Chapter 023: Two Saints Join Forces to Resist the Enemy

Wukong entered the Black Tower but was transported to a unique world that seemed to be the center of the universe. There, he encountered Yang Jian and then Yuan Hong, a Tongbei Monkey. Just as Yuan Hong's soul scattered in disarray, an enemy, hidden in the warship for who knows how long, suddenly took over Yuan Hong's body.

Yang Jian's vertical eye in his forehead opened, Howling Celestial Dog emitted a series of deep whimpers, and Wukong also tightly gripped the Jingu Bang, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Then, "Yuan Hong" stretched his arms and let out a strange chuckle, "This Tongbei Monkey's body is indeed extraordinary. On the battlefield, he could change the tide of a small area all by himself, which is truly impressive. I've had to hide for many years, and now I've finally seized the chance to take over this body."

Wukong's face darkened as he shouted, "Who are you? Return the body!"

Since Yuan Hong's body was meant for him, he decisively couldn't let anyone else take it. Moreover, Celestial Emperor Fuxi had prophesied that this body was crucial to the game between Buddhism and Daoism and the Tathagata's schemes. How could he let it be taken away? However, Wukong wasn't sure about this person's mana. Blindly starting the fight might put them at a disadvantage. Being a seasoned warrior, Yang Jian certainly wouldn't trust attacking first before clearly knowing the opponent's strength. If the opponent were stronger, acting hastily would only lead to loss.

"A peculiar species, the Spiritual Stone Monkey? Born with a vertical eye, a person of rare, innate coldness. You two are indeed extraordinary. However, today, you'll die here!" Yuan Hong bellowed, his eyes emitting red light. He struck from the air with his palm, which grew massive like a mountain as it swept down covering the sky.

Wukong hastily threw the Great Year Whip into the air, snapping it violently. With a crack as loud as thunder, it struck Yuan Hong's hand. Yuan Hong exclaimed in surprise and quickly withdrew his hand, which, despite being as tough as iron and copper, had swollen from the impact.

"Spiritual Treasure Venerable's Great Year Whip? No, the real Great Year Whip once summoned would press down like the primordial chaos. Yours is but a counterfeit," said Yuan Hong with a cold laugh.

Yang Jian said, "This person can only exert the power of a Daluo Golden Immortal. Let's join forces and force his Primordial Spirit out of the body."

Yuan Hong shouted loudly, his hands clenching into fists. Each punch brought a gale, his True Qi was wildly fierce like a storm, immense fist seals slammed towards Wukong and Yang Jian. Wukong and Yang Jian, each wielding a weapon, blocked the fist seals, and Howling Celestial Dog, also opening its huge mouth transformed into a hundred-yard giant, broke through the warship's top and swallowed several fist seals into its stomach.

"Alas, alas, even though this body is powerful, I'm not adept at using it, and the vital blood inside is greatly deteriorated. Having my Primordial Spirit hidden for such a long time has also weakened my mana. Otherwise, even if unfamiliar with this body, I could have instantly killed these two ants," Yuan Hong thought to himself. He then squeezed a spell, and suddenly behind him rose a golden Dharma Body, nine zhang and nine chi tall, which was the extreme limit.

"Golden Body? Are you from the Buddhist sect?" Wukong exclaimed, his dealings with the Buddhist sect were not few, and he recognized at a glance that this Golden Body seemed to share a profound similarity with the Buddhist sect.

Yuan Hong sneered, saying, "You might as well think so!"

Then, his hands rubbed and joined together, and in the hands of the golden body appeared a Heavenly Blade. The golden body raised the blade and swung it towards Wukong and Yang Jian.

Howling Celestial Dog barked furiously and bit at the blade. With its rare and intense innate ability and Ancient Demon God bloodline, the blade was firmly caught by its massive head, rendering it immobile.

