With his unparalleled powers fully realized, Sun Wukong had grown increasingly unrestrained. Apart from Master Bodhi and Xu Fang, there were few in the Three Realms who could command his respect!

  At this moment, however, Xu Fang had not shown himself.

  After all, the relationship between him and Sun Wukong couldn't be made public!

  Though the major players behind the scenes were well aware, everyone continued to play dumb. Xu Fang had no desire to be the scapegoat who revealed everything!

  ……

  Meanwhile, the Mighty Spirit God glared at Sun Wukong, who had leaped onto the clouds, and proclaimed loudly, “I am the Mighty Spirit God of the Heavenly Court!”

  “Mighty Spirit God? Never heard of you!”

  Sun Wukong scratched his ear, visibly irritated. “What brings you to my Flower-Fruit Mountain?”

  “Wow! Such audacity! You don’t even recognize your grandfather, the Mighty Spirit God!”

  The Mighty Spirit God was enraged, shouting, “You monkey demon have committed numerous crimes: raiding the Dragon Palace, stealing the Sea-Calming Needle, invading the Underworld, and tampering with the Death Records! Surrender now and face your punishment!”

  Having heard this, Sun Wukong quickly deduced that Ao Guang, the Dragon King, and King Qin Guang had gone to the Heavenly Court to complain.

  “I admit to tampering with the Death Records, but raiding the Dragon Palace? That old mudfish claims I stole from him?”

  Sun Wukong widened his eyes and retorted, “This armor and the golden-hooped rod were gifts from that old mudfish himself! How can you call it a raid?!”

  “Hmph, don’t try to quibble! Surrender at once!”

  The Mighty Spirit God was already impatient with Sun Wukong’s stubbornness. With a roar, he raised his flower axe and swung it down at Sun Wukong!

  He towered over Sun Wukong, appearing like a giant!

  Yet Sun Wukong feared nothing. He leaped into the air and swung his golden-hooped rod with fury!

  “Take this, old Sun’s rod!”

  With a mighty strike—

  Clang!

  The flower axe shattered instantly!

  Blood erupted from the Mighty Spirit God’s hand, leaving him momentarily stunned.

  “What…?”

  The Mighty Spirit God was taken aback! Had the monsters in the mortal realm become this powerful?

  A dignified deity of the Heavenly Court defeated in a single blow?!

  Before he could process this, the golden-hooped rod came crashing down again!

  Weighing over thirteen thousand five hundred pounds and wielded by Sun Wukong, the force was more than a thousand jun!

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  The Mighty Spirit God rolled his eyes and promptly fainted!

  The thirty thousand heavenly soldiers stood there, dumbfounded!

  Was the Mighty Spirit God really that weak? He was knocked out without even withstanding two blows!

  This monkey demon was far too fierce!

  Taking advantage of the Mighty Spirit God's fall, Sun Wukong charged forward, ready to beat him mercilessly with his rod!

  Xu Fang, concealed in the clouds above, shook his head in helplessness.

  This monkey had grown even more unruly since leaving Mount Fangcun.

  Yet since he was present, he couldn't just watch Sun Wukong kill a deity of the Heavenly Court!

  “Go catch the Mighty Spirit God,” Xu Fang instructed a nearby junior general. Before the junior could respond, Xu Fang vanished, reappearing beside Sun Wukong!

  Buzz—

  As Sun Wukong swung his golden-hooped rod down, he suddenly froze!

  Because he discovered that the rod was inexplicably stuck in mid-air, refusing to obey him!

  “Who are you?!”

  Sun Wukong's eyes widened. This was the first time such a thing had happened since he obtained the golden-hooped rod. Could it be that the treasure had betrayed him?

  “You shouldn’t harbor such murderous intentions.”

  At that moment, Xu Fang materialized beside Sun Wukong, speaking in a calm tone.

  “Master…”

  Sun Wukong’s eyes bulged in disbelief as he looked at Xu Fang. Just as he was about to call him ‘brother,’ the sky suddenly rumbled with a thunderous clap!

  The thunder seemed to carry a warning!

  Sun Wukong quickly swallowed the word he had yet to utter.

  “This monkey is far too reckless…”

  Xu Fang chuckled and shook his head. Then, he waved his sleeve, summoning a clone that looked exactly like himself!

  In the blink of an eye, Xu Fang’s true form vanished into the void.

  Sun Wukong, who also practiced the technique of creating clones, instantly understood Xu Fang’s intent. He quickly plucked a hair, infused it with celestial energy, transforming it into a clone that joined Xu Fang’s in combat!

  In the void, Sun Wukong’s true form then caught Xu Fang, laughing heartily. “Brother! I’ve missed you!”

  “You monkey!”

  Xu Fang laughed back. “It’s been a long time! You’ve certainly become more impressive!”

  In this hidden realm, they were free from detection. Even if some all-knowing beings sensed their presence, it was of no concern, as Xu Fang hadn’t revealed anything outright.

  As the two brothers exchanged pleasantries, Sun Wukong suddenly felt the golden-hooped rod stirring in his hand.

  It seemed to want to draw closer to Xu Fang!

  “Brother, what’s this…?”

  Sun Wukong paused, while Xu Fang understood the underlying reason.

  Back during the battle against the Nine-Headed Monster in the East Sea, he had summoned the golden-hooped rod, and possessing the ability to communicate with treasures was his forte. It was normal for the rod to respond to him favorably.

  “This Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod is a fine treasure, dear brother. You must treat it well going forward.”

  Xu Fang said as he gently caressed the rod, speaking softly as if to soothe it. “My brother’s heart isn’t wicked; just follow my advice and don’t throw tantrums.”

  The golden-hooped rod vibrated, as if in response to Xu Fang, leaving Sun Wukong utterly astonished!

  His brother was as mysterious and powerful as ever, capable of communicating with his treasure!

  It almost felt like Xu Fang was the true master of the golden-hooped rod!

  “Brother, I’m currently obeying our master’s wishes and serving in the Heavenly Court. I’ll take the Mighty Spirit God with me. You should remain at Flower-Fruit Mountain and wait for our next meeting.”

  Xu Fang stated, and without a moment's hesitation, Sun Wukong boisterously replied, “I’ll do whatever my brother says!”

  “Good.”

  Xu Fang nodded and continued, “However, our relationship must remain a secret for now. Shortly, my clone will pretend to retreat, and you’ll reclaim Flower-Fruit Mountain!”

  “Understood!”

  Sun Wukong nodded eagerly. After their conversation, they both shot out of the void!

  Indeed, Xu Fang’s clone and Sun Wukong’s clone fought for several dozen exchanges, feigning an opening before retreating.

  “The monkey demon is too powerful; we must return to the Heavenly Court to report!”

  Xu Fang glanced at the Mighty Spirit God, who was still unconscious.

  The heavenly soldiers, obedient to Xu Fang’s command, began their retreat.

  ……

  In the Hall of Divine Mists.

  Now awake, the Mighty Spirit God knelt on the ground, begging for forgiveness. “Your Majesty, I am incompetent. Please punish me!”

  In his plea, the Mighty Spirit God recounted his misfortunes, fearing that the Jade Emperor would truly hold him accountable.

  “That monkey demon’s methods are exceedingly fierce. Had it not been for General Xu’s timely assistance, I likely wouldn’t have survived…”

  Xu Fang interjected, “Your Majesty, I have also faced that monkey demon. His powers are indeed vast; this battle is not the Mighty Spirit God’s fault.”