Chapter 68: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
However, Kui Mu Lang fled to Ao Tu’s place and requested protection. Ao Tu took him in and also shouldered the Heavenly Court’s blame for him.
Kui Mu Lang was extremely grateful and thanked Ao Tu repeatedly.
Ao Tu took out two formation diagrams, preparing to deal with Sun Wukong.
One was the Red Sand Formation used before, and the other was the Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation obtained as a reward at White Tiger Ridge.
Ao Tu picked up the Red Sand Formation and said:
“This formation is called the Red Sand Formation. It is one of the formations of the Ten Heavenly Lords of Golden Ao Island from the past. The red sand inside the formation can suppress the physical body, confuse the spirit, and dissipate the soul. With this formation, we can capture that monkey.”
Hearing this, Kui Mu Lang exclaimed in surprise: “Senior, legend has it that this formation has long been lost. How did you obtain it?”
Ao Tu said: “This formation has not been lost; it was hidden in Spirit Mountain, kept by Buddha Ancestor’s disciple Ananda. After I killed Ananda at Yellow Wind Ridge, I fortunately obtained this formation diagram.”
Hearing this, Kui Mu Lang could not help but say: “What a Spirit Mountain!”
Ao Tu said: “What’s wrong?”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Nothing. With this formation, we can definitely capture that monkey.”
Ao Tu nodded and said: “Naturally. However, that monkey previously suffered a loss at my hands, so if he sees this formation again, he will surely be on guard.”
Ao Tu took out the Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation diagram and handed it to Kui Mu Lang, saying:
“You first use this formation as a cover to lure that monkey in, then I will activate the Red Sand Formation to capture him.”
Kui Mu Lang took the formation diagram and at first did not pay it much attention, but when he saw the laws outlined on the formation diagram, he was instantly stunned.
He saw that on the formation diagram, thirty-six stars were drawn, cleverly linked by laws and principles, resonating with the Great Dao. Merely taking it out drew starlight from the heavens.
This starlight was not ordinary starlight, but the power of star rules evolved.
Heaven has sun, moon, and stars. Besides the Sun and Moon, there are Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, the Big Dipper’s seven stars, the Southern Dipper’s six stars, the Western Dipper’s four stars, the Eastern Dipper’s three stars, the Central Dipper’s five stars, as well as the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends’ one hundred and eight stars, the nine luminaries, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Supreme Palace of the Upper Enclosure, the Purple Palace of the Middle Enclosure, and the Heavenly Market Palace of the Lower Enclosure, along with countless stars in the Heavenly Realms.
The stars revolve in the heavenly cycle, which is the eternal Great Dao of heaven. Its power of rules exists formlessly, pervading all realms.
Ao Tu had not comprehended the Star Dao, so even seeing it, he did not feel its power, but Kui Mu Lang, as Kui Star among the Twenty-Eight Mansions, felt it deeply.
“Senior, this! What formation is this!”
Kui Mu Lang’s reaction was even more shocked than when he had heard about the Red Sand Formation, one of the Ten Supreme Formations.
Seeing him lose composure, Ao Tu asked in return: “How is this formation?”
Kui Mu Lang excitedly said: “This formation is truly a creation of the Great Dao, beyond human capability. Its formation aligns with the Star Dao, and it can bypass Heavenly Court authority to directly mobilize the power of thirty-six main stars. It can trap or kill enemies without limit—truly unprecedented!”
Hearing this, Ao Tu was somewhat surprised. He knew little about the path of stars. This formation was a reward obtained by intercepting for half a month; he had thought it was not very strong, but it had such effects.
Ao Tu said: “This formation is called the Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation, also a treasure of Spirit Mountain. I obtained it from Ananda after killing him.”
Kui Mu Lang said:
“Minor Heavenly Cycle Formation! If there is a minor heavenly cycle, there must be a major one!
Indeed, although the formation does not directly depict them, it secretly draws upon the Sun and Moon, as well as the light of the Big Dipper’s six stars and Western Dipper’s four stars.
I see, this formation diagram is incomplete and connects to other formation diagrams. Combined with them, it forms the complete great formation.
Spirit Mountain actually hides such a supreme treasure—truly deeply concealed!”
Ao Tu said: “With this formation, how confident are you against Sun Wukong?”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Replying to Senior, among the thirty-six main stars in this formation, sixteen are under my control as Kui Star. With me presiding, it is even stronger.
