Zhong Yuan followed the Skinny Monkey into the cave and saw that the Skinny Monkey had already leaned back against a rock, sitting on a straw mat. Behind him were several large wine jars.
There was also a wine jug by the Skinny Monkey's side, and the entire cave reeked of alcohol.
The Skinny Monkey, clearly having just taken a few more sips, said nonchalantly, "Look, look, you look like a monkey from Flower Fruit Mountain. I've seen plenty of you."
"In terms of seniority, you all have to call me ancestor."
"But never mind that. Who made me get demoted?"
"When I descended to the lower realms, I brought down a lot of treasures. Do you want to see? If you can use them, I can give them to you, as thanks for your help earlier."
Zhong Yuan asked earnestly, "Senior, you're not from Flower Fruit Mountain. You came down from the Upper Realm? May I ask your name?"
"Me? My name is Shen Hou. But it's all useless now." Shen Hou said, then took a closer look at Zhong Yuan and continued, "I see that your gourd is pretty good."
"All my things are for brewing wine. How about I help you modify your gourd? You'll be able to brew more wine with it then."
"That would be wonderful."
"Then thank you, Senior." Zhong Yuan didn't refuse, handing him the gourd. He then asked again, "May I ask why Senior was demoted to the lower realms? Did something happen in the heavens?"
Shen Hou waved his hands repeatedly, "Don't ask, don't ask. Nothing good to say."
"The heavens have always been that way."
Shen Hou said this, but still took the gourd. With a little incantation, he quickly returned it to Zhong Yuan.
Zhong Yuan felt it slightly and discovered that the gourd had been expanded to include an extra space. As long as he put some ingredients inside, they would be brewed into wine after a while.
This wine wasn't ordinary wine. It could be brewed with a certain amount of spiritual essence, allowing one to slightly improve their cultivation.
Even if he gathered less valuable medicinal herbs, he could still brew some spiritual essence. This was incredibly rare in the human realm now.
Compared to Yuan Shou Cheng's method of absorption, which required transcending lonely spirits and killing monsters, this method of brewing wine, although it was difficult to produce a large amount of spiritual essence, was gentle and safe.
"Thank you, Senior."
Zhong Yuan thanked him again, but didn't ask more about the heavens.
Even Shen Hou, one of the Twelve Zodiac Animals, was now demoted to the mortal realm.
Although he didn't know what the excuse was, it seemed like a purge.
The Heavenly Court didn't even want to keep this kind of deity. Who knew how many other deities of demon origin had been purged from their positions?
Zhong Yuan and Ma Ba Tian stayed in the cave for a while. Shen Hou didn't speak again, only drinking by himself.
He was just doing what he could, not expecting a second Sun Wukong to punch a hole in the heavens.
Even if there was a second Sun Wukong, what good would it do?
Seeing Shen Hou's rather dejected appearance, Zhong Yuan didn't linger. He left the cave with Ma Ba Tian and continued forward.
There was no doubt that Shen Hou was here because he wanted to help his own people after descending to the mortal realm. Or perhaps he still harbored some resentment, which is why he was waiting here.
"A deity like Senior Shen Hou has even come to this place from the heavens. The world is really getting worse and worse," Ma Ba Tian said softly after they left the cave.
Zhong Yuan nodded, "Brother Ma is right."
Ma Ba Tian then started talking about his experiences from the journey through the Flame Mountain.
He said that there were many human cities and towns along the way, and many places were once prosperous, but now they were all quite desolate.
Many places were even completely deserted.
"Except for some places where everyone worships Buddha, blessed by the Buddha's power, you basically won't see people anywhere else outside those areas."
"Back then, Tang Sanzang and his disciples went all over the place to vanquish demons and suppress evil. Now there are actually more monsters on the road than before."
"That Buddhism, what they say about saving all living beings... If you don't know any better, you'd think they were saving us monsters.
"But those monks who spout Buddhist scriptures, they are just like the Black Bear Demon, full of selfish desires. They wear a cassock and go around deceiving people. They are not good people."
Zhong Yuan listened intently, not knowing how to respond.
Brother Ma was truly righteous and had a genuine heart for justice, unlike a typical monster.
They chatted along the way, soon stepping into a swamp. Demon energy billowed up around them, and the air seemed to change.
The two immediately stopped talking and went on high alert, slowly moving forward.
"Oh Phoenix, oh Phoenix, why have you fallen? What has passed cannot be changed, but the future can still be pursued." A voice reciting scripture suddenly came from the sky.
A fierce gust of wind swept down from the sky, and a snake spear descended, aimed at Zhong Yuan.
Zhong Yuan leaped back, avoiding the attack.
He looked up at where the spear came from. A great demon jumped down from the sky.
It was a snake demon with white skin like a ghost, wearing a white robe. The exposed shoulders and a section of his belly revealed green snake scales.
He had already completely transformed into a human form. He casually picked up the snake spear that was stuck in the ground and assumed a fighting stance.
"Little brothers, you two came to my place of seclusion and attacked. What is your purpose?"
This snake demon's aura was much stronger than any monster Zhong Yuan had encountered before.
Ma Ba Tian spoke first, "White-robed scholar, we have met before, and I don't think you're like that evil Black Bear Demon."
"Why don't you join us and defeat the Black Bear Demon?"
"Afterward, you can take back Black Wind Mountain. We just want one thing from him."
This Ma Ba Tian was really straightforward.
The White-robed Scholar laughed, "Let me see how much skill you two have."
The White-robed Scholar clearly had no intention of stopping.
Zhong Yuan wasn't surprised by this. Without hesitation, he raised a finger and used the Immobilization Technique.
The golden light of the Immobilization Technique fell on the snake demon, flashing once before shattering with a "bang."
Zhong Yuan's expression became even more serious.
This snake demon's magical power was so strong that even with his current magical power, the Immobilization Technique had no effect at all!
This shocked him greatly.
If this White-robed Scholar was the White Flower Snake King in Guang Mo's memories, then he would be at the same level as Old Ling Xuzi, and should be slightly weaker than the Black Bear Demon.
But even if he was weaker than the Black Bear Demon, he still had this level of cultivation. If he really fought the Black Bear Demon, even with his current Three Nine Profound Skill, he would be in great danger.
Zhong Yuan was shocked, but his actions didn't hesitate. He gathered 80% of his strength, the red fire rising, and he struck out with his stick.