Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"I'm fine."

Zi Lan Fairy shook her head, yet there was a touch of grievance in her gaze, "Wukong, you, you're being too reckless!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I should have let you leave as soon as I entered the Heavenly Court. I shouldn't have brought you along with me, it was too dangerous..."

"Wukong, that's not what I mean!"

Zi Lan Fairy interrupted Sun Wukong, her eyes suddenly brimming with moisture, "I'm worried about you, do you understand?"

"Worried about me? What is there for old Sun to worry about?" Sun Wukong was bewildered and confused.

"You bad guy!"

The mist in Zi Lan Fairy's eyes thickened, and finally, she threw herself into Sun Wukong's arms, pounding his chest, "Bad guy, bad guy, bad guy!"

"This..."

Sun Wukong was completely baffled. What happened to Zi Lan Fairy? What infuriating thing had he done to be deemed a bad guy?

"I'd advise you best not talk now, hehe!"

Just as Sun Wukong wanted to ask out loud, Blood Dragon Ao Tian's voice echoed in the depths of his heart, "At a time like this, you should wrap your arms around her and gently console her, understand?"

"..."

Sun Wukong was speechless, "Weren't you obliterated during the Primeval Era? How do you know all these convoluted things?"

"Psh! Haven't I seen a pig run before even if I haven't eaten pork?"

Blood Dragon Ao Tian spoke disdainfully, "Back in my day, I was a peerless beauty who was the envy of the Primeval, beloved by countless beauties from all races. What's this small matter to me?"

"Peerless beauty? You?"

Sun Wukong's face was etched with two words: Skeptical!

"Of course, I too can transform into the Heavenly Demon Form, you know? Oh, right, you might not be familiar with what the Heavenly Demon Form is. It's the current form of the Human Race, but retaining the most primal dragon horns—just like this!"

Ao Tian explained, and in Sun Wukong's dantian, the Dragon Soul stirred and took on a human form. Dressed in a blood-red robe, mysterious dragon patterns on his cheeks, and with two short dragon horns atop his head, he looked somewhat dashing and striking—it wasn't all exaggeration after all.

"The current Human Race was created by Goddess Nuwa based on the Heavenly Demon Form. Sadly, these ingrates have all forgotten how they came to be. They even dared to usurp our Demon Race's domain, utterly shameless!"

As Ao Tian spoke, a surge of anger welled up within him, and a savage tint flashed across his handsome face, "Oh right, you also possess the Heavenly Demon Body. Have I told you about this before?"

"Hmm."

Sun Wukong nodded, "Old Sun knows a bit."

The Heavenly Demon Body was the same physique possessed by Goddess Nuwa, Heavenly Emperor Di Jun, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi of the Ancient Demon Clan. It's the perfect combination of the Human Race and Demon Clan's physiques.

Sun Wukong, in this lifetime, had already completed the missing meridian within the Heaven-Mending Stone before his birth, elevating his physique to that of the Heavenly Demon Body. He was certainly clear about what Ao Tian was talking about.

"You've heard about it? You really have? Then why aren't you angry? Don't you want to wrest back the Three Realms from these damnable humans which rightfully belong to our Demon Race?"

Ao Tian was taken aback and then started to question discontentedly.

"How do you know old Sun doesn't want to?"

Sun Wukong mentally rolled his eyes, "But one must assess the situation and act accordingly. It's not like you can just brute force everything like you did. You charged into the Heavenly Court, caused a big commotion, but what did you gain in the end, did you take back the Three Realms? In the end, weren't you forced to self-destruct until only your Dragon Soul was left?

If it wasn't for old Sun's rescue, and Sect Hierarch Tongtian's intervention, I might have been dragged down by you!"

Ao Tian was left speechless with an unsightly expression. He wanted to say something, but not a word came out. Sun Wukong paused for a moment, then let out a sigh, "Ao Tian, times have changed. Nowadays, the Three Realms belong to the Human Race. Many of our Demon Race's Cultivation Techniques have been lost. Overall, we are at a disadvantage.

The situation can't be reversed just with fervent zeal!"

"So are we just supposed to accept our fate?" Ao Tian ground his teeth in resentment.

"Accept our fate? Of course not! I, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong, have never known the meaning of surrender! But the goal of overthrowing the Human Race's rule in the Heavenly Court and ending the oppression of the Demon Race by the humans is not something that can be achieved overnight. We also can't rely solely on brash courage; it must be a gradual process.

At least until we possess enough strength to contend with the Saints of the Heavenly Dao from the Human Race, we cannot rashly conflict with them. Otherwise, next time we might not be as lucky as we were today!"

Ao Tian was taken aback by Sun Wukong's words, he furrowed his brows in thought. After pondering for a while, he finally accepted Sun Wukong's reasoning with a deep sigh, "You're right, I was too impulsive! Fine then, since I am now residing within you, I'll listen to you from now on. You're much more familiar with the current state of the Three Realms than I am.

As for the Ancient Demon Clan's Cultivation Techniques, heh, I do know a bit about those..."

"Is that true? I thought you only knew the Ancient Dragon Clan's secret Cultivation Techniques?" Sun Wukong's eyes shone.

