Chapter 56: Determined to Overturn the World, the Banner of Flower Fruit Mountain Will Never Fall
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With the Five Great Heavenly Kings, Twenty-Eight Mansions, Nine Luminaries Star Officers, Twelve Celestial Stems, Five Directional Revealing Truths, Four Duty Attendants, Eastern and Western Astral Deities, Southern and Northern Deities, the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Rivers, Celestial Star Deities of the Universe, three hundred thousand celestial soldiers, and eighteen heavenly nets, The Heavenly Court deployed all its forces. The terrible, world-ending might descending upon the mortal realm immediately shook the three realms, known by all.
This apocalyptic scene compelled the Bull Demon King to be the first to retract his banner of the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, hiding within his cave, afraid to show himself. Following his lead, countless others who had raised their own Great Sage banners in allegiance with Sun Wukong quickly did the same, afraid of drawing The Heavenly Court's attention.
At White Bone Peak, within the White Bone Cave, the woman in white was also shaken by the doomsday-like vista. Standing at the cave’s entrance, she gazed blankly at the countless soldiers and celestial deities. Who could possibly stand against such heavenly hosts?
In her eyes suddenly appeared a figure, the indelible image in her soul: the demon king who soared across the heavens and earth. Shortly thereafter, a second blurred figure appeared: the Sun Wukong Great King of Flower Fruit Mountain, who dared to declare war on The Heavenly Court. She couldn’t help but wonder if he truly feared nothing—not even the deities themselves.
A hint of doubt shimmered in her eyes, but soon the images overlapped in her mind. She murmured entranced, “Unafraid of the celestial gods, dared to defy The Heavenly Court and declare himself equal to the heavens—truly a great hero, it could be none other.”
As three hundred thousand heavenly soldiers descended for a renewed assault on Flower Fruit Mountain, the news spread instantly across the Aquatic Tribes of the Four Seas, the Netherworld Ghost Domain, and among All Encompassing Demons of Heaven and Earth, known throughout the three realms.
Who dared challenge The Heavenly Court and claim equality with the heavens? In the eyes of the beings of the three realms, although they trembled at the might of these heavenly hosts, their hearts couldn’t help but be stirred—some were always destined to be the true heroes among heaven and earth.
Yet, a small place like Flower Fruit Mountain opposing The Heavenly Court seemed like an ant trying to shake a giant tree; under such world-ending might, it seemed destined to be reduced to ash in moments.
By this time, those able to flee Flower Fruit Mountain had done so, leaving the mountain's realm of ten thousand miles utterly deserted.
At Flower Fruit Mountain's highest peak, where Shi Yue and Sun Wukong were born, Shi Yue stood with the dark Measuring Sky Staff in hand, in front of his stone dwelling. He was reflecting, on the possibility of perishing and being reborn, wanting to take one last look at his birthplace. Unexpectedly, Sun Wukong appeared beside him, seemingly sharing the same thoughts.
Soon after, The Six-Eared Macaque, Six Paths, appeared as well, holding an orange fruit. Smiling, he handed it to Shi Yue and said, “Black monkey, fruit for you, to eat.”
Shi Yue's heart trembled momentarily, his eyes brightening as he accepted the fruit and asked, “Thank you. Why didn’t you go back with the others?”
The Six-Eared Macaque blinked and smiled, “I saw you staying here, so I thought I'd stay and keep you company. Besides, they don’t really like playing with me anyway.”
Suddenly, Shi Yue couldn't hold back his laughter, gazing upwards with tears of emotion in his eyes, realizing at last the deep bond of brotherhood with The Six-Eared Macaque. How had he overlooked such a connection before? How could a small, young monkey speak like a young demon in its transformation phase? It was clearly the unique gift of a rare being in the world. At the same moment, Six Paths was overwhelmed with emotion, his fierce eyes misted over, recalling past events and feeling an even greater closeness to Shi Yue.
Sun Wukong, puzzled, joined in with a foolish grin, scratching his head.
Shi Yue's laughter quickly drew the attention of all the demon kings big and small across Flower Fruit Mountain. The three commanders, twelve deputies, and all seventy-two cave demon kings gathered. They, too, clearly sensed the apocalyptic might of the heavenly host drawing ever closer to Flower Fruit Mountain.
Shi Yue couldn't help but glance at them and declared, "Some wish to destroy Flower Fruit Mountain!"
Instantly, silence fell. Under the world-ending threat of the celestial gods, it was impossible for them not to feel fear. Gathering around their three Great Kings intuitively sought comfort and reassurance.
Shi Yue's eyes flashed with fierce determination as he repeated, "Some want to destroy Flower Fruit Mountain! To annihilate us all, claiming we disrupt the human world and should not exist; that we deserve this calamity, to be reduced to ash! Yet I, Shi Yue, say no!"
With a mighty roar, his voice echoed throughout Flower Fruit Mountain, reaching the ears of a million demon soldiers.
Shi Yue continued, eyes blazing, yelling, "I, Shi Yue, will defy the heavens! Those who dare harm my kin, betray my brothers, I will never forgive! Even against the celestial gods and Buddhas, I fear not, and will make them know that the sons of Flower Fruit Mountain are not to be trifled with! We will never bow our heads, not even as we die unyieldingly in battle, refusing reincarnation! Let them know the banner of Flower Fruit Mountain will never fall! As long as one lives, we will fight them to the end! In rivers of blood, we will overturn heaven and earth, making the celestial gods all tremble!"
