Great Demon Sun Wukong

The inner six thousand-year bloomers and the nine thousand-year bloomers at the back were all still intact. However, Zhu Bajie’s worries did not abate!

Soon, Zhu Bajie reached the end and saw that small peach tree.

"Fan Xin? What’s happened to you?"

At the sound of Zhu Bajie’s voice, the small peach tree seemed to respond. It gently shook its branches, and a voice breezily floated over, "I’m fine, Bajie. Wukong, did something happen to him? Why can’t I sense his presence anymore?" Enjoy more content from empire

Although Zhu Bajie had guessed that Fan Xin might already know Brother Monkey had died, he still found it hard to answer when she asked so directly. But sensing the urgency and concern in Fan Xin’s voice, Zhu Bajie replied, "Yes, Brother Monkey is dead, everyone is dead."

Hearing such a definite response from Zhu Bajie, the small peach tree suddenly began to tremble, and as it did, a wail seemed to emanate from all the peach trees in the Peach Garden. Yet Zhu Bajie did not know what to say. Perhaps by this point, nothing he said would have made a difference.

The small peach tree soon stopped quivering, but its voice became even more ethereal, "Bajie, who killed Wukong?" Zhu Bajie’s heart clenched, as expected, she had asked. But he could not tell her. Otherwise, she would certainly seek revenge for Brother Monkey. But that force was not something Fan Xin could contend with.

"I, I don’t know. I just felt Brother Monkey’s soul fire extinguished. Back when we went on the quest for scriptures, each of the five disciples exchanged a part of our soul fires with one another. However, now only mine and the white-face’s are still burning." Here, Zhu Bajie told a lie. Perhaps for Fan Xin, or perhaps, for Chang’er.

After Zhu Bajie finished speaking, silence fell for a long time. Eventually, unable to bear the atmosphere, Zhu Bajie broke the silence, asking, "By the way, Fan Xin, are you okay? When I arrived, I saw that many trees at the front had withered, did something happen to you?"

Hearing Zhu Bajie’s inquiry, Fan Xin forced a smile and said, "No, I’m fine. And soon, I’ll be able to shed this peach tree form and transform into a human. I had wanted to surprise Wukong, but I didn’t expect..." Her voice trembled again as she spoke.

"Then, then why have so many peach trees withered?"

"Because if I succeed in my transformation, these peach trees would become spiritless Spirit Roots. So I figured, rather than wasting them here, it’s better to channel all the Spiritual Power of these Spirit Roots into your master’s body. Not only will it preserve your master’s flesh from decay, but it will also turn his flesh into a body of wood spirit.

Moreover, because of that miraculous flower, your master can fully absorb the innate spiritual power of these peach trees."

"Ah, then, then can my master come back to life?"

"I don’t know, because your master’s soul is not in his body. My method can only strengthen your master’s body, but it can’t resurrect him. However, if you can find the Ancient Divine Artifact, the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, I think there’s a very good chance of reviving your master. Moreover, by then he will definitely be stronger than he is now."

Originally filled with despair, Zhu Bajie had not expected Fan Xin to have a way to revive his master. Suddenly, a fierce hope ignited in Zhu Bajie’s heart. As long as there was a chance, even a one in a million shot at reviving his master, Zhu Bajie was willing to go through fire and water. The Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, if it still resides in the Pangu Realm, I will find you.

Then I’ll revive Master.

Hope gradually began to gather in eyes that were once filled with despair.

Seeing the urgency in Zhu Bajie’s demeanor, Fan Xin sighed softly, "Bajie, I’m alright. I believe Wukong won’t die so easily. He’s a hero, how could a hero die? So go, find the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, I’ll be waiting here for your return."

After she finished speaking, a leaf suddenly floated down from the small peach tree, gently landing on Zhu Bajie’s forehead, and then it merged into Zhu Bajie’s Sea of Divine Consciousness.

"With this leaf, I can sense your location. If you’re in danger, I’ll feel it and come to your rescue. Bajie, be careful."

After nodding in agreement, Zhu Bajie left directly and flew towards the Western Paradise Sacred Mountain. The Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, Zhu Bajie knew, was an Ancient Divine Treasure, belonging to Zhun Ti. Hence, Zhu Bajie speculated that the people of Buddhism should know something about it.

As Zhu Bajie scoured the world for the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, Yang Mei and Hongjun returned to the Pangu Realm. Then they split up, with Hongjun going to consolidate the remnants of the Taoist Sect, retake Heaven, and search for the World Suppressing Stele together.

Yang Mei, on the other hand, went to the Western Paradise Sacred Mountain, planning to use his powers to forcibly recruit the people of Buddhism to help him search for the World Suppressing Stele.

In the current Pangu Realm, excluding Yang Mei and Hongjun, the only remaining half-step Great Path powerhouses are probably Jiang Ziya, the Guiding Immortal, and Lu Ya, who had fled during the last battle.

Reflecting on it now, they must have also utilized the power of the Heavenly Dao to quickly tear through space within the realm Beyond the Heavens, allowing them to escape.

Among those at the Saint Realm, aside from Zhu Bajie, there was also Zhu Long, who was saved by Kunpeng before the final battle as Sun Wukong faced the Nine Heavens Annihilation Divine Thunder, and indeed, we must also include the Clan Leader of the Illusion Demon Clan, Meng Gui, as well as the Clan Leader of the Spiritual Wood Clan, Mu Jingshi.

But no matter how many at the Saint Realm there are, they are no match for a Half-Step Great Path powerhouse. The reason why the Immortal Yang Mei and Hongjun the Ancestor did not eradicate these two immediately, I fear, is because they simply did not take them seriously.

