socalfunplaces Chapter 996 A desperate strike
Chapter 996 A desperate strike
Passing through the grotto, a long corridor paved entirely with black jade stretched out before you. At the end of the corridor, two colossal bronze doors, each ten feet tall, stood tightly shut. The doors were carved with terrifying images of lions, elephants, and roc birds, and an extremely powerful, suffocating demonic aura seeped out from the cracks in the doors.
"This is it!" Sun Wukong stood in front of the giant bronze gate, took a deep breath, and his eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit.
"Brother Monkey, the three great demon kings are inside. These three old demons are incredibly powerful, and we don't stand a chance of winning by brute force. We must take them by surprise and rescue Master first," Chu Yang said solemnly as he walked to Sun Wukong's side.
"I understand." Sun Wukong nodded, then took two steps back, took a deep breath, and suddenly let out a deafening roar:
"Monster! Your maternal grandfather has come to demand my return! Hand over my master at once!"
This roar, imbued with Sun Wukong's boundless magical power and fury, resounded like a thunderclap in the heavens, shaking the two massive bronze doors violently and even causing cracks to appear in the surrounding stone walls.
"boom!"
Without waiting for a response from inside, Sun Wukong swung his golden cudgel and slammed it down hard on the giant bronze gate with all his might.
After a deafening roar, the two incredibly heavy bronze doors collapsed with a single blow from Sun Wukong's staff, crashing heavily onto the floor of the main hall inside and kicking up clouds of dust.
The scene inside the main hall was instantly revealed to the two of them.
The central main hall was astonishingly large, measuring hundreds of feet in size. At the deepest part of the hall stood a tall, black jade platform. On the platform, Tang Sanzang was bound hand and foot to a coiled dragon stone pillar. His face was pale, his eyes were closed, and his lips were moving slightly, clearly reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Below the platform, the Green-haired Lion Monster, the Yellow-toothed Elephant Monster, and the Golden-winged Roc were seated on their respective thrones, with various rare fruits and fine wines laid out before them. Around them stood hundreds of powerful elite demon generals.
The sudden collapse of the bronze gate stunned all the demons inside the hall. When the dust settled, revealing Sun Wukong and Chu Yang, the three demon kings' faces instantly turned grim.
"Sun Wukong!" The green-haired lion monster suddenly stood up, his green mane bristling, his eyes wide with rage. "How dare you! You actually dare to come back to your death!"
"Brother, I knew this monkey wouldn't give up! He really did come chasing after us!" The Golden-Winged Roc sneered, his sharp eyes fixed on Sun Wukong. "But since you're here, you're not leaving. Today, we'll cook you and Tang Sanzang together!"
Sun Wukong completely ignored their shouts, his gaze fixed on Tang Sanzang, who was tied to the stone pillar, and shouted, "Master! Your disciple has come to save you!"
Upon hearing Sun Wukong's voice, Tang Sanzang abruptly opened his eyes and saw Sun Wukong and Chu Yang standing at the entrance of the main hall. Tears of emotion welled up in his eyes: "Wukong! Chu Yang! Be very careful! These three demons are extremely powerful!"
"Master, don't be afraid, I, Old Sun, will take you back right away!" Sun Wukong shouted, his figure as fast as lightning, rushing directly towards the high platform.
"Insolence!" the green-haired lion monster roared, leaping down from the high platform, a gleaming nine-ringed broadsword now in his hand. "You impudent monkey, if you want to save Tang Sanzang, you'll have to get past me first!"
The green-haired lion possessed immense strength. With this slash, it actually carved a black spatial rift in the air, and with overwhelming force, it slashed down towards Sun Wukong's head.
"Old monster, how dare you stop me, Sun Wukong?" Sun Wukong was not afraid at all. He gripped his golden cudgel tightly with both hands and smashed it down hard against the nine-ringed broadsword.
"clang--!"
The weapons clashed, unleashing a visible shockwave. Several elite demon generals nearby were even forced back by the shockwave, coughing up blood. Sun Wukong and the Green-haired Lion Demon were both sent flying. Sun Wukong somersaulted in mid-air and landed steadily, while the Green-haired Lion Demon crashed heavily to the ground, creating a large crater in the black jade floor.
"Brother! I'm here to help you!" Seeing his elder brother suffer a loss, the yellow-toothed old elephant roared and stood up as well. He didn't use any weapons, but instead swung his trunk, which was several meters long. The trunk was like a nimble whip, sweeping towards Sun Wukong with a whistling sound.
