Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage-Chapter 74 - Wukong Refines the Seal and Alters Fate

The Heaven-Defying Taoist nodded and said, “Very good!”

He then took some materials from within a Mustard Seed, set up a formation, crafted a furnace, took the World-Cleansing Dust Whisk, and with a fierce stroke, the Golden Crow Law Body flew out from the Seven-Colored Divine Light, spewing True Sun Essence.

Yuan Hong thought to himself, “Wukong’s brother has quite a few Magical Treasures, far better off than this poor destitute fellow.”

Since Yuan Hong became a Sect Founder in the Ancient Times, he had never used any Magic Artifact, fighting all the heroes of the world with a single Sky-Piercing Iron Staff, and his Divine Skills were invincible. With a stretch of his arms, he could pluck stars, catch the moon, shrink thousands of mountains, discern fortune, and manipulate the universe. What need was there for Magic Artifacts? Yet nowadays, his cultivation level had greatly regressed due to the chronic effects of the great Dao injury, forcing him to suppress it with mana and cultivation, thus falling to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, his Divine Skills power significantly reduced, which was rather embarrassing.

Wukong set up the formation and then embedded the True Spirit imprint and prohibitions in it to facilitate the incorporation of the destiny during refinement.

He kneaded the destiny into a ball and threw it into the furnace fire, immediately causing a series of crackling explosions. The True Sun Essence is not a trivial thing; it is obtained by refining True Sunfire for a thousand years. These essences were collected from up above the Forty-Nine Heavens, a place that harmonizes with the Heavenly Dao and has endured for a hundred thousand years, resulting in an even greater amount of refined True Sun Essence. Furthermore, without the abilities and the heritage from Di Jun, outsiders like Wukong wouldn’t be able to collect this True Sun Essence.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist brought over the dust whisk and stood by the furnace fire, while Wukong prompted the formation with a Dharma Decree.

The Golden Crow Law Body spewed a furnace’s worth of True Sun Essence, and the Heaven-Defying Taoist used the Seven-Colored Divine Light as a backdraft for the fire. The seven colors incessantly brushed into the flames, making the fire grow even more formidable.

Wukong then shouted, “Supreme Elderly Lord, with the speed of a decree!”

The Supreme Elderly Lord is the Supreme Revered Taoist Laozi, who during the refinement of Magic Artifacts or Elixir Pills must be invoked with the incantation “Supreme Elderly Lord, with the speed of a decree.” Why? Because the Primordial Spirit of the Heavenly Dao Saint rests upon Heavenly Dao, and Laozi is the most skilled in refining artifacts and alchemy. Chanting this incantation has some wonderful effects that can lead to better refinement of Elixir Pills and artifacts.

This is also the predetermination in the mysteries of destiny; this incantation can stimulate the causality of Heavenly Dao.

But see how the five-colored light became as sticky as glue, mixed into a mass, and then was refined by the great fire into a green color.

Wukong thought to himself, “When refining the Great Seal, what should be engraved on it? Should it be engraved with images of mountains and rivers?”

In past years, the Sky-Overturning Seal had Mount Buzhou engraved on it, thus it contained the essence of Mount Buzhou and was extremely powerful, reputed to be able to overturn the heavens with one seal.

Wukong secretly deliberated, “If I want to overthrow the Jade Emperor and Tathagata, then I should engrave it with a symbolism representing the commoners below, a sickle and an axe!”

With that thought, he lifted the Buddha Beating Staff to the sky, transforming it into a chisel, which he then placed in the furnace fire, producing a clanging sound of iron forging, to engrave a sickle and an axe on that destiny Great Seal. But this represented the desire of the world’s commoners and was extremely difficult to imprint. Wukong, stimulating his mana, carved for a while, and was already breaking out in a heavy sweat.

Yuan Hong said, “Let me lend you a hand.”

With those words, he stretched out his arms, reached into the void and grabbed a mass of mysterious substance, and threw it into the furnace.

Wukong curiously asked, “What is this?”

Yuan Hong smiled and said, “It is the universe! By using the universe to boost the flames, the power will definitely be greatly increased.”

As expected, after Wukong carved for a while, he felt the strenuous feeling significantly lessen, and then he joyfully continued carving.

The seal was forged for a full forty-nine days before it even began to take shape, and the engravings of the sickle and axe became increasingly distinct. It was likely that in a few more days, it would be completely refined. Throughout these forty-nine days, the sound of iron forging was continuous; Wukong and the Heaven-Defying Taoist took turns refining this Great Seal, but the process exhausted too much of their mana and energy.

After ninety-nine days of refinement, the great seal was finally complete!

A bluish great seal emerged from the essence of the True Sunfire, shimmering brightly, casting a cascade of blue light all throughout Heaven and Earth.

Wukong picked up the Green Lotus of the Green Emperor, and with a swipe through the furnace flames, a stream of blue light flowed into it, blending with the other blue lights, and eventually, the great seal absorbed all of it, becoming even more spherical and perfect.

Wukong had infused both the restrictions and the True Spirit into the great seal, thus completing the great task.

With the Golden Crow Law Body having absorbed the True Sunfire and the furnace removed, Wukong summoned the great seal into his hand with a gesture.

