Chapter 361 ·Epilogue – Wind-Passing Great Sage
Chapter 361: Epilogue – Wind-Passing Great Sage
A place within the Demonic Spirit Realm.
The major powers of the Demonic Spirit Realm had gathered where two cliffs faced one another.
【Criminal Wind-Passing Great Sage, raise your head.】
A voice imbued with immense will and power shook the surrounding space.
Had it been an ordinary monster, merely hearing that voice would have caused its head to explode.
However, the white monkey called a criminal was no ordinary monster.
Standing between the two cliffs, the Wind-Passing Great Sage picked his ear before speaking.
“What kind of criminal am I? I'm not even human. If anything, I should be called a criminal monster.”
【You insolent fool! Do you know where you are!?】
“Where am I? A place where a bunch of old geezers who stay holed up in their homes gathered together.”
Standing atop the cliffs were the Divine Beings and Great Monsters of the Demonic Spirit Realm, including Yuqiang, Jiaochong, and the Eight-Leaf Gods.
【You...】
【Do not know...】
【What you have done?】
As Jiaochong's two heads took turns speaking, the Wind-Passing Great Sage snorted.
“I told you to have just one person talk. You're making my head spin.”
The fact that these beings, who rarely left their own Domains, had suddenly shown up to put him on trial without warning naturally irritated him.
'Should I just wipe them all out?'
The Divine Beings outside their Domains were not much of a threat.
Outside, he could fight them as much as he pleased.
There were quite a few of them, but only a handful specialized in combat, so it seemed manageable.
The Wind-Passing Great Sage clenched and unclenched his fist once as his gaze lifted upward.
'The real problem is that one up there...'
Beyond the cliffs, high in the sky.
A winged dragon drifted through the heavens with clouds wrapped around its body.
It was the mythical being known as Yinglong, a monster that even the Wind-Passing Great Sage could not deal with easily.
'...That monster.'
The Wind-Passing Great Sage lowered his gaze.
Beyond the gap between the opposing cliffs, a gigantic serpent coiled around the towering Mount Tai in the distance.
It had the head of a human.
Its body stretched for over a thousand li.
Its hair spread in every direction like a lion's mane.
Its appearance was undoubtedly bizarre, yet it somehow exuded a sacred aura.
It was the one existence capable of making even the Wind-Passing Great Sage—who always believed he would win if he fought seriously—think of defeat.
'Zhuyin.'
Also known as the Torch Dragon.
Though it belonged to the Demonic Spirit Realm, it existed on an entirely different level from the other monsters and Divine Beings.
【Fifth One, you know what you have done, do you not?】
Simply meeting its gaze and hearing its voice caused an immense power to wash over the Wind-Passing Great Sage like crashing waves.
“I have no idea what you're talking about.”
【Wind-Passing Great Sage, have you forgotten whom you summoned!? You brought in a monster that betrayed the Demonic Spirit Realm, and you also brought a human from the Central Heavens Realm! Do you not realize you have only increased the chaos!?】
Yuqiang, who had fought him on the way to the Living Spirit Mountain Range, vented the anger that had apparently built up inside him.
“So what? This place has always been a complete mess.”
【Because of the martial artist and Son Goku whom you brought here, one-tenth of the Demonic Spirit Realm has vanished.】
Even though they had not fought at full power, the battle between the Seven Great Saints, Ink Sword Shadow, and Zhang Sanfeng had erased part of the Demonic Spirit Realm.
“Uh... I guess that's a little my fault. But things like that happen when you're fighting. No, wait. I don't even need to apologize. Things break here and there when people fight, don't they? Right?”
His shameless answer drew criticism from the Great Monsters and Divine Beings atop the cliffs.
However, no one moved recklessly.
To begin with, the Wind-Passing Great Sage was no easy opponent, and they also had someone present who could speak on behalf of all of them.
Everyone atop the cliffs turned their attention toward Zhuyin.
The disappearance of one-tenth of the Demonic Spirit Realm was not something they could simply overlook.
It meant part of the monsters' homeland had disappeared.
