35: Old cow wants to reveal

Looking up, Tang Ku’s expression instantly changed; he actually found that the rock wall above his head seemed to be getting redder and redder, and it seemed that flames were flashing through the tiny cracks.

Yang Jian and the others also seemed to feel this, but Tang Ku smiled bitterly and helplessly, “Staying here won’t help us find any treasures, so let’s go out first. I always feel that this Flaming Mountain is about to return to its previous state!”

Everyone was startled, and Shi Jingmo asked curiously, “What was the Flaming Mountain like before?”

“Do you know why this place is called Flaming Mountain?”

Nezha asked.

Shi Jingmo put his palms together, tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, “I always thought it was because the mountain peaks here looked like flames, could it be…”

“That’s right, a few years ago, this place was still covered in flames all over the mountains and plains, and the entire mountain body was as red as a branding iron! And this fire burned for over five hundred years!”

Shi Jingmo was shocked and said, “A mountain body catching fire is unheard of, and it burned for over five hundred years. This is truly a bit inconceivable. Master…”

Tang Ku said, “Let’s talk outside. No one understands this place better than Niu Mowang. If he says there’s danger, then there must be danger!”

The few of them didn’t think much more. Shi Jingmo carried Hasgard on his back and walked out of the cave.

Soon after they walked out of the cave, a scorching heatwave suddenly gushed out from within the cave. Even though the few of them reacted extremely quickly, they were still unable to open their eyes due to the heat.

Shi Jingmo looked at the stones on the ground that were beginning to turn red and exclaimed in horror, “This flame actually has such power?”

Seeing Niu Mowang flying further and further away, seemingly escaping this place, the few of them didn’t hesitate and followed closely behind him, flying towards a more distant place, until they stopped on a mountaintop more than ten li away. They looked back and saw that the entire Flaming Mountain was already surrounded by raging flames, and intense heatwaves rolled towards them, which even their strength could fully feel.

“This hasn’t reached its peak yet.”

Tang Ku looked at the surrounding environment, not only recalling when they were on their journey to the west, their stopping point was more than ten li further than this. “It seems that the entire Flaming Mountain is recovering? It’s like a dormant volcano about to erupt!”

“How can this mountain have such power? What kind of flame can have such power?” Shi Jingmo looked at the scene before him in shock and said to Tang Ku, “Master, did you pass through this mountain when you were on your journey to the west? How did you manage to do it?”

“Crossing the Flaming Mountain is both difficult and easy…”

Tang Ku glanced at Nezha.

Nezha pouted reluctantly and spat out the Palm Leaf Fan from his mouth.

The incantation for the Palm Leaf Fan was no longer a secret; Sun Wukong had obtained it from Princess Iron Fan back then. However, while the others didn’t know it at first, Tang Ku was well aware. Although he had never used it, he had read the original journey to the west novel thoroughly. Seeing that Nezha was very fond of this fan, he taught Nezha the phrase “Bi Xu He Xi Chui Hu.”

As the Palm Leaf Fan revealed its true form, Niu Mowang, standing by, snorted with anger, his egg-sized bull eyes staring intently at Tang Ku, meaning, “You owe me an explanation.”

Tang Ku motioned for Niu Mowang to calm down, and at the same time, subtly threatened, “Niu Mowang, now that the few of us are working together, if we are determined to keep this Magic Treasure of yours, what can you do to me? Why don’t you let me finish speaking? If, in the end, you still believe that we captured Princess Iron Fan and took your Magic Treasure, then we will apologize to you in person and even hand over the Magic Treasures we have obtained!”

The Bull Demon King was rough but meticulous, otherwise he wouldn’t have transformed into Pig Wuneng to trick the Palm Leaf Fan back. Seeing Niu Mowang’s eyes roll, after weighing the pros and cons, he couldn’t help but nod, sat cross-legged on the ground, and said in a deep voice, “I’m all ears!”

Tang Ku led the others to sit in front of him, with only Nezha still holding the Palm Leaf Fan and Fire Tipped Spear, staring at Niu Mowang.

Gathering his thoughts, Tang Ku recounted everything he knew, thought, and experienced to the Bull Demon King. Of course, he still kept a secret, concealing his identity as a Transmigration and Ksitigarbha’s speculations, among other things.

However, even after simplifying it, the Bull Demon King was still dumbfounded and took a long time to digest what Tang Ku had said.

“The Heavenly Gods, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the West, and the Yin Gods of the Underworld, etc., could they all have…”

The Bull Demon King stared blankly at Tang Ku.

“Not everyone!” Tang Ku sighed helplessly, “But at least ninety percent or more disappeared in this catastrophe…”

“Haha, hahahahaha… It’s good that they disappeared, it’s wonderful, hahahaha… These Heavenly Gods and Buddhas, one by one, are high and mighty, occupying positions without fulfilling their duties, oppressing all other races except the Human Race, making them unable to raise their heads. Their deaths are a good deed with Karma for this world!”

Before Tang Ku had finished speaking, the Bull Demon King burst into wild laughter, his laughter filled with mockery and ridicule.

Nezha couldn’t stand it and angrily said, “If you laugh again, I’ll cut out your tongue!”

“What, is the Third Prince getting angry out of shame now?” The Bull Demon King sneered, “Are you afraid that I’ll reveal all the ugly deeds you immortals and gods have done?”

“You’ll reveal nothing!” Nezha was furious. “Whether it’s immortals, gods, Bodhisattvas, or all the Buddhas, their only reason for being revered is their compassion. How could they possibly have any so-called ugly deeds… Holy Monk, please don’t listen to this Niu Mowang’s nonsense!”

Tang Ku didn't speak, but looked at Niu Mowang. He saw the Bull Demon King glance at Nezha disdainfully, and then suddenly mocked, “So you don't know anything. Haha, Great God of the Three Altars and Seas… is just an empty title. You're still hopelessly naive!”

Nezha was truly enraged now and was about to use his Fire Tipped Spear to give the Bull Demon King a hard blow.

Clang!

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade parried Nezha, and then Yang Jian said, “Third Prince, calm down. I’d like to hear what this Niu Mowang can possibly say!”

Saying that, he turned to the Bull Demon King and sneered, “Although I, Yang, take orders but not proclamations, I am still half a person of the Heavenly Court. If you can’t give a good reason, then don’t blame me for being merciless with my blade!”

“What if you’re merciless? Do you think I’m afraid of you?” The Bull Demon King sneered, “I’ll ask you one question now. If you can’t answer, then you’ll have to admit that the Heavenly Gods are a bunch of hypocrites who occupy positions without fulfilling their duties and feign righteousness!”

Yang Jian’s face darkened. He held his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade horizontally and said calmly, “Yang Jian is upright and righteous. I’m not afraid of your slanders. Speak your mind, I’ll take it!”

“Alright!”

The Bull Demon King was unperturbed, his face full of mockery as he said, “Let me ask you, if humanity were to cut off the incense offerings to the gods, and there were no Heavenly Gods and Buddhas to be worshipped, and all faith were to be extinguished, would you still be so compassionate?”

Silence…

It was so quiet that everyone present could hear their own heartbeats.

Such a simple question actually stumped the Illustrious Sage True Monarch Erlang!