If this formation is used, I have nearly ten-tenths confidence to stop that monkey. But using this formation will surely draw starlight, which may alarm the Heavenly Realm.”
Ao Tu said: “No matter. Use the formation freely. If it alarms the Heavenly Realm, I will bear the responsibility alone.”
Kui Mu Lang was overjoyed and said: “Yes!”
The reason Kui Mu Lang was so happy, besides being able to take revenge, was that this formation could draw upon the Star Dao, which was extremely beneficial to his own cultivation—a rare opportunity not to be sought.
At once, Kui Mu Lang took the formation diagram and went out to prepare.
Not long after, when Wukong and the other two brought Princess Bai Hua Xiu to the Imperial Palace, they saw that the previous guards had withdrawn, and only the Yellow Robe Monster stood in front of the hall.
Wukong said: “My son, why not flee for your life? Why stand here courting death again?”
Ba Jie said: “Senior Brother, he is afraid of neglecting you. Seeing you arrive without offering tea, he stretches his neck here to serve as your teapot!”
After saying that, all three laughed.
Wukong said: “In that case, quickly stretch your head over and let me strike it with my staff to open the spout!”
Kui Mu Lang grinned and said: “Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, don’t be arrogant. Earlier, I was caught off guard and defeated by you. Do you dare fight me again?”
Wukong said: “Why not?”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Our battle must not harm bystanders. First let my wife withdraw.”
Wukong said: “You monster, you actually speak of righteousness.” Then he turned to Princess Bai Hua Xiu and said: “Princess, you withdraw first.”
Bai Hua Xiu retreated backward, saying as she went: “Masters, be careful!”
After Princess Bai Hua Xiu had withdrawn, Kui Mu Lang laughed loudly:
“Good, Sun Wukong, you are a true hero! You three come at me together!”
Wukong said: “My son, in just a short while, you’ve raised your own price! Earlier, you couldn’t even handle me alone, and now you boast to fight three?”
Ba Jie said: “Senior Brother, why talk more with this monster? Watch me, old pig, give him a rake first!”
Ba Jie raised his rake and charged.
Kui Mu Lang raised his hand and threw out the formation diagram. In an instant, starlight fell.
Along the way, Wukong had encountered repeated mishaps. Seeing Kui Mu Lang raise his hand, he sensed something wrong and turned to flee, but it was still a step too late. He was trapped in the formation.
In the blink of an eye, the three brothers fell into the starry sky.
Where was there any imperial palace hall?
He saw thirty-six stars surrounding them, seeming illusory and real, far and near. Around them was endless void, boundless and without foundation, no place to land, no base of support.
The three used magic power to hover in the air, not knowing how to escape the formation.
Suddenly, a star in the distance shot out a beam of light.
That light struck at the three. Seeing it, they hurriedly dodged.
Ba Jie to the left, Sha Seng to the right, Wukong upward.
Ba Jie and Sha Seng each flew over a thousand li, Wukong over a hundred thousand li.
However, the next moment, the light struck all three at once. That light weighed as much as a star. Ba Jie and Sha Seng were hit and immediately lost their magic power, falling into the void.
Wukong withstood it forcefully but stumbled, thinking to himself:
“Strange, strange. Old Sun somersaulted ten thousand li, yet how was I still hit by this starlight?”
Wukong looked at that star, about a thousand li away. He used Somersault Cloud to chase it, somersaulted ten times, but it was still a thousand li away.
He used the Golden Cudgel, recited “Grow,” made it reach the heavens, but still could not break the formation.
Those thirty-six stars continuously shot starlight. No matter how he dodged, he could not avoid it. Hit repeatedly on the body, even Wukong began to falter.
Wukong looked at the formation, not knowing how to break it. After thinking for a long time, he suddenly thought of a method.
He stood in place, letting the starlight hit him, pretending to weaken, restrained his aura, and flipped into the boundless void.
Kui Mu Lang did not know it was a ruse. Seeing Wukong fall, he withdrew the formation diagram.
Wukong suddenly felt himself back in place and hurriedly opened his eyes, seeing his body had not moved a step.
Ba Jie and Sha Seng beside him were unconscious. Kui Mu Lang saw Wukong suddenly awaken and knew he had been tricked, so he hurriedly activated the formation diagram again.
Seeing this, Wukong directly somersaulted away on Somersault Cloud, twisting back to Nanzhanbuzhou, Wudang Mountain, Taihe Palace.
