Sun Wukong felt a chill run through his entire body and instantly leaped backward. The Somersault Cloud, such a marvelous magical art, ensured he could leave this perilous place in the blink of an eye. When he landed after one flip, he was already tens of meters away.

Pausing in mid-air, his feet still treading on the clouds, Sun Wukong had retracted his Law of Heaven and Earth magic during that flip, having returned to his original stature. He stood there, hand shading his eyes, peering forward with his Fiery Golden Eyes. He saw dozens of flying swords, radiating brilliant purple light, crisscrossing the spot where he had just been. The boundless sword aura generated a sizzling sound as they rubbed against each other, a noise that made one's scalp tingle. If his reaction had been even slightly slower, those flying swords would likely have sliced through him; even with his invulnerability to blades and spears, he couldn't withstand so many formidable flying swords and magic treasures.

"Who dares attack me by stealth?"

The sword lights finished their crossing, and the purple energy dissipated, revealing a figure. This person wore a golden crown holding his hair in place and a long robe of white silk embroidered with purple patterns. His hands hung naturally at his sides as he stood suspended in the void, a faint smile gracing his face as he met Wukong's gaze from afar.

Seven-colored light shimmered within his eyes—it was clear this person also possessed a pair of extraordinary pupils. Coupled with the dozens of flying swords just unleashed, Sun Wukong, though still unaware of the man's identity, was fully alert, regarding him as the most dangerous enemy.

"I am Ye Wen, Sect Master of Mount Shu!"

After performing a brief Daoist salutation, Ye Wen considered his introduction complete. As he bowed, the dozens of purple flying swords scattered in the air instantly returned to him. Then, with a flash of purple light, they vanished into his body. Almost no one present had clearly seen the appearance of those flying swords, only witnessing patches of purple light swirling a few times in the air before retreating into Ye Wen's body. However, the boundless, sharp sword aura made everyone present aware of the flying swords' terrifying power.

Many among the Heavenly Court contingent had never seen Ye Wen, but most had heard his name. Since Mount Shu was situated nearby, visible whenever one looked up, curiosity led people to inquire more about him. Most were aware of the name Ye Wen, Sect Master of Mount Shu, but exactly what capabilities he possessed, or what his true strength was, remained unknown to them.

It was only today, after that last display, that these people understood Ye Wen's methods!

"So the Sect Master of Mount Shu possesses such power?"

"I knew it. To establish a sect in a place like this, only someone with considerable skill could manage it."

This area was a convergence point of three domains; anyone lacking true strength would likely not dare plant their sect here! No one knew that Ye Wen established his sect here because they were completely unaware of his reasons for doing so.

The expressions of the group from the Buddhist Realm, however, grew increasingly grim. Lü Bu alone had already set their alarm bells ringing fiercely; now, another Ye Wen appeared... Could this Ye Wen be that person?

Several with good memories immediately turned their gaze toward Kong Xuan. The Peacock King nodded slightly towards the crowd and murmured softly, "He is the one I spoke of!" At this, their faces darkened further. Previously, Kong Xuan had mentioned encountering a cultivator who could summon ten thousand flying swords—an overwhelming, soul-shaking sight that instantly crushed any will to fight upon seeing it. Those less courageous might have been scared to death on the spot!

And everyone present had clearly witnessed Ye Wen forcing back the Victorious Fighting Buddha with his flying swords just moments ago, giving them a rough impression of the swords' power. A single one of those formidable flying swords was enough to warrant their utmost caution; what about ten thousand unleashed at once?

Their only remaining hope was that the technique summoning ten thousand swords was not easily executed—preferably an ultimate killing move that required a significant buildup before deployment. Otherwise, even the Immovable Wisdom King wouldn't be confident in facing Ye Wen.

Of course, they were unaware that Kong Xuan had not revealed the full story: when Kong Xuan first met Ye Wen, the latter's cultivation was not as high. While the Myriad Sword Art was powerful, it wasn't enough to warrant such fear. Therefore, the Immovable Wisdom King's estimation of Ye Wen's current strength was based entirely on the display he just showed.

