Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Chapter 159 Retreat to the Barrier

"Awooo~!"

"Woof woof!"

The fierce tiger transformed by the Bull Demon King had already fought a battle with the Howling Celestial Hound. Fierce as a dragon, majestic as a tiger, the tiger transformed by the Bull Demon King was much more formidable than ordinary demon tigers. With a howl, it stirred the wind and clouds, and its claw, swift as a slicing wind, tightly sealed the Howling Celestial Hound's path of escape.

However, the Howling Celestial Hound was a rare species by birth, far from ordinary. Though the tiger transformed by Bull Demon King was strong, it could only suppress and not defeat the hound. Bull Demon King had to be especially wary of its sharp white teeth.

Previously, under the state of Divine Power Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth, the hound had bitten him, leaving the Bull Demon King with a tail still throbbing with pain. Had it been an ordinary person, the tail might have been bitten off by now. The Bull Demon King had now exited the state of Divine Power Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth, reducing his bodily strength considerably.

Another bite from the Howling Celestial Hound, and it would not just leave a row of teeth marks!

"Get lost, for the True Lord!"

The Bull Demon King's clone tightly engaged Erlang God Yang Jian. The strength of this clone, summoned by the cloning technique, was no different from the original, except it couldn't use the Cloning Divine Powers again. Earlier, the Bull Demon King had fought evenly with Erlang God, and now the summoned clone was doing no less. Erlang God's frown deepened until he could bear it no longer.

He was the Manifested Erlang God, the War God of the Heavenly Court, how could he tolerate a demon bull acting recklessly before him? To think a mere clone of the Bull Demon King could hold him back was severely underestimating him!

"Cloning Divine Powers!"

A fierce light flashed in his eyes as Erlang God Yang Jian activated his Cloning Divine Powers. A clone, looking exactly like him, emerged from his body, holding another tri-point double-edged sword to block the clone of the Bull Demon King, while Erlang God himself swiftly lunged at the Bull Demon King.

"Damn it, Erlang God has mastered Cloning Divine Powers too!"

Just as Erlang God Yang Jian used the Cloning Divine Powers to block the Bull Demon King's clone, Bull Demon King immediately received a message from his main body.

His heart chilled, understanding that his strength almost matched that of Erlang God Yang Jian, but with the Howling Celestial Hound assisting Erlang, and lacking a combat pet himself, he initially thought the Cloning Divine Powers would give him an edge. He hadn't expected Erlang God Yang Jian to possess the same powers, complicating things!

Without time to think further, Erlang God Yang Jian had already approached him. The tri-point double-edged sword in his hand slashed fiercely at the waist of the tiger transformed by the Bull Demon King. The Bull Demon King, not daring to be careless, swiftly dodged, his form shimmering as he reverted to human shape, swinging his iron staff to block Erlang God Yang Jian's sword.

However, his attention was somewhat divided, wary of the Howling Celestial Hound, who excelled at sneak attacks; he couldn't afford to be bitten again!

"Bull Demon King, admit defeat. You are ultimately a notch below this True Lord!"

With the Howling Celestial Hound ready on the side for a sneak attack, Erlang God Yang Jian unleashed a fierce assault on the Bull Demon King. The Bull Demon King, having to guard against the hound's sneak attacks, couldn't concentrate fully on countering Erlang God Yang Jian's strikes. He soon found himself overwhelmed, barely managing to defend without a chance to counterattack.

Erlang God Yang Jian's lips curled into a smug smile as he pushed back the Bull Demon King with a slash and loudly urged him to surrender.

"Ptui! Dream on! There's no old bull that dies in battle, no old bull that surrenders. If you want me to surrender, it's absolutely impossible!"

The Bull Demon King spat fiercely, but a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. The current situation was highly disadvantageous for him. Continuing the battle would likely lead to defeat sooner or later. No, he must not get bogged down in battle. It was better to retreat early and preserve his strength for the battles to come.

"Aargh, I'll take you all on!"

With a mighty roar, two long streams of white breath sprayed from the Bull Demon King's nostrils, his face reddening as he charged ferociously at Erlang God Yang Jian. The iron staff in his hands swung with unprecedented force, striking towards Erlang God Yang Jian from above.

Erlang God Yang Jian's expression hardened as he quickly cultivated his power to wield the tri-point double-edged sword to block.

Clang!

The sound of their weapons clashing rang out, but it was not as fierce as imagined. Erlang God Yang Jian could hardly feel the strength of the Bull Demon King's strike as he saw the Bull Demon King's figure rushing back even faster, sweeping the approaching Howling Celestial Hound aside with his staff, and swiftly flying towards Flower-Fruit Mountain on a cloud.

It turned out this rascal had feigned an attack to make his escape!

Erlang God Yang Jian glanced back at the clone of the Bull Demon King battling his own clone, which had also disappeared. It seems this old bull had planned his escape all along, the ferocity just before was all an act!

"Old bull, don't run!"

With a loud shout, Erlang God Yang Jian pursued him on a cloud, the Howling Celestial Hound closely following, as man and dog chased the Bull Demon King towards Flower-Fruit Mountain.

