In the end, the Great Sage broke the rules.

After Chen Yi had had enough fun in the sky, he asked Sun Wukong to take him back to the ground.

They continued their westward journey with their three apprentices, and before they knew it, a majestic mountain loomed before them like a giant beast.

Chen Yi couldn't help but complain, "Why is it always mountains?"

He utterly detested mountain climbing, especially in deserted mountains.

Not only was the road difficult to travel, but there were also many snakes, rats, insects, and ants. He could easily get bitten if he wasn't careful. But that wasn't all; he was afraid that there might be monsters in the mountains...

Pigsy, panting, said, "Master, let's rest for a day and go up the mountain tomorrow."

He looked up at the sky; it was only around 11 or 12 in the morning. But Chen Yi really didn't want to continue, so he nodded and said, "Alright, let's rest at the foot of the mountain for a day."

Conserve your energy and prepare to bravely climb to new heights tomorrow.

As soon as Chen Yi finished speaking, Sha Wujing began building a wooden shed like a diligent little bee, while continuously taking out various daily necessities from his storage bottle.

Chen Yi was about to step forward to help, but was stopped by Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong kicked Zhu Bajie, who was lying on the ground, and said in a deep voice, "Fatty Pig! Hurry up and help Brother Sha with the work!"

Upon hearing the nickname "Fatty Pig," Chen Yi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The Great Sage is really something; he only called Pigsy "Fat Pig" once, and Pigsy actually remembered it.

Upon hearing Chen Yi's laughter, Pigsy's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple. He grumbled indignantly, "...Eldest Brother! How many times have I told you! Don't call me Fatty Pig!"

Sun Wukong remained unmoved and shouted sternly, "Enough nonsense, hurry up and go help!"

Pigsy reluctantly got up, muttering under his breath as if he were cursing Sun Wukong, but dared not shout it out loud.

Pigsy pouted in dissatisfaction and reluctantly went to help Sandy with the work: building a wooden shed, setting up a bed, and cooking...

As the master and his disciples finished lunch and were preparing for their afternoon nap, the old man's shouts suddenly came from the mountain.

"There's a fire demon on the mountain that eats people. Let's go back!"

"Let's go back!"

"Go back to the Tang Dynasty! Don't head west!"

After hearing the old man's words clearly, Chen Yi was shocked. Could it be that they had already arrived at Lion Camel Ridge?

Chen Yi looked worried and said to Sun Wukong, "Great Sage, why don't you go and find out what's going on with that old man?"

Sun Wukong looked at the worry in Chen Yi's eyes and wondered why he was afraid of those little demons when he, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, was there.

But he readily agreed, "Okay, I'll go right away."

Before long, Chen Yi saw Sun Wukong carrying an old man as if he were a chick, slowly stopping in front of him.

Sun Wukong tossed the old man like a sack of potatoes in front of Chen Yi and said, "I went up the mountain and brought him back. Ask me whatever you want."

Chen Yi: ...I'm really impressed with you. I asked you to find out what was going on, and you just brought people here!

Chen Yi quickly helped the old man up, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Old benefactor, my apprentice acted rashly, please forgive him."

The old man waved his hand and said it was no problem.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Sha Wujing asked, "Old benefactor, why do you want to stop us from traveling west?"

The old man sighed deeply and explained, "This place was originally the prosperous and bustling Lion Camel Kingdom, a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. It was the most prosperous place in Xiniu Hezhou. Here, humans and demons once coexisted in harmony."

"However, five hundred years ago, three extremely ferocious demon kings came here. They devoured the king and civil and military officials in this city. Now this place has become a land abandoned by the gods, called the Eight Hundred Li Lion Camel Ridge."

"After they devoured everyone in the Lion Camel Kingdom, they led their 48,000 lesser demons to occupy this place and commit all sorts of evil deeds."

"This place has now become a mountain range covered in bones, with countless skeletons everywhere, and monsters roaming within a hundred miles..."

"Here, blood flows like rivers, corpses lie everywhere, and even the soil under your feet is made of human flesh... What a living hell!"

"Elders, you should quickly take a detour."

Chen Yi sighed and said softly, "Thank you for reminding me, old man."

However, how could one possibly bypass the 800-li Lion Camel Ridge?

Moreover, they've lingered at the foot of the mountain for so long; they've probably already attracted the attention of those three monsters.

Sun Wukong shouted sternly, "You old man, stop playing tricks here and quickly reveal your true form!"

The old man's expression froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place. Then he sighed helplessly and revealed his true form.

Upon recognizing Venus, Sun Wukong said irritably, "Li Changgeng! You old man, how could you be so cunning and unreasonable, actually pretending to be an old man to deceive us!"

Taibai Jinxing looked helpless and explained, "Great Sage, the demons here are far too powerful. I had no choice but to come and warn you."

Taibai Jinxing, fearing that the master and his disciples might not take his words to heart, patiently explained, "This mountain is called the Eight Hundred Li Lion Camel Ridge. In the middle is a Lion Camel Cave, where three demons reside."

"These three demons have countless lesser demons under their command. There are five thousand in the South Ridge, five thousand in the North Ridge, ten thousand at the East Road, and countless more at the West Road... The number of firewood and woodcutters is even more numerous. In total, there are probably forty-seven or forty-eight thousand people."

"This only includes those with brand names; the number of those without brand names is countless."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy became like a frightened bird, his face turning ashen with fear. He stammered, "Master! Let's hurry back home!"

Chen Yi joked, "Aren't you going on the pilgrimage?"

Pigsy: "Master! Let's all run for our lives!"

Sun Wukong: "With me here, what are you afraid of?"

Pigsy grumbled irritably, "This mountain is full of demons, how are we supposed to get through?"

Sun Wukong retorted, "They are just a few minor demons. This Great Sage can easily defeat them without leaving a trace."

Pigsy: "These mountains and fields are teeming with demons. Even if you called them all out by name, it would take you seven or eight days. Can you eliminate them all by yourself?"

Chen Yi suggested, "Why don't we take a detour?"

Pigsy nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "Yes, yes, yes! I, Old Pig, also think we should take a detour!"

Sha Wujing thought Zhu Bajie's words made sense and chimed in, "Brother, I also think we should take a detour."

Even Venus himself came to remind him, so he felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

Taibai Jinxing looked at the arguing master and disciples, shook his head helplessly, and turned to drift away.

Sun Wukong looked at the three people who shared the same opinion and pursed his lips unhappily.

Chen Yi whispered, "Great Sage, shall we take a detour?"

Not wanting to confront those three monsters head-on, we had no choice but to take a detour.

Sun Wukong scoffed, "Little monk, why aren't you on my side?"

Chen Yi: "?!"

Is now the time to be conflicted about this?

Helpless, Chen Yi quickly coaxed, "Okay, okay, I'm on your side!"

"Let's go to Lion Camel Ridge tomorrow. If the Great Sage can't fight off four hands, let that monster catch me and steam or boil me..."

Sun Wukong quickly interrupted Chen Yi: "Stop!"

"Take a detour!"

Although Buddha would ensure the young monk's safety by sending him on his pilgrimage, he dared not gamble. If some foolish demons were to harm the young monk, he would regret it too late.

Hearing that Sun Wukong agreed to take a detour, Chen Yi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.