Peach Banquet, Four Monkeys Gather

Crack!

The path of cultivation had always been a path of shattering shackles. Now that Xuan Yin had comprehended the mysteries of this world, it could no longer restrict his Dao Fruit.

"Reality... illusion..."

He could not help throwing back his head and laughing. "Isn't the True Immortal Realm about seeing through illusion, refining falsehood into truth, and defining the rules within a certain range?"

"As long as I break through this world's illusion and attain True Immortal, it will practically happen of its own accord!"

At this moment, although Xuan Yin was still a Grand Unity Golden Immortal of Primordial Unity Qi in this world, he could already draw upon a portion of his Dao Fruit's power and use it to see through this world's illusions!

"However, it is still not enough!"

"Though the cultivation principles contained in this world can be called a supreme blessing, the existence of the Chaos Demon Ape is indispensable as well!"

Xuan Yin knew that, in this world, the will of his Senior Uncle-Master was Heaven's Will. To influence the will of a Heavenly Dao Sage and shatter the illusion, he had to possess a Sage-level method!

And what he could currently access was the inheritance of the Chaos Demon Ape. Not only was it peerless in battle, it also possessed the Golden Eyes of Piercing Delusion, which could glimpse the truth of the Great Dao.

Wu Zhiqi possessed Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, and Sun Wukong could refine them as well by taking a trip through the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Yet these so-called Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, while somewhat mystical, were merely an incomplete version of the Golden Eyes of Piercing Delusion!

They were far from sufficient to break through this world's illusion!

Only when the origins of the Four Mixed Monkeys returned as one, or when they worked together wholeheartedly, could they evolve the Chaos Demon Ape True Body and thereby cultivate the true Golden Eyes of Piercing Delusion!

Before this, Xuan Yin would certainly have considered killing the other three monkeys and seizing their origins. But after his period of cultivation at Mount Lingtai Fangcun, he had changed his mind and decided to unite the other three monkeys instead!

Otherwise, his original heart would be flawed!

The way of the Jie Sect was to seize a thread of life for all living beings. Even if he knew everything in this world was an illusory creation of a Sage, if he cut off Sun Wukong and the others' thread of life for his own selfish gain, he would still be violating both the way of the Jie Sect and the path he himself followed!

He would not do it!

As he entered Sudden Enlightenment, Sun Wukong drew out the Ruyi Jingu Bang and unleashed his divine might as well, beating the Four Heavenly Kings and the others until they fled in panic.

His body was in harmony with the will of Heaven. As long as his Dao heart did not waver, he was practically invincible among those of the same realm.

The Jade Emperor naturally noticed this as well and immediately gave Taibai Jinxing a meaningful look.

Taibai Jinxing understood at once and said, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong possesses vast divine abilities. It truly is inappropriate to let him continue serving as Bimawen! Why not grant his wish and enfeoff him as the 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven'? He need only be given no official duties or salary!"

The Heavenly Court's bottom line had always been flexible. Eliminating demons was one matter, but if the cost was too great, they could choose to recruit those demons instead.

"Good!"

The Jade Emperor immediately nodded. "Then we shall proceed as Beloved Minister Taibai suggests. However, I must trouble Beloved Minister Taibai to make another trip!"

Thus, Taibai Jinxing once more left the South Heaven Gate with the Jade Emperor's imperial decree, arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain, and carried out Sun Wukong's recruitment and enfeoffment.

A great battle thus ended with a whimper!

Xuan Yin, meanwhile, concealed himself in the shadows and followed Sun Wukong to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence.

After ascending to Heaven, Sun Wukong idled about every day and made friends with Immortals and Gods everywhere. Yet he had not forgotten what Xuan Yin had instructed him to do beforehand.

That day, he invited the Four Wastes Star Lord, Yuan Hong, to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence.

"Why has the Great Sage summoned me?"

As one of the Four Mixed Monkeys, Yuan Hong naturally felt especially close to Sun Wukong.

"Third Brother, you are being too distant!"

Hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately seized the opening, draping an arm around Yuan Hong's shoulders. "You are an Arm-Reaching Ape Monkey, while I am an Intelligent Stone Monkey! As two of the Four Mixed Monkeys, you and I are brothers born of the same origin!"

"I have an elder brother named Gu Yue Fang Yuan. He is a Six-Eared Macaque, and he is currently managing the Huai River Water Mansion for Eldest Brother Wu Zhiqi!"

