But then.
The Great Desolation three realms, originally ruled by the Heavenly Dao and Patriarch Hongjun, unexpectedly showed signs of fragmented destiny, with different omens appearing.
Although seventy percent of it remained with the Heavenly Dao and Patriarch Hongjun, maintaining the normal celestial order and the support and recognition of most living beings,
Sun Kong also saw that with the arrogant appearance of the new Six-Eared Macaque and others, coupled with the Jade Emperor's declaration and the betrayal of the Sect Master Tongtian.
The remaining more than twenty percent of destiny was gradually leaning towards these three factions. Despite the small share, this share was still increasing!
It was believed that the final victory would largely be decided by whether the Journey to the West in the Earth Immortal Realm or the Journey to the West in the Human World would succeed.
And this inevitably led to the life-and-death struggle between the two great Monkey Kings, Sun Kong and the new Six-Eared Macaque!
A grand battle between the Heavenly Dao and the Demonic Dao.
A momentous conflict, triggered by oneself but intensified by the new Six-Eared Macaque!
If this continued.
Not only would both rounds of Journey to the West be recognized and supported, but they would also proceed.
It was feared that.
The Immeasurable Tribulation would arrive early!
"Good heavens, all I wanted was to become the Victorious Fighting Buddha of the Spirit Mountain, get a position, and live a comfortable retirement. I never expected things to escalate so much, almost to the point of the sky collapsing and the earth shattering?"
"This matter, I'm afraid, can only be carried forward, there's no turning back. But since it's come to this, I don't need to be melancholic."
"I should focus on how to win this unconventional battle of Journey to the West."
With this thought, the last trace of pity that a decent person might have in Sun Kong's eyes quickly faded, replaced by the most familiar and most beneficial demeanor of these years.
Courting disaster.
Courting disaster.
And more courting disaster.
He would then unleash his innate talent as the ancestor of the disaster-courting realm, to face the combined onslaught of demons, the Heavenly Court, the Jie Sect, and other forces!
In this day and age, who was afraid of whom?
...
Here, Sun Kong was actively preparing defenses, cautiously anticipating the siege by the new Six-Eared Macaque and his cohorts, plus the three Quasi-Sage ancestors who would arrive later.
He summoned the highest vigilance he had possessed since his transmigration.
On the other side, the new Six-Eared Macaque, upon seeing the three Quasi-Sage ancestors, namely Ancestor Minghe, Ancestor Huangquan, and Ancestor Youming, was overjoyed and even more confident.
However.
The entire affair was not yet concluded.
Putting aside the grand battle on the new Mount Huaguo for the moment,
Besides all those mentioned above who had declared their stances, there were also several other Saints, along with some Quasi-Saints, and other prominent figures, emperors, and generals from the Great Desolation three realms.
They too, all made their statements!
"I, Nuwa, though originally from the Demon Clan, have always upheld the Heavenly Dao and justice. I will never collude with any demonic or heretical path."
"My son, Kong Kong, though not exceptionally talented, everyone has witnessed his abilities over the past five hundred years. There is no need for me, a woman, to say more."
"I will only say one sentence."
"The Heavenly Dao is benevolent, the Demonic Dao is to be killed. Whether the Heavenly Dao is good or the Demonic Dao is good is not a difficult question at all; the outcome was already decided in the ancient battle between the Dao and the Demon."
"I implore all beings in the Great Desolation three realms not to fall for the deception of the demonic new Six-Eared Macaque and the Jade Emperor."
"One of them was originally one of the Four Mixed-World Monkeys, who inexplicably turned to the Demonic Dao. Over the years, he has committed countless atrocities. Have none of you around you suffered losses?"
"As for the Pure Yang Sage, one of the Three Pure Ones, Brother Tongtian, it is difficult for me, junior sister, to comment on your choice, but I understand your difficult position, which is undoubtedly due to the heavy losses suffered by the Jie Sect during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation."
