Chapter 41

Great Emperor Ziwei gave a bitter smile. "They are all deeply meritorious and have broken no heavenly laws. The Great Celestial Venerable is compassionate at heart."

Great Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Nanji were discussing an important matter. Though many immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court had reached the end of their allotted fates, they clung to their positions and refused to enter tribulation and reincarnate. Sheltered by the Heavenly Court, they should have entered tribulation and been reborn a million years ago, yet now they had become burdens upon the Three Realms.

These immortals and gods had once rendered service to the Heavenly Court and had not violated its laws, so the Jade Emperor could not conveniently force them to undergo tribulation. So long as the Jade Emperor refused, Emperor Nanji could not bring down their tribulations, allowing them to continue evading their fates.

Emperor Nanji sighed. "After the Peach Banquet comes Laojun's Golden Pill Convention. Once they obtain the golden pills, they can prolong their lives and avoid tribulation again."

The Golden Pill Convention was a grand gathering where the Jade Emperor bestowed life-extending golden pills upon the immortals. Anyone with rank could receive them. Since the founding of the Heavenly Court, this custom had never changed. Yet these immortals and gods had existed since the creation of heaven and earth, and their karmic debts had long piled as high as mountains. If this continued, it might trigger a great calamity in the Three Realms and bring disaster upon all living beings.

Just as the two emperors were worrying, an immortal official suddenly rushed in with a report. "Your Majesties, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has wreaked havoc at the Peach Banquet, then broken into Tushita Palace and stolen all of Laojun's golden pills. He has now fled to the lower realm!"

Great Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Nanji were stunned at first, then exchanged glances and smiled. Great Emperor Ziwei waved the immortal official away and praised, "The Great Celestial Venerable is indeed wise."

Emperor Nanji also smiled. "This scheme may have come from Laojun himself."

The two emperors then calmly drank tea, no longer worrying over the matter of tribulation.

The Jade Emperor was discussing matters with the Queen Mother of the West in Miro Palace when the Four Heavenly Masters suddenly announced, "Great Celestial Venerable, the Grand Supreme Dao Ancestor requests an audience."

The Jade Emperor hurriedly went out with the Queen Mother of the West to receive him. After Laojun paid his respects, he reported, "Today, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven barged into Tushita Palace and stole the golden pills Your Majesty had refined for the Pill Origin Convention. I have come especially to report this matter."

The Jade Emperor was greatly alarmed. "These pills were meant to help the immortals avoid tribulation. Now that they are all gone, how am I to answer to the assembled immortals?"

The Queen Mother of the West advised, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Troops should be dispatched at once to capture the Demon Monkey. Perhaps some of the Immortal Pills can still be recovered."

The Jade Emperor immediately issued an order. "Summon the Grand Spirit Official of the Heavens' Scrutiny!"

A moment later, a divine general with a crimson face, golden armor, and three glaring eyes strode majestically into the hall, holding Wind Fire Wheels and a steel whip.

He was the innate commander-in-chief, Divine Lord of Primordial Qi, Grand Spirit Official of the Heavens' Scrutiny, and foremost among all the Heavenly Court's spirit officials—Marshal Wang.

Marshal Wang stepped before the throne and clasped his fists. "This servant has answered Your Majesty's summons and awaits your command."

The Jade Emperor ordered, "Immediately search Great Luo Heaven and capture the Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

Marshal Wang accepted the order and departed. The Jade Emperor then issued another decree. "Convey my command: suspend the Peach Banquet. Order all immortal officials attending the gathering to proceed immediately to Lingxiao Hall to deliberate."

Lord Taibai accepted the decree and went to relay it. The Jade Emperor then told the Four Heavenly Masters, "Pass on the command. Convene court."

The Four Heavenly Masters respectfully acknowledged the order. Walking out of Miro Palace, they proclaimed in loud voices, "By decree of the Great Celestial Venerable, the imperial carriage shall move to the Supreme Harmony Palace. All immortals are to attend court at once."

The Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, and Grand Supreme Elder Lao each took their own carriages and headed directly for the Supreme Harmony Palace.

In the blink of an eye, the Four Imperial Lords, Grand Emperor of the Eastern Azure Palace, East Duke, Queen Mother of the West, Nine Heavens Yingyuan Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder, Emperor Zhenwu, Empress Doumu, True Lord Pi Li Who Shakes Demons with Divine Might, the Five Directional Thunder Emperors, and all the gods and true immortals of the Heavenly Court who were in Great Luo Heaven obeyed the decree and rushed to the Supreme Harmony Palace.

As a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official, Zhuang Yan had no right to enter the Supreme Harmony Palace. However, because he held an invitation to the Peach Banquet, he entered the hall along with the other immortals.

The Supreme Harmony Palace was vast and boundless, like a resplendent heaven and earth.

Jade Emperor Great Celestial Venerable sat high beneath the vault of heaven, his majesty vast and overwhelming as he looked down upon the gods and immortals and ruled the Three Realms.

Zhuang Yan stood at the very end of the ranks. Ahead of him were the Sixty Jiazi Gods of the Department of the Mortal Realm, who held fifth-rank positions.

