This time, the Heavenly Dao finally ceased to be inhumane, nor was it the aloof perspective of an omniscient God. Instead, it involuntarily adopted a special, chilling tone befitting a living being.
Its words were naturally not heard by the demons, nor by the Jade Emperor, the Grand Pure Lord of Heaven, and others.
Instead, they were specifically spoken to the Ancestor of Dao Hongjun, Lao Tzu, the Primordial Sovereign of Heaven, and the Two Sages of the Western Teachings!
Upon hearing this.
The five individuals who should have immediately echoed the Heavenly Dao's sentiment, lost their composure for the first time.
They collectively gasped for air.
Moreover, because the Heavenly Dao issued such an order for the first time in its history, they felt their entire beings tremble, filled with the dread that if they refused, they would be annihilated by the Heavenly Dao in the next second!
With no other choice.
The five quickly knelt and submitted!
"Heavenly Dao above, this Dao Ancestor will certainly obey your decree and absolutely will not protect that damned Monkey King, nor that bizarre Luohu."
"But the two cycles of Journey to the West are currently underway. This matter is likely beyond the control of anyone within our Great Desolate Three Realms."
"It is highly probable that the Great Dao has also noticed the special changes in the Great Desolate World. We implore the Heavenly Dao to handle this calmly and wait until the Journey to the West is concluded."
"Otherwise, the consequences are unimaginable."
"It might even incur the Great Dao's suspicion. If the truth of that year's event is discovered, then... even you, Heavenly Dao, might be erased!"
The five.
Five individuals, respectively the Ancestor of Dao Hongjun in a certain place in the chaotic void, Lao Tzu in the Eight Sceneries Palace of the Profound Capital Heaven, and the Primordial Sovereign of Heaven in the Jade Void Palace of the Myriad Lights Heaven.
And the Daoist Receiver and Daoist Subduer of the Western Teachings' Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
For the first time, they spoke in unison, strongly echoing the Heavenly Dao's judgment, while also admitting that with the appearance of Sun Kong, various variables were beyond even their complete understanding, forcing them to advise the Heavenly Dao to act rationally.
Upon hearing this.
The Heavenly Dao, which had shown a sliver of humane coldness just a moment ago, now reverted to its original inhumane, aloof posture.
It said nothing more.
It merely transmitted a unique pressure inherent to the lineage of the Heavenly Dao, instantly causing the Ancestor of Dao Hongjun, Lao Tzu, the Primordial Sovereign of Heaven, the Daoist Receiver, and the Daoist Subduer.
Causing all five Sages to tremble internally, sustaining internal injuries.
This was because their cultivation had been punished by half!
Afterward.
Without giving any further instructions, this Heavenly Dao then concealed itself within the Great Desolate Three Realms, leaving the five Sages unable to fathom its intentions.
They could only tremble in fear, immediately falling silent, and after closing their doors, they dared not pay attention to the matter of the two journeys to the west for quite some time!
...
Only the other two Sages who were not punished by the Heavenly Dao, the Empress Nuwa and the Grand Pure Lord of Heaven.
At this moment, both saw traces of Pangu's bloodline emanating from Sun Kong and Luohu simultaneously, and were shocked to an equal degree!
Recalling that event from hundreds of millions, billions, or even trillions of years ago.
Although the two were not warned by the Heavenly Dao, their bodies and minds trembled violently, and with fearful eyes, they dared not tell anyone.
They each returned to their secluded cultivation.
Not for any other reason.
It was precisely because this Pangu bloodline...
Should have been completely extinguished during the first conflict between Dao and Demon. With the defeat of the Demon Ancestor Luohu and the forced departure of the Great Immortal Yang Mei, the Heavenly Dao and its spokesperson, the Ancestor of Dao Hongjun, emerged victorious.
After all, despite the fact that countless beings, both living and non-living, including the Heavenly Dao, expressed gratitude daily for Great God Pangu opening the heavens and giving them the opportunity to experience karma.
