“I am the Demon-Slaying General, Xu Fang!”

  Xu Fang’s tone was unapologetic, instantly provoking Mu Zha’s fury. “How dare you be rude to the Bodhisattva!”

  “The Bodhisattva is your Buddhist sect’s figure, what does that have to do with me?”

  Xu Fang shot a cold glance at Mu Zha, while Guanyin Bodhisattva seemed unfazed, her interest piqued as she smiled and said, “Amitabha, so you are the famous Xu General. I have long heard of your reputation.”

  “I wouldn’t dare! No fame can compare to that of the Guanyin Bodhisattva!”

  Xu Fang replied resolutely. The Jade Emperor, surprised, furrowed his brows, not expecting Xu Fang to volunteer to capture Sun Wukong.

  “Xu Fang, why do you wish to go?”

  The Jade Emperor queried, raising an eyebrow.

  Xu Fang responded coolly, “Only to avoid suspicion! Now that everyone in the Heavenly Court knows that Sun Wukong is my sworn brother, if I don’t act personally today, I’ll inevitably be accused of colluding with him in the future!”

  His words were measured and logical, leaving no room for rebuttal.

  However, Xu Fang’s true intent was far from what he stated!

  The trouble caused by Sun Wukong was already irreparable, and through the Jade Emperor’s attitude, Xu Fang recognized that he had no power to influence the Emperor’s decisions. Thus, his mission to capture Sun Wukong was merely a guise; his real purpose was to warn Sun Wukong!

  After all, he knew exactly who Guanyin Bodhisattva intended to recommend!

  Erlang Shen Yang Jian!

  Yang Jian possessed profound cultivation and remarkable abilities, having achieved saintly status after the Fengshen Catastrophe. Countless powerful beings had fallen to his hands!

  Not to mention Sun Wukong, even Xu Fang himself wouldn’t necessarily triumph over Yang Jian in their current states!

  Though he was unsure why Yang Jian showed mercy to Sun Wukong in the original text, the fact remained that Sun Wukong was ultimately captured. Xu Fang, however, did not want to see his sworn brother come to harm.

  If he could provide a warning, he would do so!

  “Very well, since that is the case, I permit you to go!”

  The Jade Emperor, unaware of Xu Fang’s true intentions, spoke up, “Xu Fang’s mission is for the greater good, and in the future, all deities must not let his relationship with that demon monkey lead to slander!”

  Having said that, the Jade Emperor turned to Guanyin Bodhisattva, a smile gracing his lips, “Bodhisattva, since Xu Fang has voluntarily stepped forward, I shall allow him to take action. If he can subdue that demon monkey, that would be best. If he cannot, we can still proceed with the person you recommend later.”

  Of course, while the Jade Emperor said this, he knew deep down that Xu Fang had no chance of capturing Sun Wukong!

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  However, with Xu Fang publicly asserting his intentions, if he were to refuse Xu Fang’s participation, it could potentially harm his reputation.

  “Xu Fang, heed my command. You are to join Li Jing in descending to the mortal realm to subdue the demon monkey. Do not make any mistakes!”

  Upon hearing the Jade Emperor’s command, Xu Fang clasped his hands in salute. He then fell silent, striding out of the Hall of Divine Mists alongside Li Jing.

  A hint of derision flickered in the corner of his eye as he glanced at the deities who avoided him as if he were a plague, before transforming into a stream of light and departing.

  ……

  Xu Fang moved swiftly, and seeing Li Jing flying sluggishly on his cloud, he impatiently seized Li Jing and they both soared towards Flower-Fruit Mountain.

  Above Flower-Fruit Mountain, dark clouds loomed ominously!

  Within the clouds were heavenly soldiers clad in dark armor.

  Below the heavenly troops lay a dense net of heavenly traps, layer upon layer, surrounding Flower-Fruit Mountain without leaving a gap.

  “Everyone, the Xu General has arrived!”

  Li Jing announced as he landed, looking at the assembled deities.

  He had previously been ordered to bring Nezha, the Nine Luminaries, the Five Directional Deities, and the Four Value Functionaries. Unfortunately, they had suffered defeat, and when Mu Zha had stepped in, he too fell to Sun Wukong.

  Now, the expressions of the deities were all grim.

  “What brings you here?”

  Nezha, upon spotting Xu Fang, was momentarily taken aback, genuinely puzzled as to why the Jade Emperor would send Xu Fang.

  After all, everyone knew Xu Fang was sworn brothers with Sun Wukong. Had the Jade Emperor lost his mind to send him?

  “What? Are you doubting my abilities?”

  Xu Fang replied casually, and Nezha quickly waved his hands, “That’s not it. Your prowess is well-known throughout the Heavenly Court. It’s just that your close relationship with Sun Wukong means that if we win this battle, it’s fine, but if we lose, it might give others an excuse to slander you.”

  Nezha meant well, but he sighed and added, “You shouldn’t have come.”

  “No, you’re mistaken.”

  Xu Fang shook his head and said, “Whether I come or not, this mess is one I cannot distance myself from.”

  With that, Xu Fang gazed towards the Heavenly Court, a cold smirk on his face, “If I don’t come, surely those with ulterior motives would accuse me of colluding with the demon monkey to disrupt the Heavenly Court!”

  “That does make sense.”

  Nezha nodded, and Xu Fang continued, “But what’s the use in discussing this now? What’s with your miserable state?”

  “Don’t even get me started.”

  Nezha waved his hands repeatedly, “Your sworn brother seems to have experienced a tremendous boost in power from the peaches and elixirs. He has now reached the peak of the Supreme Golden Immortal, and we’ve taken turns fighting him for several rounds, but none of us can match him…”

  As he spoke, the Nine Luminaries and others wore embarrassed expressions.

  It was truly humiliating for the righteous gods of the Heavenly Court to be unable to defeat a mere demon monkey, let alone have it press them into submission!

  “Now, he is no longer my sworn brother.”

  Xu Fang’s voice turned icy as he gazed at Flower-Fruit Mountain, snorting, “This demon monkey has committed grave offenses by stealing peaches and elixirs. I have severed ties with him; he is no longer my sworn brother!”

  The deities present understood his words, yet their gazes towards Xu Fang held a hint of disdain.

  Even Nezha, who had always held Xu Fang in high regard, revealed a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

  It was clear from Xu Fang’s words that he had come to capture Sun Wukong out of fear that Sun Wukong’s crimes would implicate him, thus hastily showing his loyalty by attempting to apprehend Sun Wukong!

  Though Xu Fang was high-ranking and immensely skilled, they looked down upon someone who would betray their brotherhood for personal gain.

  “Report—”

  Just then, a soldier stepped forward from below the clouds to announce, “Reporting to the Heavenly King, that demon monkey has come to challenge us again!”

  Upon hearing this, Li Jing’s face darkened, and the expressions of the other deities grew anxious.

  After all, they had all faced Sun Wukong before, and the reality was that these exalted deities were no match for the monkey wielding the Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod!

  Moreover, Sun Wukong’s cultivation had already reached the Supreme Golden Immortal level, and his combat prowess was almost on par with that of a Great Luo Golden Immortal!

  With so many divine beings unable to defeat a single demon monkey, and now he was coming to issue a challenge, it was only natural for them to feel flustered.