The strike of the long whip against the water curtain caused it to burst open like a floodgate, unleashing a deluge from the crack that disappeared in the blink of an eye. The entire water curtain, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, crashed down as if the entire firmament was pressing down without distinction.

Wukong knew the pressure in the water must be incredibly immense, so he utilized all his skills, channeling his magical power to employ his water-repelling divine ability. True to the Great Sage among Water Apes' unique skill, not a single drop of water touched him despite the countless gallons falling.

Wukong dared not linger, pushing himself to swim upstream. The Jiao Loong, with a face of disbelief mixed with shock and anger, was astonished that the macaque possessed such water-repelling divine abilities. Normally, simple water-avoidance spells could hardly withstand the crushing pressure of such a downfall—minor injuries would result in physical damage, while major ones could obliterate the soul. The Loong's resentment stemmed from the destruction of the palace he had painstakingly built.

Seeing Wukong escaping upstream, he, disregarding the lives of his aquatic brethren in his palace, pursued with his silver whip. Despite Wukong's speed, he could not outpace the Jiao Loong, born and bred in water. Soon overtaken, Wukong had to alternate between using his water-repelling ability and facing his enemy, struggling to manage both.

After a brief exchange of blows, Wukong suffered two hits, causing bone-deep pain, though not critically injured. Having never been at a disadvantage in direct combat since arriving in this world, he was both shocked and fearful. Prioritizing escape, he aimed for the water's surface to settle the score with the evil Jiao later.

The escape was arduous, but the Jiao Loong, in no hurry, kept lashing at Wukong. Fortunately, Wukong's robust physique, aided by the Protective Aura, allowed him to dodge most attacks, preventing serious injury.

Eventually, as the water started to clear, Wukong knew he was nearing the surface. With a final burst of strength, he leaped out of the water, vanishing from sight, only to reappear above the surface.

Wukong cursed loudly, "You vile Loong, if you're a man, come out and face your grandpa Sun!"

The Jiao Loong emerged leisurely, riding the waves with a mocking smile, "How did you find those whips? Hmph, I didn't want to take advantage of you, yet you dared to destroy my palace. How can I let this go? Even above water, do you think I fear you?"

Wukong responded, "Fine, fine, fine, whoever flees first is the grandson. How about it?"

The Loong agreed, "Then prepare to be the grandson!"

The two clashed again, weapons in hand. In terms of skill, they were evenly matched, but Wukong, fueled by rage, attacked fiercely. The Jiao Loong, underestimating his opponent, soon found himself at a disadvantage. Not long into the battle, Wukong landed a hit on the Loong's left foot.

With a long howl of pain, the Loong revealed his true form—a thirty-zhang-long body with the silver whip integrating into it like a Loong tendon, twisting and moving within. Wukong smirked, thinking even if the Loong was formidable, he couldn't be stronger than the Bull Demon King. Wukong also transformed, matching the Loong's thirty-zhang length, and the two engaged in a fierce battle atop the sea.

Stolen novel; please report.

As Wukong's staff technique improved, the Loong struggled to gain the upper hand. The Loong coiled and spat out a stream of flame aimed at Wukong, who dodged, anticipating the attack. The Loong's tail flicked, revealing a smaller, faster clone that charged at Wukong. Wukong struck the clone with his staff, only to find it was an illusion. Distracted, Wukong plunged into the sea.

Seeing Wukong's fall, the Jiao Loong seized the moment, swirling the sea to engulf him. Unable to gain an advantage in the air, he lured Wukong into the sea. Realizing the trap, Wukong employed a substitution technique, his true form escaping to the clouds. Frustrated by the setback, Wukong changed locations and dived back into the sea.

After a brief encounter with a catfish, Wukong learned the location of the North Sea Loong Palace and headed there using his water-avoidance technique.

Upon arrival, the North Sea Loong King, Ao Shun, hurriedly welcomed him. Wukong, wasting no time, inquired about the evil Jiao's origins.

