Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Primordial Heavenly Venerate's pupils suddenly contracted as he took another look at Sun Wukong, a glint of sharpness flashing through his eyes, "I remember you, you are the demon monkey who crossed the tribulation at the Heavenly River! What a rapid cultivation speed, you've already reached the realm of Taiyi Golden Immortal!"

Stretching out his right hand, Primordial Heavenly Venerate calculated briefly, a look of surprise flashing across his face as he stared intently at Sun Wukong, "You are that demon monkey, Sun Wukong? I was wondering who could have possibly evaded my calculations. So it was you!"

Evasion of divination? What does that mean?

A confused look flashed across Sun Wukong's face, followed by his eyes suddenly widening, "Wait, could it be that Primordial Heavenly Venerate can't calculate my moves?

The Heavenly Dao Saint can communicate with the Heavenly Dao to divine all things under heaven, as recorded clearly in the ancient texts within the scripture pavilion of the Three-Star Cave Heaven. Sun Wukong had always assumed that Primordial Heavenly Venerate knew about him already but refrained from taking action due to the decree of Hong Jun Daoist Ancestor.

Now it appeared that he knew nothing about him, not even what he looked like!

The Heavenly Dao Saint can divine all things under heaven, but cannot divine himself. Could it be because he himself had broken through space and time to be reborn in this era, making his life track absent from the paths dictated by the Heavenly Dao? Does this mean that his future is not predetermined and that the so-called inescapable fate does not apply to him?

A look of joy emerged in Sun Wukong's eyes, but it was immediately dashed by a statement from Primordial Heavenly Venerate, "Sun Wukong, don't be too pleased with yourself! Although I don't know why you could evade my calculations, none of that matters anymore. Today, you dared to foil my good deeds, I will not let you go!"

"Primordial Heavenly Venerate, are you really not afraid of Hong Jun Daoist Ancestor's punishment?"

Seeing the murderous intent flickering in the eyes of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Sun Wukong's heart sank; this old fellow really had murderous intentions!

"The punishment of Daoist Ancestor?" Find exclusive stories on empire

Fear flashed in the eyes of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, immediately replaced by a chilling light, "Demon monkey, although Daoist Ancestor said we should not interfere in the matters of the Three Realms arbitrarily, exceptions are made when provoked. The Blood Dragon brought calamity upon the Heaven Realm, and the Jade Emperor requested my presence to vanquish the demon.

Your interference was a direct provocation against me. Taking action against you does not contravene the Daoist Ancestor's orders—where then is the punishment?"

Sun Wukong's expression turned ugly; Primordial Heavenly Venerate was determined to deal with him. Escaping unharmed today seemed unlikely!

"I can't be bothered to waste words with a demon monkey like you. I'll capture you and take you back to the Miro Palace for a slow interrogation."

As Primordial Heavenly Venerate spoke, he extended his palm towards Sun Wukong, suddenly clenching it mid-air. Immediately, Sun Wukong felt the space around him crushing inwards, causing him great alarm. His figure turned into smoke and scattered to evade.

"The Way of Transformation, huh? Interesting! But no matter how accomplished your Way of Transformation is, facing me, you'll find no escape to the heavens or entry into the earth!"

Primordial Heavenly Venerate's eyes flashed coldly. His hands moved, sketching arrays in the air that enveloped Sun Wukong. The space around was locked down, transforming into a spatial cage pressing in on Sun Wukong, leaving no gap for escape even with thousands of transformations.

"It's over, I can't escape this time!"

Sun Wukong forced a smile. A Heavenly Dao Saint indeed is a Heavenly Dao Saint. Primordial Heavenly Venerate had attained enlightenment in the ancient primeval times and was probably much stronger than Tathagata Buddha. With his current level of cultivation, he really had no power to resist!

His body tensing, Sun Wukong felt an oppressive force all over his body, rendering him completely immobile. This sensation was exactly like the previous life when he had been suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by Tathagata Buddha, a deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart.

After living a second life and striving for so many years, facing these peerless experts of the Saint Realm of the Heavenly Dao, he still had no capability to resist!

Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face revealed a cold, triumphant smile. With a flip of his palm, Sun Wukong's figure, compressed and constrained by invisible spatial forces, flew towards his palm, rapidly shrinking as it did. Sun Wukong's face bore a tragic smile; it seemed he was about to be held in Primordial Heavenly Venerate's palm like Blood Dragon Ao Tian...

"Shoo!"

Just as Sun Wukong was despairing, a sword light suddenly flew out from the vault of the sky, arriving in an instant, striking between Sun Wukong and Primordial Heavenly Venerate's palm, emitting a slight cracking sound. Instantly, Sun Wukong felt the bindings on him lighten as a voice rang by his ear,

"Little monkey, aren't you running yet?"

Someone was secretly helping me!

Sun Wukong's eyes brightened, his heart lifted in joy; he didn't bother to see who was helping him. His entire body's Chaos Primordial Force burst forth, breaking the spatial constraints. He turned and charged towards the Heavenly Gate Barrier of the Southern Heavenly Gate.

"Void-Breaking Divine Eye! Break it for me!"

Three star-like points appeared in his eyes, activating the second phase of the Void-Breaking Divine Eye. Sun Wukong dared not hide his prowess; two visible beams of golden light shot out from his eyes, striking directly at the barrier of the Southern Heavenly Gate.

