Hand on the Sun and Moon, Plucking the Stars-None Like Him Under Heaven!

"Fellow Daoist, I'm afraid you've got the wrong monkey."

Sun Wukong scratched his fluffy fur and grinned.

"My master isn't this 'Sect Master Tongtian' you're talking about!"

"What?"

Zhao Gongming's expression stiffened. He stared at Sun Wukong in disbelief, his voice trembling.

"Not... Master Tongtian? That's impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

He stumbled a step backward, as if he'd been struck square in the chest. Confusion and pain filled his eyes as he murmured,

"Monkey, you... you don't have to comfort me."

He lowered his head and looked at the ground, his voice barely above a whisper, yet still clinging to hope.

"Who in this world, besides Master Tongtian, could have the skill to train a peerless monkey like you, one the likes of which the world has rarely seen?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to lose all strength and sank to the ground. His expression was desolate, tears glimmering in his eyes.

Sun Wukong scratched his head, at a loss, then pursed his lips.

"Even if hearing you praise me as a peerless monkey feels pretty good, I never lie. My master really isn't Sect Master Tongtian!"

He paused, his expression suddenly turning more solemn. Then he spoke with pride.

"Besides, though Sect Master Tongtian is a Saint, compared to my master, he's like a firefly daring to compete with the bright moon—not worth mentioning!"

His words rang out like thunder, leaving Zhao Gongming's mind blank with a resounding buzz.

He looked up sharply, fury blazing in his eyes, his voice as cold as a blade.

"What did you say? Master Tongtian isn't worth mentioning? Monkey, you're far too arrogant!"

He clenched his fists, his magical power surging as his black robe whipped in the wind.

"Could your master be Dao Ancestor Hongjun?"

Sun Wukong shrugged and shook his head. "Nope."

Zhao Gongming froze, his anger flaring even hotter.

"If he isn't the Dao Ancestor, how dare you belittle my master, Tongtian? You've got an outrageous mouth, monkey!"

His face turned livid, his beard and hair bristling as he enunciated every word.

"Do you know that during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, my master deployed a sword formation with the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and fought four Saints alone without falling behind? In all the Primordial Wilderness, who could match that bearing besides Dao Ancestor Hongjun?"

As he spoke, his eyes shone with reverence, and his voice took on a solemn note.

"My master Tongtian is the greatest beneath the Dao Ancestor!"

"Among all the Saints, my master Tongtian is number one!"

Sun Wukong merely rolled his eyes and let out a lazy sneer.

"Heh. Fellow Daoist, that's a terribly narrow view."

He straightened up, his spirit soaring as he spoke out loud.

"Forget Sect Master Tongtian—even that old crook Hongjun has never been worthy of my master's notice!"

At this, Zhao Gongming felt as if Five Thunders Crashing Down had struck him. He flew into a rage.

"Outrageous! How dare you insult the Dao Ancestor, monkey?!"

"Aren't you afraid the heavens will strike you down?"

He trembled and instinctively edged backward, afraid Heaven's punishment would fall on the monkey and drag him into it too!

After all, since Hongjun had lectured three times at Purple Heavens Palace, the Three Thousand Red-Dust Guests had spread his teachings throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

In a sense, the countless beings of the Primordial Wilderness had all benefited from the Dao Ancestor's grace!

No one dared say a single bad word about the Dao Ancestor!

What's more, the founders of the Human School, Chan School, Interception Sect, and Western Sect (the Buddhist school) all had to greet Dao Ancestor Hongjun with the respect due to a disciple.

As for second- and third-generation disciples like them, that went without saying: they all had to honor Hongjun as their founding master!

And now a monkey had said something so treasonous!

How could Zhao Gongming not be utterly shocked?

Yet Sun Wukong remained entirely calm. He dusted off his sleeve and spoke lazily.

"Back in the day, that old Hongjun was just an earthworm burrowing through the dirt. How was he fit to be called the 'Dao Ancestor'?"

