Lingtai Square Inch Mountain, Slanted Moon Three Star Cave!

Goten's pupils contracted. He twisted aside!

The blade skimmed past his cheek, slicing off a few strands of hair!

Goten took two steps back and touched his face—blood.

"Oh?"

His eyes lit up.

"You're strong."

Yang Jian's expression didn't change. With a flick of his wrist, he swept the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear back at Goten from an odd angle!

Goten didn't retreat—he slammed his fist into the shaft!

Clang!!!

The deafening clash of metal rang through the temple! Dust sifted down from the walls!

Yang Jian took a slight step back.

Goten didn't move an inch.

At last, a flicker of change appeared in Yang Jian's eyes.

"Impressive strength."

"You're not bad yourself." Goten shook out his hand—the vibration from the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear had left his fist tingling.

The two faced off, moonlight pouring through the broken roof and forming a silvery line between them.

Just then—

"Howling Celestial Dog."

Yang Jian spoke softly.

A Slender Dog shot out of the darkness, lunging straight for Goten's throat!

Goten hadn't expected a sneak attack. He instinctively raised a hand to block—

Howling Celestial Dog sank its teeth into his arm!

Its sharp fangs pierced his skin. Goten winced in pain, then whipped his arm hard, flinging Howling Celestial Dog away!

But several deep bite marks already marred his arm, and blood streamed from them.

"A dog?" Goten looked at the wound on his arm, then glanced up at Yang Jian. "You bring a dog to a fight?"

"All's fair in war."

"Good point."

Goten took a deep breath—and golden energy flared around him once more!

This time, he held nothing back!

He vanished from where he stood!

Yang Jian's pupils contracted as he braced the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear across his body—

Boom!!!

Goten's fist slammed into the spear. Yang Jian was blasted several yards backward, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground!

"Now this is interesting!" Goten shouted, already following up with a second punch!

Yang Jian was driven back by the relentless barrage. Every punch struck with immense force, numbing his grip!

In just three breaths, Goten threw forty-seven punches!

Yang Jian retreated forty-seven steps!

On the last step—

He reached the temple wall.

Goten's forty-eighth punch stopped three inches in front of him.

The force of the punch lifted Yang Jian's hair.

"You lost," Goten said.

Yang Jian stared at him in silence, then put away the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear.

"Indeed."

His expression remained calm. There was no shame at being defeated, nor any anger.

"I can't beat you. At least—not right now."

Goten lowered his fist. "Are you still going to capture me?"

"Yes," Yang Jian said. "But I won't act now."

He turned and walked toward the door.

When he reached it, he paused.

"Head that way—to Lingtai Square Inch Mountain. Patriarch Bodhi." He didn't look back. "The Heavenly Court won't send anyone else until he's healed Zixia. That's the most I can do."

Goten froze.

"You're... helping me?"

"I'm not helping." Yang Jian's voice betrayed no emotion. "I just don't like taking advantage of someone when they're down."

He left.

Howling Celestial Dog followed him, and the two disappeared into the night.

Zhi Zun Bao poked his head out from the corner. "He... left?"

Goten nodded.

He watched in silence for a long time as Yang Jian disappeared from view.

Then he looked down at the dog bite on his arm and laughed.

"This world... is far more complicated than I imagined."

The fifth day. Noon.

At last, the desert came to an end.

A range of green mountains appeared ahead—lush, damp, and teeming with life.

Goten's eyes lit up.

"We're almost there."

They quickened their pace. Zhu Bajie was so exhausted he looked like a dog—no, even more tired than Howling Celestial Dog—and lay sprawled on the ground, unable to get up. Sha Wujing silently hoisted him onto his back and kept walking.

Zhi Zun Bao walked at the front. He didn't know why, but his heart was beating faster and faster.

It was as if something deep in the mountains was calling to him.

They walked for another half a day.

As the sun sank in the west—

The clouds parted.

A verdant mountain peak appeared before them—not tall or steep, but enveloped in a faint golden glow.

A stone stele stood before the mountain gate.

Ten characters were carved into it—

Lingtai Square Inch Mountain.

Slanted Moon Three Star Cave.

Goten stopped.

He could sense that the "energy" of this mountain was completely different from that of anywhere else in this world.

This was the first time since arriving in this world that he'd felt energy like this. It had something in common with the "ki" he knew.

An old man with white hair stood before the mountain gate, his back to them.

He wore a plain Taoist robe and held a horsetail whisk.

He didn't turn around.

Yet his voice reached every one of them clearly.

"Goten—"

"You're three days later than I expected."

Goten froze.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But Patriarch Bodhi spoke first.

"Come in."

He finally turned around. His face was old, but his spirit was vigorous, and his eyes were bright for someone his age.

His gaze passed over Goten and fell on Zhi Zun Bao.

Then he smiled.

A smile full of meaning.

"You came too."

"I... I came." For some reason, Zhi Zun Bao's voice trembled.

Patriarch Bodhi nodded, as if everything had gone exactly as he'd expected.

"Five hundred years."

He turned and pushed open the mountain gate.

"Come in."

Golden light poured through the doorway, illuminating everyone.

With Zixia on his back, Goten stepped forward.

Ahead lay a new beginning.

Their next destination—Lingtai Square Inch Mountain, Slanted Moon Three Star Cave.