Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Yin Ziyu entrusted Yang Chan with handling the matter of the Tongtian River.

Yang Chan is different from Bai Suzhen. Bai Suzhen came to unite the demon race, while Yang Chan came to help the human race.

There is a cause and effect here. Since the Investiture of the Gods, the Cheng Tang lineage and the Xuanyuan lineage have been torn apart. Now, the Xuanyuan lineage has basically all been reduced to mortals.

Regardless, these are all human beings, and we cannot allow them to sink into oblivion.

Yang Chan is a demigod and Yang Jian's sister. Using this identity as a starting point, she aims to save the human race from suffering.

The goddess Luo then explained to them why these humans had fallen to such a state.

"Demons and monsters are rampant, and gods and Buddhas are all compassionate. Why then do they save people?"

Upon hearing Yang Chan's inquiry, the Goddess of the Luo River explained, "Without the rampage of demons, how can there be compassion? Gods and Buddhas regard mortals as ants and weeds, and they merely use compassion as a pretext to gain faith. But you are different; only you can truly be compassionate!"

"Ah, why is this?"

The goddess Luo smiled faintly and said, "You are born of a god and a mortal, only you can save them!"

Yang Chan was also extremely conflicted after hearing this: "Goddess Luo, the human race has become like this, but my brother is in the Chan Sect. What should we do!"

Luo Shen gently turned her head and said softly, "No matter where you are or what religion you follow, you must use your heart to observe your heart and see through the ways of the world in order to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. During the Shang Dynasty, the Human Emperor ruled the human race, and your father, being a mortal, could still marry your mother. But now, in the Three Realms, immortals regard mortals as ants, and the same thing can no longer be done."

The voice of the goddess Luo, like a babbling brook, was exceptionally clear on the chaotic and noisy banks of the Tongtian River. This metaphor gave Yang Chan a new understanding.

Yang Chan was slightly taken aback, then a look of realization flashed in her eyes, and she immediately said without hesitation, "I understand what the Goddess of the Luo River means."

These few words were spoken with absolute certainty, because Luo Shen pointed out the cause and effect of Yang Chan's actions.

That is, one must defend the righteousness of one's own existence.

In other words, Yang Tianyou was a mortal who married Yang Chan's mother and had Yang Chan. Therefore, although Yang Chan was a demigod, she could not belittle or despise mortals.

In fact, only by enabling these ant-like mortals to stand up can they prove that their birth was justified.

This is what the Goddess of the Luo River meant when she said that gods and Buddhas only seek to gain faith, while Yang Chan is the one who can truly save them from their suffering.

If even Yang Chan doesn't defend the right of immortals and mortals to have children, then what is the meaning of her own birth? Is it considered an original sin?
Yang Chan is quite decisive; she once dared to marry a mortal in the post-Journey to the West world, let alone now.

In other words, if the dignity of mortals cannot be elevated, Yang Chan's birth is like a fairy marrying a cow or sheep and giving birth to her. To despise mortals is to keep trampling one's own identity into the mud.

It also acknowledges that one's birth was wrong, that one's birth was the original sin. If a practitioner can deny even one's own birth, then one is basically destined to have no connection with the Great Way.

Other immortals and gods can belittle and look down on mortals, but Yang Chan and Yang Jian cannot, even though Yang Jian is in the Chan Sect.

As the saying goes, everyone has their own unique talents. I should acknowledge that my birth was the right thing to do, rather than admitting that my birth was a mistake or that I am worthless.

It was precisely because of Yang Chan's identity that the Lotus Lantern Calamity was brought about, which was also a minor calamity launched by Nuwa to elevate the status of mortals.

The original Yang Chan cruelly married a mortal and gave birth to a son, Chen Xiang. In the end, she modified the heavenly rules to barely justify the existence of her brother and sister, but she still couldn't elevate the status of the human race.

