The White Robed Venerate, who was controlling the monk's body, continued to extend an invitation to the little Phoenix.

However, as the saying goes, "when words get sour, adding more would only make it worse," and the little Phoenix had no wish to engage in further conversation with the White Robed Venerate.

"Once I inform the Heavenly Empress and we catch you, we can chat at leisure."

As soon as the little Phoenix said this, she intended to leave.

"Freeze."

With a casual wave of his hand, the White Robed Venerate froze the entire Daoist Temple in time.

The little Phoenix felt she could no longer leave.

"What Spell did you use?"

She never expected that anyone could actually freeze her in place.

"Though you represent the Heavenly Dao, you have an Immortal Soul, and you cannot escape my immobilizing technique," answered the White Robed Venerate.

In the entire Chaos, aside from that Venerable, no one had ever broken free from his immobilizing technique.

The little Phoenix was shocked: "Who exactly are you?"

As she inquired, she sought a method of escape.

The White Robed Venerate did not answer but turned to look at Qing Yuanzi: "Your power can help me create the Heavenly Emperor."

Although Qing Yuanzi didn't fully understand what was happening, he knew clearly who was friend and foe, and immediately chose to run.

"Freeze."

The White Robed Venerate froze Qing Yuanzi as well.

"Since you're unwilling, you'll serve as my fuse," said the White Robed Venerate. And with some unknown Spell, Qing Yuanzi suddenly found his body disobeying his commands, standing in front of the Wanling Tree.

"This Heavenly Dao is mysterious and unfathomable, capable of gathering incense and prayers from all over."

The White Robed Venerate remarked: "Yet you have not made use of this feature."

"The Heavenly Dao has its own laws."

The little Phoenix seemed to understand something: "If you use it to gather incense, it will backfire on you!"

"So what is there to fear?"

The White Robed Venerate extended his hand and began to chant a Spell.

Beneath the Wanling Tree, strands of red flames emerged from the ground, entwining around Qing Yuanzi, frightening him out of his wits.

Fortunately, the flames had risen only briefly before they were extinguished.

"Hm?"

The White Robed Venerate quickly realized: "Not enough Spiritual Energy."

This Daoist Temple could not support the incense and prayers of the entire Three Realms.

The White Robed Venerate took Qing Yuanzi and left the Daoist Temple.

He stepped into the void, heading to where the Spiritual Energy was richest—the Heavenly Palace.

After emerging from the void, the White Robed Venerate stood in front of a palace.

"Virtue Palace."

He instantaneously surmised the history of the palace upon seeing its name.

"The strongest Wanling Tree is inside."

The White Robed Venerate walked into Virtue Palace, freezing everyone he encountered along the way.

Inside Virtue Palace, Master Puti was out on an errand, leaving Lady Rakshasa in charge.

"Who are you?"

Lady Rakshasa warily watched the White Robed Venerate.

The White Robed Venerate, wearing a golden Kasaya, looked very much the accomplished monk.

"I need to borrow the Wanling Tree for a moment,"

said the White Robed Venerate: "Fairy, take a rest. When you wake up, the Heavenly Emperor will be here."

Lady Rakshasa was taken aback and before she could react, she was frozen in place.

Qing Yuanzi, fully conscious, saw this scene, and was anxious to stop it, but found himself paralyzed.

The White Robed Venerate walked up to the Wanling Tree and suddenly came to a halt.

"Open!"

He spread his palms and drew across the void; the world buzzed in response as an invisible Barrier shattered and disappeared.

"Who are you?"

After the Barrier shattered, a silhouette emerged.

It was a woman, radiating Immortal Light, exquisite in appearance, dreamy and illusory.

"The Heavenly Empress?"

The White Robed Venerate was somewhat surprised; to encounter the incarnation of the Heavenly Empress here was unexpected.

"You've imprisoned the Heavenly Dao?"

Ao Luan inquired.

The White Robed Venerate was more astonished; he had barely imprisoned the Heavenly Dao and yet the Heavenly Empress had discovered it—she was truly no ordinary being.

