Hearing those words, a hunched bull headed figure slowly entered the Rakshasa Palace from the distance.
The old Bull Demon King moved one heavy step at a time, his body visibly weakened. As he passed Princess Iron Fan, she instinctively reached out and tried grabbing his sleeve.
But despite his frail appearance, the old bull still avoided her hand completely before finally stopping in front of Axel.
Axel sat crookedly on the throne with one leg hanging over the armrest, looking completely at ease.
The old Bull Demon King sighed deeply.
"Great Sage… have you heard this old bull's story before?"
"Tell me."
Axel waved casually.
"But don't stand there talking. Sit down.
I'm not the old Jade Emperor. I don't need everyone kneeling and standing while I sit above them.
Isn't the whole point of destroying the Heavenly Palace to let the people forced to bow finally have a chance to sit?"
He burst into laughter before clapping loudly.
"Flame Mountain Land God, where are you?"
"I am here, Great Sage. What are your orders?"
A Daoist priest with a short beard immediately emerged from thin air.
Axel looked at him with a grin.
"Bring two chairs for Erlang Shen and the old bull.
As for Princess Iron Fan, she doesn't need one. Sitting beside me suits her better. Hurry up."
The Land God's shoulders visibly trembled.
Princess Iron Fan also froze in shock.
Even so, the Land God still lowered his head obediently.
"As the Great Sage commands."
The moment he finished speaking, two chairs appeared behind Yang Jian and the Bull Demon King.
Yang Jian sat down immediately without hesitation.
The Bull Demon King lowered himself slowly onto his chair, almost losing balance during the process.
Seeing that, Princess Iron Fan hurried forward to support him.
But the old bull abruptly pulled his arm away.
Then he looked at her coldly.
The moment their eyes met, Princess Iron Fan's face turned pale.
She retreated several steps before finally stopping, despair filling her expression.
Meanwhile, after sitting down, the old Bull Demon King raised his hand weakly toward Axel.
"In those days, after becoming a Great Sage, this old bull truly thought life was glorious.
I built my own power, established my own territory, and became sworn brothers with that monkey. Back then, life felt free.
Later, the Grand Supreme Elder personally sent people to speak with me and even arranged this marriage for me.
I thought it meant I was important enough to gain his recognition.
Only later did I realize it was the beginning of a nightmare."
The old bull lowered his head.
"Princess Iron Fan was beautiful and graceful. Of course I loved her.
But right before we prepared to attack Heaven alongside Wukong, I learned she was already pregnant.
My resolve wavered.
I betrayed my brother.
I watched Wukong get trapped beneath the mountain while the demons of Flower Fruit Mountain scattered in defeat.
This old bull lowered his head and chose peace instead.
I thought enduring humiliation would at least buy me a stable life.
But in the end…"
His voice became hoarse.
"…even the child wasn't mine."
Silence filled the palace.
"The Yaksha Kingdom was destroyed by those so called compassionate Arhats until not even a single soul remained.
But what did any of that have to do with me?
Did I owe them anything?
Still, the Grand Supreme Elder watched from above, and after so many years… how could I not develop feelings for the child I raised?
But beyond that bond, I haven't truly spoken to Princess Iron Fan in over eight hundred years."
He closed his eyes briefly before continuing.
"If the Great Sage likes her, then do as you please.
I only ask one thing.
Spare my daughter's life."
The old bull's voice carried deep exhaustion.
"My daughter was unfortunate from birth. She lost her mother while still young.
That failure belongs to me, not Wukong or Zhu Bajie.
In this world, somebody is always sacrificed.
Even kneeling doesn't guarantee survival.
People suffer, people die. That's how it is.
My story isn't worth hearing. Letting the Great Sage witness this mess is honestly humiliating."
Then he slowly looked up at Axel.
"But tell me honestly.
When you speak about attacking Heaven… are you truly serious?"
"How could I not be serious?"
Axel leaned back against the throne with a grin.
Then he pointed directly toward the sky.
