Chapter 754: Chapter 755: The Peril of the Western Sea (3rd Update!)

Sun Wukong’s eyes narrowed slightly as he understood the implicit message in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s words, that someone was exterminating various Races under the false pretense of acting for the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, pinning the blame on them.

Such a malicious intention!

Clearly, the person behind the scenes was capitalizing on the previous incident where the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court attacked the Penglai Fairy Island and exterminated the Hidden Clan, using it as a fuse for this foul play of framing and entrapment. As for why they were throwing the blame onto the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, one could easily understand that the aim was to provoke the united resentment of all clans and make the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court a target for everyone!

“Elder Brother, just tell me, who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes?”

Given Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s temperament, he wouldn’t speak of anything without certainty. Since he brought it up at the assembly, it meant he must have already found some clues, if not the identity of the one pulling the strings from behind.

As expected, as soon as Sun Wukong asked, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded and said, “I indeed have discovered some traces. If my deductions are correct, it should be the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect behind this, as well as the Wing Tribe from amongst the Myriad Races!”

“The Wing Tribe? The same Wing Tribe whose harassers I, Old Sun, completely wiped out before?”

Sun Wukong’s brows furrowed. He was not surprised that the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect was pulling strings from behind; those bald monks always spoke of benevolence, righteousness, and compassion, while secretly doing countless filthy deeds. It was all too normal for them to resort to underhanded schemes when they couldn’t overtly handle the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court.

However, the fact that the Wing Tribe was also involved irritated Sun Wukong. After eliminating the Wing Tribe’s invaders previously, he did not pursue the matter further nor did he meddle with the Wing Tribe’s affair over the occupation of Yingzhou Immortal Island. He thought as long as the Wing Tribe did not seek trouble again, the issue would be considered over. Yet, those scoundrels from the Wing Tribe had become increasingly presumptuous!

The tiger does not show its might to be perceived as critically ill!

Choosing not to contend with you, do you truly think I, Old Sun, fear you?

“Elder Brother Ksitigarbha, is the information reliable?”

“Ninety-nine percent certain!”

“Alright then, help I, Old Sun, check which Race they plan to move against next. They wish to set up and frame someone, I’d like to see just how capable they really are!”

Sun Wukong’s eyes burst with a cold light. The Wing Tribe’s actions had already landed them on his assassination list!

It seemed that the previous warning to the Hidden Clan did not intimidate those with ulterior motives. Now that someone dared to plot against the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, they should not blame Sun Wukong for his ruthless counteractions!

“Yes, Great Saint!”

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva acted quickly, and in just one day, he managed to ascertain that the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect and the Wing Tribe were planning next to exterminate the Western Sea Dragon Clan, inciting hatred from the Dragon Clan towards the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court and also causing fear amongst other Races within the demon community who had yet to submit to the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, driving them away.

“What malicious intent, what venomous methods!”

Upon hearing the news, Sun Wukong radiated an icy murderous intent. The Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect and the Wing Tribe had definitely crossed his red line this time!

Due to his relations with the White Dragon Ao Lie, as well as Candle Dragon Ao Tian and Ying Long Ying Tian, Sun Wukong had always been extremely tolerant of the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas. Despite the Dragon Clan wavered between aligning with the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court and the Human Heavenly Court up to this point, Sun Wukong had not forced them to take a side. He wanted the White Dragon Ao Lie to succeed as the Dragon King of the Western Sea, hoping to subdue the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas with as little bloodshed as possible.

Never did he expect the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect and the Wing Tribe to target the Western Sea Dragon Clan. Should they succeed, all of Sun Wukong’s previous restraint would have been in vain!

“Boss, let me go, I want to slaughter those bastards myself!”

A determined willingness to kill flashed across the face of the young White Dragon Ao Lie. Although Ao Run, the Western Sea Dragon King, had denounced him and severed their father-son ties to appease the Heavenly Court, Ao Lie now understood it was nothing more than a transaction between the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas and the Jade Emperor–a ploy to claim a share in the merit and destiny accrued from the Journey to the West to Seek Scriptures. In retrospect, Ao Run’s actions to disown him were intended for the sake of his future prospects, a tragic play staged in the name of greater righteousness.

How could Ao Lie, the young White Dragon, stand idly by when the Western Sea Dragon Clan faced difficulties?

“Hmm, fine then! You shall accompany Old Sun on this journey!”

Thanks to the vast merit and destiny earned from their scripture-seeking journey, Ao Lie, buoyed by the portion of merit and destiny that Sun Wukong had entrusted to him, forced his cultivation to ascend to the Quasi-Saint Realm. Within the five members of the Journey to the West, Yuan Hong possessed the highest cultivation, having reached the late stages of the Quasi-Saint Realm, while Jiang Liu’er and Ao Lie were both at the middle stage. Zhu Bajie and Monk Sha had also reached the early stage of the Quasi-Saint Realm. In terms of combat capabilities, Yuan Hong was likely the only one among them now who could firmly best Ao Lie.

With such great advancement in cultivation strength, and the matter concerning the Western Sea Dragon Clan, Sun Wukong had no reason whatsoever to stop Ao Lie, and moreover, he had no desire to do so.

This was an opportunity for Ao Lie to legitimately establish his prestige within the Western Sea Dragon Clan, perhaps even leveraging it to ascend to the throne of the Western Sea Dragon King and henceforth gain control over the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas!

“Great Sage, let’s go help out too!”

Luo Bai and the others were eager to try.

Sun Wukong, however, shook his head: “There’s no need! The more people involved, the easier it is for the enemy to notice and possibly abort their plans, which would be terrible! Old Sun and Ao Lie will go. The rest of you continue to cultivate diligently. Old Sun has a feeling that before long, successive holy wars will erupt within the Three Realms. Without formidable cultivation strength, you won’t be able to protect yourselves!”

“Alright then, boss, take care of yourself. If anything happens, send a message back to the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, and we’ll rush over immediately!”

Seeing that Sun Wukong was resolute, Luo Bai and the others could only nod in agreement. Wukong gestured to Ao Lie and they both took to the clouds, leaving the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court and flying towards the Western Sea.

…

Inside the Western Sea Dragon Palace.

“Your Majesty, terrible news! A group of demons claiming to be under the command of Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven of the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court, are invading the Western Sea. They’ve already breached three layers of defense and are about to attack the Dragon Palace!”

The Crab General stumbled into the Western Sea Dragon Palace, urgently reporting to Ao Run, the Western Sea Dragon King.

“People from the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court? Why would they suddenly attack the Western Sea? It makes no sense!”

Ao Run stood up abruptly from his dragon throne, startled, “Are you sure they’re from the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court?”

“That’s what they’re claiming! They demand that the Western Sea Dragon Clan immediately submit to the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court and send Prince Mo Ang as a hostage. Otherwise, they threaten to flatten the Dragon Palace and exterminate the entire Western Sea Dragon Clan!”

“Outrageous!”

Upon hearing this, Ao Run was furious, smashing a coral cup to pieces with a slap, “I want to see just how the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court plans to annihilate our Western Sea Dragon Clan!”