Tushita Palace.
The moment the lid of the Eight Trigrams Furnace closed, the entire palace shuddered.
Sun Wukong's furious roar came through the furnace walls, muffled but still full of vigor.
"Old man! Just you wait!"
"When I get out, the first thing I'll do is smash this lousy furnace of yours!"
The furnace walls shook violently, again and again.
Taishang Laojun stood before the furnace, his expression utterly unruffled.
He raised a finger and lightly tapped the furnace.
Rows of runes lit up in sequence, spreading along the walls until they wrapped the entire Eight Trigrams Furnace tight.
The pounding inside grew somewhat quieter, but it still did not stop.
"Seal the furnace."
The attendant boy beside him immediately stepped forward, formed hand seals, and cast a spell at the lid.
The bronze patterns on the lid flashed, linking seamlessly with the runes on the furnace body.
"Light the fire."
Below the furnace opening, the boy guided Samadhi True Fire into its base.
Flames surged from beneath it and climbed its walls, heating the entire Eight Trigrams Furnace until it glowed red.
Sun Wukong's screams rang out from inside.
"Aah—! I'm burning alive!"
Another flurry of frantic blows followed.
Bang, bang, bang.
Each blow was fiercer than the last, as though he meant to batter straight through the walls.
Taishang Laojun remained rooted to the spot.
With a gentle sweep of his Fly Whisk, the two heavy doors of Tushita Palace slowly closed, shutting out all outside eyes.
Only the crackle of flames and the repeated pounding against the furnace walls remained in the hall.
Laojun walked over to the cushion before the furnace and sat cross-legged.
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao stood on either side, each holding a Plantain Fan and fanning steadily.
Laojun raised his right hand,