Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Chapter 150 Erlang Manifests the True Lord

"Your Majesty, I am certain that what they practiced was the Eight-Nine Profound Skill!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing bowed deeply and said, "The body refining techniques of the Demon Clan have long been lost, and the remaining ones are all insignificant. Only the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, the protective cultivation technique of our Human Race, is capable of cultivating the Divine Power Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth.

As soon as I discovered this, I immediately stopped the attack on Flower-Fruit Mountain and rushed back to report to Your Majesty. What are your divine intentions?"

The Jade Emperor was silent; he pondered the words of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing. Could it really be that some high-ranking Buddhist leader was supporting Flower-Fruit Mountain from behind?

But, that didn't make sense. There had always been a rift between the Western Buddhist Nation and the Demon Clan. If it were indeed supported by the Buddhists in secret, the Heavenly Court would have caught some wind of it.

Perhaps, it was just that a few powerful demons had coincidentally practiced the Eight-Nine Profound Skill.

"Your Majesty, might I inquire about your divine decree? Your Majesty?"

The question from Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing brought the Jade Emperor out of his contemplation. The Jade Emperor cleared his throat and thought, "I believe that Sun Wukong's demon tribe of Flower-Fruit Mountain likely has no connection with the Buddhist sect, or else the Buddhists wouldn't have remained silent.

However, as you've stated before, Lord Li, the strength of the Bull Demon King and other Demon Kings is indeed remarkable. To conquer Flower-Fruit Mountain, we'll need a valiant general to capture the Bull Demon King. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Your Majesty, I do have one nominee, and he is your own nephew, Erlang God Yang Jian of the Guankou True Lord's Temple!"

Since the Jade Emperor had declared that Flower-Fruit Mountain's demon tribe had no relations with the Buddhist sect, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing was also reassured. If the Jade Emperor said they weren't related, then they definitely weren't related; with the honor of the Jade Emperor, he wouldn't jest about such matters.

As long as there were no sect leader-level figures backing Flower-Fruit Mountain, he had nothing to worry about!

Erlang God Yang Jian was the candidate Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing had thought of on his way back; everyone said that Nezha the Third Prince was the war god of the Heavenly Court, but Li Jing knew very clearly that among the Heavenly Court's war generals, Nezha was at most among the frontrunners. The true number one war god was undoubtedly Erlang God Yang Jian!

Not to mention that Yang Jian's cultivation had already broken through to the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm, his mastery of transformation spells was unparalleled within the Heavenly Court!

Moreover, Yang Jian also practiced the Eight-Nine Profound Skill and had already achieved Physical Body Sanctification to the Great Achievement Realm. No matter how formidable the Bull Demon King was, he likely wasn't a match for Erlang God Yang Jian.

Once the Bull Demon King was captured, the other demons naturally would not be able to withstand the Twenty-Eight Constellations' Constellation Annihilation Divine Formation, and the conquest of Flower-Fruit Mountain would be imminent!

"Yang Jian?"

The Jade Emperor's brows furrowed slightly; he was well aware of his nephew's temperament, which was proud, and because of the past event of splitting the mountain to save his mother, the relationship between Yang Jian and the Jade Emperor was not harmonious. After being named Erlang God, he was reluctant to ascend to heaven for an official position.

After writing "I follow orders, not proclamations" on his appointment letters, he retired with his sister Yang Chan and the Meishan Six Saints to the Guankou True Lord's Temple. Except for being invited to heaven during the Peach of Immortality festival, he seldom interacted with the immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court and especially avoided contact with his uncle.

Was it appropriate now to send him to subdue the demon tribe of Flower-Fruit Mountain?

"Your Majesty, since the Revealing the Sacred True Lord follows orders but not proclamations, you could issue a divine decree to assign him to my command as the vanguard officer to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain. I believe the True Lord would not defy the order!"

The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing was well aware of the estrangement between the Jade Emperor and Erlang God Yang Jian and could see that the Jade Emperor had hesitations, clearly fearing that Yang Jian would not heed his command, which would embarrass the Lord of the Heavenly Court. He thus stepped forward and respectfully made his suggestion.

"What my loyal subject proposes makes sense! So be it, let's follow your suggestion. Assign Erlang God Yang Jian to the attacking army as the vanguard officer to aid Lord Li in the campaign against Flower-Fruit Mountain! This time, we must completely flatten that Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"Your servant obeys the order!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing responded loudly and strode out from the Lingxia Palace. Soon, the heavenly official carrying the Jade Emperor's divine decree arrived at Guankou True Lord's Temple and conveyed the Jade Emperor's dispatch orders to Erlang God Yang Jian.

"Vanguard officer? Attacking Flower-Fruit Mountain?"

Erlang God Yang Jian furrowed his brow. Although he had retired to the Guankou True Lord's Temple, he was not completely reclusive. He regularly interacted with the immortals of Triple Mountains and Five Peaks, merely refraining from attending Heaven's roll calls and duties.

He had already heard about the Heavenly Army's debacle in the Polar Realm of Heaven when they attempted to encircle the Demon Monkey Sun Wukong, resulting in a complete defeat and a Blood Dragon wreaking havoc in Heavenly Palace. It took the Primordial Heavenly Venerate to clean up the mess.

What pained him most was the news of his dear brother Nezha the Third Prince's demise, reportedly killed by the Demon Monkey Sun Wukong.

"Please report back to His Majesty the Jade Emperor that Yang Jian will gather his subordinates and head to Flower-Fruit Mountain immediately!" Explore stories at empire

Erlang God Yang Jian had long wanted to seek justice for Nezha the Third Prince and had even secretly visited Flower-Fruit Mountain to investigate. He discovered that Flower-Fruit Mountain was protected by an extremely formidable Great Formation Barrier, making it difficult to enter lightly.

