Great Demon Sun Wukong

Actually, according to the original plan laid out by Ling Weiyang and Xi Zhao, Xi Zhao wouldn't have revealed his identity so soon, because although his actions would make the people of the Netherworld World suspect something, they could only harbor doubts without evidence. A covert operative is far more terrifying than a known enemy. Moreover, the original plan was for Xi Zhao to betray them at the critical moment of the final battle, just like He Tu had done. The impact of such a betrayal would undoubtedly be significant, and if handled wisely, turning the Netherworld and its allies against each other was not out of the realm of possibility.

However, after the Heavenly Stele of the Annihilation Demon Nation exploded, the Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent resting at the Earth's Core of the Patrolling Celestial World was affected and consequently ejected a segment of its body above ground, unleashing the scattered Power of Destruction. It was then that Xi Zhao immediately sensed the presence of the Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent and notified Ling Weiyang to change the plan. And before leaving, Xi Zhao told Sun Wukong everything. As for why Xi Zhao divulged all this to Sun Wukong, probably only Xi Zhao himself knows.

For Xi Zhao to awaken the colossal, slumbering Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent of the Patrolling Celestial World through the Annihilation Order was no easy task. Although the Annihilation Order possessed the ability to summon and command the Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent, the one in the Patrolling Celestial World was simply too vast for Xi Zhao to be confident of controlling it entirely. However, Xi Zhao didn't need complete control; he just needed to guide it to annihilate the people of the Netherworld World. To awaken the Serpent, a very complex ritual was necessary, which is why Xi Zhao prepared far from the Myriad Demons Palace.

But Xi Zhao ultimately made a critical oversight. In order to save time on the summoning ritual, he used the immense fire Attribute Spiritual Power contained within Burning Fire Number Nine. Fire, in some respects, also represents destruction. Moreover, Xi Zhao even stimulated a trace of the Primordial Flame as a lure, which would awaken the Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent more swiftly. However, this action also exposed his location to Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing. Once they sensed the presence of Burning Fire Number Nine, they immediately flew toward that location with all their might.

In roughly half a quarter of an hour, Sun Wukong and Old Sha had already beheld Burning Fire Number Nine, burning fiercely in mid-air. Below the Burning Fire Number Nine, Xi Zhao was sitting cross-legged, with a massive pattern more than ten meters in diameter beneath him. The pattern was filled with a variety of intricate and mysterious symbols that would make anyone's head spin at a glance. However, by this point, Sun Wukong's Heaven and Earth Fire Eyes had already been activated, so he could see much more than Old Sha could.

Through Sun Wukong's eyes, he observed streams of pure fire Attribute Spiritual Power infusing into Xi Zhao's body from within the Burning Fire Number Nine World Suppressing Stele, which Xi Zhao then transformed into the Power of Destruction and channeled into the massive, complex pattern. This pattern would concentrate all the Power of Destruction at a single point and extend it deep underground.

Upon Sun Wukong's arrival, Xi Zhao immediately sensed it. Opening his eyes, Xi Zhao looked at Sun Wukong before him and couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile, his voice slightly hoarse as he said, "Wukong, it seems that our destiny is to battle, isn't it? Honestly, I really don't want to be your enemy." Sun Wukong didn't attack right away but said with a somber expression, "After we parted last time, our brotherhood ended. A true man born into this world stands for certain principles and refrains from others. Fighting you is inevitable."

"Sun Wukong, don't you want to know why I'm doing this?" Xi Zhao looked at Sun Wukong with earnest eyes, shouting. Sun Wukong lowered his gaze to the ground and said, "I already know everything. After you left that day, I spoke with Mo Wu the demon mongoose. They told me everything about your ambition, your death." Xi Zhao was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, and a hint of madness appeared in his eyes.

"Since you already know everything, why would you still try to stop me, even becoming my enemy? Are you content with those people constantly reigning over you? What right do they have to do so? They didn't create this Fang Universe, nor are they its masters, so what gives them the right to restrict us? To put it bluntly, they're nothing but the doorkeepers of the Pioneer and the Underworld Venerate; with the master absent, it's their turn to be arrogant!"

