yellow Brow Old Buddha?" Sun Wukong spoke, his face darkening.

"I indeed owed the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain in the past—if they chose to serve another, I'd have nothing to say, but the problem is you chose poorly—you actually chose the Yellow Brow Old Buddha."

"Oh oh, ho ho! I get it now—I get it, don't try to fool me—you're the Chosen One, right?

You're the Chosen One my master spoke of—I'll kill you, I'll kill you!" The Red-Butt Horse Monkey raised his massive sprouting blade and swung directly at Sun Wukong.

Hearing those words, Sun Wukong said no more, gripping his iron staff and charging forward—since you don't acknowledge me as the Great Sage, I'll beat you until you do.

They clashed; after just a few rounds, Sun Wukong knocked the long blade from the Red-Butt Horse Monkey's hand, then struck him on the head with a staff, toppled him, kicked him over, and pressed the staff tip to his face.

"You followed the Yellow Brow Old Second—no wonder you've made no progress, still as you were before!"

"You—you're truly the Great Sage! Impossible! Great Sage Grandfather is dead! Dead!" The Red-Butt Horse Monkey let out a piercing, mournful cry.

"Old monkey, it's really me—really, Old Sun has returned! I will never again betray the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain—never again!" Sun Wukong dropped his iron staff, stepped forward, and supported the Red-Butt Horse Monkey as he spoke.

Facing the former monkey descendants, the former Four Champions of Flower Fruit Mountain, the monkey assassin in the afternoon could not bring himself to strike.

"Your Majesty! Wah wah! I was wrong, Your Majesty, I was wrong! Kill me, kill me!

Not one of the monkey brothers who followed me remains alive—not one." The Red-Butt Horse Monkey finished speaking and burst into loud, wailing sobs.

"I know, Old Sun understands—you've suffered!

Now return to Flower Fruit Mountain and tell all the monkey descendants: say Old Sun will return soon, and when he does, he will reestablish the banner of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven." Sun Wukong spoke.

"I believe you, Your Majesty—you can absolutely do it. I'm returning now—I'm going back to Flower Fruit Mountain.

Be careful of the Yellow Plum Old Buddha—he has your root instrument, hidden beneath the water of that lake ahead—it's nose-scent love, it's your nose." The Red-Butt Horse Monkey pointed ahead at the ice pot and spoke.

"Old Sun understands—go on! Rest assured, the Yellow Brow Old Man's doom has come." Sun Wukong finished speaking, sent off the Red-Butt Horse Monkey, and let him return first to Flower Fruit Mountain to inform all the monkeys that Sun Wukong is coming back.

My former self was indeed too selfish—wanting to remove the golden hoop, I don't know how many monkey descendants died because of me! Sun Wukong led the way, while Luode and the others followed behind.

"Luode! Aren't you seeking something to cultivate soul energy? Now you're helping the monkey instead!" Azealas spoke.

"Hahaha! I am indeed helping the monkey, and I've already found a way to cultivate soul power." Luode smiled and spoke.

In this world, he has already obtained some cultivation methods; when he revived Sun Wukong earlier, he used deathly power to repair the other's soul.

To Luode, the other's every detail holds no secrets—he can view all of Sun Wukong's memories.

Luode also, by the way, obtained the Seventy-Two Earthly Evil Transformations of Sun Wukong, and the Great Purity Heaven Immortal Formula transmitted by Patriarch Bodhi.

When subduing Lingji Bodhisattva, Luode also extracted from the other's soul the Buddhist relic cultivation method.

Now Luode wishes to obtain from Zhu Bajie's hands the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations, the supreme Buddhist heart method, and the supreme Daoist heart method—he already has them all; he only needs to master the arts of these two great sects.

Then he will use the time artifact to stabilize his foundation, raise his soul level, consume the Primordial Divine Power Fruit, and smoothly break through to the Primordial God level—his strength will be dozens of times greater than now.

"Ah, so that's it—I thought you'd forgotten your main task!" Azealas spoke.

"Hahaha, not forgotten! Just that Lingji Bodhisattva's Buddhist teachings aren't enough—I need to search again on the Yellow Brow." Luode spoke.

To cultivate, one must cultivate the best methods—thus he must fuse Buddhist and Daoist arts, then begin studying and practicing this world's cultivation methods.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations, the Seventy-Two Earthly Evil Transformations, the Great Purity Heaven Immortal Formula, and the Buddhist-Daoist Golden Body Relic Method—Luode wants them all.

Azealas nodded and said nothing more.

Soon the party arrived at the center of the ice lake—a figure in yellow robes, holding a small pouch, a slightly plump little monk appeared before them.

"You are this time's Chosen One, hehe! Lately you monkeys have come in droves—I can barely fit more into my postnatal human species bag—come, let me see if this monkey has the qualifications to be my disciple." The Yellow Brow Old Buddha spoke. (End of Chapter)