Was He a Sage?

"Damn you, Jade Emperor! When I reach the level of a sage, I'll chase you down and beat your ass!"

Chen Tong was like an angry little bird, chirping nonstop as he vented his frustration!

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have completed Side Quest 3. ]

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have received three Nine-Revolving Golden Cores, one Five-Thunder Divine Method, and the Ten-Foot Golden Body. ]

The system's cold voice kept ringing in his mind, but to Chen Tong, it was the warmest sound in the world.

Nine-Revolving Golden Cores! Those were miraculous pills that could turn anyone into an immortal in the blink of an eye!

And the Five-Thunder Divine Method—this was the Jade Emperor's exclusive secret art! With it, who would he have to fear in a fight?

As for the Ten-Foot Golden Body! Chen Tong thought, and a faint golden light appeared around him. It wasn't as impressive as the Jade Emperor's thousand-foot form, but at least it was a golden body. As long as he didn't go looking for trouble, he could be completely impervious to blades and spears.

Just as he was delighting in his new rewards and about to write in his diary, his brow suddenly furrowed. He looked toward the distant sky and murmured, "You're here already?"

He closed the diary, and it sank into the space between his heart and mind. The next moment, with a shift of his thoughts, his aura and true form slowly blended into the surface of the sea.

As long as he didn't want to be found, there was practically nothing under heaven that could locate him—not even the Heavenly Dao's divine artifact, which was made specifically to find things!

Dark clouds blanketed the sky above the East Sea. Lightning flashed with each peal of thunder, and one figure after another appeared in the wind, as though gods and demons were dancing and true gods had descended.

"Heavenly King, the East Sea lies below us." King Guangmu pointed down at the water. Around and behind them stretched a dense host of Divine Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, along with gods of every rank.

Li Jing's expression was grave, his eyes shining with celestial light. His red cheeks and beard only added to his imposing air. He wore black armor and a black cloak, the very image of a Heavenly King.

"The boy's last trace of aura disappeared over this stretch of sea, correct?"

"Yes, Heavenly King," King Guangmu replied.

"Thousand-Mile Eye, Wind-Following Ear!" Li Jing called to the two gods behind him. "Have you found anything?"

"Reporting to the Heavenly King, w-we haven't."

Li Jing stared at the two gods kneeling before him and narrowed his eyes. "Useless."

Nezha hurried over. "Father, don't blame them. Right now, the priority is to capture Sun Wukong and Marshal Tian Peng."

Li Jing pondered for a moment. "Very well. Nezha, I'll have you lead ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to surround Flower-Fruit Mountain. Remember, that demon monkey is powerful. If you can't beat him, don't force a fight. Understand?" A flicker of worry crossed his face.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll set off at once."

Beneath the surface of the sea, Chen Tong looked grave. He had heard Li Jing's words loud and clear, and there was no doubt about it: Sun Wukong was going to be captured! After a moment's thought, he decided that he absolutely couldn't let Sun Wukong be taken.

[ Ding! Side Quest 4: Stop Sun Wukong from being captured. ]

"Hmph, what a ridiculous system. Even if you hadn't given me the quest, I'd still have done it." As he thought this, Chen Tong's true form slowly coalesced above the sea.

His aura began to spread. The next moment, the vast open sky turned pitch-black, enclosing him alone above the water. The change came so quickly that it felt like a dream.

"You finally showed yourself, boy." Li Jing was like a divine king from the Ninth Heaven, looking down at a mere mortal.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Li Jing so full of himself, Chen Tong could only respond with a disdainful snort.

"With that arrogant mug of yours, I'd love to drag you down here and give you a beating."

"How dare you show such disrespect to the Heavenly King!" King Guangmu shouted.

"Bah! What are you so proud of, you guard dog?" Chen Tong couldn't even be bothered to look at him. He turned away, his faint voice carrying all around them.

"Unforgivable!" The Four Heavenly Kings were beside themselves with rage. Without another word, they transformed into four streaks of light and charged toward the sea!

"Just in time!" Chen Tong put his right hand behind his back and swept his left hand through the air. The surrounding seawater formed a rope dozens of meters thick, which lashed viciously at the four streaks of light. The next moment, after a single cry of "Ah!", the streaks were sent flying into the sky until they vanished from sight.

That strong? Every god there had the same thought. The Four Heavenly Kings were among the rare masters of the immortal path, renowned even in the Heavenly Court. Yet they hadn't withstood even a single move from him.

"Well? Who's next?" Chen Tong looked down at the assembled forces with utter contempt. Facing a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals all by himself, he held the advantage in sheer presence.

At that moment, several figures sat cross-legged in the distant sky. They had white hair and white robes and looked somewhat ethereal. They gazed down at the scene, each with a different expression.

"When did someone like this appear in the world? What a strange thing!" The old man with white hair and beard shook his head.

"Daoist brother, in your opinion, has his displayed cultivation reached sagehood?" The middle-aged man's expression was calm and distant. He seemed like an ordinary man, yet a hint of heavenly might clung to him.

"Junior brother, what do you think?" The white-haired old man didn't answer. Instead, he turned to the gray-robed old man beside him, whose hair hung loose.

The gray-robed old man shook his head too. "There are only a few sages in the world. If someone had attained sagehood after the fact, how could we possibly not know?"

"Then he isn't a sage. But only a sage could wield such power. How do you explain that?" the middle-aged man asked, puzzled.

"Ever since the end of the Ancient Era, everyone in the world has believed that the ancient gods were all extinct. But who knows that beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, there are still more heavens?"

The middle-aged man seemed deep in thought. "Go back and tell the Jade Emperor: this person must not be harmed. He may only be investigated. Otherwise, we won't be able to save the Heavenly Court from the calamity that awaits it."

Below them, in the waters, Li Jing truly didn't dare make another move after seeing Chen Tong's earth-shaking power. The two sides remained locked in a standoff.

Then Chen Tong slowly raised his hands. The next moment, as he lifted them high, the sea surged into the sky. To the gods' utter astonishment, the waters towered over the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. If that apocalyptic force came crashing down, no one doubted it would be a catastrophe.

"Boy, have you gone mad?!" Li Jing had never imagined this man's strength could be so terrifying. If he didn't stop him, his forces would suffer heavy losses today. As he anxiously considered what to do, a voice rang out.

"Amitabha!"

A golden form flashed into view and transformed into a giant dozens of meters tall. It sat cross-legged before the enormous waves, its back to the assembled Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. Light radiated from its body, illuminating the Ninth Heaven. Yet beside the darkness cast by the waves, it seemed so small.

"Tathagata!"

Chen Tong slowly uttered the two words. Whether from exhaustion or shock, his breathing was ragged, and beads of sweat fell into the sea.

"Little friend, we meet again. How about you stop now?"