After the immortals finished paying their respects, the Queen Mother of the West and Grand Supreme Elder Lao once again reported the theft of the peaches and golden pills.

When Grand Supreme Elder Lao mentioned that all the Immortal Pills from the 360 gourds prepared for the Pill Origin Convention had been stolen and eaten by Sun Wukong, the hall erupted in uproar.

Nezha secretly curled his lip upon hearing this. Laojun had clearly refined only thirty-seven gourds, yet he reported three hundred and sixty.

Zhuang Yan was also surprised. Though he did not understand why Laojun had inflated the number, he knew it was certainly not out of greed for wealth.

The Jade Emperor asked in shock, "Laojun, does this mean that not a single Immortal Pill remains in Tushita Palace?"

Grand Supreme Elder Lao replied, "In answer to Your Majesty, that is indeed so. I fear the Pill Origin Convention cannot be held again for ten thousand years."

The Jade Emperor flew into a rage. "This Demon Monkey knows no gratitude and repeatedly causes trouble! Now he has ruined my Peach Banquet and Pill Origin Convention. He is truly detestable!"

All the gods in the hall were stunned. Even venerable deities such as Grand Emperor of the Eastern Azure Palace, Heavenly Venerable Taiyi of Salvation, Nine Heavens Yingyuan Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder, Emperor Zhenwu, and Empress Doumu all denounced the Demon Monkey for his outrageous audacity.

An old immortal urgently petitioned, "I beg Your Majesty to dispatch troops at once and capture the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, then recover the Immortal Pills."

The other old immortals all voiced their support, earnestly urging the Jade Emperor to send troops immediately to seize Sun Wukong.

The Jade Emperor reassured them, "My immortal officials, be at ease. I have my own decision."

Only then did the old immortals bow and withdraw.

A moment later, Marshal Wang returned to Lingxiao Hall to report. "Your Majesty, this servant thoroughly searched Great Luo Heaven as ordered and discovered that after stealing and consuming the golden pills, Sun Wukong broke through the South Heavenly Gate and escaped to the lower realm."

The immortals in the hall changed color at once, and several old immortals were so anxious that they stamped their feet. A white-bearded old immortal stepped forward and petitioned, "I beg Your Majesty to dispatch troops immediately to capture the Demon Monkey! If he distributes the Immortal Pills among his monkey clan, the consequences will be unthinkable."

The Queen Mother of the West and Grand Supreme Elder Lao immediately added, "Please dispatch heavenly troops at once to capture the Demon Monkey."

Grand Emperor of the Eastern Azure Palace, Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder, and the other high ministers also petitioned in succession. "We ask Your Majesty to send troops immediately and exterminate the Demon Monkey."

In an instant, the entire hall of gods and immortals called for battle. The Jade Emperor flicked his sleeve. "My beloved officials, rise. Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Nezha, receive my command!"

Li Jing and his son stepped forth in response. The Jade Emperor said solemnly, "I appoint Li Jing as Marshal Who Subdues Demons and Nezha as deputy marshal. Lead the Twenty-Eight Mansions, Nine Luminaries Star Officials, and one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers. Set up the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net to surround and suppress Flower-Fruit Mountain. You must capture the Demon Monkey and bring him back to answer for his crimes!"

After accepting the order, Li Jing and Nezha assembled their troops and surged out of the South Heavenly Gate in a mighty procession. Zhuang Yan noticed that more than half the divine seats in the hall had suddenly been emptied.

At that moment, the Jade Emperor brought out the Haotian Mirror. Its light swept over the Three Realms before finally settling on Flower-Fruit Mountain. Yellow sand blotted out the sun, purple mist filled the air, and one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers had surrounded the mountain as tightly as an iron barrel. Before the Water Curtain Cave, the banners of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven fluttered proudly as Sun Wukong directed Marshals Ma and Liu and Generals Beng and Ba to form ranks against the enemy.

Though the Demon King had sought aid from his six sworn brothers, the six sages saw the overwhelming might of the Heavenly Court and burned their Cave Mansions before fleeing in all directions.

The war drums thundered as the Nine Luminaries Star Officials led their forces in a charge. The Unicorn Demon King under Sun Wukong's command and the demons from the seventy-two caves charged to Iron Slab Bridge, only to be surrounded by heavenly soldiers.

As the two armies faced each other at the head of Iron Slab Bridge, a shout suddenly rang out. Sun Wukong was seen wielding his Golden Cudgel as he charged out from the encirclement.

The Nine Luminaries Star Officials could not hold him back and retreated one after another. Forming their ranks, they shouted, "Bold Bimawen! You stole peaches, stole Imperial Wine, disrupted the Peach Banquet, and pilfered Immortal Pills. Your crimes are monstrous! Why do you not surrender at once?"

Wukong laughed aloud. "Old Sun did all of it. What can you do to me?"

The star officials angrily rebuked him, "By the Jade Emperor's decree, we have come to capture you. If you continue to resist, we will flatten Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

Wukong was enraged upon hearing this. "Mere minor deities dare speak such wild words? Take this staff!" With that, he swung his cudgel straight at the Nine Luminaries Star Officials. The gods joined forces to surround and attack him, but Wukong beat them until they cast aside their helmets and armor, fleeing back in miserable disarray.

