The Heavenly Court's Edict

Great Emperor Ziwei gave a wry smile. "They are all beings of profound merit who have not broken heavenly laws. The Great Celestial Venerable is compassionate."

Great Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Nanji were discussing important matters. It turned out that many gods and immortals in the Heavenly Court, despite their destined time having arrived, were unwilling to enter the cycle of reincarnation due to their greed for status. They relied on the Heavenly Court's protection and should have been reborn millions of years ago, but now they had become a burden to the Three Realms.

These immortals and gods had contributed to the Heavenly Court and had not violated any heavenly laws, so it was inconvenient for the Jade Emperor to forcefully order them to face their destiny. As long as the Jade Emperor did not permit it, Emperor Nanji could not bring down tribulations upon them, allowing them to continue evading their fate.

Emperor Nanji sighed, "After the Peach Banquet comes the Grand Supreme Elder Lao's Golden Core Convention. By then, they will obtain Golden Cores and be able to extend their lives and avoid tribulations."

The Golden Core Convention was a grand event where the Jade Emperor bestowed gifts upon the immortals. All those with rank could receive a Golden Core that extended their lifespan. This practice had remained unchanged since the founding of the Heavenly Court. These immortals and gods had existed since the creation of heaven and earth, and their karmic debts had piled up like mountains. If they delayed any longer, it was feared that it would trigger a great calamity in the Three Realms, endangering all living beings.

Just as the two Emperors were worrying, an Immortal Official suddenly reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has caused chaos at the Peach Banquet, trespassed into Tushita Palace, stolen all of the Grand Supreme Elder Lao's Golden Cores, and has now fled to the mortal realm!"

Great Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Nanji were stunned at first, then looked at each other and smiled. Great Emperor Ziwei waved his hand to dismiss the Immortal Official and praised, "The Great Celestial Venerable is indeed brilliant."

Emperor Nanji also chuckled, "This plan might have come from the Grand Supreme Elder Lao."

The two Emperors then peacefully enjoyed their tea, no longer worried about the impending calamity.

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

The Jade Emperor quickly went out to greet them with the Queen Mother of the West. After Lao Jun paid his respects, he reported, "Today, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven trespassed into Tushita Palace and stole the Golden Cores Your Majesty refined for the Pill Origin Convention. I have come to inform you."

The Jade Emperor was greatly alarmed. "These pills were meant to help all immortals avoid tribulations. Now that they are all gone, how can I explain this to the immortals?"

The Queen Mother of the West advised, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We should quickly dispatch troops to apprehend the demon monkey. Perhaps some of the immortal pills can be recovered."

The Jade Emperor immediately issued an edict: "Summon the Grand Spirit Official of the Heavens' Scrutiny to an audience!"

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

This was the innate commander, the Divine Lord of Primordial Qi, the Grand Spirit Official of the Heavens' Scrutiny, and the head of all spirit officials in the Heavenly Court, Marshal Wang.

Marshal Wang approached the imperial presence, cupped his fists, and said, "Your Subject has been summoned by Your Majesty and is here to receive your decree."

The Jade Emperor Great Celestial Venerable ordered, "Immediately search Great Luo Heaven and apprehend the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to face justice."

Marshal Wang accepted the order and left. The Jade Emperor then issued another decree: "Transmit my decree, temporarily suspend the Peach Banquet, and order all immortal officials attending the banquet to proceed immediately to Lingxiao Hall for deliberation."

Lord Taibai received the order to transmit the decree. The Jade Emperor said to the Four Heavenly Masters, "Transmit the decree, ascend the hall."

The Four Heavenly Masters respectfully responded, walked out of Miro Hall, and announced loudly, "By the Great Celestial Venerable's edict, the imperial chariot will move to Supreme Harmony Palace. All immortals shall attend court immediately."

The Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, and Grand Supreme Elder Lao each mounted their chariots and headed straight for Supreme Harmony Palace.

In the blink of an eye, the Four Imperial Lords, the Grand Emperor of the Eastern Azure Palace, the East Duke, the Queen Mother of the West, the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder, Emperor Zhenwu, Empress Doumu, the True Lord Pi Li, Divine Might Subduing Demons, the Five Directional Thunder Emperors, and other gods of the Heavenly Court, as well as various immortals and true beings, all those present in Great Luo Heaven, rushed to Supreme Harmony Palace as ordered.

As a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official, Zhuang Yan was not qualified to enter Supreme Harmony Palace. However, because he held an invitation to the Peach Banquet, he entered the hall with the other immortals.

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

The Jade Emperor Great Celestial Venerable sat high on the dome, his majesty immense, overlooking all the gods and immortals, ruling the Three Realms.

Zhuang Yan was ranked last, with the Sixty Jiazi Gods of the Department of the Mortal Realm, ranked fifth-rank, in front of him.

