Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 102: Ren Tianxing’s Call to Revolution

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Ren Tianxing’s Call to Revolution

PS: [Busy today, so I updated early. Also, I’d appreciate it if you could vote for me on Sanjiang Channel. I’m not aiming for first place, but I really hope not to be last either. Please take a moment to cast your vote so I don’t end up at the bottom...]

It was said that after Kuafu had dealt with the Sun and the boundless marshland disaster, clarity was restored between heaven and earth, and there was great rejoicing. The General had disappeared; not daring to show his face again. With all the Saints probably watching over this land now, to show himself would surely invite a besiegement, and he would have no choice but to turn to dust and ashes.

First Emperor Ying Zheng approached Wukong and asked, "Has Wukong managed to gather those clans together?"

Wukong shook his head and replied, "No, Yuan Hong and I had just found the Vermilion Bird Fruit when this major incident occurred. I am now preparing to confront the Vermilion Bird Clan and demand Ren Tianxing honor his promise. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to launch an attack with the Green Emperor’s spiritual talisman!"

Ying Zheng said, "These great clans are akin to the noble classes under my rule in years past. If you want to subdue them, you must use uncompromising thunderbolt methods! Otherwise, they will think the Son of Heaven is weak and can be bullied, resulting in even bolder defiance."

Wukong replied, "I will take your advice."

Ying Zheng nodded and said, "With our current strength, we could easily annihilate a great clan. Wukong, you may do the same to deter the other clans."

Wukong sighed and said, "They are all my fellow Demon Tribe brethren. How can I do such a thing? I’ll wait and see for now. If it really comes to it, I will have to issue the spiritual talisman to launch an attack on one clan as a warning to the others."

Shen Gongbao frowned and said, "Such a major event has occurred today. If not for the Taoist Patriarch’s intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable! The world is becoming increasingly chaotic now. There will be no shortage of those who wish to fish in troubled waters. Wukong, you must quickly consolidate the power of the Demon Tribe. If you delay, unforeseen changes might occur."

Wukong bowed his hands in thanks and said, "Shen Gongbao’s words are very true. I understand. I shall go to Vermilion Bird City now and demand their allegiance to Water Curtain Cave! If they refuse, I will immediately issue an edict to attack them and set an example."

Shen Gongbao applauded and said, "That’s how it should be done! Your authority as the Green Emperor has yet to be established. Now is the perfect time."

Yuan Hong said, "Then let us go. Leave the Water Curtain Cave in your care. If the Vermilion Bird Clan refuses to comply, dispatch troops to attack them immediately!"

Having said this, he somersaulted away first. Wukong nodded towards Shen Gongbao and Ying Zheng, then followed suit.

The two of them used an escape technique to enter Vermilion Bird City, heading straight for the City Lord’s Mansion.

Ren Hong, seeing that Yuan Hong and Wukong had arrived again, was taken aback and did not dare to appear. In a panic, he hurriedly went to call for Ren Tianxing.

After a short wait, Ren Tianxing walked into the hall to greet Wukong and Yuan Hong.

Ren Tianxing said with a smile, "Did the two of you find the Vermilion Bird Fruit from the Ancient Tomb? If not, let’s not waste words. Please leave."

Yuan Hong laughed mischievously and said, "Youngster from the Vermilion Bird Clan, don’t look down on others. Even though I am but a Taiyi Golden Immortal and you, a Daluo Golden Immortal, I could still beat you till your face hits the ground. Do you believe that?"

Ren Tianxing said nothing. Yuan Hong, having once reached the realm of a Sect Founder, had his own understanding of the Void Great Dao. He could shatter the void, and fighting him would be tricky; his staff moves were unpredictable and unavoidable. A hit was inevitable, and with his innate divine ability at play, Ren Tianxing as a Daluo Golden Immortal could hardly be his match!

Ren Tianxing responded, "General Yuan jests. I did not mean that."

Wukong produced the Vermilion Bird Fruit, instantly capturing Ren Tianxing’s attention.

Wukong said, "Is this the thing you wanted?"

Nowadays, it is difficult for the Demon Tribe to produce a Daluo Golden Immortal, as their bloodlines have thinned considerably. Naturally, their innate talents are no longer as exceptional as before. The Vermilion Bird Fruit has the power to revert a bloodline to its ancestral roots and could create a most formidable Daluo Golden Immortal—and possibly even enable an assault on the Sect Founder realm! In essence, this fruit could change the destiny of the Vermilion Bird Clan.

With such a level of cultivation as Ren Tianxing’s, he was considered mediocre among Daluo Golden Immortals. Ones like the nine-headed demon would be deemed strong in that realm, while Emperor Gou Chen was at the pinnacle among Daluo Golden Immortals. In ancient times, Wukong, the Heaven-Defying Taoist, Yuan Hong, and Wu Aotian had all joined forces, yet they let him escape, which spoke volumes about his strength.

"Yes! This is indeed our clan’s Vermilion Bird Fruit," said Ren Tianxing excitedly.

With this fruit, they could select the most outstanding young prodigy from the Vermilion Bird Clan to consume it, and afterward, their bloodline would revert to its origins. Perhaps it would give birth to a matchless Sect Founder in the future.

A Sect Founder – that is almost a Saint, a Golden Immortal who had comprehended the Grand Primordial Dao!

In ancient times, Yuan Hong was only a Primordial Golden Immortal, yet he was a top figure even among them. His combat prowess in Ancient Times was such that even Ling Weiyang admitted inferiority. The prestige of the Divine Monkey Great General was not merely inflated; this explained why Yuan Hong, relying on his staff technique and some understanding of the Void Dao, could contend against Daluo Golden Immortals. It wasn’t like Wukong, who relied on a multitude of magical treasures.

