"Xiao Bailong! Wake up! We've arrived at Ling Mountain!"

The familiar voice of my eldest martial brother echoed in my ears, and I abruptly opened my eyes, gasping for breath.

What flashed before my eyes were the remnants of the grand Xiong Hall and the horrifying demon lair drenched in blood and flesh.

"What's wrong? We've reached Ling Mountain, shouldn't you be overjoyed?"

My usually kind second martial brother smiled and patted my shoulder playfully.

"Xiao Bailong has worked hard on this journey. Sun Wukong, don't disturb him anymore."

I looked up and saw my master's serene face, full of affection as he gazed at me.

What's going on?

Didn't I die on Ling Mountain?

Doubts and uncertainty surged in my heart, like tumultuous waves.

I lifted my head and saw the distant Ling Mountain radiating with Buddha's light, filled with spiritual energy and tranquility.

But what kept flashing in my mind was the soaring blood and the putrid stench of corpses!

"I'm fine."

I forced a smile, suppressing the doubts in my heart, feeling a chaotic mess in my head.

Just a while ago, I witnessed the Buddhas on Ling Mountain shedding their shells and transforming into terrifying insects. However, now I found myself back at the foot of Ling Mountain...

Could it be that the previous events were just a nightmare?

While I was still in astonishment, the memories of those insects rapidly faded from my mind, making it difficult for me to remember.

"Hey! Master, look!"

"Why is there a Taoist temple here?"

Before I could say anything, my second martial brother suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

We looked ahead and saw a Taoist temple standing not far away, appearing particularly strange amidst the Buddha's light that covered Ling Mountain.

Before long, an old Taoist with a long white beard walked out and smiled:

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! The holy monk has experienced various tribulations but has finally achieved success. It is truly a cause for celebration!"

"I am the Golden Summit Grand Immortal, and I have come to guide the holy monk up the mountain."

The Golden Summit Grand Immortal walked up briskly, tightly grasping my master's hand, his eyes filled with eagerness as if he couldn't wait to take us to Ling Mountain.

"Amitabha, thank you for your courtesy,"

My master seemed somewhat unable to resist such enthusiasm and allowed him to lead the way. My eldest martial brother furrowed his brow, and there seemed to be a flicker of golden light in his eyes, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

I followed behind my master and them, my mind still occupied with the previous nightmare, but I couldn't seem to recall it clearly.

As I stepped into the realm of Ling Mountain, the Buddha's light, which should have purified the hearts of people, made me inexplicably feel a chill in my bones.

All of a sudden, I felt something and turned my head to look at the location of the Taoist temple.

In an instant, a cold sensation rushed from my spine to the top of my head!

What Taoist temple?!

Wherever we had passed, there was a decaying, tumor-like thing trembling gently. At its top, there was a sharp spike glistening with cold light, and on top of it, a half-decomposed skeleton swayed in the wind...

That is... the Golden Summit Grand Immortal!

He's dead!

Even his divine body has been devoured to the point of being unrecognizable!

Then, the thing holding my master's hand... what is it?

I turned my head abruptly!

Only to find a gloomy and ancient face almost touching mine!

"It" smiled:

"You, did you see it all?"

I'm dead!