Chapter 021: Who Weeps Tears of Blood to Mend the Blue Sky

It is said that Wukong and the Ox Demon King, among others, took a boat from the Uttara Kuru Kingdom across the Beiming, heading straight into the heart of the War God Secret Realm. The perils they encountered there need not be detailed, but let us talk about the three brothers and the Dragon Whale flying deeper into the War God Secret Realm.

The Void Secret Realm is the foundation of a major force. It was rumored that the War God Xing Tian had already perished, but the Secret Realm still existed, except that Xing Tian's clan was nowhere to be seen.

Wukong faintly felt that beneath this Secret Realm, something terrifying was suppressed. This deadly aura was emanating from that frightful presence, which astounded him. Who could possess such immense power that could even pollute the entirety of the North Sea?

"There is a city ahead, and they have all entered it," Jiao Demon King observed, looking ahead to see a huge city with a Black Tower standing at its center, looking as if it had been cleaved by a Heavenly Blade, shearing off a large section, and the other part was nowhere to be found.

A Secret Realm is akin to a small world where the inhabitants must be self-sufficient, naturally needing to establish cities, cultivate crops, and so on. This Secret Realm also serves another purpose, that of providing Incense Power and Wishes. It is said that Tathagata's Secret Realm contains hundreds of millions of Buddhist Disciples who recite scriptures and worship daily, providing him with a ceaseless flow of power. The Three Pure Ones and others naturally also have their powerful Secret Realms with countless devout followers offering incense, wishing to construct a Secret Realm requires the power of a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal at the Third Heaven of the Creation Boundary.

This vast city is the core of the War God Secret Realm, but it is already replete with ruins and debris, having suffered a devastating battle during the Middle Ancient Period. The ancient forebears of the War God Secret Realm are rumored to have long perished.

The group landed from their clouds and entered the city. The number of cultivators who came to investigate the Beiming this time was not small, and even some secular Taoist Sects had sent people. These sects hidden within the secular world also had formidable experts, otherwise how could they establish themselves?

"To the Black Tower!" Wukong said. Once inside the city, they could no longer fly, not because their Mana was suppressed, but because the city had ancient prohibitions.

It seems Xing Tian felt uncomfortable with people flying high in the city, so he set these restrictions, preventing anyone within the city from flying.

Wukong saw some people from the Buddhist sect and some from the Dao of Immortals, including members from the Eastern Constellation among the Twenty-Eight Constellations such as Horned Water Jiao Dragon, Arrogant Gold Dragon, and others totaling seven.

From the Buddhist sect, there were the Twenty-Four Heavens and some Venerable Arhats. The Heavenly Court also had many attendees, and Wukong even saw some old acquaintances.

It really was a case of "if they're not enemies, they do not gather." The Five Peaks' True Gods Huang Feihu, Revered Black Tiger, Wen Pin, Cui Ying, and Jiang Xiong were also present.

However, the situation was somewhat chaotic. Everyone was biding their time silently. The Five Peaks' True Gods and the seven from the Eastern Constellation showed hostility towards Wukong and the Ox Demon King's group, clearly itching to draw their weapons and charge them. Wukong and his companions just chuckled, not taking it to heart, but turned a corner and took another street heading towards the Black Tower, which was at the city center and possibly held secrets, drawing everyone towards it.

"Damn, to encounter these enemies here, and they conspire with the Heavenly Court's orthodox gods to trouble us, how should we handle this?" cursed the Jiao Demon King.

"Just make sure they come and never return," the Ox Demon King replied. "I never take those Heavenly Court folks seriously! I'll greet each one with my staff."

The Ox Demon King possessed a Divine Lamp, and knowing that Wukong had a replica God-Beating Whip, it was most suitable to deal with these people from the Heavenly Court. Although exaggerating that "come one, beat one" did overstate it, making them suffer a great loss was not impossible. Most of these Heavenly Court people were haughty, but their combat abilities were really lacking. They were pampered with abundant spiritual nourishment from the Heavenly Court, possessing ample Mana but having drifted far from the battlefield—how could they compare to Wukong and the other Great Demons who engaged in battles almost every few days?

"Brother Bull, that's quite the bold spirit. But Second Brother, you need not worry, just adapt as the situation demands when the time comes," Wukong laughed.

The dust on the streets was thick, and Wukong and his companions took care to tread lightly, trying to prevent the dust from billowing and stifling their breathing.

"What do you think is the purpose of Xing Tian building this Black Tower here? I feel that the tower gives off a strong malevolent energy, as if countless people washed it with their blood until it turned black," Jiao Demon King remarked, shivering slightly every time he looked at the Black Tower.

"Ha! Isn't blood red?" laughed the Ox Demon King. "Old Jiao, you really are uneducated. You should read more."

Unable to help himself, Wukong chuckled, "Big Brother, blood turns black after a long time when it coagulates. Moreover, I also share the same feeling as Second Brother. That Black Tower seems extremely sinister. Ever since we entered this city, I've felt uncomfortable all over, as if it's chilling to the bone."

The Ox Demon King was momentarily speechless and, scratching his head, said, "Ah? Really? Do you feel that? I haven't noticed anything."

The Ox Demon King was boisterous and not as meticulous as Jiao Demon King and Wukong. Of course, he couldn't sense it. He was only thinking about how to deal with the Five Peaks' True Gods later, hoping to pick a fight with them again. He even wanted to involve Yang Jian in a fight to teach him not to be too haughty, otherwise, there would be dire consequences. Indeed, Old Bull had reason to be confident; his Mana had reached the Cause and Effect Boundary of the First Heaven of Daluo Golden Immortal, having grasped some mysteries of causality. Yet, he still relentlessly sought battles to immerse himself in causality, leaving one wondering whether he was truly foolish or profoundly wise.

