Northern Continent, Wudang.

This towering peak rises steeply from the earth, its cliffs treacherous and terrain rugged, exuding an imposing majesty; it is the sacred place of Great Emperor Zhenwu.

Sun Wukong made his way up the mountain.

Countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, Immortal Officials and Envoys stood on both sides of the mountain path, their gazes scrutinizing him.

"What has brought him here?"

A Heavenly Soldier blurted out, only to be glared at by a Heavenly General beside him.

"Keep quiet!"

They didn't dare offend this representative of the Heavenly Emperor.

Step by step, Sun Wukong reached the summit of Wudang and looked back.

From the cliff's edge, a continuous flight of steps wound down to the Mortal World.

"Truly a fine mountain."

Sun Wukong turned his head and addressed the Immortal Official standing in front of the palace: "None but Zhenwu would dare to claim it."

Wang Lingguan smiled faintly and then stepped forward, bowing: "Great Saint, welcome to Wudang."

"The Emperor is not here."

Sun Wukong did not feel the presence of Great Emperor Zhenwu: "Have I arrived too early?"

"The Emperor is in Jingluo Country."

Wang Lingguan responded: "I was just about to invite the Great Saint there."

"Jingluo Country?"

Sun Wukong pondered: "Was it a vassal state of the Emperor before his ascension?"

Wang Lingguan nodded.

Before ascending, Great Emperor Zhenwu was once the Prince of Jingluo Country.

"I've heard it said that Great Emperor Zhenwu is the Jade Emperor's incarnation; is that true?"

Sun Wukong asked further.

"Of course, it's false."

Wang Lingguan laughed: "Ever since the Emperor's ascension, various tales have spread, true and false intermingled. The Emperor was originally nothing more than a mortal."

Sun Wukong nodded and asked no more.

"Take me to see him."

He had Wang Lingguan lead him to Jingluo Country.

Jingluo Country was a small kingdom in the Northern Continent, which would have long ceased to exist without Great Emperor Zhenwu's protection.

In fact, the world would not remember this nation at all.

Sun Wukong and Wang Lingguan flew three thousand li and then saw a colossal mountain sprawling across the land, blocking the path like a gigantic ridge.

Sun Wukong halted his flight: "That is..."

"That is the massive mountain transformed by the giant serpent, the steed of the Emperor."

Wang Lingguan replied: "It is a thousand li high, stretching endlessly, with not even birds able to penetrate it."

The entire massive mountain was, in fact, a circular giant serpent, enclosing Jingluo Country within.

The giant serpent was one of the two famed Turtle and Serpent Generals under Great Emperor Zhenwu, even more renowned than Wang Lingguan.

Naturally, Sun Wukong also recognized this serpent, but it usually didn't move lightly; whenever it did take action, it signaled significant events.

"What has befallen Jingluo Country?"

Sun Wukong inquired.

"The Emperor went out a few days ago to eradicate an evil demon, and a Great Demon took the opportunity to seize control of Jingluo Country."

Wang Lingguan answered: "The Emperor has summoned you to eliminate this Great Demon."

Sun Wukong was somewhat surprised: "What kind of demon is it that the Emperor cannot deal with personally?"

"It's not that he cannot."

Wang Lingguan shook his head, saying, "That demon possesses a unique ability, using the citizens of Jingluo Country as hostages to threaten the Emperor, rendering him unable to act."

Only then did Sun Wukong understand the reason.

He followed Wang Lingguan closer to the giant serpent, which seemed to sense something, roaring as the mountainside opened a crack to let them fly through.

Crossing the giant serpent, they found a vast plain with several cities scattered across the land.

Great Emperor Zhenwu sat alone outside the Royal City, under a pavilion, his feet entwined with a coil of crimson thorns, resting with closed eyes.

Sun Wukong and Wang Lingguan landed by the pavilion, and only then did he open his eyes.

"You've come."

The voice of Great Emperor Zhenwu sounded weary.

"I have arrived."

Sun Wukong walked into the pavilion and sat down.

"You go back first."

Great Emperor Zhenwu then spoke to Wang Lingguan.

After Wang Lingguan bowed and withdrew, Great Emperor Zhenwu turned to Sun Wukong.

"The Queen Mother just passed away."

He said so.

"I know."

Sun Wukong nodded, he had sensed that aura on the way to the Northern Continent.

"It's not a bad thing."

He said so.

The Great Emperor Zhenwu gave a slight smile: "That's indeed not a bad thing."

The Queen Mother's fall was to experience the mortal dust, waiting for her next rebirth, just like the Jade Emperor.

But Sun Wukong's carefree attitude still surprised the Great Emperor Zhenwu.

"Aren't you worried?"

The Great Emperor Zhenwu asked.

"Worried about what?"

Sun Wukong didn't grasp the meaning.

"Worried about the Immortals holding you accountable."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu answered.

Sun Wukong had just established his personage and had no authority yet.

With the Queen Mother's fall at this time, the myriad Immortals would naturally not miss such an opportunity to strike at Sun Wukong's prestige.

Sun Wukong also knew this would happen, but he was not the least bit worried.

"Tricks and schemes are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things."

He said so.

The Great Emperor Zhenwu couldn't help but admire him.

"Great Emperor."

Sun Wukong looked at the thorns under the Great Emperor Zhenwu's feet: "Is that Demon transformed from thorns?"

"Exactly."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu nodded: "Those thorns have taken a thousand years to take shape, ten thousand years to become a spirit; their Divine Skills are vast and rarely seen in the world."

"... Yet, they are no match for the Great Emperor."

A glance from Sun Wukong was enough to know that the power of the Thorny Demon was inferior to that of the Great Emperor Zhenwu.

"Why does the Great Emperor allow it to absorb strength?"

"Great Saint, look at the city."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu said.

Sun Wukong lifted his head and glanced at the Royal City not far away.

Under his Eyes of Golden Flame, the city walls seemed transparent.

He could see the crowds moving about inside the city, each person's feet entwined with a thorn, their expressions fearful as they went about their tasks.

"So that's how it is."

Sun Wukong understood.

The Great Emperor Zhenwu was using his own strength as a price to protect those humans from being devoured by the Thorny Demon.

"Great Emperor, don't let the minor details cause loss of the greater picture."

Sun Wukong said.

This Demon, which could have been easily dealt with, had grown even stronger by consuming the immortal power of the Great Emperor Zhenwu.

"I had thought that if it were the Great Saint, you would understand me."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu said.

In his eyes, Sun Wukong was fundamentally someone willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of all beings.

Sun Wukong shook his head: "Understanding does not mean it's correct."

"If everyone could be like the Great Saint, where reason triumphs over emotion, there would no longer be sorrow in the Three Realms..."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu suddenly sighed and said, "The Great Saint, just like the Jade Emperor, has great love without attachment."

That was why Sun Wukong was so powerful.

But the Great Emperor Zhenwu couldn't do it; Jingluo Country was too important to him, he couldn't rationally sever ties.

"Great Saint, help me out."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu knew that only Sun Wukong could achieve the best of both worlds.

"What would you have me do?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"This Demon wishes to see you, Great Saint, perhaps you could speak with it."

The Great Emperor Zhenwu said.

Sun Wukong then looked toward the thorns on the ground: "What would you like to say?"

The thorns trembled slightly and then emitted a child's voice.

"I'm scared."

That's what it said.

"As the Heavenly Emperor is also a Demon, then take me with you. I don't want to die here."

The Thorny Demon pleaded desperately, it too did not wish to be entangled with the Great Emperor Zhenwu in this dangerous move.

But if it didn't do so, it would inevitably be killed.

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