Chapter 46

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong's power within the Eight Trigrams Furnace activated automatically. The instruments of torture at the Demon Slaying Platform had failed to harm him before, but the true fire within the furnace now posed a threat, turning his body into an afterimage as he darted swiftly between the eight trigrams.

Neither the true fire nor the smoke could approach him. Instead, Sun Wukong used the opportunity to temper his body. He first completely refined the golden core within him, forging an Indestructible Vajra Body. Then he absorbed the qi of the Eight Trigrams of the Prenatal Heaven and tempered it through true fire, transforming his flesh from acquired to innate and achieving an indestructible innate body.

Once his divine art was complete, its effects faded on their own. The true fire in the furnace could no longer harm him in the slightest.

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged in quiet meditation within the Eight Trigrams Furnace, forming seals with both hands as he devoted himself to cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, forty-nine days passed. Seeing flames soaring from the furnace, Grand Supreme Elder Lao smiled. "The Demon Monkey has been refined. It is time to open the furnace."

Before his words had faded, Sun Wukong abruptly opened his eyes. Golden light burst from them in every direction—he had forged Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze. Like the time he had burst from the stone, two beams of golden light shot straight into the sky.

Boom! The lid of the Eight Trigrams Furnace exploded open. Bathed in purple-gold radiance, Sun Wukong leaped out with the Golden Cudgel in hand. "Old fellow, Old Sun came out himself!"

Grand Supreme Elder Lao was shocked and dismayed. Golden light swept from Sun Wukong's eyes, and Tushita Palace collapsed with a thunderous crash. He kicked over pill furnaces and struck the immortals with his fists; no one could stop him.

Laojun flew from the ruins and saw Sun Wukong heading straight for Lingxiao Hall. He cried out, "There must be an expert behind this monkey!" Then he hastily mounted a cloud and gave chase.

Outside Lingxiao Hall, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Nezha, the Four Heavenly Kings, and other heavenly generals had gathered. The Gods of the Thunder Department had also mobilized in full force. But Sun Wukong had now forged an indestructible body, and his Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze possessed boundless might. None of the gods were his match.

Sun Wukong swept through them all the way to Tongming Hall. Marshal Wang led five hundred spiritual officers into battle, yet they still could not halt his momentum.

Laojun hurried into the hall and reported, "Your Majesty, this old minister failed to refine the Demon Monkey. Instead, he destroyed my Tushita Palace. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The civil officials looked tense, but the Jade Emperor replied calmly, "Dao Ancestor, there is no need for self-reproach. This monkey is extraordinary. Ordinary methods can no longer deal with him."

The sounds of battle outside Lingxiao Hall shook the heavens. Emperor Wenchang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, quickly summon Emperor Zhenwu and Heavenly Venerable Puhua of Thunder to capture the Demon Monkey."

Lord Taibai, however, advised, "After being tempered in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, the Demon Monkey's power has greatly increased. I fear the two emperors may not be able to subdue him. This minister believes we should invite Tathagata Buddha of the Western Heaven to vanquish the demon."

The Jade Emperor immediately summoned Tian You and Yi Sheng, the two True Lords, into the hall and issued a decree ordering them to proceed at once to Spirit Mountain and invite Tathagata to subdue the demon. The two True Lords accepted the order and sped down to the lower realm.

Within the Great Thunderclap Temple on Spirit Mountain, Tathagata suddenly felt a faint stir in his mind. As he began to deduce its cause, a vajra reported that envoys from the Heavenly Court sought an audience. Tian You and Yi Sheng entered the hall, completed their formalities, and recounted in detail how the Demon Monkey had wreaked havoc in Heaven.

Tathagata said to the bodhisattvas, "Remain seated upon your Lotus Thrones while I go subdue the demon." He then brought Ananda and Kasyapa, the two venerables, and rose on clouds toward the Ninth Heaven.

By then, Sun Wukong had fought his way to the front of Lingxiao Hall, where the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals held the gates at all costs. Tathagata appeared and shouted, "Cease your fighting. Let me ask him a question." The generals withdrew, and Wukong leaped out before the formation, demanding, "Who are you?"

Tathagata smiled. "I am Shakyamuni of the Western Heaven. I have heard that you caused havoc in the Heavenly Court. What do you seek?" Wukong answered arrogantly, "That old Jade Emperor can sit in the supreme seat, so why can't Old Sun?"

Tathagata's expression turned stern. "The Jade Emperor endured countless kalpas before attaining the Great Dao. How dare a monkey spirit like you speak such nonsense? Quickly take refuge, lest disaster befall you!" Wukong shouted, "Stop babbling! If you will not yield Heaven, Old Sun will turn heaven and earth upside down!"

Tathagata asked, "What ability gives you the nerve to speak so wildly?"

