Volume 4: The Revelation Unveiled Chapter 428: The Entire Swarm Emerges
On Qi Tian Ridge, a figure moved atop a peak—it was Da Peng.
“Covering 609 peaks in just one breath—much faster than before,” Da Peng thought to himself. On Qi Tian Ridge now, all the divine apes were practicing diligently, while the Bull Demon King and the Nine Spirit Sage remained in seclusion. With nothing to do, he trained hard here, honing his innate divine ability—the Tian Peng Transformation.
“My father will surely be pleased to see me master this ability,” Da Peng gazed at the horizon, dreaming of soaring through the skies with the phoenix and peacock.
At that moment, his heart suddenly pounded, and he grew extremely irritable. Strange—what was happening? His desire to practice vanished, and he prepared to leave the peak. Then, a figure flew in from the northwest—it was Hou Tu.
Da Peng wondered how Hou Tu had come from that direction. When she saw him, her gaze turned gloomy, and she waved at him before turning and entering the Qilin Cave.
Qilin was sitting across from Dayu, feeling uneasy. Why had those who went to capture Xiang Liu taken so long? Dayu said, “It’s fine. Likely Xiang Liu isn’t here, and they’re waiting idly.”
Just then, Hou Tu and Da Peng entered the cave. Seeing Hou Tu’s expression, Dayu’s heart skipped a beat. He knew her well—unless something serious had happened, she would never be so expressionless.
“Where’s Wu Kong? Where’s Hou Yi? Why are you the only one who returned?”
Hou Tu remained silent. She formed a ring of earth with her hand, and a yellow glow appeared. Wu Kong and Ksitigarbha leaped out. Wu Kong held unconscious Zhu Rong in his arms, while Ksitigarbha carried Hou Yi, covered in blood, missing his right arm but still conscious.
Dayu exclaimed, “What—whom did you encounter?”
Wu Kong immediately spotted Da Peng, whose expression was uneasy. He nodded at Hou Tu, who reached into the ring of earth and pulled out the peacock. The peacock was asleep, breathing steadily, unharmed at all.
Seeing the peacock, Da Peng rejoiced, “Elder brother!” He then turned to Wu Kong, “How did you meet him? Where did you go…”
“You went to the Buddhist Hell!”
Hou Tu nodded and took out a cloth bag from her bosom. “Xiang Liu is here!”
Dayu showed no joy. He knew that in the Buddhist Hell, there was the Bodhisattva of Mire. Who else could have reduced these people to such a pitiful state but the Bodhisattva of Mire?
Qilin suddenly asked, “Where’s the phoenix? Weren’t you all going together?”
Dapeng suddenly had an ominous premonition. He stepped forward, grabbed Wukong, and asked, “Has my father gone? Why hasn’t he returned?” Looking at Dapeng’s worried and anxious gaze, Wukong didn’t know how to answer. He really had no idea whether the Phoenix was alive or dead. But since the Phoenix had said, “I can only use this spell once in my life,” things likely favored danger over good fortune at this moment. He had led everyone to wreak havoc in the Buddhist Hell, so how could the Bodhisattva Nili let him go? Even if he didn’t kill him, he would surely have to subdue him.
Dizang said slowly, “The Phoenix tried to help us escape by holding off Bodhisattva Nili. I’m afraid now…”
“What are you afraid of?”
Wukong replied, “Third brother, we really don’t know what’s happening to our uncle right now. When we left the Buddhist Hell, he was still fighting. With his cultivation level, he might have another way to escape.” Wukong was truly helpless and could only comfort Dapeng a bit. Dapeng had deep affection for his father and brothers. If he learned that the Phoenix had met an accident, who knew what he might do?
Heartbroken, Dapeng paced back and forth on the ground and said, “I have to go and check!”
Qilin shouted, “Come back! You don’t even know where the Buddhist Hell is. Where do you think you can go?”
Wukong pulled Dapeng back and said, “Third brother, even with our uncle’s cultivation level, he might still be trapped. What can you do if you go?”
