Gold Star Taibai left the Purple Forbidden Enclosure and immediately saw Li Jing and the others standing there, obviously waiting for him.
He gave Li Jing and the others a look, then passed by the crowd and left.
Civil officials and military generals must not get too close; they might arouse the suspicion of the Great Emperor Ziwei.
After all, he was not like the Jade Emperor, that kind of ruler of the Three Realms, lacking the Jade Emperor's imposing aura.
The Great Emperor Ziwei seemed more like an emperor of this mortal world.
Inside the Taibai Residence, Li Jing and the others sneaked in, undetected by anyone.
As soon as he entered the Taibai Residence, he started to complain.
"What in the world was the Great Emperor Ziwei thinking, actually asking us to capture that monkey—does he not realize the monkey's divine skills? He is plainly sending us to our deaths."
Li Jing vented his frustrations within the Taibai Residence.
After the emperor's demise, they had a tough time. Following the Great Emperor Ziwei, they fought battles from the south to the north, hardly catching a break.
Confronting ordinary demons, though arduous for them, wouldn't cause them to complain.
But today, they were ordered to catch that monkey.
How high was the Great Emperor Ziwei's imagination to come up with such an idea?
Gold Star Taibai sighed and said, "Heavenly King, don't be troubled. If you really don't want to follow the Great Emperor Ziwei, you might as well go to Immortal Master Erlang. The Third Prince is there. As long as you join Immortal Master Erlang's ranks, even if the Great Emperor Ziwei is dissatisfied, he wouldn't dare to trouble you."
Li Jing's expression changed at the mention of Nezha; his mood soured completely.
"Gold Star, don't mention that rebellious child. I would rather die than seek help from him."
Gold Star Taibai shook his head; the discord between this father and son had been ongoing for more than just a day or two.
With Nezha at Immortal Master Erlang's place, Li Jing definitely wouldn't go there.
"If it really comes down to it, I'll take refuge with my master, Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha. With my master's protection, at least I can preserve my life."
Having said this, Li Jing bowed to Gold Star Taibai and, accompanied by Jin Zha and Mu Zha, took his leave.
After they had gone far, Gold Star Taibai scoffed, "Preserve his life? If it were that easy, the Great Heavenly Venerate wouldn't have perished already."
Even Buddha had died, and although Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha had vast magical powers, it was doubtful that he could survive on his own.
"Perhaps, the only way out really concerns... that place."
He muttered to himself, yet when he mentioned that name, it was unclear and indecipherable.
At Huaguo Mountain, after three rounds of wine.
Sun Wukong was now drunk.
He and the Ox Demon King hugged each other, weeping and laughing, now dejected, now animated.
The intimate rubbing of ears and temples between these two great demons was truly an eyesore.
Iron Fan Immortal, finally unable to stand it any longer, directly used the Palm Leaf Fan to send the two great demons flying out.
By the time the two Demon Clan Great Saints returned, half a day had passed.
They were sober now and thinking back on their earlier disgrace, both felt embarrassed.
"Great Saint was so adorable just now."
Lady Dragon of Wealth covered her mouth and giggled.
Sun Wukong's face turned red.
Adorable my foot, Old Sun is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
Describing him with the word adorable is just distressing.
"Damn that Old Ox for getting Old Sun drunk, making me look like a fool. Sister-in-law, you must keep a close watch on Old Ox. With his rowdy drunken behavior, I'm worried that if he drinks too much again, he'll bring home another little sister-in-the-law for me."
"If he dares!"
Iron Fan Immortal's almond eyes widened with a dangerous glint, directed at Old Ox.
Above the Ox Demon King's head, it seemed as if a bolt of lightning had struck him; he just stood there dumbfounded.
Why did the conversation suddenly turn to him?
This brother, in an attempt to deflect attention, had sold him out so blatantly; that was truly inconsiderate.
"Screech."
A cry of an eagle resounded, with powerful aura enveloping Huaguo Mountain.
Sun Wukong revealed an astonished expression.
"Big brother is here."
Great Sage Heaven's Equal, Roc Demon King.
