When Sun Wukong's eyes regained clarity once again, he beheld a world blanketed in snow white.

The snowflakes danced down from the sky like catkins, shrouding the Four Great Continents, mountains, fields, and cities, all enveloped by white thorns.

The thorns spread endlessly across the land; the cold wind blew, the thorns glistened like pieces of silver, forcing people to stay indoors, and birds and beasts vanished without a trace.

"This snow renders the world exceedingly frail."

Some Immortals stood behind Sun Wukong with folded hands, reporting: "If the Three Realms are sealed in ice, when the explosion comes, all life will be shattered to pieces."

"Hundreds of millions in the Mortal World are frozen, but we find no way to halt the spread of the thorns."

Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, at a loss for action, said: "One day from now, the thorns will have frozen the entire Three Realms."

"Heavenly Emperor."

The Immortals inquired about what to do.

Sun Wukong withdrew his gaze, looked at the wound on his chest, watched the blood slowly ooze out, and a trace of calm surfaced on his face.

"It's alright."

He said, "The catastrophe has passed."

Ao Luan, standing by his side, sensed an ominous premonition.

Sun Wukong turned to look at her, and dozens of shimmering halos appeared around them.

Before Ao Luan could react, he waved his hand, and the halos fell, pinning Ao Luan's body in place.

Ao Luan's mouth opened slightly, her voice hoarse, she asked: "Why?"

"Because you would stop me."

Sun Wukong gazed at her, saying: "I have to take it away."

"Away?"

"It's the only way."

In Sun Wukong's hand appeared the Heavenly Dao Jade Seal, instantly radiating brilliant light.

Sun Wukong released the Jade Seal, letting it fly towards Ao Luan: "The Buddha Beads, defeated by me, have lost consciousness, now just a lifeless object, which I can take away."

The Jade Seal, obeying his command, entered Ao Luan's body.

"Why must it be Brother?"

Ao Luan's voice was hoarse as she spoke.

"This matter, only I can accomplish."

Sun Wukong smiled faintly.

It was a heartfelt joy he felt at that moment.

"Don't worry, everything will get better."

Ao Luan fixed her gaze on Sun Wukong, silent tears falling.

"Everything will be alright, but what about Brother?"

She spoke with sorrow.

Large teardrops fell uncontrollably.

She understood what Sun Wukong intended to do, and also understood that she could not stop him.

Every time, whenever Sun Wukong made a decision, she could not stop him; she could only watch his back.

Intense grief and regret surged in Ao Luan's heart.

"Do not show such an expression, Ao Luan!"

Sun Wukong patted Ao Luan's head several times.

In the moment when he defeated the Buddha Beads, he glimpsed scenes of Chaos.

Numerous ornamental columns stood tall everywhere, and he saw countless paths as well.

In that moment, he knew what he had to do.

At the end of those paths, he was certain he could realize his dream.

"The Jade Seal will take you to a place."

Sun Wukong said to Ao Luan: "There lies a gift I've prepared for you."

Ao Luan cried inconsolably, tears streaming down her cheeks like twin rivulets, falling like broken strands of pearls.

Her teary eyes looked at Sun Wukong, whose gaze remained pure as ever like that of a child.

No matter how much time had passed, Sun Wukong was still the same Sun Wukong she first saw.

His soul bore not a trace of shadow, always resplendent.

"Brother..."

Ao Luan tried to speak, but the next moment, she could not.

Sun Wukong's kiss landed on her lips.

This was the scene she had dreamt of in countless centuries.

Yet she never imagined that when it became reality, all Ao Luan felt was the bitter taste of tears across her lips.

The tears soaked Sun Wukong's lips as well.

"No matter how long it takes, I will eventually return."

He spoke as he left her lips.

Dazzling flames appeared beneath his feet, spreading rapidly around, the Wanling Heavenly Dao isolating everything, throwing Ao Luan aside, forming a vast fiery net.

Sun Wukong turned around.

The Jade Emperor and Buddha had appeared at some point, offering him solemn salutations.

"The great calamity has passed; the Three Realms will welcome rebirth, all things shall revive."

Sun Wukong said.

All surviving Immortals, Demons, and humans, at this moment, knelt on the ground, suppressing their sorrow.

Sun Wukong laughed, "From now on, the matters here are left to all of you."

"At your command!"

The host of Immortals answered through their tears.

Afterward, a splendid radiance rose.

In the sky scattered with snowflakes, the trajectory of that light resembled a Light River rushing towards the future.

On the ground, the mortals gazed at this spectacle in a daze.

That beam of light, so familiar and unprofaned, made many look up in awe.

"What is that?"

"Heavenly Emperor..."

Someone replied, "That is our Heavenly Emperor."

Such an intensely hot, incredibly warm light could only emanate from one being.

People in every corner of the world watched that light.

In the rising beam, the light pattern descended.

"Is this alright?"

That voice said, "You don't know if you will succeed, yet you left me behind."

"It's not a problem."

Sun Wukong replied, "While I am gone, you will help them."

"I will."

The Phoenix's voice carried a hint of sorrow: "Don't you die on me, Your Majesty."

Sun Wukong nodded slightly, turning into a brilliant light rushing toward the Chaos.

That radiant light surged into the blood-colored space, lighting up the Chaos briefly before disappearing with that colossal object.

No one knew what happened there.

But after Sun Wukong departed, endless Merit descended from the heavens.

That boundless golden radiance, like the sunbeams, melted the thorns.

Once people came to their senses, they couldn't help but kneel on the ground and weep.

Centuries later, people would still remember this day, the dazzling radiance, the warm beam of light.

It was their Heavenly Emperor, fulfilling his duty as a beacon of light.

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