Flower-Fruit Mountain Gathers a Million Demons, and the Old Dragon King Comes to Offer His Congratulations!

Eastern Continent of Divine Sands, Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Sun Wukong killed Medicine King and Medicine Superior Bodhisattva with two punches.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

Countless mountain and wilderness demons flocked to join him!

"Report, Great King! Black Heart Tiger of Black Tiger Mountain has brought three thousand tigers to pledge allegiance to you!"

"Great King, Great King! Panda King of Shu Mountain Bamboo Sea has led two thousand pandas over mountains and across rivers to pledge allegiance!"

"Great King, Great Hero Rainbow Cat of West Sea Peak Forest has led ten thousand cats here and wishes to join Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"Report, Great King! Valley Mistress Blue Rabbit of the Jade Toad Palace in Blue Moon Valley..." The little demon wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and continued reporting:

"Valley Mistress Blue Rabbit brought... brought five thousand female... female demons, hoping to seek the Great King's protection!"

Sun Wukong refused none of the demon tribes from all over who came to pledge allegiance!

Any demon who came to Flower-Fruit Mountain would receive Sun Wukong's protection, so long as they did not commit evil or bully the weak!

And with his formidable skills, boldness, and loyalty, Sun Wukong quickly won the allegiance of all the demons!

The name of the Handsome Monkey King spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness!

From one to ten, and ten to a hundred, in less than half a month, Flower-Fruit Mountain had gathered more than a million demons!

It had already become a medium-sized demon kingdom!

However, with more demons came many problems.

These demons came from all over, and it was inevitable that they would fight over various matters!

Moreover, Flower-Fruit Mountain's resources were limited. Supporting such a huge number of demons was itself a problem!

"Old Sun now commands a million demons. It may look impressive, but the foundation is weak and the reserves are lacking."

"Flower-Fruit Mountain is like a giant beast. It roars day and night, but it also consumes day and night."

On a reef, Sun Wukong gazed across the boundless Eastern Sea, his thoughts churning.

"Though Flower-Fruit Mountain's ley lines are flourishing, they cannot support the cultivation needs of a million demon soldiers."

"If this continues, within a year, the Spirit Spring will dry up and the divine fruits will be exhausted. A great upheaval will surely follow!"

"Besides, although this million-strong demon army has tremendous momentum, there aren't many experts among them."

"Old Sun is only a monkey... If we truly go to war with the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist School, two fists cannot stand against a mass brawl. I'm afraid our army would collapse like a landslide!"

His eyes grew deep as he worried over supplies and resources!

It really was true that even a heroic monkey could be stumped by a lack of money!

Just then!

"Boom! Rumble! Boom—"

A dozen thunderous explosions rang out. White waves churned, and dozens of columns of water shot skyward like silver dragons, piercing the heavens.

Immediately afterward, a ceremonial procession suddenly appeared on the vast sea. It formed a neat, winding line and came riding the waves, its momentum immense.

One dragon at the very front was particularly eye-catching. He had a dragon's head and a human body, wore silk robes, a jade belt, and a golden crown, and carried an imposing air. Every step he took radiated the bearing of a king.

The dragon stepped forward, clasped his hands, and spoke in a booming voice:

"This humble dragon is Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea. I greet the Handsome Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain. May I ask whether the immortal before me is Sun Wukong, who killed Medicine King and Medicine Superior Bodhisattva in a single battle and shook the Primordial Wilderness?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, instantly becoming wary.

Sun Wukong had read Journey to the West, so he knew that this Dragon King was about to give him the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron.

Still, he had even dared to casually kill the Bodhisattvas of Spirit Mountain!

He did not take the mere dragon race seriously at all.

He wore a smiling expression, but his tone held a hint of playful meaning:

"So it's my old neighbor, Dragon King Ao Guang. May I ask why you've brought such a grand procession here?"

Ao Guang remained calm and unhurried, still smiling as he clasped his hands.

"I recently heard that Your Excellency possessed peerless divine abilities, had gathered a million demons, and brought the monsters of seventy-two caves and thirty-six islands to heel. The East Sea and Flower-Fruit Mountain face each other across the sea and depend on each other like lips and teeth. Today, I have specially prepared a modest gift and come to the mountain to offer my congratulations."

