Chapter 745: Defying Heaven

A golden light pierced the calm sky, directly bursting out of the Nan Tian Men.

The heavenly soldiers and generals on guard were caught off guard, and by the time they reacted, the golden light had vanished into the distance.

After a while, they heard a loud shout from behind:"Stop Bi Ma Wen! He has rebelled against the Heavenly Court!"

The guards exchanged puzzled glances and looked toward the horizon, but there was no trace of the golden light left in the clouds.

The heavenly general on duty at Nan Tian Men hurried to Tong Ming Dian to report that Bi Ma Wen, Sun Wukong, had already left through the gate and was heading toward Hua Guo Shan in the lower realm.

The Heavenly Court was in an uproar.Rebellion!Appointing a demon king from the demon race to an official position had already displeased many civil and military officials;and now this Monkey King was dissatisfied with his title, had beaten a heavenly marshal, kicked over the Imperial Stable's desk, and directly rebelled against the Heavenly Court?How outrageous!

Streams of light transformed into civil and military deities, rushing toward Ling Xiao Dian.

The marshal who had been beaten was still bruised and slightly injured. He stood in the hall, describing his miserable ordeal, claiming he had been ambushed by that monkey and beaten so badly.

This unnamed marshal grumbled:"If I were to fight that wild monkey, I'd make him regret it!"

Unexpectedly, a minor official from the Imperial Stable kneeling behind him couldn't help but mutter, "Wasn't it you who struck first, Marshal..."

"Hmm?"

The marshal turned his head and glared at the immortal official, then turned back, about to say more, but suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure.

He looked up and saw Tai Bai Jin Xing, who usually had a kind demeanor and stood beside the Yu Di, now staring at him expressionlessly—that gaze...

It made his spirit tremble and his mind falter, nearly causing him to collapse on the spot.

The Yu Di watched this scene calmly, not angry at all—in fact, he felt like laughing.

The Yu Di wanted to see what this impostor beside him would do next; or rather, what his Dao Ancestor teacher would do.

At that moment, Tai Bai Jin Xing stood on the high platform, bowed to the Yu Di, and said:"Your Majesty, that Bi Ma Wen is unruly and has dared to act so boldly, deserting the Heavenly Court!I previously recommended him for his divine powers and formidable skills to serve in the Heavenly Court, and I bear responsibility for this oversight. I ask Your Majesty to punish me!"

This framed the matter, making the situation even more serious.

The Yu Di smiled faintly, ignoring the 'Tai Bai Jin Xing' beside him, and instead looked down at the assembly of deities, asking, "My dear ministers, who can go and capture Bi Ma Wen and bring him back to the Heavenly Court for trial?"

The immortals and gods below looked at one another, and from the front row of military officials, Li Jing stepped forward half a pace.

Now, looking at Li Jing:Hundreds of years had passed since the Investiture of the Gods, and he had achieved great cultivation. In the Heavenly Court, he led troops in battle and had won numerous victories.Li Jing was extremely skilled in military formations and coordinated strikes, with flawless strategies every time, and with his son Nezha as the vanguard, he had never lost in campaigns across the three thousand worlds, earning him the title of Pagoda-Bearing Li Tian Wang.However, Li Jing did not remember having a foster father in the past, nor did he feel any connection to the messenger beside the Yu Di on the high platform.Li Jing only knew that he came from the Du Xian Men, was valued by Du E Zhen Ren and taken as a disciple. During the Investiture of the Gods, thanks to his connection with Nezha, he entered the Heavenly Court as a marshal, and now he had steadily proven his capabilities.Of course, this was also due to the Yu Di's special favor.

The Heavenly Court had been established in the three realms for quite some time, experiencing periods of weakness and long struggles before reaching its current strength.From the time of its founding, very few immortals or gods had openly rebelled and fled.Resigning from office and rebelling might lead to the same outcome, but they were entirely different in nature.What was more, the rebel was a demon king from the demon race.

Hearing the Yu Di's inquiry, Li Jing immediately stepped forward and reported:"Your Majesty, I am willing to go and capture the rebel minister Bi Ma Wen!"

The other great marshals beside him reluctantly withdrew their steps, having reacted a bit too slowly.

The Yu Di said, "With you, my dear minister, taking charge, I am at ease. Go now, mobilize your troops, and bring that demon monkey back from Hua Guo Shan."

"I obey your command!"