In the Four Great Realms of the Dao of Immortals, True Immortal is the initial level of immortality, barely noteworthy. Only at Taiyi Golden Immortal does one gain recognition. Isn't every orthodox god in the Heavenly Court at the level of Taiyi Golden Immortal? And Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal, that's a formidable individual capable of founding a sect or achieving Buddhahood. The Four Imperial Rulers of the Heavenly Court are at least at this level."

"Be cautious and try to avoid conflict with others as much as possible, lest you get caught in dirty tricks in murky waters," Wukong warned, reminding Ox Demon King and the others that it was best not to antagonize others unless absolutely necessary. Having had experience dealing with immortals, he knew how deceitful they could appear.

Ox Demon King responded, "Don't worry, little brother, your big brother understands!"

Wukong thought that the least cautious one was probably you; don't let it be that you see Yang Jian and, red-eyed, start a brawl. Although Yang Jian had a haughty temper, Wukong and the others ignored it while Ox Demon King seemed determined to lock horns with him for comparison, which was headache-inducing indeed.

The group of four walked and talked, and before long, they had already reached the base of the Black Tower.

Constructed on a gigantic square, the Black Tower was extremely massive, with half its body alone already reaching the sky.

"There really is blood on the Black Tower! It's the blood of immortals, Demon Kings, and the Buddha!" Jiao Demon King's fur bristled suddenly, overwhelmed by the pungent scent of blood.

Ox Demon King also showed some rare gravitas and said pensively, "That's right, there's a holy aura of the Buddha coupled with the ferocity of demons and the celestial air of immortals... Buddha's blood should be of golden color, but after so many years, the blood has turned black. The great war during the Middle Ancient Period, a time left blank in history, is unknown to us. This place, perhaps, holds many secrets."

The Black Tower stood like a ferocious beast in the square, strict in structure with four large doors and a dark hue, resembling a colossal black hole, choosing its prey.

Powerhouses from the Heavenly Court, Buddhist sect, loose cultivators, and secular sects all stopped here; none dared to venture first to inspect it, given its connection to the obscured great war of the Middle Ancient Period. There were two battles, one in Beiming and one in the Ruins, both unrecorded. Even participants, including Saints who perished, were part of this suppressed record of war, immense and yet unclear, including to the Jade Emperor who knew neither the reason nor the adversary. Later, Gonggong went mad, breaking the Buzhou, the Heavenly Pillar, and even Goddess Nu Wa could only sacrifice herself to mend the heavens, perishing in the Middle Ancient Period.

As noted in the "Historical Records: Nu Wa's Biography,"

Nu Wa, known as Empress Zhi Ren, born during the creation of the sky in the Ancient Times, crafted humans from the spiritual essence of earth, achieving sanctity through her meritorious deeds over five calamitous cycles. Battling in Beiming during the Middle Ancient Period with severe injuries, followed by Gonggong's furious assault on Buzhou, which led to the heavens' collapse. Empress Zhi Ren then used the Qiankun Ding to melt the Five-colored Crystal Stones to mend the sky, sacrificing herself ultimately. Regrettably, she saved the common people from dire straits, and countless temples throughout the Four Great Continents have been established in gratitude for her re-creation. Grand Historian said, "Ah, the vast and boundless Shenzhou, yet none as compassionate as the Empress. Alas, how sorrowful and painful!"

Why Gonggong went mad, smashing the heavens and earth, remains a mystery, as does the earth-shattering battle joined by various Saints in the Middle Ancient Period—a secret buried by the sands of time.

And Wukong, too, emerged from a Crystal Stone left behind during Nu Wa's sky mending, born with nine apertures and eight orifices, absorbing the essence of the heavens and earth day and night, eventually transforming himself.

Yang Jian, holding a Tri-Point Double-Edged Saber, with Howling Celestial Dog raising its head, sniffing continuously, said, "Divine Monarch, this Black Tower is no trivial matter."

With a gruff voice, Yang Jian said, "I feel it. The Map of Mountains and Rivers is inside. We must go in!"

During the Divine Enthronement War in the Ancient Times, Yang Jian had interactions with Nu Wa since King Zhou had dishonored Nu Wa, provoking her wrath. She summoned the Green Hill Fox Demon as Daji, who caused havoc in the palace. Coincidentally, during the rise of Western Zhou, various immortals faced their fated calamities, sparking the Divine Enthronement War. Nu Wa once lent Yang Jian the Map of Mountains and Rivers to combat the Seven Great Demon Kings of Meishan.

With Goddess Nu Wa's death, the Map of Mountains and Rivers naturally became unclaimed. Feeling the karmic ties, Yang Jian resolved to undertake this journey, regardless of whether he would acquire it or not, as it also promised to reveal the Great War of the Ancient Times.

Howling Celestial Dog howled, "This Black Tower is tainted with Buddha's and immortals' blood, concealing unknown dangers!"

Rubbing his forehead, Yang Jian said, "We must go. Goddess Nu Wa was kind to me, and I cannot let her Map of Mountains and Rivers gather dust. Moreover, with this karmic connection, we must resolve it!"

While Yang Jian and Howling Celestial Dog were discussing, Wukong had already felt a strong palpitation and, uncontrollably, dashed towards the Black Tower.

Ox Demon King and others were taken aback, as Macaca was usually so composed—what made him lose control all of a sudden? They hurriedly followed after him.

Yang Jian, however, was not worried about the treasures being snatched. He was naturally unattached; if the treasure was not meant for him, he wouldn't dwell much on it. He calmly followed into the Black Tower.

Wukong and his brothers had already entered the Black Tower, and seeing others ahead, the remaining immortals, not wanting to be shown up, also hurriedly followed.

As for whether it was fortune or peril, please await the next installment for the resolution.