Now, Nuwa has sent Yang Chan down to the mortal realm, and Yin Ziyu is using this as an opportunity to let Yang Chan truly use her identity as a starting point to accomplish something of great renown.

Yang Chan and Bai Suzhen are both protagonists in the two minor tribulations to come, each with their own mission, while Yin Ziyu's karma directly triggers the Journey to the West.

Planning for a great calamity naturally involves having the right people do the right things; only in this way can we achieve the highest probability of success through cause and effect.

The group on their pilgrimage slowly made their way to Chenjia Village on the banks of the Tongtian River. They found the place eerily silent, with every house tightly shut, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

Sun Wukong flared his nostrils slightly, instantly sensing the dense demonic aura permeating the air. He frowned and blurted out, "There is such a powerful demonic aura here!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was startled, and a hint of fear appeared on his face. However, he still forced himself to remain calm and said, "Wukong, look over there, there's a house with the door open. Let's go and ask them what's going on."

The four found a family whose head of household was named Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng was a devout Buddhist, and his family's Buddhist shrine was solemnly decorated. He would burn incense and chant scriptures every morning and evening, and his piety towards Buddhism was deeply ingrained.

The house is decorated with Buddhist calligraphy and paintings, the Buddha statues are kept spotless, and even everyday items have a peaceful Buddhist atmosphere.

Even monks who had passed by would be invited into Chen Cheng's home and treated with great hospitality.

Chen Cheng saw Tang Sanzang and his companions from afar. Seeing Tang Sanzang dressed in monk's robes and looking dignified, he was overjoyed and hurriedly went to greet them, respectfully inviting them into his home.

After Tang Sanzang sat down, he noticed the eerily quiet surroundings and couldn't help but ask, "Benefactor, why are all the households here staying indoors? What has happened?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng's face immediately showed sorrow. He sighed and said, "Elder, you may not know this, but we are Chen Family Village in Yuanhui County, Chechi Kingdom, located on the border of Chechi Kingdom. There is a Tongtian River here, eight hundred li wide, inhabited by a 'River God.' Every year, this 'River God' demands that the village offer a pair of young boys and girls as sacrifices, saying that this will ensure a year of good weather and abundant harvests. This offering has continued for ten years. This year, the village prepared the offerings of young boys and girls well in advance. But for some reason, recently the 'River God' suddenly became angry, stirring up raging waves in the Tongtian River, which directly swept across the banks. Countless young boys and girls from villages along the river have been abducted. Such a terrible change has frightened everyone in the village, and everyone has locked their doors and windows, afraid to go out!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes widened in anger. He slammed his fist on the table and said fiercely, "This is no river god, he's clearly a monster! The real river god would never do something as heinous as making you worship young boys and girls!"

Upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, Chen Cheng turned deathly pale. He hurriedly waved his hands and said in a trembling voice, "Elder, be careful what you say! That river god is incredibly powerful and has boundless magic. If he hears us, the entire Chen Family Village will be doomed!"

Chen Cheng's eyes were filled with terror, as if mentioning the "River God" would immediately bring about annihilation.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong merely chuckled, his expression full of untamed pride and arrogance, and said proudly, "Do you not know who I, Old Sun, am? I, Old Sun, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago! What do I care about river gods or sea gods? Now that I, Old Sun, have arrived here, I will see just who this river god really is!"

Immediately afterward, Sun Wukong's expression darkened, and he asked seriously, "How many children did they capture?"

Chen Cheng's lips trembled as he answered in a shaky voice, "About ten thousand people..."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was so enraged that his hair stood on end. He clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury, and said hatefully, "Outrageous! These monsters are utterly depraved! I, Old Sun, will capture this monster and tear him to pieces!"

It must be said that Sun Wukong still possesses a strong sense of justice.