The defeated generals reported to the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, "That Demon Monkey's martial skill is formidable. We are no match for him." Li Jing then deployed the Four Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and other heavenly generals. Wukong likewise led the Unicorn Demon King and the Demon Kings of the seventy-two caves into battle formation.

In an instant, heaven and earth darkened as sand and stones flew. The two armies fought without pause from dawn until dusk. In the end, the Demon King and all the other Demon Kings were captured, while only the Four Valiant Generals led the monkey troops into the Water Curtain Cave.

Wukong faced one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers alone, holding off Li Jing and Nezha as well as the Four Heavenly Kings. The longer he fought, the braver he became. Seeing that night had fallen, he plucked out hairs and transformed them, sending hundreds upon thousands of Wukongs into the fray and crushing the heavenly soldiers into total rout.

After returning victorious to the cave, he found the monkeys torn between grief and joy. The Four Valiant Generals wept as they reported, "The Demon King and the other Demon Kings have all been captured, hence our sorrow. But seeing that Your Majesty has returned safely, we are joyful."

Wukong laughed. "Victory and defeat are common matters. Those who were captured were all outsiders; our monkey clan has suffered no loss. Though the heavenly soldiers have retreated, they will surely return. Rest and gather your strength. Tomorrow, watch me display my divine abilities and capture the heavenly generals alive!"

The monkeys obeyed. Though the heavenly soldiers had been defeated, Li Jing had already reorganized his army for another battle.

The divine generals came forward one after another to claim merit. Some had captured fierce tigers and leopards, some had seized male lions and giant elephants, and others had caught jackals, wolves, and foxes. Yet not a single monkey demon was among them.

Li Jing carefully recorded the merits of his officers and soldiers. At the same time, he deployed troops to encircle Flower-Fruit Mountain and established a military camp in the First Heaven.

In Lingxiao Hall, the immortal officials watched King Li and his one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers return in defeat, and all wore shocked expressions.

"Where did this Monkey Head learn such extraordinary divine abilities? Even one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers cannot do anything to him." True Man Taiyi stroked his beard in astonishment.

True Man Yuding pondered. "This monkey... even I cannot discern his origins."

At this moment, the Commander of the Thunder Department stepped forward to petition. "Your Majesty, should reinforcements be sent to aid King Li?"

The Jade Emperor immediately issued a decree. "Dispatch the Five Marshals of the Thunder Department, Giant Spirit God, the Eight Directions Thunder Generals, the Thirty-six Heavenly Generals, and the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends to reinforce them. Also send Marshal Tianpeng to lead the navy there."

The Commander of the Thunder Department accepted the command and withdrew, immediately gathering troops to descend to the lower realm as reinforcements.

The Jade Emperor then summoned the Four Heavenly Masters closer. "Take the Imperial Gifts of Silk and Nectar and reward the three armies on my behalf. Also relay my verbal decree: Heaven values the preservation of life. If the Unicorn Demon King and the other Demon Kings are willing to abandon evil and return to righteousness, no longer following the Demon Monkey in causing trouble, their crimes may be pardoned."

The immortals all praised in unison, "The Great Celestial Venerable's benevolence is boundless."

The Four Heavenly Masters arrived at the military camp and first proclaimed the gracious decree, rewarding the officers and soldiers. Gold, silver, treasures, and jade nectar were distributed among the troops. The one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers were grateful for the sacred favor, and their morale surged.

After the Unicorn Demon King and the other demons were brought out and the Jade Emperor's pardon was proclaimed, the demons all swore to submit. Li Jing released them according to the decree. Once they descended the mountain, the demons scattered in every direction, and not one returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

After the reinforcements arrived, Nezha offered a plan. "Father, we can seize this chance to launch a surprise attack on the demon lair tonight."

Li Jing raised his brow. "A night raid?"

Nezha replied confidently, "Your son is willing to scout Flower-Fruit Mountain at night with the divine generals and focus on capturing that Monkey Head."

Li Jing looked around at the assembled generals. "What do you all think?"

The generals answered in unison, "We await the marshal's command."

Li Jing threw down a command arrow. "I order you to lead the elite troops in a night raid on Flower-Fruit Mountain. You must capture the Demon Monkey!"

Nezha accepted the order and departed. He immediately concealed himself with the divine generals and silently descended from heaven.

The gods infiltrated Flower-Fruit Mountain and found its defenses strict, with monkey soldiers patrolling everywhere. The Seventy-two Earthly Fiends volunteered for the task and used a slight spell to put all the sentries into a deep sleep.

The Seventy-two Earthly Fiends took over the outer defenses of Flower-Fruit Mountain while Nezha led the heavenly generals farther into the mountain.

When the party reached Iron Slab Bridge outside the Water Curtain Cave, they found Sun Wukong's personal guard of monkey soldiers on patrol. The Thirty-six Heavenly Generals immediately acted, subduing the guards with thunderous speed, binding them up, and placing them in a corner.