Heavenly Gate Mountain.

Outside Heavenly Gate Cave.

Lu Qingfeng and Six-Eared instantly spotted the stone monkey pacing relentlessly outside, its impatience apparent.

Adorned in the Phoenix Winged Purple Gold Crown, clad in Locking Golden Armor, and feet in the Lotus Silk Cloud Shoes, it radiated a heroic aura, truly the famed Monkey King of the heavens and the earth!

The stone monkey had been waiting for some time, and upon seeing the two emerge, joyously rushed forward, exclaiming, "Old Sun greets my two brothers!"

Lu Qingfeng was guessing the stone monkey's intentions.

Meanwhile, Six-Eared, eyes fixed on the stone monkey's regal attire, spoke with a hint of envy, "It's been three hundred years since we've met; what brings you here?"

Three hundred years.

Six-Eared followed Lu Qingfeng into the thirty-six thousand mile-wide Cang Mang Mountain, where they established a cultivation cave on Heavenly Gate Mountain.

In his spare time, he gathered numerous major and minor demons from within and around the mountain, forming a demon army numbering thirty thousand—a force not to be underestimated. The two lords of Heavenly Gate Mountain were renowned throughout the entire Cang Mang Mountain.

However, Huaguo Mountain was quite distant.

Adding to that Lu Qingfeng's attitude, Six-Eared had little to do with the stone monkey.

Now, seeing the stone monkey's sudden appearance sparked joy and surprise in Six-Eared.

Hearing Six-Eared's inquiry.

Seeing Six-Eared eyeing his attire.

"Brother Six-Eared."

Wukong bowed to Six-Eared and then turned with a smile to nod toward Lu Qingfeng, his expression mournful as he bowed deeply, "Please, elder brother, save me!"

"..."

Lu Qingfeng's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping the heavens, he spoke to Wukong, "What is this about? Come inside and speak."

With that,

he turned and entered the cultivation cave,

followed closely by Six-Eared.

Wukong quickly rose and followed them into Heavenly Gate Cave.

...

Inside Heavenly Gate Cave.

The three took their seats.

Lu Qingfeng then asked, "What troubles you, Brother Wukong?"

This was a figure who feared neither heaven nor earth; when had he learned to ask others for help?

Lu Qingfeng was surprised.

But he listened as Wukong sighed, "Elder brother is unaware. After you left, I specifically went around the East Sea to inquire and learned of the Dragon Palace's might, commanding the Water Clan of the East Sea—truly formidable. Thus, I dared not borrow treasures from the Dragon Palace, instead, I borrowed some weapons and armor in the mortal world for my children to wear. We practiced daily in the mountains, living freely. But the Dragon Palace, hearing the noise, seemed frightened and sent me this attire. Overjoyed, I went to thank the Old Dragon King, who tricked me into seeing his treasures—"

Wukong spoke incessantly.

At this point,

he pulled from his ear a needle-like treasure, placing it in his palm and shouted, "Grow! Grow! Grow!" It then expanded to the thickness of a small arm, four feet in length.

A spear is seven feet, a staff reaches the eyebrows, a long spear measures ten and eight inches. An inch longer adds strength, an inch shorter adds skill. Wukong, being four feet tall, found this four-foot long iron staff to suit him.

Lu Qingfeng recognized this treasure.

Six-Eared watched intently; there was an inscription, 'Ruyi Jingu Bang, weighing thirteen thousand five hundred catties.'

"Wonderful treasure!"

Six-Eared praised, knowing this was a rare divine weapon among heaven and earth.

Wukong, holding the iron staff, shook his head, "This treasure was hidden in the ocean depths, perhaps for thousands of years, and shone brilliantly as soon as I approached. The Dragon King took it merely for a piece of black iron, also called Tianhe Town Base Divine Treasure. He couldn't lift it and asked me to fetch it. Once I lifted it, evil qi accumulated over thousands of years surged forth, confusing my mind. I couldn't heed others' cries; as people from the Dragon Palace tried to stop me, I didn't care and struck out with the staff."

