"Does Laozi know my master?"

  Xu Fang watched Laozi's retreating figure, deep in thought.

  At this moment, he suddenly recalled something.

  Back when he was studying at Mount Fangcun, Master Bodhi's teachings often blended Buddhist and Daoist philosophies.

  During his lectures, Master Bodhi would alternate between discussing Daoist principles and Buddhist teachings, as if comparing the two schools of thought.

  In other words, Master Bodhi was well-versed in both Daoist and Buddhist teachings!

  He was a master of both traditions!

  "Could it be that Master has some connection with Laozi?"

  Xu Fang pondered this but couldn't figure out the exact relationship. Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the Eight-Trigrams Furnace.

  "Wukong, how are you holding up?"

  Xu Fang approached the furnace, using his spiritual energy to call out.

  Inside the furnace, the Six Ding Divine Fire raged, relentlessly tempering Sun Wukong's body.

  Sun Wukong, who had been howling in pain, suddenly heard Xu Fang's voice. Gritting his teeth, he forced a laugh and replied, "Big Brother, what brings you here? I'm doing just fine!"

  Hearing Sun Wukong's voice, Xu Fang felt a sense of relief.

  He also remembered that, even without his intervention, Sun Wukong wouldn't die.

  After all, in the original story, Laozi hadn't actually killed Sun Wukong!

  It seemed that his concern had clouded his judgment.

  "Wukong, you're trapped in the furnace, and your Lute Bones are locked, preventing you from using your spiritual energy. Let me help you!"

  Although Xu Fang knew that Sun Wukong could hide in the Xun position to avoid the Six Ding Divine Fire, he decided against suggesting it.

  The Xun position was filled with thick smoke, which wouldn't burn Sun Wukong but would damage his divine eyes.

  In the original story, this had caused Sun Wukong to develop eye problems, leaving his eyes red and teary. Sun Wukong had later boasted that this was his "Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils," but in truth, his natural divine eyes were far superior.

  Using his spiritual energy, Xu Fang channeled it into the furnace, shielding Sun Wukong from the flames. Sun Wukong, finally free from the burning pain, let out a sigh of relief.

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  "Thank you, Big Brother."

  "Wukong, time is short, so I'll keep this brief. I'll leave some spiritual energy here to protect you for the next forty-nine days. Once that time has passed, Laozi will release you. When that happens, do not cause any more trouble in the Heavenly Court. Stay far away from this place of chaos..."

  Xu Fang spoke solemnly. "The Heavenly Court's power is far greater than you imagine. With your current strength, you cannot defeat them."

  Hearing this, Sun Wukong fell silent.

  "Big Brother, tell me the truth. Can you see the future?"

  Sun Wukong's question made Xu Fang's heart sink. He didn't know how to respond.

  But Sun Wukong didn't seem to mind Xu Fang's silence. He continued, "Ever since I started learning from you, you've always looked out for me. You've always been one step ahead, anticipating things I couldn't even imagine. Many of the things you've said have come true..."

  "I don't have the ability to see the future. I just happened to catch a glimpse of a fragment of the river of time."

  After a long silence, Xu Fang finally exhaled and spoke with difficulty.

  Sun Wukong's voice paused for a moment, then he laughed. "Did you see my future in the river of time? What... what does my future look like?"

  Xu Fang hesitated, but since things had come to this, he took a deep breath and spoke haltingly. "In the future, you will... cause chaos in the Heavenly Court and be suppressed by the Buddhist sect for five hundred years... After that, you will join the Buddhist sect..."

  "So that's the future you saw for me, Big Brother?"

  Sun Wukong sounded indifferent. "No wonder you clashed with the Buddhist sect as soon as you left the mountain. When I found out about your actions, I was surprised that you would single out the Buddhist sect..."

  "So, Wukong, listen to me. Once you escape, run as far as you can. Never return to the Heavenly Court..."

  Xu Fang's voice was filled with pain.

  He didn't want to see Sun Wukong fall into a trap set by others.

  "Hahaha..."

  However, Sun Wukong suddenly laughed, his voice tinged with helplessness. "Big Brother, are you telling me to run away like a coward?"

  "No..."

  Xu Fang shook his head. "You have no idea how powerful the Heavenly Court is, nor how terrifying the Buddhist sect's strength truly is..."

  "So what? Big Brother, are you afraid?"

  Sun Wukong's laughter gradually faded, replaced by a tone of nostalgia. "The Big Brother I knew back then was bold and ambitious, daring to challenge the Buddha himself even as a Mysterious Immortal!"

  "But now, you're telling me to run away..."

  Hearing the disappointment in Sun Wukong's voice, Xu Fang's expression darkened.

  He had always followed his heart in his cultivation, but what about now?

  He had been oppressed by the Heavenly Court and didn't dare to resist.

  He had watched helplessly as his sworn brother faced execution, powerless to save him.

  Was it true, as Sun Wukong said, that he had become afraid?

  No!

  He wasn't afraid!

  He had simply been worn down by the Three Realms!

  Xu Fang comforted himself with this thought and said, "Only the ignorant are fearless, Wukong. I'm not afraid. Once you truly understand their power, you might make the same choice as me..."

  "No, I, Sun Wukong, would rather die than be afraid or submit to anyone!"

  Sun Wukong interrupted Xu Fang with a cold laugh. But Xu Fang shook his head and said firmly, "No, you will! Because I've seen your future. The proud and defiant Great Sage Equal to Heaven will one day bow to the Buddhist sect..."

  "Hahaha, I don't believe it!"

  Sun Wukong laughed wildly. Inside the furnace, he suddenly reached for the twin blades locked into his Lute Bones.

  These blades had sealed his Lute Bones, preventing him from using his spiritual energy.

  Previously, he could only rely on his physical body to evade the Six Ding Divine Fire. But now, with the flames blocked by Xu Fang's spiritual energy, Sun Wukong finally had a chance to remove the blades.

  "My fate is my own, not heaven's! Even if I'm torn to pieces, I will never submit to anyone!"

  As he spoke, Sun Wukong endured the pain and slowly began to pull out the blades locked into his Lute Bones.

  This was only possible because of his immense physical strength. For anyone else, having their Lute Bones sealed would render them completely powerless.