"Who told you that I only know about the Dragon Clan's Cultivation Techniques? Of course, the ones I'm most familiar with are indeed those of the Ancient Dragon Clan, but I also know some techniques of other Races and the Demon Clan's Universal Law Decrees. After all, I was once the second most powerful master in the Ancient Dragon Clan. What's so strange about that?"

Ao Tian snorted with a hint of pride.

"That's great! Tell me all you know about the Ancient Demon Clan's Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts. I've been worrying about not finding suitable techniques to teach the disciples of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult!"

Sun Wukong was overjoyed. His Divine Sense materialized into a human form within the Dantian and he laughed, playfully patting Ao Tian on the shoulder.

"I can tell you, but there is one condition!"

Ao Tian's expression turned serious, far from cheerful.

"What condition?" Sun Wukong raised his brows in surprise. Continue your saga on empire

"You cannot indiscriminately impart these Cultivation Techniques and Subtle Formulas I give you! These are all mid-level or above techniques of the Ancient Demon Clan. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them heritage secrets now. They are not for just anyone to practice!"

"Well, that is..."

Sun Wukong nodded. He hadn't really thought about this issue before, but now it seemed that there was merit to Ao Tian's words. The Puti Patriarch once said that the Taoist Techniques should not be carelessly transmitted. At the time, Sun Wukong didn't fully understand the meaning of these words, but now that Ao Tian was saying the same thing, although in different terms, the significance was clear.

Precious techniques were not to be imparted lightly. Even among the members of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Race, those who wished to learn these techniques, especially the advanced ones, had to go through rigorous assessments to meet certain criteria.

Things easily obtained are often not cherished. Only that which is acquired through hardship will be genuinely appreciated. This truth applies to both the Human Race and the Demon Race, just like the Monkey Tribe of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Previously, Sun Wukong taught them a simplified version of the Eight-Nine Profound Skill without any reservation, but few cherished it during his quest for enlightenment, with only Sun Wushuang achieving any notable success.

"The Taoist Techniques cannot be transmitted lightly! After returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain, I'll gather Wushuang, Leng Xuan, and others to discuss and refine the rules we've set..."

"Wukong? Wukong!"

The coquettish shout of Zi Lan Fairy awoke Sun Wukong from his deep thoughts. He realized that Zi Lan Fairy had long stopped sobbing in his arms and was now frowning at him with slight annoyance. Hurriedly, he gave a sheepish smile, "What's the matter? Had enough?"

"Pfft!"

Zi Lan Fairy was amused by Sun Wukong's words and then gave him a flirtatious roll of her eyes, "Who beat you up, you silly!"

Sun Wukong scratched his head, baffled. Wasn't she just pounding on his chest? Women are truly unfathomable!

"Alright, let's talk seriously. In the future, you must never take such risks again! That was none other than the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, one of the Three Purities, a peerless Saint of the Heavenly Dao Realm. He is not someone ordinary people can provoke! I know you have confidence in your strength, Wukong, and you've been lucky, but luck won't always cover for you.

Don't make me worry like this again, okay?"

Zi Lan Fairy looked at Sun Wukong with beseeching eyes, her expression pained his heart. He nodded in agreement, feeling a twinge of guilt. He knew very well that his antagonism with the Primordial Heavenly Venerable and even the entire saintly class of the Heavenly Dao of the Human Race had only just begun.

So long as his goal to break into the Heavenly Court's Spiritual Mountain and revive the Demon Race remained unchanged, such conflicts were inevitable, a matter of sooner rather than later.

However, these words were something Sun Wukong simply couldn't bring himself to say to Zi Lan Fairy. He truly did not wish to see her worried or look disappointed because of him. He would deceive her as much as possible for now, and try to reduce their future meetings, so as not to drag her into it. She was meant to be a carefree fairy, not someone constantly troubled and saddened by his affairs.

After comforting Zi Lan Fairy with a few words, Sun Wukong urged her to hurry back to the Heavenly Court. Zi Lan Fairy knew she could not stay in the Mortal World for too long. After the disturbance caused by Ao Tian in the Heavenly Court, it wouldn't be long before they began to search for the whereabouts of these comforting angels. It was time for her to depart.

Watching Zi Lan Fairy disappear into the clouds, Sun Wukong mounted his Somersault Cloud and ascended, flying in the direction of the East Victorious Divine Continent.

Half a year later.

At Flower-Fruit Mountain, within the grand hall of Water Curtain Cave Heaven.

In the years of Sun Wukong's absence, under the management of Leng Xuan and Sun Wushuang, Flower-Fruit Mountain had undergone significant changes. Water Curtain Cave Heaven was constructed as a palace concealed within a Cave Heaven and Blessed Land.

The Council Hall, the cultivation rooms of varying levels, and the private palaces of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult's high-ranking figures led by Sun Wukong had all been completed.

The entirety of Water Curtain Cave Heaven was laced with Arrays set up by Leng Xuan, including Spirit Gathering Formations, Defensive Formations, as well as complementary Arrays for specialty areas like cultivation rooms, training rooms, and combat rooms. It was all very thoughtfully and rationally laid out.