Turning back to the two figures in the arena, Ye Wen watched as Lü Bu retreated back to his ranks. Guan Yu was already administering a pill to Lü Bu, while Zhou Guan casually pulled out some healing herbs from the Mount Shu sect to apply to Lü Bu’s arms. With this treatment, after a period of rest, the Marquis of Wen would soon be back on his feet, ready to wield his halberd in battle.

Yang Jian watched the proceedings for a few moments, seemingly lost in thought, but after several glances, he turned his attention back to the two armies. Ye Wen and the Victorious Fighting Buddha were now locked in a standoff, and a great battle was imminent. Yang Jian wondered just how far Ye Wen's strength had progressed, and whether he could defeat that Monkey King.

Their earlier confrontation in the main hall of Mount Shu had only allowed Yang Jian to glimpse Ye Wen's immense potential. He had estimated that given a century or so, the Sect Master of Mount Shu would surely break through the current constraints and achieve the rank of Celestial Immortal!

As for the extent of his power then, Yang Jian couldn't say for sure; it depended on Ye Wen's comprehension, talent, and ultimately, his fortune.

Unexpectedly, Ye Wen's fortune was far better than he had anticipated. Only a few decades had passed, yet not only had he become a Celestial Immortal, but his strength was also significantly greater than Yang Jian's earlier estimation.

In that case, taking down that Monkey King should be a near certainty!

As he pondered this, the masses on both sides widened their eyes, focusing on the arena, eager to witness this earth-shattering battle: would the Victorious Fighting Buddha remain divinely mighty and defeat his foe, or would the Sect Master of Mount Shu prove superior in skill?

At this moment, some well-informed individuals within the Heavenly Court army began recounting Ye Wen's pursuit and slaying of the Dragon Lord of Heavenly Fire just a few days prior. This news caused the morale of the Heavenly Court army to surge tenfold, further boosting their confidence in Ye Wen. If not for the current battle formation, someone might already have started taking bets.

Ye Wen stood in the arena, having vaguely heard the discussions behind him. He looked at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and chuckled, "Let's not waste any more time here. Didn't you want a fight? Your humble Sect Master will accompany you!"

Sun Wukong stared intently, finally sweeping his Ruyi Jingu Bang, and roared, "That is for the best! Since that brat Yang Jian refuses to come out, killing you will do just as well!"

As the Victorious Fighting Buddha, his position within the Buddhist Realm was rather awkward: neither high enough nor low enough, creating a sense of dissatisfaction that often annoyed him. He had been holding back a great deal of accumulated frustration, and his decision to fight today was partly intended to show off his might to those who underestimated him.

Initially, when the Immovable Wisdom King instructed him to deal with Yang Jian, he was quite pleased, believing this battle would validate him. But after shouting until his face was red, Yang Jian refused to engage and instead sent out an unknown nobody to face him—an even greater humiliation when he nearly got entangled by that insignificant opponent.

Now that the Sect Master of Mount Shu had appeared, even if he hadn't heard of him, his displayed power suggested he might be a hidden master invited by the Immortal Realm. If he couldn't kill Yang Jian, killing this man would suffice.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang in his hand instantly expanded several times as he swung it. Lifting both arms above his head, the tip nearly pierced the firmament, and he brought it down in a crushing blow. If this strike landed, not only would Ye Wen take a severe beating, but the group behind him would also suffer.

This move seemed intended to force Ye Wen to stop dodging; otherwise, the Heavenly soldiers behind him would face disaster. Yet, Ye Wen had no intention of dodging. Looking up at the descending Ruyi Jingu Bang, Ye Wen, knowing the treasure's famous name, felt no fear but rather an urge to test it.

"I wonder just how hard this Ruyi Jingu Bang truly is?"

Raising his right hand slightly, he pointed with his sword finger, and purple mist instantly surged around his body, transforming into countless streaks of sword aura that whistled out. In an instant, Ye Wen was surrounded by a dazzling array of colors and purple light; streaks and ribbons of sword aura shot toward the Ruyi Jingu Bang like meteors streaking across the sky.

Though this sounds complex, it all happened in the blink of an eye. Everyone only saw a flash of purple light, followed by sounds of metal clashing—as if countless long swords were continuously hacking against the Victorious Fighting Buddha's golden staff. The continuous sound was grating to the ears, and some people covered their ears while focusing intently on the direction of the brilliant purple light.

