"Grand-ancestor?" the Golden Lion asked, glancing at the old lion furtively.
The grand-ancestor remained silent for a long time, leaving the Golden Lion bewildered. He didn't understand his ancestor's intentions.
The old lion pondered for a moment and said, "I will accompany you."
After all, that monkey had killed his descendant. If he wasn't punished, the monkey would become even more audacious.
The Golden Lion was overjoyed. With the old lion's involvement, everything would surely be settled. In his eyes, Sun Wukong was just so-so. Although powerful, he was no match for his grand-ancestor. He knew his grand-ancestor's origins, and many powerful beings would be defeated when they encountered him.
Following the old lion as they flew, they saw the Tang Monk and his disciples below. The Golden Lion, with his sharp eyes, immediately shouted, "Grand-ancestor, it's them!"
The old lion took a deep breath, and a sudden gale erupted. Sun Wukong, who was below, somersaulted into the sky. Upon seeing the Golden Lion and the old lion, he knew that the elder had come for the younger. However, sensing the old lion's immense power, Sun Wukong knew he was outmatched and immediately fled.
The Tang Monk and his disciples below were captured by the old lion and taken to the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave.
After the old lion left, Sun Wukong reappeared and followed, learning the old lion's lair. He summoned the local earth spirit and learned that it was the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave, home to a lion spirit with great magical powers.
Sun Wukong scratched his head. Judging by the lion's power, he couldn't defeat him and would have to seek help. He had recently visited the Spirit Mountain, and the Buddha was likely still upset. Hesitant to go back, he used a somersault cloud and flew to the Heavenly Court.
He pondered. The most powerful being in the Heavenly Court seemed to be Nezha. Although Nezha's cultivation was seemingly inferior to his own, Nezha possessed treasures, which might be able to hold the demon at bay, allowing him to ambush it. That might work.
"Is the Third Prince here?" Sun Wukong arrived.
Nezha emerged and, upon seeing Sun Wukong, asked curiously, "Great Sage, weren't you on your way to the West? What brings you here?"
Sun Wukong gave an awkward smile and said, "Third Prince, I encountered a demon in the mortal realm that I can't defeat. I've come to ask for your assistance. Bring your treasures, and let's go subdue that fiend!"
Nezha readily agreed and, along with his treasures, followed Sun Wukong down to the mortal realm.
"Huh, this place!" Nezha exclaimed with surprise.
"What's wrong?" Sun Wukong noticed Nezha's odd expression and asked.
"It looks familiar, as if I've been here before. Oh, right, this is the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave?"
Sun Wukong nodded immediately. Nezha sighed and said, "Great Sage, I'm afraid I can't help you with this."
Sun Wukong asked curiously, "Why?"
"Great Sage, you may not know, but the inhabitant of the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave, is my master's mount, known as the Nine Spirits Yuansheng. He was a great demon of the past, the Nine-Headed Lion Demon. He has been listening to the Dao in the Jade Void Palace for a very long time, possessing extraordinary divine abilities. I am no match for him," Nezha explained truthfully.
Sun Wukong, however, didn't care. As long as he knew the demon's origins, he could find someone.
"What is the cultivation level of this Nine Spirits Yuansheng?" Sun Wukong still inquired.
"He is already at the late stage of Grand Unity. Great Sage, why don't you go find my master, Grand Master Taiyi?" Nezha suggested.
Sun Wukong nodded. Since that was the case, he had to find Grand Master Taiyi.
The two returned to the Heavenly Court and searched, but Grand Master Taiyi was not found. They were informed that he had gone to Kunlun Mountain.
Sun Wukong used another somersault cloud and flew to Kunlun Mountain. This was once a sacred realm, now presided over by Guangchengzi.
Upon arriving at Kunlun Mountain, Sun Wukong encountered Grand Master Taiyi and immediately tried to pull him away.
Grand Master Taiyi was helpless. Shaking off Sun Wukong's hand, he asked, "Great Sage, what is it? Explain yourself!"
Sun Wukong grumbled irritably, "You old official, you condone your mount descending to the mortal realm as a demon, and now he has captured my master. Tell me, why am I looking for you?"
Grand Master Taiyi was confused. Condone his mount descending? His mount had been a demon in the mortal realm all along, and he couldn't control him.
He then asked, "Is it the Nine Spirits Yuansheng?"
Sun Wukong nodded. Who else could it be?
Grand Master Taiyi smiled wryly, "Great Sage, you've wronged me. Although the Nine Spirits Yuansheng is called my mount, he is actually a fellow Daoist. He only pledged allegiance to me back then to be able to listen to the Dao in the Jade Void Palace. After the Teacher left for the Outer Heavens, the Nine Spirits Yuansheng has been a demon in the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave. I cannot control him!"
Indeed, Grand Master Taiyi truly couldn't control him. His senior brother, Guangchengzi, was the one who dealt with the Nine Spirits Yuansheng. His cultivation was insufficient.
"Old official, what should we do? You must resolve this matter, or my master will be eaten! I don't care, I'm holding you responsible! If you don't act, I'll report you to the Jade Emperor!" Sun Wukong threatened.
Grand Master Taiyi was speechless. Reporting him to the Jade Emperor would be useless; the Jade Emperor was nothing.
But he still said, "Great Sage, don't worry. Since you've already come to Kunlun Mountain, why don't you go find my senior brother, Guangchengzi? He can subdue the Nine Spirits Yuansheng!"
Sun Wukong thought this was reasonable. However, he felt it had nothing to do with Guangchengzi. He said, "Old official, let's go together. You can explain it to me as well."
Grand Master Taiyi nodded.
After finding Guangchengzi, Grand Master Taiyi explained the situation. Guangchengzi nodded and said, "The Nine Spirits Yuansheng was a demon in the past and joined our Jade Void lineage. However, after the Teacher left, he descended to the mortal realm as a demon, disgracing our Jade Void sect. It is fitting that we subdue him completely this time, lest he tarnish our sect's reputation."
Indeed, this was also Guangchengzi's plan. It was his idea to have the old lion trouble Tang Monk and the others. But the old lion was not very cooperative and was rather perfunctory, which greatly displeased Guangchengzi. But he had no reason to intervene, so he left. Now, Sun Wukong had killed the old lion's descendant without a second thought, and only then did the old lion exert himself. Hmph, but it was too late. This provided a perfect reason to act!
Regardless, the old lion had the cultivation of a late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal, which was considerable combat power. Currently, there were few high-level cultivators in the Jade Void Palace, and he was the only quasi-saint. Naturally, he had to consolidate his forces.
"Let's go!" Guangchengzi said, flicking his sleeve.
Grand Master Taiyi followed behind Guangchengzi, and the three headed towards the Bamboo Joint Mountain, Nine-Curved Winding Cave.
Sun Wukong was delighted. He didn't care about the Jade Void sect's reputation or anything else. As long as he could rescue Tang Monk, that was all that mattered. As for the rest, he didn't understand and didn't care to understand. He just needed to get the job done.