【Do you truly not understand your wrongdoing?】
“Old Man Zhuyin, isn't that just how fighting goes? You can't settle everything with words just because you're worried about breaking the surroundings.”
【You fool!】
【Kill him!】
【How much longer must we tolerate this delinquent!?】
【He shows not the slightest sign of remorse!】
The Divine Beings and Great Monsters of the Demonic Spirit Realm began condemning the Wind-Passing Great Sage.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, the Wind-Passing Great Sage considered his next move.
In the past, he would not have bothered thinking.
He would have simply charged in and torn several of them apart.
But not now.
'I'm a smart monster now. I've learned martial arts.'
Excluding Zhuyin, whose distorted presence made distance itself impossible to measure, he examined the others.
'I'll close the distance toward Yinglong first, then immediately attack the others...'
He mapped out his attack route in his mind.
His plan was to smash several of them before Zhuyin could interfere and then escape.
Ignoring the furious monsters, he slowly began gathering his power.
Just as he was about to move—
“Knock, knock.”
A familiar voice echoed out.
The space beside the Wind-Passing Great Sage split apart.
“Oh my, everyone's gathered here. It's nice to see you all.”
A silver-haired woman stepped out of the rift, smiling brightly as she waved around.
She was a monster the Wind-Passing Great Sage knew very well.
“Big Sister?”
The second of the Seven Great Saints—
The Ocean-Covering Great Saint, Flood Dragon Demon King, had suddenly appeared.
“Uncle!”
Ignoring her younger brother, the Flood Dragon Demon King waved toward Zhuyin.
“I'm taking my little brother home. Let's talk again another time.”
【Flood Dragon Demon King! What are you saying!? This is—】
“Yuqiang.”
Her quiet voice completely overwhelmed Yuqiang's furious shout.
The smile that had been on her face moments ago disappeared.
With an expression like an icy mask, the Flood Dragon Demon King spoke coldly.
“Can't you see I'm talking right now? Who said you could interrupt?”
Even though Yuqiang stood atop the cliff, it somehow felt as though the Flood Dragon Demon King, standing far below, was looking down on him.
The moment her gaze settled on him, Yuqiang instinctively stepped back.
The surrounding Divine Beings and monsters also flinched.
Normally, the Flood Dragon Demon King was gentle and kind.
However, everyone gathered here knew exactly how powerful she truly was.
Her true strength rivaled that of the Bull Demon King, leader of the Seven Great Saints.
Some monsters who possessed even the slightest trace of dragon blood—or were related to dragons in any way—even claimed she could defeat the Bull Demon King without much difficulty.
【......】
“So you'll stay quiet now, right? I'd like to have a conversation.”
The smile returned to her face.
She looked toward Zhuyin in the distance.
“Uncle, I'm taking my little brother with me. Please understand. While all of you were holed up in your little homes, you all roughly know what my little brother was doing up there.”
She spoke with a cheerful smile.
Zhuyin remained silent.
After a brief silence—
【Did the Bull Demon King approve this?】
“Of course. Did you think I came here alone?”
The instant she finished speaking—
Rumble!!
Part of the empty sky was torn apart.
The dimension itself had been ripped open through sheer force.
Boom!!
Crushing part of the Demonic Spirit Realm, a gigantic lion-headed monster appeared.
Then the sky suddenly darkened.
The monsters looked up.
A colossal monstrous bird spread its enormous wings, covering the heavens.
Flying even higher than Yinglong, it gazed down upon the earth.
【You mean you didn't notice us even after we came this close?】
Perhaps it was to answer the tree monster's question.
Brilliant multicolored patterns suddenly appeared throughout the surroundings.
Everyone gathered here possessed tremendous power.
The moment they saw those patterns, they immediately recognized what they were.
【Macaque Demon King...】
Another member of the Seven Great Saints had used sorcery to conceal his siblings' presence.
Finally—
On the opposite side of Mount Tai, where Zhuyin rested, crimson eyes appeared in the sky.
Although they were nowhere near as enormous as Zhuyin's thousand-li body, the overwhelming pressure they radiated surpassed everyone present.
“Everyone... came?”
Someone muttered in disbelief.
