Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"Immortal, you may not know that once the Human Book is activated, although its power can be canceled, the seals between the two realms will only slowly disappear over the next three hundred years..."

"Do you mean that I, old Sun, won't be able to leave within a hundred years?"

Sun Wukong's eyes widened. What a joke, Flower-Fruit Mountain was at a critical moment of development. Even though he hadn't been managing affairs much, he was the backbone of the entire Flower-Fruit Mountain. If he disappeared for three hundred years, wouldn't that cause complete mayhem!

And there was also Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan waiting deep beneath Flower-Fruit Mountain for his rescue. How could he stay in the Netherworld for three hundred years?

"Yama King, you had me take back the Human Book only to find out that I can't return to the World of the Living for three hundred years. Are you treating me, old Sun, like a fool to be toyed with? Do you really think that just because Ksitigarbha Monk is sitting tight, I wouldn't dare wreck your Netherworld?"

Once Sun Wukong got angry, he slammed his palm onto the desk. The desk that had just been repaired instantly shattered, and huge cracks spread in all directions. The walls of Senluo Hall became riddled with web-like fractures once more, and the next moment, a large portion of them collapsed noisily.

"..."

The Yama King and the Nine Halls Yama Kings were nearly in tears—this was the Senluo Hall they had just expended a great deal of mana to repair, and it was destroyed again!

"Immortal, my words are not yet complete. Actually, there is still one pathway that can lead back to the World of the Living..."

Seeing that Sun Wukong was on the verge of exploding again, Yama King hurriedly said, pausing for a moment before adding another sentence, "However, this path is not easy to traverse. It is very dangerous. A little carelessness could lead to eternal doom..."

"Enough, cut the chatter! Just speak plainly, what kind of path is it? How does old Sun walk it?"

Sun Wukong, growing impatient, interrupted Yama King. Flower-Fruit Mountain still had a heap of matters waiting for him. He didn't have the luxury of spending three hundred years here. No matter how dangerous the road was, as long as it led back to the World of the Living, he would take the risk!

"One must pass through the route of the Yellow Springs to the Naihe Bridge, enter the Asura Path of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms, and reach the deepest depths of Hell's Yellow Springs. There lies a node between the two realms not controlled by the Human Book. It's the only way to return to the World of the Living now, but..."

"But what?"

"But the Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms are not a place where just anyone can tread. A soul's body that enters will be immediately turned to the reincarnation cycle. Even someone with a physical body like yours, Immortal, would find it difficult to withstand the Power of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

If you cannot resist, your physical body will be annihilated, and your soul will be drawn by the Power of Reincarnation into the cycle, all your cultivation wasted. You must consider this carefully, Immortal!"

The Power of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, huh?

Sun Wukong furrowed his brow. He had never encountered this power and was not sure if his current physical strength could withstand it. Nonetheless, he was determined to give it a try!

With Sun Wukong's resolve, the Yama King and the others did not advise any further. The Nine Halls Yama Kings together cast spells to activate the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Pen, lifting the barriers of the two realms. However, as Yama King had said, to completely restore the passage between the two realms would indeed take three hundred years, which was still a long way off.

Of course, Sun Wukong did not forget his purpose for coming here and had the Yama King check for his records in the Book of Life and Death.

"Flower-Fruit Mountain's naturally born stone monkey, destined to live for three hundred and forty-two years, to die a natural death. There is indeed a record for the Immortal, strange though!"

Yama King frowned. Sun Wukong had already reached the Taiyi Scattered Immortal Realm and had long passed the three great calamities. Logically, his name should have disappeared from the Book of Life and Death. It was truly bizarre to find a record of his name still there, unless someone had deliberately left it!

An idea suddenly flashed through Yama King's mind. Glancing at the other Yama Kings, it was clear that they had also thought of this, yet nobody spoke a word.

In the Netherworld, only they, the Ten Yama Kings and the Judges, could manipulate the Judge's Pen to change the Book of Life and Death. Others needed their authorization to do so. Given the previous situation, Qin Guang King evidently did not recognize Sun Wukong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have provoked such an aberrant Demon Monkey.

The other Yama Kings didn't seem like culprits either, which left only the left Judge—who had been reduced to a meat pie and whose soul had scattered.

Obviously, with the left Judge's status, there was no need to oppose Sun Wukong directly. Surely there was someone behind this. But as to who that person might be, the Yama Kings did not dare to speculate. Someone who could bypass them to compel the left Judge must be powerful in status, strength, and background.

Even if they knew who it was, they likely couldn't take any action and would instead become embroiled in trouble. In that case, why bother delving deeper?

Having been granted authorization by Yama King, Sun Wukong temporarily possessed the ability to wield the Judge's Pen of Spring and Autumn and the Book of Life and Death. Right away, he struck his own name from the pages of the Book of Life and Death. He then proceeded to leaf through it.

Initially, Sun Wukong thought to erase the entire Monkey Tribe just as he had done in his previous life, but after further consideration, he abandoned that idea. Actions like those in his past life had led to many monkeys obtaining eternal youth, which did not bring any benefit to the Monkey Tribe.

Instead, it attracted the persecution of the Human Race and other clans, all believing that consuming monkey brains would grant them immortality.