Li Jing bowed his head in acceptance, then turned around. His golden-threaded cloak fluttered in the wind, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his right hand holding an ancient pagoda, and the jewels on his helmet gently swaying as he strode toward the hall's entrance.

Drums thundered outside the hall!

As Li Jing's command token fell, streams of light shot from Tong Ming Dian. Squads of heavenly soldiers quickly gathered at Nan Tian Men and Dong Tian Men, awaiting assembly before setting out to capture Sun Wukong.

Li Jing led the expedition, naturally accompanied by great generals like Nezha, as well as Ju Ling Shen, Ju Li Shen, and Ju Jiao Shen.

Most of the immortals and gods at that moment did not pay much attention to the matter, viewing it as the Monkey King simply breaking the rules and committing a capital offense. Sending Li Jing to subdue a demon king was like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.

When the Heavenly Court waged war, it relied mainly on military officials;only in times of critical crisis or great difficulty would the civil officials go out to 'resolve matters.'To deal with a single demon king, there was no need to involve the heavyweights from the Eight Divisions of Deities.

The assembly of heavenly troops would take some effort, so we'll set that aside for now.

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong had returned to Hua Guo Shan. Upon seeing his monkey subjects, he burst into a tirade, saying that the Heavenly Court looked down on monkeys. The official title they gave him was minor enough that he had endured it, wanting to see what the Heavenly Court was like.From small to great, that might have been acceptable.But in the Heavenly Court, for no reason, they let a mediocre marshal act arrogantly in front of him!A monkey can endure anything, but not this!How could he put up with it?

The demon kings from various caves who had come to Hua Guo Shan upon hearing the news were quite uneasy.They had thought they got lucky, allying with a demon king accepted by the Heavenly Court, so they could live more peacefully in the world without the constant fear they had before.But how had this Monkey King suddenly returned? He had only been gone a few days.

Then, a monkey asked, "Great King, why did you come back? Is it because things weren't going well in the Heavenly Court?"

Sun Wukong recounted his recent experiences, and the monkeys were immediately indignant, while the demon kings grew paler.

"Great King!"A deer demon shouted, "Did you... did you not even resign before coming back?"

Sun Wukong laughed and scolded, "Your Great King beat up that troublesome heavenly marshal!I tore off that tacky immortal uniform, put back on this mighty armor, kicked over that worthless desk, and told them I was done with the job. Then I swaggered out of Nan Tian Men.What freedom, what joy!"

The monkeys erupted in cheers, but the demon kings' faces changed dramatically.This was unthinkable!Could you just quit a position in the Heavenly Court on a whim?

Some demon kings wanted to speak up about the seriousness of the matter but were held back by their companions. These dozen or so demon kings exchanged glances, each already scheming.

Another monkey shouted:"Great King! The Heavenly Court isn't such a great place anyway!You're free here in the mountains without any restrictions. Better to stay with us and live carefree!"

Sun Wukong leaped back onto his stone seat and laughed, "My children, bring some fine wine and fresh fruits. I'll get thoroughly drunk!"

The monkeys responded with a roar of agreement.

Hundreds of monkeys dashed out of the Water Curtain Cave, scampering across the mountains to pick fruits and carry wine.

The demon kings took the opportunity to bow and pay their respects. Sun Wukong glanced at them but said nothing more, just telling them to make themselves at home.

Soon, Hua Guo Shan was lively with activity. Monkeys frolicked everywhere, and the demons, big and small, enjoyed the merriment.However, many older demons had already slipped away overnight, afraid that lightning might strike if they lingered.

Sun Wukong paid no mind to this.Hua Guo Shan wasn't a place you had to stay in once you arrived.

When Sun Wukong had left Hua Guo Shan to seek immortality, many monkeys had already gained some cultivation. Though they lacked specific methods, they absorbed the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, acquiring a bit of power.It was these monkeys who had survived over two hundred years, and when Sun Wukong returned after attaining the Dao, they still revered him as their Great King.

From his own master, Sun Wukong had learned some cultivation techniques;though his master forbade him from passing on the exact methods he used, these other immortal arts could still be taught to the monkeys to extend their lifespans.

At that time, Hua Guo Shan had a large number of monkey soldiers, each with some strength, and under Sun Wukong, there were several rare ancient monkey species, all promising demon king material.Because of the Monkey King's great reputation, many experts from monkey-related demon clans had come to join him, settling in Hua Guo Shan.The demon clans of Hua Guo Shan had already become a formidable force.