After the cacophony subsided, the Ruyi Jingu Bang's downward momentum was slightly weakened but still persistent. Ye Wen's rain-like sword aura, though ineffective in stopping it, confirmed the staff's extreme sturdiness. Even striking it head-on with his own Zixiao Sword wouldn't leave a scratch; it was one of the most resilient magic treasures in this world.

Having confirmed this fact, Ye Wen saw no need to engage directly with the staff, as his goal was not to defeat the staff, but the monkey wielding it!

The mist surrounding his body suddenly intensified. From a distance, one could only vaguely discern Ye Wen's silhouette; his appearance and clothing were now obscured, as if he were enveloped by a massive ball of purple flame. With a sudden burst of light, what emanated from Ye Wen were no longer mere streaks of sword aura, but the Zixiao Sword itself, radiating terrifying sword energy!

One, then another, and then another!

At first, Wukong could respond calmly, using his Ruyi Jingu Bang to parry and deflect, even managing to close the distance to attack Ye Wen directly. But every attack was met by one, sometimes two or three, Zixiao Swords that forcefully blocked his maneuvers!

Initially, the two were not far apart, often engaging in close-quarters combat, the furthest distance being barely four or five meters. But as the fight progressed, Sun Wukong realized the flying swords he had to deal with were increasing. At times when he couldn't cope, he could only retreat, causing the distance between them to grow. Meanwhile, the purple aura swirling around Ye Wen showed no sign of diminishing, and the Zixiao Swords, gleaming with purple light, continued to emerge one after another from the purple mist, tracing beautiful arcs through the air before striking at his vital points.

Throughout this entire exchange, Ye Wen did not move an inch. Sun Wukong realized he was constantly fighting against swarms of flying swords, and as time passed, his chances of successfully striking Ye Wen were continually diminishing.

"Insolent!"

Anger boiling in his heart, Sun Wukong suddenly leaped backward, breaking free from the entanglement of the Zixiao Swords. He looked up and saw that the space before him was filled entirely with long swords—at least a hundred of them, glowing brightly and held horizontally in the mid-air, effectively concealing Ye Wen entirely.

Under such circumstances, most people would be at a loss for how to respond. But Old Sun, having practiced numerous magical arts and endured countless trials, possessed rich combat experience. After a quick assessment, he devised a countermeasure.

He casually plucked several hairs from his body, gathered them in his palm, and blew forcefully. As the hairs left his palm, they immediately transformed into numerous monkeys, each wielding a long staff, forming an array before Sun Wukong.

"My children, attack!"

With a single command, over a hundred monkeys charged forward brandishing their staves. Then, something unexpected happened to Sun Wukong! The hundred-plus flying swords suddenly dispersed, ignoring the monkeys, circled widely in the air, and then lunged directly toward him?

"What?!"

As the flying swords scattered, he could clearly see the situation opposite him in an instant. Although Ye Wen was still enveloped in purple energy, it was not as dense as before, no longer completely obscuring his form. This sight led him to believe that Ye Wen had unleashed all of his flying swords!

Unfortunately, he had little affinity with Kong Xuan. If he had known Ye Wen could command ten thousand flying swords, he certainly wouldn't have made such an assessment.

A surge of joy hit him, and he commanded the group of monkeys to swarm forward. Surely, he could withstand this initial fierce assault, and as for the sword-wielder surrounded by so many monkeys, his fate was sealed...

Alas, he did not know that Ye Wen was equally proficient in close-quarters combat. As the throng of monkeys rushed forward, the fastest one hadn't even raised his staff when Ye Wen suddenly stepped back three meters away. Then, sweeping his left arm, he delivered a fierce palm strike with his right hand—a move from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, 'The Dragon Reaching the Heavens in Vain,' erupted forth.

The monkey only felt a sudden blackness and, before he could react, was struck into smoke and dust, not even a single hair remaining! Ye Wen’s palm strike lost no momentum, carrying him forward with the momentum for another ten meters, flattening five or six monkeys blocking his path.