"Later, still naïve, I went to apologize at the Dragon Palace, but the Old Dragon King insulted me, saying he would take me to the Palace of the Polestar to accuse me. I intended to return his staff, but in a moment of anger, I left."

This offended the Dragon Palace.

Listening, Lu Qingfeng knew Wukong had been trapped.

However,

the Old Dragon King's scheme was rather too overt, his methods too crude.

Hearing Wukong's tone and phrases, it seemed he also realized there was something fishy going on.

Indeed.

But listening to Wukong's words, "The Old Dragon King is clearly deceiving me, trying to smear my reputation. I asked the six brothers I've made over the years, and they all laughed at me for being timid, saying not to mind the Dragon Palace, claiming it was weak, cursing the Heavenly Court as incompetent, even saying that one day we'd storm the Palace of the Polestar and the seven of us brothers would take turns sitting on the emperor's throne."

"Hey!"

"Are your brothers blind, or did they deliberately boast to scare you?"

Six-Eared chuckled upon hearing this, shaking his ears. He, whose ears could hear across the Three Realms, knew all too well how formidable the Dragon Palace and Heavenly Court were. Seeing a few demon kings aiming to storm the Palace of the Polestar, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground.

"Probably not to scare me."

"Maybe they were trying to incite me."

Wukong snorted coldly, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, angrily saying, "Over the years, I've soared through clouds and mists daily, roaming the Four Seas, enjoying thousands of mountains. Displaying martial skills, visiting heroes; wielding Divine Skills, making virtuous friends. Aside from these six good brothers, I've seen plenty more. If I were ignorant, I indeed would have been deceived!"

Lu Qingfeng looked at this rational, clear-headed monkey, knowing advances and retreats, depths and shallows.

He found it strange.

Monkeys by nature are impulsive, lawless, and fearless.

How was this one so calm and wise?!

He kept his attention sharp.

Carefully listening to the stone monkey's words.

In one moment Wukong was filled with rage, the next he hung his head in dejection, sighing, "The other day, while my children and I were drinking and making merry, drunk I fell asleep, only to be awakened by Black and White Impermanence from King Yan's command, sneaking up to claim my soul. Roused from sleep, I struck the two specters back to the Netherworld with one swing of my staff.

Once sober,

I thought it over: I, Old Sun, transcend the Three Realms, not constrained by the Five Elements, no longer under King Yan's jurisdiction—how dare they blunder and try to hook my soul?

With the Old Dragon King setting traps for me before, and now the Netherworld's King Yan trying to harm me, my heart finds no peace. So, I've come to you, elder brother, humbly asking you to clear my doubts!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingfeng also furrowed his brow.

It wasn't that he worried about the stone monkey.

Rather, he found it odd, "This great matter of the Western Tour involves celestial and divine scheming; how could it so easily reveal its flaws, alerting the stone monkey?"

Originally, the stone monkey was supposed to come uninvited to the Dragon Palace, demanding armor and forcibly taking the Control Pillar.

But instead, the Old Dragon King offered the armor proactively, luring the stone monkey to the Dragon Palace and then taking the Control Pillar.

This time too.

When an envoy of the Underworld came to claim a soul, little did they anticipate that, barely approaching, they would be detected by the Monkey King, who with one strike drove away Black and White Impermanence without making a trip to the Underworld Headquarters, nor did he hook any of the known named ones from his kind.

This disaster was significantly lessened.

But considering the actions of the Dragon Palace.

Evidently, the Netherworld would not let this go; surely, there were other moves to play, inevitably pinning the chaos of the Netherworld on the stone monkey.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Wukong, who had a worried expression on his face and hopeful eyes.

He seemed to see him as a lifeline.

"Why me?"

Lu Qingfeng was puzzled within.

He had merely fought alongside the stone monkey once in Gold and Silver Mountain; to speak of closeness, it probably wasn't even comparable to the bonds with his six sworn brothers.

Yet at this moment, instead of seeking the Bull Demon King and others, he came to him.

Truly strange.

