Chapter 870: Saying Hello

"Huh?" Upon being asked such a question, the Lord of Destiny was stunned.

How could the Heavenly Court be described merely as "strong" or "not strong"?

It is an existence that testers cannot even imagine, unattainable.

Even for transcendent beings, it is an extraordinarily terrifying colossus.

From its beginning to now, how many ages has the God-Demon Game endured, and how many transcendent beings have appeared?

The Lord of Destiny does not know.

He only knows that the Heavenly Court has always been there, and he is glad from the heart to have secured a decent place for himself in the Heavenly Court.

Surrounded by a pack of wolves, there's no time for lengthy discussion; the Lord of Destiny's reverence for the Heavenly Court reduces to two words: "Strong."

"Has that mighty Heavenly Court ever been rampaged by a monkey?" Sun Wukong asked.

"No, is it that Heavenly Court you spoke of that has violently beaten a mindless, hot-tempered monkey?" Yang Jian, revealing his true form, expressed dissatisfaction.

What does it mean to be rampaged by a monkey?

Is that even a rampage? You're clearly just a brat smashing things, then getting beaten.

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, exchanging words, immediately fell into heated debate.

I have rampaged the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court is no good!

Pah, which monkey was originally locked in the Eight Trigrams Furnace? Who really is no good?

The two thus began arguing over the matter of the Heavenly Court.

The Lord of Destiny paid them no mind, turning to the true person in charge here, Tang Luo: "The Sovereign of the Heavenly Court is the Supreme Heavenly God Emperor; the Heavenly Court governs 135,000 realms; this world, too, lies within those 135,000 realms, and belongs to my world."

Simply put, worlds as strong as this number in the tens of thousands within the Heavenly Court!

The strength of the Heavenly Court can be summed up in a single word.

Of course, this naturally involves exaggeration, the so-called nine parts true, one part false.

Among the 135,000 realm-worlds, it's impossible for every one to be this strong; this world ranks among the foremost.

Moreover, the Lord of Destiny's claim that this world belongs to him is also an exaggeration.

He merely treats this world as a fish pond, scattering fry and waiting for them to grow before harvesting their fate to strengthen himself.

Equivalent to contracting this "fish pond," Tang Luo and the others are outsiders splashing about inside, naturally causing conflict, and they seek to kill Tang Luo and the others.

Furthermore, this world is not truly part of the Heavenly Court's territorial scope; it has not been officially registered.

The Lord of Destiny's "contract" over this world has not been long.

It has not yet reached the point where the transcendent beings Tang Luo and company once saw treat the world as a playground.

Only after the Lord of Destiny further strengthens this world can it be considered his.

At the same time, it can be reported to the Heavenly Court for registration, truly becoming part of the Heavenly Court's domain.

By then, it won't be just a few stowaways who can wreak havoc in this world at will.

Hmm… sending god-demons to walk in the God-Demon Game poses no problem.

However, there has never been a case where god-demon wanderers (testers) entered a world closely related to transcendent beings.

"God Emperor?" Tang Luo asked, "Does he look like this?"

He glanced at Zhu Bajie.

Zhu Bajie extended his hand and manifested the appearance of the Jade Emperor.

A middle-aged man with a long beard, solemn and majestic, wearing a crown and robes of gold, exactly the appearance of the Jade Emperor, ruler of the Heavenly Court of the Mountains and Seas.

To be frank, judging by appearance alone, the Jade Emperor is not remarkable; he resembles a mundane emperor of both civil and martial ability.

He himself is also someone who likes to conceal his talents.

Back when Sun Wukong rampaged the Heavenly Palace, the Jade Emperor was indeed undergoing minor trials, unable to act arbitrarily, yet not truly incapable of action; he chose instead to ask the Tathagata to intervene.

"You…" Upon seeing the image Zhu Bajie sketched, the Lord of Destiny was stunned.

These people have actually seen him; no, they must know the Supreme Heavenly God Emperor, which explains why their reaction upon hearing of the Heavenly Court is so strange.

