Five Hundred Years East of the River, Five Hundred Years West, Don't Bully a Young Monkey!

"Huh, is this sleeping monkey the Sun Wukong?"

"Most likely. That face like a thunder god with a monkey's features, he looks just like the rumors."

"Tsk, look at him sleeping like a pig. Not a trace of cleverness about him."

"Heh, what kind of insight could a wild monkey born from a rock have?"

"Shh! Even if he's not insightful, I heard this mischievous monkey's cultivation has reached Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal. We need to be careful and not let him escape."

"Right, right. Let's just hook his soul and be done with it. Luckily, this Soul-Hooking Lock from Buddhism is reinforced with Tathagata's Dharma Seal, so it can hook even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"

"Enough talk. If we mess this up, Judge Cui will skin us alive!"

At this moment, two ghostly figures exuding a chilling aura stood before the sleeping Sun Wukong. One had the head of an ox and the body of a human, with eyes like bronze bells and nostrils that snorted air; the other had the face of a horse with a long mane, fangs slightly exposed, and an eerie wind swirling around him.

These two were none other than the notorious soul-snatching duo of the Underworld – Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

Ox-Head flicked his hand, and a faint green light suddenly shone from his fingers. A completely black chain, inscribed with incantations, flew out and instantly wrapped around Sun Wukong's forehead.

The chain trembled slightly, and a blurry spiritual light was forcefully pulled out from within his body.

Horse-Face had already opened his black sack, and the Soul-Hooking Lock coiled like a snake, wrapping the soul tightly.

Sun Wukong's soul was pulled along, swaying unsteadily. In a stumble, he drifted and fell outside a grim ghost city. A cold wind howled, and his drunkenness instantly vanished.

He groggily opened his eyes and saw a rusty iron plaque hanging on the towering gray-black city wall, inscribed with six bone-chilling characters:

"Underworld City of Fengdu"

With this sight, the Handsome Monkey King's drunkenness cleared, and his mind became instantly sharp:

So it's true. I read about this in Journey to the West from Master.

My fate includes a tribulation in the Underworld.

This must be another scheme set up by Buddhism!

Hmph! Tathagata! Fifty years in the east, fifty years in the west. Don't bully a young monkey!

Old Sun is now a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, no longer within the Three Realms or beyond the Five Elements. My lifespan is as eternal as heaven and earth. How can the King Yama's few strokes on the Book of Life and Death determine my fate? If there wasn't a powerful hand behind this, King Yama wouldn't dare to touch even a single hair on my body, no matter how bold he is.

Fortunately, Old Sun is clever and always cautious. Throughout my cultivation journey, whenever I slept or dozed off, I always left a clone behind, while my true body hid within a barrier.

What Ox-Head and Horse-Face are pulling now is merely a wisp of divine soul from my clone. Let's see what tricks this Netherworld Ghostly Manor has up its sleeve!

It turned out that after Sun Wukong had read Journey to the West, he knew he was being manipulated by various Saints, so he had been acting with extreme caution.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face, unaware of the truth, escorted this soul, passing through the wind-swept Ghost Path, straight towards the dark Yama Hall.

In the hall, more than ten Yin Iron Pillars supported the ceiling, and the candlelight flickered like blood.

Seated high on the throne was the ruler of the Underworld, King Yama, his face as black as lacquer, his eyes tightly shut, saying nothing.

On either side, Judge Cui held the Book of Life and Death and the Reincarnation Brush.

Black and White Impermanence stood at the sides.

A hundred Ghost Soldiers lined up in order, their copper bells ringing, exuding a chilling aura.

Judge Cui glanced coldly at Sun Wukong, his voice like frost:

"Sun Wukong, Stone Monkey of Flower-Fruit Mountain, Aolai, Eastern Continent of Divine Sands. Your lifespan is three hundred and forty-two years. Your mortal lifespan has ended. You shall now enter reincarnation. Do you have any objections?"

