"Hold on, Great Sage Sun!"
"Great Sage Sun, there's no one more suitable or trustworthy than this ancestor to handle this matter."
"How about this, to show my sincerity, besides letting Daoist Sanye continue to instigate them, I will also assist."
"Don't take it to heart, about that bowl being free and then no more. We are both powerful demons and rebels. If we don't cooperate, should we look for the Jade Emperor or the Dao Ancestor?"
"If even this isn't enough to satisfy you, then fine. Let's consider this our first collaboration. We'll each compromise. This ancestor will no longer demand ten bowls of Holy Water Soup, these five bowls will suffice."
"A fifty percent discount for our first collaboration, just to show sincerity."
"In the future, when we collaborate again, won't it be easier and more harmonious?"
Seeing that Sun Kong was about to go back on his word, Patriarch Kunpeng was in such a hurry.
It was truly remarkable.
And understandable.
Everyone knew that Sun Kong, after his reckless actions five hundred years ago, had made a name for himself even among the Six Sages, his fame widespread.
Coupled with the Holy Water Soup and his repeated victories in challenging adversity, Sun Kong's reputation had spread for millions of miles.
One could ask.
Who would dare to refuse or evade Sun Kong's主动 invitation for cooperation?
If there were such a person.
They would be nothing short of.
An idiot.
Or rather.
A complete and utter idiot!
Even though Patriarch Kunpeng was one of the Nine Quasi-Sages and the Left Demon Master of the ancient demon race, having lived longer than all non-Sages.
He immediately fell for Sun Kong's provocation.
Not only was he unwilling to part ways.
But to show his sincerity, he voluntarily offered a fifty percent discount, saving five bowls of Holy Water Soup for the New Huaguo Mountain!
As soon as these words were spoken, Sun Kong's heart was filled with ecstatic joy. Outwardly, however, through his monkey hair clone, he had to show some pretense.
Initially displaying a hint of hesitation.
Only when Patriarch Kunpeng grew more anxious and was about to agree to let Sun Kong handle it himself, did Sun Kong slightly "soften" his stance.
Reluctantly.
He agreed!
"Since fellow Daoist Kunpeng is so sincere, I, Old Sun, cannot be too stingy. How about this, this matter will still be handled by you and your disciple."
"I will not interfere with the specific process, do as you please. In short, the goal is to ignite the grievances and enmities among this group of people, the more the better."
"Of course, as a partner, I, Old Sun, will not simply dismiss it with a mere five bowls of Holy Water Soup. Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu, although their cultivation is not exceptional, they should be suitable as assistants..."
Before Sun Kong could finish speaking.
The conceited Patriarch Kunpeng laughed heartily and cut in.
"Great Sage Sun, your subordinates are extremely precious, unlike us masters and disciples who have various ancient demon arts to carry out tasks. Therefore, it's not that I look down on your men, but rather, fewer people means less chance of leakage."
These words revealed Patriarch Kunpeng's arrogance and his inherent disdain for anyone weaker than him.
He thought this was to bolster his own status and prestige.
Little did he know.
The happiest person to hear this was not his master and disciple, but Sun Kong!
He had been wondering how to clear himself of suspicion for rashly offending the individuals in the Third Tribulation.
He never expected Patriarch Kunpeng, in his moment of elation, would offer such a convenient solution.
It was practically a gift!
Internally, Sun Kong was so delighted he could barely restrain himself from dancing.
Outwardly, however, he had to continue with his signature "advanced self-destruction" move, the first of his three-part strategy: feigning weakness, feigning anger, and feigning dissatisfaction.
"You are right, Old Brother Kunpeng. My subordinates are worse than each other. Bringing them out is simply embarrassing and prone to leaks."
This was feigning weakness, indirectly praising Patriarch Kunpeng and his disciple.
"Since Old Brother Kunpeng has said so, then so be it. I will recall this useless one. I, Old Sun, will continue to urge them to train. Look at your elder disciple, and then look at you, it makes me so angry."
This was feigning anger, indirectly praising Daoist Sanye.
"Alright, it's settled then. I, Old Sun, dare not propose any deadlines. I only hope that Old Brother Kunpeng will not make it too easy for Chan Master Wu Chao to meet Golden Cicada, nor harm him accidentally."
"As for the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, if they dare to be displeased and seek retribution from Old Brother afterwards, rest assured, I, Old Sun, will stand guard."
"Unless they trample over my corpse, not a single one of them will set foot in Beiju Luzhou to provoke you, Old Brother."
This was the so-called feigning dissatisfaction, using his feigned displeasure with the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain to further bind Patriarch Kunpeng and Daoist Sanye!
Indeed.
After unleashing this first advanced self-destruction move, comprised of three techniques, even Patriarch Kunpeng, once the most cunning person of the ancient demon race, was utterly flattered by Sun Kong.
Thinking of the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, the very people he worried about most, being promised protection by Sun Kong, what else could Patriarch Kunpeng fear?
Besides.
It was merely instigating the grievances and enmities of those people, watching the spectacle, not actual fighting. For Patriarch Kunpeng, a mid-grade Quasi-Sage, to bully a bunch of "younger siblings" was as easy as.
Drinking water or breathing?
"This Monkey Sun is truly sincere and quite to my liking. Enough said, Sanye, bring yourself along, and we depart."
"We will not rest until we ignite them."
"Without repaying the deep friendship of Brother Sun, how can we continue to accumulate merit on the Journey to the West, and how can we revitalize our sect and restore the demon race?"
After saying this.
Without waiting for Sun Kong to provide any further necessary intelligence, Patriarch Kunpeng and Daoist Sanye actually took off, chasing after Golden Cicada.
How proactive.
How brave.
And how...
Comical!
That's right.
At this moment, after Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu returned, Sun Kong's assessment of the people from the Northern Sea lineage was precisely these two words.
Comical.
However, since they were currently in their honeymoon phase, it was best not to say it out loud and offend Patriarch Kunpeng. He would eat what he should eat, drink what he should drink, and simply await their news.
"You two have worked hard on this trip. Half a bowl of Holy Water Soup each. Go get it yourselves. Don't drink too much, your constitution can't handle it."
"Before, I, Old Sun, intentionally rebuked you to deceive them, but what I said is not entirely false. You, you still need to train hard."
"Soon, this Great King will have many places where I'll need you. What use is a mere Grand Unity Golden Immortal?"
After a few words of admonishment to Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu, who were blushing but even more loyal and admiring towards him.
Seeing the two off.
Sun Kong was about to find Wu Zhiqi and Zhou Wuxian to discuss matters after the Third Tribulation.
Unexpectedly.
At this very moment.
In Beiju Luzhou.
Somewhere south of Wuchao Mountain.
A world-shattering explosion suddenly erupted.
It was like hitting a royal flush in a card game.
Even Sun Kong was stunned into silence!