To break the Pilgrim's Curse that seals Sun Wukong in this place, three conditions must be met:
One must possess Dragon-Serpent Blood or manifest Dragon-Serpent Divinity. One must wield a Treasure Blade imbued with the power to weaken Shiki. A miko with Calamity Exorcism abilities must wield the Treasure Blade and use her Spiritual Power to open the seal.
The Monkey God-Lord, a member of the Steel Faction, was a deity born from the conquest of the Dragon Serpent Star. Therefore, Dragon-Serpent Blood and divine power would agitate him, acting as a potent poison that stirred his savage nature. The miko could then open the seal.
However... since Luo Hao and Phoenix had already discussed how to deal with this monkey, they naturally came prepared.
Luo Hao had long desired to slay the Heretic Sun Wukong. Even though he wasn't the true Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he was still one of the most formidable Heretic Gods.
In fact, if he tried to escape with the help of the old monsters from Yōsei, Luo Hao might not have been able to stop him alone.
But things were different now. Luo Hao was no longer alone; she had a master even more powerful than herself.
Even if someone interfered, they could surely subdue this monkey and perhaps even slay Susanoo if he dared to show his face.
Luo Hao had long been prepared with Dragon-Serpent Blood. She also possessed no shortage of Treasure Blades capable of weakening the Shiki, befitting her status as the reigning monarch of all China.
As for a miko with Calamity Exorcism abilities, the Little Daoist Nun by Luo Hao's side already possessed such powers.
Miko, Witch, and Taoist nun—these were merely different cultural terms for essentially the same type of practitioner.
"Let's go! It's time to break the Monkey's seal."
The four of them arrived directly before the Western Heaven Palace, gazing at the towering structure. It was more than just a palace; it was a massive Curse Technique infused with the power of the Yōsei.
"Ziran!" Luo Hao turned to the Little Daoist Nun beside her, and a great blade stained with Dragon-Serpent Blood materialized in her hand.
Even from a distance, the blade exuded a nauseating stench of blood and a terrifying malevolent aura. Strangely, the blood on the blade appeared almost alive, indistinguishable from fresh blood.
This was a Demon Blade forged in ancient China, responsible for countless deaths—even among its own masters. Unlike the so-called "demon blades" of Japan, which might claim a few dozen lives, this military blade had slaughtered at least hundreds of thousands over the centuries.
Imbued with an endless malevolent aura, the blade could weaken most Shiki simply through its sheer presence.
Decades ago, Luo Hao unexpectedly acquired this blade. Though not particularly fond of swords, she had wielded it to slay several Heretic Gods with Dragon-Serpent attributes, employing her sorcery to preserve the vitality of their Dragon-Serpent Blood and maintain the blade's boundless malevolent aura.
"Cult Leader!"
The Little Daoist Nun lowered her head upon hearing Luo Hao's voice.
"Take this blade and do as I've taught you," Luo Hao said, handing the bloodstained Demon Blade, dripping with malevolent energy, to the young girl before her.
"Yes, Cult Leader..."
Terrified by the blade's demonic aura and bloodstained appearance, the young girl dared not refuse Luo Hao's command. She forced herself to grasp the hilt.
The moment she held the blade, the girl felt as if she were gripping a raging beast, certain it would turn on her in an instant.
"Go now. We'll be right behind you," Phoenix reassured the trembling girl from beside Luo Hao.
"Thank you, King..."
The young girl forced a weak smile and turned toward the Western Heaven Palace, clutching the Demon Blade.
At that moment, the clergy of the Western Heaven Palace seemed to have noticed Luo Hao, Phoenix, and the others. They were about to approach and drive them away, but before they could move, the entire mountain began to shake violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
"Cut it off! The shackles of Pi Mawen! Reveal the divine sovereign who shakes the four seas! Your true name is—Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
The young girl gripped the Demon Blade and slashed downward through the air.
Within the Western Heaven Palace, an invisible Curse Technique—the very seal binding Sun Wukong—was cleaved in two. The seal... had been broken.
In the Inner Courtyard, the golden-furred monkey, who had been enjoying fruit, suddenly dropped his treat, clutched his head, and tumbled from the tree, writhing on the ground in agony.
Suddenly, as if recalling his true identity, the monkey realized: Pi Mawen?
No! I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!
Remembering all he had endured while sealed away, an unprecedented fury flooded his mind. The Golden Hoop Curse had already driven him to the brink of slaughtering his way to the Western Heaven.
Now, he was subjected to something even crueler than the Golden Hoop Curse, reduced to a mere tool to be unleashed when needed and sealed away as an ornamental monkey when his purpose was served.
At this realization, a violent aura erupted from the Monkey's body, its shockwave instantly leveling the entire Western Heaven Palace. The palace's divine staff had no time to react before being brutally slain by the debris-laden shockwave.
Phoenix and Luo Hao stood outside the Shrine, allowing the raging wind to wash over them.
In an instant, the Monkey, previously less than a meter tall, vanished.
In its place stood a creature with round eyes, pricked ears, a hairy face, a thunder god's mouth, a gaunt visage, a pointed snout, and a body like a pinecone-eating macaque. Though vaguely humanoid, he lacked human cheeks altogether.
Golden-Eyed Fire-Gazer, clad in a brocade robe and a tiger-skin skirt cinched at his waist, stood before them in deerskin boots. His hairy face featured a thunder god's beak-like mouth, his jutting cheeks resembled Saturn's rings, his ears were pricked high, and his forehead was broad and prominent. Two fearsome tusks jutted outward from his jaw.
Unlike the heroic Sun Wukong portrayed in films and television, the monkey before them was as hideously ugly as described in the original Journey to the West novel.
"Aaaah! Slayer of Luo, I, Old Sun, thank you for releasing me! I'll send you straight to the Western Heaven Palace to meet Tathagata Buddha!"
"Eat my cudgel, you punks!"
The moment Sun Wukong was freed, he didn't transform into the noble hero depicted in popular media—those were mere embellishments. This was a Demon Lord, an unbridled force of chaos. After all, this was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, not the Victorious Fighting Buddha!
Especially after being sealed with the Pilgrim's Curse, Sun Wukong had become a world-destroying Demon Lord incarnate.
He showed no gratitude to Luo Hao and Phoenix for his freedom. Instead, he hefted his Golden Cudgel and swung it down with devastating force, a harbinger of destruction.