The barrier, which Blood Dragon Ao Tian had previously struggled to break through, melted away like snow under the sun under the golden light, swiftly creating a big hole. Sun Wukong didn't pause, rushing through the barrier, escaping through the Southern Heavenly Gate, and fleeing towards the lower realm at top speed.

"Junior Brother, why do you block me?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Just as he was about to capture Sun Wukong, a sudden interference came. The face of Primordial Heavenly Venerate darkened as if water were about to drip from it. He glanced in the direction the sword light had come from, a flash of anger crossing his eyes as he spoke somberly.

"Second Senior Brother, I'm doing this for your own good!"

A light laughter arose, and a figure materialized from the heavens above, descending as if stepping on an invisible Heavenly Ladder. Who could it be if not the Leader of Tongtian?

"For my good? Leader of Tongtian, don't you find your words somewhat laughable?"

The gaze of Primordial Heavenly Venerate grew colder. Had the person who intervened not been the Leader of Tongtian, he wouldn't have wasted so many words and would have attacked already!

It was odd, given that the Leader of Tongtian had been secluded deep within the Greenwave Palace and had not stepped out for years. Why would he break his seclusion just to meddle in this matter for a mere demon monkey?

It's no wonder Primordial Heavenly Venerate was puzzled. Perhaps the only one in the world who could understand this was Sun Wukong, as others were unaware of the master-disciple relationship between the Leader of Tongtian and Luo Bai.

Indeed, it was Luo Bai who had requested the Leader of Tongtian to come to Sun Wukong's rescue!

After arriving at the Greenwave Palace, Luo Bai had immediately asked the Leader of Tongtian to lend a hand, yet he was refused.

"My disciple, Blood Dragon Ao Tian has caused a massacre in the Heavenly Court, prompting the Jade Emperor to ask my Second Senior Brother to intervene. If I step in to save Ao Tian now, it would be a transgression, and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on before our master!"

"But Master, are you just going to watch?"

Luo Bai was frantic. Looking through the water mirror summoned by the Leader of Tongtian, it was clear that Blood Dragon Ao Tian would not agree to the conditions of Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The latter would definitely make a move to kill him.

Knowing Sun Wukong, Luo Bai was certain that he wouldn't be able to stand by, surely he would intervene to save Blood Dragon Ao Tian, and then wouldn't Sun Wukong be dragged into it as well?

"Let's watch for now. It's not the right time!"

The Leader of Tongtian shook his head. "Don't worry, if there's a real chance, I will make a move. Let's see what the little monkey will do first!"

Luo Bai claimed Sun Wukong would definitely make a move to save Blood Dragon Ao Tian. The Leader of Tongtian wasn't doubting his disciple's judgment of character but was quite curious as to how Sun Wukong intended to save someone from the hands of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, a Heavenly Dao Saint. Sun Wukong's cultivation was only at the level of a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Even with his extraordinary combat power, it seemed unlikely he could rescue Blood Dragon Ao Tian from the palm of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, could he?

"Who dares to sabotage the foundation of my Miro Palace?"

With this fierce shout from Primordial Heavenly Venerate, the Leader of Tongtian's eyebrows twitched, his Divine Sense instantly piercing through space towards the Jade Purity Heaven Miro Palace, a glint in his eyes and a hint of a smile on his lips:

"What a clever monkey, so this was his plan! Cloning Divine Powers, heh, truly ingenious!"

As Primordial Heavenly Venerate was distracted, Sun Wukong seized the opportunity and rescued Blood Dragon Ao Tian from the clutches of Primordial Heavenly Venerate's Dharma Body Hand. Luo Bai's face lit up with joy as he clenched his fist and waved it fiercely: "Way to go, Brother Monkey!"

"Indeed not bad! But I fear they may find it hard to escape,"

the Leader of Tongtian gently shook his head, sighing.

"Hard to escape? Why?"

Luo Bai was puzzled, but soon enough, reality provided the best answer. Primordial Heavenly Venerate directly tore through space to pursue them. Sun Wukong dodged the clutches of the Dharma Body Hand of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, but Blood Dragon Ao Tian couldn't escape.

Being a ruthless character, he chose to self-destruct upon realizing escape was impossible, injuring Primordial Heavenly Venerate's Dharma Body.

The Leader of Tongtian knew that having suffered such a blow, Primordial Heavenly Venerate would need to vent and Sun Wukong would become his best outlet. Understanding the temperament of Primordial Heavenly Venerate, it was certain that in his raging fury, he would disregard the decree of Hong Jun Daoist Ancestor and harshly attack Sun Wukong!

Without hesitation, the Leader of Tongtian tore open space and stepped through, heading towards the Ninth Layer of Heaven. He arrived just in time, releasing sword light that broke Primordial Heavenly Venerate's spatial confinement, providing Sun Wukong a chance to escape.

Yet, the Leader of Tongtian was also taken aback, as the golden light emanating from Sun Wukong's eyes suddenly broke through the Southern Heavenly Gate Barrier repaired by Primordial Heavenly Venerate. It seemed that the little monkey's eyes weren't so simple after all – resembling a kind of innate Pupil Skill. This little monkey kept surprising people time after time, how interesting!