Tang Zisu had not finished speaking when a loud noise suddenly came from the distance of the Heavenly Palace. The waters of the Heavenly River crashed down like a tsunami, impacting the clouds beneath their feet, as if the entire heavenly realm was shaking.
Lang Ye pulled Tang Zisu away from the rushing water and shouted, "Not good, something has indeed happened."
Lang Ye unleashed a series of powerful moves, sending massive waves scattering in all directions. The river water splashed all over him, but it also washed away the traces of blood from his injuries. He gasped for breath, sweat mixing with the river water on his face.
"Lang Ye, you're injured. Let me handle this!"
Lang Ye pulled Tang Zisu behind him. "What are you trying to prove, woman? You're still carrying a child. Overexerting your True Qi isn't good for the fetus; don't let my nephew suffer."
Hearing this, tears nearly fell from Tang Zisu's eyes. Finally, someone acknowledged that this child belonged to Kong Xuan. No, Kong Xuan had always acknowledged it; his actions and words were merely attempts to force himself away.
Lang Ye formed seals with his hands, lifting their bodies high as they struggled through the waves. It seemed every step was fraught with the danger of being swallowed by the monstrous waves, each step accompanied by earth-shattering sounds. Suddenly, amidst the wind and waves, a golden rope emerged, resembling a python with its head raised and fangs bared. It broke through the barrier and tightly ensnared both Tang Zisu and Lang Ye.
In front of the Southern Heavenly Gate, chaos reigned between the Sea of Clouds River.
Sun Wukong, donned in his Golden Helmet and Golden Armor and wielding his Golden Staff, was sending celestial soldiers flying left and right in screams of despair. Erlang Shen, Nezha, and Li Tianwang surrounded him but could not subdue him. Meanwhile, inside Lingxiao Palace, Kong Xuan faced off against the Heavenly Emperor.
The Heavenly Emperor had a face like jade with long eyebrows and sharp eyes; with a few strands of long beard beneath his chin, he resembled an elegant scholar if he were to shed his luxurious dragon robe.
He twirled his beard and said, "Kong Xuan, I have chosen to overlook your high position and your beloved daughter. Yet you conspire with demons to incite chaos; what punishment do you deserve?"
Kong Xuan smirked slightly, wearing a mocking expression. "Zhang Jian, since you choose not to pursue me, I must ask you: what sparked that war hundreds of years ago? It was you who instigated conflict with me and Rulai out of fear for your position, which led to the great war among the three realms. As for your so-called adopted daughter, everyone knows that Godfather and adopted daughter are inseparable."
Kong Xuan's words nearly choked the Heavenly Emperor. He trembled with anger as he pointed at Kong Xuan. "Do you think such words honor Lijia's genuine feelings for you?"
"I only know that she is a Celestial Maiden yet not pure; how do you explain that?"
The Jade Emperor was left speechless by Kong Xuan's gamble. He admitted that aside from having no other faults, he should have enjoyed the pleasures that come with his high position. However, he was burdened by a fierce wife at home, and the beautiful figures of the Queen Mother and Chang'e in the Three Realms were only to be admired from afar, not touched. That year, when he first saw Kong Xuan and mistook him for a woman, he was struck by his beauty but nearly attacked him. It was Li Tianwang who pulled him out of the Heavenly River, which filled him with resentment. He had intended to ask Buddha to teach Kong Xuan a lesson, but little did he know that it would lead to centuries of war. While others may not know, he could not escape the condemnation of his own conscience. Even after hundreds of years, he still dreamed of the blood flowing in the Heavenly River and found himself sinking deeper into the stench of blood. Therefore, when Kong Xuan extended an olive branch through Lijia this time, he agreed without hesitation and even offered Kong Xuan high positions and wealth. However, Kong Xuan opened the Southern Heavenly Gate and let in another troublesome character, Sun Wukong. Compared to Sun Wukong, the Heavenly Emperor feared Kong Xuan more; Sun Wukong was naive and could be subdued by force, while Kong Xuan had a mind full of intricate schemes that he could never fully grasp.
Heavenly Court was in danger!
A thunderous roar echoed as the Lingxiao Palace shook slightly; it was Sun Wukong who had broken one of the pillars supporting the heavens with a single strike.
The Dragon Pavilion of the Heavenly Emperor tilted as he clutched the dragon head on his throne, struggling to maintain his composure.