This great seal was immensely heavy, mainly because its very concept was profoundly significant, representing a revolutionary will. If in the future Wukong’s mana became even more profound, and he were to refine this great seal once more, making it lightweight yet perfect, then this seal might even surpass the Sky-Overturning Seal in power.

The base of the great seal was engraved with a sickle and axe, gleaming in golden brilliance, embodying an immensely heavy concept that could rival mountains and rivers.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist took over the great seal and asked, “What should this seal be called?”

Wukong pondered for a moment and replied, “Since this seal carries the revolutionary will of the impoverished and the common people, and aims to revolutionize the decrees of Tathagata and the Jade Emperor, let’s call it the Great Revolution Seal! A seal to revolutionize the fate of the world.”

Yuan Hong clapped his hands and laughed, “Excellent! What a fitting name for the Great Revolution Seal. This seal carries Wukong’s grand aspirations and the revolutionary will. Naming it thus couldn’t be more appropriate. The name matches the intent!”

Naming a magical treasure was a crucial step. Just like the Sky-Overturning Seal, it was tremendously fearsome, and its name matched its nature. If the Sky-Overturning Seal were to be named something lesser, like the ‘Mountain-Overturning Seal,’ it would not align with the Heavenly Decree, and its power would diminish substantially. Of course, if a weaker magical treasure were to be named ‘Sky-Overturning Seal,’ it would attract Heavenly Karma and would ultimately face calamity.

This was why when Wukong previously used ‘Heaven-Defying’ as his alias, others were immensely shocked. In fact, as evidenced, all the Seven Great Sages had faced calamities. The Monkey King and the Long-Armed Ape suffered in the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region, the Crocodile Demon King was killed, the Bull Demon King nearly became someone’s mount, the Roc King became a protector mount for the Buddhist Sect, the Lion Camel King was captured by the Medicine Buddha to become a mount, and Wukong was nearly killed by Tathagata. These ‘Great Saints’ all met the fate implied by their titles.

Wukong smiled and said, “Since I assume the role of Green Emperor, I must fulfill the duties it entails. I vow to bring equality to all under Heaven, freedom to all beings! The current Jade Emperor and Buddha Ancestor reign high above, treating all beings as mere fish and meat, claiming compassion while acting for their desires. By taking up the ‘Great Revolution,’ I aim to prove my grand aspirations and revolutionize the world!”

Yuan Hong said, “The vow you’ve made is no small matter, having attracted significant Heavenly Karma. You must be cautious in your actions in the future to avoid calamities.”

Wukong nodded and replied, “Of course.”

Upon fulfilling his grand aspirations, this magical treasure would also become utterly perfect, rivalling even the Innate Spiritual Treasures in power.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist then used the Great Revolution Seal and said, “Try it now.”

Wukong nodded, raised his Buddha Beating Staff, and activated the Primordial Great Strength Technique, unleashing a force of millions of pounds that startled Yuan Hong. The Heaven-Defying Taoist gave a soft command, his hands weaving Dharma Decrees, murmuring an incantation.

“Great Revolution Seal, revolutionize the world, equality for all beings, will to revolutionize, courage and diligence, unyielding!”

Wukong’s staff was already striking down!

The Great Revolution Seal trembled, a sickle and axe materializing in the void above, both crossing and perfectly blocking Wukong’s Buddha Beating Staff. Both trembled from the impact, repelling Wukong’s staff and sending it flying backward. Wukong, reacting swiftly, took another mighty strike with even greater force!

The Heaven-Defying Taoist’s expression remained unchanged, his fingers subtly pointing towards the virtual space around the sickle and axe. The sickle instantly became massive, clashing with the Buddha Beating Staff. The overwhelming will of the beings and the revolutionary heavy intent burst forth, sending Wukong flying.

Yuan Hong’s expression slightly changed, desiring to test the power of the Great Revolution Seal himself. He activated his Innate Divine Ability, his arms swelling massively as he reached for the seal.

His hands clasping the great seal, he tried to lift it but couldn’t shift it an inch— truly tremendously heavy!

The Long-Armed Ape exclaimed joyously, “This Great Revolution Seal is indeed extremely heavy; once used, even my Innate Divine Ability cannot move it.”

The Heaven-Defying Taoist laughed heartily, “Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha! Possessing this treasure, I fear my combat strength has increased by more than tenfold.”

Wukong also nodded and said, “This item is yet to be perfected; once the grand aspirations are accomplished, its power might escalate even further!”

The Heaven-Defying Taoist then stored away the Great Revolution Seal. Under Wukong’s will, it fused with him.

A poem praised this achievement, saying, “In the ancient battlefield, the Green Emperor stands tall, the Rebel Sage’s will stronger than Heaven. Tathagata’s schemes all come to nought, not fearing Buddha’s arrival, nor the celestial immortals!”

Wukong integrated a strand of his True Spirit with his Primordial Spirit into the Emperor’s Path Ranking, tearing apart its spatial fabric, and emerged with Yuan Hong.

They appeared above Water Curtain Cave, which had transformed, now flaunting a majestic bronze palace, lined with hundreds of flags, bright with lights and decorations, all in anticipation of Wukong’s return to be crowned the Green Emperor.