"Monkey King, watch out!" Chu Yang shouted upon seeing this and immediately attacked. He formed hand seals, and countless sharp sword energies appeared out of thin air, turning into a rain of swords that slashed towards the trunk of the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster.
"Jingle bells!"
The sword energy struck the old yellow-tusked elephant monster's trunk, producing a metallic clang. The monster's skin was as hard as iron; the sword energy could only leave white marks, unable to harm it in the slightest.
"Ignorant mortal, get out of my way!" The yellow-toothed old elephant monster sneered, and with a swing of its trunk, it completely extinguished Chu Yang's sword energy. Then, with its trunk still powerful, it lashed out at Chu Yang.
Chu Yang used the Seven Star Steps to instantly shift several meters to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The elephant's trunk struck the spot where Chu Yang had just stood, shattering the black jade floor into pieces, sending fragments flying everywhere.
"Such tough hide!" Chu Yang thought to himself in surprise. He knew the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster had incredible defense; he couldn't fight it head-on. While dodging the attacks from its trunk, he shouted to Sun Wukong, "Brother Monkey, this elephant has thick hide; I'll hold it off. You deal with the lion and find a chance to rescue Master!"
"Alright! Be careful, brother!" Sun Wukong replied, and once again swung his golden cudgel, attacking the green-haired lion monster who had just gotten up from the ground.
The main hall was immediately engulfed in a fierce melee.
Sun Wukong and the Green-Haired Lion Demon were locked in fierce combat. Both were incredibly strong and highly skilled in martial arts. Their golden cudgel and nine-ringed broadsword clashed repeatedly, each impact producing a deafening roar. Although the Green-Haired Lion Demon was no less powerful than Sun Wukong, his agility was far inferior. Sun Wukong, like a golden butterfly, flitted and danced amidst the flashing blades, searching for his opponent's weakness.
"Old monster, take this!" Sun Wukong feinted, instantly circling behind the green-haired lion monster, and slammed his golden cudgel with tremendous force into the lion monster's back.
The blue-haired lion monster was terrified, but it was too late to turn around and defend itself. Just at this critical moment, the golden-winged roc, who had been sitting on the high platform watching coldly, suddenly made its move.
The Golden-Winged Roc was incredibly fast, leaving no afterimage. In an instant, it appeared behind the Green-Haired Lion Monster, extending a sharp claw that shimmered with golden light to grab the golden cudgel that Sun Wukong was about to smash down.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the Golden-Winged Roc actually caught Sun Wukong's powerful staff, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, with just one hand. Although his body was also shaken and slid backward several feet, a mocking glint flashed in his eyes.
"Sun Wukong, your strength is nothing special." The Golden-Winged Roc sneered, its other hand transforming into a sharp blade, directly stabbing towards Sun Wukong's chest.
Sun Wukong's heart skipped a beat; he had been on guard against this roc. Seeing its attack, he swiftly pulled back his golden cudgel, his body flying backward, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.
"This Roc's speed and strength are extraordinary!" Sun Wukong landed back on the ground, his brows furrowed. Even he felt a sense of pressure facing the combined forces of the three demon kings.
Meanwhile, the battle between Chu Yang and the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster had also reached a fever pitch. Chu Yang knew that his strength was no match for the old elephant monster, so he relied on his agile movements to fight from a distance. He continuously unleashed various spells and sword energies, which, although unable to inflict a fatal wound on the old elephant monster, successfully enraged it.
"You wretched mortal fly! I'll stomp you flat!" The yellow-toothed old elephant monster, having been toyed with like a monkey by Chu Yang, had completely lost his patience. He suddenly raised his front hoof and stomped hard on the ground.
"Boom!"
The entire hall shook violently. A visible, earthy-yellow shockwave emanated from the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster and spread outwards. Chu Yang felt a violent tremor beneath his feet, and he instantly lost his balance.
"A good opportunity!" A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the yellow-toothed old elephant monster, and its long trunk, like a giant python emerging from its cave, instantly wrapped around Chu Yang's waist.
"Oh no!" Chu Yang exclaimed in alarm, trying to break free, but found that the elephant's trunk was like a chain made of fine steel, tightening its grip more and more. A suffocating force came over him, and Chu Yang felt as if his ribs were about to be broken, making it extremely difficult to breathe.
"Hahaha! Mortal brat, this is what happens when you go against me!" The yellow-toothed old elephant monster laughed triumphantly, its trunk suddenly straining to strangle Chu Yang to death.
"Chu Yang!" Sun Wukong was shocked to see this. He was about to rush over to help when he was blocked by the Green-haired Lion Monster and the Golden-winged Roc.