Kong Xuan's long hair fell over one eye, blending his innate demonic aura with his stunningly beautiful visage into an indescribable elegance.
At such a critical moment, the Jade Emperor sighed inwardly; indeed, there were few beauties like this in heaven or earth!
Noticing the Jade Emperor's expression, Kong Xuan seemed to sense something. He raised his hand, sending countless silver rays toward the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor formed seals with his hands to deflect Kong Xuan's attack but could no longer remain seated. He soared into the air and drew his Dragon's Roar Sword.
Kong Xuan also unsheathed his Phoenix Tail Sword, and in an instant, Dragon's Roar and Phoenix cries echoed as an unprecedented battle unfolded.
This battle was even more intense than three hundred years ago.
Back then, there was no Sun Wukong and no destructive monkey with A-level abilities. Now, the entire heavenly realm had become Sun Wukong's playground; wherever he went turned into ruins. Thousands of Little Demons led by Bull Demon King stormed the Heavenly Court, transforming what was once a paradise filled with celestial music into a massive slaughterhouse.
The war in heaven began to spread to the mortal realm; mountains fell in some places while storms raged in others. In yet another area, fiery rain fell like arrows amidst thunderous flames. The nine provinces and ten cities trembled violently; death's ominous aura seemed poised to engulf all of heaven and earth. Light gradually faded away, and the lights lit by mortals appeared like mirages—ready to vanish at any moment with a gust of wind.
In the imperial city of the mortal realm, Liu Yang and Liu Hui faced each other both inside and outside the city while gazing at the sky simultaneously. Liu Hui looked despondent; how many more would die? Liu Yang smiled slightly; the Demon Lord's ambition to unify the Three Realms was within reach.
In the skies above heaven, two figures—one yellow and one white—were locked in fierce combat.
The Heavenly Emperor gasped heavily for breath and said, "Kong Xuan, look below; how many will suffer because of you?"
Kong Xuan thrust several swords without haste and replied calmly, "That's all your fault; it's because they worship you as this useless Heavenly Emperor."
Heavenly Emperor did not engage in verbal conflict with Kong Xuan, and the two clashed once more.
Suddenly, the silver-haired warrior in brocade armor, known as the Breaking Army, charged out from the clouds, his sword slicing through the wind towards the open back of Heavenly Emperor.
Heavenly Emperor turned to block with his sword, but unexpectedly, the aging Kong Xuan released a golden-eyed Peacock Feather from the Phoenix Tail Sword, piercing it directly into Heavenly Emperor's heart.
Heavenly Emperor turned around with wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe that the Peacock Feather had truly embedded itself in his heart. A choking sound escaped his throat as if he wanted to say something; blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his body gradually leaned back before collapsing with a thunderous crash, like a pillar that had supported the heavens.
The Breaking Army leaped to Kong Xuan's side and kicked Heavenly Emperor, saying, "Is he really dead just like that? Too easy, right?"
"The Peacock Feather was soaked in divine water; otherwise, he wouldn't have died so easily," Kong Xuan replied, his expression tense, lacking the joy of a victor.
"Ming Wang, you seem rather unhappy. Why is that?"
"Because something unpleasant is about to happen," Kong Xuan said, gazing at the roiling Cloud Sea in the distance, his eyes cold.
Indeed, a figure cloaked in black floated above the clouds, entirely wrapped in a dark cape, wearing a conical hat and black veil.
"Kong Xuan, you are indeed aware of my identity as the Demon Lord of Intercepting Teachings?" the Demon Lord's voice echoed eerily, shrouded in a mist of darkness.
"You are not just a mere title; I also know who you truly are beneath this veil of black mist," Kong Xuan said, elegantly grasping his long hair, exuding grace even amidst ruins.
"Hmph, it seems I underestimated you. You are indeed extraordinary. So tell me, who do you think I am?" As the black mist around him gradually dissipated, the Demon Lord stood still.
Kong Xuan smiled and said, "Should I call you clan leader or should I call you Heavenly Bone Corpse Demon?"
"Hahaha." The Demon Lord removed his conical hat, revealing a face belonging to a clan leader. "You should call me Demon Lord. I am now the master of the Azure Palace. To put it grandly, you should call me Heavenly Emperor, the new ruler of the three realms."
Kong Xuan laughed heartily and said to Po Jun, "A mere Bone Demon, who has only obtained a fragment of Buddha's bone to achieve enlightenment, dares to dream of dominating the Three Realms. Po Jun, have you ever heard a funnier joke than this?"