"I cannot elaborate on the right and wrong of this matter, but as long as you do not oppose Kong Kong's Journey to the West, and do not forget that he showed mercy in the past and spared Wen Zhong and others."
"Thus, should we meet again in the future, our sibling affection will remain, and this boy Kong Kong will not forget to address you as his Uncle-Martial."
The third person to speak possessed far greater emotional intelligence than the previous two straight men. Her words not only avoided creating an absolute opposition but also subtly highlighted her own son, Sun Kong, and managed to elicit a sense of awe from the various Saints towards the third most powerful figure in the demonic camp, aside from the new Six-Eared Macaque and the Jade Emperor.
That person was none other than Sect Master Tongtian.
Her words had deeply moved him, making him feel a sense of contemplation.
The person who could speak in such a way, offending neither side while seizing the opportunity to promote her own son, Sun Kong, and command a degree of respect from all Saints,
Was none other than the sole female Saint among the Six Saints, Empress Nuwa!
Upon hearing her words, Primordial Heaven-Honored and Sect Master Tongtian each found support and bowed to their only junior sister in gratitude.
Then.
The other three Saints, who had remained silent all along, Laozi, Daoist Jieyin, and Daoist Zhunti, also successively declared their stances!
"This poor Daoist Jieyin."
"This poor Daoist Zhunti."
"Our Western Teachings lineage has always supported the Heavenly Dao and Patriarch Hongjun. We are also the most enthusiastic about the Journey to the West Tribulation and the liberation of all beings."
"Currently, our basic stance remains unchanged. Just like Primordial Heaven-Honored and Empress Nuwa, we support the Great Sage Sun."
The two Saints of the West, who were usually the most cunning, were now playing a similar game of fence-sitting as they did during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
First, they spoke words that pleased Primordial Heaven-Honored and Empress Nuwa.
But in the next moment.
They shifted their tone!
"However, fellow Daoist Jade Emperor and fellow Daoist Tongtian, what you said is true. The Heavenly Dao is indeed not prosperous, far less just, fair, and open than it was in the past. This is also a fact."
"Therefore, we two merely seek to ensure that the Western Teachings are not interfered with by anyone, and that the Great Sage Sun can complete the Journey to the West. We have no intention of interfering in other matters and will leave them to you all."
These words, spoken circuitously with many twists and turns, were essentially conveying one point.
Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, after secret deliberation, had decided not to aid the Demonic Dao or the Heavenly Dao.
Instead, they simply wished to preserve the strength of the Western Teachings!
In other words.
They were opportunists, hedging their bets!
"Brother Jieyin, fellow Daoist Zhunti, excellent choice! Tongtian admires you both. In the future, unless absolutely necessary, I will never proactively provoke the Great Sage Sun and his followers."
Sect Master Tongtian was the first to praise the two Saints of the West.
However, when it came to Primordial Heaven-Honored and Empress Nuwa, the former was indignant that the two Saints of the West had betrayed them at the last moment and would henceforth resent the Western Teachings.
The latter, wanting to be angry, could only sigh in resignation, expressing a woman's inherent helplessness, due to Sun Kong's primordial spirit originating from the Mani Pearl.
Seeing this.
The beings in the Great Desolation three realms who had not yet declared their stances, accelerated their choices of allegiance.
It was only then that everyone looked curiously towards the Xuan Du Heaven, the Eight Views Palace, which had remained silent, and awaited Laozi's usual stance of non-action!
"This poor Daoist, this poor Daoist... is like the two fellow Daoists of the Western Teachings, neutral, neither radical nor conservative. I only seek for the Human Teachings to be unmolested, and I also hope that Patriarch Dao will return soon."
"Without his guidance, this poor Daoist dares not speak recklessly."
Well then.
Laozi was even more cunning than Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti. In front of trillions of living beings, he actually used Patriarch Hongjun as a shield.
This was as good as saying nothing!
...
As all beings were stunned.
Finally, the two supreme beings hidden behind the two factions, Patriarch Hongjun and the Demon Saint, were forced to speak!