Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"Sect Master Mu, I wonder if you have ever considered this issue, and what solution you propose?"

The Great Elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect stared intently into the eyes of Sect Master Mu Yin of the Primordial Spirit Sect and asked.

This damn old guy, always contradicting me!

A cold, sharp light flashed in the eyes of Sect Master Mu Yin. He had expected someone to voice opposition, but he hadn't anticipated it would come from Long Mu, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect. This old guy's cultivation was also at the peak of the Domain Saint Realm, not an easy opponent to deal with. Otherwise, why would Mu Yin bother to explain so much? He could just suppress him!

"Of course, I've considered this matter!"

Mu Yin laughed coldly, "That's right, opening the Dimensional Gate does carry risks, and our Yuan Realm indeed might be enslaved by a higher-level world, but so what? At least we can survive the Era's Destruction! Even if we are enslaved, it would only be temporary. As long as we can absorb strength from the higher dimensional world, we can further enhance our own power and then take back what was lost. The priority now is to preserve our lives and safely pass through the Era's Destruction!"

"Indeed, Sect Master Mu is right! Nothing is more important than life!"

"Temporary enslavement is nothing. As long as we survive, the time for freedom will come! Sect Master Mu, tell us what to do, and we will work together, following your lead!"

...

Once more, someone from the crowd chimed in. Sun Wukong had been watching coldly and noticed that each time Mu Yin finished speaking, the same few people would start to cheer. Even a fool could tell these people had long been bought by Mu Yin!

"The Great Elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect makes a lot of sense, and it's almost certainly true. Why does this old Mu insist on opening the Dimensional Gate? According to him, there are still three thousand years until the Era's Destruction. Instead of taking risks, why not use these three thousand years to improve our strength? Perhaps we could break through to an even higher Realm by then, and wouldn't we have enough power to survive the Era's Destruction then?"

Sun Wukong was baffled by Sect Master Mu Yin's actions. Why insist on opening the Dimensional Gate despite enormous risks, and why muster all the strong figures from the Eastern Continent to the Primordial Spirit Sect? What exactly was his scheme?

Or, what benefit could he possibly gain?

Sun Wukong glanced at Tang Qiang beside him. There wasn't a hint of surprise on his face, which indicated that Mu Yin must have already revealed the true reason to Tang Qiang.

"I should have just dealt with Tang Qiang directly; then I wouldn't be here guessing aimlessly!"

Sun Wukong felt a bit regretful. After pondering for a moment, he signaled Tang Qiang with his eyes and called him into the back hall of the main hall.

"Junior Brother Zhang, what's so urgent? The Sect Master is persuading those folks to work together to open the Dimensional Gate. If we leave now and the Sect Master blames us later, we can't bear the consequence!"

Tang Qiang was quite puzzled as to why Sun Wukong called him out alone, and he seemed a bit displeased. If not for their usually good relationship, he might have lost his temper!

"Senior Brother Tang, why does the Sect Master insist on opening the Dimensional Gate? I heard Elder Long from the Heavenly Dao Sect make a lot of sense. Once the Dimensional Gate is opened and the higher-level world beings descend, there's a good chance we in the Yuan Realm will be enslaved. Then we would have no freedom, not even control over life and death. Is there any meaning in that?"

Sun Wukong asked, very puzzled.

"What do you understand? The Sect Master naturally has his plans, and we as subordinates just need to comply. Why question so much?"

Tang Qiang glared at Sun Wukong in displeasure. Seeing that Sun Wukong was still somewhat unconvinced, he sighed before saying, "Junior Brother Zhang, I can tell you the reason, but you must promise never to tell anyone. Otherwise, if the Sect Master blames us, we both will have no place to rest our souls. Understand?"

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Tang, I will definitely not tell anyone!"

Hearing there was a chance, Sun Wukong quickly assured, "I swear by my Divine Soul as Zhang Yuan, should I speak of this, Zhang Yuan will scatter his soul, never to be reborn!"

Practitioners should not casually make oaths, as once made, they connect with the Heavenly Dao and will inevitably come true. But Sun Wukong wasn't afraid; he swore by Zhang Yuan's Divine Soul, not his own!

Besides, Zhang Yuan's soul had already scattered, whether the vow would be fulfilled or not had nothing to do with him. No matter how vile the words, it didn't matter!

Tang Qiang did not know that the Junior Brother Zhang in front of him was an imposter. Hearing Sun Wukong's vow, he felt assured and nodded, saying, "Once the Dimensional Gate is opened, beings from higher dimension worlds will indeed descend. The Sect Master said they are the Immortal Envoys from the Cangqiong Immortal Palace! Surely the rest of the Yuan Realm will be enslaved, there's no doubt about it. But not us at the Primordial Spirit Sect! The Sect Master has long negotiated with the Immortal Envoys from the Cangqiong Immortal Palace. By then, our Primordial Spirit Sect will be their representatives in the Yuan Realm, and they will hand over the Yuan Realm to us for control!"

"Are you saying the Sect Master has already made an agreement with the Cangqiong Immortal Palace?"

Sun Wukong was shocked. So that's how it was. That old Mu Yin had already allied with the higher dimensional forces, intending to trade the entire Yuan Realm for his wealth and glory!

In other words, the Primordial Spirit Sect would become the puppet representative of the Cangqiong Immortal Palace in the Yuan Realm, aiding the Cangqiong Immortal Palace in enslaving the entire Yuan Realm. That old Mu is a loyal lapdog to the Cangqiong Immortal Palace!

No wonder, no wonder he went through so much trouble to gather powerful figures from all over the Eastern Continent into the Primordial Spirit Sect and tried so earnestly to persuade everyone to open the Dimensional Gate. This old thing was utterly shameless!

"Alright, Junior Brother Zhang, I've told you the reason. I hope you'll keep it to yourself. Otherwise, if your oath comes true, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Tang Qiang said, then turned to return to the main hall's front stage. However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly felt a strong wave of drowsiness overcome him, just like yesterday on the cliff path.

"Strange, why am I getting sleepy again, I haven't drunk today..."

The last thought flashed through his mind as Tang Qiang collapsed onto the ground, and Sun Wukong came up from behind with a cold, sharp look in his eyes.

Of course, Tang Qiang didn't faint without cause; Sun Wukong had once again used the Sleep Bug.

"A guy like you, who can't distinguish right from wrong, has no right to exist in this world! I'll finish you off and then deal with that old scoundrel Mu Yin!"