"My King, my King, the forces surrounding us have largely retreated. Only a few billion remain, posing no significant threat."
"Most auspicious!"
On the morning of the tenth day, General Ba was the first to rush to Sun Kong's side with good news, the first great event since being besieged by hundreds of billions of beings.
Hearing this.
Sun Kong, who had been meditating atop the oldest and largest peach tree, deducing heavenly secrets, rejoiced inwardly and opened his eyes.
Even he, the master of provoking trouble, who had shocked and tormented others so many times, should have become numb to it. Yet, after enduring torment and headaches for days, deliverance had finally arrived.
He couldn't help but laugh heartily.
He exhaled a heavy, turbid breath!
"Indeed, it is both regrettable and joyous. Sun has waited so long for such a favorable outcome. I presume the Heavenly Dao senses this and will soon bestow merit."
"General Ba, quickly inform the second king, Wuzhiqi, and Marshals Maliu, and then tell Xiao Laolai, Xiao Dengdeng, and the others."
"The first tribulation is perfectly resolved. For what follows, it is up to us."
"All of you, prepare to share the merit. Those who receive it, do not mock those who do not. Those who do not, try harder next time; there will always be an opportunity."
"In short, we must remain united. The resolution of the first tribulation was not too difficult, but the remaining eighty tribulations are uncertain."
"Why did the Dao Ancestor not appear on such an occasion? Could it be that, as I suspected, this Journey to the West tribulation is of extraordinary significance?"
After instructing General Ba, Sun Kong, noticing that Hongjun Laozu still had not appeared to personally bestow merit at this stage, felt a slight apprehension.
However, he could not deduce any issues in Zixiao Palace.
Helpless, he could only take things one step at a time.
As he turned back.
He suddenly saw.
In the vast expanse of the Nine Heavens, from a direction of unknown void beyond the thirty-three heavens, a majestic purple light appeared.
It was none other than.
The will of the Heavenly Dao!
"As expected, the merit that should come has arrived. Monkeys, share the merit with all your might, do not lose to the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, nor let outsiders snatch it away."
Before Sun Kong's shout could finish, it was completely drowned out by the Heavenly Dao's will, which was billions of times more grand and billions of times louder than his own!
The next second.
The Heavenly Dao seemed unperturbed by his attempt to steal the spotlight, remaining as inhuman and indifferent as ever.
It spoke coldly!
"The first tribulation of the Journey to the West, the Great Sage's encirclement, has been successfully overcome. All participants in this tribulation shall receive merit, the amount varying according to destiny."
"The foremost individual to achieve merit, the new Qi Tian Da Sheng, the Handsome Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the acting Deputy Buddha of Spirit Mountain, Sun Wukong, for his brilliant wisdom in resolving the tribulation, advancing the Journey to the West, and accelerating the tribulation, is hereby rewarded."
"Reward: Sun Wukong, one hundred Heavenly Dao merit, ten thousand Journey to the West merit!"
As the Heavenly Dao issued its first reward, all beings in the Great Desolation's three realms erupted!
Although the numbers, one hundred Heavenly Dao merit and ten thousand Journey to the West merit, did not sound like much, appearing rather stingy.
However, those who understood the different tiers of Heavenly Dao rewards could see that Sun Kong had indeed struck it rich this time.
One hundred was not insignificant.
Ten thousand was even less so.
This was because, outside of tribulation periods, it was difficult for anyone in the Great Desolation's three realms to acquire ten points of Heavenly Dao merit within ten thousand years.
Let alone one hundred.
During the Investiture of the Gods tribulation, Jiang Ziya, under orders, descended the mountain to assist Xiqi in overthrowing Shang Zhou. His contributions were immense and known throughout the three realms, yet he only received eight hundred Heavenly Dao merit in total.
This initiated eight hundred years of Zhou Dynasty rule in the east.
Yet now, Sun Kong, having only completed the first tribulation, had received one-eighth of the Heavenly Dao merit Jiang Ziya had received, demonstrating how highly the Heavenly Dao valued him!
As for the Journey to the West merit, although it was a newly introduced concept, when compared to the Investiture of the Gods tribulation, the two Sages of the West, the greatest beneficiaries, ultimately received only one hundred million Investiture of the Gods merit.
Sun Kong, by merely completing the first tribulation, had obtained one ten-thousandth of the tribulation merit that only Sages were qualified to receive; it was indeed substantial.
And it was enough to make people intensely envious!
While countless beings across the Great Desolation's three realms were filled with envy and jealousy over Sun Kong's reward, and became even more fervent about the Journey to the West tribulation that Sun Kong and his cohorts had secretly rumored about.
No one had anticipated that.
Sun Kong, who was supposed to immediately kneel and respectfully accept the Heavenly Dao's reward, showed no signs of joy. Instead, with an expression of mixed feelings, he asked the system.
"System, what can this one hundred Heavenly Dao merit and ten thousand Journey to the West merit be used for?"
"Can it be used to forge another Journey to the West Gatling Gun, for my future master, Tang Sanzang?"
The system immediately replied.
But it was an answer that somewhat disappointed Sun Kong!
[The Heavenly Dao merit of one hundred and Journey to the West merit of ten thousand obtained by the host in the first tribulation, while seemingly vast and astonishing to others, is insignificant to this system.]
[To synthesize another spiritual treasure of the caliber of the Journey to the West Gatling Gun, at least one million Heavenly Dao merit and one hundred million Journey to the West merit are required.]
[Otherwise, this system would not even be interested in activating the fusion furnace.]
[However, perhaps the Heavenly Dao found that the host did not complete the first tribulation alone, hence the reward was not substantial. The host should strive harder in the subsequent tribulations!]
The system's words were quite tactful, taking into account the opinions of others towards the Heavenly Dao, and also safeguarding Sun Kong's young and fragile heart.
Yet, Sun Kong detected a hint of contempt from the system towards the Heavenly Dao.
Perhaps, at its highest level, this system far surpassed the Heavenly Dao of the Great Desolation's three realms, hence it dared to express such an opinion.
Seeing this, he did not exhibit the expected subservience towards the Heavenly Dao. Instead, he brought his usual provocative demeanor to the present.
He committed an act so audacious that even the six Sages would exclaim he was courting death!
"Apologies, little brother Heavenly Dao, this Great Sage truly looks down upon such meager Heavenly Dao merit. Rather than giving it to me, it would be better to give it to my second brother, my four generals, and my monkey descendants."
"My apologies, I am just this straightforward and outspoken. If I have offended you and revealed your stinginess to all in the Great Desolation's three realms, do not blame me."
"If you truly blame me, you can do nothing about it. Instead of punishing me, this honest senior brother of the Journey to the West, you should think about being more generous."
"Even Andy Lau can say, 'This little bit, who can it feed?' Isn't it making outsiders laugh? You are the Heavenly Dao, show some sincerity, won't you?"
Sun Kong felt incredibly liberated by these words, finally shedding the oppression of being surrounded by billions of beings and returning to his original self.
Contradicting Heaven and Earth, and Sages.
Acting as Buddha, Immortal, and Demonic God.
It felt so exhilarating!
However.
While Sun Kong was enjoying himself, the Heavenly Dao was somewhat displeased. It wished to punish him but found itself unable to, facing an unprecedented dilemma since the creation of heaven and earth.
Upon witnessing this.
Those with and without keen awareness across the Great Desolation's three realms were utterly shocked on the spot!