136 Living Universe

Complete from the moment of his birth, the collective wish of all Bestial kind flowed into his previous womb, the nos shattered rock. The balance that tips toward the favor of humans as Spirit Beaasts are hunted as prey, their very soul ripped from the body.

A balance that the Overlord of Beasts shall soon overturn, ascending their race to glory.

The Monkey King breathed in deep, the freshness of Wodan's air welcoming him. The King grinned, the forest felt all too familiar and yet there is this sensation that it was his first time encountering.

The King spoke, his timbre, the height of arrogance, "You, Ice woman. I applaud you for exhibiting such a breathtaking fight against my subjects, but I'm afraid your journey ends now."

A bravado that made Zhen crease her brow. She even wanted to grit her teeth but her composure shone through even after this beast's overwhelming exudation of his power.

Being at the peak, this newborn Divine Beast stood on a mountain higher than Zhen's. A burnt and bitter alchemy pill that Zhen was forced to swallow. Yet a refined lady must never forget to handle even the hardest of situations with grace and composure. Perhaps it might even offer a way out. Since Zhen's instinct to sense culviation is not working on this beast, perhaps she should ask it straight from the horse's - no, monkey's mouth?

"The Beast race's trump card, in the flesh. I must admit that your power is putting us in a bind, but you must be well aware that power alone is not enough to win you wars, you are going to go against the very will of heaven itself. Will you make enemy of the Buddha himself?"

"Here's the thing, I loathe living in this world made by that pacifistic piece of shit! Imagine having limitless power and what does he do with it? Nothing, that's what! I was born to dethrone him and rid this world of you humans. My world shall be one where the chaos of battle thrives! Anything, something that incites change! And I will be there to make sure that I have a hand in most of it!"

Law of the fittest taken to the extreme. The Beasts will still find death moreso at the hands of their fellow rather than the Humans. Zhen scoffed, utter foolishness. In their drive to come on top against the humans they made manifest this deranged being.

"You are an ape, not just in appearance but also in your thinking. Before you can assault the Heavenly Court, you will have to go through me!" Particles of ice vortexed behind Zhen to form a mighty dragon, poised to devour the King of Beasts. "Kai Zhen. Ice Empress and 3rd seat of the Heavenly Court, 71 stars!"

Twisting his lips into a brazen smile, the Divine Beast remained unbothered by Zhen's show of cultivation.

"Sun Wukong. You can call me many names, Overlord of Beasts, Peerless ape, Master of Chaos but there's one name I like most...King. 95 stars."

Zhen almost choked upon hearing his star level. 95, that's impossible! Then that means this being is only 5 stars away from the mythical Peak that no cultivation ever stood before, Godhood!

A ferocious blizzard shook the entire battle field, Zhen cannot let this being near the court, the lives of her friends and comrades will be in danger!

Zhen's dragon charged towards Wukong, the ferocious dragon that swallowed the 4 generals with ease failed to instill even a lick of caution in Wukong.

One lift of his palm, the Dragon shattered as it continually rammed itself into this Divine Beast's hand. Reaching its tail, Zhen used the destroyed dragon as cover for her fatal sword attack, a thrust to impale this ape's head.

In true chaotic fashion, Wukong stopped Zhen's blade not by hand, but by clamping down his fanged teeth, destroying the blade in one bite!

Mid-thrust, Wukong's unparalleled agility allowed him to spin and deliver a ruinous kick into Zhen's ribs, breaking them and sending her flying.

Zhen's vision going circles as she was ragdolled, her fall halted by a familiar fluffiness.

"Are you alright, Zhen!?" The worried fox questioned.

How could Zhen be? She was knocked flying by a mere kick. A massive blow not just to her ribs, but to her pride as one of fhe Heavenly Court's strongest.

Her hand holding her ribs, Zhen stood up, "I am fine, that Divine Beast. We must stop him at any cost."

After a painful cough, Zhen vomited blood. How many centuries have passed when she was humiliated like this? Those that did, Zhen buried the moment she ascended as 3rd Seat of Heaven's renowned faction.

The monkey grinned from afar, with the pest now out of the way, they can finally start his Coronation as the one who will usurp the Buddha's throne.

"My fellow beasts, the time has come to claim our righful place in the cosmos! Come to me and together, the age of humans cease, heralding the dawn of Beasts! An age of Chaos awaits, where us beasts are free to follow our nature as we see fit!"

To take on that which rules above, Wukong would need to gather the finest souls willing to aid him in his conquest.

Inspired by the monkey king's speech and might, the first one to give their life was the Dragon. His scales battered with flames, Qinglong's physical body annihilated itseld, transforming into a spirit. Ephemeral but still ripe with power. The Dragon Spirit descended into Wukong himself. A royal offering by the Dragon, the full rank of Qinglong's cultivation bestowed upon their King.

After absorbing Qinglong, Wukong gained ALL of Qinglong's ability. Preparing to become a living universe, Wukong must learn how to handle souls.

An overwhelming amount of strength rippling from head to toe, inducting Wukong into 96 stars.

The other Divine Beasts followed suit. Zhuque, Baihu, Xuanwu, all became souls and jumped right in Wukong, boosting his cultivation into 99.

Only the Qilin now left.

With one last glance, Jiawei gazed at Zhen.