"That Heavenly Palace should've changed owners a long time ago.
Immortals living forever while wasting their lives on petty schemes, what kind of immortality is that?
If I don't rip their heads off and shove them back into their stomachs, I won't be satisfied.
Once I gather enough people, I'm going to tear Heaven apart."
He laughed loudly.
"Actually, I'm curious.
Do you think the people above are laughing at us right now…
Or panicking?"
Yang Jian suddenly shook his swollen face with a cold smile.
"Laughing?"
He let out a quiet snort.
"Even I ended up beaten into this state. Why would they still be laughing?
I was never truly the strongest. But those people above care deeply about appearances.
They love acting detached while sending subordinates to solve problems for them. It makes them feel like they control the world from behind a chessboard.
But now?
Maitreya fled back to Spirit Mountain in fear.
I, the Heavenly Court's top general, couldn't even touch you.
So tell me, what general or Arhat still has the confidence to stop you?"
Yang Jian slowly stood up.
"Even if you eventually lose to the Jade Emperor or the Buddha, it won't matter.
The moment those figures are forced to personally intervene, they've already lost face.
And once that happens…"
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"…the entire world will erupt."
He clasped his fists toward Axel.
"Originally, I planned to wait for Wukong's return before deciding anything.
But now that you've appeared, there's no reason to wait anymore.
I'll retrieve my brothers and move my sister somewhere safe inside your territory.
As for the three of us…"
Yang Jian glanced toward Axel and the Bull Demon King.
"…we can gather enough people to officially raise the banner of rebellion against Heaven."
"Hold on."
Axel looked at Yang Jian with an amused expression.
"Are you sure you're really Erlang Shen?
You sound more eager to rebel than I do.
Did your uncle abuse you or something?"
Yang Jian's expression remained cold.
"Great Sage, stop joking.
I've spent years inside the Heavenly Court. I've seen filth ordinary people could never imagine.
To be honest…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…I've looked forward to this day even more than Wukong himself."
As he spoke, Yang Jian raised two fingers toward the third eye on his forehead.
Dark mist spread instantly.
A golden amber like root suddenly emerged from his third eye before floating toward Axel.
Axel raised his hand and caught it.
Then he turned toward the old Bull Demon King.
The old bull coughed heavily twice before speaking.
"These years, Wukong's root has tormented me endlessly.
Now, I can finally be free."
He slowly raised his head.
"But before I hand it over, I ask one thing.
Please accompany me to the Underworld someday and help me find the soul of my wife, the Jade Faced Fox.
Allow her to reincarnate properly.
She gave me millions of Dollars in private assets and even bore me a biological daughter.
I wronged her deeply."
Pain filled the old bull's eyes.
"I owe her too much.
If the Great Sage agrees, then from today onward, this old bull will follow you completely.
Whether it's rebelling against Heaven or charging into battle, I'll stand at the front.
I only ask for one chance at reunion with my family."
As he finished speaking, the Bull Demon King opened his mouth and spat a golden amber wrapped object into his palm.
Inside it was a tiny golden pig.
He respectfully handed it toward Axel before bowing deeply.
Nearby, Princess Iron Fan collapsed onto the ground silently.
Yang Jian looked at the broken family before turning his head away with a sigh.
"Heaven truly commits evil…"
Axel stood up from the throne and walked toward the old bull.
After accepting one of Sun Wukong's roots, he glanced toward Princess Iron Fan.
"Madam, what are you still doing sitting there?
Get over here and sit properly on my couch."
His tone turned colder.
"Whatever resentment or emotions you carry, your existence has only brought suffering to the old bull.
Did you ever truly give him peace?"
Axel narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Just like I said earlier, the Bull Demon King was never strong enough to handle the trouble surrounding you.
The only person you can rely on now is me."
Then he smiled faintly.
"Or what?
You want Red Boy dead too?"
His voice suddenly sharpened.
"So stop wasting time and get onto the couch properly.
Now."