Great Demon Sun Wukong

Compared to the entire universe's tremors, Flower Fruit Mountain bustles even more, for Sun Wukong has announced that many super powerful beings from other worlds will attend this event. This news is of monumental significance to the people of the Pangu Realm. To avoid disgracing Sun Wukong, Flower Fruit Mountain has brought out all its hidden treasures, transporting fine wines, meats, and sweet fruits from all corners of the Pangu Realm. It can be said that Flower Fruit Mountain has now become the unequivocal center of the Pangu Realm.

However, Sun Wukong did not participate in these preparations. After making the announcement, he disappeared. Everyone was accustomed to Sun Wukong's elusive nature, appearing and disappearing without a trace. So, where did Sun Wukong go? In truth, he didn't leave Flower Fruit Mountain; rather, he went to the bottom of the mountain, into a vast, vacant cave.

This cave, which Sun Wukong had long known, was probably the area of the most concentrated spiritual energy in the entire Flower Fruit Mountain. It's also where Sun Wukong originally placed the fake World Suppressing Stele and the nine tripods of Flower Fruit Mountain. Above this cave, there's a fissure no thicker than a wrist, stretching upwards, connecting to a piece of a fragmented elliptical stone shell. This stone shell is what once gave birth to Sun Wukong. Besides absorbing the essences of the sun and moon, the flowing breath of the Dragon Vein infused through this crack was crucial for Sun Wukong's birth.

Currently, at the center of this cave, on a naturally formed stone platform, stands a towering, lush tree, as thick as a human's embrace. The top of the cave has been opened by someone, and a beam of sunlight shines through the gap, casting an enlarged ray of light upon the center of this grand tree.

Sun Wukong knelt before this tree for three days and three nights. During these days, he said not a word, but tears welled up, dried, and welled up again in his eyes. This tree is a Bodhi Tree, and not an ordinary one; it is an incarnation of Dao Zhun. Dao Zhun once entrusted a Bodhi Branch to Ye Zi, intending it as aid in times of peril since both share the wood attribute and it would undoubtedly be useful.

Indeed, Ye Zi benefited greatly from the Bodhi Branch. However, later on, when preparing to leave the Pangu Realm with the Bull Demon King and others, Ye Zi feared an accident might ruin the Bodhi Branch and thus placed it within the heart of Flower Fruit Mountain, atop the Dragon Vein with the most concentrated spiritual energy. He didn't think much at the time, but after his departure, the Bodhi Branch, fed by the abundant spiritual power and earth's Dragon Vein, began to grow on its own.

It has now grown into a towering, lush tree. Though still far from taking form, it's only a matter of time. With Sun Wukong present, once this Bodhi Tree matures sufficiently, he can help it take form, and there's a significant possibility Dao Zhun may be resurrected. Sun Wukong never anticipated Dao Zhun's resurrection, so upon seeing this Bodhi Tree, how could Sun Wukong not be moved to tears?

However, Sun Wukong also knew that now was not the optimal time to resurrect his master. "Primordial Honor, rest assured, when the time arrives, I will certainly assist in your transformation." After kowtowing three more times, Sun Wukong stood up slowly and left. With the grand ceremony imminent, there were still many things Sun Wukong had to accomplish. This time, he intended to astonish everyone, hahaha.

As countless people toiled, time flew by. Three days before the ceremony began, countless individuals had already gathered at the foot of Flower Fruit Mountain. However, without the commencement of the event, these people did not rashly ascend the mountain. Naturally, friends acquainted with Sun Wukong were exceptions; they went straight to the Water Curtain Cave. After greeting Sun Wukong, some helped with preparations, while others assisted in welcoming guests. None remained idle; all were busily engaged.

Though the current attendees were from the Pangu Realm, the assembly of gods, demons, Buddhas, Bodhisattva Arhats, and leaders of mortal Cultivation Sects was rather spectacular. The foot of Flower Fruit Mountain, being a forested area lacking suitable accommodation, led them all to unceremoniously head to the East Sea.

After all, the old Dragon King's place was spacious enough. Wukong had already informed him in advance, so before the ceremony started, all attendees had moved to the Dragon King's palace. The Dragon King was delighted; it had been a long time since his palace was so lively. Moreover, those invited were not ordinary individuals. Besides, as someone who experienced the great demon-Buddha war and an elder statesman of the Pangu Realm, many juniors held him in high esteem.

In recent days, many people from other intermediate and high-level worlds had arrived at the Pangu Realm. These visitors were categorized and hosted in different locations according to their types: Taoists stayed in Heaven, Buddhists were received at Spiritual Mount, and demon cultivators were hosted on the mountain peaks of various Great Demons. In Heaven, The Platinum Star of the White Emperor managed affairs. As a survivor of the heavenly battle, he had the deepest connection with Sun Wukong among the immortals. Sun Wukong was overjoyed to learn he was still alive and immediately appointed him as the manager of Heaven. Until a new Jade Emperor was decided, The Platinum Star of the White Emperor oversaw all matters, including hosting the inter-realm Taoist visitors.

