Thirty-Three Heavens, Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing led a hundred thousand Heavenly soldiers and generals back to the Heavenly Court in defeat. He immediately brought Nezha and the gods to Lingxiao Treasure Hall to plead guilty before Haotian.
Li Jing knelt on the ground, his golden armor stained with dust and his expression dejected. Bowing, he reported, "Your Majesty, we obeyed the imperial decree and campaigned against the yao mo of Flower Fruit Mountain.
"But Sun Wukong possessed immense divine abilities, while the six great sages—the Bull Demon King, Roc Demon King, Flood Dragon Demon King, Macaque King, Gibbon King, and Lion Camel King—had mysterious backgrounds and formidable powers.
"Even a hundred thousand Heavenly soldiers and generals could not subdue them."
"This campaign cost us soldiers and generals. I am guilty, and beg Your Majesty to send additional forces and mighty experts to eliminate the demon threat of Flower Fruit Mountain!"
Upon hearing Li Jing's report, the gods of the Heavenly Court in Lingxiao Treasure Hall were filled with righteous indignation. They clamored to dispatch troops, severely punish the demon monkey, and restore Heaven's majesty.
Every one of them was worked up, as though they had suffered some tremendous injustice.
Haotian sat upon the imperial throne without giving any indication of approval or disapproval. He coldly watched the gods shouting that "the Heavenly Court's dignity must not be violated," his brows slightly furrowed as he sneered inwardly.
The gods of the Heavenly Court were a mixed lot.
The three sects of the Mysterious Gate, the Buddhist Sect of the West, and the Great Divine Ability Users of the heavens had all made arrangements and placed their own people within it.
Even as the Heavenly Emperor and lord of the Heavenly Court, he could not simply have the