The Demon Race of Flower-Fruit Mountain was definitely not like other demons that claimed mountains as their kingdoms. He could only temporarily hold back his intentions.

Honestly, Yang Jian had been waiting for this order from the Jade Emperor for a long time. He knew that the Heavenly Court would not let Flower-Fruit Mountain continue to develop unchecked and would sooner or later send a large army to conquer it. If the Demon Race of Flower-Fruit Mountain was weak, they would naturally be exterminated by the Heavenly Army.

If their strength was formidable and the Heavenly Court could not prevail, the Jade Emperor would sooner or later summon him to aid in the battle, and he could rightfully seek revenge for Nezha!

"Meishan Brothers, muster the troops, follow me to Flower-Fruit Mountain to subdue the demons!"

"At your command!"

The Meishan Six Sages immediately roused their twelve hundred grassroots deities and, together with Erlang God Yang Jian, soared on the clouds, crossed the Eastern Sea, and approached the territory of Flower-Fruit Mountain, flying towards the encampment of the Heavenly Army.

They saw the Heavenly Net spread extensively before the camp of the Heavenly Army, forming dense layers that made it impossible to advance. Yang Jian couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "This Li Jing is truly a coward! A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals have besieged Flower-Fruit Mountain for so long yet have failed to take it down.

Not only have they lost troops, but they've also become frightened birds, resorting to using the Heavenly Net even for setting up camp!"

Having just returned from the Heavenly Court, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing was overjoyed to hear that Erlang God Yang Jian was leading his troops to assist. He had been worried that Yang Jian, because of Nezha's demise, would hold a grudge against him and refuse to come. He hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly!

"Yang Jian and Nezha were always on good terms, fearing that hearing of Nezha's fall at the hands of the demon monkey Sun Wukong, he rushed to seek revenge, which is probably why he came so quickly," thought Li Jing.

After mulling it over a bit, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing quickly understood Yang Jian's motive and a sly, cold smile curved his lips—the unruly brat was insolent when alive, and even in death, he ended up indirectly doing Li Jing a huge favor, truly dying a worthy death!

"Summon the men, open the Central Gate, let all the generals follow this commander out of the Yuan Gate to welcome the Eminent True Lord!"

The Heavenly Net was retracted, and Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, along with the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and the four divisions of heavenly deities of wind, thunder, water, and fire, walked to the front of Yuan Gate. From afar, Li Jing saluted Erlang God Yang Jian.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they entered the main tent in the camp, where Yang Jian inquired about the battle situation.

"The demon monkey Sun Wukong is currently not in Flower-Fruit Mountain, but there are other formidable demons stationed there. The strongest is the Bull Demon King, a Daluo Golden Immortal with the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, Physical Body Sanctification, and the Divine Power Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth. His combat power is extremely formidable.

The Twenty-Eight Constellations together set up the Constellation Annihilation Divine Formation to combat him, and they only managed a draw."

"There is also a Six-Eared Macaque, a Taiyi Golden Immortal similarly practicing Eight-Nine Profound Skill and Physical Body Sanctification. With his power alone, he defeated the Four Great Heavenly Kings. Although he did not use the Divine Power Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth, it's likely that he also possesses it. Besides, other demons are no easy targets either.

A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals had just arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain and were ambushed, decimated by the Deadly Slaughter Formation that killed twenty thousand instantly. The remaining eighty thousand have fought for so long but have been unable to break through the gates of Flower-Fruit Mountain, alas!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing explained, which caused Erlang God Yang Jian to frown slightly. The situation was more severe than he had anticipated. There were so many formidable demons within Flower-Fruit Mountain; this battle would not be easy. No wonder the Jade Emperor had decreed his assistance.

"So be it. Tomorrow I shall challenge the Bull Demon King. If I cannot defeat him, my brothers will come to my rescue. Do not bother yourselves worrying about me. If I do manage to subdue him, my brothers will also have bound him. Then, all the Field Marshal needs is to seize the moment to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain," Yang Jian contemplated, his voice exuding arrogance.

His intent was clear: he would fight the Bull Demon King, and they just needed to time their attack accordingly. The rest wasn't their concern, nor did they need to give him any orders as he would not follow them anyway!

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's eyes flashed sharply. Such grandiosity from Yang Jian! Absolutely arrogant!

However, given the desperate need for capable individuals, aside from Yang Jian it seemed there was no one else who could handle the Bull Demon King. Li Jing could only suppress his dissatisfaction for the time being and nodded with a smile, "That would be excellent! Then we shall trouble the True Lord. Someone, please invite the True Lord to rest in the camp.

Once this commander has prepared the feast, we will welcome the True Lord properly!"

"Field Marshal, this Yang Jian is too arrogant, utterly disregarding others! He is here by decree; why must you be so polite to him?"

As soon as Erlang God Yang Jian left the tent, Great Sight Heavenly King Mo Lishou could not restrain his cold disdain, expressing it with a scoff. The unfavorable situation in the battle had already caused significant attrition, including the loss of the Purple-Gold Fox Mink, and the last thing he could stand was someone else's arrogant demeanor.

And Yang Jian, from head to toe, from his gaze to his behavior, exuded arrogance. If not for knowing that he was no match for Yang Jian, he would have already mocked him.

"His arrogance is backed by substantial capability, why bother contending with him? His Majesty the Jade Emperor summoned him here to assist us in breaking through Flower-Fruit Mountain. As long as he can take down the Bull Demon King, allowing our Heavenly Army to breach Flower-Fruit Mountain, everyone will share in the credit. Why not endure him for a while longer?"