Sun Wukong grinned. "Old Sun has plenty of skills! The Seventy-Two Transformations, the Somersault Cloud, Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze, the Indestructible Vajra Body, and a lifespan equal to Heaven and Earth. Take the Somersault Cloud alone—one flip carries me one hundred and eight thousand li. Why am I unworthy of Heaven's supreme seat?"

Tathagata Buddha nodded. "Then let us make a wager. If you can leap from my palm, I will ask the Jade Emperor to move to the Western Heaven and yield this Heavenly Court to you. But if you cannot, return to the lower realm and cultivate. Do not make any more noise."

Sun Wukong glanced at the Buddha's palm and sneered inwardly. Such a tiny palm would not even be enough for Old Sun to stretch himself out! Yet he asked aloud, "Can you keep that promise?"

"Of course I can," the Buddha replied.

Sun Wukong readily agreed. "Old Sun accepts this wager!"

Tathagata Buddha spread open his right palm.

Sun Wukong leaped onto the Buddha's palm and held his head high. "Old Sun is about to turn a somersault. Watch carefully!"

"Please do," the Buddha said with a smile.

Before his words had ended, Sun Wukong had already shot into the air. Then he recalled the matter of Zhuang Yan's clay jar, and alarm bells rang in his heart. I must be careful! He immediately changed direction and sped downward toward Jambudvipa World.

No matter how large his palm was, could it possibly cover the Three Thousand Worlds? Just as Sun Wukong was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly felt heaven and earth spin upside down. Once he regained his footing, he saw five towering pillars standing before him.

Could he have reached the end of Heaven? Let Old Sun leave an inscription as proof. He wrote "Great Sage Equal to Heaven Was Here" upon the giant pillar, then relieved himself before turning back in satisfaction.

"Old man!" Sun Wukong shouted loudly. "Old Sun has already leaped beyond Heaven and even left an inscription. Go check it yourself!"

Tathagata Buddha shook his head. "Impudent monkey, look where you wrote it."

Sun Wukong turned around and was horrified to discover that the five heavenly pillars were actually the Buddha's fingers, with his ink marks plainly visible. That old man must have cheated! He hurriedly tried to investigate further, only for Tathagata to flip his palm and press down upon him.

Sun Wukong's body flashed, and he actually escaped the Buddha's palm. Floating in midair, he clutched his belly and laughed. "Sore loser! You dare try to ambush Grandpa Sun!"

Inside Lingxiao Hall, the Jade Emperor and the immortals looked at one another. Great Emperor Changsheng of the South Pole murmured, "It seems this is not the Buddha's true body." Everyone nodded in agreement—if it were Tathagata, he would never expose such a flaw.

The ground suddenly surged upward, forming the five-fingered mountain of Five Finger Mountain as dust blotted out the sky. Yet the Monkey Head stood perfectly unharmed in the air, making faces at Tathagata. "Admit defeat! Aren't you afraid the Three Realms will laugh at such shameless cheating?"

A faint smile touched Tathagata Buddha's lips as his gaze swept over Sun Wukong. He said softly, "I had thought you possessed some heaven-reaching ability. So you merely cultivated a Great Yan Technique."

The Great Yan Technique was in truth a law of Heaven and Earth, a divine power that protected Sun Wukong.

At those words, alarm bells rang in Sun Wukong's heart. Tathagata's left palm suddenly spread open and reached directly for him.

That old man is strange. Today is not the day to fight him head-on. Sun Wukong's thoughts raced, and he immediately mounted his Somersault Cloud to flee.

Yet that somersault of one hundred and eight thousand li landed directly between Tathagata's fingers. The Buddha gently brought his thumb and forefinger together, and a crisp sound rang out.

Far away in the Three Star Cave of Western Ox Continent, Zhuang Yan abruptly opened his eyes—the law he had placed upon Sun Wukong had been crushed between Tathagata's two fingers.

Sun Wukong was now lifted by the back of his neck, all the dharmic power in his body gone. Tathagata raised him before his face and asked with a smile, "Do you have any other methods left unused?"

Sun Wukong looked up at the Buddha and, for the first time, felt a mountain-like pressure. He grinned. "Old sir, Old Sun knows he was wrong. I do not want the Heavenly Court's throne anymore. Could you let me go home?"

Tathagata shook his head. "Reckless monkey, it is easier to change mountains and rivers than one's nature. You shall be pressed down for five hundred years to grind away your wildness before you can attain the true fruition."

With that, he uprooted the mortal Five Finger Mountain with his right hand, pressed Sun Wukong down with his left, and placed the mountain over him.

Only Sun Wukong's head remained outside. He cried repeatedly, "This is too uncomfortable!"

"What should be done?" Tathagata asked.

"Let my hands out."

Tathagata adjusted the mountain as he requested. Sun Wukong said again, "There is nothing beneath my neck. It aches terribly."

The Buddha then conjured a stone platform beneath his neck. Sun Wukong tested it and smiled. "Old man, this is comfortable now. Thank you."