Sun Wukong feasted and celebrated with the demons in the mountains for several days, enjoying themselves immensely.

One afternoon, thunder rumbled suddenly, as if thousands of troops were charging from above. The sky darkened, and the demons panicked. Sun Wukong snapped awake from his daze.

Amid the thunder, a voice roared:"Bold Bi Ma Wen! Come out and surrender! Return with us to the Heavenly Court for trial!"

Sun Wukong flashed forward, leaping to the peak of Hua Guo Shan. He looked up at the dark clouds, his armor emitting a faint golden glow.

In the center of the clouds, a massive face formed, with eyes like condensed thunder, deep blue and piercing. The powerful voice echoed again:"Bi Ma Wen! Surrender at once!"

"Oh?"Sun Wukong chuckled dismissively, "Don't call me that anymore. I've quit being Bi Ma Wen!"

"How dare you!"The massive face roared, "Heavenly Court positions are no joke! You can't just decide to quit!You've rebelled against the Heavenly Court—that's a heinous crime!Surrender now, and you might have a chance at mercy. If I have to come down personally, your Hua Guo Shan might be reduced to rubble!"

"Hah, what a big mouth!"Sun Wukong retorted, "The Heavenly Court can't use people properly, so why can't I just leave? What kind of tyrannical logic is that!"

"Sun Wukong! Enough with your tricks!"The clouds trembled as the massive face lunged downward, followed by a neck and body.

It was a giant, over a thousand feet tall, fierce and imposing, with a muscular build, wielding a pair of massive axes, reminiscent of those witch warriors with double buns from ancient times.

The giant landed steadily on a side peak of Hua Guo Shan, causing cracks to spread across the mountain. His powerful body exuded tremendous pressure,while layers of clouds overlapped above his head. Hundreds of bare-chested heavenly soldiers beat drums vigorously, and behind them, countless spearmen stood silently.

The heavenly might was vast and overwhelming!

Sun Wukong's eyes narrowed, dropping his earlier playfulness. He pulled out his Ruyi Jingu Bang from his ear.

With a clang, the staff struck the ground behind him. The wings of his Phoenix Crown shook slightly, and his Locked Golden Armor shone brightly. His dark golden fur radiated intense fighting spirit.

The giant bellowed:"I am Ju Ling Shen, here to capture you!"

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, his body suddenly expanding. In an instant, he grew to tens of feet, then hundreds, and quickly reached a thousand feet, standing face-to-face with Ju Ling Shen!

Fa Tian Xiang Di? Or perhaps Fa Xiang Tian Di?This monkey knew the Daoist protective divine ability!

Ju Ling Shen panicked for a moment, then charged forward, raising his axes to strike at Sun Wukong's head.

But Sun Wukong had no intention of fighting there. His thousand-foot form flashed and appeared behind Ju Ling Shen in an instant.

So large, yet still able to perform Qian Kun Yi?

Ju Ling Shen was thrown into disarray.He had easily defeated dozens of demon kings with this divine form before, but today he had met a tough opponent.

As he tried to turn around, Ju Ling Shen felt his neck gripped by a hand like an iron hoop. A massive force yanked him, tossing him like a sack toward the distant waves of the East Sea!

What?This Bi Ma Wen was just a Golden Immortal demon king, so why was he so strong?

Ju Ling Shen shouted in fury, stabilizing himself in midair and landing on the shallow sea. He turned and charged back at Sun Wukong.

The ground shook continuously, and the sea churned wildly.

Though Sun Wukong had grown to a thousand feet, he remained agile and graceful. He leaped from Hua Guo Shan's peak without fully planting his feet and rushed to the East Sea's edge to engage Ju Ling Shen.

The axes seemed to split mountains, while the iron staff nearly shattered the cosmos.The skies' white clouds rolled, and the East Sea's waves surged.

But Ju Ling Shen's fighting style was too rigid. After a few exchanges, he had taken several hits from Sun Wukong's staff, retreating steadily, barely able to hold his axes.

This was still with Sun Wukong holding back.

Ju Ling Shen realized something was wrong and was about to shout some bravado before retreating, when he heard the drum signal for retreat from the air.

Ju Ling Shen felt a wave of relief and forcefully clashed with the monkey once more before jumping back quickly."Today's battle ends here! Don't get cocky, you demon monkey!"

