Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

The Twenty-Eight Constellations had taken spiritual medicine to temporarily suppress their injuries. After exchanging glances with each other, they stepped out of the line in unison and walked to the center of the large tent, kneeling on one knee before Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing to offer their apologies.

"Esteemed Star Officials, please rise. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in military affairs; take it not to heart! Besides, everyone has witnessed your performance in the battle a few days ago. Am I, your commander, a man who lacks understanding? There shall be no talk of punishment, up with you!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing quickly rose from behind his command desk and walked over to Proud Golden Dragon and the others, helping each of them to their feet. Today's battle had shown him the true strength of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and he was already thinking of an opportunity to win them over.

This was the perfect moment to show favor, and he certainly wasn't going to let it pass by!

"We thank the Marshal for his grace in not holding us accountable!"

As expected, the faces of the Twenty-Eight Constellations showed gratitude. They rose to their feet and returned to their positions.

"Marshal, if our speculations are correct, then the Bull Demon King's cultivated technique should be our Human Race's supreme body refining technique, the Eight-Nine Profound Skill. We know not from whence he acquired it, but he has cultivated it to such a profound level!"

After pondering for a moment, Kui Wood Wolf stepped out of line and gave a cupped fist salute to Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.

"The Eight-Nine Profound Skill?"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing frowned. "You're certain?"

"Absolutely certain!"

Li Jing's frown deepened. The Eight-Nine Profound Skill was the Chan Sect's protective divine technique, which later made its way into the Buddhist Sect. In the entire Three Realms, the number of individuals who had mastered this technique could be counted on one hand, and Yang Jian, the disobedient Erlang, who was stationed at the Guankou True Lord Temple, was one of them.

His combat power ranked amongst the best even within the vast ranks of the Heavenly Court's immortals and gods!

Such a high-level protective divine technique would not be easily imparted; it was reserved for those with exceptional talent and comprehension only. That the Bull Demon King had managed to learn the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, and bring it to such a level of accomplishment meant his master was definitely no ordinary individual!

Could it possibly be one of the Sect Hierarchs of the Buddhist Sect?

"You all go back, take care of your injuries, and rest. The assault on Flower-Fruit Mountain will be postponed. I'll make a decision after I report to His Majesty!"

The more Li Jing thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss. The Bull Demon King's impression on him was very similar to that demon monkey, Sun Wukong, and the Six-Eared Macaque as well. Could it be that he had inadvertently offended some Sect Hierarch-level figure?

Feeling irked, he waved his hand dismissively and watched as the immortals and gods retreated to their camps to rest. Li Jing paced back and forth within the large tent, his unease growing the more he thought about the situation. Finally grinding his teeth in decision, he ordered his personal guard and left the camp alone, flying towards the Heavenly Court.

Above Dragon Island, where the Heavenly Dragon Valley's Dragon Nest was located,

"It's been ten days already! Why hasn't Brother Wukong completed his breakthrough? Is his body a Bottomless Pit? How can it absorb so much of nature's spiritual energy?"

On the ground of Dragon Island, Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan gazed at the grey cocoon in mid-air and couldn't help but frown. It had been a full ten days since Sun Wukong began his frenzied absorption of spiritual energy to break through to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm!

During these ten days, there was no sign of Sun Wukong's absorption of spiritual energy from nature slowing down. On the contrary, it got faster and eventually formed a nearly solid, grey spiritual energy cocoon, leaving Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan utterly astonished. He had lived for so many years, yet he had never seen anyone's breakthrough look like Sun Wukong's!

"It should be soon, right? This monkey has Chaos Primordial Force; we cannot judge him by ordinary standards."

Ying Long Ying Tian nodded, not entirely certain, but he glanced over at Cultivation Heavenly Venerable not too far away, secretly feeling the situation was ludicrous.

Just ten days ago, he and Cultivation Heavenly Venerable had been at odds, engaged in a life-or-death struggle. Yet, when Sun Wukong unreasonably began absorbing nature's spiritual energy for his breakthrough, it ended up postponing their battle. That Cultivation Heavenly Venerable truly had the patience; he, like them, landed on the surface of Dragon Island and had been waiting for ten days!

This fellow seemed determined to compete with them for the Chaos Dragon Divine Armor and the Ancestral Dragon Pearl!

Perhaps sensing Ying Long's gaze, Cultivation Heavenly Venerable shot back a sharp look, but Ying Tian shifted his attention as if he noticed nothing, causing Cultivation Heavenly Venerable to feel like he was punching cotton.

It was preposterous, even to himself, that he would wait for ten days in the same place as his enemies for another enemy to complete a breakthrough.

If this were to be told, probably no one would believe it!

"For the sake of the Divine Armor and the Dragon Pearl, I've endured! Just wait, I will make you pay the price!"

With the Absolute Sword Domain at his disposal, Cultivation Heavenly Venerable had enough confidence to push back Ying Long and Ying Tian and finish off Sun Wukong. Had it not been for Sun Wukong unexpectedly entering this strange breakthrough state, Cultivation Heavenly Venerable would have never patiently waited like this.

Once Sun Wukong completed his breakthrough and exited the state where he was absorbing spiritual energy in such a ravenous manner, Cultivation Heavenly Venerable vowed that he would unleash the Absolute Sword Domain with the force of thunder to obliterate him, leaving no chance for escape!

