One person above Qing Huang Ting

Chapter 894 Battlefield Musings
Even Sun Wukong, a naturally gifted spirit with boundless energy and stamina, felt exhausted after a series of arduous battles and finally managed to repel the Heavenly Court's allied forces.

It wasn't just physical fatigue and depletion of magical energy in the dantian, but also mental exhaustion from intense concentration.

This was a very rare and novel experience for Sun Wukong. Even when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and was besieged by Erlang Shen and the five demon kings, he had never been in such a predicament.

Erlang Shen held the extinguished Lotus Lantern in one hand and the rolled-up Bitter Cold Plum Peak in the other. After confirming that the six brothers of Meishan were all unharmed, he joined Sun Wukong in sighing:
"Yes, it's all over!"

This battle was of even greater significance to Erlang Shen Yang Jian.

Not only did he formally rebel against the Heavenly Court, but he also formally became enemies with his uncle in the Lingxiao Palace.

Although Erlang Shen Yang Jian had long been disgusted with the Heavenly Court's practices and even moved to Guanjiang Estuary to avoid seeing or hearing about them.

However, truly turning against his "uncle" was a complex and difficult decision for him to make.

This is also the feeling of many families of corrupt officials and murderers.
My moral compass tells me clearly that what the other person did was wrong and despicable, but in daily interactions, I can also feel the kindness they show me.

He may have wronged others, but he did not wrong himself. In fact, Yang Jian admitted that he also benefited from his uncle's protection to some extent.

If it weren't for the Jade Emperor, he and his sister wouldn't have had such leisurely official positions, nor would they possess such powerful magical treasures.

"...However, after today's battle, the Lotus Lantern was extinguished, and I still don't know how to explain it to Chan'er."

In fact, the story revolves around the deep sibling bond between the Holy Mother Yang Chan and Erlang Shen Yang Jian, who support and cherish each other through thick and thin.

Even if the Lotus Lantern were to be extinguished, or even if it were destroyed in this battle, the Third Holy Mother would not hesitate for a moment as long as her second brother could be returned safely.

Erlang Shen Yang Jian changed the subject himself, cutting off the distracting thoughts in his mind. He was still the God of War of the Three Realms, the True Lord of Pure Origin and Wondrous Path.

Unlike ordinary people, I cannot hesitate and be indecisive. Once I've made up my mind, I will never go back on it. I will only move forward, and although I may have some regrets along the way, I will never look back.

"Hehehe, I heard about this from Xiuwu, he has a way. Good disciple, good disciple! Quickly throw your wine gourd over here so your master can rinse his mouth, my mouth is so dry right now!"

Sun Wukong shouted for the Heavenly Mandate to throw the Shangqing Treasure Gourd over.

Upon hearing Sun Wukong's call, the Heavenly Man, Sun Xunyin, obediently threw over the Shangqing Treasure Gourd from her waist.

Sun Wukong took the Shangqing Treasure Gourd and drank a lot of the Dragon Oil Immortal Wine inside, and immediately felt a fire in his stomach.

The alcohol is potent, but like a campfire or hearth fire, it spreads slowly. The fire in the stomach feels like warming oneself by a fire in winter, slowly restoring physical strength and soothing the spirit, unlike ordinary strong liquor which burns the stomach and causes pain.

After drinking some wine and regaining some of his strength, Sun Wukong tossed the Shangqing Treasure Gourd to Erlang Shen Yang Jian.

Judging from his own experience, he was already exhausted. Don't be fooled by Erlang Shen Yang Jian's upright posture; he was just as weak as him.

Erlang Shen Yang Jian did not drink the Dragon Ointment Wine from the Shangqing Treasure Gourd; instead, he brought the Jade Dew and Nectar bestowed upon him by the Queen Mother of the West at the Peach Banquet.

It's much better than Dragon's Blood Wine.

Therefore, Erlang Shen Yang Jian simply held the Shangqing Treasure Gourd in his hand and sighed:
"Xiuwu... the True Immortal actually possesses such ability? He can unseal the magical artifact sealed by Laozi?"

"Hehehe, you'll know when you go to Flower Fruit Mountain."

Sun Wukong guessed how Hu Xiuwu would resolve the situation regarding the Lotus Lantern, but he deliberately kept it a secret. Whose magic weapon is the Lotus Lantern?

Goddess Nuwa

You should know that there is a goddess named Nuwa in Huaguo Mountain.

That Goddess Nuwa could easily replicate the process of Hu Xiuwu donning armor to become the Ziwei Emperor, deceive the spirit within the Lotus Lantern, and seize ownership of the Lotus Lantern.

Even Laozi from the Black Myth universe doesn't fit the concept of "Nuwa" as well as Nuwa from the Legend of Sword and Fairy universe.

Once Nuwa acquires ownership of the Lotus Lantern, the seal placed on it by Laozi, the former owner of the Lotus Lantern, will naturally lose its effectiveness.

Seeing Erlang Shen and Sun Wukong chatting, the lively Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Bajie, rode the Black Water Waves and glided down from the sky to the side of Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen.

Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Bajie, raised his nine-toothed rake, stood on one leg, spread his wings like a white crane, and struck a pose that he thought was very majestic:
"Hahaha, how about that, Monkey King? I told you I used to be handsome, now you believe me!"

Pigsy was overjoyed to be able to return to his original form.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong teased, "You don't even have any fur on your body, what's so handsome about that!"

Pigsy scoffed, "Hmph! There's no point in arguing with a monkey like you."

Prince Zhang led the four great generals over and congratulated Pigsy: "Congratulations, Marshal, on your rebirth and the return of your former power."

Pigsy was smug and pleased with himself; that was exactly the kind of flattery Little Prince Zhang wanted.

"Congratulations! The Crown Prince has also grasped the mystery of cause and effect. Given time, he will surely attain the Bodhisattva status!"

Nezha also came over and finally let out the surprise that had been pent up in his heart for a long time:

"Second brother, you've actually been in cahoots with the monkey all along!"

Nezha was still somewhat resentful towards Erlang Shen: "We had already discussed this with that monkey, but he didn't tell me!"

Why was he excluded from the plan devised by Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen? Did they think he was untrustworthy?
'He could have rebelled against Heaven, and he could have kept the secret.'

Seeing Nezha's childlike side, Erlang Shen Yang Jian couldn't help but smile: "It's not that your second brother doesn't trust you, it's just that the matter is very important, and your second brother doesn't want to drag you into it."

Nezha retorted indignantly, "Hmph! Second brother is underestimating me. Do you think I'm some cowardly Heavenly King who craves immortality and wealth?"

Erlang Shen Yang Jian laughed and said, "Alright, alright, it was my fault. I'll apologize to you when we get to Flower Fruit Mountain."

······
Just as the gods were reveling in the aftermath of the great battle, casually drinking and chatting on the battlefield, someone suddenly arrived from afar.

"Greetings, great gods. I am Su He, a judge of Luo Fengtian."

Holding up his white staff, the guardian of Longquanquan, Su He, with an iron-faced mask, greeted Sun Wukong, Erlang Shen, and the other immortals and gods from the Black Mythology world who had never seen him before, in a flat and almost emotionless tone.

He, the guardian of Longtan Spring in Luo Fengtian, who was lured from the world of Legend of Sword and Fairy by Hu Xiuwu, has been working diligently in Fengdu City of Luo Fengtian ever since.

Now Hu Xiuwu has transferred him to the underworld, hoping he can restore order there.