Sun Wukong's fiery eyes flashed wildly, and he immediately said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, please wait here peacefully. Bajie, you must protect Master! I, Old Sun, will go down into the river now and see what kind of monster dares to be so lawless!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang, though worried about Sun Wukong's safety, was even more concerned about the more than ten thousand captured children. He hurriedly said, "Wukong, go ahead without worry. With Bajie watching over you, I will be fine. But those more than ten thousand children have been captured by the demon. You must do everything you can to rescue them all safely!"

Pigsy patted his round belly and said, "Master, don't worry! With me here, I guarantee the monsters won't get close to you! Eldest Brother, just go and subdue the demons, we'll wait here for your triumphant return!"

At the bottom of the Tongtian River, a gloomy and dark place was filled with demonic energy.

A little crab demon, panting, reported: "Reporting...Reporting to Grandma, as the King ordered, we have captured twelve thousand children. May we ask if they can be returned?"

Upon hearing the report, the old woman's eyes snapped open, a bloodthirsty glint flashing within them. She grinned, revealing a set of sharp teeth, and sneered, "Ten thousand for the King, and two thousand for this old woman to enjoy! Humph, those delicate little fellows, this old woman is really drooling over them! Now take me to see them."

Before long, they arrived at a huge cave.

Inside the cave, more than 10,000 children were imprisoned in cages made of interwoven chains and runes.

The children were terrified; their cries, shouts, and pleas for mercy echoed through the cave, sending chills down one's spine.

Looking at the children, the old woman with a satisfied yet ferocious smile on her face stretched out her long tongue and licked her lips, as if the children in front of her were not living children, but delicious dishes.

"Hahaha, these little guys are all highly nutritious. Eating them will definitely boost my cultivation to a higher level!"

As the old woman became excited and prepared to enjoy the child, her excited face became increasingly ferocious, ugly, and terrifying.

At that very moment, a magnificent lotus flower bloomed unexpectedly in the cave where the children were imprisoned.

The lotus was crystal clear, its petals carved like mutton fat jade, each radiating a soft yet dazzling divine light that instantly pierced through all demonic energy and darkness.

Like a golden scale opening in the sun, it instantly enveloped all the children.

Upon seeing this, countless demons instinctively tried to rush forward to stop it. However, as they approached the lotus, an invisible yet incredibly powerful force repelled them, preventing them from getting any closer.

Within the lotus flower, a bright lamp slowly emerges, its flame flickering and radiating a warm and sacred light.

Wherever the light reached, all darkness and fear vanished instantly, and a flame of hope suddenly ignited in the eyes of the children who had been crying in despair.

All the children looked at the light before them and were instantly enveloped in its peaceful glow. All fear vanished, and their previously dim eyes began to shine brightly.

In an instant, the Gui Po and countless lesser demons let out shrill screams under the divine light.

The holy flames, like a surging tide, instantly engulfed them.

The old woman tried to struggle, but found that her body was rapidly melting away under the erosion of the lamp flame, just like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun.

Countless lesser demons were utterly helpless; the moment the flame touched them, they turned to ashes and vanished without a trace.

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye. The cave, which was just filled with sin and terror, became clear and peaceful under the illumination of the Lotus Lantern, as if nothing had ever happened.

The dazzling light of the Lotus Lantern gradually faded, and Yang Chan, dressed in a moon-white long dress with the hem fluttering in the wind, descended from the sky.

Yang Chan held the Lotus Lantern in her hand, and the lantern emitted a gentle and holy light, making Yang Chan's face even more beautiful and sacred.

The light flowed around Yang Chan, forming a faint halo that draped her in a holy robe.

This is the Lotus Lantern, the human spirit lamp among the four great spirit lamps of Heaven, Earth, Man, and the Underworld. It would be easy for it to subdue these little demons. Originally, these little demons could easily sweep across both banks without alerting the enemy, but now that they have gathered all the children together, it is time to make a move.

Upon seeing the fairies and spirits, the children immediately knelt down to pay their respects, their eyes sparkling with innocent yet excited light.