Sun Wukong didn't rebut Xi Zhao's words but nodded and said, "I agree with what you're saying. I used to think just like you. Back then, I was arrogant and unrestrained. If heaven oppressed me, I would break the sky, and if Buddha blocked me, I would annihilate Buddha. I was convinced that we were born free, so from the moment of my birth, I have always been rebelling. But what did I get in the end? Nothing, and I lost much, much more. Xi Zhao, let me tell you, some rules can be broken, but there are others that you must follow."

Xi Zhao, after hearing Sun Wukong's words, threw back his head and laughed wildly, "Sun Wukong, oh, Sun Wukong, do you still remember what you call yourself? Have you forgotten who you are? Where is your courage from before? Your arrogance from before? Sun Wukong, the you now, is just a tiger without teeth, no, I should say a dog that has been scared after being beaten!" Saying this, a trace of sorrow mingled with the madness in Xi Zhao's eyes. For what was he grieving? For Sun Wukong? Was it for the ground-down edges of Sun Wukong that he grieved?

Sun Wukong, however, did not get angry but smiled and said, "There were also people who said this about me in the past, and at that time, I was extremely angry, wishing I could tear that person to pieces. But now I will not be angry anymore because what you said is correct, I no longer have that courage, because I really am afraid. I am too scared of loss, so I will not break those rules anymore, for as long as I behave, the people by my side will not die. Therefore, Xi Zhao, your thoughts and your existence are too dangerous, if we let you live on, you will cause the deaths of many, many people!"

When Sun Wukong said these words, he was looking down, so Xi Zhao could not see the expression on Sun Wukong's face at that moment. However, old Sha, standing by Sun Wukong's side, saw it clearly, he saw his eldest senior brother, seemingly shedding tears. Xi Zhao laughed, within that smile were bitterness, anger, sorrow, and persistence. "Sun Wukong, I'll tell you, I am also afraid of losing, so I want to become the strongest, I want to destroy those who could make me lose anything. Moreover, after my death, I suddenly understood a truth, if I have nothing at all, then there will be nothing more for me to lose. However, I still need to kill those eight people and then break through to an even more powerful realm."

"Xi Zhao, you are wrong, all your thoughts stem from your selfishness, your craving for power. I've had enough of your talk, so from now on, I will no longer waste words with you!" These words, Sun Wukong shouted out loud. And he also suddenly looked up, at the moment he raised his head, his expression and eyes held an unprecedented determination. And old Sha by his side would not bother with what's right or wrong, all he intended to do was follow what his eldest senior brother commanded, whoever his eldest senior brother told him to kill, he would kill, even if it cost his own life.

"Sun Wukong, you are far behind Ling Weiyang. Do you know why I have joined hands with Ling Weiyang? Because our thoughts coincide!" Having said that, a smile finally appeared on Xi Zhao's lips. "Sun Wukong, actually, I also do not wish to waste words with you, for now I have understood the difference between us. But why talk so much with you? Because I need to buy a little time, and now, the time has come!"

Having said that, Xi Zhao's hands violently slapped the ground, his whole body springing up as he rapidly flew backward. And Sun Wukong also immediately pulled old Sha backwards with him. Just as they retreated over a thousand meters, the ground where Xi Zhao had been sitting cross-legged, which was covered in complex patterns, suddenly cracked open with several huge fissures. Then that section of the ground collapsed abruptly, and the collapse spread rapidly to the surrounding area.

Sun Wukong, old Sha, and Xi Zhao retreated once again, this time retreating over ten thousand meters. As soon as they stopped, a fearsome snakehead abruptly emerged from the formed pit in the ground, spiraling upwards.

Simultaneously, an extremely terrifying aura of destruction emanated from that snakehead.

Xi Zhao finally awoke the Annihilation Nine Headed Serpent, although it was only one of its snakeheads. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Starting Point ) with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)