My Domain

"Out of tricks, are you?"

Buddha slowly uttered those four words.

Chen Tong raised an eyebrow when he heard that. "Who told you that?"

Without another word, Chen Tong went straight into the river and declared, "In my domain, I make the rules."

Buddha didn't understand what was going on, but he attacked anyway. Yet no matter what he tried, he couldn't hit Chen Tong or the monkey.

Chen Tong flashed a sly smile. "I told you. This is my domain."

The next moment, Buddha conjured an enormous palm, and Buddhist Chant filled the air.

The chanting rang in Chen Tong and the monkey's ears.

Chen Tong immediately felt his mind and body grow restless, as if something were pulling his soul away.

Sun Wukong clutched his head and darted around, his face twisted in agony.

Chen Tong was also a little surprised. Buddha really did have some tricks.

He was actually trying to attack with sound waves. What a low-down move.

Chen Tong slowly uttered three words: "Myriad Laws Break!"

The next moment, the chanting vanished.

Buddha's expression shifted. He no longer looked as calm and unruffled as before.

This man was truly troublesome, far beyond anything he'd expected.

Buddha's mind was in turmoil.

"Why are you protecting this monkey, sir?"

Chen Tong noticed that Buddha had changed the way he addressed him. But no matter what, it was already too late.

Even if Buddha called him father today, it wouldn't help.

"What do you care how I feel?"

Chen Tong waved a hand. "You're not high-ranking enough. You don't deserve to ask me."

"This is huge!"

"I've got the latest! That celestial immortal actually said Buddha wasn't high-ranking enough—and he even neutralized Buddha's attack!"

"No way, no way! Could that really be true?"

The officials crowded around Wind-Following Ear, chattering over one another.

Wind-Following Ear could barely breathe. "Discuss all you want, but why are you squeezing the intelligence officer?"

"I've never been this aggrieved in my life!"

Wind-Following Ear's ears drooped.

Thousand-Mile Eye wasn't faring any better. He was busy reporting on the battle.

"It's that intense? My goodness! I never expected that celestial immortal to have so many secret arts—and a magic treasure that can grow stronger, too."

"He really does have some skill. What did you say? He actually neutralized Buddha's attack?!"

"I must've heard wrong. This is a big deal!"

The cluster of officials looked astonished.

"Dear ministers, we can continue drinking. Buddha will handle everything."

The Jade Emperor smiled and made to return to his seat.

"Your Majesty, things don't seem to be going the way you expected."

"That celestial immortal just neutralized Buddha's attack."

Two voices rang out from within the crowd.

The Jade Emperor was stepping onto the stairs. He nearly missed a step when he heard them.

"What?!"

The Jade Emperor glared and turned toward Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear.

"What happened?"

Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear stepped out from the crowd and recounted everything that had just happened.

The Jade Emperor's expression darkened until it looked ready to drip.

"Things have gone wrong."

"Benefactor, I believe in you."

Sun Wukong's eyes shone.

"With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Chen Tong patted his chest.

Buddha's face kept shifting between green and pale.

After all, his opponent was only a celestial immortal. What rank was he? And yet the man was provoking him so brazenly.

"How dare you!"

"What do you mean, 'how dare I'? Look at how outrageous I've been. You still haven't done a thing to me."

Chen Tong curled his lip.

He had an invincible domain. If that wasn't enough to let him act as arrogantly as he pleased, then the five hundred years he'd spent lying low would have been for nothing.

Looking at Chen Tong's back, Sun Wukong felt he'd never seen anyone so magnificent.

That was his benefactor's tall, broad-shouldered back—enough to fill him with admiration.

Sun Wukong's eyes reddened. "Benefactor, you really are..."

Chen Tong smiled. "It's fine. Don't worry."

Buddha swept his sleeve, and dazzling light blazed behind him.

The golden radiance was blinding, impossible to look at directly.

"Today, I'll see for myself how you plan to protect this monkey."

Chen Tong propped up his chin. "Go ahead and see. Take a good look today."

He yawned. "I'm getting sleepy."

Sun Wukong's heart gave a lurch. "Benefactor, could he get so angry he dies?"

Chen Tong glanced at Sun Wukong and immediately thought he was a promising pupil.

He'd always thought the monkey was reckless, but now he realized he was pretty good at saying the right thing.

"You have a point."

Buddha was already furious, to say the least.

If he lost to Chen Tong here today, what would everyone else think of him?

And if anything went wrong with the plan after that, things would truly be disastrous.

A sheen of fine sweat appeared on Buddha's forehead.

But events had already spiraled beyond his control.

Buddha reconsidered. The next moment, he put on that insincere smile again.

"Sir, in that case, I'll do you a favor and let this go."

Chen Tong looked at him with disdain. He was obviously just trying to find a way to save face.

"What, you think I need you to do me a favor?"

"If you can't win, just say so."

"Why put on an act?"

Chen Tong muttered under his breath.

Buddha clenched his hands, then let them relax.

"Sir, we'll meet again."

Buddha swept his sleeve and turned to leave. There was no point staying any longer.

Chen Tong was invincible in the river, and Buddha had become keenly aware of that.

But Chen Tong and Sun Wukong couldn't possibly stay in the river forever.

As he left, Buddha cast one more glance at Chen Tong and Sun Wukong, his gaze filled with malice.

[Ping! Side Quest 2: Prevent Sun Wukong from being pinned beneath Five Elements Mountain]

[Side Quest 2: Completion progress 50%]

Chen Tong's heart burned with excitement. That meant he was probably about to rise a little further once again.

Thinking of the generous rewards, he looked at Sun Wukong as if he were a walking fortune.

Sun Wukong felt his benefactor's gaze and grew uneasy.