However, despite the ferocity of his strike, it only enraged the remaining monkeys. Furthermore, Ye Wen had charged directly into their midst, leading them to assume the man had lost his mind and was offering himself up for death!

Several surrounding monkeys raised their staves, preparing to batter Ye Wen into submission! But Ye Wen's reaction speed far outstripped theirs. His palm strike's momentum had not yet dissipated when his left hand swept out in response, using 'Dragon Tail Wag' to smash the monkeys behind him. He then retracted his right hand, simultaneously retracting his left, using the torque from his waist rotation to swing both legs—the rarely used 'Seven Revolutions Slash' was casually deployed.

This technique was not restricted to weapons; it worked equally well with fists, palms, legs, or kicks, and its force was like a blade. With one sweep of his powerful leg, it was as if he were swinging a long saber. The nearest ape, attempting a punch, was instantly cleaved in two—though it vanished immediately, otherwise that kick would have resulted in a shower of gore.

Without blood, Ye Wen felt less restraint in his killing; it was like playing an incredibly realistic game. The ruthless techniques he usually avoided using sparingly now came one after another. Screams of agony erupted from the monkeys, and in mere moments, less than half of the hundred-plus monkeys remained.

Yet, Ye Wen hadn't sustained a single scratch. Surrounded by so many monkeys, they couldn't even manage to touch him, and he hadn't used any magic. The Heavenly Generals, veterans of countless battles, watched in stunned silence.

"Is this truly a Daoist? And those techniques are far too vicious..."

Saying this, a nearby comrade sharply squeezed his legs together, a shiver running down his spine, recalling the 'Dragon Claw Hand' Ye Wen had used earlier.

That had actually been an accident. Ye Wen had intended a 'Dragon Claw Pierces the Heart' on one monkey, but upon striking, the claw not only killed the monkey in front of him but also snagged the one directly behind it. Ye Wen then smoothly transitioned, using 'Cock Flaps, Eggs Break'—a move that left everyone's scalp tingling.

After this bout, Ye Wen glanced towards Sun Wukong. The Victorious Fighting Buddha was struggling amidst the hundred flying swords but was clearly not in mortal danger. If things remained like this, defeating him would still be difficult. With a hardened resolve, he swung both hands, his palm energy shifting rapidly. First, earth-yellow energy gathered into spheres, then red and blue energies were injected into these spheres.

Immediately following this, the mysterious cosmic energy erupted. He thrust both palms forward towards the remaining monkeys. The moment he made this motion, the sky in that area seemed to instantaneously transform. The numerous monkeys appeared as if they were suddenly immersed in the cosmos, surrounded by countless varied celestial bodies orbiting nearby.

But these celestial bodies were unstable. As they stared in astonishment, the nearest water-blue star violently exploded, followed by a chain reaction, as the surrounding stars burst one after another. The powerful shockwaves from the stellar explosions, mixed with various energies, annihilated the entire group of monkeys in an instant.

Using this move left Ye Wen slightly breathless. However, with those little pests gone, and Sun Wukong trapped within the sword formation, the Monkey King had nowhere to escape. If he delivered one more fierce blow, the Victorious Fighting Buddha could be erased from the Immortal Realm.

However, his thoughts were clear to the Buddhist Realm contingent, who were not blind. They realized Ye Wen's strategy: he feared the Monkey King's potent Somersault Cloud and knew that if he couldn't deliver a fatal blow in one strike, the monkey would escape—even the Myriad Sword Art could be evaded by the Cloud's instantaneous retreat. His current method was a desperate measure: lure the monkey into the sword formation and then strike lethally.

At this point, the hundred-plus flying swords were weaving complex arrays—the True Martial Seven Interception Formation, the Heavenly Star Big Dipper Formation, the Mount Heng Sword Array, the Jade Maiden Intimate Sword Technique, the Two Primes Sword Technique, and more. Since these arrays no longer required manual control, Ye Wen didn't need to worry about self-defense, allowing him to deploy all their wondrous variations. They thoroughly blocked Sun Wukong from all directions—up, down, left, right, front, and back. Even with the swiftness of his Somersault Cloud, he couldn't pass through the sword array!

"Monkey, willingly accept your death!"