Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Ran Deng Buddha also mastered the power of the domain!

Just like the Cultivation Heavenly Venerable, Ran Deng Buddha managed to grasp the power of the domain prematurely by borrowing the strength of the Sword of Slaying Immortal. Of course, this kind of domain power could not be compared with that of a true Heavenly Dao Saint, but it was still a few notches stronger than the Absolute Sword Domain wielded by the Cultivation Heavenly Venerable.

After all, Ran Deng Buddha was a Half-Step Saint, vastly superior in both talent and cultivation strength compared to the Cultivation Heavenly Venerable.

Once the Slaying Immortal Domain emerged, Sun Wukong immediately felt a tightening sensation on his body, a tremendous pressure bearing down on him from all sides. This was the unique suppressing force of the domain. However, Sun Wukong had already encountered this in the Absolute Sword Domain of the Cultivation Heavenly Venerable and knew how to counteract it.

The Chaos Primordial Force within his body circulated, forming a protective shield on the surface of his body, immediately neutralizing the suppressive force.

"Hmm!"

On the surface, Sun Wukong still pretended to be oppressed, letting out a stifled grunt and swaying as if about to fall.

"Hahaha! Demon Monkey, do you now realize how formidable I am?"

Ran Deng Buddha laughed triumphantly, declaring all beneath Saints as mere ants. This was because Saints possessed domain power, which could suppress the strength of any enemy within it, making them unable to exert even two-tenths of their power. With this advantage, no matter how numerous the enemies, they would be as ineffectual as a mantis trying to shake a tree.

Indeed, Ran Deng Buddha hadn't reached the Heavenly Dao Saint realm and was only a Half-Step Saint, but with the Sword of Slaying Immortal's Heavenly Dao Killing Intent as a foundation, he could wield the power of the domain prematurely. Although it was much weaker than a Saint's domain power, it was already sufficient to deal with an enemy like Sun Wukong who lacked domain power!

Seeing Sun Wukong's current weakened state, what chance did he stand against him?

"Ants will always be ants, delusional about shaking the vast sky, it's utterly absurd!"

With a cruel, triumphant sneer on his face, Ran Deng Buddha swung the Sword of Annihilation towards Sun Wukong. An immense sword light streaked across the domain, reaching Sun Wukong in an instant. To Ran Deng Buddha, Sun Wukong, suppressed by the domain power, had greatly diminished speed and strength, and simply couldn't dodge this sword. He was bound to be cleaved in two!

Whoosh!

Just as the sword light was about to strike him, the panic on Sun Wukong's face suddenly vanished, replaced by a sly smile. His figure flashed, narrowly evading the sword light, and with the Shrinking Earth into Inches technique, he appeared behind Ran Deng Buddha.

He swung the Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod, heavily infused with robust Chaos Primordial Force, smacking Ran Deng Buddha's lower back with such force that he was sent flying like a ball, heading straight toward the direction of his clones.

"Ah~!"

A cry of agony rose from the mouth of Ran Deng Buddha. The Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod was unlike the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod; both in grade and destructive power, it was significantly greater. The Sword Armor on Ran Deng Buddha's body could negate eighty percent of the force from the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod's impact, but it could only counteract forty percent against the Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod.

A full sixty percent of the destructive force solidly slammed into the major acupoint on Ran Deng Buddha's lower back, nearly causing him to spew blood. Had he not activated the Slaying Immortal Domain, bolstering himself with the added strength of the domain power, that blow would have been enough to inflict a serious injury!

"It's not over yet!"

With a cold laugh, Sun Wukong's clone was already prepared, hoisting the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod high. In the next moment, a sky-full of rod shadows accompanied by a thunderous shout pummelled Ran Deng Buddha's body.

"Heaven-Breaking Thirty-Six Sticks!"

The booming sound, along with dazzling light, completely engulfed Ran Deng Buddha's figure, causing the entire Slaying Immortal Domain to quake.

The suddenly overturned situation made the Six-Eared Macaque and the others outside the domain gasp in shock, their mouths agape, exchanging puzzled looks. When Ran Deng Buddha released the Slaying Immortal Domain, they all thought Sun Wukong was in trouble. To their surprise, the unfortunate one was not Sun Wukong but Ran Deng Buddha, who had unleashed the Slaying Immortal Domain!

Such an unexpected turn of events was utterly inconceivable!

"Brother Monkey seems unaffected by the domain power, how can this be?"

Luo Bai's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open in disbelief as he swallowed hard and muttered.

"I don't know!"

Nezha, Bull Demon King, and others shook their heads in unison. They had never encountered a Heavenly Dao Saint realm powerhouse, and they were far too distant from that realm. The Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm was only the beginning of understanding the most fundamental Great Dao Laws and forming one's unique path. Domain was something only a Heavenly Dao Saint possessed.

Even a Half-Step Saint, without special conditions like Ran Deng Buddha's possession of the Sword of Slaying Immortal, could not master the domain or even a Domain Embryo or False Domain.

Luo Bai knew the power of the domain from the Leader of Tongtian, while Nezha, having restored his Spirit Pearl Primordial Body, regained the memories from his time as the Spirit Pearl. He had felt the power of the domain from Goddess Nuwa and remembered vividly the supreme control it exerted.