Wukong, expressionless, said, "Now that I have found the Vermilion Bird Fruit, it’s time for you to fulfill your promise."

Ren Tianxing nodded and replied, "Certainly. From this day forward, our Vermilion Bird Clan will heed the summoning order of the Green Emperor. Dare we disobey?"

Wukong said, "Very good, very good! Dao brother really kept his word. Take the Vermilion Bird Fruit then."

Having uttered these words, Wukong tossed the Vermilion Bird Fruit in his hand.

Ren Tianxing hastened to catch it, fearing to let this fruit fall to the ground. This fruit had been formed from the Essence Blood of his ancestors and was kept within the Vermilion Bird Clan. During the war between witches and demons in ancient times, eight such fruits had been used. The war was too chaotic, and the eight people who used them died amidst the strife, which was truly a pity. Later, during the Investiture of the Gods Period in the Middle Ages, the last one was stolen.

This time, recovering the Vermilion Bird Fruit presented an opportunity for the bloodline of the Vermilion Bird Clan to revive once more!

"Many thanks to the Green Emperor, many thanks to the Divine Monkey General!" After catching the Vermilion Bird Fruit, Ren Tianxing tossed it into the Mustard Seed.

Once Ren Tianxing had secured the fruit, it was only natural for him to fulfill his promise, and since he had even sworn an oath already touched by the Heavenly Dao’s cause and effect, instead of dilly-dallying, it was better to be straightforward. This also made others respect him more. So, he knelt to the ground, bowing his head and said, "Your servant Ren Tianxing pays his respects to the Green Emperor!"

Wukong hastily helped Ren Tianxing up, not expecting him to actually kneel and pay such deep respects.

Wukong laughed and said, "Dao brother need not be so formal. I’ve made a great vow, calling for equality among all people. Even those who hold power have no right to make others kneel! Everyone is equal, all beings are equals, all things free; one should only kneel to gold beneath one’s knees, to the heavens, to the earth, to parents, to masters, to ancestors, to family, but one must never bow to authority and power!"

Wukong’s speech was passionate and assertive, and full of fervor. Ren Tianxing, upon hearing this, felt his heart surge like a thousand waves and his blood race like the light of the red sun!

"What the Green Emperor has said is profound indeed, ’One should kneel to the heavens, to the earth, to parents, to masters, to ancestors, to family, but one must never lower one’s head to authority!’ We are born free, who has the right to lord over us or dictate our actions! The Buddha speaks of equality among all beings, so why then does he sit high atop Spiritual Mount, gazing upon the creatures of the world as if they were mere ants? They say that the Heavenly Court considers the welfare of all below, but why then does the world not know peace, with plagues of locusts, droughts, floods... Aren’t these disasters due to the selfishness of those deities above?" Ren Tianxing could not help but say, where there’s oppression, there will be resistance.

His spirit soared, and he composed a poem on the spot, singing out: "With freedom as our lot, who dare dictate our fate? Should any dare to bully by might, to ash I would not hesitate."

Wukong then laughed and said, "Then let us revolt, against the fate of the Buddha, against the fate of the deities! Even, against the fate of this entire world!"

Ren Tianxing’s face flushed with excitement, overwhelmed with emotion, said, "Good! Although I am the Great Elder of the Vermilion Bird Clan, I cannot make decisions alone. But I will do my best to persuade the Second Elder and the Clan Leader. When the time comes, I will surely serve the Green Emperor with the loyalty of a dog or a horse!"

Wukong nodded and said, "That would be excellent!"

Ren Tianxing then arranged for a feast and, unable to refuse, Wukong and Yuan Hong joined Ren Tianxing in drinking.

The feast was extremely lavish, lasting a day and a night before concluding with seventy or eighty empty wine jars piled up. Each jar weighed about ten jin. However, all three of them possessed profound mana. Despite drinking so much, they only felt slightly dizzy, not yet completely drunk.

Wukong too had drunk merrily and said, "Thank you for the hospitality, Dao brother. One of these days, come to my Water Curtain Cave, and I will ensure you drink your fill as well."

Ren Tianxing clasped his hands together and said, "I will certainly take you up on that offer in the future."

Yuan Hong then said, "Hurry over when you can!"

After the feast, Wukong and Yuan Hong left Vermilion Bird City. Neither of them had expected the situation to be resolved so smoothly, both thinking a magical confrontation would have been inevitable.

"Who would have thought it would go so smoothly this time? Excellent, excellent, it’s all thanks to big brother Yuan’s luck!" Wukong laughed and said.

"Nonsense. It was clearly little brother Wukong with the silver tongue, the art of persuasion, wielding verbal skills impressively. Otherwise, Ren Tianxing might not have been so forthcoming! It just makes Laozi’s blood boil! Haha, haha!" Yuan Hong laughed heartily, slapping Wukong’s shoulder.

"That’s not quite right!" Wukong said earnestly.

"What’s not right about it?" Yuan Hong exclaimed.

Wukong then laughed and said, "You said my tongue blooms like a lotus, and my words are as nimble as springs."

Yuan Hong asked with a smile, "What’s wrong with that?"

Wukong replied, "That’s just my great vow being expressed. It’s my thoughts, I merely spoke what was in my heart! Big brother Yuan makes it sound like I’m some street swindler, and Ren Tianxing like the duped child?"

Yuan Hong said, "It’s also because the Demon Tribe has been oppressed for too long. Hearing such words is what caused such a strong reaction, making hearts surge! Wukong, we have a long and arduous task ahead."

Wukong replied, "I am well aware."

The two then rode the clouds, heading towards White Tiger City of the White Tiger Clan. Separated by only a hundred thousand li from Vermilion Bird City, they would be able to fly there in just an instant.