Li Jing returned to the Heavenly Court and said, "Your Majesty, I have not failed in my mission!"
Indeed, it was just a formality.
Di Xin nodded. The Jade Emperor rolled his eyes, thinking it was a needless and redundant act.
The many celestial beings ignored what the Jade Emperor thought and instead praised His Majesty's wisdom. If one didn't know better, they would think they were praising the Jade Emperor himself.
"Alright, Taibai, please make another trip!" Di Xin said to Taibai Jinxing with a smile.
Taibai Jinxing was about to throw up. "You want me to go again? Are you kidding me? The monkey has gone wild. If I go, won't I get beaten?"
The Jade Emperor looked at Taibai with pity. "You're truly unfortunate. Alas, Taibai, I can't help you either. These people are too detestable. Taibai, you'll have to fend for yourself. I will silently cheer you on!"
Seeing everyone looking at him, Taibai Jinxing silently stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, under what pretext shall I go this time?"
Di Xin chuckled and said, "That monkey wants to be titled the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, so let's grant it to him! We'll give him the title but no salary."
Taibai Jinxing nodded. This was better, and it would be easier to fool the monkey. Otherwise, he was truly afraid of being beaten. That monkey was unreasonable and had the support of the West. He couldn't afford to offend him.
"Your Majesty, that monkey is not one to sit idly. If he only has a title without salary, I fear he might get bored and cause trouble in the Heavenly Court," Taibai said again. After all, things needed to be arranged properly to avoid future repercussions. Taibai Jinxing certainly wouldn't allow that to happen.
Di Xin laughed heartily. "Indeed, Taibai, you are a trusted minister of the Heavenly Court. I truly hadn't considered that."
After speaking, he glanced at the Jade Emperor, and Di Xin suddenly said, "How about letting him guard the Peach Garden?"
The Jade Emperor was stunned, then cursed inwardly, "Are you out of your mind? Letting the monkey guard the peaches? Can anything good come of that? You're giving him a gift, aren't you! You're trying to ruin my only top-grade innate spiritual root!"
As a result, other ministers nodded in agreement, even shouting, "His Majesty is wise!"
The Jade Emperor almost threw up. "You people from the Three Sects, do you have any bottom line? You call such a terrible idea wise? Are you a bunch of bumpkins!"
Taibai Jinxing cowered. "Damn it, I must have lost my mind to ask that question. Have I inadvertently caused trouble for the Jade Emperor?" He secretly glanced at the Jade Emperor again.
As expected, the Jade Emperor's expression was terrible. Not only that, but the Jade Emperor also glared at him fiercely. Even though Taibai Jinxing couldn't see it, he knew that if the Jade Emperor's glare could kill, he would have been finished by now.
"You all just wait!" the Jade Emperor cursed silently, then flicked his sleeve and left, too lazy to deal with these people.
Di Xin laughed heartily. "I love seeing you unable to do anything to me, helpless like this. Aren't you angry?" He knew what the consequences would be if the monkey guarded the peaches. That's precisely why he suggested it. Otherwise, if the monkey felt comfortable in heaven and had the title of Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, what if he became lazy? He needed to give the monkey some stimulation.
So, Taibai Jinxing scurried away.
He had no choice. The court was like this now. The Three Sects held the power, and the Jade Emperor was like a puppet. He was also helpless.
Thinking back to the Investiture of the Gods, it was indeed foolish. And at that time, the Three Sects should have directly used the Investiture of the Gods list that they had signed. Now, they had changed it, completely undermining him. He was in a daze, wasn't he?
Despite his grumbling, Taibai Jinxing ran very fast and soon arrived at Flower Fruit Mountain.
"Good old official, you dare to come back? You tricked our Great King to heaven last time and made him a Bi Ma Wen. You dare to come again? My subordinates, tie him up!" The young monkeys from before saw Taibai Jinxing and immediately roared. Of course, these young monkeys had grown up and were no longer young monkeys, and they had their own subordinates.
Immediately, many young monkeys rushed over, some even holding swords and pointing them at Taibai Jinxing.
Taibai Jinxing was helpless. "It's easy to deal with the King of Hell, but difficult to deal with minor devils. Now these monkeys want to tie me up, a Taiyi Golden Immortal!"
However, Taibai Jinxing did not resist and allowed these young monkeys to tie him up and escort him to the cave.
Sun Wukong, who was drinking, looked up and saw Taibai Jinxing being tied up. He was immediately delighted. This old fellow had tricked him last time into raising horses for the Jade Emperor. Thinking about it now, the monkey wanted to hit someone.
"Great King, Great King, we've caught the old official who tricked you last time!" a young monkey immediately said.
Sun Wukong laughed heartily. "Good, good, good, you all deserve a reward!"
Taibai Jinxing said helplessly, "Great King, I've come again!"
Sun Wukong snorted, "Old official, you tricked me terribly!"
Taibai Jinxing immediately said, "Great King, all who are granted official positions rise from the humble to the honored. However, given Your Majesty's extraordinary abilities, capable of even repelling Heavenly King Li, we have witnessed your might. Therefore, by imperial decree, the Jade Emperor bestows upon you the title of Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. What do you say?"
The monkey's eyes lit up. He quickly ordered the young monkeys to untie Taibai Jinxing and said, "Oh, Brother Taibai, I was impolite just now. Did the Jade Emperor really say that?"
Taibai Jinxing nodded.
Sun Wukong was overjoyed. Who would want to be a petty official when they could be a great official?
"Then, Great Sage, shall we return to the Heavenly Court to report?" Taibai Jinxing asked tentatively.
Sun Wukong immediately gave some instructions and ascended to the Heavenly Court with Taibai Jinxing.
Upon arriving at the Hall of Spiritual Light, the Jade Emperor was not present. He was too angry.
Di Xin said, "By imperial decree, Sun Wukong is appointed Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, in charge of the Peach Garden, and is bestowed with a mansion for the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven!"
Hearing the imperial decree, Sun Wukong laughed heartily. This was as it should be. He was a little unclear about being in charge of the Peach Garden, but it didn't matter. Hadn't he heard about the reward?
After receiving the decree, Sun Wukong eagerly rushed to see his mansion as the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.
Later, in charge of the Peach Garden, he visited it again. This time, Sun Wukong was stunned. Immortal peaches! And top-grade peaches at that. The Jade Emperor was truly considerate! From now on, the Jade Emperor would be his brother, treating him exceptionally well!
Could he be treated any better? Giving the monkey peaches was the greatest expression of love for the monkey!
Thus, Sun Wukong entered the Peach Garden. The land spirit of the Peach Garden came out and introduced Sun Wukong to the supreme innate spiritual root peach trees, which were divided into three-thousand-year, six-thousand-year, and nine-thousand-year old varieties. Sun Wukong's mouth watered at the description.
He had never seen such peaches before, let alone immortal peaches that matured in nine thousand years! It truly blinded his dog eyes!
"Great Sage, Great Sage, did you understand what this old man just said?" the land spirit asked.
Sun Wukong nodded quickly. As for what the land spirit said, he hadn't heard a word. His mind was filled with peaches. Who would listen to your nonsense now? He just wanted to send the land spirit away quickly so he could guard his peaches. Yes, these peaches belonged to him.