He moved! The Great Sage moved! called out a Beast Region expert. When they saw the Great Sage remove the staff from his throat and attack, their faces lit up with delight.

I knew it! The Great Sage wields the Fiery Eyes of Truth. He can see through all things; how could he possibly be tricked by a mere mirage formation?

Man, we all worried for nothing.

The Great Sage really lives up to his reputation.

The instant the Great Sage moved, they all lit up, shouting his praises and teasing each other. They seemed utterly relaxed.

However, the demons and zombies werent in such high spirits..

Jiangchen and Hanba knit their brows. He broke the mirage formation?

On the demons side, Black Dragon asked the same question.

Great Sage Sun possesses the Fiery Eyes of Truth, explained Su Yiyun. A mirage formation is no real threat to him. Furthermore, its just a formation I placed casually. My goal was to save Hanba, not to kill him. Its only logical that hed escape the formation.

For some reason, Su Yiyun seemed utterly relaxed. He narrowed his eyes, then turned to Black Dragon and said, lets go rout the enemy, then. I dont know how that monkey suddenly became so strong. Even so, although my mirage formation didnt kill him, he ought to be completely spent. Theres no way hes as strong as before.

Understood. Black Dragon nodded and left. Shortly after, an unseen smile tugged at Su Yiyuns lips.

Break for me!

The Great Sage was bathed in golden light as he viciously swung his staff at that distant figure.

His Fiery Eyes of Truth were no mere rumor. Everyone on the outside thought hed used them to escape the formation.

No one else knew that, in truth, he hadnt activated the Fiery Eyes of Truth at all.

The Fiery Eyes of Truth could break countless barriers. However, the instant he activated them, the illusions vanished without a trace. He ached to see her again, so he intentionally allowed himself sink into this illusory landscape..

But in the end, his wish wasnt realized.

Oh, how I long to see you again.

He leaped into the air, his heart still aching for her. Then he swung his staff at the illusory figure with all his might. The way he saw it, destroying the shadow would surely break the formation.

Whump.

......

The instant his staff landed, he froze.

Judging by the sensation transmitted through his staff, he hadnt hit an illusion. Instead, it seemed that hed hit. A living, breathing person.

Cough.

Bloody mist filled the air.

Fiery Eyes of Truth, activate! The Great Sage roared, his eyes flashing with dazzling golden light.

Whoosh.

A gentle breeze blew by, completely dispersing the disconcerting mists.

Thump.

When he saw her clearly, his staff fell from his hands and clattered to the ground.

Monkey, you. Howve you been?

The mists dissipated, revealing a woman in a long, purple dress with a purple flower tucked into her hair. Her lips twitched as if she were about to smile but before she could, a stream of fresh blood started flowing from her forehead.

Drip.

Blood pooled on the ground.

How is this possible? How could it be you?

The Great Sage called out, seemingly maddened, didnt you go to the God Realm? Didnt you say you could never return? Why? Why are you here? Why?

The woman smiled. Even so, her expression carried a hint of bitterness. I. missed you.

Weve been apart for tens of thousands of years, yet Ive missed you every waking moment. By chance, father went somewhere far away, so I snuck out to visit you.

Its impossible, this cant be true. If its really you, why did you say those things to me? Why didnt you let me see your face?

I was afraid. Afraid that after I saw you, Id be unable to resist staying here with you forever. Her voice weakened. The Great Sage grabbed his head and paced frantically. Then, eyes bloodshot, he rushed to her side and pulled her into an embrace.

Her wound bled continuously as the Great Sage hurriedly tried to treat her injuries. I didnt mean to, I really didnt mean to.

She reached out and gently stroked his cheek, her pallid face alight with happiness. After I left, I regretted it so much, I really did. But I dared not disobey fathers orders - I was afraid that if I did, hed take his anger out on you. Its been tens of thousands of years. I cant tell you many times I dreamed of your embrace, just like this.. Finally, my dream has come true.

The Great Sages lips quivered furiously as he muttered over and over again, Why? Why didnt I activate my Fiery Eyes of Truth earlier? Why was I so hasty to..

Its alright, she said with a gentle smile. This isnt so bad, dont you think? This way, Ill finally be free. We love each other yet cant grow old together. Its been a form of torture for us, dont you think?

No, I didnt want this..

I truly wanted to be with you forever. I wonder weve been apart for so long did you ever think of me?

The hand caressing the Great Sages cheek fell to the ground as she turned to light and disappeared from his embrace.

He grasped desperately at the light, calling on all his accumulated karmic merit in hopes of recondensing her scattered life essence.

But it was all futile.

No..

He knelt to the ground, gazed up into the sky and let out a long, mournful cry. At the same time, he watched a purple morning glory fell from above. That flower. Hed placed it on her head himself all those years ago.

He picked it up, then carefully held it to his chest.

Then he noticed the Ruyi Jingu Bang lying on the ground.

He used it to kill demons and evil spirits, to punish the wicked and reward the just, but now he had used it to... kill the woman he loved more than anything!

What good was it?

Bang.

He stomped it into the ground. Suddenly, his head filled with images of what hed just done.

He killed her with his own hands...

With his own hands!

Ah.

He roared in despair. Instantly, his body grew dozens of feet tall. The light emanating from his body was no longer golden, but rather blood-red.

Roar..

He let out an ear-splitting roar. His eyes glinted red, then he turned his gaze upon the crowd.

Looking into his eyes, you could no longer find any trace of rationality. Instead, there was nothing but bloodlust.

Watching this, the crowds hearts trembled. Meanwhile, Su Yiyun frowned as he looked into the distant sky.

A double-layered formation? Where did such an expert come from?