Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod, come forth!"

With a thought, the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod flew out from Sun Wukong's right ear, enlarged, and spanned in front of him. Wukong was bound by the Stellar Spiritual Qi light band and couldn't move, but the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod could still move.

"Boy, what are you trying to do?"

A trace of strange light flashed in Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan's eyes. Wasn't Sun Wukong already sealed? How could he still command a magical treasure?

Sun Wukong didn't have the patience to answer Mu Chenxuan's question as he was currently putting all his effort into activating the Void-Breaking Divine Eye. His eyes burst out with blinding golden light that suddenly shone onto the nine Stellar Spiritual Qi light bands that were entwined around him.

Instantly, the previously hidden Sealing Talisman Patterns within the light bands began to unravel and reveal themselves.

Mu Chenxuan's eyes suddenly widened, his mouth agape with an expression of shock, "Sealing Talisman Patterns have materialized?! How is that possible? Boy, what kind of pupil skill is that?"

"Less nonsense! Stay put and don't interfere with me!"

An impatient cold bark rang out. Wukong's gaze fixed intently on one of the spiral Sealing Talisman Patterns amongst the others. Unlike the rest, he noticed that this type of pattern was the least in number but seemed to be the link connecting the other patterns together, forming a whole. If that were true, then breaking this pattern would cause the rest to scatter and lose their effect completely.

As the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor, when had Mu Chenxuan ever been scolded so discourteously? He was about to explode with anger when he heard Sun Wukong suddenly shouting, "Break!"

The golden light on the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod grew intensely bright. The True Solar Fire spewed out from Wukong's mouth, winding around the rod. The rod quivered fiercely as it smashed viciously onto the spiral Sealing Talisman Pattern on the Stellar Spiritual Qi light band.

"Boom!"

A thunderous roar sent out a shockwave. The spiral Sealing Talisman Pattern was smashed directly by the strike from the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod and broke apart. Suddenly, Wukong felt the light band that was binding him loosen.

Indeed, it worked!

With joy in his heart, Wukong immediately controlled the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod to continue smashing into the other spiral Sealing Talisman Patterns. Each strike raised a shockwave, and the originally immobile Stellar Spiritual Qi light bands started to tremble. As more and more spiral patterns fractured, Wukong distinctly felt the sealing power weakening by a great margin.

It was time to muster all his strength and break free!

"Ya, ya, ya, ha!"

With a fierce roar, the dazzling True Solar Fire surged out from his body, forming a suit of flame armor on his surface. Wukong's figure strained mightily and, one by one, the Stellar Spiritual Qi light bands that were wrapped around his limbs and torso snapped. However, the Stellar Spiritual Qi light sphere reacted immediately, extending nine new bands towards Wukong.

"Shrinking Earth into Inches!"

Leaving a clone in his place, Wukong instantly burst out of the coverage of the Stellar Spiritual Qi light sphere using the divine skill of Shrinking Earth into Inches. As he saw his clone become entwined by the bands again, Wukong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a huge sigh of relief, thankful that he had escaped swiftly enough!

After retrieving his clone, with the Stellar Spiritual Qi light bands losing track of Wukong, they retracted back into the light sphere. Wukong gave Mu Chenxuan, who stood there with a dumbfounded face, a mischievous smile, "I told you, this seal can lock you up, but it can't lock me up! If you thought I would stay and keep you company, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed!"

Then he turned and made a gesture as if to leave.

"Brother, please wait! There are matters we can discuss!"

Seeing that Wukong was about to leave, Mu Chenxuan panicked and quickly called out to him.

"Discuss? Discuss what?"

Wukong stopped, turned around, and his face was full of mockery. "Didn't you keep calling me 'demon monkey' and 'boy'? Those of different paths do not make plans together. What is there to discuss?"

"Brother, please don't mind my earlier rudeness. Please, don't take it to heart!"

Now, Mu Chenxuan's attitude made a hundred and eighty degree turn, the prior arrogance vanishing without a trace, becoming extremely humble.

This isn't me being modest; I've been sealed for thousands of years, trying every method to break free to no avail. But Sun Wukong just got sealed and immediately escaped, right under my nose. What does that tell me? It tells me Sun Wukong has a way to break the seal!

I've been sealed for so many years, and Mu Chenxuan dreams of freedom, which is just too precious. As long as I can get free, what does Demon Emperor's dignity matter? What does face matter? I can give them all up!

"Hey, you're quite the character, aren't you? You were all high and mighty before, almost rolling your eyes to the heavens, and now you keep calling me 'brother' at every turn. What's the deal, you want old Sun's help to get loose?"