Yang Chan looked around at the children who had survived the calamity, her expression becoming solemn and serious. She said, "Now, monsters are rampant, sweeping across the world. Countless demons take pleasure in eating people, causing immense suffering to all living beings. Are you willing to learn the art of slaying demons and eliminating evil, so that you can rid the world of these scourges in the future?"

The children were incredibly excited upon hearing this, and they cheered and shouted, "Yes! Yes!"

During the chaos, Yang Chan naturally led the group of children into the Mind Realm, allowing them to come and go freely, and taught them cultivation and how to utilize the power of the Mind Realm.

In an instant, my mind was filled with the innocent aura of these children.

Each of these children is now carrying a simple and positive conviction, striving to cultivate themselves.

Following the cultivation method taught by Yang Chan, the children sat cross-legged, closed their eyes, and used their hearts to feel the primordial power in their minds.

From his small body, a pure and passionate aura gradually emanated, and the youthful spirit formed from the heart of a child instantly created a small but pure torrent.

The spirit of youth is as pure as newly melted snow, as unadorned as uncarved jade.

Unlike the spiritual energy provided by other beings, this energy is free from the complex entanglements of cause and effect found in the adult world, the temptations of fame and fortune, and the scheming of deceit. It is simply a pure heart that is simple, positive, dedicated to spiritual practice, and strives to vanquish demons.

This unique mental strength, though immature, contains boundless vitality and energy; this innate quality seems capable of breaking through all shackles and constraints.

The entire realm of the mind underwent a wondrous change under the impact of this youthful spirit.

Although this source of inner energy was not large, it was like a white crow flying in from a flock of black crows, instantly catching Yin Ziyu's attention. Yin Ziyu, who was cultivating deep within his inner realm, immediately sensed it.

Yin Ziyu slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with surprise and shock.

"This is the power of a child's heart. Compared to the original power of the heart, it is small but so pure. This spirit is like the primordial flame, extraordinary. We must never allow it to be mixed with other powers of the heart."

If all beings have the same mind, and their minds are infinitely large, then the spirit of this young man is completely different from that of other beings. It is an innate, fiery source of mental energy.

Yin Ziyu muttered to himself, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I see. The spirit of youth is a non-renewable thing, possessing the purest, most fervent, and most sincere source of the heart, just like carrying the power of hope."

Yin Ziyu seemed to have grasped something crucial, and his mind suddenly became clear.

"This spirit is free from the karmic entanglements of adulthood, and is the purest, yet it can bring about an extraordinary improvement in one's mental state."

At that moment, Yin Ziyu silently sensed the boundless youthful spirit within his heart, separating it from the other sources of energy. Although it was simple, it possessed an indescribable power.

"The reason we are born is the reason we die; the deeper our strategy, the weaker our spirit!"

"Yes, all living beings in this primordial world are born with the spiritual light of the Great Dao. The spirit they are born with carries the innate spirit of the Great Dao, which is the most precious."

"This youthful spirit has broken the shackles of my mind, allowing me to return to the simplicity of my true self."

"Now that my cultivation is stuck, the entry of this source of power has actually accelerated the speed at which I am gathering the power of transcendence. It seems that I need to gather more youthful spirit and enough youthful energy so that my transcendent spirit can break through and advance smoothly."

At this moment, Yin Ziyu's breakthrough to a new realm has been completely completed, and he has achieved the true closed loop of the infinite heart.

At this moment, although Yin Ziyu has condensed the power of transcendence, he is now constrained, and it is extremely difficult for him to truly open the path to advancement.

The flourishing of humanitarianism brought by Chechi Kingdom is merely an external force; a genuine internal channel needs to be opened up.

Yin Ziyu's "My Heart Is Boundless" requires the most fundamental explanation: the spirit of youth. This is a bright path to return to one's true self and transcend shackles, and the key to all of this is the pure youthful spirit brought by these children.