Thus, the current situation in the Pangu Realm is one where the Taoist Sect reigns supreme. Five Half-Step Great Path powerhouses, although three of them are seriously injured and it’s unknown where they have gone to recover, as long as they are alive, they are the strongest force of the Taoist Sect.

So even though the Taoist Sect was disastrously defeated and suffered heavy casualties when Sun Wukong counterattacked Heaven, as long as these few Half-Step Great Path powerhouses exist, the Taoist Sect will not be finished. Conversely, the Demon Clan and Buddhism are effectively extinct in all but name. Perhaps Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the only Saint left in Buddhism.

But regardless, the ultimate winner of this battle is the Taoist Sect. Without any Half-Step Great Path powerhouses to hold them in check, the entire Pangu Realm can be said to be completely dominated by the Taoist Sect. Given time, they will undoubtedly grow into the strongest existence within the Pangu Realm. No other force will be able to compare with them.

Moreover, since Chang’er did not completely exterminate Buddhism and the Demon Clan, the people of the Ancient Primordial World would not be able to sense the changes in the Pangu Realm, and therefore, would not send anyone over to help. One could say that with this move, Chang’er has completely taken control of the Pangu Realm.

From now on, no one can threaten her, nor can they threaten the Heavenly Dao.

But all of this is predicated on finding the World Suppressing Stele!

Now, in the Six Great Divine Nations, in the Netherworld Realm.

In the vast universe, all worlds are divided into three types! Small worlds, intermediate worlds, and high-level worlds! The Pangu Realm is a small world, while the Ancient Primordial World is a high-level world.

In the universe, each high-level world dominates a varying number of intermediate worlds, which in turn each dominate a varying number of small worlds. Generally speaking, inhabitants of high-level worlds seldom go to small worlds, unless it’s a newly born world or one with an emergence of a super-strong being; only then would a high-level world send someone to the lower realm.

Normally, an intermediate world can completely manage all affairs of its small worlds.

However, aside from these three tiers of worlds, there are six special worlds known as the Six Great Divine Nations. These six Great Divine Nations belong to the highest level in the universe, and each one is completely ruled by a single nation.

Although high-level worlds and the Six Great Divine Nations do not have a direct hierarchical relationship, they also do not invade each other needlessly. It is worth mentioning that in the entire universe, there are very few high-level worlds, only a meager dozen or so, while there are nearly ten thousand intermediate worlds, and countless small worlds.

Aside from the Netherworld Realm, among the Six Great Divine Nations, there is a world known as the Myriad Gods Hall. The other four Divine Nations have always been shrouded in mystery; outsiders only know of the existence of the Six Great Divine Nations, but what the other four are called and where they are is completely unknown.

And only the very few true rulers know why the status of the Six Great Divine Nations is so exalted, even capable of withstanding a world’s power against the countless small worlds and numerous intermediate worlds ruled by the high-level worlds! Because within each of the Six Great Divine Nations or realms, there is a World Suppressing Stele!

At this moment, one of the Six Great Divine Nations, the Netherworld Realm, has welcomed a strange new visitor bearing the World Suppressing Stele.

However, this mysterious visitor has the lowest strength in this world.

In high-level worlds and the Six Great Divine Nations, the strength of all individuals is indicated by something called "Patterns." The person with the lowest strength is called One Pattern, which, depending on their occupation, is divided into a One-Pattern Daoist, who relies on various spells to attack; a One Pattern Illusionist, who uses various illusion techniques to attack or confuse; a One-Pattern Warrior, who relies on close-quarters combat with fists or weapons.

Apart from these three, there are all sorts of other occupations, but the lowest are all One Pattern, and the highest can be Nine Patterns.

As for how to distinguish a person’s level of strength, there are three methods. The first is based on the aura emitted by the person; higher-level beings can easily sense the power realm of those who are lower. The second method is the Dao Patterns embroidered on their clothing by the strength testing organization set up by the rulers.

One Pattern is indicated with a single Dao Pattern on their clothing, Two Patterns with two, and so on.

The third method becomes apparent during battle when Dao Pattern phantoms corresponding to a person’s strength will emerge around them.

This ranking system, however, is only qualified for use by those in the high-level worlds and the Six Great Divine Nations. The ranking symbols of intermediate and small worlds are not much different from those in the Pangu Realm. However, the strongest in a small world like the Pangu Realm can only be at the Half-Step Great Path. In intermediate worlds, the strongest are Dao Transformation Saints.

Those above the Emperor Level are Saints, above Saints are the Half-Step Great Path, above the Half-Step Great Path are Saints of the Great Dao, above the Saints of the Great Dao is Unity Dao, and above Unity Dao is Dao Transformation. Only by breaking through the Dao Transformation Realm does one qualify to enter a high-level world and thus possess Dao Patterns.

However, the natives of high-level worlds are exceptions.

Yet, the person who appeared in the Netherworld Realm was only at the Half-Step Great Path. This is truly miraculous. In the legends of small worlds, it is said that after dying at the Saint Realm, a soul would go to a place called the Netherworld.

But such a statement is inaccurate—for those below the Dao Transformation Realm and above the Saint Realm, when they die, their souls go to the Lesser Netherworld, an intermediate world beneath the Netherworld Realm. This is also the only intermediate world among the Six Great Divine Nations.

Therefore, the presence of a Half-Step Great Path soul in the Netherworld Realm is definitely abnormal!

(There’s more today, brought back by student No ID, haha.)