One of the seven Great Saints of the Demon Clan.
Sun Wukong and the Ox Demon King exchanged a glance.
Although they were sworn brothers with the Roc Demon King, they did not know him very well.
The Roc Demon King usually lived a reclusive life, rarely revealing his traces in the world.
Apart from the time they became sworn brothers, they had not seen each other for thousands of years.
Sun Wukong lifted the prohibition, allowing the Roc Demon King to land on Huaguo Mountain.
It was a gigantic Tianpeng, its wings like clouds hanging from the sky, stretching for thousands of miles, a gentle flap sending it rising straight to ninety thousand miles, and the water beneath it surged three thousand miles.
That was the Roc Demon King's true form. After arriving at Huaguo Mountain, it gradually shrank and transformed into a human shape.
The Roc Demon King turned into a stern-looking young man, wearing a black feathered robe, with a pair of eyes sharp as heavenly blades, chilling to the bone when they fell upon someone.
The Ox Demon King and Sun Wukong exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
After many years, the power of the Third Prince had grown even stronger.
Before Sun Wukong and the others could greet him, the Roc Demon King took the initiative to speak.
He took out a black decree that exuded an extremely evil Dao Rhyme, as though it gathered the most negative and evil emotions in the world.
"Sun Wukong, kneel down and receive the decree."
The Roc Demon King said coldly, showing none of the warmth expected of a reunion of sworn brothers.
Sun Wukong's smile faded as he stared at the Roc Demon King with his fiery Eyes of Golden Flame and said, "What is this supposed to mean, Third Brother?"
"On the orders of my master, I am here to proclaim the decree, Sun Wukong, kneel down and receive the decree."
The Roc Demon King has a master?
Sun Wukong was greatly surprised.
As one of the strongest demons between heaven and earth, the Roc Demon King was among the top masters in the Three Realms.
Who was qualified to be the master of the Roc Demon King?
"Third brother, that's not a funny joke."
The Ox Demon King's smile disappeared.
The look in the Roc Demon King's eyes grew colder as he glared at Sun Wukong, who also looked displeased, and asked, "You refuse to receive the decree?"
"There's nobody in this world who can make Old Sun kneel to receive a decree."
Sun Wukong responded with a cold laugh.
The Roc Demon King snorted and tossed the decree into the sky.
The decree unleashed a dark glow, transforming into a black Demon Sword that slashed down directly.
The Ox Demon King snorted, his hand reaching out straight for the Demon Sword.
Thud.
His hand came into contact with the Demon Sword and was actually injured.
Blood flowed out, staining red; the Ox Demon King showed a look of shock.
His physique was robust, and he had mastered the 72 Transformations. His Mana was even more overpowering, making him one of the most powerful demons between Heaven and Earth.
He never thought that a mere Demon Sword could actually wound his body.
Even just a cut was astonishing.
Moreover, an evil aura from the wound on his hand was infiltrating his body.
The Ox Demon King's internal Mana circulated, healing the wound and refining the evil Qi.
The black Demon Sword continued descending, aiming straight for Sun Wukong.
"Scram."
Sun Wukong shouted sharply, pulling Jingu Bang from his ear and smashing it forward in a single strike.
Boom.
The heaven and earth shook, Mana and Demonic Qi tangled.
The Demon Sword was blocked and even shattered.
The Roc Demon King sneered and rose into the air, reverting to his true form and flying away from Huaguo Mountain with a flap of his wings.
The Ox Demon King wanted to chase but was held back by Sun Wukong.
"After all, he's our sworn brother; let's spare him this time. If there's a next time, I'll definitely kill him."
The Ox Demon King admired Sun Wukong with a look of approval and sighed, "Brotherly righteousness. I don't know if Third Brother lost his mind—he actually fought with us. This time I'll listen to you, Seventh Brother, and spare his life for now. Next time, I won't let him off."
He was still preoccupied with the fact that he had been injured just moments before.
Sun Wukong pondered and said, "Killing Third Brother isn't important. What really interests me is the master he mentioned."