Even if one reaches such a realm and is immortal, the heart that has grown along the way is already old, especially when one proves the Dao with the heart. How can one go on when one is so old?
The youthful spirit is a non-renewable resource; it almost entirely vanishes by adulthood and can hardly be retained. Very few people can retain it, regardless of whether they are immortals or mortals. In terms of the concept of the heart, they are equal, and even immortals find it difficult to retain their youthful spirit.

For example, Nezha was incredibly ambitious when he was first born. Regardless of whether it was good or bad, Nezha's ambition was sky-high. He even pulled out dragon tendons and skinned dragons. Now that he is in the Heavenly Court and knows more and more, his youthful ambition has also disappeared.

Although Sun Wukong has been fooled and lost his innate essence, he has retained the spirit of a young boy, and can shout loudly no matter who he encounters.

This spirit will disappear as we grow, as we learn more, and as our hearts are wounded.

Ordinary people generally feel that time is infinite and that they have a bright future before the age of twenty-five. After the age of thirty-five, they will be resigned to their fate. Between these two, one is an extremely strong spirit of hope, and the other is a spirit of despondency and decadence.

The pure power brought by the spirit of hope is qualitatively different from ordinary spiritual energy.

There are children in the Mind Realm, but their Mind Source Power is mixed with the vast Mind Source Power. This time, however, a torrent appeared, which Yin Ziyu comprehended.

This time, Yang Chan brought these children into the Mind Realm to teach them cultivation in order to slay demons and monsters, but it gave Yin Ziyu a new understanding and new thoughts in an instant.

Yin Ziyu's original plan was for Yang Chan to use the Lotus Lantern as a foundation to recruit some children into her own force, becoming a link in the anti-order movement. However, by sheer accident, it allowed Yin Ziyu to completely unlock his Heart of Transcendence. Now, advancing to the Heart of Transcendence is only a matter of time, and very soon.

It should be understood that Yin Ziyu's Dao of the Heart transcends the innate and acquired aspects of the Chan Sect, bringing them to the same level at the most fundamental level.

So, can this path be opened up? Can we negate the Chanjiao ideology from the perspective of the past, rather than from the level of ideals, and establish our own ideology?

Should we treat the minds of all beings differently?

In the future, should Yin Ziyu's mental realm treat the mental source power brought by innate beings differently from that brought by acquired beings?

Is there any difference between the two?

If this matter cannot be resolved perfectly, it will eventually become a flaw in the mind, leading to its collapse.

There is a debate here about whether ordinary people, or even lower-level beings, are truly useless.
Here, a complete explanation is found: youthful spirit is the most important thing. This is no longer a matter of innate or acquired, nor is it a matter of race. It is something that all living beings possess, which fundamentally negates the innate and acquired distinctions of nobility and baseness that arose in the Three Realms.

When the vital energy gathered by a young person's spirit becomes the key to condensing a transcendent heart at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the distinction between innate and acquired will collapse.

At the same time, the youthful spirit desires a better world, which will bring positive and vibrant life to this declining and dying world.

So, if the mind is infinitely large, are the mental powers of all beings equal?
When Yin Ziyu was a celestial being, he faced a desperate situation and proposed the idea that his heart was infinitely vast. Now, he has come this far step by step. Therefore, even for mortals, the key to reaching this point is to be able to condense the infinite source power of their original heart.

What would have happened if we had accepted our fate back then?

Therefore, in terms of the innate nature of one's original mind, it is the same, and this is the basic balance.

This goes back to the beginning of the primordial world. There were no living beings in the primordial world. Why did countless living beings emerge in such a short time? Where did these living beings come from?
This is how the Great Dao's spiritual light gave birth to countless beings, all born with innate qualities. At this level, all beings are equal, which is also what Yin Ziyu described: the mind is infinitely vast, and all originate from the same source.

It's just that some people are lucky enough to have their innate spiritual light integrated into their innate physique, while others are unlucky and become born from moisture and eggs, with mortal bodies.

However, every living being possesses a basic innate spiritual light, and the spirit one is born with carries an innate quality, which is the most precious and irreplaceable.

