Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

In ancient times, it was said that the ten Golden Crows wreaked havoc in the mortal world. Great Witch Hou Yi, infuriated, gathered the essence of all the iron under heaven into one furnace. Along with the Heaven-Mending Stone used by Nuwa for mending the sky, he forged the Sun-shooting Bow over forty-nine days. The bow, possessing no arrows, would draw upon the essence qi of its wielder when drawn and gather the spiritual energy of nature to form an arrow, possessing unmatched power.

It was with this Sun-shooting Bow that Hou Yi displayed supreme archery skills, shooting down nine of the ravaging Golden Crows, leaving only one that escaped back into the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court in the Primeval era, later known as Lord Lu Ya.

Hou Yi's actions incensed the Demon Gods of the Ancient Demon Clan's Heavenly Court, leading to an assault by numerous Demon Gods. A massive battle ensued, darkening the skies and the earth until finally, Hou Yi was slain by the collective force of the Demon Gods. His body was completely obliterated, but several Demon Gods were also slain by the Sun-shooting Bow and were buried alongside him in the divine and demonic graveyard, which is likely this valley we see now.

During the day, only the spirits of the nine Golden Crows and one portion of Hou Yi's soul manifest, repeating the archery scene of old with their undying resentment. At night, however, all remnants of the Demon Gods' souls revive, wreaking havoc across the valley among which are also parts of Hou Yi's soul.

Different from the daytime, the manifestation of Hou Yi's soul at night appeared even more valiant, but lacked that invincible aura. Driven by the spirits of the nine Golden Crows, the ferocious souls of the Demon Gods violently attacked Hou Yi.

Each time Hou Yi drew the Sun-shooting Bow, an arrow would fly out, piercing through a Demon God, scattering its soul, but more attacks were simultaneously hurled at Hou Yi. The power emanating from the Sun-shooting Bow couldn't fend off so many assaulting Demon Gods' souls, and soon they breached the protective shield and struck fiercely at Hou Yi's soul.

A hero's end, heavens drenched in blood!

This was the scene Sun Wukong and Jiang Liu'er witnessed, making them infuriated. To see so many gang up against a single Hou Yi, Sun Wukong found it utterly despicable!

He always tended to favor his clan over justice, but even this allegiance had its limits. Though those Demon Gods were from the same Demon Clan as he, Sun Wukong's regard for Hou Yi was much higher than that for them.

"Jiang Liu'er, keep pushing the Immeasurable Merit Determination to its limit. Draw Hou Yi's soul over here!"

With a roar toward Jiang Liu'er, Sun Wukong leapt into the air, charging towards Hou Yi and the crowd of Demon Gods' souls. Wielding his Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod, he struck at them: "Despicable scoundrels, all of you get away from my Grandson!"

Amid swinging rods and enveloping Chaos Fire, each Demon God spirit was forced back, emitting piercing screams and roars of rage.

"Ho! You are also from the Demon Clan, why do you side with this Hou Yi?"

Among the ferocious souls of the Demon Gods, a few retained some level of divine consciousness and shouted at Sun Wukong.

"I am from the Demon Clan, but not from your disgraceful kind! The sight of so many ganging up on one person shames me on your behalf!"

With a look of disdain, Sun Wukong viewed these ferocious souls of the Demon Gods. His strokes were relentless, scattering many with each swing. These were merely the indelible obsessions of the Demon Gods' remnants, forming ferocious spirits. Destroying them didn't significantly impact their remaining souls, and even if it did, Sun Wukong wouldn't show any mercy at this point!

These Demon Gods might have been fearsomely powerful and majestic in ancient times, but now only a whiff of their souls remained. Even though their vengeful spirits were undying and converged into ferocious souls, how much combat power could they possibly have? Sun Wukong quickly annihilated them completely.

"Who are you, and why do you help me?"

Hou Yi's soul looked at Sun Wukong, a thread of puzzled Divine Sense echoed in Sun Wukong's mind.

This was Hou Yi's fragmented soul, formed by the condensation of his second soul and five spirits. Although the Divine Sense was not complete, Hou Yi had been a Great Witch of the Quasi-Saint Realm in his lifetime. Even though he only had his second soul and five spirits left within this tomb of gods and demons, he still retained a considerable degree of Divine Consciousness. He could tell that Sun Wukong was helping him.

"Not only do I want to help you, but I also want to save you!"

Sun Wukong extended his hand towards Jiang Liu'er, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, "Do you see?"

"That is…"

Hou Yi's fragmented soul looked toward Jiang Liu'er, his pupils suddenly constricted. Jiang Liu'er's body was radiating dazzling Merit Golden Light, but this was not what primarily drew Hou Yi's fragmented soul's attention. Most of his focus was on the fragmented soul in front of Jiang Liu'er, which was formed from his first soul and two spirits.

Hou Yi's fragmented soul was very clear that his first soul and two spirits had been separated from his second soul and five spirits by the forces of this tomb of gods and demons for countless years—a manifestation in the day and the other one at night, with no chance to meet and merge. Yet Jiang Liu'er could withstand the Great Dao Law Power of the tomb of gods and demons and gather his first soul and two spirits, maintaining them till night.

"That is Jiang Liu'er. He is a man of ten lifetimes of righteousness, cultivating the Immeasurable Merit Determination. The Merit Golden Light can help you gather your soul and spirits."

Sun Wukong said, "Time is urgent, hurry up and merge with your first soul and two spirits. From now on, nurture within Jiang Liu'er's body, and we'll talk about your revival later!"

Hou Yi's fragmented soul wasted no time. He immediately flew towards the fragmented soul formed by his first soul and two spirits, merging into one. Jiang Liu'er also opened up his mud Palace bead to absorb Hou Yi's soul into it.

"Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms!"

Things were not finished yet. Sun Wukong evolved the Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms. Strands of the Power of Reincarnation condensed and spread outwards, gathering the scattered souls and vindictive spirits of the various demon gods, pulling them toward the Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms. Points of Merit and Destiny light surged from the Six Paths of Reincarnation Realms, converging towards Sun Wukong, whose Great Dao of Reincarnation materialized behind him, solidifying into reality under the influence of the Merit and Destiny light.

Even the night could not hide the bright light of Sun Wukong's Great Dao of Reincarnation. The terrifying aura enveloping the entire valley was suppressed by this Great Dao of Reincarnation. Sun Wukong's momentum suddenly soared to the peak of a Half-Step Saint and continued rising as he was about to break through to the Heavenly Dao Saint Realm.

"Whew~!"

Suddenly, just as Sun Wukong's rising momentum was about to continue, it stopped. He ceased his breach toward the Heavenly Dao Saint Realm, stopping abruptly.

"Jiang Liu'er, take a rest. Tomorrow, we leave!"

Landing beside Jiang Liu'er, Sun Wukong gently patted the dazed Jiang Liu'er's shoulder.