As soon as these words fell, a hundred pairs of shade souls and ghost eyes in the hall simultaneously fixed on Sun Wukong.

At this moment, this grand play in the Underworld had officially begun.

Sun Wukong's heart was clear as day, but he feigned an innocent and bewildered expression, inwardly sneering:

If Old Sun were to lose his temper and smash this Yama Hall, overturn the Underworld, it would play right into the Saints' trap.

It's just a clone's soul anyway. Let's see how you guys play this out!

So, he sat calmly, clasped his hands into a fist, and respectfully replied in the manner of mortals:

"Life and death are ordained, reincarnation is natural. Old Sun has no complaints whatsoever. I will obey all your arrangements."

Who knew that with this sentence, the actors in Yama Hall were all stunned!

This isn't right!

This monkey seems to have the wrong script!?

NG, let's do it again!

King Yama suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of suspicion flashing in his deep blue gaze. He quietly transmitted a message to Judge Cui:

"Is this monkey truly confused? A dignified Grand Unity Golden Immortal whose lifespan is eternal, why would he believe his mortal lifespan has ended?"

Judge Cui was equally puzzled:

"He looks a bit dim-witted... Could it be that seeing the Underworld's ghost palace has shaken his soul?"

"Don't rush. Let him come to his senses and see what he does next."

"Alright, let's stabilize the situation first."

With an order, Judge Cui closed the Book of Life and Death, coughed, and put on a smiling face:

"Come, offer him a seat, pour the tea."

Several small imps with green faces and fangs immediately brought over a carved ebony chair, lit a ghost-fire lamp, and then offered a bowl of steaming tea, handing it to Sun Wukong.

Judge Cui forced a smile:

"Good monkey, this matter of reincarnation, there's no rush. You should think carefully. If you truly reincarnate, all your past cultivation will be void, your memories wiped clean. If you are careless and are reborn as a bird or beast, you will regret it too late…"

Sun Wukong picked up the tea, took a sip, and curled his lips:

"The taste is acceptable. Old Sun follows the rules and laws. Everything is as you arrange. Hurry up and clear the path, lest we waste time."

Upon hearing this, Judge Cui almost bent his back, and King Yama couldn't help but let out two dry coughs, secretly wiping away a cold sweat.

Seeing this, King Yama simply shed his majestic facade, his tone laced with a seductive sweetness:

"Sun Wukong, I hear you have already forged the body of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, with a lifespan equal to heaven. If you are willing to strike your name from the Book of Life and Death, and the underworld can no longer find you, you can attain freedom and unrestraint. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

King Yama persuaded him earnestly, his tone full of temptation!

He believed Sun Wukong was merely an ignorant Rogue Immortal!

He would surely fall into the trap!

Hearing this, Judge Cui immediately understood. He flipped the Book of Life and Death to a page, placed the Reincarnation Brush upon it, and his tone softened as if dripping water:

"With just a light stroke, from now on, you and all the monkey descendants on Flower-Fruit Mountain can escape the suffering of reincarnation. Your descendants will be eternal, never perishing, endlessly multiplying. Aren't you tempted?"

"Look, you quickly see, it's on page seventeen thousand eight hundred and sixteen!"

"I've already flipped it for you! Here are the names of all the Monkey Demons from your Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"You just need to make a light stroke, and from now on, all these monkeys will be free…"

In an instant, countless ghostly figures in the hall fixed their gaze on the monkey, their breathing seemingly held, just waiting for him to reach out!

Monkey!

Be angry!

Roar!

Pick up the Reincarnation Brush and the Book of Life and Death, strike it, cause a commotion!

This good show, you are the protagonist!!!

However, the next moment!!!

"Crack!"

The teacup shattered!

Sun Wukong slammed the table and stood up, his fur bristling, golden light flashing in his eyes. He pointed at King Yama and Judge Cui and roared:

"Old Sun is heartbroken, I am furious!"