"Indeed."

He nodded in acknowledgment.

"It's good that you admit it."

Ao Luan reached out with a large hand, creating a silver vortex in mid-air that whipped up a ferocious wind, swallowing everything in its path, attempting to engulf the White Robed Venerate.

"This wind is strange."

The White Robed Venerate's body lit up, enveloped entirely in Buddha Light.

Ripples of Buddha Light spread out, calming the wild wind.

"What?"

Ao Luan sounded surprised, uttering a light reprimand.

"Clang!"

The clear ring of a sword echoed through the air.

Intertwined with Immortal Light, a silver-white sword shadow burst from the void, cleaving towards the White Robed Venerate.

"Dang!"

The White Robed Venerate blocked with his hand, then exclaimed in astonishment.

The strike was not from a sword, but rather from a crescent-shaped Immortal Artifact.

"Why didn't I foresee this?"

The White Robed Venerate was puzzled.

The affairs of the Three Realms should all be within his calculations, yet this Moon Wheel was unforeseen.

"Whose Immortal Artifact did you receive?"

After repelling the Moon Wheel, the White Robed Venerate asked.

"How could this be."

Ao Luan, however, grew more somber.

Her Moon Wheel was personally forged by Sun Wukong. What she originally thought was just an ordinary Immortal Artifact was later discovered to be beyond the Five Elements, transcending the Three Realms in its immense and unrivaled power.

For more than a decade, her Moon Wheel had never failed. Yet this time, it could not breach a mere physical defense.

Who exactly was this person?

"Return."

Ao Luan commanded again, and the Moon Wheel pierced through the void, vanishing from sight.

Her embodiment vanished as well.

The White Robed Venerate calculated with his fingers and discovered that the Immortals from all Thirty-Three Layered Heavens were converging upon the Virtue Palace.

"The Heavenly Empress is a talent worth utilizing."

He thought to himself.

Ao Luan reacted swiftly. In less than a third of an incense stick's time, the Immortals could completely surround the Virtue Palace.

What can be done in a third of an incense stick?

For ordinary people, nothing.

But for the White Robed Venerate, it was enough.

He had Qing Yuanzi stand under the Wanling Tree and recite a Spell; red flames rose from the ground, intensely radiant, entwining Qing Yuanzi, incredibly splendid.

As the source of the rumors, Qing Yuanzi could act as a wick to attract faith and belief.

But he couldn't become those flames of faith.

The White Robed Venerate eked out a drop of Essence Blood from the palm of his hand, floating in mid-air, absorbing the essence of the Wanling Tree, pulsing like a heart.

"Go forth!"

He unfolded the Buddha Seal, guiding the faith from Qing Yuanzi, wrapping it around the Essence Blood.

The Essence Blood ignited into intense flames, which spread upward along the entire Wanling Tree, emitting strong waves of Immortal Energy; the Virtue Palace shook violently.

Before long, a figure took form within the Wanling Tree.

As he suddenly opened his eyes, they emitted red flames, like a War God, his potent Heavenly Dao pressure almost suffocating.

"Who are you?"

The White Robed Venerate inquired.

"Sun Wukong."

The person answered.

The White Robed Venerate then revealed a smile.

This person's thoughts and soul were no different from those of Sun Wukong.

The White Robed Venerate was very satisfied with his own creation.

The Sun Wukong seen by the world was just like this.

He was the embodiment of the people's faith, formed from their incense offerings, the very same Sun Wukong who pushed away the Buddha Beads and then fell.

As long as the real Sun Wukong doesn't return—everything he possessed in this world would be taken by this person.

Including the Heavenly Dao itself, all would be devoured by him.

"Heavenly Emperor, there are Immortals coming to greet you."

The White Robed Venerate said to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong nodded, then stepped out from the Wanling Tree.

"Perishing along with those Buddha Beads seems to have weakened my power."

He looked at his own hands and frowned slightly: "How long have I slept?"

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