Po Jun shook his head. "I would rather believe that Erlang Shen's Howling Celestial Dog has gone to see Chang'e."
Kong Xuan shook his head and replied, "Po Jun, do not underestimate the one before us. He has pretended to be submissive under Ksitigarbha for a thousand years, acted like a son under Tong Tian for another thousand years, and has lurked in Peacock Valley for decades. He waits for the right moment and moves cautiously, reigniting chaos in the Three Realms. Truly an impressive figure, but unfortunately, his own cleverness will be his downfall. From today onward, he will disappear from the Three Realms forever."
This time, Bone Demon laughed loudly. "Kong Xuan, someone is indeed going to disappear, but it is not me. You conspired with Sun Wukong to commit treason; I, the master of Azure Palace, will uphold justice and punish you. With the Heavenly Emperor dead and the Three Realms leaderless, it is just right for my master of Azure Palace to take over. You are both severely wounded while my Azure Palace disciples are full of fighting spirit. What do you think of my plan to catch the cicada while the mantis stalks?"
"Good, very good. But who is the cicada?" A voice came from the ground as the Heavenly Emperor slowly stood up, surprisingly resurrected.
"You?" The Bone Demon widened his eyes in disbelief as he took a few steps back.
The Heavenly Emperor declared, "Bold demon! So you are the Instigator. Today I must capture you and prevent you from causing further chaos in the Three Realms." After speaking, the Heavenly Emperor was flanked by Kong Xuan and Po Jun, forming a triangle that trapped him in the center.
Bone Demon seemed unafraid; his white beard fluttered in the wind while distant sounds of battle echoed. He slightly turned his head and said, "Kong Xuan, your clever scheme to cut off my resources is indeed ingenious, but nothing escapes this Demon Lord's eyes. I have been wary of your move since you sent your woman away; however, it will be futile—just watch."
Looking into Bone Demon's eyes filled with a mix of mockery and malice, Kong Xuan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Another dark cloud floated in, carrying two people—Lang Ye and Tang Zisu—who were bound by celestial ropes and unable to escape. The one binding them was Mei Xiao.
Po Jun felt a surge of blood rush up; he cursed loudly, "Mei Xiao, you traitor!"
Lang Ye was also restrained but shouted loudly, "Little kitty isn't as good as brother in this regard! The woman brother likes is utterly devoted to him; your vixen is just that old black ghost's goddaughter—the Godfather's goddaughter! How many times have they been together?"
Po Jun had an inherently volatile temper; at this moment, he felt as if his veins were about to burst. He couldn't explain why he reacted so strongly—perhaps it was because he had trusted her too much recently and told her everything. Now he felt furious at being betrayed and harmed.
Meanwhile, Kong Xuan had focused all his attention on Tang Zisu since she appeared. It had only been a few dozen days apart, yet Tang Zisu looked noticeably thinner; her pointed chin could practically serve as a needle. Her eyes were larger than before—still clear as water but now tinged with anxiety. Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu, why can't you just listen to me properly?
Tang Zisu was also watching Kong Xuan, a beautiful figure in black hair and white clothing, her familiar face causing a pang in his heart. However, her eyes were different; one was covered by her hair, so he could only see her through one eye. "Kong Xuan, my face is this big; how can your one eye see all of me?"
The two stared at each other, completely forgetting that they were in a scene comparable to a biochemical weapon massacre, with a formidable enemy still present.
The Bone Demon slowly retreated until it stood before Tang Zisu. Lang Ye was startled when he saw its appearance and nudged Tang Zisu with his elbow. "Hey, look quickly! Who is this old man?"
Tang Zisu snapped out of her daze and exclaimed, "Tribe Leader? What kind of monster are you to take on the Tribe Leader's appearance?"
Kong Xuan sighed; his Silly Goose was indeed a Silly Goose, still thinking in such a backward way.
The Bone Demon spoke in the Tribe Leader's affectionate voice, "Tang Zisu, it's me. How have you been lately?"
Tang Zisu was particularly confused. She felt the fog in her mind thickening. Habitually seeking help, she looked at Kong Xuan, hoping he would provide her with an answer.