After all the immortals paid their respects, the Queen Mother of the West and Grand Supreme Elder Lao once again reported the theft of the Peaches and Golden Cores.

When Grand Supreme Elder Lao mentioned that the 360 gourds of immortal pills prepared for the Pill Origin Convention had all been stolen and consumed by Sun Wukong, there was an uproar in the hall.

Nezha heard this and secretly curled his lip – Lao Jun had clearly only refined thirty-seven gourds but reported three hundred and sixty.

Zhuang Yan was also surprised. Although he didn't understand why Lao Jun had falsely reported the number, he knew it was definitely not out of greed.

The Jade Emperor asked in shock, "Lao Jun, if that's the case, is there not a single immortal pill left in Tushita Palace?"

Grand Supreme Elder Lao replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, that is precisely the case. I fear that within ten thousand years, we will not be able to hold the Pill Origin Convention again."

The Jade Emperor was furious. "This demon monkey is ungrateful and has caused trouble repeatedly! Now he has ruined my Peach Banquet and Pill Origin Convention. He is truly hateful!"

All the gods in the hall were shocked. Even esteemed deities like the 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's audaciousness.

An old immortal urgently pleaded, "I implore Your Majesty to quickly send troops to apprehend the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and recover the immortal pills."

Many old immortals seconded the motion, their words earnest, strongly requesting the Jade Emperor to immediately dispatch troops to capture Sun Wukong.

The Jade Emperor appeased them, "All my beloved officials, please be patient. I have my own decision."

Upon hearing this, the old immortals bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, Marshal Wang returned to Supreme Harmony Hall to report, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject, under orders, thoroughly investigated Great Luo Heaven and discovered that after Sun Wukong stole and consumed the Golden Cores, he broke through the South Heavenly Gate and fled to the mortal realm."

The immortals in the hall changed color. Several old immortals stomped their feet in anxiety. A white-bearded old immortal stepped forward and pleaded, "I implore Your Majesty to immediately send troops to capture the demon monkey! If he distributes the immortal pills to the monkey troop, the consequences will be unimaginable."

The Queen Mother of the West and Grand Supreme Elder Lao followed up with their pleas, "Please, Your Majesty, quickly send heavenly soldiers to capture the demon monkey."

The Grand Emperor of the Eastern Azure Palace, Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder, and other important ministers also stated one after another, "We hope Your Majesty will immediately dispatch troops to annihilate the demon monkey."

In the blink of an eye, all the gods and immortals in the hall unanimously requested to fight. The Jade Emperor waved his sleeve and said, "All my beloved officials, rise." Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Nezha, receive your orders!"

Li Jing and his son stepped forward in response. The Jade Emperor said solemnly, "Order Li Jing to be the Marshal Who Subdues Demons and Nezha to be the deputy marshal. You shall lead the twenty-eight constellations, the Nine Luminaries Star Officials, and ten thousand heavenly soldiers. Set up the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net to encircle and suppress Flower-Fruit Mountain. You must capture the demon monkey and bring him back to be punished!"

After receiving the order, Li Jing and his son assembled their troops and charged out of the South Heavenly Gate in a mighty procession. Zhuang Yan noticed that more than half of the divine positions in the hall were suddenly empty.

At this moment, the Jade Emperor produced the Haotian Mirror. Its light swept across the Three Realms and finally settled on Flower-Fruit Mountain. Dust and sand obscured the sky, and purple mist permeated the air. Ten thousand heavenly soldiers had surrounded the mountain peak like an iron bucket. In front of the Water Curtain Cave, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's banners fluttered, and Sun Wukong was directing Marshals Ma and Liu and Generals Beng and Ba to form ranks to meet the enemy.

Although the Demon King had sought help from his six sworn brothers, the Six Sages, seeing the might of the Heavenly Court, actually burned their caves and fled in all directions.

...The war drums began to beat, and the Nine Luminaries Star Officials led their troops to charge. The Unicorn Demon King and the seventy-two cave demons under Sun Wukong's command were surrounded by heavenly soldiers at the Iron Plate Bridge.

As the two armies faced off at the Iron Plate Bridge, a shout was heard. Sun Wukong emerged, wielding his Golden Cudgel and breaking through the encirclement.

The Nine Luminaries Star Officials couldn't withstand him and retreated in disarray, shouting, "Bold Bimawen! You stole the Peaches of Immortality, pilfered the Imperial Wine, disrupted the Peach Banquet, and stole the Elixirs. Your sins are heaven-high, surrender now!"

Wukong laughed heartily, "It was indeed I, what can you do to me?"

The Star Officials rebuked him, "We are acting on the Jade Emperor's decree to capture you. If you resist further, we will flatten Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong became enraged. "Insolent little gods dare to spout such nonsense! Take this!" With that, he swung his cudgel towards the Nine Luminaries Star Officials. The gods attacked together, but Wukong's onslaught sent them fleeing in disarray, their armor in tatters.

