Journey to the West: I am the fiercest bird under Bodhi's seat

With a loud "clang," the Asura Demon King crossed his arms to block the attack, but was slammed and fell more than a hundred feet.

His eyes widened in anger, and he roared, "Where did this impudent monkey come from, daring to block my path!"

The monkey grinned, "Remember this! Your grandpa is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, personally appointed by the Jade Emperor! Kneel down and submit!"

As the monkey shouted, he kept his eyes scanning all around him—he knew he had gotten himself into big trouble again.

Seeing that the other demons noticed something was wrong and tried to escape, he suddenly shook his body and instantly created countless clones, each holding a stick, surrounding him layer by layer.

In an instant, hundreds of demons and countless monkey shadows clashed in a fierce battle.

The main body wielded the golden cudgel, charging left and right with unstoppable momentum.

He knew that if he couldn't completely suppress what happened today, he would be held accountable if any of them slipped through the net.

Although he only had the cultivation level of the early stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal, he was born with extraordinary abilities and had an imposing aura.

He single-handedly held off nine powerful demons of the same level, preventing them from escaping.

Although the clones were weak and were frequently defeated, their sheer numbers were astonishing, and they kept coming one after another, just to buy time.

A moment later, a whooshing sound came from afar—it was Kui Mulang, the guardian of the Heavenly Palace, leading his men to arrive.

He gazed at the surging demonic energy in the distance, his expression changing drastically: "How could this be? How could so many demons be hidden deep within the Heavenly Palace? What are the Southern Heavenly Gate and the Celestial Surveillance Department doing?!"

The monkey looked slightly embarrassed, but fortunately no one noticed in the midst of the fierce battle.

Kui Mulang roared as he charged into the battlefield, sweeping his broadsword across the battlefield as he joined the encirclement.

"Great Sage, I'm here to help you!"

With help, the monkey's stress was greatly reduced.

Tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers who arrived later quickly set up a net to seal off the space and prevent the demons from escaping.

At the same time, a golden bell tolled in the distance, signaling the Heavenly Court's official troop deployment.

Ye Feng remained seated below, his expression calm, a wine glass lightly held in his hand, his gaze casually glancing upwards, but he showed no intention of making a move.

Since the monkey started this mess, he should clean it up himself.

He simply pondered: What exactly is the purpose of the Wood Star Lord's actions?

Was it merely to frame the monkey?

But this matter is at most a disturbance, and may not really shake the foundation of the monkey - after all, even the Martial Virtue Star Lord has been killed by him.

He turned to look in the direction of the Wood Star Lord, only to find that there was no one there.

After finishing his drink, Ye Feng's thoughts turned.

If this wasn't a frame-up, and the Wood Star Lord wasn't the mastermind, then what was the person behind it all plotting? If it were me, what would I be doing going through all this trouble for?

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, then suddenly realized something, abruptly stood up, and looked into the distance.

—The Heavenly Treasury.

The fierce battle above continued, but he had no interest in paying attention.

After a moment's thought, he transformed into a golden rainbow and sped away.

He knew this route like the back of his hand.

A golden rainbow streaked across the heavenly palace, so fast that its shape was obscured and it vanished in an instant.

The journey from the residence of the Wood Star Lord to the Heavenly Treasury was long, but Ye Feng was extremely fast and arrived in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

He concealed his escape light and landed, and sure enough, he saw that the treasure vault door was ajar, and the two guards, Jin and Yin, were lying on the ground.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the two were not dead, but their primordial spirits had been sealed, causing them to fall into a coma.

—The thief is still in the warehouse!

Ye Feng's eyes sharpened, and he stepped inside without hesitation.

Upon entering, one sees a figure standing between five altars deep inside, his single hand outstretched, having already broken through the five restrictions.

"He actually managed to break the seal set by the Jade Emperor himself!"

Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat. He had once sneaked into this place to steal, and knew all too well how strict these restrictions were.

Before the shock had subsided, his hand moved, and he shouted sharply:

"You thief! How dare you trespass into the Heavenly Treasury!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a golden light flashed in his hand, and the Demon Emperor Sword was already in his grasp.

With a single sword strike, ten thousand golden rays burst forth, and sharp sword energy cleaved down in all directions.

The entire treasure vault trembled violently, the ground cracked, and rubble flew everywhere.

It should be known that the Heavenly Court is incredibly stable, and its palaces are all made of rare and precious treasures from heaven and earth, making them indestructible.

