An Offer from the Heavenly Court

"If you haven't been granted a place among the immortals, then you cannot enter."

After explaining the conditions for entering the Heavenly Court, the two heavenly soldiers refused Sun Wukong's request.

"From what you two are saying, it seems that as long as someone becomes an immortal, your Heavenly Court will send people to recruit them."

"As for me, I only recently became an immortal, so your Heavenly Court may not know yet. But given your efficiency, I imagine someone has already started contacting me, trying to recruit me to the Heavenly Court."

"So please do me the favor and let me in for a look around."

"If I ever manage to obtain even a minor official position in the Heavenly Court, I will certainly put in a good word for them."

Seeing that the two men were speaking to him politely, Sun Wukong wasn't in a hurry and began to discuss things with them.

"We're sorry, but since you're not among the immortals, you can't enter. That's the rule of Heavenly Court. Neither of us dares to let you in. Please don't put us in a difficult position; please give up this idea and leave."

After hearing Sun Wukong's words, the two heavenly soldiers explained their difficulties to him and then refused his request.

After hearing that the two heavenly soldiers also had their own difficulties, Sun Wukong did not make things difficult for them by having them detour around the Southern Heavenly Gate. Instead, he tried to see if there was another way to enter. When he had gone far enough away that he could no longer see the Southern Heavenly Gate, he used the Earthly Sha Seventy-Two Transformations to transform himself into an ordinary bird and quietly slipped into the Heavenly Court.

When Sun Wukong entered the Heavenly Court, he discovered that his Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain was no match for the place where others lived. If they were placed side by side, it would be like a firefly vying for the moon's brilliance, completely overshadowed by the other place, leaving almost nothing behind.

Every pavilion and tower here exudes an aura and radiance of immortals, transcending the mortal world, untouched by dust, beautiful and tranquil. If a mortal were to stay here for even a day, let alone a moment, he would forget his troubles in the mortal world and feel the peace that this place brings him.

Finally, he started exploring the area on his own.

"Your Majesty, a mischievous monkey from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain came to my East Sea Ao Qin East Sea Dragon Palace and stole my Sea-Calming Divine Needle. He also stole the Phoenix-Winged Purple Gold Crown I won from the Dragon King of the West Sea Qin, the Dragon King of the South Sea Ao Run; the Golden Chainmail Armor I won from Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea; the Lotus-Fiber Cloud-Stepping Boots I won from Ao Shun, the Dragon King of the North Sea; and my treasured Gold-Inlaid Hat, among other precious treasures."

"I urge Your Majesty to dispatch your celestial soldiers and generals to subdue this monstrous creature and restore peace to the East Sea."

At this time, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, came to the Heavenly Court to complain to the Jade Emperor about how Sun Wukong had stolen his treasures.

"Please rest assured, Old Dragon King, you can return to your Crystal Bow in the East Sea. I will immediately dispatch heavenly soldiers and generals to capture that wicked monkey for you."

After hearing the Dragon King of the East Sea's words, the Jade Emperor readily agreed. In his view, the Dragon King was nothing more than a demon with cultivation, utterly insignificant in front of his heavenly soldiers and generals. Thus, he boasted and readily granted the Dragon King's request.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

After expressing his gratitude to the Jade Emperor, the Dragon King of the East Sea left the Heavenly Court.

"Sun Wukong from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain has arrived. After that, he caused a great disturbance in the Netherworld Realm, forcibly seizing the Judge's Book of Life and Death and Death and crossing out the names of all monkeys, except for creatures like macaques, whose lifespans have increased. This has offended the Heavenly Majesty. I implore Your Majesty to send troops to capture this demon monkey."

At this moment, a soul-reaping messenger from the Netherworld Realm submitted a letter.

"Rest assured, return to your Netherworld Realm. I will immediately dispatch heavenly soldiers and generals to capture this demonic monkey."

The Jade Emperor granted his request.

After hearing the Jade Emperor's words, the soul-reaping messenger expressed his gratitude and then departed.

"Do any of you ministers know the origin of this demonic monkey?"

The Jade Emperor then inquired about the civil and military immortals.

"This demonic monkey is the Numinous Stone Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Havoc. It was a naturally born Stone Monkey decades ago, which was not considered anything special at the time. However, in recent years, it has attained immortality somewhere, transcending the love of the Three Realms and not being within the Five Elements. Now, its lifespan is equal to that of heaven."

At this point, an ancestor who knew Sun Wukong's background answered the Jade Emperor's question.

"Is there anyone willing to descend to the mortal realm and subdue this demonic monkey for me?"

Then the Jade Emperor asked if anyone was willing to capture Sun Wukong, but before he could get an answer, Taibai Changgengxing suddenly stepped forward from the crowd.

"In these Three Realms, anything with nine orifices can cultivate immortality. However, this monkey is a body nurtured by heaven and earth, formed from the sun and moon. Today, it has cultivated immortality and attained the Dao, gaining the ability to Dragon-Subduing and tigers. What difference is there between it and an immortal?"

"Your Majesty, why don't you Fafa pity on him and issue a decree of amnesty, summoning him to the celestial realm and bestowing upon him an official position, so that he is subject to some restraint? If he obeys the will of Heaven, he can be rewarded later; if he disobeys the will of Heaven, he can be arrested."

"This way, we can avoid making a big fuss, and it can also be considered a proper way to attract immortals."

This Taibai Changgengxing, acted as a strategist, devising a plan for the Jade Emperor.

"I think your suggestion is quite good, let's do it your way."

The Jade Emperor directly adopted his method, and then ordered the Wenqu Star Official to draft an edict, which was given to the Taibai Changgengxing, instructing him to descend to the mortal realm to recruit Sun Wukong.

After Taibai Changgengxing emerged from the Southern Heavenly Gate, he summoned an auspicious cloud, rode on it, and carrying the edict given to him by the Jade Emperor, went straight to the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"The king is not here. Quickly report to the clan chief that an immortal has come to visit."

A little monkey saw Taibai Jinxing's attire and the auspicious cloud beneath his feet, and concluded that the person in front of him was a celestial being.

He then wanted to notify Sun Wukong to come over, but remembering that Sun Wukong had already gone to heaven to find the Heavenly Court and was not at home, he sent someone to inform the old clan chief who was busy at work.

Taibai Changgengxing saw the little monkeys run inside immediately after seeing him, he became curious. So instead of reading the amnesty document, he waited for them, wanting to see what these monkeys were up to.

"I am the old chieftain of the monkeys, and I pay my respects to the immortal."

Upon seeing Taibai Jinxing, the monkeys' chieftain immediately knelt down and bowed to him.

"Where is Sun Wukong now? Quickly bring him out to receive the imperial decree. After receiving it, if he is willing, he can come to heaven and become a deity there."

Taibai Changgengxing, directly stated his reason for seeking out Sun Wukong.