"Oh, right. In a few days, we'll also be taking over a fourth brother, the last of the four mixed-world monkeys renowned alongside us – the Six-Eared Macaque, Liu Er."
"However, this brat is quite cunning, not easy to deal with. I'll see how you two handle him. When you can't, I'll step in."
"This way, it wouldn't be out of line with the camaraderie of us four monkeys."
Sun Kong held out the hand of the Long-Arm Ape, Zhou Wuxian, with a harmonious smile, truly resembling the benevolent elder brother looking after his juniors in the human world.
...
The Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
The Jade Emperor, who was enjoying a performance of singing and dancing beauties, was abruptly awakened by a report from a celestial general.
Just moments ago, two monkeys had stormed into the Heavenly Court, creating hundreds of holes and injuring or killing several deities, stirring up considerable anger.
"Please, Your Majesty, make a swift decision and dispatch troops to subdue this Sun Monkey. We failed to recruit him last time; we must be even more ruthless this time."
Having not participated in the previous day's encirclement of Sun Kong, this celestial general, brimming with pride in the Heavenly Court's might, uttered these words.
"What?"
"That Sun Monkey has truly reached the Heavenly Palace?"
"Hahaha, this is excellent! The day I have yearned for has finally arrived. Quickly, invite the Western Heavens..."
Mid-sentence, the Jade Emperor suddenly recalled that a few days ago, he and the Tathagata Buddha from Spirit Mountain had joined forces but failed to eliminate Sun Kong, nor prevent him from breaking through to Hunyuan Da Luo Jinxian. Instead, they were humiliated.
His old face immediately flushed.
No one could have anticipated such an outcome that day.
What was even more unimaginable was that later, when he and Tathagata went to lodge a complaint, they were personally lectured by the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun. He said that although Sun Kong was rebellious and acted contrary to heavenly decrees, he hadn't violated any rules.
Instead, their actions to uphold the Heavenly Way were deemed overconfident and ungrateful.
Such a grievance was utterly inexplicable.
It even left both Tathagata and the Jade Emperor depressed for several days!
"This Sun Monkey is no simple being. I wonder which Sage is backing him. Clearly, he was fated to be a chess piece for the Journey to the West, yet he could suddenly display his prowess before me and Tathagata."
"Even the Dao Ancestor doesn't wish to interfere with him. This is outrageous... sigh!"
The more the Jade Emperor thought about it, the more his head ached.
Just as the celestial general below, confident that his report of Sun Kong's intelligence would earn him the Jade Emperor's wrath, a dispatch of troops, and subsequently, a reward,
Suddenly.
The Jade Emperor made a complete 180-degree turn.
Not only did he refrain from dispatching troops against Sun Kong,
But he also displayed an unprecedented level of cowardice!
"Invite who? What nonsense!"
"Forget it, forget it. I'll just lie flat too. Inviting the Tathagata Buddha from the Western Heavens would lead to the same outcome. It's entirely pointless."
"It's better to let that Sun Monkey continue his rampage. I refuse to believe that someone destined to be a chess piece can jump out of the board and become the player!"
"After all, if this escalates, I'll only suffer minor losses. But if it delays the fated Journey to the West, then I will be cursed by millions and reviled by all. Perhaps even the Heavenly Dao won't be able to protect him!"
Having uttered these words, the Jade Emperor completely ignored the dumbfounded celestial general and, with a wave of his hand, departed with eighteen dancing celestial maidens to enjoy himself in the imperial harem.
Setting aside other matters.
Setting aside how the Jade Emperor deliberately concealed his strength in ordinary times, leading people in the Three Realms to believe he was an incompetent ruler.
Just looking at this scene of a lecherous monarch now,
Instantly made the celestial general, eager to earn merit, want to cry!
"How did His Majesty truly become an incompetent ruler?"
"Didn't Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing often mysteriously tell us that His Majesty isn't truly incompetent, but is instead complying with the will of heaven?"
"How has it come to this?"
This celestial general was excessively straightforward.
Seeing that he could not persuade the Jade Emperor, he did not abandon his obsession but turned to seek out others who should be managing this affair.
However, at every turn, he was met with a rebuff!
...
To the east of the Heavenly Court.
The residence of the Great White Venus.
As soon as this celestial general stated his purpose, imploring the Great White Venus, the Heavenly Court's foremost strategist and chief civil official, to help persuade the Jade Emperor.
Before he could even propose his suggestions for attacking Flower Fruit Mountain, he was swept three million miles away by a whisk from the Great White Venus.
He was treated as mere trash!
"Great White Venus, you..."
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"These are matters of the Emperor; what right do you have to offer suggestions?"
"Do you think the Sun Monkey hasn't bullied His Majesty enough already?"
"You are ignorant and clueless, and you want me to offend His Majesty with you? Truly black-hearted! Get lost, don't let me see you again, or I'll beat you every time I do."
Hearing the usually gentle Great White Venus speak so rudely and insult him, this celestial general could not comprehend it and was instantly petrified.
Afterward.
This unyielding celestial general went to find others, such as Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, the Great God of the Three Altars of the Lotus, Nezha, the Giant Spirit God, and so on.
The list was endless.
The result was the same everywhere.
Either he was cursed and driven away,
Or he was physically thrown out.
In an instant, it seemed as if all the powerful figures in the Heavenly Court had become strangers.
This also caused the celestial general's shock towards Sun Kong to accumulate layer by layer.
And his shock, as expected, indirectly brought Sun Kong rewards!
...
[Ding! The Host has shocked the Jade Emperor, causing him to desire to dispatch troops to attack Flower Fruit Mountain and continue the heavenly trend, but he fears retaliation from the Host, and thus chooses to yield.]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a regular reward: a golden brick from the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.]
[Remark: This golden brick is one of the one hundred and eight golden bricks that form the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Once all are collected, the complete Lingxiao Treasure Hall can be obtained!]
[Ding! The Host has shocked the Great White Venus, causing him to desire to once again display his talents as a civil official and strategist, continuing the heavenly trend, but he fears he cannot defeat the Host and thus retreats.]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a regular reward: a fragment of the Great White Whisk.]
[Remark 1: This fragment of the Great White Whisk is one of the thirty-six fragments that form the Great White Venus's innate spiritual treasure, the Great White Whisk. Once all are collected, the complete Great White Whisk can be obtained!]
[Remark 2: If the Host agrees to take possession of this Great White Whisk, it would mean seizing the Great White Venus's spiritual treasure. This type of reward will no longer be a copy-paste.]
[Ding! The Host has shocked Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, causing him, who has always advocated for pacifying demon strongholds to deter the Three Realms, to close his doors in seclusion after his previous crushing defeat.]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a regular reward: a fragment of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda.]
[Remark 1: This fragment of the Exquisite Pagoda is one of the thirty-six fragments that form Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's innate spiritual treasure, the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda. Once all are collected, the complete Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda can be obtained!]
[Remark 2: If the Host agrees to take possession of this Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, it would mean seizing Li Jing's spiritual treasure. This type of reward will no longer be a copy-paste.]
...
The system only issued a portion of the rewards, yet Sun Kong was already immensely excited.
And the subsequent shocking rewards were even more extraordinary!