Even though Sun Wukong's cultivation had reached the mid-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, every swing of his rod seemed futile.

  The Golden-Hooped Rod, as thick as a bowl, couldn't even pierce the Tathagata's palm, let alone break through his protective Buddhist light.

  However, this did not make Sun Wukong give up. Instead, it further ignited his ferocity. With each roar to the heavens, he struck down with even greater force!

  Xu Fang saw a different side of Sun Wukong.

  Sun Wukong was a primordial being, born from a spiritual stone, and he carried with him an innate savagery from birth.

  "You claim to relieve the suffering of all living beings, yet you heap all that suffering onto one individual. To save the masses, you sacrifice Sun Wukong. Is this the peace of the Three Realms and the equality of all beings you preach?"

  Xu Fang watched the frenzied Sun Wukong, then mechanically turned his head to look at the Jade Emperor, speaking slowly, "What crime has Sun Wukong committed? If this is the Three Realms you desire, then I no longer wish to be a god!"

  As he spoke, his right hand tightened around the Ghost-Mourning Blade, and he lunged fiercely toward the Tathagata!

  "Not good!"

  The Jade Emperor's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately shouted, "Xu Fang, stop!"

  Unfortunately, Xu Fang no longer heeded his commands.

  "Rebellion, it's all rebellion!"

  The Jade Emperor trembled, unsure whether from anger or because Xu Fang had struck a nerve. "Someone, assist the Buddha at once and capture the demon monkey!"

  He deliberately omitted Xu Fang, perhaps out of lingering loyalty or reluctance to completely abandon him. Only he knew the true reason.

  "Your Majesty, the Demon-Slaying Divine General..."

  As one of the Jade Emperor's lackeys, Pagoda Bearer Devaraja King Li Jing was the first to step forward. With a wave of his hand, tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers and generals surrounded the front of the Hall of Divine Mists.

  Dark clouds rolled in, heavy and oppressive!

  "Enough, in the end, I have failed him..."

  The Jade Emperor fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "His power now far exceeds his cultivation level. You cannot capture him. Just contain him and let the Tathagata suppress Sun Wukong."

  "Yes."

  Li Jing acknowledged the order, then waved his hand and shouted, "Form the formation!"

  The heavenly net and earthly web of the Heavenly Court materialized, closing in on Xu Fang!

  "Who dares to touch General Xu!"

  However, at that moment, a figure rushed in from the distance—it was Lord Wuqu!

  Behind Lord Wuqu were tens of thousands of Divine Strategy Camp soldiers, surging forward like a dark tide!

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  "Lord Wuqu? Even you dare to rebel against me?"

  The Jade Emperor's eyes narrowed as he glared at Xu Fang in the midst of the battle.

  "Not just him."

  At that moment, a dog's bark suddenly rang out.

  Following it, a cold-faced man wielding a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade appeared, his cape billowing in the wind as he stared coldly at the Jade Emperor.

  "Your Majesty, let Xu Fang do what he must. At this point, do not interfere."

  Yang Jian had arrived, but he did not immediately take action. Instead, he spoke coldly to the Jade Emperor.

  "Yang Jian! You too!"

  The Jade Emperor's expression remained calm, but his heart was bleeding.

  Yang Jian was his own nephew, yet now he stood on the opposite side!

  Had he truly made a mistake?

  "Your Majesty."

  Li Jing, standing nearby, was unsure of the Jade Emperor's current thoughts and whispered, "Your Majesty, what should we do?"

  The Jade Emperor closed his eyes in pain, then slowly shook his head. "The decree of the Sages is not so easily overturned. Even if I do not intervene, do you truly believe Xu Fang can save Sun Wukong? I simply do not wish to destroy the talent I have nurtured with my own hands!"

  At this point, the Jade Emperor seemed disheartened. He waved his hand and said, "Enough, Li Jing, stand down for now. Let things take their course."

  He had done all he could for Xu Fang, but in the end, he had failed to stop him.

  Just as Xu Fang could not stop the relentless march of history!

  ...

  "Do you think borrowing power can reverse destiny?!"

  The Tathagata, with one hand suppressing Sun Wukong, coldly glared at Xu Fang as he charged forward. "Since you insist on seeking death, I shall deliver you today!"

  As he spoke, Buddhist light blazed, and the sound of chanting filled the air.

  At the same time, countless Buddha manifestations appeared around the Tathagata, their forms materializing one after another as the sound of scriptures echoed endlessly.

  "Ten Thousand Buddhas Pay Homage!"

  Amidst the countless Buddha manifestations, the Tathagata's figure grew even more towering!

  Faced with the power of Master Bodhi, the Tathagata had no choice but to reveal his trump card!

  After all, Xu Fang had earlier severed the Tathagata's golden arm with a single strike. Although the Tathagata had forcibly restored it, the damage was still significant.

  Moreover, the Tathagata did not know that Xu Fang could only unleash one attack. Thus, the Tathagata went all out!

  The towering Buddha manifestation loomed over Xu Fang like a divine being overlooking mortals. The pressure in that moment was overwhelming!

  "Let him go!"

  However, Xu Fang did not yield. With a roar to the heavens, his eyes bloodshot and his expression ferocious, he stood defiant!

  Beside him, the Red Gourd appeared, emitting an aura of immense and terrifying power!

  Having lost the trump card bestowed by Master Bodhi, Xu Fang could now only rely on his own strength!

  "The Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade?!"

  The Tathagata was momentarily stunned.

  Xu Fang had once used the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade to destroy one of his avatars. Although the Tathagata was not afraid of Xu Fang himself, he feared this weapon!

  After all, if Xu Fang used Master Bodhi's power to wield the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade, even the Tathagata would be unable to withstand it!

  "Now, I must borrow the power of a Sage!"

  The Tathagata's heart sank. He knew he could not withstand Master Bodhi's power, and with the addition of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade, he stood no chance!

  But the plans of the Buddhist Sect could not be thwarted!

  The only option now was to borrow the power of a Sage!

  The Tathagata murmured incantations, and instantly, a force capable of shaking the heavens and earth erupted!

  This power was enough to destroy the Three Realms!

  It descended mercilessly toward Xu Fang!

  ...

  "Big Brother, I'm sorry..."

  The Tathagata's right hand still suppressed Sun Wukong, whose eyes were now completely bloodshot, like a beast ready to devour its prey.

  Unfortunately, this beast was now a trapped animal, driven mad by rage!

  Anger could not solve anything!

  But Sun Wukong was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Even in defeat, he would not yield!

  He roared again and again, swinging the Golden-Hooped Rod as if trying to pierce the heavens themselves!

  "Big Brother, I'm sorry! Since my fate cannot be changed, let me do one thing for you. Let me break the fear in your heart and bring back my fearless Senior Brother Wu Fa!"

  "I have not fallen yet. I can still fight!"

  ...

  Just as the power of the Sage descended, a sigh suddenly echoed.

  "Ah, foolish child, why must you suffer..."

  The voice resonated, and Xu Fang's heart trembled. The overwhelming power of the Sage, which had almost crushed his body, was now blocked!

  "You owe me a karmic debt..."

  A majestic voice, coming from nowhere, spoke. Then, a slightly resigned voice followed, "I will not interfere with your plans, but my disciple must be protected!"