In the minds of Luo Bai and Nezha, no one could resist the suppression of domain power, unless they too held domain power to remain unaffected. It was quite evident that Sun Wukong did not possess domain power, so how was he immune to its suppressive effects?

It was perplexing, truly perplexing!

Those feeling shock and disbelief were not limited to Luo Bai and his companions. Ran Deng Buddha was even more astonished, for he was experiencing it personally. Sun Wukong's strength had not decreased at all; in other words, he was not suppressed by his Slaying Immortal Domain, not even in the slightest, which left Ran Deng wondering what was happening.

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"Yah~ha!"

Summoning Buddha Primordial Force and suddenly shaking the Domain Power, Ran Deng Buddha managed to block the barrage of stick shadows that continued to pound towards him. As the dust settled, his figure appeared at the center of the explosion. His sword armor was battered and torn asunder, and his Buddha's Robe was tattered and worn.

Sun Wukong's and his clone's recent attacks had taken effect, causing him damage. Although not severe, it was enough to fill him with indignant rage.

This was within the Slaying Immortal Domain he controlled, after deploying the Domain Power, it was supposed to be Sun Wukong who could not fight back. Yet, it was he who had been pummeled by the opponent, even sustaining injuries!

Unforgivable, this was absolutely unforgivable!

"Ran Deng baldy, you sure are tough-skinned. You take a beating even better than the Black Tortoise Clan!"

Sun Wukong's mocking voice rang out, which was like a hard slap across Ran Deng Buddha's cheek, leaving his face burning with the sting of humiliation. It was embarrassingly shameful!

"Sun! Wu! Kong!"

Ran Deng Buddha enunciated each syllable of Sun Wukong's name, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, he forcibly swallowed his raging anger. At his level of cultivation, he had long passed the stage of being blinded by rage. The more furious he became, the more he needed to maintain his composure.

Otherwise, he would continuously hand over opportunities to the enemy—Ran Deng Buddha was very clear about this.

"How exactly did you do it?"

Ran Deng Buddha's voice had regained its composure, and his question betrayed no hint of emotional fluctuation, as if it were a most mundane inquiry. However, Sun Wukong frowned slightly upon hearing it.

This cunning bald thief, Ran Deng, has such profound spiritual cultivation that he could quickly regain control of his emotions and cool down. This guy was definitely a formidable foe!

"What 'how did you do it'? I, Old Sun, don't understand what you're talking about! Ran Deng baldy, are you still going to fight or not?"

Sun Wukong, of course, knew what Ran Deng Buddha was asking about, but he wasn't about to reveal such crucial secrets as Chaos Primordial Force resisting Domain Power pressure. He shrugged nonchalantly, an impatient look on his face while he twirled the Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod in his hand. The clone also snorted coldly, casting a disdainful gaze at Ran Deng Buddha.

"Do you really not understand what I'm asking?"

Ran Deng Buddha chuckled lightly, "That's true, after all, you are the first one I've encountered who is not suppressed by the Domain Power. How could such a heaven-defying ability be easily disclosed? I was presumptuous!"

"You know, yet you still ask? Is there something wrong with your bald head?"

Sun Wukong was unsparing with his words. Inwardly, however, he was fully prepared. Ran Deng Buddha's behavior was far more terrifying than an outburst of rage. The impending attack would undoubtedly be earth-shattering, and he couldn't be careless!

"Heh heh, how interesting! Very interesting indeed!"

Ran Deng Buddha's lips curved into a profound smile, and his aura surged explosively, "Since you refuse to tell, then I have no choice but to completely subdue you and then slowly extort the information!"

"Take this, Sword Palm!"

With a thunderous shout, the Sword of Slaying Immortal floated up in Ran Deng Buddha's hand, torrents of Sword Qi surging from it, converging towards his palm. The Sword Qi coalesced into a massive hand outside his palm, and in the next moment, it savagely struck out at Sun Wukong. It was aimed directly at Sun Wukong himself, not bothering with his clone.

Ran Deng Buddha was clear in his mind that although Sun Wukong's clone was nearly as strong as his real body, it was summoned through Cloning Divine Powers. Annihilating it would only inflict some minor strain on Sun Wukong's energy. To capture the ringleader first, once he dealt with Sun Wukong's true self, the clone would naturally collapse.

"Well done! Watch how Old Sun breaks your thieving hand!"

"Heaven-Breaking Thirty-Six Sticks!"

Where the Sword Palm passed, space itself was shattered, revealing dark spatial rifts. A flash of gold sparked in Sun Wukong's eyes as he fully activated the Void-Breaking Divine Eye to its third level—the stage of the Void-Breaking Heavy Pupils. He could see how formidable Ran Deng Buddha's move was and dared not take it lightly.

Channeling the Chaos Primordial Force into the Ruyi Golden-Hooped Rod, he bellowed as he unleashed the Heaven-Breaking Thirty-Six Sticks.

Simultaneously, the clone charged at Ran Deng Buddha, his body ablaze with golden light and the Ruyi Silver-Hooped Rod shining with a brilliance even more dazzling than before.

"Heaven-Breaking, Eighteen Rods!"

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