Shi Yue's roared words shook the heavens and earth, heard distinctly by the million-strong demon army of Flower Fruit Mountain. Hearing such fiery and passionate words from their own Great King, spirits enflamed and hearts raced to an unprecedented fury, they roared in unison.
"In rivers of blood, overturn heaven and earth! The banner of Flower Fruit Mountain will never fall!"
"In rivers of blood, overturn heaven and earth! The banner of Flower Fruit Mountain will never fall!"
"In rivers of blood, overturn heaven and earth! The banner of Flower Fruit Mountain will never fall!"
The momentum of the million demon soldiers became earth-shattering, especially among the demon kings and leaders who had heard such rallying words before from their Sun Wukong Great King—disgraced were their kin and betrayed were their brothers. Now, hearing Shi Yue, their spirits burned even brighter, unable to contain their fervor. The demon kings had also been long protected by The Six-Eared Macaque, benefiting from his rule, leading to an unprecedented unity among the troops of Flower Fruit Mountain.
Shi Yue, too, was inflamed by his own words, his wild, untamed spirit unleashed, reveling in the freedom of an unyielding will that had been suppressed for so long.
Beside him, Sun Wukong and Six Paths couldn't hide their excitement. The Six-Eared Macaque, in particular, glowed with spirited radiance, reflecting internally, "This brother stands even above Sun Wukong. It is my great fortune and honor to follow him."
Sun Wukong was utterly overwhelmed with excitement, having never heard words that could inflame the blood so intensely. It was his first time witnessing another side of Shi Yue, and he couldn't help but repeatedly glance at Shi Yue with eyes full of excitement. He thought, "Shi Yue isn't the least bit inferior to old Sun, perhaps even surpasses me. As my twin brother, he brings infinite joy. Calling him 'brother' would be no trouble, except it feels awkward, so I’ll just call him that in my heart to save face. When I surpass him one day, then we can discard titles."
What Shi Yue didn't know was that his words resonated with the world, causing even great beings to feel their impact.
Almost upon his words' conclusion, the South Sea Guanyin, hovering above the army of three hundred thousand celestial soldiers, slightly furrowed her brows, deep in thought.
Lord Laozi of the Great Monad felt it as well, looking skyward, his own brow furrowing deeply in contemplation.
The Jade Emperor of The Heavenly Court frowned intensely.
The Queen Mother's eyes flashed with a hint of puzzlement.
Buddha Tathagata, leisurely returning westward, suddenly paused mid-air.
The Master of the Netherworld erupted into a fit of bizarre laughter, unable to stop for a long while.
In Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi immediately began calculating with his fingers but seemingly found no results, continuing back to Wuzhuang Temple.
Inside the Grand Hall of Mahavira, the Great Peacock Wisdom King Bodhisattva's eyes, devoid of emotion for millennia, suddenly flashed with divine light.
Unpredictably, the Dragon King of the East Sea, temporarily taking refuge in the Western Sea, also felt it, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes.
Beyond the thirty-three heavens, deep in the infinite cosmos, a long-bearded elder with white hair and brows felt it too, with a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. Nearby, a woman with a black-veiled face furrowed her brows slightly and said, "The immeasurable calamity no longer concerns our sect."
Elsewhere, another elder in a black Daoist robe wore a gloomy expression, unable to suppress a cold snort.
But it wasn't just these powerful beings who felt it; all creatures with spiritual awareness sensed it. Unlike the great adepts, their awareness was less acute, akin to humans sensing an impending era of turmoil!
As the three hundred thousand celestial soldiers descended, The Heavenly Court launched another assault on Flower Fruit Mountain. The heavens themselves seemed to change color under the oppressive, apocalyptic might. The skies were filled with a forest of swords and spears, banners fluttering, with countless silver serpents dancing along the edges, seemingly compressing the very space and stirring thunderous echoes in all directions, clearly intent on obliterating the demon populace of Flower Fruit Mountain with overwhelming force.
However, at that moment, Erlang Shen was deeply conflicted, furrowing his brow repeatedly. "If I go with The Heavenly Court's three hundred thousand soldiers, won't Sun Wukong misunderstand, thinking I, Yang Jian, am his adversary?"
Amidst Erlang Shen, Yang Jian's inner turmoil, the massive celestial army soon arrived over Flower Fruit Mountain, which was eerily quiet. A thin mist hovered above, lending an air of intrigue and mystery.
Yang Jian's eyes immediately gleamed with resolve, thinking to himself, "I must find a way to draw Sun Wukong out and save him."
Meanwhile, South Sea Guanyin observed the subtle mist above Flower Fruit Mountain, her eyes flashing with insight. She then suggested to Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, the nominal Grand Marshal of the Demon Suppression Campaign, "Heavenly King, it may be wise to first have the celestial generals challenge the demons individually. If successful, capturing the two demon brothers would be ideal. If not, it provides an opportunity to deploy the heavenly nets, eventually capturing all the demons of Flower Fruit Mountain."
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