"Since you and I are brothers, we should naturally keep in close contact!"

Yuan Hong was startled. Although his cultivation was not weak and he had also attained the Grand Unity Golden Immortal of Primordial Unity Qi, he had never heard of these so-called Four Mixed Monkeys, nor had he known that he had three brothers.

Yet the aura of shared origin emanating from Sun Wukong was unmistakably real.

"Third Brother!"

"Fourth Brother!"

Both monkeys were passionate and sincere by nature. After some conversation, they quickly grew familiar with one another and often sparred in martial arts and divine abilities within the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence.

Xuan Yin also found an opportunity to meet Yuan Hong.

During this time, he had not remained at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence. Instead, he had been searching everywhere for opportunities. The greatest opportunities in the Heavenly Court were undoubtedly the Peach Garden and Tushita Palace above the Thirty-Third Heaven!

A peach and an elixir pill were both treasures capable of rapidly increasing one's cultivation!

However, with the Peach Banquet approaching, he did not take the initiative to do anything!

As the Water Official Great Emperor, Wu Zhiqi would certainly attend the Peach Banquet. Sun Wukong and Yuan Hong were now in the Heavenly Court as well. When the time came and the Four Mixed Monkeys gathered together, they would naturally give the Heavenly Court a surprise.

During this period, his main focus was learning about the methods and Dharma treasures of those top-tier great gods, lest he suffer a major loss through carelessness when facing them in battle someday!

Fate was unpredictable, and Heaven's Will was impossible to fathom. After noticing that Sun Wukong spent his days far too leisurely making friends with Immortals and Gods, the Jade Emperor assigned him the task of guarding the Peach Garden. Who knew whether this was some sort of entrapment?

In any case...

If Xuan Yin were the Heavenly Emperor, he would never let a monkey guard the Peach Garden!

As the stars shifted and time passed, the day of the Peach Banquet arrived in the blink of an eye. Sun Wukong also learned from the Seven Fairies that the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother had not invited him to this Peach Banquet.

Though furious, he did not act rashly. Instead, he first contacted Xuan Yin to see how Xuan Yin would have him decide.

"Just follow your heart!"

Not only did Xuan Yin not stop Sun Wukong, he even brought Yuan Hong along to join Sun Wukong in consuming and refining the peaches within the Peach Garden.

Without further delay, Wu Zhiqi emerged from seclusion. Upon receiving the invitation to the Peach Festival and the message Xuan Yin had left behind, he decisively arrived at the Peach Garden in secret as well.

The Four Mixed Monkeys had finally gathered!

Xuan Yin immediately asked, "How is the matter of refining the Water Veins progressing, Elder Brother?"

Wu Zhiqi answered, "It has gone fairly smoothly. The Water Veins of Southern Jambudvipa, Northern Kurudvipa, and Dongsheng Shenzhou are already entirely under my control! Western Aparagodaniya is Buddhist Sect territory, while the Four Seas are occupied by the Dragon Race, so it has been somewhat difficult for me to make a move there!"

Xuan Yin immediately nodded. "The three continents are already enough. If we also breach the Heavenly River, the Water Origin Great Dao in the lower realm will become even stronger!"

Xuan Yin said all this in front of Sun Wukong and Yuan Hong. During his time in the Heavenly Court, he had already thoroughly persuaded the two of them.

He had even roughly revealed to Sun Wukong how Sun Wukong had been plotted against.

Sun Wukong was naturally enraged beyond measure.

After learning that Sun Wukong had been plotted against, Yuan Hong was likewise filled with righteous indignation and decisively stated that he could join Xuan Yin's plan.

As the four monkeys united their strength and hearts, a wondrous Dao resonance immediately manifested within their primordial spirits.

It was the phantom of a demon ape!

"This..."

At the sight, Sun Wukong and Yuan Hong both trembled violently. Even Wu Zhiqi could not help bowing in worship before the demon ape phantom.

This was suppression originating from the very source of their bloodlines!

Xuan Yin relied on his Heavenly Immortal Dao Fruit to steady his mind, so he was not in such a sorry state. Yet his eyes still involuntarily revealed reverence for the Chaos Demon Ape.

Looking at the other three monkeys, he said excitedly, "This is an opportunity that belongs to us alone!"