Ao Shun explained, "Great Immortal, please calm your anger. This evil Jiao is not from my domain but resides in the deep north of the North Sea, seldom emerging or disturbing our aquatic races."

Wukong accused, "Are you in league with him?"

Ao Shun denied, "I dare not. The evil Jiao is too proud to even look me in the eye. He acts alone, without alliances, and I have no grounds to interfere."

Wukong further inquired, "What peculiarities lie in the deep north of the North Sea?"

Ao Shun explained, "That place is near the eye of the North Sea. Ordinary aquatic beings that reach there cannot withstand the whirlpool's suction force and are pulverized."

Wukong then asked, "Do you know of his abilities?"

Ao Shun replied with a bitter smile, "The Immortal overestimates me. Though I am the ruler of the North Sea, my power is but a shadow of my ancestors’, and I possess little magic. How could I discern the abilities of that malevolent Jiao?"

Convinced that Ao Shun would not lie, Wukong exchanged a few pleasantries and then took his leave.

Finding his trip fruitless, Wukong could not swallow the resentment brewing in his heart. Upon exiting the sea, his chest heavy with oppression, he could not help but let out a long howl that even knocked birds from the sky.

Following his cry, two figures approached from a distance: Wang Yu and Tong Feng, who had been enjoying themselves in the sea but came out upon hearing Wukong’s extraordinary howl.

Wukong narrated the details of his fight. Tong Feng and Wang Yu, less capable than Wukong and only versed in rudimentary divine water techniques, advised prudence. The saying goes, 'It's easy to catch a tiger on the mountains and a Jiao in the water,' but that only applies to ordinary species. Facing a rare sea Jiao like this, they dared not confront it.

Tong Feng said, "A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. Once Wu Zhiqi recovers completely, he will surely capture that evil Jiao for you to vent your frustration." Wukong was half-convinced; though Wu Zhiqi was known as the Water God Ape, he might not match this formidable Jiao dragon.

"Don’t be doubtful," Tong Feng continued, "Wu Zhiqi made his name thousands of years ago, traversing rivers and seas, commanding respect from all dragon clans. Even a powerful Jiao cannot outfight him in the water."

Anxious, Wukong asked, "How long will it take for Wu Zhiqi’s injuries to heal?"

Tong Feng hesitated, "It's hard to say. The water here is very pure, and replenishing his vital water energy won't take many days, but his injuries are severe and his spirit is damaged. It might take a year or so."

Scratching his head, Wukong felt impatient. There were many tasks he had to attend to; he could not wait a year. If he was not mistaken, this malevolent Jiao was likely the "Overlord of the Seas" from the Seven Great Saints—a Jiao Demon King.

In principle, this Jiao Demon King should have become his sworn brother, but they had fought in confusion, and Wukong had destroyed his palace, now bound by enmity. How should he proceed? In "Journey to the West," the chapter on the Seven Great Saints barely touches upon why they became brothers. The circumstances today were surely different, with Wu Zhiqi being the variable.

Wu Zhiqi, known only as the Jellyfish Queen in "Journey to the West" and once suppressed by the Grand Saint Bodhisattva Wang, had now been rescued, leading to a branching of events. If Wu Zhiqi could subdue the Jiao Demon King soon, it might set the stage for the future gathering of the Seven Great Saints. But with Wu Zhiqi injured, delays could lead to further complications. Recalling the Peng Demon King, who had also fled from a fight, Wukong sighed heavily, his heart filled with turmoil.

Annotations:

Jiao Loong: In Chinese mythology, a Jiao is a type of Loong associated with water. This character represents a formidable antagonist in the story.

North Sea Loong King (Ao Shun): Part of the quartet of Loong Kings in Chinese mythology, ruling over the North Sea. Loong Kings are considered deities of seas and oceans, controlling weather and water.

North Sea Eye: A mythical location believed to be a vortex or whirlpool of immense power, capable of destroying anything that comes too close. It symbolizes the dangers lurking in uncharted territories and the limits of aquatic beings' exploration.