In reality, almost everyone inwardly understood that gratitude was a pretense, and ridicule was the truth.
If they were truly asked to return to the state before the heavens and earth were opened, no one would agree.
In fact.
Even the Heavenly Dao, and the Sages from both the Dao and Demon factions would not agree.
The reason was simple.
It was like a founding emperor, who would undoubtedly be revered and thanked by his descendants, with daily prostrations. However, if he were to reclaim his descendants' inheritance rights.
Even such an ancestor would be executed by his descendants!
To put it bluntly.
Regardless of whether they were mortals, immortals, or Sages, they all valued one thing above all else.
That was survival!
Anyone who dared to obstruct their survival was doomed!
...
At the same time.
Sun Kong and Luohu, completely unaware of the intense reactions of the various Sages, were momentarily stunned by the shared Pangu bloodline emanating from their bodies.
However, they didn't dwell on it and continued their fierce battle!
"This is no ordinary Golden Cudgel. Monkey King, which Sage did you find to reforge it? To be able to withstand my Kick-Heavenly Demon Foot?"
"Do you know that these thirteen sets of divine abilities and secret arts all originate from the Demon Ancestor Luohu of that year? When pushed to their limit, even Hongjun wouldn't dare to resist head-on."
"What's going on with your Golden Cudgel?"
After spitting out a mouthful of black blood, Luohu was sent flying tens of thousands of miles away by Sun Kong's kicks, both his person and his automatic attack being repelled.
Yet, there was no anger in his eyes, only heightened battle spirit.
Climbing up from a ten-thousand-zhang serpentine demon he had crashed into tens of thousands of miles away, Luohu's eyes blazed with fervor. While inquiring about the Golden Cudgel, he actually teleported over.
And once again unleashed the third set of demonic divine abilities.
Among them.
The first set was the Overturn-Heaven Demon Hand, exerted from the hand. It appeared to be a physical technique, yet it communicated a fourth type of vital energy that did not belong to spiritual energy, innate energy, or chaotic energy.
Its power was so great that it could instantly kill Jin Chanzi and the other two, besides Sun Kong.
The second set, the Kick-Heavenly Demon Foot, was exerted from the feet, and allowed the feet to separate from the body and attack automatically, also communicating that unknown fourth type of vital energy.
However, its power was three times greater than the first set, and it should have instantly killed or severely injured a "weakling" like Sun Kong, who was not even a quasi-Sage. But unexpectedly, the result was entirely different!
How could Luohu not be surprised?
Therefore.
He unleashed the third set at this moment, which was three times more powerful than the Kick-Heavenly Demon Foot: the Crooked-Heavenly Demon Finger. It also utilized some unknown fourth type of vital energy.
But this time, it shifted from area-of-effect destruction to single-target offense and defense, unleashing a terrifying sharpness that even the Six Sages felt a degree of trepidation from.
It then struck Sun Kong's Chaotic Golden Cudgel!
"Not good!"
"Although my son's Golden Cudgel originated from the Ding Hai Shen Zhen that Great Yu used to control the floods, it is not a primordial supreme treasure. It will absolutely be difficult to withstand the Demon Ancestor Luohu's third divine ability and secret art."
"Alas, it's a pity that this mother cannot intervene. The Pangu bloodline on you and Luohu should have been extinguished during the first Dao-Demon conflict. How can it reappear? This is something that both the Heavenly Dao and the Demonic Dao are wary of!"
"My son... alas!"
While other Sages were closing their doors and minding their own business, Empress Nuwa, who still held some affection, could only sigh faintly and was unable to help.
...
Looking at Sun Kong and Luohu on this side.
Under the billowing dust, Sun Kong and Luohu fought with increasing ferocity. They truly had no interest in merely fighting in the secluded spot of Liangjie Mountain.
Therefore.
While Jin Chanzi and the other two, as well as everyone else watching this fierce battle, could not see clearly, the two, as if with a tacit understanding.
They fought further and further away.
And fought higher and higher into the sky!