The reason for Mu Chenxuan's change of attitude was something Wukong could guess with his toes; he simply wanted Wukong's help in getting rid of the seal. To be honest, even if Mu Chenxuan hadn't asked, Wukong would have done it eventually. After all, with this seal here, the power of Flower-Fruit Mountain's Nine Dragons Gathering Stars Formation couldn't be unleashed.

But come on, Wukong had to play along and tease Mu Chenxuan a bit first; he couldn't just offer his help willingly.

The guy calls himself the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor, right? He still seems to have the strength of a peak Daluo Golden Immortal, so I guess he must have been at least at the Quasi-Saint level back in the day, right? Such a powerhouse, no matter how destitute, must surely have one or two treasures on him. If he wants my help to get free, sure, but he must pay a price, right?

"As long as you can help me get free, I, Mu Chenxuan, swear I will forever be grateful for your great favor!"

Mu Chenxuan's eyes shone with hope as he looked at Wukong, but Wukong just curled his lip. What Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor? That's not very impressive. You want help escaping, but show a little sincerity, won't you? Forever grateful, impressive much? Does old Sun need your gratitude?

What old Sun needs is a real reward, alright?

Wukong curled his lip and remained silent, turning to leave. Mu Chenxuan panicked, "Brother, don't go! What exactly do you want for you to agree to help me?"

"Well, helping you isn't impossible, but what can you give old Sun?"

Wukong looked back at Mu Chenxuan, raising an eyebrow, "Don't give me that destiny brought us together crap. Old Sun doesn't know you, we have no close ties, and I have no obligation to help you! If you want to get free, it depends on whether you have anything that can move old Sun!"

"You're extorting me!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Mu Chenxuan's face darkened as a chill flashed in his eyes, and he squinted slightly.

"You could see it that way, but as far as old Sun is concerned, it's just a deal."

Wukong shrugged his shoulders, "Like I said earlier, we don't have ties. Old Sun doesn't even know your identity, so why should I save you? Besides, when I was trapped before, all you did was sneer and strut around. Your attitude was terrible, old Sun has no fondness for you! Same deal, if old Sun is to help you, what can you offer?"

Mu Chenxuan fell silent, his expression changing unpredictably, with veins throbbing on his forehead. He was the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor of the Demon Race, just one step away from reaching the Saint level. In the Demonic Realm, everyone treated him with the utmost respect. Even the Immortals and Gods wouldn't dare scorn him.

And now, a Taiyi Scattered Immortal level Demon Monkey was threatening him—it was outrageous!

But Mu Chenxuan really didn't dare to turn against Wukong. This monkey obviously had a weird temperament, and if he really annoyed him and he walked away without looking back, then Mu Chenxuan would continue to be trapped in this dark place.

Initially engulfed in despair to the point of becoming numb, awaiting the day when the Stellar Spiritual Qi seal would completely erase him, Mu Chenxuan now saw a chance of escape, and hope flared up in him like blazing fire, unable to contain himself.

"I am the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor of the Demon Race, commanding three Demon Lords and hundreds of thousands of demon soldiers. If you can help me escape, I will certainly remember your life-saving grace and could support you as your backer. Isn't that enough?"

After a few moments of silence, Mu Chenxuan looked into Wukong's eyes and said in a heavy voice.

"A backer for old Sun? No need! Old Sun never thought about relying on someone else as a backer; better to rely on oneself than heaven or earth!"

Wukong shook his head, scoffing, "Looks like you still haven't realized your current predicament. A true man doesn't dwell on past glories. No matter what kind of Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor you were in the past, or how big your forces and high your masters were, right now you're just a pitiful bug trapped here. Your forces and subordinates may well have been swallowed up by others!

Okay, even assuming your subordinates are still there, having been sealed for so many years, your strength has certainly receded a great deal, hasn't it? With your current strength only at the realm of a Daluo Golden Immortal, can you really subdue those proud and fierce generals of yours? Old Sun doubts it."

Wukong's words turned Mu Chenxuan's face even darker, his forehead throbbing with anger, but he had to admit, Wukong had a point!

The Demon Race values strength above all. Back then, he was the foremost under the Saints, commanding instant compliance, without anyone daring to defy him. But now, it's doubtful that he could even match the strength of those three Demon Lords under his command, so how could he issue commands to them again?

Mu Chenxuan struggled internally for a while before he sighed, his energy seemingly sapped all at once, and spoke with a defeated expression, "You're right, all that past glory means nothing. I've been trapped here for thousands of years, and all my treasures have been exhausted. I have nothing to offer you, the only thing I can give is my word.

If you don't believe me, then I'm helpless and will simply accept my fate!"

"Accept your fate? Did old Sun hear that right? You're the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor who could stand with pride against heaven, and now you're considering giving up?"

"What else can I do?"