"Sun Wukong, your opponents are us!" The green-haired lion monster brandished his nine-ringed broadsword, blocking Sun Wukong's path.
"Today, none of you will leave here alive!" the Golden-Winged Roc said coldly, its golden light growing ever brighter.
Just as Chu Yang felt his vision begin to blur and his consciousness was about to sink into darkness, a flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Since its defenses are so strong... then I'll destroy it from the inside!"
Despite the excruciating pain, Chu Yang stretched out his right hand with great difficulty. In his palm, a tiny white flame, radiating terrifying heat, appeared. This was his "Heaven-Burning True Fire," cultivated to its peak. Although only the size of a fingernail, it was enough to melt everything in the world.
"Old monster...try this!" Chu Yang used his last bit of strength to press the ball of white Heaven-Burning True Fire directly onto the trunk of the yellow-toothed old elephant monster that was entangled with him.
"hiss--"
The moment the white flames touched the elephant's trunk, they melted the old elephant monster's incredibly tough skin, like a red-hot iron touching ice, and burrowed into its flesh.
"hold head high--!"
The old yellow-tusked elephant monster let out a heart-wrenching, agonizing scream. The white flames spread rapidly along his trunk, burning not only his flesh and blood but also his demonic power and soul. The excruciating pain drove the old yellow-tusked elephant monster to the brink of madness. He abruptly released his trunk from Chu Yang, his massive body rolling wildly on the ground, trying to extinguish the eerie white flames.
Chu Yang crashed heavily to the ground, panting heavily. His attack had consumed too much of his spiritual energy, and he was now at his limit.
"Second Brother!" The Green-Haired Lion Monster was shocked to see the Yellow-Toothed Elephant Monster severely injured. He wanted to check on the Elephant Monster's injuries, but Sun Wukong seized the opportunity.
"Old monster, you dare to be distracted while fighting with me, Sun Wukong?" Sun Wukong shouted, and his golden cudgel instantly grew longer, stabbing the green-haired lion monster in the waist.
"Pfft!" The blue-haired lion monster spat out a mouthful of blood, its huge body flying out and crashing heavily into a coiled dragon stone pillar.
"Big brother! Second brother!" The Golden-Winged Roc was furious when he saw his two sworn brothers suffer losses in a short period of time. The golden light on his body suddenly burst out, transforming into a huge golden roc phantom that blotted out the sky.
"Sun Wukong, you have completely enraged me! I will tear you to pieces!" The Golden-Winged Roc let out a sharp cry, and the huge golden roc phantom swooped down towards Sun Wukong and Chu Yang with a world-destroying aura.
The oppressive force was extremely terrifying; the entire black jade floor of the hall shattered inch by inch under its pressure.
"Brother Monkey, this guy's gone berserk! Go save Master! I'll hold him off for a second!" Chu Yang gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet. He knew he couldn't stop the Golden-Winged Roc in his current state, but he had to buy time for Sun Wukong to save Tang Sanzang.
"Brother, are you out of your mind?!" Sun Wukong grabbed Chu Yang. "We'll block it together! How could I, Old Sun, abandon my brother!"
"Go quickly! Master is more important!" Chu Yang pushed Sun Wukong away abruptly, frantically forming hand seals, unleashing all the remaining spiritual power in his body without reservation.
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to Their Origin, Immovable King Formation!"
Countless swords formed from condensed spiritual energy converged above Chu Yang's head, eventually transforming into a golden, immovable king statue tens of feet tall. The king statue held a giant sword, its eyes wide with rage, staring intently at the golden roc phantom swooping down.
"You overconfident mortal, be reduced to ashes!" the Golden-Winged Roc roared arrogantly.
"boom--!"
The golden phantom of the Garuda collided violently with the image of the Immovable King. The blinding light instantly illuminated the entire central palace, and the deafening explosion caused all the surrounding lesser demons to bleed from their seven orifices and die on the spot.
The powerful shockwave sent Chu Yang flying, crashing heavily into the wall. As he slid down, he was coughing up blood and unconscious. The Immovable King's Dharma Image also disintegrated instantly.
But this desperate attack did slow down the Golden-Winged Roc's swooping momentum.
"Chu Yang!" Sun Wukong's eyes were bloodshot, but he did not waste the brief opening that Chu Yang had risked his life for. He pushed his speed to the limit, transforming into a golden light and instantly rushing to the high platform.
He gently swung the golden cudgel in his hand.
With a snap, the golden rope binding Tang Sanzang broke. (End of Chapter)