Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Never did I expect the nightmare to become reality today—the one who should have perished in the Forest of Death has miraculously come back to life, and, out of nowhere, gathered an army to launch an attack on me.

"But this is good, just perfect for me to wipe them all out at once, so I won't have to worry about sleeping peacefully ever again," after a while, a smirk actually appeared on Joy's face as he muttered to himself.

Because he suddenly realized that he was no longer the same man. Not only did he hold absolute power within his domain, but, most importantly, the God of Forest was now under the Demon's control. Those fools from the Arthur Family, making enemies with the Divine Spirit, truly had no idea how to spell 'death'.

With this thought, the fear and unrest that had been at the bottom of his heart instantly vanished. He gently opened the door and, looking at his subordinates outside with faces still showing their fright, he said with disdain, "What's the panic? A man who we chase like a homeless dog has frightened you to this state? It's shameful! Gather the army quickly and surround Arthur—missing such a good opportunity will mean we'll never sleep peacefully again."

The man outside the door hadn't expected Joy to be so calm and composed, as if everything was under control. This was the first time he'd seen Joy like this, and it gave him an unreal feeling.

However, Joy's composure also gave him courage. Knowing his own actions, if Arthur succeeded, he would certainly not be allowed to live. So, just as Joy had just said, this was a prime chance to catch them all in one net. If successful, he could sleep without worries in the future.

Pumped up, he left Joy's room and began to arrange the army to surround and kill Arthur.

Meanwhile, Joy watched his retreating figure with a hint of a smile on his face. Backed by the Divine Spirit, he now felt invincible. So, he opened a bottle of fine wine, filled his glass, and sat quietly by the window, gazing at the moon outside. He could hardly wait to see the look of fear on Arthur's face.

In this short time, Arthur, leading his men, was advancing forcefully, almost reaching the center of the territory—where the castle of the Arthur Family was located.

At this moment, Arthur was flooded with emotions. This place was his home, his root. He had thought he would never be able to return to this place of his dreams again. Every plant and rock here was so familiar to him.

Looking at the familiar sights, Arthur felt a flood of emotions. He had finally returned. Everything he had lost, he was going to take back with his own hands.

"Joy, wait for me, I will be coming for you soon," Arthur muttered as he looked at the towering castle not far away.

The image of Joy's unstable and sullen face flashed through his mind—how could such a person have snatched the territory from him? Only after acquiring the Treasured Sword and gaining more insight had he gradually understood that Joy was the legendary Devil's Contractor.

Today, he too had obtained miraculous powers, and Arthur hoped to wash away past humiliations and take back the land that belonged to him.

Joy stood atop the castle, quietly watching Arthur's approaching forces, a cold smirk on his face, thinking to himself, "Poor fellow, you have no idea what you're about to face. The Divine Spirit's wrath is not so easily borne."

Thinking of how soon Arthur would be engulfed by the God of Forest's wrath, Joy's heart heated up with excitement. He was eager to witness the scene; the very thought made him shiver with anticipation.

"Are you there?" Joy spoke softly.

Suddenly, a pitch-black figure emerged from his shadow. This was a fragment of the Demon, secreted in Joy's shadow all along, both acting as his bodyguard and serving as the liaison between him and the Demon now in control of the God of Forest.

At the same time, the Demon, still in the divine kingdom, absorbed in digesting Divine Power, opened its eyes. Overcoming the barrier of space, watching through its fragment by Joy's side, it saw everything that was unfolding.

For just a moment, his gaze was attracted to the Sword in the Stone held by Arthur. Even though he did not recognize the power within the sword, his intuition told him that this weapon was closely tied to the fate of this world.

With a low voice, the Demon emitted a proud smile, "Haha, my long investment has not been in vain; I have finally seen the key to destiny spoken of by the great ruler. With it in hand, I can summon the coming of my lord."

The reason he chose Joy as his Contractor was that he saw the ties of destiny within him. Now, his efforts were about to bear fruit, and he could no longer hold back his triumphant laughter.

The sound spread throughout the divine kingdom, shaking the entire land, stirring up jubilation as they cheered for their great Divine Spirit. Countless wronged souls rose from the earth of the divine kingdom, emitting terrifying laughter, making the entire place seem like a realm of ghosts and demons. Yet from the outside, it still appeared lush and unchanged as if nothing had ever happened.

"I want that sword!" whispered the Demon in Joy's ear.

Joy had never found this grating voice so pleasant; it instantly comforted him. Compelled by the Demon's words, his gaze, too, turned towards the radiant Treasured Sword in Arthur's hands.

With just one look, he fell in love with the Treasured Sword, feeling that none of the weapons he had collected over time could compare.

Moreover, the dazzling glow of the Treasured Sword made Arthur appear as if a Divine Spirit descended, tremendously heroic.

Jealousy, like a Poison Snake, incessantly gnawed at Joy's heart. At that moment, he was furiously enraged, wanting to tear Arthur to pieces. Why did all the good things belong to him, the lands were his, and even such a formidable Treasured Sword was his?

Staring resentfully at Arthur charging toward the castle, Joy wished he could dismember his opponent. There will always be inexplicably fortunate people in this world, blaming their unhappiness on others without looking for causes within themselves.

At that moment, Arthur seemed to sense Joy's gaze and suddenly raised his head, looking towards the top of the castle, to the window that once belonged to his room, now occupied by that bastard, Joy.

With his body strengthened by the Sword in the Stone, he could see through the darkness and space, catching sight of Joy's resentful expression. A mocking smile curled at the corner of Arthur's mouth. This man would eventually fall by his hand; no one could stop it.

As a result, the Defending Army discovered that Arthur became even stronger, and the soldiers following him, inspired by his valor, fought with twice their usual ferocity. Before long, the Defending Army realized they were like lambs before a fierce lion charging in, their courage faltering.

And many remembered the past of the Arthur Family. In an instant, their fighting spirit evaporated, except for the former Captain of the Guard who, madly, led his men into fierce combat. He had no way out. Only by killing Arthur could he survive.

Seeing this, Arthur bellowed, "Well met!" and drew his sword to join the fight.

Arthur had no intention of sparing this Captain of the Guard who had betrayed him. His family had been exceedingly kind to this man, and yet, he proved to have the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog. Because of a few reprimands, he had betrayed Arthur. Without his help, Joy's dreams of seizing the land would have been fanciful delusions.

Arthur leaped high, the Sword in the Stone shining brilliantly. In that moment, he seemed like a Celestial God descending, powerful energy enveloping his body, his overwhelming aura instantly weighing upon the Captain of the Guard.

The Captain of the Guard suddenly felt as if a mountain bore down upon his shoulders. He struggled to look up at Arthur, who seemed a Celestial God among mortals, and a sense of fear arose within him. This Arthur seemed invincible, as if he had transcended mortal boundaries, stepping into a new realm.