Yang Jian and Sun Wukong were both formidable warriors, their cultivation levels heaven-shaking. The onlookers could only perceive the flashing of two beams of light, entirely unaware of the actual dynamics, but just then, a tremendous sound echoed from the sky. The crowd watched as a colossal mushroom cloud erupted, and the two figures rapidly separated.

Upon closer inspection, Yang Jian’s armor was utterly shattered, and his shoulder bone was completely caved in, clearly smashed by Sun Wukong’s Ruyi Jingu Bang. He cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, a body-refining technique of extreme toughness, yet to be damaged to this extent demonstrated the Monkey King's sheer might.

Yet, the monkey fared no better. He was covered in sword wounds, especially across his lower abdomen, where a long gash bled golden blood ceaselessly.

His eyes blazed with sharp light, his twin fangs fully exposed, his face a mask of ferocity, wishing only to tear Yang Jian limb from limb.

“Great Sage shows impressive skill!” Yang Jian praised sincerely. Tens of thousands of years ago, when the Monkey wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, Yang Jian could still fully suppress him; now, he found himself completely at a disadvantage. Although Sun Wukong appeared more severely wounded, only Yang Jian understood the devastating impact of that single blow.

“Heh, True Lord Erlang, you’re no slouch either!” Sun Wukong grinned, though the expression only made him look more savage.

“Does the Great Sage still wish to fight another round today?” Yang Jian asked, his three eyes fixed entirely on Sun Wukong.

“Fight? Why wouldn't I? We have struggled for ten millennia; today, we must determine a victor!” Sun Wukong maintained his battle intent, resting the Ruyi Jingu Bang casually on his shoulder.

“Since that is the case, Yang Jian must comply. Go!” Yang Jian roared, suddenly pointing a finger. A shadow shot forth—a dog, a Heavenly Hound taller than ten zhang, entirely black, Xiaotian Quan...

“Hahaha, True Lord Erlang, this beast is still alive! Old Sun hasn't eaten dog meat in ages; today is perfect to break my fast with this creature!” Seeing Xiaotian Quan leap toward him, Sun Wukong, who had suffered greatly from this dog in the past, revealed a killing intent, thick and palpable.

“That remains to be seen if you have the capability!” True Lord Erlang Yang Jian snapped coldly. His body shot into the air, the tip of his Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Lance flickering as he thrust directly toward Sun Wukong's brow.

As True Lord Erlang and Xiaotian Quan lunged at him simultaneously, Sun Wukong displayed a strange smile.

“True Lord Erlang, today Old Sun shall show you my true strength!” The moment his words fell, the monkey’s form flickered violently, and then, a golden figure with eighteen heads and twenty-four faces emerged, wielding various weapons, which he began to rain down upon Xiaotian Quan with a clatter.

Furthermore, another Daoist clad in a simple robe stepped out from within the monkey’s body, holding a whisk, which he also swept towards Xiaotian Quan.

Seeing Sun Wukong actually manifest his Three Corpses, Yang Jian was deeply alarmed. He had never expected Sun Wukong’s cultivation to have reached such a realm.

He could barely hold the monkey to a stalemate alone. He had planned to defeat the monkey with Xiaotian Quan’s aid, but he hadn't anticipated the manifestation of the Three Corpses. Both the Victorious Fighting Buddha and the Daoist Wukong possessed power equal to the original monkey!

With the strength of himself and Xiaotian Quan, victory was impossible. He tried to recall the Heavenly Hound, but the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s barrage of weapons rained down without restraint, while the Daoist Wukong interspersed the assault with occasional bolts of lightning. Even though Xiaotian Quan had followed Yang Jian for so many years, it struggled to withstand such an attack. It let out whines, yet after only a few breaths, its head was severed by the Victorious Fighting Buddha wielding the Demon Subduing Sword, its body was smashed by the Demon Subduing Pestle, and even its escaping soul was annihilated by a sweep of the Daoist Wukong’s whisk, utterly scattering its essence, leaving Yang Jian no chance to rescue it.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Jian’s best companion was slain. The Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Daoist Wukong, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven surrounded Yang Jian.

Facing the three figures before him, Yang Jian managed a wry smile, realizing that after all these years, the gap in their cultivation was this vast.

It seemed that accomplishing the mission set by his Ancestral Master would be impossible through his own strength alone. A flicker of helplessness crossed his eyes, but he gripped the Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Lance tighter. Since battle was inevitable, so be it!

A surge of fighting spirit erupted, and his body transformed into a streak of light, charging toward the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. In a single stride, he reached the monkey’s front, driving his Lance directly toward the monkey’s heart.

Facing this desperate lunge, the monkey showed a faint smile, parrying the incoming Lance with his Ruyi Jingu Bang. Meanwhile, the Victorious Fighting Buddha and the Daoist Wukong rapidly closed in; once they encircled Yang Jian, it would be his defeat.

But just then, a small, red cauldron appeared in Yang Jian’s hand. In an instant, the small cauldron grew to several zhang in size and enveloped Sun Wukong.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven had always considered Yang Jian a straightforward and upright person, expecting a desperate, honorable fight, never suspecting such a base maneuver. Caught completely off guard, he was trapped inside the red cauldron.

In that instant, he felt transported to another world, a realm entirely composed