For example, a monkey can shatter the main veins of the Five Sacred Mountains with a single blow in the mortal realm, but in the Heavenly Court, it can at most only break through a wall.

For example, the Tiger King, despite possessing the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, could only cause the palace to tremble slightly when he unleashed a thunderbolt.

And this Heavenly Treasury is one of the most secure of all the palaces.

Even if an ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal were to arrive, they would not be able to budge it in the slightest.

However, the restriction cracked open under Ye Feng's sword, demonstrating the astonishing power of the sword.

If this were used in the lower realm, it would probably cleave half of the Eastern Continent in two.

Upon hearing the angry shout, the thief immediately turned around.

His gaze sharpened slightly: "Golden Crow?"

Ye Feng saw that her face was hidden behind a layer of blue fairy light, making it difficult to discern her true appearance.

The sword energy was already upon him, but the man let out a soft hum and raised his sleeve to meet it.

In an instant, the golden light receded, and Ye Feng's sword energy was completely swallowed up.

"A hidden universe within a sleeve? What kind of magical artifact is that Taoist robe?"

Ye Feng felt a slight chill. The technique of "Universe in the Sleeve" was not unique to any particular immortal; it was actually one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Techniques, which he had also practiced.

Among all beings in the Three Realms, the one who has mastered this technique to its pinnacle is Zhen Yuanzi of the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

However, those who possess this skill are not necessarily Zhen Yuanzi.

Moreover, Ye Feng was well aware of the power of his sword energy—although the Universe in the Sleeve was powerful, the clothing used to conceal it had to be sufficiently durable.

Otherwise, the slightest carelessness could lead to ruin and death.

Golden flames ignited in his eyes, and the world before him suddenly became clear. He saw that the man was dressed in a green robe.

Strangely, the robe was a seamless whole, as if it had been made by nature.

"Flawless..." Ye Feng's heart stirred.

He only glanced at it briefly; his true purpose was to see the other person's true face. He immediately activated his Golden Crow Divine Eye and stared directly at the other person's face.

The azure celestial aura was somewhat thin, yet it still couldn't penetrate.

This was the first time he had encountered such a hindrance since he had cultivated the Golden Crow bloodline.

The Taoist in green noticed the strange light in Ye Feng's eyes and immediately reacted. He covered his face with his sleeve and quickly reached out with his other hand to grab the two treasures that were closest to him.

Just as he was about to take the remaining three items, Ye Feng suddenly became anxious.

"You thief, how dare you act so violently!"

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, and the space seemed to fold and shrink. In an instant, he had already rushed in front of his opponent, and the Demon Emperor Sword slashed at his arm.

The Taoist in green seemed to have not expected the speed to be so fast, and had no choice but to withdraw his hand in haste.

His eyes darkened, he glanced at the remaining three items, and without hesitation, turned and left.

The truly needed items have already been obtained; the remaining three items were merely a bluff, and their loss is inconsequential.

Ye Feng wouldn't let him get away so easily. He sneered and spun around, the Demon Emperor Sword flashing golden light again, and another sharp sword aura cleaved through the air.

The Taoist in green retreated swiftly, his long sleeves billowing out, and a golden sword light followed—it was the same sword energy he had previously collected!

This time, however, the sword energy was so intense that sparks flew from the sleeve, and the sword energy was so sharp that it tore half of the sleeve.

"This person has actually cultivated the 'Sleeve Universe' technique to the point of being able to control it at will; he must be at least an ancient Great Luo Golden Immortal."

The two sword energies collided with a loud crash, producing a clear and melodious sword cry, before shattering into countless tiny golden rays that scattered in all directions.

These sword energies landed on the altar, triggering the restrictions, and were all intercepted by the formation.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, the Taoist in green robes leaped to the doorway.

He glanced back at Ye Feng, then at the torn sleeve, and without lingering, turned and left.

Ye Feng did not give chase.

Firstly, if the other party insists on escaping, it may be impossible to catch up; secondly, if they are forced into a desperate situation, it would not be a good thing.

Besides, the stolen items belonged to the Jade Emperor; it wasn't worth risking one's life for them.

As for the identity of the thief, he already had a vague guess in his mind.

I just don't understand—why would someone of that status do such a petty theft?

The thought flashed through his mind. Ye Feng's gaze involuntarily shifted to the remaining three altars.

