But Wan Lei, being the foremost warrior of the Five Elements Hall who dared to bully saints, quickly recovered and sat beside the Great Sage without delay.
He sat one step lower than the Great Sage, respecting his status.
"I'm asking you, how do you feel watching this scene before your eyes?"
Oh, you're asking about this.
Wan Lei blushed a deep red. Damn it, he had mocked the Monkey King's artifact for being light earlier.
But he quickly understood. The Monkey King was feeling down and wanted someone to talk to.
And in this universe, they were the only two living beings left.
If he didn't talk to him, who would?
Wan Lei pondered for a moment and said,
"Your junior believes that whether it's a saint, a cultivator, or even just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they cannot, or at least should not, use the lives of living beings for their own cultivation."
"Why?"
Wan Lei was very attentive to the Great Sage's question.
"Your junior believes that everyone has their own joys and sorrows, their own wonderful lives.
Unless they have committed a crime, done evil, or are being avenged, no one has the right to take their life.
I have seen many lives and heard many stories. I know that people want to do all sorts of things, but no one wants to die."
"Oh? You have such a realization?"
The Monkey King glanced at Wan Lei, then looked into the distance.
"Then what do you think cultivators should do after gaining power?"
"Protect the people and things they care about. If there's no one to protect, what's the use of having immense power?
Since arriving in the Immortal Realm, I have heard of your deeds, Great Sage, and I deeply resonate with them.
This is not flattery.
It is your sacrifice to protect the Immortal Realm that has earned my utmost respect.
My homeland was invaded by demons several times, and I barely survived, experiencing death repeatedly before finally eradicating all the invading demons.
Therefore, I have a strong resonance with your defense of your homeland.
So... when I was ordered to investigate you, I never believed that a hero like you would conduct experiments using the lives of tens of thousands of people."
"You were ordered to investigate me? Heh, and you're not afraid? Tell me about your mission, what you've experienced, and elaborate."
The Monkey King was clearly very interested in this bold fellow who dared to investigate him.
There was nothing to hide. If the Monkey King wanted to hear, Wan Lei could tell him.
Immediately, Wan Lei recounted his mission, everything he saw in the small town, how he finally found clues, discovered the cause of death, and chose to follow the Six-Eared Macaque to this world, all in detail.
After listening, the Monkey King was silent for a long time, then looked at Wan Lei with admiration in his eyes.
"Knowing that the death rate for this mission was almost one hundred percent, and knowing that this mission would offend me, you still came.
When the Six-Eared Macaque clearly told you that knowing the truth would mean certain death, you still gave up the opportunity to return safely and chose to come in.
It can be said that if I hadn't come, you would already be dead. I can't think of any reason for someone to make such a decision other than seeking death.
But when I arrived, I saw you resisting. The fact that you could resist an attack from a saint means you are not someone who seeks death.
Yet, what you are doing is seeking death. Can you tell me what you are thinking?"
Wan Lei chuckled at the Monkey King's words.
He shook his head and said,
"Who seeks death? It's just that this life of your junior was exchanged for by someone else's life, so your junior knows the preciousness of every life and is willing to do something for those who died unjustly, such as investigating the truth and clearing their names."
"Well said. With such a heart, if you do not die, the Immortal Realm will have another saint who cares for all sentient beings in the future."
Wan Lei smiled. Sainthood was too distant. All he wanted now was to rescue his beloved.
There was nothing more to discuss on this matter. Wan Lei wanted to clarify another doubt in his heart.
"Great Sage, you are already a saint. Why did you specifically create such a world to collect incense and faith? It seems to be of no use to you, especially since pseudo-saints like the Six-Eared Macaque show that this method is unreliable."
"Someone told me that by condensing the thoughts of all living beings, one can attempt to break through the realm of Immortal Venerable."
"Immortal Venerable?!"
Wan Lei was shocked, his eyes filled with horror.
The Monkey King... wanted to become an Immortal Venerable?
Did the Immortal Venerable know about this? Would they tolerate it?
"Great Sage, you wish to become an Immortal Venerable?"
The Monkey King nodded, remaining silent, as if this matter was merely a casual topic of conversation.
Wan Lei gave a bitter smile.
"Great Sage, why must you do this? I recall you are still only a One-Yang Saint, with a long way to go to reach the peak, the Three-Yang Saint.
Your junior means no offense, but I believe that instead of spending so much effort on these unorthodox paths, causing your Dao of Sainthood to stagnate, it would be better to focus on cultivation and advance your Dao of Sainthood further, becoming a Two-Yang or Three-Yang Saint.
After that, you can consider becoming an Immortal Venerable. Aren't you being a bit too hasty in considering these things now?"
He refrained from saying the impolite words of being overly ambitious.
"You don't understand."
Wan Lei was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, the Saintly aura of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven suddenly erupted around him.
First, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven's Saintly Dao Law, the "War" domain, appeared and enveloped him. Within this domain, Wan Lei could not move at all, and even his thoughts were hindered.
The intent of battle seemed poised to annihilate his spirit at any moment.
Wan Lei's heart was filled with dread. Did he want to silence me after learning his secret?
No, if he wanted to silence me, he could have killed me with a casual slap. Why use his Saintly Dao?
At this moment, a halo of Saintly Sun appeared behind the Great Sage Equalling Heaven's head.
Wan Lei turned his head to look. This was the first time he had observed a Saintly Sun so closely. The Dao rhythm, laws, authority, and profundity within it were all clearly visible.
It was like heavenly might!
Just as he couldn't understand the Great Sage Equalling Heaven's intentions, suddenly, a second Saintly Sun appeared.
Two Saintly Suns illuminated the entire starry sky. This universe wailed, and all laws bowed in submission.
Wan Lei was dumbfounded.
How could this be? Wasn't he a One-Yang Saint? That was common knowledge.
Before he could fully absorb the shock, a third Saintly Sun appeared behind the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.
The universe no longer wailed, but screamed and cried out in agony!
It could not withstand the might of Three Suns!
Wan Lei suddenly understood.
No wonder the Great Sage Equalling Heaven could violently overpower the Six-Eared Macaque without even manifesting his Saintly Suns, and no wonder he wanted to advance further to become an Immortal Venerable.
It turns out... he had always been a Three-Yang Saint!
The apex among saints, the strongest below Immortal Venerable!
The Great Sage Equalling Heaven looked at Wan Lei, then looked up at the sky.
His voice was calm, yet carried an inexplicable sadness.
"Below Immortal Venerable, all are ants."