Great Demon Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong had always felt an inexplicable familiarity towards the white-bearded old man, but previously, this feeling was so faint that Wukong dared not be sure of it. However, as soon as the Bodhi Branch appeared, Sun Wukong suddenly felt an extremely intense sense of familiarity, and the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree within him began to quiver violently.

Eventually, it broke free from Sun Wukong's control and flew out from within his body.

At this point, Sun Wukong was utterly shocked, hastily trying to catch it several times, but the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree seemed to have its own consciousness, actively evading Sun Wukong and flying towards the old man at an even faster speed. Now, Sun Wukong was truly anxious.

Although the Bodhi Branch in the old man's hand felt very familiar to Sun Wukong, this did not mean that Sun Wukong trusted the old man.

If it had been just an ordinary magic treasure weapon, even his own Jingu Bang, Sun Wukong wouldn't have been so eager. But this was the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree, transformed from the very life of his master, Patriarch Bodhi. Ever since Patriarch Bodhi died, this treasure tree was Sun Wukong's only relic.
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Moreover, it contained a branch of the Ginseng Fruit Tree from his good friend Zhen Yuanzi, thus the magical treasure was of utmost importance to Sun Wukong.

Seeing the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree about to be captured by the white-bearded old man, Sun Wukong almost went insane. Yet, the last shred of reason told him to hold back, lest he accidentally injure the Rogue Heart Sword Hero or the Flame God, in which case regret would be too late.

The white-bearded old man grabbed the incoming Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree and before he could even take a closer look, Sun Wukong had already charged towards him.

"I'm just looking, not stealing it from you, you monkey!" the white-bearded old man retorted and stepped back three paces, yet ended up directly three hundred meters away. Then, watching Sun Wukong burst forward again, he suddenly stretched out two fingers of his left hand and drew a circle towards Sun Wukong, "Draw the prison, bind!"

Following the white-bearded old man's utterance, Sun Wukong, who was rushing forward, seemed to hit something and was thrown backward. But after barely flying out two meters, his back hit something invisible again, causing him to fall straight down. Scarcely having fallen a bit, he stopped.

After shaking his dazed head, Sun Wukong violently stood up and threw a punch towards the empty space in front of him.

The empty space surprisingly blocked Sun Wukong's punch. Then, like a madman, Sun Wukong punched and kicked, but no matter what, he was still trapped in the same spot, unable to move forward or backward, even the space above his head and below his feet was blocked by an invisible wall. He could only roar helplessly as he watched the old man scrutinize his Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree.

The old man inspected it for a while, then said solemnly, "Sun Wukong, your master Patriarch Bodhi, how is he?" His voice was heavy, sounding like muffled thunder, and carried a premonition of an impending disaster.

Caught off guard by the question, Sun Wukong answered subconsciously, "My master, he's dead!"

Hearing Sun Wukong's response, the old man's face darkened, yet he refrained from further questioning, unlike normal people who would inquire about the cause of death or the killer. Instead, he forced a drop of fresh blood from his fingertip and dripped it onto Sun Wukong's Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree.

After that, the old man closed his eyes, his fingers on his left hand moving rapidly. It seemed that he intended to probe into the heavens with his own blood as the guide. After a long while, the old man slowly opened his eyes. There were no outward signs of emotion in his expression.

Gone was his carefree smile, but there was also no sign of anger. His demeanor, instead, seemed rather grave. "This Bodhi Branch is not meant to be used like this. The Bodhi Branch, transformed from your master's very life, its might and divine skills far surpass those of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree and the Ginseng Fruit Tree branch.

Thus, combining the three together actually diminishes the divine power of the Bodhi Branch!" Having said that, the old man let the Bodhi Branch he held suspend in midair and then clasped the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree with both hands.

Then, a thin green light slowly emanated from the old man's body. The light was thin, yet it appeared very sturdy. Sun Wukong, trapped in midair by some unknown force, felt the green light and the aura emanating from the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree, and his struggling movements gradually came to a halt.

Feeling this all too familiar aura, Sun Wukong's heart was suddenly filled with sorrow. This aura belonged to his master, and the other was Zhen Yuanzi's. Sun Wukong had always thought he had deeply buried the deaths of these two in the recesses of his mind. That's why he could always smile and carry on his journey! But now, Sun Wukong realized he had always been deceiving himself.

What we think we've forgotten, we actually remember most deeply; what we think we've grown accustomed to, we actually deeply fear. Feeling the presence of his mentor, Sun Wukong seemed to see his master's kindly face before his eyes.