Those words perfectly reflected what every Divine Being and monster present was thinking.
Even when the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Son Goku, betrayed them, all of the Seven Great Saints had not gathered.
Yet now, every single one except the youngest had come to save the Wind-Passing Great Sage.
“So, what'll it be? We don't mind fighting.”
The Flood Dragon Demon King smiled brightly.
Behind her, the faint image of a dragon appeared.
At the same time, the sound of crashing waves echoed as an invisible force pressed down upon everything.
Both cliffs began trembling as cracks spread across them.
The Roc Demon King and the other Great Saints gradually released their own power as well.
【Does the Bull Demon King share the same opinion?】
“That's why we all came together.”
【Very well. Let us pretend none of this happened today.】
【Lord Zhuyin!】
【You cannot! How much longer will the order of the Demonic Spirit Realm—】
The gathered monsters erupted in protest at Zhuyin's decision.
However, no one managed to continue speaking.
The towering Mount Tai and Zhuyin, who had been resting upon it, vanished in an instant.
【Everyone, return.】
Even Yinglong, who had been writhing through the sky, departed without hesitation.
As all the Divine Beings and monsters dispersed, several—including Yuqiang—remained behind, glaring at the Wind-Passing Great Sage.
【Today's humiliation shall—】
“Yuqiang, if you keep talking, I won't let you leave. I can't simply let someone who stabs others in the back walk away.”
Even without the Flood Dragon Demon King saying another word, the Lion Camel King extended his hand.
The Roc Demon King watched Yuqiang from the sky.
Meanwhile, the sorcery formation had already surrounded him.
【I'll leave quietly. We'll meet again another time.】
At the Flood Dragon Demon King's warning, the remaining Divine Beings and Great Monsters immediately disappeared.
After everyone had left.
The Wind-Passing Great Sage approached the Flood Dragon Demon King with a bewildered expression.
“Big Sister, what in the world just happened?”
“What do you mean? I came because it looked like my little brother was about to get beaten up.”
“Out of nowhere? But... why?”
“Why else? Because we're family.”
At the word family, the Wind-Passing Great Sage fell silent.
His expression twisted repeatedly before he finally spoke again.
“No... I mean... Sixth Brother, the elder brothers, and even you all came...”
Although he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he still found it difficult to believe what had just happened.
They called each other brothers, but the Seven Great Saints were not bound by blood.
Nor were they especially close.
Seven monsters had simply become acquainted by chance, and from then on they had been grouped together.
They were certainly not close enough to all come running because the Wind-Passing Great Sage was in danger.
Yet today, that was exactly what had happened.
“Big Brother, you could've just said thank you. Why so many words?”
“Ah? Ah... right. Thank you. Thank you, Big Sister. Thank you, Elder Brothers.”
【That's enough. I only came because Eldest Brother asked me to. I still don't like the way you behave. I'll be leaving first.】
The Roc Demon King flapped his wings once before disappearing from sight.
“Third Brother still seems upset about what happened last time.”
“You were the one in the wrong. Apologize later. If you're brothers, you should know how to get along.”
“Big Sister, I had my reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“Think about it. A friend came to visit our neighborhood, and Third Brother suddenly attacked him. What was I supposed to do? Besides, I only exchanged a few blows before running away. If I'd really intended to fight, would I have run?”
He was talking about the time Jang Woo-hyun had entered the Demonic Spirit Realm.
After hearing it put that way, even the Flood Dragon Demon King found herself speechless.
“Uh... alright. I'll explain it to Third Brother later. Anyway, Fifth.”
“Yes, Big Sister.”
“Stop causing trouble already. I know you love fighting, but this time you really went too far.”
The Buddha Realm had become involved.
In the end, they had fought someone plotting from the Upper Realm.
Even so, the damage the Demonic Spirit Realm suffered before that was simply too great.
No matter how unruly monsters were, there were still lines they should never cross.
“If the Demonic Spirit Realm breaks apart, the monsters lose their homeland itself. How could you suddenly summon the youngest?”
The Flood Dragon Demon King stood the Wind-Passing Great Sage in place and began lecturing him.
Only after scolding him for over an hour did she finally stop.