But why?

These people are definitely testers; why would they know of the Heavenly Court and even the God Emperor?

"He really is the old Jade Emperor." Sun Wukong looked over, "It seems after the Mountains and Seas shattered, he's done quite well for himself."

"Boom!"

As if thunder echoed in the mind, the Mountains and Seas!

The Lord of Destiny's position in the Heavenly Court is actually quite high; he even has a seat in the Hall of Divine Mist.

Therefore he knows some secrets not fit for outsiders.

For example, there once existed an immensely vast and powerful world called the Mountains and Seas.

There were many strong beings there.

Now countless worlds, a portion formed from the shattering of the Mountains and Seas. Some even say all worlds were born from the Mountains and Seas' fragmentation.

And the "God-Demon Game" is a product that appeared only after the Mountains and Seas shattered.

The existence and shattering of the Mountains and Seas predate the God-Demon Game.

The Supreme Heavenly God Emperor also hails from the Mountains and Seas as a powerful being.

Mighty and ancient, so ancient that it surpasses even the God-Demon Game.

These people can manifest the likeness of the Supreme Heavenly God Emperor and accurately speak of the Mountains and Seas.

Could it be that they were once powerful beings of the Mountains and Seas?

But why would the powerful beings of the Mountains and Seas become testers?

"Wait!" The Lord of Destiny startled, it seems there is also no evidence indicating that people of the Mountains and Seas cannot become testers.

Upon careful recollection, it seems some transcendent beings, upon entering the Heavenly Court, receive treatment that is completely different.

Those people, could they be the former powerhouses of the Mountain Sea Realm?

But…… why are they so 'weak'?

Indeed! The Mountain Sea Realm shattered; that is the destruction of an immensely vast and powerful world, to be injured is inevitable.

That is why they became weak.

The Lord of Fate was thinking, actually somewhat off track, and also self‑disparaging.

With his strength, if thrown back into the former Mountain Sea Realm, he would be a Golden Immortal‑level existence, already quite strong.

In his impression, the Mountain Sea Realm was so powerful because those 'ancient powerhouses of the Mountain Sea Realm' appearing before him were too strong, producing a bias.

Actually, those former people meeting the present Lord of Fate might not necessarily be able to defeat him.

However, they are also progressing.

No one stipulated that after the Mountain Sea Realm shattered, the survivors must be of the severely injured type like Tang Luo and company.

The flow of time differs between worlds.

Some worlds may have experienced many ages, constantly rising and growing stronger within them, which is quite normal.

Moreover, opportunity such as this is not exclusive to Tang Luo and company.

In fact, Tang Luo and company are truly rather unlucky.

From the five master‑disciples, plus Ne Zha and Yang Jian, each person suffered considerable injuries.

As of now, Yang Jian and Sun Wukong are still recuperating from their injuries, and Tang Luo is as well.

However, they can break through and then establish themselves.

Zhu Bajie and company are different; Zhu Bajie has now merely recovered to his former strength, his level being that of a Golden Immortal, yet he still cannot defeat the Lord of Fate before him.

Ao Yulie, after his pilgrimage he underwent the baptism of the Dragon Transformation Pool and was strengthened, belonging to the Heavenly Immortal realm, equivalent to a Buddhist Arhat, the same as Sha Wujing, yet he cannot defeat Sha Wujing.

The final three realms differ greatly from each other; even within the same level this holds true.

If one really wanted to subdivide finely, one could easily come up with something like the Thirty‑Six Heavens.

Ao Yulie now hasn't even recovered his former level, but his ability to endure blows and flee is astonishing.

Among those present, only Tang Luo dares to say he can reliably kill Ao Yulie, and that is with the support of the mockery of the Life‑Death Buddha Realm.

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian will now certainly let Ao Yulie escape; after they recover, it's hard to say.

Sha Wujing, reborn as an artifact spirit, in terms of overall realm strength, is also not as strong as before.

