468: I, Old Sun, am convinced.

Lu Jiuyuan's tone grew solemn: "I am asking you to teach him, not to have him walk the same 'Monkey King's path' as you did back then."

"Rather, I want you to use the experience you gained from walking that path yourself, and use those Fiery Eyes of Truth that have seen through all illusions and reality, to teach him..."

"Teach him to see clearly which are the traps wrapped in honey, and which are the thorny, righteous paths."

"You care a lot about him?"

"You, Erlang Shen, and Liu Chenxiang—all three of you were born to fulfill a destiny, and I care deeply about all of you!" Lu Jiuyuan said with a smile.

"Old Jade Emperor, you've told Old Sun so much, are you certain Old Sun will agree to you?" the monkey asked, looking at Lu Jiuyuan.

"If you were only the Victorious Fighting Buddha, you wouldn't agree. But if you are still the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, then you will definitely agree!"

"Old Sun agrees."

Monkey King did not look at Lu Jiuyuan, but lowered his head to gaze at his own open, furry palms, and at that golden-hooped rod.

"Old Jade Emperor, you are right."

"Old Sun is the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, and also the Victorious Fighting Buddha. No matter how long I wear these monk's robes, the rod in my heart is still the same rod that once wanted to pierce the heavens."

He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, his smile carrying that familiar defiance:

"You say that kid Liu Chenxiang was born to fulfill a destiny, just like me and that three-eyed guy Erlang Shen... Heh, this is getting interesting."

Monkey King jumped onto the stone couch and sat cross-legged.

"Old Sun has tasted sweetness and suffered brutal beatings; I know how to revel when things are smooth sailing, and I know how to grit my teeth when I'm bloodied and broken."

"I understand what 'being arranged' means, and I have also tasted what 'freedom' is."

Monkey King turned his head to look at Lu Jiuyuan, his gaze as sharp as a blade:

"Old Jade Emperor, rest assured, I won't teach him to become a second Monkey King. I will teach him—"

"How to walk his own Dao within the circles drawn by you old geezers."

"How to forge his own true abilities within the 'Opportunity' given by others."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat playful:

"Of course, the trouble to be caused, the disasters to be stirred up, and the joys and sorrows to be tasted—none of that will be missing. Old Jade Emperor, don't go crying over your meager possessions."

Lu Jiuyuan watched the monkey before him, who seemed to have regained his brilliance.

"My possessions can withstand the tossing."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his white robes billowing without wind, "To me, even if the heavens collapse and the earth cracks, it is a trifling matter."

"Is that so?" A flash of cunning passed through Monkey King's eyes, and he suddenly let out a strange cry: "Then Old Sun will have to test that!"

Before his voice had even faded, his figure moved like lightning. The golden-hooped rod in his hand suddenly transformed into a beam of golden light, carrying the force of splitting mountains and seas, and smashed down towards Lu Jiuyuan's head without any warning!

This strike came too fast, too suddenly!

There was no warning, no buildup of power, not even a trace of Killing Intent leaked out, as if it were just a casual swing like a mischievous child playing.

But A Fei's pupils constricted, and the hairs on his body stood on end—he clearly felt that the power contained in this strike was enough to instantly raze the entire Mount Emei to the ground!

"Great Sage, don't!" A Fei exclaimed, and the Shadowless Sword flew out instantly.

Lu Jiuyuan didn't even lift an eyelid.

He didn't even look at the golden-hooped rod whistling towards him, but simply raised his right hand casually.

It was not a block, not a counterattack, but just... a gentle downward press.

The movement was understated, truly calm and composed.

However, "Hum—!" The entire Immortal Cave, no, the space within the entire range of Mount Emei, emitted a dull hum!

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze at this moment.

That unstoppable golden-hooped rod stopped abruptly seven inches from the top of Lu Jiuyuan's head!

It wasn't blocked, but rather... solidified in mid-air!

The golden light surging on the rod, the ripples tearing through the air, and even Monkey King's ferocious lunging posture, were all like insects sealed in amber, motionless.

Monkey King maintained his swinging posture, the ferocious grin on his face frozen, and for the first time, his eyes revealed an unbelievable horror.

He felt that space was no longer space, time was no longer time, and even the magic power surging within him and the power flowing in his Bloodline, under this single press, all became as if they did not exist.

It was as if he were not the Victorious Fighting Buddha possessing boundless magical power, but a... real monkey pinched in the palm of an invisible giant hand.

"Monkey." Lu Jiuyuan raised his eyes and looked at Monkey King, who was close at hand but unable to move.

His gaze remained calm: "I have said it before, in the Three Realms and the Six Paths, I alone am supreme."

"This 'supremacy' is not self-proclaimed; it was fought for with every punch and kick."

His right hand, which was pressing into the air, pressed down gently by another fraction.

"Boom—!" Monkey King, together with his rod, was forced down onto the floor of the Immortal Cave by an irresistible and incomprehensible force!

It wasn't a smash, it wasn't a throw, it was simply a "press." Stone chips flew, and the entire Immortal Cave shook.

The Haotian Divine Palm, one palm to press the monkey! Finally fulfilled, exciting! Satisfying! Awesome!

Monkey King lay sprawled on the ground, the golden-hooped rod rolling to the side.

He wanted to struggle, but discovered that every inch of muscle and every wisp of magic power in his body was pinned down tightly by that invisible force, and he couldn't even move a finger.

Only his eyeballs could still move, filled with shock. Is this the ability of the Old Jade Emperor?

Old Sun surviving until now really hasn't been easy!

Lu Jiuyuan walked slowly to his front, crouched down, looked at the monkey pinned to the ground, reached out to pat his head, and helped him up.

"Do you believe it now?"

"Ha... Hahaha..." "So... so that's how it is..." "Old Jade Emperor... you motherf***er... you sure hid it well..."

"I..." Monkey King sighed: "Old Sun is convinced."

This was the first time since he achieved Buddhahood that he had said the words "convinced."

"It's not that I'm convinced by your fists." "It's that I'm convinced by you... for having such hard fists and yet being able to tolerate Old Sun for so long."