Unconsciously, Yin Ziyu completely opened his heart to the primordial chaos. He immersed himself in the understanding of youthful spirit, opening his mind like a vast and boundless abyss, slowly drawing in that magnificent youthful spirit.

As this pure and fervent power surged in, the decay within Yin Ziyu's heart was instantly ignited by a flame of hope, which grew ever brighter.

This is simply a change of heart, from wanting to buy osmanthus flowers and share wine, but ultimately not like the carefree days of youth, to the change of heart towards "Though the sun sets late, the sunset still paints the sky with rosy clouds."

This is like trying to find one's original heart by marking the boat to find one's sword.

At that moment, the boy's hope, like the first ray of sunlight piercing through the thick fog in the early morning, pure and full of vitality, quickly gathered in Yin Ziyu's heart.

Yin Ziyu immediately began to gather the mental energy of all the young people in the entire Heart Realm, extracting and activating it to become the core source energy of the Heart Realm.

Strands of transcendent power, like dreamlike threads, emerged from the torrent of youthful ambition and gently converged into Yin Ziyu's heart.

Each strand of transcendent power radiates the strength to break free from all shackles; though rare, it carries an aura that transcends the mortal world.

As Yin Ziyu gradually came to understand the nature of youth, all the power within his seven-aperture heart began to transform. This seven-aperture heart suddenly became a converter, transforming all the power Yin Ziyu had gained since his growth into a transcendent power.

Originally, only some transcendent power was born, but to completely complete the transcendent heart, one still needs to complete one's own Dao, the closed loop of the Great Dao, and the transformation of one's state of mind. Only in this way can the advancement of the transcendent heart be flawlessly perfected.

As the power of transcendence continued to gather, Yin Ziyu's aura became increasingly ethereal and otherworldly, as if he were gradually breaking free from one shackle after another.

At this moment, a faint halo emanated from Yin Ziyu's body. This halo was sometimes as vibrant as the new green of spring, and sometimes as clear and distant as the moonlight of an autumn night.

At this moment, Yin Ziyu seemed to be standing on the edge of the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and transcendence. Every wisp of transcendent power was pushing Yin Ziyu toward that transcendent heart.

The ancient heroic spirits of the former Emperor Sword, the imperial aura of the former emperors of the Shang Dynasty, the merits he had gained, and the fortune he had gathered in his heart—all these forces began to transform from Yin Ziyu's other apertures into transcendent power, flowing into the sixth aperture and condensing into a transcendent heart, without any further obstacles.

Yin Ziyu's gaze was profound, traversing endless time and space. He first addressed Luo Shen, who was controlling the progress of the Great Tribulation, saying, "Mi Fei, my advancement to the Heart of Transcendence is not far off. Now the Great Tribulation is like a raging tide, sweeping across the Three Realms. You can have Yang Chan rescue more children and teenagers and bring them to the Heart Realm to help them grow. Their youthful spirit will allow me to condense the Heart of Transcendence sooner."

Upon hearing this, Luo Shen's beautiful eyes instantly lit up with surprise, and she asked incredulously, "Ziyu, is this true?"

Yin Ziyu solemnly told Luo Shen: "Yes, this time Yang Chan brought many children into the Heart Realm, allowing me to comprehend the primordial heart. Through this experience, I have come to realize that the spirit of youth is an irreplaceable thing. It is equally bestowed upon all beings. This spirit is pure and flawless, untouched by worldly taint, and contains infinite possibilities. It is the most important element of the transcendent heart."

Luo Shen was overjoyed and said, "Very well, since that's the case, I will go and assist Yang Chan in completing this task. I will certainly not disappoint Ziyu's expectations."