But he excels in astonishing defensive power, surpassing before; it is estimated he could withstand a blow from the present Sun Wukong.

As for that unlucky brat Ne Zha, I won't even mention him.

The half‑bodied lotus‑root person; his misery level is second highest among the many old acquaintances Tang Luo has met—the highest being Li Jing and Mu Zha father and son, those two truly died, leaving only an indestructible obsession.

There is no reason for only some to become stronger or weaker from injury while others remain unchanged.

Everyone is changing.

The Lord of Fate looked at Tang Luo and company: 'You come from the Mountain Sea Realm?'

'Yes.' Sun Wukong grinned.

That smile was slightly malicious, making the Lord of Fate feel a faint chill in his heart; then this chill gradually faded.

He realized he seemed to have misjudged the Mountain Sea Realm somewhat.

Even if they came from the Mountain Sea Realm, it's actually nothing—just a world that has already vanished.

Having ancient powerhouses from the Mountain Sea Realm does not mean that all people of the Mountain Sea Realm are strong.

Exactly, that's it! The people before us are a very good example.

'By the way, do you know what those Fate Fragments are?' Tang Luo suddenly asked, briefly explaining the matter of Fate Fragments.

'Oh.' The Lord of Fate said, 'Some of them are indeed rewards from trials.'

And there are some other things; no need to elaborate—the situation could be varied, but it can be certain that they are not gifts.

Truth and falsehood, good and evil are mixed together, making it hard to tell apart.

Do not think that obtaining a powerful Fate Fragment is a good thing; it is extremely likely to be making a wedding dress for others, ultimately losing even oneself and one's life.

Unless, like Tang Luo, one can treat it as candy to eat, then there's no need to worry about this.

'You seem familiar with the Heavenly Court?' the Lord of Fate asked.

'Familiar, very familiar.' Tang Luo said, 'You might not believe it if I said it out loud. Besides the poor monk, everyone here has served in the Heavenly Court.'

Ao Yulie, as the West Sea Dragon Prince, also falls under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court.

'Our own people!'

The Lord of Fate grew increasingly relaxed, a smile appearing on his face: 'Then this time it's truly a case of no fight, no acquaintance.'

Concealing the hatred in his heart, he would later have many opportunities for revenge, to fabricate these people.

These people are the old Heavenly Court hands of the Mountain Sea Realm; that does not mean that 'returning' to the Heavenly Court will be like a fish in water.

The suddenly enlightened Lord of Fate has already thought of some counterexamples.

Even some examples are outright things he himself fabricated.

The times have changed, old fogey!

'Separate a bit of True Spirit for me. I will take it back to the Heavenly Court; with True Spirit, I will then be able to directly pull you out of the trial and return to the Heavenly Court.' said the Lord of Fate.

'No, no.' Tang Luo waved his hand, 'You misunderstood; we have no intention of returning to any Heavenly Court, and it is not the same as the former Heavenly Court.'

'Even if there were, I have no interest.' Yang Jian added.

'Huh?' The Lord of Fate blinked, 'What do you mean?'

'Then, do you have anything else to add?' Tang Luo asked the Lord of Fate.

The chill rose again, the Lord of Fate's face drastically changed: 'Are you crazy?!'

A chilling killing intent gradually spread.

Things have come to this point, yet they still think about killing him?

Are these people a bunch of lunatics?

"Kill me, and the Heavenly Court will soon know. You will face the Heavenly Court's endless pursuit! Your lingering souls will wail in Hell, never to be reborn!" The Lord of Destiny's face was ferocious.

He truly doesn't understand, and cannot fathom what these people are thinking.

Actually, it's simple: he harbored killing intent toward Tang Luo and the others, and acted on it.

So only when life and death are decided does it truly end.

Hmm, not bad—just right to say hello to you and them through this fight.

Tang Luo reached out, covering everything before the Lord of Destiny's eyes, as darkness and death descended together.