The golden body then grew three heads and six arms, each wielding a blade or sword, chopping simultaneously. Yang Jian cried out, Howling Celestial Dog hastily released its bite and moved aside. Yuan Hong's mana was too strong, involving Howling Celestial Dog was somewhat restraining, and with its ability, it was hard to swallow the golden body whole.

"Qiankun Borrowed Strength, True Method of the Five Thunders!" Wukong operated the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations "Mastering the Five Thunders" Divine Skills, his fingers sparking with thunder that crackled and fizzed. He tossed it into the sky, and the thunder exploded like waterfalls enveloping everything below.

"True Method of the Five Thunders, petty tricks!" Yuan Hong's enormous golden body walked at ease among the thunders, and though the entire warship had been completely disintegrated, he remained unharmed.

Yang Jian's vertical eye opened and closed, and a beam of gold light shot out, hitting the golden body's crown with a bang, making it reel backward. Yuan Hong hurriedly steadied the golden body with a spell, but Wukong had already seized the opportunity. Holding the God-Beating Whip in hand, he transformed it into a ten-zhang length. As he swept it across the sky, the Eighty-Four Talismans shone continuously. He also channeled the power of Mastering the Five Thunders into the talismans. One sweep of the whip truly had the momentum of sweeping across a thousand armies!

The golden body stopped the strike with a shield that appeared out of thin air, pushing it forward. As Wukong brought the whip down, the two met with sparks flying. The person occupying Yuan Hong's body was not an Immortal, and thus, the God-Beating Whip couldn't unleash its special effects and was used just like any powerful Magical Treasure. However, having charged the whip for a long time and born with divine strength, both Primordial Spirits operating Divine Skills at once, the strike broke through the shield with a thunderous crash.

"Watch out!" Yang Jian suddenly shouted loudly. Before Wukong could react, an iron rod appeared behind him. He quickly contracted his body, trying to use the Seventy-Two Transformations "False Form" to escape with his True Form, but it was too late. He was harshly struck by the rod on his back and tumbled down, crashing through the shattered deck.

Yang Jian took a deep breath and said, "This is the method of the Second Layer of Heaven's Rule Realm of Great Luo Golden Immortals, mastering the rules. His rod aimed for your face, intending to hit you from the front, but he used the rules to change the path of the rod, suddenly moving it to strike your back."

Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Second Layer of Heaven are in the Rule Realm. All things in the world follow rules, yet they can twist those rules.

The rod came straight down and should have hit Wukong from the front — that's the rule. However, he twisted the rule, making the rod suddenly shift to fall from behind!

Mana had increased by a layer, almost as if elevating the heavens themselves, and although Wukong, relying on his powerful Magical Treasure, possessed unparalleled Divine Skills, he was still no match for the person who had taken over Yuan Hong's flesh.

Yang Jian was already a master in the Karmic Realm of the First Layer of Heaven of Da Luo Golden Immortal, who had begun to comprehend the mysteries of Da Luo Golden Immortal. As he lifted his Tri-Point Double-Edged Saber to strike, he protected Wukong from Yuan Hong, who was about to pursue. His body flickered and transformed into a towering figure nine zhang tall, his saber flashing as they exchanged blows. Even when Yuan Hong altered the rules to attack, he could instantly perceive and dodge or counter.

Taking advantage of Yang Jian blocking Yuan Hong, Wukong couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. This person was truly formidable, elusive, and could twist the rules, a realm totally beyond Wukong's insight. Without relying on his Magical Treasure, victory would be unattainable.

There stood Yang Jian, imposing at nine zhang tall, his third eye opening and closing, emitting bursts of golden light striking the golden body, causing it to constantly shake. This was only because the individual had just taken over this body; otherwise, Yang Jian wouldn't be an opponent, yet at this moment, he could barely manage a fight.

"You two are but mere ants; if not for the great loss of my mana, killing you would be as trivial as slaughtering chickens or dogs," Yuan Hong said angrily. Runes shimmered on his golden body, each mysterious character seeming to suppress various heavens.