Moreover, what Sun Wukong had seen and heard all along told him that a life of excessive comfort offered no benefits to the development of a clan. If the monkeys knew they could live forever without cultivating, who knew how many would cease to strive for improvement and remain stagnant.

Besides, the Book of Life and Death only recorded the beings from the Three Realms below the Earth Immortal Realm. Once someone reached the Earth Immortal Realm, their name would naturally disappear from the list. Cases like Sun Wukong's were exceptional, so there was no point in erasing other names.

With these thoughts in mind, Sun Wukong gave up on the idea of tampering with the Book of Life and Death. Instead, he meticulously reviewed the names of the Demon Clan from Flower-Fruit Mountain, ensuring there was no second individual whose name had not been removed despite surpassing the Earth Immortal Realm.

He nodded his satisfaction, then handed the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Pen of Spring and Autumn back to Yama King.

"Yama King and esteemed Yamas, I have imposed on your Netherworld for far too long. I, Old Sun, will take my leave now! Right and wrong, you hold the truth within your hearts. I won't waste my breath on this matter. Sooner or later, I will get to the bottom of what truly transpired here. And if I discover anyone involved, then don't blame Old Sun for showing no mercy!

Also, tell that Qin Guang King that Old Sun has taken note of this debt and will settle the accounts with him in due time!"

After a pause, Sun Wukong left these words behind and, with one leap on his Somersault Cloud, soared into the sky and quickly vanished from sight.

"Yama King, how should we handle this matter? Should we report the truth to the Heavenly Court?"

As they watched Sun Wukong ride away on his cloud, a group of Yamas looked at the once again shattered ruins of Senluo Hall and exchanged glances in silence. After a while, King Zhuanlun approached Yama King and asked with a frown.

"Of course we must report the truth!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Yama King glanced at King Zhuanlun, then at the other Yama Kings, his eyes flashing with a shrewd light, "You can't wrap fire in paper; this matter can't be concealed, nor is there any need to hide it! Moreover, even if we don't tell, would Qin Guang King not report to the Heavenly Court? Who knows what tale he might spin, possibly smearing us with all sorts of blame!"

"Brother Yama King speaks the absolute truth!"

"Exactly, that's what we'll do. Let's co-sign a memorial to the Heavenly Court immediately. This matter has gotten out of hand, and Qin Guang King must bear significant responsibility!"

Upon hearing this, the other Yama Kings were struck with solemnity. None who had attained the position of Underworld Yama Lord were fools. They knew all too well the difference between acting sooner or later. Without any hesitation, they immediately began discussing the memorial to the Heavenly Court.

At the same time, in the Emerald Cloud Palace of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Qin Guang King had already—took the initiative in drafting a memorial and presented it to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: "Bodhisattva, that demon monkey Sun Wukong caused havoc in the Netherworld, pursued me, seized the Human Book, and disrespectfully attacked you. He is undoubtedly guilty of grave sins.

I have drafted a memorial, which I am ready to present to the Heavenly Court. I implore the Jade Emperor to decree the dispatch of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to capture him. What do you think, Bodhisattva?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva glanced at the memorial drafted by Qin Guang King, sneering inwardly. Qin Guang King truly knew how to deflect all the guilt onto Sun Wukong and the other Yama Kings. In the memorial, he depicted himself as daring and unafraid of powerful evil, practically a role model for the Netherworld's Yama Lords.

Naturally, he also included grand praise for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva within the document.

What a cunning fellow!

"If that's the reality, then just report the truth. You don't need to seek permission from me! My duty is to guard Hell's Yellow Springs and the Boundless Sea of Blood. As long as the Netherworld remains tranquil and undisturbed, I don't wish to concern myself with other matters!"

With an indifferently delivered response, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva closed his eyes, resumed chanting sutras, and entered meditation.

Qin Guang King had hoped that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva would co-sign the report, but instead, he hit a firm but noncommittal response, so he had to drop the matter. Seeing Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's gesture to dismiss, he left the Emerald Cloud Palace and carefully returned to the First Hall.

"The barrier between the two realms has been unlocked, which means Yama King and the others have indeed compromised with that demon monkey!"

Being an Underworld Yama Lord, Qin Guang King naturally sensed what was happening in the Netherworld. After inquiring about the situation with his Ghost Messengers, he immediately lit the boundary incense on the Divine Platform in the main hall of the First Hall.

Wisps of gray boundary smoke rose from the platform, crossing the space and traversing the barrier between the two realms towards the Heaven Realm.

In fact, Yama King had not divulged the complete truth to Sun Wukong. Indeed, once the Human Book was activated, the barrier between the Netherworld and the World of the Living would be sealed, and even if lifted, it would take three hundred years to restore.

Yet, the Ten Yama Kings had another method to leave the Netherworld and reach the Heavenly Court directly—through the boundary incense Divine Platform located in each of their halls.

The boundary smoke released from the Divine Platform could bypass the barriers of the Three Realms and reach the Heaven Realm directly. Once the Heavenly Court received it, they only needed to open the Heavenly Gate, allowing the Ten Yama Kings to ascend directly from the Netherworld to the Heavenly Court.