Entrance

Chen Tong lounged against the boulder with a blade of grass between his teeth, feeling that the midday sun was rather dazzling.

A white cat beside him kept fanning Chen Tong with a lotus leaf.

Chen Tong exhaled a breath of stale air. "This life really is wonderful. It feels like being a god."

"I just wonder how things are going with Sun Wukong."

Chen Tong rolled over, and another white cat began pounding his back.

"By now, he's probably gotten quite a few pills from Taishang Laojun for free."

He chuckled. If Taishang Laojun found out, he'd probably regret it bitterly.

[Dungeon Mission 3: Stop Zhu Bajie from turning into a pig!]

Chen Tong raised an eyebrow, rather surprised.

But after thinking it over, it made perfect sense.

The people plotting this grand scheme naturally wouldn't allow any failures.

If that was the case, it looked like he would have to step in.

Chen Tong smiled brightly. The protagonist really did need to make his entrance at the very end.

Chen Tong waved a hand, and the white cats he had conjured vanished.

He cleared his throat. "System, how do I get to the Heavenly Court?"

[Host, you only need to jump into this well, and you'll appear in front of Tian Peng.]

A moment later, a pitch-black well appeared before Chen Tong.

Its aura was utterly ordinary, yet it gave off a sense of boundless antiquity.

Ancient mythical beasts covered its surface in intricate patterns.

Chen Tong leaned over the well to take a look, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

This didn't seem quite like the entrance he'd imagined.

In his mind, he was supposed to make a dazzling, badass entrance.

Now he had to jump down a well. Somehow, that didn't fit his image...

Chen Tong swallowed, not daring to say a word. Without hesitation, he dove headfirst into the well.

The Jade Emperor gave a cold snort. "Tian Peng, what more do you have to say?"

"The witnesses and evidence are all here. I never thought you'd dare to behave so recklessly and do as you pleased. You've brought shame upon the entire Heavenly Court."

The Jade Emperor's gaze was icy.

Even now, Tian Peng tried to make one last stand. "I didn't do this. Someone else was responsible. It wasn't my doing. I've been wronged."

"I beg you, Jade Emperor, uphold justice and clear Tian Peng's name."

Tian Peng paused, then continued, "Just now, someone sealed me inside this barrier and stripped away all five of my senses."

Golden Boy sneered. "What utter nonsense. We all saw you grab Guanghan Fairy's hand."

"Tian Peng, we were wrong about you."

"Do you really think we'd believe such a ridiculous lie? Do you take us for ignorant children?"

Wugu Star sighed.

Seeing this, Tian Peng finally understood. Today, he was utterly unable to defend himself, and these people would never believe him.

He also knew that his fate was sealed. They had long since planned how this would end for him.

"Since you refuse to believe me, then it seems we'll have to settle this with weapons."

Tian Peng spoke coldly.

"I never thought you'd go this far, Tian Peng. You did it, and now you're even going to attack us. If you'd shown any remorse, we might have asked the Jade Emperor to go easy on you."

The Grand Unity Heavenly Immortal shook his head.

For a moment, it seemed everyone present had chosen sides.

Yet not a single person stood with Tian Peng.

Tian Peng looked at Guanghan Fairy. "Do you believe me?"

"How laughable. You treated me so lightly, and now you expect me to believe you?"

Guanghan Fairy glared at him.

"Fine, fine, fine."

Tian Peng said it three times, a deep sense of despair spreading through his heart.

In the end, there was no escaping this trap.

"Since you don't believe me, then so be it."

Tian Peng gripped the Nine-toothed Rake, his gaze filled with resolve.

"Tian Peng, is this your choice? To stand against the entire Heavenly Court alone?"

The Jade Emperor spoke coldly.

"Just as you see."

Tian Peng stared directly at the Jade Emperor.

"It never had to come to this."

The Jade Emperor continued.

"You forced me into this. You made up something out of nothing and pinned it on me."

The Nine-toothed Rake in Tian Peng's hand felt cold to the touch.

Guanghan Fairy looked at Tian Peng, hesitating slightly as she tried to say something.

But Tian Peng said, "Guanghan Fairy, I've never had any improper intentions toward you."

"It's just a pity that we can't even remain friends anymore."

There was a hint of confusion in Guanghan Fairy's eyes.

"Guanghan Fairy, don't listen to his nonsense. Come over here, quickly. Otherwise, Tian Peng might take you hostage, and then things will get difficult."

Guanghan Fairy parted her lips, but a minor immortal beside her immediately pulled her away.

"Ah!"

Just then, a piercing scream rang out.

Everyone present looked startled, wondering where the sound had come from.

The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother Niangniang both rose from their seats.

Everyone began looking around.

The scream had been extraordinarily piercing.

Then, a huge black hole appeared in the sky.

"Me???"

Chen Tong's mind filled with a thousand question marks.

What kind of ridiculous entrance was this? If he fell down there, he'd be so embarrassed he'd never live it down.

Chen Tong's mind raced.

He performed a backflip and landed on one knee.

"I never thought everyone would welcome me so warmly. I'm truly honored."

Chen Tong dusted himself off, smiling.

Everyone from the Heavenly Court was stunned.

They couldn't make sense of the man who had suddenly appeared before them.

How had he gotten here? And who was he?!

"Fellow Daoist, why have you appeared here?" Nezha asked.

"I haven't come for anything major. I'm simply here to help Tian Peng."

Chen Tong spoke calmly, carrying the air of a wise master.

Tian Peng looked surprised. "Benefactor, is that you?"

Chen Tong was at a loss for words. "Ah, yes, yes, that's right."

A warm current flowed through Tian Peng's heart.

He never would have thought that even now, someone would choose to believe him.