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of breathtakingly beautiful dragon maidens emerged from behind him. Their fish-scale skirts swayed alluringly as they carried jade trays piled high with gold, silver, treasures, Night Pearls, dragon's saliva incense, Jade Nectar and Ambrosia. Fragrance curled through the air, and dazzling light shimmered.

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow, then pretended to wave his hand.

"Ah, this... Old Sun has done nothing to deserve such rewards. With all these treasures, I really don't dare accept them."

Ao Guang laughed heartily, his manner quite bold.

"Your Excellency jests! My Dragon Palace's treasury is richer than those of the four seas. These are merely ordinary trinkets. I hope Your Excellency won't refuse."

At those words, inspiration flashed through Sun Wukong's mind, and his heart jolted.

The Dragon Palace's treasury?

Wonderful!!!

He had been fretting over Flower-Fruit Mountain's lack of resources and its inability to support a million demons, let alone establish a demon kingdom and stand against the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist School!

Although the dragon race had declined, the four seas were rich in produce and filled with countless rare treasures. Wouldn't they be the perfect foundation for Old Sun to establish his demon kingdom?

The immortals might not care for these treasures, but to that band of mountain and wilderness demons, they were immense blessings!

His thoughts raced. When he looked at Ao Guang again, the old Dragon King seemed to be glowing with tempting golden light from head to toe. It was like a starving man seeing a feast, and green light immediately gleamed in Sun Wukong's eyes.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Sun Wukong rubbed his monkey paws and chuckled.

"Since the old Dragon King is being so generous, if Old Sun keeps refusing, I'd seem rather inhuman!"

He roared:

"Children! Why aren't you hurrying over to carry away the treasures?"

His roar shook the mountain. In an instant, countless monkeys burst from the woods and behind the rocks, chattering and jostling as they swept away all the gold, silver, and treasures. They would not even spare the jade trays, afraid of leaving behind a single coin.

Seeing this, Ao Guang smiled brightly on the outside while cursing inwardly.

Hmph, as expected of a mountain savage. He's never seen the world. He gets greedy over a few vulgar trinkets—truly uncouth.

Without changing expression, he clasped his hands and smiled again.

"Your Excellency's acceptance of this modest gift fills this humble dragon with joy. Would Your Excellency be willing to accompany me to the Dragon Palace for a chat? I have already prepared a feast to celebrate Your Excellency's victory."

At that, Sun Wukong's eyes lit up. How could he refuse treasures that had been delivered straight to his door?

His eyes gleaming green, he patted Ao Guang on the shoulder.

"Since Brother Dragon King has invited me so warmly, how could I refuse? Then I'll trouble you for a while."

Ao Guang smiled and nodded, but his heart gave a thump. He could not shake the feeling that there was something wrong with the monkey's gaze—why did it look as though he was plotting to empty the Dragon Palace?

But with the arrow already nocked, he had no choice but to release it. Besides, this trip had originally been made with the Buddhist School's approval. As long as he successfully delivered the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, his merit would be complete.

"Your Excellency, please!"

"Don't mention it, don't mention it."

Sun Wukong rode on a cloud of light and traveled with the East Sea Dragon King, breaking through the waves.

The seawater parted beneath them, forming two water-curtain passages. Before long, everyone had dived ten thousand zhang into the deep sea.

The clear seawater flowed gently. In the depths of the ocean, a magnificent palace suddenly emerged, resplendent in gold and jade.

The East Sea Dragon Palace shone with dazzling golden light. Its palace halls and towers resembled a glasswork illusion, vast and boundless.

Sun Wukong's eyes shone as he stared at it, with only one thought in his mind.

"We're rich, we're rich! Old Sun is about to reach the peak of monkeyhood!"

"The dragon race has occupied the four seas for countless millions of years, ever since ancient times!"

"Who knows how many treasures are hidden in this Dragon Palace? I'm going to take them all... What, you're not giving them to me? If you won't, Old Sun will rob you blind and leave not a single piece behind!"