"Three rounds of magical contests?"
The air around them fell still for a moment.
"Ha!"
Sun Wukong tossed the Golden Cudgel high, caught its middle with a backhand grip, and drove it hard into the packed earth at his feet.
A muffled thud made the ground tremble.
Wukong tilted his head, golden light swirling in his eyes as his gaze swept back and forth over the Three Mao Lords.
"Now that sounds interesting!"
He grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "You just said Yuanshi Tianzun issued a decree ordering you to come compete with us in magic?"
The monkey pulled up the Iron Cudgel and casually rested it on his shoulder, his chin slightly raised.
"We've no objection to a magical contest!"
"But let's get one thing straight. When did we ever incur a karmic debt to the Heavenly Venerable?"
With his free hand, he pointed at the three kneeling immortals.
"Wasn't it those three stupid disciples of yours who ran amok in the mortal realm under the banner of the Three Pure Ones and ruined their cultivation?"
"Old Sun merely helped you discipline your disciples while I was at it. Not killing them was already a courtesy."
"So why have you masters turned around and challenged us to a magical contest?"
"A contest is a contest, but how did the Heavenly Venerable's karma get dragged into it?"
Wukong's eyes darted about, and he gave a scoffing laugh.
"What? Does the Heavenly Venerable think we bullied his disciples and grand-disciples too, so he sent you three to settle the score?"
Bajie stepped half a pace forward, thrusting out his big belly as he grumbled at the Great Mao Lord in support.
"Exactly, exactly! Great Mao, don't talk nonsense. This is no time for that sort of joke!"
"If that's how you