“Do you understand?”
“I'll... try to be more careful.”
The Wind-Passing Great Sage answered a little too slowly.
He looked exhausted from the lengthy lecture.
However, just like a mother instantly seeing through her son's lie, the Flood Dragon Demon King immediately realized what had happened.
“Oh? I was talking, and you were already thinking about something else?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't do anythi— Ghk!”
The Flood Dragon Demon King's hand transformed into a dragon's claw and seized the Wind-Passing Great Sage by the neck.
“You just sent out a Projection, didn't you?”
“......!”
The Wind-Passing Great Sage avoided her eyes and looked elsewhere.
“You still haven't come to your senses. Fourth. Sixth.”
“Yes, Big Sister.”
“Grab him. I'm going to teach him a proper lesson today.”
“Big Sister, wait. Just wait! My contractor summoned me, so I only sent a little of my power. I was really summoned! Let's talk after you let me go. If you don't, I'll have to use force too.”
As the Wind-Passing Great Sage tried to move, the Lion Camel King and the Macaque Demon King restrained him.
“Little Brother, that won't do.”
“Big Brother... I'm sorry.”
The Wind-Passing Great Sage's pupils trembled violently.
As much as he loved fighting—even earning the nickname of a battle-crazed monster—facing three of his siblings at once was impossible.
Moreover, he was already restrained.
He could not even use his greatest weapon: his incredible speed.
No matter how he looked at it, this was the worst possible situation.
“B-Big Sister, wait! Stop! Stop!”
“I got caught.”
The Wind-Passing Great Sage frowned after being summoned to the Central Heavens Realm.
He had formed a powerful contract with his summoner, allowing him to cross into the Central Heavens Realm with ease.
He had also thought secretly sending a portion of his power would go unnoticed.
Apparently, deceiving the Flood Dragon Demon King was impossible.
'Since things have turned out this way, I might as well enjoy fighting even more today.'
Caught or not, he had already crossed into the Central Heavens Realm.
He decided to simply do what he had come here to do.
After gathering his thoughts, the Wind-Passing Great Sage shook his head and searched for the man who had summoned him.
In one corner of the vast cavern stood a man.
He was Seon Tae-gyeong, once a renowned spellcaster and the former leader of the Ten Immortals of the Radiant Light Sect.
Thanks to his assistance, the Wind-Passing Great Sage had been able to travel freely between the Demonic Spirit Realm and the Central Heavens Martial World.
“By the way, where's Gong Ryo? Haven't you summoned him yet?”
“Great Sage...”
“Hm? What is it?”
Looking closely, Seon Tae-gyeong's expression was different from usual.
He looked completely dejected, like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.
“What's wrong? Did something happen?”
“Well...”
Unable to finish his sentence, Seon Tae-gyeong closed his eyes.
At that very moment—
Stab!
“Urgh!”
A sword burst through the Wind-Passing Great Sage's chest.
“I knew this would happen.”
“...Huh?”
A voice that should never have been heard here.
The Wind-Passing Great Sage's head twisted halfway around with a loud crack.
He saw Jang Woo-hyun wearing a thoroughly displeased expression.
Beside him was Gong Ryo's shattered body, slowly dissolving into smoke.
“S-So... I got caught?”
“I was wondering why you kept coming here so often. You're banned from entering the Central Heavens for a while.”
“Wait, Jang Woo-hyun. Just wait a second. Even back in the Demonic Spirit Realm, I—”
“Shut up, idiot.”
Jang Woo-hyun ignored him and swung his sword.
“Hey! Is this how you treat a friend!?”
“Friends grow stronger by fighting each other!”
The words, 'We're already fully grown, so what more is there to grow?' never left his mouth.
The Wind-Passing Great Sage, who had been looking forward to an enjoyable battle, shattered into pieces and disappeared.
Jang Woo-hyun scattered the lingering traces of the Great Monster, now reduced to smoke, before walking toward the accomplice behind the incident.
“We need to talk.”
“Captain, at least hear my explanation first.”
Seon Tae-gyeong offered excuse after excuse afterward, none of them worked.
RelatedRelatedRelated