After the Tathagata of the West exhausted his strength to suppress Sun Wukong, the Heavenly Court, as scripted, held the Peaceful Heaven Assembly.

  Xu Fang didn't know what the Jade Emperor was thinking now, but he followed the principle of "if it's fortune, it can't be avoided; if it's misfortune, it can't be escaped." He accompanied the Gold Star of Venus to the Jade Pool.

  Before long, the assembly was filled with immortals and buddhas.

  As celestial music echoed, groups of beautiful fairy maidens entered, dancing gracefully.

  The gathered immortals and gods raised their cups in toast.

  Amidst the clinking of cups, Xu Fang watched the joyous atmosphere of the Heavenly Court, but his thoughts drifted to Sun Wukong, willingly imprisoned under the Five Finger Mountain. His heart grew heavy.

  The fine wine and delicacies before him tasted bland.

  Meanwhile, the Gold Star of Venus quietly approached the Jade Emperor and whispered, "Your Majesty, General Xu has arrived."

  "What did he say?"

  The Jade Emperor nodded, glancing at Xu Fang, who sat among the heavenly officials.

  The Gold Star of Venus hesitated, then said, "General Xu seems to be waiting for Your Majesty to punish him, but at the same time, he doesn't seem to be. When I went to invite him, he was in the Divine Strategy Camp, seemingly only concerned that Your Majesty might punish the camp."

  "Concerned about the Divine Strategy Camp but not about himself..."

  The Jade Emperor slowly shook his head and sighed softly. "In the end, I have personally broken a pillar of the Heavenly Court."

  With that, the Jade Emperor gestured to the Gold Star of Venus. "Go and tell him that I will not hold him accountable, and the Divine Strategy Camp will also be spared..."

  Though their relationship as ruler and subject had soured, the Jade Emperor's heart softened for once.

  The Gold Star of Venus nodded and bowed before leaving.

  ...

  "General Xu."

  Soon, the Gold Star of Venus approached Xu Fang and whispered, "General, there's no need to worry. His Majesty has instructed me to inform you that the past will be forgiven, and the Divine Strategy Camp will also be spared."

  "Haha."

  Xu Fang sneered and said, "Thank you for relaying the message, Star Lord. In that case, I shall take my leave."

  With that, Xu Fang stood up, glanced at the Jade Emperor, then shifted his gaze to the Tathagata seated below the Jade Emperor, letting out a mocking laugh.

  "The Peaceful Heaven Assembly is indeed only about pacifying the heavens!"

  Amidst his cold laughter, Xu Fang ignored the reactions of the other immortals and strode out of the Jade Pool.

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  Earlier, he and Sun Wukong had joined forces to resist the Tathagata. Although they couldn't change Sun Wukong's fate of being suppressed, they had altered his destiny of becoming a pawn of the Buddhist Sect.

  However, now that the matter had been laid bare, the Tathagata would undoubtedly make further arrangements.

  During the five hundred years that Sun Wukong would be imprisoned, Xu Fang would engage in a fierce battle with them!

  Lost in thought, Xu Fang continued walking but suddenly bumped into someone.

  "Ah—"

  A soft exclamation came from the female immortal, who looked at Xu Fang in surprise. Xu Fang raised his eyes and saw a transcendentally beautiful fairy with an aura that kept others at a distance. She was covering her mouth with her hand, staring at him.

  "General Xu..."

  "My apologies."

  Xu Fang offered a brief apology but had no intention of continuing the conversation. He cupped his hands and walked past her.

  The female immortal watched Xu Fang's retreating figure with slight curiosity, lost in thought.

  The Gold Star of Venus, who had been following Xu Fang, quickly approached after seeing the collision. "General Xu is in a bad mood. He didn't mean to offend the Moon Goddess."

  This ethereal fairy was none other than Chang'e, the Lady of the Moon!

  "It's fine." Chang'e gently shook her head, her gaze filled with curiosity as she looked at Xu Fang. "The Peaceful Heaven Assembly isn't over yet. Why has General Xu left?"

  "Well..." The Gold Star of Venus naturally couldn't say that Xu Fang looked down on the Jade Emperor and the Tathagata at the Peaceful Heaven Assembly. He could only awkwardly change the subject. "May I ask why the Goddess has come?"

  "I am here by His Majesty's decree to perform a dance."

  As Chang'e spoke, the Gold Star of Venus, seeing that he had successfully diverted the topic, smiled and said, "The Goddess's dance is unparalleled in the Three Realms. The immortals here are in for a treat."

  "You flatter me, Star Lord."

  ...

  After leaving the Jade Pool, Xu Fang went straight to the Divine Strategy Camp to inform his heavenly soldiers that the Jade Emperor would not hold them accountable. Then, he rode a cloud directly to the Five Finger Mountain.

  His mastery of the Rainbow Transformation Technique was now flawless, and a long rainbow streaked toward the Five Finger Mountain.

  The Five Finger Mountain, also known as the Five Elements Mountain or the Two Realms Mountain, was shaped like a hand with five fingers, formed by the Tathagata's palm. At its base, a defiant stone monkey was imprisoned.

  "Hmm? Halt!"

  As Xu Fang approached the Five Finger Mountain, five bald monks in robes, standing atop the mountain, sternly shouted, "We are the Five Directions' Protectors, tasked by the Buddha to guard this demonic place. Halt at once!"

  Xu Fang's arrival naturally caught Sun Wukong's attention. When Sun Wukong saw the figure within the rainbow light, he excitedly shouted, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"

  "Senior Brother?"

  The Five Directions' Protectors' expressions changed instantly, and they cautiously stared at the approaching rainbow light.

  After all, when the Tathagata suppressed Sun Wukong, it was no secret that Xu Fang and Sun Wukong were both disciples of Master Bodhi.

  The only person Sun Wukong would call "Senior Brother" was Xu Fang!

  Given Xu Fang's enmity with the Buddhist Sect, was he here to rescue Sun Wukong?

  The Five Directions' Protectors watched as the rainbow light approached, revealing Xu Fang's figure.

  "General Xu, please halt!"

  The Five Directions' Protectors were on high alert. The Golden-Headed Protector clasped his hands and said, "General Xu, this is a place where the Buddha has suppressed a demon. By the Buddha's decree, no one is allowed to approach..."

  "Scram! Or die!"

  Xu Fang didn't mince words. With a cold snort, he released a surge of killing intent.

  "Xu Fang, what are you doing?!"

  The Five Directions' Protectors' faces turned pale. They didn't believe they could stop Xu Fang, given that this man had directly challenged the Tathagata.

  But their Buddhist instincts compelled them to stand in Xu Fang's way.

  Facing Xu Fang's overwhelming killing intent, the Five Directions' Protectors immediately summoned their magical tools.

  "Xu Fang, if you insist on crossing the line, don't blame us for being rude!"

  Hearing their words, Xu Fang sneered. "With just you?"

  With a wave of his hand, the magical tools in the hands of the Five Directions' Protectors flew out of their control and landed in Xu Fang's grasp!

  In the next moment, the Five Directions' Protectors felt their connection to their tools severed instantly!

  "How... how did you do that?!"

  The Golden-Headed Protector's voice trembled, but Xu Fang merely snorted and didn't answer. Instead, he said coldly, "Since you won't step aside, then prepare to die."

  As he spoke, the Ghost-Mourning Blade howled through the air!