Chapter 16: Seven Years of Growth

In this world, there exists talk of the "Heavenly Eye" and the "Divine Eye."

For instance, the renowned Heavenly Court War God Erlang Shen possesses the Heavenly Eye.

However, the Heavenly Eye is divided into various ranks—three, six, or nine levels.

The Divine Eye, meanwhile, is further classified into "acquired" and "innate."

The acquired Divine Eye is cultivated through later practice.

Though wondrous beyond measure, it is still within the realm of understanding.

But the innate Divine Eye is different.

Each one holds infinite mysteries and possesses transcendent, otherworldly power.

And now...

His disciple seems to possess such an innate Divine Eye.

Moreover, he has begun to awaken some of its formidable abilities.

“Wukong also had an innate Divine Eye, but alas...”

With a soft sigh, Master Bodhi did not say more.

...

“Not bad power.”

Gazing at the shattered firmament, Yu Qiye smiled.

Truly worthy of the golden attribute; in such a short time, it had become his most devastating method.

Yu Qiye reckoned that even ordinary demon kings would dare not withstand this strike head-on.

It embodied the cycle of life and death and concealed boundless lethal intent.

If the Monkey King’s Golden Eyes originally followed a grand and majestic path,

Then Yu Qiye’s Blood Moon Golden Eye, through his development, was born purely for destruction and havoc.

Yet just then, Yu Qiye glanced at his attribute list.

Though he had spent these seven years cultivating a peaceful life,

He could not withstand the twice-yearly evolution of his attributes.

Through his "efforts," he had gained several powerful red attributes.

“Immense Strength (Purple)” upgraded to “Mountain-Moving Strength (Red).”

[Mountain-Moving Strength (Red) — Your might is world-shaking, rivaling most ancient extraordinary beings, second only to some innate spirits.]

...

“Adamantine Body (Purple)” upgraded to “Unyielding Golden Body (Red).”

[Unyielding Golden Body (Red) — Your body has been honed repeatedly and is nearly indestructible; you can ignore mundane weapons and even withstand a few attacks from spiritual treasures.]

Upon reading this, Yu Qiye raised his right hand and lightly tapped his chest.

Bang!

The sound of clashing metal echoed through the heavens.

More astonishingly, a mysterious radiance flowed across his chest.

“With this body, my combat power must have risen a notch or two...”

Demons forsaken by heaven, who do not cultivate their primordial spirit, often temper their physical bodies.

In sheer physical strength, they surpass most immortals and Buddhas by a level.

Yu Qiye’s body was considered formidable even among demons.

His combat strength was something to be reckoned with.

Now, relying on this body and some strange techniques, he estimated he could challenge an ordinary demon king.

However, this was not all of Yu Qiye’s progress over seven years.

“Claw Path Mastery (Blue)” upgraded to “Claw Path Proficiency (Purple).”

“Claw Path Proficiency (Purple)” upgraded to “Claw Path Mastery (Red).”

[Claw Path Mastery — Your claw techniques have reached mastery; their variations are unfathomable and uniquely cunning.]

This was another combat attribute.

At the moment it turned red, Yu Qiye felt countless tiny figures flickering in his mind.

Each was an expert in the Claw Path, constantly practicing...

Like many master teachers guiding Yu Qiye.

“Five fingers exert strength, nothing can withstand; urging metal to split stone, as if piercing decayed earth.”

Moved in his heart, Yu Qiye’s five fingers extended into claws.

A faint eerie glow flowed at their tips, chilling to behold.

But more terrifying than this was that Yu Qiye had also comprehended a unique claw technique.

“Wind follows claw movement, claw arrives where wind blows.”

Yu Qiye had perfectly fused the Claw Path with Wind Technique.

One claw reached out, and a howling gale roared forth.

Yet this wind did more than just enhance the claw’s power; it could also manipulate the enemy.

Like now,

Yu Qiye raised his right claw, reaching for a nearby giant boulder.

Whoosh!

Though the boulder was some distance away, an inexplicable force surged forth, pulling the boulder toward his claw.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the entire boulder shattered into countless fragments.

“I heard that the Golden-Winged Roc has long mastered the Claw Path; if he seizes someone, his claws transform with the captive’s shape—no matter how skilled the transformation, it’s futile.”

If the rumors were true, the Golden-Winged Roc’s Claw Path took the route of capture and control.

Yu Qiye’s path leaned more toward killing and slaughter.

Different personalities,

Different directions in the Claw Path.

...

Summarizing his progress over these seven years, Yu Qiye lifted his eyes to the sky.

He knew the Monkey King’s seven-year trial was nearing its end.

What followed would surely be a meteoric rise, unstoppable in momentum.

Though Yu Qiye had accumulated much and had a solid foundation,

Compared to the Monkey King in the near future, he still had some distance to close.

Unlike others, the Monkey King was born from the Stone of Heaven, accumulating countless spiritual essences within.

Now, the essence lay dormant, continuously settling inside him.

But once a method was found, the accumulation of countless years would burst forth in a single moment.

This was why the Monkey King, after only a few days of cultivation, could leap to become the "Peerless Demon King."

Accumulation first, eruption later.

These seven years, it seemed more Master Bodhi was tempering the Monkey King’s temperament.

Born a stone monkey, his nature was unruly.

Without tempering, he could not become a great figure.

Yet, even after such tempering, he later stirred one calamity after another.

Seizing the East Sea, wreaking havoc in the Underworld, even storming the Heavenly Court...

This was because he bore enormous karmic consequences.

Had it been any other demon, they would have died countless times over by now.

“If I take one step further, reaching the demon king realm, perhaps I could contend with him.”

Yu Qiye mused.

This was no arrogance.

The Monkey King, though terrifying, had yet to reach his true pinnacle.

Only after consuming countless Peaches of Immortality, swallowing innumerable Golden Pills, and drinking endless celestial brews—fully igniting his potential—would he reach his true peak.

At that time, though he would lack the power to sweep all in his path,

His combat strength, within the Three Realms and without transcending the Great Dao, would be supreme!

Yu Qiye, though now only a small crow demon,

Had cunningly seized countless red attributes.

Now, gazing at his attribute list, it was a sea of red.

This was his unique "foundation," his unique "accumulation."

Therefore, if he reached the demon king stage, he would not be considered an "ordinary demon king."

Though reluctant to admit it, Yu Qiye was indeed evolving toward becoming a "fiend" or "monster."

Two great fiends of the small Flower-Fruit Mountain...

Were about to emerge spectacularly!

“I will first step into the demon king realm.”

Yu Qiye’s eyes flickered with resolve.

...

That night, under sparse stars and a bright moon,

Yu Qiye went alone to Master Bodhi’s cave abode.

“Master.”

Yu Qiye called out loudly.

“Why do you come here?”

As the words fell, a figure with white hair and beard suddenly appeared before Yu Qiye.

No aura, no pressure.

Yet for some reason, a chill ran through Yu Qiye’s body.

He already knew Master Bodhi was terrifying beyond measure.

But now, even the slightest revelation of Master Bodhi’s presence filled him with dread.

“So this is the peak of this world.”

Suppressing the trembling in his heart, Yu Qiye bent his knees, intending to kneel.

For some unknown reason, an invisible force lifted his knees.

“Master, I have stood at the pinnacle of demon generals for many years.”

“In mortal terms, I have reached the peak of tribulation. Now I feel the thunder tribulation approaching. I beseech you, Master, to impart divine techniques and methods to aid me in passing this tribulation.”

Yu Qiye could not wait like the Monkey King for fate to come to him.

Now, he wished to transcend the tribulation and become an immortal.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity to seek divine techniques and methods.