Rulai Seeks Aid, the Jade Emperor Divides the Spoils

At this thought, Rulai turned directly into a streak of light and arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. With a chuckle, he said, "Your Majesty, I've come to discuss something with you..."

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor asked in confusion, "Oh? Why has the Buddha Ancestor come?"

Rulai solemnly explained Yun Ting's arrangements, then said, "Your Majesty, if this continues, who knows when the Monkey of Destiny of our Buddhist Sect will be born. Could you arrange for Dou Mu Yuan Jun and the other star officials to stop supplying star power to the Lesser Zhou Heaven Array at Flower-Fruit Mountain?"

The Jade Emperor coughed. "Ahem, this matter... I shall make my own decision after giving it some thought." With that, he transmitted his voice directly to Rulai. "Well, stopping Dou Mu Yuan Jun from supplying star power to the array won't be difficult, but what do I get out of it?"

Rulai chuckled and transmitted back, "Enough with the act. Yun Ting must have come to see you already, right? Name your price. I won't bargain. When the time comes, we'll split the proceeds thirty-seventy—you get thirty percent, we get seventy. Yun Ting is holding my share for me."

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor thought, Why do I only get thirty percent? No, that won't do. I'm the Dao Ancestor's attendant, for heaven's sake. How could I have so little prestige? I need at least forty percent.

With that thought, the Jade Emperor replied, "Only thirty percent? Are you joking? No, I want forty percent, and you can divide the rest among yourselves. Otherwise, I'm not in any hurry for the Monkey of Destiny to be born. Even if Journey to the West falls through, I'll still be the Jade Emperor. But you might not remain the Buddha Ancestor."