"He stole the Jade Treasure from around my master's neck, then seized the chance to attain the Dao and usurp the secrets of Heaven. That's how he earned his fame. When all's said and done, he's just an old crook who got lucky—not worthy of carrying my master's shoes!"

Hearing this, Zhao Gongming backed away again, putting even more distance between himself and the monkey.

"You... stop spouting nonsense. I still want to live a few more years. Don't drag me into this..."

Sun Wukong wasn't afraid in the least. Instead, he threw back his head and laughed.

"Hahaha! Don't worry, fellow Daoist. I laid down a strand of the Great Dao's aura here long ago. The secrets of Heaven in this place are sealed. Your master or the Dao Ancestor—neither of them can glimpse a single word!"

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance toward the Western Ox Continent. Profound reverence and yearning shone in his eyes as he slowly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist, you've simply never seen my master's bearing!"

"If you had, you'd know: what is Tongtian? What is Hongjun? Even if Heaven's Dao took human form and came here, it could only hold the chamber pot for my master!"

After speaking, Sun Wukong began muttering to himself.

"At the summit of immortality, unrivaled through the ages—my master made the heavens!"

"At the end of the immortal path, who stands at the peak? One glimpse of my master, and the Dao fades to nothing!"

"Hand on the Sun and Moon, plucking the stars—none like him under heaven!"

"His feet tread Yin and Yang, and he sets Qiankun in place; from primordial times to now, my master reigns supreme!"

"Ten thousand lands and all things may be destroyed—only my master is immortal!"

With every line, his aura rose another level. His arrogance was tempered with solemnity, as if he were making a sacred offering—or sacrificing everything to his faith.

Zhao Gongming was completely dumbfounded. His mouth hung open so wide his jaw nearly fell off.

Has this monkey gone mad?

Did some charlatan fool him?

This is so painfully cringeworthy!

Even Dao Ancestor Hongjun would blush hearing this!

Zhao Gongming muttered to himself. After a long while, he finally reined in his anger and sighed.

"Since you speak so highly of your master, Monkey Daoist, I won't presume to speculate. But may I ask your master's esteemed name?"

With that, he cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

Sun Wukong clenched his teeth, then solemnly waved a hand.

"My master once said I mustn't reveal his name, lest I invite worldly entanglements and trouble. So forgive me, but I can't say."

Zhao Gongming nodded, his face calm, though inwardly he sneered. Heh. This monkey's been bragging to the heavens, but in the end, he doesn't even dare give his master's name. He's probably just bluffing!

Still unwilling to give up, he pressed further.

"If you can't tell me his name, then... where is your mysterious master's dwelling?"

Sun Wukong had meant to keep hiding the truth, but when he saw a mocking chill in the corner of Zhao Gongming's eyes, indignation rose in his heart. He snorted.

"My master's dwelling is near Square Inch Mountain in the Western Ox Continent. If fate brings you there, you'll step right in. If it doesn't, you could search the whole Primordial Wilderness and never find it!"

"The Western Ox Continent... Square Inch Mountain..."

Zhao Gongming silently committed the words to memory, curiosity swelling in his heart. Well, well, monkey. You've made your master sound so mysterious. I, Zhao, will just have to see what kind of expert he is—and why he hides so carefully.

He said no more, only taking one long look at Sun Wukong before cupping his hands in farewell.

"Monkey Daoist, in that case, I'll head to the Western Ox Continent and investigate. Until we meet again!"

With that, Zhao Gongming's figure flickered and transformed into a streak of golden light, soaring into the sky. Sun Wukong was left standing there, squinting up at the heavens with an easy smile.

"Tch. Old Sun never brags."

"People who've never seen my master don't understand his bearing!"

"If fate brings you to meet him, you'll know then that so-called Sect Master Tongtian and so-called Dao Ancestor Hongjun are both just ordinary people."

With that, Sun Wukong gathered up the spoils and returned to Water Curtain Cave.