A single sentence had plunged Sun Wukong into an abyss.

  "Deceived me?"

  Sun Wukong's expression turned blank, and he shook his head with a self-mocking laugh. "To think I fell into someone else's trap because of a single lie... Haha..."

  Xu Fang, looking at Sun Wukong, smiled faintly. "Senior Brother will avenge you!"

  Though he smiled, his voice was colder than the edge of a blade.

  "Senior Brother, you!"

  Sun Wukong suddenly looked up, staring at Xu Fang in shock.

  Xu Fang stood up and said, "Five hundred years is enough time for me to do many things. For now, Senior Brother will vent some of your anger and collect a bit of interest!"

  With that, Xu Fang patted Sun Wukong's head and continued, "Wukong, for the next five hundred years, wait here. After five hundred years, the Buddhist Sect will surely release you. In the future... if I can't come to see you, stay close to Master and avoid the world."

  "Senior Brother, no, don't go..."

  Sun Wukong stared intently at Xu Fang, grabbing his sleeve. "Five hundred years is nothing. I can endure it, Senior Brother. Don't go..."

  He knew exactly what Xu Fang intended to do!

  But he was already a sacrifice in this conspiracy. He didn't want Xu Fang to fall into the same trap!

  However, the figure before him resolutely turned away, his silhouette once again tall and imposing.

  "Wukong, you once said that I was afraid, that I had lost myself. Today, Senior Brother will reclaim his former self."

  Xu Fang's voice was cold, filled with determination. "If I don't return from this... then so be it!"

  As his words fell, a rainbow light shot up from the ground, stirring the winds and clouds!

  The sky suddenly began to rain!

  It seemed as though the man's heart had undergone a fundamental change.

  "Senior Brother—"

  Sun Wukong roared at the heavens, but the tall figure had already soared into the clouds, gradually disappearing from his sight.

  If I don't return from this, then so be it!

  A single sentence, filled with resolve!

  "Is this really the Senior Brother I wanted?"

  Amidst his roars, Sun Wukong questioned himself.

  He had indeed wanted his Senior Brother to reclaim his true self, a principle they had both upheld during their training on Mount Fangcun.

  But if pursuing one's true self meant walking a path of no return, was this still what he wanted to see?

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  ...

  The rainbow light shot straight back to the Heavenly Court.

  Xu Fang himself noticed the change in his mindset, which had caused a slight loosening in his cultivation.

  "Is my path truly about following my heart?"

  Xu Fang's eyes were resolute. Since his heart had chosen this path, he would face all obstacles, be they immortals or buddhas!

  Of course, following one's heart didn't mean acting recklessly. Xu Fang naturally wouldn't directly confront the Jade Emperor and the Tathagata.

  His target was Lord Po Jun!

  The Five Directions' Protectors of the Buddhist Sect had already been slain by him, a small interest collected from the Tathagata.

  Next, it was the Jade Emperor's turn!

  Lord Po Jun, as the Jade Emperor's lackey, had handled many unsavory tasks. Xu Fang intended to make him the first target!

  He wanted to see how the Jade Emperor and the Tathagata would react!

  ...

  The Peaceful Heaven Assembly in the Heavenly Court seemed to still be ongoing. Xu Fang, sensing the laughter and joy within the Jade Pool, thought of Sun Wukong's desolate expression as he watched the birds. Gradually, killing intent filled his eyes.

  "Next, let's stir up some chaos!"

  Xu Fang transformed into a heavenly soldier and blew on his hand, causing a letter to appear.

  Lord Po Jun was also at the Peaceful Heaven Assembly. After sneaking into the Jade Pool, it didn't take long for Xu Fang to find the heavily intoxicated Lord Po Jun.

  "Star Lord, a wandering cultivator outside asked me to deliver this letter..."

  Xu Fang approached Lord Po Jun, bending down to hand him the letter.

  Lord Po Jun, already drunk, didn't suspect anything. He took the letter, opened it, and frowned slightly.

  "What did the messenger look like? Where is he?"

  Xu Fang quickly replied, "He had an immortal aura and is currently outside the South Heavenly Gate."

  Lord Po Jun pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Playing mysterious, huh? Fine, I'll go see who it is."

  The content of the letter Xu Fang gave to Lord Po Jun wasn't important. It simply mentioned an old friend from his early cultivation days who was in trouble and wanted to borrow something from Lord Po Jun.

  Lord Po Jun, already drunk and further confused by Xu Fang's mysterious behavior, immediately stood up from the banquet and followed Xu Fang to the South Heavenly Gate.

  He didn't think anything could go wrong in the Heavenly Court, so he was naturally quite at ease.

  "Where is this person? I wonder who it could be..."

  After arriving at the South Heavenly Gate, Lord Po Jun looked around and asked, "Where is he?"

  "He's right here."

  Xu Fang stopped, turned to look at Lord Po Jun, and with a flicker of his figure, revealed his true form.

  "Xu Fang! It's you!"

  Lord Po Jun instantly sobered up!

  Having handled many shady tasks for the Jade Emperor, and knowing Xu Fang's relationship with Sun Wukong, Lord Po Jun had been uneasy ever since he tricked Sun Wukong. Now that Xu Fang had come for him, how could he not know what Xu Fang intended?

  "Indeed, it's me!"

  Xu Fang nodded. "I've encountered some difficulties and had no choice but to bring you to the South Heavenly Gate to ask for something."

  "What do you want to borrow?"

  Lord Po Jun gulped, still clinging to a sliver of hope upon seeing that Xu Fang hadn't immediately attacked.

  Perhaps Xu Fang didn't know about his deception of Sun Wukong!

  However, Xu Fang's next words plunged Lord Po Jun into an icy abyss.

  "I have developed an inner demon and wish to borrow your life to slay it!"

  Xu Fang's voice was slow, and the killing intent around him began to condense.

  "You dare—"

  Lord Po Jun's drunkenness had long since vanished. He raised his finger to point at Xu Fang, but before he could speak, the Ghost-Mourning Blade slashed across!

  A line of blood swiftly spread across Lord Po Jun's neck!

  Immediately, Xu Fang's left hand shot out, grasping Lord Po Jun's spirit. With a slight squeeze, it burst into nothingness!

  Lord Po Jun, both body and soul, was annihilated!

  "General Xu, you... you actually killed Lord Po Jun!"

  The Four Demon Kings guarding the South Heavenly Gate, who hadn't attended the Peaceful Heaven Assembly, stared in disbelief at the scene before them.

  ...

  "What? He killed Lord Po Jun in broad daylight at the South Heavenly Gate?!"

  In the Jade Pool, the heavenly soldier sent by the Four Demon Kings reported the incident. The Jade Emperor's eyes widened in shock!

  Couldn't you have killed Lord Po Jun in secret, Xu Fang?

  Why did you have to do it so openly at the South Heavenly Gate!

  How am I supposed to protect you now?

  Furious, the Jade Emperor's face turned ashen as he left the Jade Pool and appeared outside the South Heavenly Gate.

  Looking at Lord Po Jun's corpse, the Jade Emperor said coldly, "Xu Fang, do you know what you've done?!"