Chapter 13: Lightning City and Legends

West Niu County, East Blue Mountain Range, Lightning City.

Lightning City is a gathering place for rogue immortals on the border of West Niu County and Southern Jambu County, said to be founded by a third-generation Chan Sect immortal, nearly ten million years old. Ethan and Callie flew for almost ten years to reach it.

They found a coffee shop, chose a quiet seat. Coffee shops are known for the best news. Sure enough, before sitting down, they heard a guest at the center table say:

"Do you know why the Heavenly Command failed in the war against Flower Fruit Mountain?"

The discussion quieted, all waiting for the old Taoist to continue.

Seeing no answer, the old Taoist proudly sipped coffee, and continued:

"Two hundred and forty years ago, also in autumn, the Heavenly Command suddenly gathered all Eastern Front Heavenly Soldiers, with General Lee as commander, True Lord Sage, and the Four Heavenly Kings, Giant Spirit God, and other generals to attack Flower Fruit Mountain.

What is Flower Fruit Mountain? Who in the three realms doesn’t know? The Great Sage already went west to fetch scriptures, achieved enlightenment, and was titled Fighting Saint.

Not to mention the Great Sage, just the Heavenly Command attacking Flower Fruit Mountain already embarrassed the West, but the West did not respond at all—isn’t that tacit approval?"

The listeners were shocked, thinking the old Taoist was bold to say such things.

A rash youth immediately asked:

"The West tacitly approved, the Heavenly Command waged war—did the Great Sage cause trouble in the Heavenly Palace or Lingshan, angering both?"

The old Taoist waved his hand, signaling to sit, and continued:

"Whether he caused trouble in the Heavenly Palace or Lingshan, we don’t know, but if it really happened, there’d be news. But..."

He paused, seeing everyone curious, then said:

"Seven hundred and thirty-eight years ago, the Golden Arhat was shattered by an ancient beast, only the spirit escaped, and it fled toward Flower Fruit Mountain. The Buddha of Sandalwood Merit went to Flower Fruit Mountain—what was discussed, no one knows, but he left in anger."

His words grew more dangerous.

"After the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit left, the Great Sage sent people to find the Pure Altar Envoy, searched for decades, finally went himself, but never found him. From then on, the Great Sage often left Flower Fruit Mountain—where he went, no one knows."

Someone asked:

"Wasn’t the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit the Great Sage’s master on the journey west? Why did he leave Flower Fruit Mountain in anger?"

The old Taoist smiled, didn’t answer, continued:

"Back to the war. That day, True Lord Sage first fought the Great Sage, was at a disadvantage. General Lee ordered all troops to attack, sent the Four Heavenly Kings to help True Lord Sage. But who is True Lord Sage? So proud he wouldn’t even look at the Jade Emperor in the Hall of Light. Even if he lost to the Great Sage, he couldn’t accept ganging up, so retreated to the sky, watching the Great Sage transform, fighting four at once."

The old Taoist got excited, stood up, acting like a storyteller:

"The Holding Country King pushed his treasure bead at the Great Sage, but the Great Sage casually caught it, threw it at the Growth King, stepped forward, grabbed the Holding Country King’s left hand, twisted, spun him, stepped on his face, and tore off his arm. The Hearing Much King opened his pearl umbrella—the world darkened, thunder roared, a true dragon appeared—but the Great Sage wasn’t afraid. In a few rounds, he made the Hearing Much King put away the umbrella, snatched it, broke it, and threw it at the Growth King. Then kicked the Hearing Much King into the sky. The Broad Vision King’s red rope turned into ten thousand feet, about to bind the Great Sage, but he deftly turned, grabbed the dragon head—dragon screams filled the world—he used the rope as a whip, lashed the Broad Vision King, but not well, so tossed it, hitting the Growth King. The Great Sage punched the Broad Vision King, making him spit blood and fall. The Great Sage looked at the just-risen Growth King, sneered, and the King retreated in fear."

"Sigh."

The old Taoist sighed for no reason. Everyone was confused, but held back questions, waiting for the old Taoist to continue.

The coffee shop grew quieter. The lights above flickered, casting long shadows across the wood floor. Ethan sipped his coffee, Callie leaning in close, both caught in the web of stories that shaped the world, knowing somewhere in the tapestry, their own thread was still being woven.

"This Great Sage, for some reason, has become extremely violent in the past century. At that time, seeing his monkey children slaughtered by Heavenly Soldiers, he roared in rage. The already hundred-thousand-foot-tall Dharma form grew to nearly fifty thousand feet, taller than Giant Spirit God. After kicking the Growth King, he was about to kill Giant Spirit God. But General Lee was no bystander—he couldn’t wait any longer. If he watched the Great Sage keep fighting, even the generals wouldn’t be enough. He glanced at True Lord Sage, snorted, threw his golden exquisite pagoda, instantly darkening the world, trying to trap the Great Sage."

...

The old Taoist spoke as if present at the scene, vividly. The listeners could even imagine General Lee’s cold face. Ethan, though part of the campaign, knew little of the battle’s center—the old Taoist knew more than him. Seeing the old Taoist pause, someone couldn’t help but ask:

"Taoist, why stop? Did General Lee trap the Great Sage or not?"

Even with all he’d seen, Ethan knew stories like these lived on in the retelling, each version shaping the future a little differently. He looked out the foggy window, coffee cooling in his hands, and wondered what stories would be told of him, if any. In Lightning City, everyone was chasing their own myth, hoping their name might echo just a little bit longer in the halls of time.

Outside, the neon flickered in the drizzle. Ethan wondered if, this time, the story would end any different—or if they’d just be more names lost to legend.