Kong Xuan gazed into her eye, which seemed soft enough to shed tears. During their time in Infernal Palace, he pretended to be indifferent and uncaring towards her, even going so far as to hurt and insult her. He didn't even acknowledge the child she carried. The pain drove him nearly mad; countless times he wanted to rush forward and embrace her, telling her how much he cared. But for the sake of the greater plan and her safety, he had to harden his heart. Yet his suffering was no less than hers. Watching her nearly go insane over Horse Abdomen's injury made him feel like he could barely hold on. If it weren't for her sudden recovery of latent magical power disappearing, he would have lost control and rushed to her side without caring about anything else.
"Tang Zisu, don't doubt it; he is the Tribe Leader you know but not the original one. The Tribe Leader of Peacock Valley was long ago cast into that cave by him, and then he took over this body. He has been very successful at pretending to be human; I hardly noticed any flaws."
The Bone Demon asked, "So when did you start suspecting me?"
Kong Xuan replied, "From the day I saw you. That day during your ritual when you killed a live chicken, I found it strange that if you were worshipping a Buddha deity, why would you still kill? Later I smelled blood on you and became curious. After that, I often detected the scent of blood on you and began to suspect you. What surprised you even more was that you deliberately led us to that cave with the soul-locking formation but allowed me to see the Tribe Leader's soul. I was puzzled about who in the Three Realms had such power to attach their soul to a person without being detected by Softy, who has Yin-Yang eyes. After thinking it over, I concluded that only a pile of bones without a soul could achieve that."
The Bone Demon laughed heartily: "So I ended up shooting myself in the foot; I underestimated Ming Wang without magical power. But what does it matter? Azure Water Lotus has been destroyed by me; the foundation of Peacock Valley has been shaken. Although you Ming Wang and Tiger King have regained your powers, it's all thanks to my Nine Worms Sorcery. They have already infiltrated your bodies; as soon as I move my maternal worm in my hand, using magic will bring you unbearable pain from hundreds of biting insects. And this person in my hands—aren't you deeply in love with her? But now with just a little effort from my pinky finger—poof! She becomes a pile of flesh and blood. However, she carries the aura of Buddha; she must taste delicious."
Kong Xuan's eyes followed the Bone Demon's hand as it moved; the veins on its beautiful hand bulged as if it wanted to crush the Bone Demon into dust.
Although Kong Xuan's heart surged with emotions, his face remained calm as still water: "Her blood contains my peacock blood; do you dare eat her?"
The Bone Demon paused for a moment but then sinisterly smiled: "I almost forgot! She has a little peacock in her belly; this is an unprecedented despair throughout history! Your Phoenix clan relies on Reincarnation for immortality; this peacock born from a woman can be considered a Half-Demon—how interesting!"
Tang Zisu suddenly said coldly, "You are the Half-Demon, your whole family is Half-Demon, you bastard, let go of me."
The Bone Demon grabbed Tang Zisu's hair and grinned at Kong Xuan, "Kong Xuan, hurry up and kill the Heavenly Emperor beside you, then kneel down and beg me, just like I begged you thousands of years ago. Otherwise, your brother and everyone else will die."
Kong Xuan glanced at the Heavenly Emperor, who looked back at him. In fact, everyone's gaze was focused on Kong Xuan, waiting to see what he would do.
Kong Xuan looked at Tang Zisu and smiled, but the smile was filled with helplessness and sorrow. "Tang Zisu, why can't you stay in the human realm properly?"
Tang Zisu's eyes were bright with determination. "You are in danger; I can't ignore it. I've said before that what I want is to fight alongside you, not to hide behind you waiting for your protection. Now I'm just a burden to you again. You don't have to worry about me. If my life and the child's life can exchange for thousands of lives in the Three Realms, Kong Xuan, that would be the best deal I've ever made in my life."
After saying all this in one breath, tears began to roll in Tang Zisu's eyes but did not fall.
Kong Xuan nodded. "Alright, Tang Zisu, you've never been useless; you're very brave. Sometimes your bravery makes me feel inferior. Although I want to treat you as someone to protect, you always stand strong in front of me. In this life, I'm sorry for you, but rest assured that whether you live or die, Kong Xuan will always be with you." After saying this, Kong Xuan actually bowed deeply to Tang Zisu.
Tang Zisu smiled, and tears trembled down her cheeks; she wrapped her tears in her smile, which was sweet yet slightly bitter.
The Bone Demon knew that Kong Xuan's actions were a desperate gamble; all his attention was focused on Kong Xuan and he failed to notice that someone nearby had already taken action.
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