In the Spiritual Mount, Tang Sanzang and the King Ksitigarbha took the lead, with the King Ksitigarbha becoming the Buddha Lord of the Western Paradise, presiding over all matters. As for the Demon Clan, since the Bull Demon King and others had not returned, Sun Wukong appointed Shui Xuwu, Meng Gui, and Mu Jingxi to be in charge. These three were leaders of major clans among the Demon Clan, naturally handling the affairs without any pressure. Amidst the intense preparations, the most important day finally arrived, the Universe Master's Ascension Ceremony.

On this day, according to Pangu Realm's time, it happened to be the fifteenth of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival. Early in the morning, Flower Fruit Mountain was already boiling with excitement. However, due to Sun Wukong's inherently casual nature, although this ceremony was extremely grand, he did not have his subordinates prepare too many complicated rituals. In fact, the main content of today was very simple: to gather all the dignitaries and tell them that this Fang Universe was about to give birth to a Universe Master, and any who doubted were free to challenge.

Just as dawn broke, two orderly rows of Demon Clan warriors stood energetically on either side of the mountain path leading up Flower Fruit Mountain, waiting patiently. At the mountain gate at the foot of the mountain, it was Tang Sanzang and The Platinum Star of the White Emperor who were responsible for welcoming all those who came to attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong was already dressed in ceremonial attire, seated on the newly constructed platform behind his statue in the middle of Flower Fruit Mountain.

As the only Primordial Honor of this Fang Universe, Sun Wukong did not need to do much, nor did he need to entertain anyone. He was the central figure of this event. Although he did not particularly enjoy such things, he had to maintain his authority, because this was not child's play.

With the first ray of sunlight penetrating the sky, the Immortal Official in charge of ceremonies at the mountain gate of Flower Fruit Mountain loudly announced: "Genesis Divine Nation arrives. The attendees from Genesis Divine Nation are Domain Lord Xiao He, Pangu, Chaos Spiritless, Lin Xi, Luo Chen, Qian Shang, and Jue Luan, coming to participate in the Ascension Ceremony!"

After the Immortal Official finished speaking, led by Xiao He, with Pangu and Chaos Spiritless walking shoulder to shoulder behind, followed by Lin Xi and Luo Chen, Qian Shang and Jue Luan, all proceeded in pairs. Every hundred steps, someone would repeat the Immortal Official's announcement until Xiao He's group reached the platform mid-mountain, where the chanting stopped. In reality, the appearance of Luo Chen and Qian Shang in the Genesis Divine Nation team was surprising, as their past betrayal had caused the nation considerable trouble. However, judging by the current situation, it seemed Xiao He and the others had forgiven these two.

In the battle at the Fallen Tomb, Genesis Divine Nation did not suffer significant losses. Only the Guardian, Ruo Xi, died in battle, although there were some losses in the Patrolling Celestial World. Overall, Genesis Divine Nation's losses were minimal, arguably the least among all forces. Xiao He and the others were seated in succession on carved wooden chairs in front of the platform, surprisingly revealing that chairs with everyone's names written on them had been prepared in advance.

It seemed Sun Wukong already knew who would attend this grand ceremony. Although a hundred worlds were participating, only less than a dozen were received by Tang Sanzang and the King Ksitigarbha and allowed to walk along the stone steps to the platform. The rest journeyed up the mountain via the side gate of Flower Fruit Mountain and were seated on the side platform.

After Xiao He and the others took their seats, Sun Wukong nodded slightly to them. Shortly thereafter, the Immortal Official's voice emerged once more from the mountain gate. "Fangcun Spirit Realm arrives, with Domain Lord Ling Yi, Invincible Overlord Art, Chi Dragon, Chi Ghost, and Nuwa here to attend the Ascension Ceremony." After the Immortal Official finished speaking, Ling Yi looked up at the stone steps, smiled slightly, then Ascension and Nuwa walked side by side, followed by Chi Dragon and Chi Ghost, as the five ascended the steps.

Fangcun Spirit Realm suffered quite severe losses in this battle, not only with the death of Dao Zhun, but the Guardian Lu'an was also killed by the Demon Spirit Butcher, and during the Patrolling Celestial World incident, even the old Arhat Xuan Ling perished. Thus, for this ceremony, there were only Ling Yi and Overlord left as representatives. After returning, Ling Yi, due to his remarkable merits, was elected as the Domain Lord of Fangcun Spirit Realm. As for Nuwa, Chi Dragon, and Chi Ghost, during Ziling's time, the Crimson Army had disbanded. With nowhere else to go, and since Nuwa liked Overlord very much, the three of them followed Ling Yi to the Fangcun Spirit Realm and, thus, joined them at the ceremony.

(That's it for today. Tomorrow, it truly ends. The author's words will also be put in tomorrow.)(To be continued. If you like this work, you're welcome to visit Starting Point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, as your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)