After much deliberation, Dapeng became extremely depressed. With a roar, he rushed out, carrying the Peacock with him. Wukong hurried after him, shouting, “Where are you going?”
Without looking back, Dapeng replied, “To wake him up! The two of us will go save my father!”
Wukong knew that the Peacock’s mind hadn’t changed yet. Even if they woke him up, he would still be an enemy of Qitianling. Dapeng’s actions were like destroying his own advantages. He urgently shouted, “No! The Peacock has been under evil magic. We need to find a sage to rescue him!”
“I refuse to believe it. Even if he doesn’t recognize me, surely he won’t ignore his own father?” Dapeng used his swift movement skills to soar across the peaks of Qitianling. When it came to rapid movement, Wukong was no match for Dapeng. After chasing for a while and realizing he couldn’t catch up, he sighed and said, “Nonsense, nonsense!”
At that moment, a person descended from the sky, grabbed Dapeng by the back of his neck, and said coldly, “Nonsense! Go back!” It was actually the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.
Caught by the Mystic Maiden, Dapeng was terrified. His whole body felt weak, and he couldn’t muster any strength. He only snapped, “Who are you? Why do you meddle in my family’s affairs?”
The Mystic Maiden said, “The Phoenix actually gave birth to such a foolish creature!” Ignoring Dapeng, she dragged him into the cave.
Hou Tu was healing Zhu Rong, while Hou Yi had taken a few pills and was sitting in a corner of the cave, restoring his powers. Although he had lost his right arm, his expression remained resolute and heroic, showing no sign of disappointment.
Xuan Nu threw Da Peng to the ground, scanned the surroundings, and said, “Zhu Rong is unharmed, and Hou Yi’s severed arm can regenerate. Please tell me in detail how the battle went.” Hearing Xuan Nu’s assurance, Wukong felt somewhat relieved. Zhu Rong and Hou Yi both had deep feelings for him, and he would be deeply troubled if this caused future problems. So Wukong recounted every detail of how they went to capture Xiang Liu only to be lured into the Buddhist Hell. Upon hearing that Bodhisattva Ni Li was injured, Xuan Nu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Was his throat indeed pierced by Hou Yi, and his body covered in phoenix feathers?” Wukong replied, “I saw it with my own eyes.” Xuan Nu said, “This is a rare opportunity!” Sensing depth in her words, Wukong asked, “Are we going to the Buddhist Hell?” Xuan Nu didn’t answer but asked Wukong, “Do you have any issues?” Wukong said, “I’m just a bit tired; nothing serious.” After fighting hard for a long time, he had managed to master the wood-element spell “Endless Life,” which allowed him to persevere. A few pills would restore him to full health. Xuan Nu said, “Go to Ling Mountain immediately and invite Ran Deng here. Ask him what he thinks.” Delighted, Wukong realized Xuan Nu was determined to gather all the powerful beings to destroy the Buddhist Hell at once. He set off straight for Ling Mountain. Xuan Nu said to Ksitigarbha, “Please go and invite the Three Pure Ones here.” Ksitigarbha mounted Diting and headed straight for the Jade Pure Palace. Xuan Nu then said to Hou Tu, “Go to Zi Xiao Palace to find Zhen Wu, and then go to Zi Wei Palace to summon the Old Mother of Li Shan and the Emperor of Zi Wei.” Hou Tu, who was still healing Zhu Rong, hesitated for a moment. Xuan Nu stepped forward, placed her finger on Zhu Rong’s head, and he exhaled a puff of foul air before regaining consciousness. Looking around, he asked, “Where is Wukong?” Hou Tu replied, “Wukong is fine. It’s best for you to rest first.” Zhu Rong felt unbearable pain in his internal organs and didn’t know how many bones were broken; he couldn’t even get up and could only lie there motionless. After Hou Tu left, Xuan Nu asked Qilin and Dayu, “Are you coming?” Qilin and Dayu replied in unison, “Why not?” Xuan Nu nodded and asked, “How many Hun Yuan Jin Xian are left in the Ridge?” After thinking for a while, Dayu shook his head and said, “They’re useless.” The Ridge was full of demons, and it was already difficult for them to reach the level of Tai Yi Jin Xian, let alone Hun Yuan Jin Xian, who were the highest-tier beings. From this alone, the Ridge was far inferior to the Heavenly Court and Ling Mountain. Xuan Nu said, “It doesn’t matter.” She figured that since Bodhisattva Ni Li was severely injured and unable to fight again, the Buddhist Hell was currently in a rare state of weakness. If they didn’t act now, they might never get such a good opportunity again.