Yin Ziyu continued, "Let Yang Chan lay a solid foundation for these children, and when the time is right, let them spread like wildfire, sweeping across the land. Only in this way can we save mortals from their perilous situation and break their fate of being slaughtered like cattle and sheep. This is not only about cultivating my transcendent spirit, but also about breaking the order that has existed since the Investiture of the Gods, where mortals are treated like cattle and sheep. Yang Chan is the most suitable person for this. She holds the Lotus Lamp of Humanity and is born of both gods and humans, so naturally she must do her utmost for this!"

"Don't worry, Ziyu, I understand!"

"."

The upheaval in Chechi Kingdom triggered a true chaos in the Three Realms. In a very short time, as the fusion of the calamity energy and fortune swept through, many things underwent qualitative changes.

At this point, Sun Wukong had merged his own origin with that of the Six-Eared Macaque. Improving his cultivation was a minor matter; more supernatural powers were also slowly awakening, including the Six-Eared Macaque's ability to listen to the Three Realms.

Now that he has encountered such a terrible thing as the Tongtian River, how could Sun Wukong show any mercy? He wielded his golden cudgel and fought his way in.

They stormed into the bottom of the Tongtian River with unstoppable momentum.

Wherever they went, the little demons fell down screaming in agony. The scene was like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, offering no resistance whatsoever. Blood rained down all the way to the River God's Palace.

The goldfish spirit was entrenched in his mansion, waiting for the mandarin fish woman to bring him children to enjoy, when suddenly he heard a deafening roar of battle outside. Before he could react, Sun Wukong appeared before him like a golden lightning bolt.

Upon seeing this, the goldfish spirit was greatly alarmed, its bulging eyes widening, its face filled with disbelief and terror.

Without much thought, the goldfish spirit had no choice but to brace itself and fight Sun Wukong.

However, Sun Wukong, who had now merged with the Six-Eared Macaque's essence and whose own essence had returned, was now far more powerful than before, like a god descending to earth.

With just one exchange, the sturdy walls of the River God's Palace collapsed with a deafening roar, and the magnificent palace was reduced to dust. In an instant, smoke and dust filled the riverbed, and pebbles flew everywhere.

The goldfish spirit was so shocked by the attack that it coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

This also shows that Sun Wukong showed mercy, failing to find the child and thus not killing the demon with a single blow.

Sun Wukong did not give up. He grabbed the goldfish and demanded sharply, "You monster, where are the more than ten thousand children you captured?"

The goldfish spirit trembled with fear, its teeth chattering, and it stammered, "There...there is a mandarin fish woman watching over it."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong gritted his teeth in anger and said bitterly, "You wicked monster! How dare you eat countless boys and girls! Such evil deeds, I, Old Sun, cannot let you live!"

Seeing that Sun Wukong was determined to kill her, the goldfish spirit cried out in terror, "Don't kill me! I am a goldfish from Mount Luojia!"

Sun Wukong was taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and he shouted, "How did the goldfish from Mount Luojia become a demon here?"

The goldfish spirit, grasping at a straw, hurriedly begged for mercy, saying, "I was originally a goldfish from Luojia Mountain. I gained spiritual power after hearing the Bodhisattva preach. Later, I became greedy and came here to occupy the River God's Palace."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was even more enraged and cursed, "You monster! How dare you act so recklessly! Does the Bodhisattva know of your evil deeds?"

The goldfish spirit turned pale with fright and hurriedly waved her hands, saying, "I ran away without permission, Bodhisattva didn't know! Please, Great Sage, spare my life!"

Sun Wukong grabbed the goldfish demon and said fiercely, "Take me, your old Sun, to find the children. If any of them die, I, your old Sun, will kill you right here. As for the Bodhisattva, hehe, I, your old Sun, will definitely ask the Bodhisattva to find out if he was not watching properly and allowed you, this monster, to do evil here."

Unlike the Six-Eared Macaque, Sun Wukong was not shrewd or able to blend in with the world. No matter who his backer was, he would investigate to the end.

However, when they arrived at the cave where the children were imprisoned, there was neither the old woman nor the children. Sun Wukong shouted angrily, "Monster, where are those children?" (End of this chapter)