Tathagata smiled faintly. "Had you known manners from the start, why would it have come to this?"

Sun Wukong thought to himself, How could a mere mountain trap me? Once you leave, Old Sun will naturally escape. He then asked, "Old sir, what is your dharma name?"

"Tathagata."

Sun Wukong was secretly startled. The Buddha himself had come! Once he left, Old Sun would flee far away. Yet he smiled outwardly. "Tathagata Buddha, Old Sun will remember that."

Tathagata nodded. "Reflect upon your wrongdoing properly." With that, he withdrew his Dharma form and returned to the Heavenly Court to report his success.

When Tathagata Buddha returned to Great Luo Heaven, Grand Supreme Elder Lao, Heavenly Venerable Taiyi of Salvation, and the other immortals had already waited for a long time. Holding rare treasures and exotic fruits, they bowed in unison. "Thanks to the Buddha for subduing the Demon Monkey, the Jade Emperor has invited us to a banquet in gratitude. We ask the Buddha to name this grand gathering."

The Buddha replied with a smile, "Let it be called the Heaven Pacifying Assembly."

The immortals praised in unison, "Wonderful! The Heaven Pacifying Assembly!"

At the banquet, delicacies flowed without end, immortal music drifted through the air, and graceful dancers performed. Just as the immortals were immersed in the festivities, Sun Wukong, pinned beneath Five Finger Mountain, suddenly exerted his strength and shook the mountain. The entire peak trembled violently. Heavenly soldiers hurriedly reported it to the Jade Emperor, and all the immortals at the feast were alarmed.

The Buddha calmly took out a Golden Post and ordered Venerable Ananda to go. Ananda carried the post to the mountaintop and affixed a Buddhist Verse to the rock. In an instant, the mountain settled back into place and connected with the Earth Veins. No matter how the Monkey King struggled, he could no longer move it.

Sun Wukong threw back his head and howled, "Jade Emperor! Tathagata! Old Sun is not finished with you!"

Time passed beneath Five Finger Mountain, yet the fame of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven spread throughout the Three Realms. Though the Jade Emperor retained his title, immortal ministers and former officials often used the matter to remonstrate with him, leaving him greatly vexed.

One day, Zhuang Yan was drinking tea outside his divine residence when he saw Fire Spirit True Immortal leading the children through the peach orchard to harvest fruit. Vanguard Hu was quietly cultivating with his blade in hand, but when summoned, he immediately stepped forward to receive orders.

After asking about the situation in Guangci Prefecture, Zhuang Yan instructed him, "Pay particular attention to mortal affairs. If anything unusual occurs, report it immediately." He also specifically added, "Have your wife visit Liu Zhen Peak more often to look after Lu Hanzhi. Help her with anything she needs."

Vanguard Hu did not understand what he meant. Zhuang Yan merely smiled without answering, and a profound gleam flashed through his eyes.

Vanguard Hu scratched his head. "Could it be that Divine Lord has taken a liking to her? That Lu Hanzhi is indeed quite beautiful."

Zhuang Yan raised his leg and kicked Vanguard Hu aside, scolding with a laugh, "Foolish tiger, you think of nothing but nonsense all day. Do you take me for someone who craves worldly passions?"

"Hehe." Vanguard Hu moved closer with an apologetic grin. "Please do not be angry, Divine Lord. I have remembered everything you said. I will tell Lan'er in a while."

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly, just as Chi Ling came skipping over with fresh peaches in her hands.

"Divine Lord, these are immortal peaches Sister Huoling specially offered to you," Chi Ling said brightly.

Vanguard Hu's eyes widened. "Good heavens! Where did you pick such juicy peaches?"

Zhuang Yan examined them closely. The skins were crystalline and translucent, and their fragrance soothed the heart. He activated his Cave Heaven True Sight to inspect them, then said in surprise, "They are immortal peaches containing spiritual energy!"

Chi Ling froze when she heard this, then hurriedly called toward the peach grove, "Sister Huoling, come look!"

Fire Spirit True Immortal set down her bamboo basket and hurried over. "Why are you in such a rush?"

Chi Ling pointed excitedly at the immortal peach in Zhuang Yan's hand. "Sister, look! We grew Spiritual Peaches!"

Fire Spirit True Immortal did not think much of it at first, but when she saw the spiritual light flowing over the peach, even her voice trembled. "Divine Lord... may I examine this peach closely?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal's fingertips trembled as she accepted the peach. When she confirmed that spiritual energy truly flowed within it, her eyes immediately welled with tears. "Thirty whole years! At last, I can see hope!"

"Congratulations," Zhuang Yan said with a smile and cupped his hands.

Amid everyone's congratulations, Fire Spirit True Immortal solemnly held out the peach. "Please, Divine Lord, taste this first Spiritual Peach."