And then there was that time when he revolted against Heaven, when he thought all hope was lost, it was his master who bravely stepped forward without regard for his own safety.

Without him, Sun Wukong might still be a mere macaque with unawakened spiritual wisdom, spending his days in constant anxiety. Without his master, there would be no Sun Wukong, no Great Sage Equalling Heaven, no tales, no memories, no joy, no pain. In Sun Wukong's heart, Patriarch Bodhi's status is incomparable, for he was truly a teacher like a father.

It could be said that Patriarch Bodhi's death was the most painful event for Sun Wukong. Now, once again feeling his master's presence, Sun Wukong felt an emotion pressing on his chest, yet he did not know how to release it. So he just stood silently in the void, eyes closed, without any further movement.

At that moment, the old man suddenly exclaimed, "Open!" And then the Zhen Yuan Bodhi Treasure Tree transformed into three parts: a Bodhi Branch with verdant leaves, a Ginseng Fruit Tree branch with a ginseng fruit hanging from it, and beside it the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree, Patriarch Bodhi's testament to his enlightenment!

The old man then flicked a finger, and the Ginseng Fruit Tree branch entered the body of someone lying on the ground far away, while the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree merged into the body of the Rogue Heart Sword Hero. As for the last Bodhi Branch, it was held in the old man's hand. Then, with a gesture of his left hand, he summoned another Bodhi Branch hanging in mid-air back into his palm.

"Descendant of the Burst Phoenix Clan, Flame God, today I bestow upon you the branch of the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

With wood to nourish fire and fire to cultivate wood, may you one day grasp the true essence of the Burst Phoenix Clan." After speaking, he said to the Rogue Heart Sword Hero, "Original disciple of the Supreme Sword Sovereign from the Nine Great Divine Kingdoms, Rogue Heart Sword Hero, today I bestow upon you the Life-bound Magical Treasure of Patriarch Bodhi, the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tree.

Paired with your Demon-breaking Slash, you will surely vanquish all evildoers in this world. Remember to hold yourself accountable in the future!"

Then, glancing at Sun Wukong standing silently in the void, with a stern look in his eyes, he pressed his palms together once again. The two nearly identical Bodhi Branches began to slowly merge into one. With his eyes closed, Sun Wukong suddenly felt both the familiar presence of his master and Zhen Yuanzi's presence growing fainter, and, feeling alarmed, he abruptly opened his eyes.

But before he had a chance to react, an ancient voice echoed faintly in his heart, "My disciple Wukong..." Although the voice was ethereal, it was incredibly clear. And when Sun Wukong heard it, he immediately knelt in the void, with tears streaming down his face.

"Master above, please accept my unworthy disciple Sun Wukong's nine bows!" His voice trembled and choked up. Sun Wukong was already in tears, sobs stifling his words. Having spoken, he abruptly knelt forward heavily into the void, the force so great that blood appeared on his forehead.

Although Sun Wukong spoke of nine bows, he couldn't control himself after the first one, bowing over and over, each time harder than the last. With each bow, the bloodstain in the void grew larger. It seemed Sun Wukong intended to use this method to vent all the regret, longing, and self-reproach from his heart.

Finally, on the nineteenth bow, a gentle force slowly lifted Sun Wukong. "Wukong, death is the ultimate fate for all; there's no need for excessive sorrow. The current form of your teacher is but a remnant soul left behind. If not for Master Zun using mana to spur it, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to see you one last time.

Wukong, I know your journey hasn't been easy, but you are chosen by destiny, and therefore, your path was inevitable fraught with thorns and hardships. However, you must never give up. Remember, you are my disciple, you are the disciple of Patriarch Bodhi, you are the protégé of Master Zun, you are Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, you are the last hope of this world!"

Sun Wukong wanted to say something, but he was too choked up to speak a word. "Wukong, I must go now. You must take good care of yourself from here on. Without your master to support you, be very careful. It's getting cold; remember to dress warmly. Also, don't forget what you said the first time you met me.

Wukong, you are my pride. You were always too mischievous, so I have never said this before, but you, Sun Wukong, are my greatest pride in this life, Bodhi!"

After those words, the ancient voice slowly faded away. Sun Wukong lunged forward, reaching out his hands to grasp something, yet not knowing how to hold on. As his grief reached its peak, suddenly someone hugged him. That feeling was so familiar, just like in the old days, like his master's embrace!

"Wukong, regarding your master, I will tell you everything."