Ju Ling Shen cursed loudly, his form shrinking suddenly as he turned into a streak of light and fled into the sky.

Sun Wukong did not pursue him. He looked up at the heavenly formation with a mocking smile, then dispelled his divine form, staff in hand, and flew back to Hua Guo Shan.

He had easily won the first round.

Upon returning to the mountain, Sun Wukong was greeted by cheering monkeys, though most of the demon kings had vanished. Only seven or eight newly joined young demon kings came forward to congratulate him.

Sun Wukong said nothing more about it and simply ordered his monkey soldiers to drill and prepare for battle.

Meanwhile, Ju Ling Shen returned to the heavenly troops' formation, his face embarrassed and troubled. He shrank back to normal size and knelt on one knee before Li Jing."I have failed my mission. Please punish me, Marshal."

"General Ju Ling, no need for self-punishment. It was I who underestimated Bi Ma Wen's abilities."

Li Jing spoke thus, stroking his beard as he sat in his chair, deep in thought.He didn't particularly like keeping a beard, but as a commander holding military authority, he needed a dignified appearance to command respect.

Another Golden Immortal heavenly general stepped forward and declared:"Great Marshal! This Bi Ma Wen is quite formidable, but I am willing to lead a troop of heavenly soldiers to capture him using formations!"

Li Jing was about to nod in agreement, but he suddenly recalled the instruction from the Yu Di's messenger when he set out:'Marshal Li, handling Bi Ma Wen should be done slowly, not hastily.'

Li Jing didn't care for that old man, but as the Yu Di's close minister and messenger, his words were essentially the Yu Di's decree.As a minister, his primary duty was loyalty to the sovereign."No need to rush," Li Jing said. "Wait a day or two, then send a brave general tomorrow.This is the land of the Five Parts Continent, a prosperous place in the three realms. If we can capture Sun Wukong directly, there's no need for a full-scale war."

"Yes!"

The generals acknowledged, and Nezha, holding his Fire-Tip Spear, yawned from the side, his youthful face showing a hint of boredom.

The next day, another heavenly general went out to challenge, and Sun Wukong readily engaged, defeating him in a few moves and sending him flying back to the heavens.

The demon race's morale soared, and the monkeys were overjoyed.

On the third day and fourth day, heavenly generals went out to challenge each time, only to be casually dispatched by Sun Wukong.

How could the demons handle such 'encouragement'?The demon kings who had fled returned one after another to the vicinity of Hua Guo Shan, and many ancient demon experts flocked in upon hearing the news.

Sun Wukong merely scoffed and ordered that only monkeys could enter the Water Curtain Cave of Hua Guo Shan.

On the fifth day,thunder rumbled in the sky, and Hua Guo Shan's morning was filled with noise.The heavenly soldiers and generals in the air had increased, and the drumbeats were unusually synchronized.On the ground, demons gathered, their demonic energy soaring to the clouds, while monkey soldiers formed ranks, clad in simple armor and wielding weapons, shouting across the mountains.The atmosphere had grown quite tense.

Sun Wukong stood alone on the peak, looking up at the dark clouds.He said leisurely, "Is there not a single competent general in the Heavenly Court?"

"Bi Ma Wen, do you think you're that capable?"

A voice replied from the clouds, and at the base of the clouds, a layer of fiery red shadow appeared. A pure Dao rhythm spread through the heavens and earth.

Suddenly, the clouds parted, and a figure broke through, descending from the sky.

Sun Wukong focused and saw the challenger: a handsome youth, seemingly a teenager, standing on a pair of fire wheels.He held a sharp spear, wore lotus armor, had two buns in his hair, and a somewhat childish face.It was Nezha.

Sun Wukong laughed upon seeing him and said, "The Heavenly Court must be out of options, sending a little kid like you."

"Little kid?"Nezha raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "I was already a heavenly deity before you were born. By age, you could call me grandfather and it wouldn't be wrong.Don't think spouting tough words makes you a fierce one from the primordial era.You can't overturn the heavens;you can't cover the earth.You're just a monkey being toyed with in someone's palm—what makes you think you're a hero of the demon race?"

Sun Wukong bared his teeth in a fierce grin.

Nezha smiled faintly, twirled his Fire-Tip Spear, and flames enveloped him. His hair buns unraveled, and his long hair danced with the flames.He pointed the spear downward."Let's fight."