Three treasures floated silently: a futon, a small cauldron, and a small seal.

He squinted, glancing around nervously to make sure no one was there, then glanced at the doorway.

Silence.

He swiftly rushed to the three altars, and with a flick of his sleeve, the three treasures vanished instantly.

He then sheathed the Demon Emperor Sword and walked out with a normal expression.

Passing by the spot where the Taoist in green had just stood, he bent down and picked up the half-torn sleeve.

Stepping out of the treasure vault, he raised his hand and pointed, sending out two beams of light that landed inside the bodies of the Gold and Silver Generals.

The two generals shook their heads and stood up. They were both startled when they saw Ye Feng and immediately pointed their weapons at him.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

Ye Feng sneered, "Two idiots! I sensed the treasure vault had been robbed and came to capture the thief. That petty thief is a Taoist priest in blue robes, who is using magic to conceal his face."

The golden-armored general was still full of doubts.

No wonder, Ye Feng has a criminal record. The investigation into the last theft case revealed that he was the culprit, but the Jade Emperor simply did not pursue the matter.

The silver-armored general whispered a reminder: "Elder brother, it seems like a beam of blue light attacked us earlier, and then we lost consciousness."

The golden-armored general frowned slightly, still undecided. He sheathed his weapon and said, "In that case, we request that Emperor Tai accompany us to the Lingxiao Palace to meet the Great Heavenly Venerable and bear witness."

He then turned to the person beside him and said, "Second brother, go to the treasury immediately to take inventory and see what is missing."

The silver-armored general entered in response to the call, and then hurriedly left a moment later, about three minutes later.

"Elder brother, the list of lost items has been finalized. You stay here, I will go with the Emperor to the Lingxiao Palace to report back."

After speaking, he looked at Ye Feng. Ye Feng remained calm and naturally had no objection.

The two then rode the clouds and mist, heading straight for the Lingxiao Palace.

Upon arrival, many celestial officials had already gathered in the hall, with the Jade Emperor sitting on a high throne, exuding majesty.

Even the monkey arrived, along with Kui Mulang, Wen Zhong, Luo Xuan, and others, all standing in front of the hall.

It is clear that the Thunder and Fire Departments have been mobilized to recapture the previously escaped demons.

Ye Feng, the silver-armored general, entered the palace and knelt to report: "Your Majesty, the Heavenly Treasury has been robbed, and the Great Emperor Tai appeared from within, claiming that a Taoist priest in green robes stole the treasures."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, all the immortals present turned their gazes to Ye Feng.

Even Sun Wukong glanced at him discreetly, thinking to himself, "Is my senior brother stealing again? This time he's caught red-handed, which isn't good."

"Your Majesty, what is your explanation?" The Jade Emperor's voice descended from the ninth heaven.

Ye Feng cupped his hands and smiled, "I sensed that the Heavenly Court's energy was disordered and felt something was amiss, so I went to the treasury to investigate. Sure enough, I found a thief stealing. Unfortunately, the thief was too ruthless and I was unable to capture him on the spot."

Before the words were finished, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, stepped forward and sneered, "Your Majesty's words are far too simplistic, relying entirely on one side's account. The Silver-Armored General clearly stated earlier—he only saw you emerge from the treasury! Last time, you took advantage of Sun Wukong's escape to sneak into the treasury and steal the Demon Emperor's Sword, and Your Majesty did not investigate further. Who would have thought you would resort to the same trick again today!"

He turned and bowed to the Jade Emperor: "Your Majesty, whether it is true or false, a simple decree to search the body will immediately reveal the truth."

"Silver-Armored Divine General," the Jade Emperor spoke, "I ask you, what is missing from the treasury?"

The silver-armored general quickly replied, "We lost five items in total: the Pure Meditation Futon, the Yin-Yang Myriad Transformation Furnace, the Kongtong Seal, the Heaven-Covering Net, and the Sun-Shooting Bow."

"Hmm." Ye Feng's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, and he quickly compared his findings with what he had obtained.

That unassuming little seal was actually the Kongtong Seal? That was quite unexpected.

He immediately understood what had happened to the other two items taken by the Taoist in green—the Sky-Covering Net and the Sun-Shooting Bow.

In particular, the Sun-Shooting Bow was a treasure of the ancient Wu tribe's great shaman Hou Yi, who shot down nine suns.

Ye Feng sneered inwardly: This person is truly unforgettable; his wicked heart is hard to change.