On the battlefield in front of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Race gradually gained an upper hand. Mainly because the Four Great Heavenly Kings seemed unable to hold off the Six-Eared Macaque any longer.

Originally managing just to cope, caught up in the heat of battle, Six-Eared Macaque activated Cloning Divine Powers, summoning another clone, doubling his combat power instantly. The Four Great Heavenly Kings could not stand against him any longer. Great Sight Heavenly King Mo Lishou was the first to be defeated, receiving a harsh blow from the Six-Eared Macaque on his shoulder.

Startled, the other three kings quickly escorted Mo Lishou towards the central army direction of the Heavenly Court.

"Damn it!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing had a gloomy expression. Was he to return futilely as he had before? No, absolutely not! This battle concerned the face of the Heavenly Court, and even more so, his own future. The Jade Emperor might be watching from the Lingxiao Palace at this very moment. If he chose to retreat now, what would the Jade Emperor think?

Wouldn't his title in the Heavenly Court become a joke thereafter?

"Eh? What is that?"

Suddenly, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's expression shifted as if he sensed something and looked towards the east, the direction of the Eastern Sea. A figure was swiftly approaching on a cloud—it was the Bull Demon King with Erlang God Yang Jian and the Howling Celestial Dog hot on his heels. From the looks of it, Yang Jian had won the fight, and the Bull Demon King was fleeing!

The expression on Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's face suddenly became excited, and he shouted energetically, "The True Lord has already defeated the Bull Demon King, all Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals heed my command, attack with full force, flatten Flower-Fruit Mountain for your commander!"

The soldiers from both sides who were engaged in battle were all momentarily stunned when they heard Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's shout; they turned their heads toward the direction of the Eastern Sea and saw the scene of Erlang God Yang Jian closely pursuing the Bull Demon King.

Instantly, the morale of the Heavenly Court's army soared, and they all roared, their previously waning attacks becoming fierce once again.

In contrast, the faces of the Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals of Flower-Fruit Mountain showed panic. The Bull Demon King, representing the highest combat power of Flower-Fruit Mountain at present and the backbone of this battle, had been defeated by Erlang God Yang Jian. Who else could possibly match him?

This moment of panic among the Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals disrupted the battle formation, which the Heavenly Court's army seized as an opportunity to launch a fierce assault, leading to an immediate collapse like a crumbling mountain.

"Retreat, everyone pull back to the mountain gate!"

Leng Xuan, realizing the situation was unfavorable, shouted loudly to give the retreat order. The situation now was extremely disadvantageous for Flower-Fruit Mountain—they must retreat to the mountain gate and reconsider their plans!

"Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, capture for your commander!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing saw the Demon Clan of Flower-Fruit Mountain beginning to flee and a cruel, triumphant glint flashed in his eyes. He raised the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda as it didn't matter if it used up a bit of Immortal Primordial Force under such circumstances.

Once the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda was unleashed, the already retreating Demon Army of Flower-Fruit Mountain faced even greater adversity. A fierce suction force emitted from the base of the pagoda, enveloping the Demon Soldiers of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Those who had already lost much of their will to fight couldn't withstand the suction force of this post-heaven merit Supreme Treasure; those who could run did so, and those who couldn't were caught by the suction force, screaming as they were sucked into the pagoda.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Leng Xuan, frantic, screamed out loud, gritting his teeth as he threw several Formation Flags toward the direction of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda.

In mid-air, they manifested into a circular Great Formation temporarily blocking the suction force of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda—an arrangement he had prepared well in advance, thinking it wouldn't be needed so soon, but was forced to deploy.

With the Formation Flags forming a barrier temporarily holding back the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, the Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals of Flower-Fruit Mountain hurriedly retreated back into the Primordial Unity Grand Formation Barrier. The Six-Eared Macaque and others covered the rear, fighting and retreating back into the Great Formation.

The Bull Demon King was the last one to rush back into the Great Formation Barrier. As soon as his figure entered, Leng Xuan immediately amplified the power of the Great Formation to its highest, the originally invisible barrier emitting a layer of gray light, firmly blocking the advancing Heavenly Court's army from the outside.

"Attack! Attack for your commander, break through this barrier and raze Flower-Fruit Mountain to the ground!"

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's domineering shout reverberated loudly around Flower-Fruit Mountain, as the Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals surrounded and bombarded the Primordial Unity Grand Formation Barrier with various attacks. The barrier constantly trembled, but it seemed not to collapse imminently.

Inside Flower-Fruit Mountain, Leng Xuan kept sensing the condition of the Primordial Unity Grand Formation Barrier. Presently, it seemed the barrier could still hold; it wasn't likely to break soon. Though his expression wasn't quite easy, he was somewhat relieved.

"All demon ranks split into three teams, take turns to rest, everyone else, channel power into the Grand Formation Barrier; we must not let the Heavenly Court's army break through and invade!"

Having ordered the Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals, and watching the demon troops divide into three teams to rotate and channel power into the barrier, Leng Xuan turned to look at the Bull Demon King.

"Brother Bull, is that Erlang God Yang Jian really that formidable, even you couldn't stop him?"