Xuan Nu glanced at Hou Yi and then thought of the phoenix, feeling admiration for their combat prowess. She knew well the abilities of the Bodhisattva Ni Li; to defeat him would likely be difficult even for her. These ancient figures—such as Dayu, Hou Yi, Zhu Rong, along with the ancient divine beasts like the qilin and phoenix—were all fierce warriors with extensive battle experience. Even ordinary immortals, even those of equal cultivation, would probably not be able to withstand them for long.
Dayu said, “The Rain Master Chi Songzi is also in the mountain range now. He too has reached the peak of the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm. Naturally, the Wood God and Metal God will go as well. Niu Er, Yuan Sheng Er…” He glanced at the qilin, who replied, “Of course we must go!”
Xuan Nu shook her head and said, “This is no trivial matter. If our cultivation is insufficient, it will only distract us.”
The qilin gave Xuan Nu a disdainful look and said, “Who in Qi Tian Ling fears death?”
At that moment, someone outside called out, “There are no death-fearing people in Qi Tian Ling, nor among my subordinates.” Soon after, hearty laughter was heard.
Huangyi Ran Deng stepped in, surprising everyone. His hair had grown back, and he was wearing a Taoist robe. Seeing Ran Deng, Xuan Nu smiled and said, “The Patriarch Bodhi has arrived.”
Ran Deng laughed heartily. Wukong, following behind, felt the same way as Xuan Nu.
Ran Deng said, “There are twelve arhats and thirty-six bodhisattvas in my sect, all waiting outside the cave.”
Xuan Nu said, “If we fail this time, there will be no chance to win again. If the Third Body of Tathagata awakens, the whole world will fall into his hands!”
At that moment, Hou Tu brought in Zhen Wu, Zi Wei, and the Holy Mother of Li Shan. The qilin said, “This cave is too small; too many people will make it cramped.”
Xuan Nu said, “Now that the Three Pure Ones have arrived, let’s set off immediately.” She then sealed the peacock and Xiang Liu in her bag, deciding to discuss how to deal with these two special entities later when there was a chance.
Just then, Jizang called out from outside, “The Three Pure Ones have arrived.”
Everyone went outside to greet them. The Three Pure Ones stood in mid-air, looking solemn with a hint of worry between their brows. Laojun asked Xuan Nu, “Why such haste?”
Xuan Nu replied, “What are we waiting for?”
Yuan Shi said, “It may not succeed.”
Xuan Nu said, “We’ll only know by trying.”
Yuan Shi did not respond, clearly agreeing with Xuan Nu’s plan.
Xuan Nu gathered everyone and said, “Since we’re sending everyone out, Qi Tian Ling no longer needs to be guarded. I doubt Tathagata will have the strength to turn the tables.”
The warriors participating in this battle were truly unprecedented.
Xuan Nu and the Three Pure Ones were all figures from the previous cosmic era; the Qilin and Zhen Wu were kings among the five categories of beings; Dayu, Hou Tu, Jumang, Rushou, and Chi Songzi were all ancient figures; Ran Deng, the Holy Mother of Lishan, and Zi Wei were all outstanding figures in the world; there was only one Creator Ape, Wukong, while the Bull Demon King and the Nine Spirits Sage were masters of the younger generation. Additionally, Ran Deng had under his command more than forty people, including many who had achieved sainthood. Just as everyone was about to set off, a scream came from inside the cave. Wukong rushed in to check and saw the Great Peng lying on the ground. Upon seeing Wukong, the Great Peng said urgently, “I… I want to go too!”