Watching the peaches filling the orchard, Sun Wukong's eyes turned into little stars. He couldn't help it; they were too tempting, or rather, too tempting for a monkey!
This wasn't a test for officials; it was clearly their weakness!
At this moment, Sun Wukong didn't know how to describe the Jade Emperor. Well, the Jade Emperor was truly a good person. Although there had been some unpleasantness before, the Jade Emperor knew how to correct his mistakes, and virtue is the greatest good!
Not only did he bestow upon him the title of Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, but he also gave him peaches. Haha, this was too great!
Sun Wukong took a bite of a three-thousand-year-old peach and felt the entire monkey was refreshed!
He devoured the peach in a few bites, directly tossing the pit aside. He then went to the six-thousand-year-old peach grove, found a ripe one, and ate it. Well, it was much more wonderful than the three-thousand-year-old ones!
He only reached the nine-thousand-year-old peach forest, where the peaches were not yet ripe. Sun Wukong could only sigh. However, looking at the peaches, he estimated they would ripen in the next few days. So, Sun Wukong carefully counted his peaches and happily returned to the Great Sage's mansion!
The next day, Sun Wukong began to roam the Heavenly Court. After all, as an outsider, he had only taken a cursory glance last time and hadn't really explored. Not only that, but he had also served the Jade Emperor as a stable hand for a few days. Well, he couldn't say that now; this was the Jade Emperor's test for him!
Now that he had free time, he naturally had to explore everywhere!
Soon, within a day, Sun Wukong had a clear understanding of the Heavenly Court's layout. Not only that, but Sun Wukong also made many friends. Indeed, the monkey was not inherently bad. Coupled with being plotted against by Buddhism, many immortals felt a bit of pity for him. Moreover, Sun Wukong was now officially the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, so making friends was simple!
Today, Sun Wukong wandered to the mansion of Emperor Ziwei!
Although there were guards at the entrance, Sun Wukong didn't wait for them to announce his arrival. He just barged in, carrying two bottles of wine. This was the monkey wine brewed by his monkey subjects in the lower realm, a truly fine product!
In the grand hall, Di Xin was playing chess with the Southern Pole Immortal Elder. Indeed, as they were常驻 the Heavenly Court, they often felt bored and would get together. Furthermore, the Southern Pole Immortal Elder always had to support Di Xin.
Seeing the monkey suddenly burst in, Di Xin smiled helplessly. "We've already allocated the Peach Garden to you, and you still have time to roam around? Shouldn't you be guarding the peaches or eating them?"
The Southern Pole Immortal Elder also chuckled!
Sun Wukong saw the two and immediately exclaimed, "I never thought it would be the Star Lord of Fortune and the Star Lord of Longevity!"
Indeed, although they held the titles of Great Emperors, in the eyes of the common folk, they represented Fortune and Longevity in the trinity of Fortune, Longevity, and Prosperity. Prosperity belonged to Emperor Wenchang!
This Sun Wukong had spent time in the mortal realm. After all, he had lived among humans when seeking knowledge. He had heard of Fortune, Longevity, and Prosperity, and he had also inquired about them in the Heavenly Court. So, he just came here directly!
"Great Sage, what brings you to my humble abode?" Di Xin asked!
Sun Wukong waved the wine in his hand and said with a smile, "This is the fine wine from my Flower-Fruit Mountain. Please have a taste!"
It must be said that Sun Wukong was still quite cunning, knowing how to get along well in the Heavenly Court!
After all, the entire Heavenly Court was rumored to be comprised of people from the three sects of old: the Human, Chan, and Jie sects. Well, he had heard of them but wasn't entirely clear. However, it didn't matter; he would forge good relationships first!
Di Xin was not surprised. He took out a few cups, and the three of them happily drank and chatted. Finally, Sun Wukong left, fully satisfied!
"This monkey is quite adept at social graces. It's a shame he was ensnared by Buddhism!" Di Xin sighed. He actually had some fondness for this monkey, but alas!
The Southern Pole Immortal Elder smiled and said, "This monkey's wild nature is hard to tame, but at this moment, he is quite likable!"
A few days passed, and the Jade Emperor couldn't sleep. He couldn't help it; with that monkey eyeing the Peach Garden, wouldn't that mean the Peach Banquet this year was doomed? One had to know that the Peach Banquet was one of his few means to win over his ministers!
He cursed Di Xin in his heart, "So vile, to use such a tactic!"
However, he still sent a telepathic message to the Queen Mother, asking her to estimate the time to hold the Peach Banquet again!
Coincidentally, around this time, the Queen Mother instructed the Seven Fair Maidens to pick peaches first and prepare for the banquet for the guests!
Soon, the Seven Fair Maidens arrived at the Peach Garden, but the gate was closed. At this moment, the Earth Deity emerged and said, "Greetings, immortal maidens!"
The red-clothed maiden at the front said, "Earth Deity, open the gate quickly. The Queen Mother's banquet cannot be delayed!"
The Earth Deity repeatedly bowed and said, "Immortal maidens, it is not that I am unwilling to open the gate. Currently, the management of the Peach Garden is under the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. This matter must be reported to the Great Sage!"
The red-clothed maiden said, "Very well, quickly take us to see the Great Sage!"
However, after searching all over, they could not find the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. The red-clothed maiden said, "The situation is urgent, and we cannot contact the Great Sage. Why don't you let us return first to fulfill the imperial decree!"
The Earth Deity had no choice but to say, "Alright, immortal maidens may go. When the Great Sage returns, I will deliver your message!"
Thus, the Seven Fair Maidens entered the Peach Garden. However, after looking around, they didn't see many ripe peaches. Turning around, they suddenly spotted a large, red peach on a tree and immediately picked it!
But as soon as they picked it, they were startled, for it wasn't a peach at all, but a monkey in disguise!
Indeed, Sun Wukong had eaten his fill of peaches today and had transformed into a peach to rest on the tree. He hadn't expected to be disturbed and immediately pulled out the Ruyi Jingu Bang from his ear, intending to strike!
But after seeing the Seven Fair Maidens clearly, he said, "So it's the Jade Emperor's daughters. It's all a misunderstanding!"
The Seven Fair Maidens were speechless and explained that they needed to pick peaches for the Queen Mother's banquet.
Sun Wukong was stunned. A banquet? He glanced at the Peach Garden again. He had eaten all the ripe peaches. What was to be done?
So, he asked, "Who has been invited!"
Then the Seven Fair Maidens replied, "Of course, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats from the Western Heaven, Guanyin of the Southern Pole from the South, Emperor Chong En from the East, the Immortals of the Ten Continents and Three Islands, Emperor Xuan Ling of the North Pole from the North, Great Immortal Huang Jiao of the Central Yellow Pole – these are the Five Emperors of the Five Directions. Also, the Star Lords of the Five Bushels, the Four Emperors, the Heavenly Immortals of Grand Unity, and so on. The gods and immortals of the Nine Layers and the Seas and Mountains, the Lord of the Underworld, and the Earthly Immortals who preside over the world. All the gods and spirits, great and small, from all palaces and halls, will attend the Grand Peach Banquet."
Sun Wukong listened for a long time and didn't hear his name mentioned. He then asked, "What about me? Has my Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, been invited!"
The Seven Fair Maidens shook their heads. They truly had not invited him!
Sun Wukong was instantly enraged. "Alright! Many minor gods have been invited, yet my old Sun is not? They are looking down on me!"
He immediately blew out a breath and cast the Immobilization Spell, fixing the Seven Fair Maidens in the Peach Garden!