Kong Xuan looked down at Ao Guang, rolling his eyes and ignoring him. It was too embarrassing!
Di Xin then spoke, "The memorial from the Dragon King of the East Sea should be handled with care. Dragon King, please return first. We will discuss and then make a decision!"
Ao Guang reluctantly bowed to Di Xin and left. He knew that the Heavenly Court was currently dominated by the three religions, and Di Xin, the Great Emperor of Ziwei, was their chosen spokesperson. His opinion was the opinion of the three religions, and ultimately the opinion of the Heavenly Court.
Ao Guang felt utterly exhausted. Did that demonic monkey have backing? Otherwise, considering the majesty of the Heavenly Court, they should have directly dispatched troops to exterminate him. Instead, they needed to discuss it? This was hardly fantastical!
However, as things stood, he couldn't possibly go to Flower-Fruit Mountain to challenge the monkey alone. He didn't want to strain his old back!
Upon returning to the East Sea, his three younger brothers had not yet left. They rushed forward and asked, "Elder brother, how did it go?"
Ao Guang sighed and said, "They said they need to discuss it. It seems that monkey has quite a background. We should avoid provoking him in the future!"
These were bloody lessons. Thinking of that little brat with a hoop from years ago, who dared to pull dragon sinews! This monkey was no better. If they angered him, they might end up in trouble too!
The other three Dragon Kings sighed and departed via the waterways.
In the Heavenly Court, Di Xin smiled and said, "That monkey has made his move. Which immortal is willing to go and recruit him?"
Everyone remained silent. Taibai Jinxing pretended he didn't exist. Di Xin scanned the room and smiled, "Then we will wait a little longer!"
The monkey, having returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain, immediately started showing off his weapon, which could grow large or small. The little monkeys were all envious!
Sun Wukong's reputation also attracted many demon kings from the surrounding seventy-two caves to pay their respects. After all, this monkey was not simple. The fact that he could go to the East Sea Dragon Palace and return was no small feat. Did they really think the Dragon Kings were weak? Even if they were, they were still not figures that these little demon kings could provoke.
But look at the monkey, he not only went but also obtained divine weapons and armor. This was truly impressive!
Thus, they expressed their willingness to pledge allegiance. The monkey becoming a king was naturally welcome!
Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King, also became widely known. Many demons came to offer congratulations, and figures like the Bull Demon King even came to Flower-Fruit Mountain. Seeing that the monkey was indeed formidable, they became sworn brothers with him. They even declared themselves the Seven Great Sages of the Demon Race!
However, one day, Sun Wukong's left and right-hand men, the Eight-Armed Ape, died. Their souls were reaped, and Sun Wukong's soul was also reaped. This enraged Sun Wukong. He had achieved cultivation, yet they dared to reap his soul! He immediately wreaked havoc in the Underworld and crossed out his name from the book of life and death.
Little did he know that after he left, the Great Emperor of Fengdu appeared. With a wave of his hand, all the names on the Book of Life and Death reappeared. After all, the Underworld governed reincarnation, and it could not be disrupted by a mere monkey!
In the Heavenly Court, Di Xin saw that the time was right and said, "Taibai, go there and recruit the monkey!"
Taibai Jinxing rolled his eyes. "Go to hell, you immortal! You only think of me, Taibai, for such thankless tasks. I never get the good jobs, and even after I've lowered my profile so much, you still come to me!"
Di Xin smiled at Taibai, thinking, "Good, it's you, you boy. You joined the Western Faction back then and even opposed my Shang Dynasty. You're truly wicked. Do you think it's that easy now? No way!"
Taibai Jinxing felt like he had eaten excrement. He reluctantly agreed and left! He knew that he would have to humble himself. He, a dignified Grand Unity Golden Immortal, had to bow to a Golden Immortal. It was utterly detestable! But there was no choice; he had to go!
Riding on a cloud, he arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain and looked around. Monkeys were everywhere. Taibai felt miserable, but he didn't want to say it!
As Taibai rode his cloud, sharp-eyed monkeys quickly spotted him. They immediately brandished their weapons and yelled at Taibai Jinxing, "Who are you, Daoist? How dare you come to our Flower-Fruit Mountain? I tell you, our great king is the Handsome Monkey King, one of the Seven Great Sages of the Demon Race!"
Taibai Jinxing almost rolled his eyes off his face. "Stop it! You mountain bumpkins, what do you know? You even crowned yourselves Seven Great Sages. My goodness, your ambition is truly vast!"
However, he still said, "I am Taibai Jinxing of the Heavenly Court, an immortal. I have come to see your great king to invite him to serve in the heavens!"
The little monkeys didn't understand this. "Alright, I'll go inform the great king. Don't wander around, just wait here!"
The little monkey then scampered off to find Sun Wukong.
Shortly after, the little monkey returned and said, "The great king has invited you. Follow me!"
A group of little monkeys then escorted Taibai Jinxing into the Water Curtain Cave. Taibai Jinxing felt very helpless, being escorted by a group of little monkeys, it was a most unpleasant feeling!
In fact, Sun Wukong had also been planning to go to the heavens to have some fun these past two days. He never expected that before he could set off, an immortal would come to invite him to serve in the heavens. This was truly a wish come true!
"Hahaha, do not be impolite! Little ones, quickly prepare a banquet. I want to host the immortal official!" Sun Wukong roared with laughter!
Taibai Jinxing looked at him. "My goodness, he truly lives up to the name of Handsome Monkey King. He wears a phoenix-feathered golden-crowned helmet, a golden chain-mail armor, and rides cloud-stepping boots! He certainly deserves the title of Handsome Monkey King!"
"Great King, there's no need. I am on a mission from the Heavenly Emperor and cannot linger. Please accompany me. After your promotion, we can have a leisurely chat," Taibai Jinxing said immediately!
Sun Wukong thought about it and said with a smile, "Alright, we'll catch up later!"
Saying that, he left the cave with Taibai Jinxing. Then Sun Wukong said, "My children, your king is going to the heavens to serve as an official. Wait patiently for my return, and I will bring you all to enjoy heavenly bliss!"
The monkeys all over the mountain cheered loudly!
Then the two rode on clouds and flew towards the Southern Heavenly Gate. However, Taibai Jinxing was not flying fast. Sun Wukong, being impatient, immediately used his somersault cloud and reached the Southern Heavenly Gate by himself. Taibai Jinxing's mouth agape, "Damn it, you immortal! Why are you running so fast? Can you even get in?"
With no other choice, Taibai Jinxing had to speed up!
Sun Wukong arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate and wanted to enter. The heavenly soldiers on guard immediately rebuked him, "Where is this demonic monkey coming from? This is the Heavenly Court, you are not allowed to intrude!"
Sun Wukong was furious. "You invited me to serve in the heavens, and now you say I'm intruding?" He took out his Golden Cudgel and prepared to fight!
When Taibai Jinxing arrived, he quickly stopped Sun Wukong, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Old official, are you trying to trick me!" Sun Wukong grabbed Taibai Jinxing's collar and roared!
Taibai Jinxing had never been treated like this before. Even when the three religions suppressed him, they had never been so rude. However, he felt he had to endure this monkey!