Three days later, the grey cocoon of spiritual energy wrapping around Sun Wukong finally showed signs of activity. The previously ravenous pace at which it absorbed spiritual energy had abruptly and significantly slowed. Ying Long, Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan, and Cultivation Heavenly Venerable all sensed this change and looked up at the grey cocoon of spiritual energy in mid-air.

"This guy has finally completed his breakthrough!"

Ying Tian's lips curved into a smile, relieved that he could finally relax a bit... no, wait, murderous intent!

Looking down from the sky toward the rising murderous intent, it was Cultivation Heavenly Venerable!

The Sword of Annihilation appeared once again in the hands of Cultivation Heavenly Venerable, with strands of sharp Sword Qi and killing intent emanating from the sword blade. He intended to attack Sun Wukong as he finished his breakthrough and exited the unusual state!

"Ying Tian, he's planning a sneak attack on Brother Wukong!"

Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan also noticed Cultivation Heavenly Venerable's intentions and his eyebrows knitted tightly.

"This dragon knows! Okay, you should back away later to avoid getting caught in the crossfire!"

Ying Long responded gravely, his intentions were good. Although Mu Chenxuan was a step away from Quasi-Saint in terms of cultivation, he was not powerful enough to stand against Cultivation Heavenly Venerable, who wielded the Sword of Annihilation and could trigger the Absolute Sword Domain. Being too close could lead to getting hit by mistake.

However, to Mu Chenxuan, those words sounded extremely harsh to the ear.

Mu Chenxuan's lips curled into a bitter smile. Though the words were harsh, they were also true. He was no longer the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor who stood at the peak of Quasi-Saints. After being sealed for so many years, his cultivation had greatly declined, and the internal injuries he had sustained were still healing. He could not even perform many of his divine techniques now.

With his current cultivation level and physical condition, he was just mid to upper tier among the half-step Quasi-Saints, nothing compared to Cultivation Heavenly Venerable with the Sword of Annihilation in hand!

Sighing, Mu Chenxuan soared upwards, flying off into the distance. Though unwilling, he indeed couldn't help much in his current state. It was better to heed Ying Long's words.

One day, when he had recovered his cultivation and healed his internal injuries, he, the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor, would stand proudly before everyone once again, proclaiming to his enemies with the Square Sky Halberd in hand that he would make a comeback!

In mid-air, the grey cocoon of spiritual energy that shrouded Sun Wukong stopped absorbing nature's spiritual energy completely. The next moment, the entire cocoon suddenly contracted inward, vanishing in the blink of an eye into the body of Sun Wukong, who was inside it, and Sun Wukong's figure was revealed once more.

Above his head, three Chaos-colored auspicious clouds appeared tangible, and within his Dantian, his Golden Core shone brightly, his aura completely transformed from before the breakthrough!

With the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and the aura of the Golden Core shining, the Chaos Primordial had solidified his Dao Heart, and with the Heavenly Demon Divine Body, he ascended to Da Luo!

"Is this the power of a Daluo Golden Immortal? Three Flowers at the Top, Energies Facing the Yuan, no wonder Daluo Golden Immortals are known as the Golden Elixir Great Dao. This is truly the beginning of the path!"

Feeling the astonishing strength flowing within his body, Sun Wukong was filled with surprise. Initially, he was forced to attempt a breakthrough due to the pressure from Cultivation Heavenly Venerable.

He had not anticipated that the domains provided by the Absolute Sword Domain from Cultivation Heavenly Venerable and the weak water False Domain of Ying Long would supply him with so much domain spiritual energy. This not only completely filled his slightly lacking foundation but also purified and elevated it by a notch.

His foundation was now extremely solid; although he had just broken through, he was only a hair's breadth away from Quasi-Saint!

Swish!

A very subtle sound of spatial fluctuation rang out, the sound of a blade cutting through space. If it had occurred before his breakthrough, Sun Wukong would certainly not have sensed it, but now things were different.

His eyes snapped open, and in the dark gold pupils, a Triangular Heavy Pupil appeared—the third phase of the Void-Breaking Divine Eye, the Void-Breaking Heavy Pupils, activated instantly. Sun Wukong saw a concealed sword light shooting toward him from a slanted direction below.

It was Cultivation Heavenly Venerable's Sword of Annihilation!

This bastard, actually launching a sneak attack on him!

A gleam of cold light flashed in his eyes, and just as Sun Wukong was about to move, a figure appeared in front of him. Wielding a Silver Spear, the figure blocked the Sword of Annihilation—it was Ying Long.

"This dragon has said it before, if you want to harm him, you'll have to get past me first!"

Ying Long's face was stern as he blocked the Sword of Annihilation. A great force erupted from his Silver Spear, the Ying Long Courage, pushing Cultivation Heavenly Venerable back several yards.

The damage Ying Long had suffered from healing Ao Tian was now fully healed over the past ten days, and without activating the Absolute Sword Domain, Cultivation Heavenly Venerable stood no chance against him!

"It seems you are determined to muddle through this mess, then don't blame me for being ruthless! Absolute Sword Domain!"

Cultivation Heavenly Venerable's expression darkened. Frustrated by his failed sneak attack and the interference from Ying Long, the killing intent in his heart boiled over. Without any hesitation, he uttered a cold snort and transformed into a blue light that darted into the bright glow of the Sword of Annihilation—the Absolute Sword Domain activated!