Yang Jian thrust his Tri-Point Double-Edged Saber forward, hitting one of the mysterious characters, but it burst forth in five-colored light, strikingly sending Yang Jian flying horizontally.

"What is this character? I have never seen it before!" Yang Jian exclaimed.

"This is not a character of your Saha World; this character is called 'Tao'," Yuan Hong said slowly, "Now I gift you another character, 'Buddha'!"

As the golden body spoke, it spat out another mysterious rune. Yang Jian, as if struck by lightning, went rigid, overwhelmed as if suppressed by ten thousand Buddhas. In a panic, he struck the "Buddha" character with his saber, but it flashed with golden light and a chant resounded, shaking Yang Jian to the core, causing him to spit out blood.

"Summon Wind and Call Rain!" Wukong raised his hand to the sky, a black cloud converged, preparing to unleash fierce wind and rain, but Yuan Hong smirked disdainfully, thrusting the Buddha character into the cloud. As the Buddha light quivered, the entire black cloud instantly dissipated.

Yuan Hong then said, "Although the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations are mysterious like an abyss, your mana is too weak to threaten me! Nonetheless, anyone capable of learning the Thirty-Six Transformations is chosen by destiny, and today I must not leave you alive!"

Yuan Hong forsaken Yang Jian to kill Wukong. Wukong quickly raised both the Tai Sui Whip and the God-Beating Whip, one soft and one iron, coordinating them to transform into two Divine Dragons, intertwining and producing a black and white Dragon Ball that spewed black and white, hitting the chest of the golden body with a thud, making a deep dent and immediately exploding, blasting Yuan Hong and his golden body away.

Yang Jian quickly reached to his waist, pulled out a golden slingshot, loaded it with silver bullets, and fired three consecutive shots at Yuan Hong.

"Pop! Pop! Pop!"

Three silver bullets hit right at the golden body's forehead, bursting in succession, causing the golden light on the body to dim repeatedly, but still not breaking through.

At this moment, Wukong and Yang Jian had gained an advantage, naturally not letting it slip. After Yang Jian fired three silver bullets, he stored the golden bow and silver bullets and then raised the Demon-Revealing Mirror, an exceptionally powerful item. The mirror surface flipped, emitting a streak of white light, like a ribbon, appearing as if a galaxy was poured upside down.

"Clang!"

The white light from the Demon-Revealing Mirror struck the golden body, sparks flew, and cracks covered the body. Yuan Hong roared repeatedly, the continued impacts causing him great distress. Had he been more familiar with this body, a lot of Divine Skills would be available, causing this unfair advantage to the two adversaries unlikely.

The Howling Celestial Dog reached behind Yuan Hong, opened its mouth wide, and with a howl, tore off a large piece of golden light to swallow, then swiftly fled.

Wukong, witnessing this, was inwardly astonished, thinking to himself, "This Yang Jian truly has extensive battle experience; under such a series of attacks, this person will definitely suffer significantly."

Yang Jian, keenly aware of the opportunity at hand, didn't hesitate and unleashed several Magical Treasures in rapid succession.

Wukong supported him on the side with Divine Skills, seizing the moment when a "Move Stars and Exchange Constellations" Divine Skill flashed behind Yuan Hong, and Wukong struck with the Jingu Bang, breaking the golden light and hitting directly at the back, causing Yuan Hong to cry out in pain, "Ah, it kills me!" and he collapsed onto the deck.

But the golden body turned around, fiercely spewing out a Sharira. Wukong, caught off guard, was struck on the crown of his head, causing one of his Primordial Spirits to fly out from the Muddy Pellet Palace; fortunately, another Primordial Spirit inside him took over, hastily catching the escaped Primordial Spirit and returning it to his body, attempting to flee. But the golden body then flung out a chain to capture Wukong, truly leaving no escape to heaven nor earth!

To know what happens to their lives, tune in for the next part.