Unable to understand, Lu Qingfeng wondered aloud, "Brother Wukong, all six of your older brothers are renowned heroes of the Four Seas, why not seek—"

"Don't fool me, brother."

"My remarkable brothers are indeed powerful, but they all just sweet-talk me. If I were to ask them, I'm afraid they'd just send me down to the Netherworld, push me into the Yin Department, and strike me from the Book of Life and Death!"

Wukong gritted his teeth in anger.

He completely distrusted the Bull Demon King and others.

And perhaps that had reason.

This stone monkey, with a plan in mind, could cover ten thousand eight hundred leagues in one somersault cloud, and in three hundred years traveled countless places. Immortals and top Demon Kings set their schemes, but in the vast expanse of the Primordial, the Four Great Continents and the Four Seas are boundless, always leaving some places unpredicted, allowing the stone monkey to discover the intensity of the Dragon Palace, Netherworld, and Heavenly Court.

Turning his head.

Then to see the Dragon Palace pretending weakness, seeing the Bull Demon King and Jiao Demon King and others recklessly underestimate the Heavenly Court, though their Divine Skills and Dao ability far surpass his, yet they flatter and praise him.

Anyone would grow suspicious under such circumstances.

"Really useless!"

Lu Qingfeng silently cursed, blaming all celestial and divine beings.

Though the Saint plotted the Western Tour, establishing the grand pattern was apparently entrusted to the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court; a good game, yet they played it so poorly, raising suspicions in the Monkey King, and now the trouble has even spread to him.

Absolutely maddening!

Lu Qingfeng gazed at Wukong, not concealing anything anymore, directly asking, "My Dao ability is limited, and my Divine Skills are inferior, how come Brother Wukong seeks my advice?"

Seeing that he couldn't divert this calamity onto those six Demon Kings, Lu Qingfeng straightforwardly asked for clarification.

"I don't know either."

"Just when I initially returned from my training, aiming straight for Huaguo Mountain, by some twist of fate, I was drawn to a battle at Gold and Silver Mountain. After the battle, I felt mentally refreshed, as if I had shed a layer of constraints, feeling light in body and mind."

"When I was previously framed by the Dragon Palace, I indeed thought of seeking out Elder Brother. But remembering Elder Brother's love for peace, I dared not disturb you. This time, truly pushed to my doorstep, especially with the formidable Netherworld involved and Heavenly Court backing it, I dared not rashly provoke them, so I shamelessly came to seek Elder Brother's advice."

Wukong spoke earnestly.

"Zhu Zi."

Six-Eared tugged at Lu Qingfeng's sleeve.

"I understand."

Lu Qingfeng nodded knowingly.

Silently pondering, "Is this change due to seeing me? Could it be because of my arrival, disrupting the original trajectory?"

As his mind wandered.

Lu Qingfeng also recalled the previous encounter at Black Wind Mountain, meeting the future Heavenly Dao Sect Master, where the trajectory also changed. Logically, Zhou Green's ascension to Saint was predetermined, unalterable across countless timelines.

Yet Zhou Green fell, failing to attain sainthood.

This time was similar.

With his arrival, the once unruffled Great Sage Equalling Heaven was gone, replaced by an agitated monkey exhibiting extreme caution.

Not like the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.

More like the future Wu Kong Daoist.

"Mentally refreshed?"

"Shedding constraints?"

"Could it be a return to true form?!"

Lu Qingfeng couldn't decipher or understand.

Truly a tangled mess not easily unraveled.

With a grit of teeth, he cursed, "As I can't avoid it, let's not avoid it anymore. Since the Saint only manages the grand design and ignores the details, I might as well seize this opportunity to quickly enhance my strength."

With resolve formed.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Wukong and said, "Since you asked me, I won't conceal from you, but what I say goes from my mouth to your ears alone; not even a third party must know."

With those words.

Lu Qingfeng also felt his Divine Soul brighten, his Dao ability that had been stagnant for more than a decade advanced.

He instantly knew this was the correct move.

Wukong, hearing this, was even more delighted and hurriedly responded, "I promise not to let anyone else know!"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com