The defeated generals reported to the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, "That demon monkey is incredibly skilled, we are no match for him." Li Jing then dispatched the Four Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and other Heavenly Generals to confront him. Wukong, in turn, led the Unicorn Demon King and the seventy-two cave demon kings to form their own battle lines.

Instantly, the sky darkened and dust and stones flew. The two armies fought fiercely from morning till night. In the end, the Unicorn Demon King and all the demon kings were captured, with only the Four Valiant Generals leading the remaining monkeys to flee into the Water Curtain Cave.

Wukong alone battled a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, fighting with all his might against Li Jing, his son, and the Four Heavenly Kings, growing stronger with each clash. Seeing that night had fallen, he plucked hairs from his body, transforming them into thousands of Wukongs who surged forward, causing the Heavenly Soldiers to break ranks and flee in utter defeat.

Returning victorious to the cave, he found the monkeys a mix of sorrow and joy. The Four Valiant Generals tearfully explained, "The Unicorn Demon King and the other demon kings were captured, hence our sorrow. But we rejoice because our Great King returned safely."

Wukong laughed, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences. Those captured were outsiders; our monkey tribe suffered no losses. Although the Heavenly Soldiers have retreated, they will surely return. Rest well, and tomorrow I will display my divine powers and capture the Heavenly Generals alive!"

The monkeys obeyed his command. Though the Heavenly Soldiers were defeated, Li Jing had already reorganized his forces for another battle.

The gods and generals came forward one after another to claim credit. Some had captured fierce tigers and leopards, others had seized lions and giant elephants, and still others had caught jackals and foxes. Yet, not a single monkey was seen.

Li Jing carefully recorded the merits of his soldiers. While deploying troops to surround Flower-Fruit Mountain, he also set up a military camp in the first layer of the Heavenly Realm.

In the Lingxiao Hall, the Immortal Officials watched with astonishment as King Li and the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers returned defeated.

"Where did this monkey learn such divine powers?" exclaimed True Man Taiyi, stroking his beard. "Even a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers couldn't subdue him."

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

At this moment, the Commander of the Thunder Department stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, shall we dispatch reinforcements to aid King Li?"

The Jade Emperor immediately issued an edict: "Dispatch the Five Marshals of the Thunder Department, the Giant Spirit God, the Eight Directions Thunder Generals, the Thirty-six Heavenly Generals, and the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends to assist. Furthermore, send Marshal Tianpeng to lead the navy to accompany them."

The Commander of the Thunder Department received the order and withdrew, immediately assembling his forces to descend to the mortal realm as reinforcements.

The Jade Emperor then summoned the Four Heavenly Masters. "My esteemed ministers, take these Imperial Gifts of Silk and Nectar and reward the army on my behalf. Also, convey my verbal decree: Heaven has compassion for all life. If the Unicorn Demon King and the other demon kings are willing to repent and cease their rebellion with the demon monkey, their sins may be forgiven."

The assembled immortals praised in unison, "The Great Celestial Venerable is infinitely benevolent."

The Four Heavenly Masters arrived at the military camp and first announced the imperial decree, rewarding the soldiers. Gold, silver, treasures, and nectar were distributed among the troops. The hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, grateful for the imperial grace, had their morale boosted.

When the Unicorn Demon King and the other demons were brought out, the Jade Emperor's decree of pardon was read. The demons then pledged their allegiance. Li Jing, following the decree, released the demons. These demons scattered after descending to the mortal realm, and none returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

After the reinforcements arrived, Nezha offered a plan, "Father, we can use this opportunity to sneak attack the demon lair tonight."

Li Jing raised an eyebrow. "A night raid?"

Nezha was confident. "Your son is willing to lead the gods and generals on a night raid of Flower-Fruit Mountain to capture that monkey."

Li Jing surveyed the generals. "What are your thoughts?"

The generals responded in unison, "We will obey the Marshal's command."

Li Jing threw down the command arrow. "I order you to lead the elites on a night raid of Flower-Fruit Mountain and capture the demon monkey at all costs."

Nezha accepted the order and immediately, along with the gods and generals, concealed their forms and silently descended from the Heavenly Realm.

The gods infiltrated Flower-Fruit Mountain, only to find the mountain heavily guarded with monkey soldiers patrolling everywhere. The Seventy-two Earthly Fiends volunteered, using a bit of magic to put the sentries at various posts to sleep.

The Seventy-two Earthly Fiends took over the outer defenses of Flower-Fruit Mountain, while Nezha led the Heavenly Generals deeper into the mountain.

As the group reached the Iron Plate Bridge outside the Water Curtain Cave, they discovered Wukong's personal guard of monkey soldiers on patrol. The Thirty-six Heavenly Generals immediately took action, subduing these guards with lightning speed, binding them, and placing them in a corner.