In the three realms of Hong Huang, there is a saying: "Rather ask for a stick of incense from the King of Hell than seek grain from Empress Nuwa."
This is to say that Empress Nuwa, though appearing magnanimous, is in reality extremely stingy and petty.
Do not ask anything of her when she is not in her best mood.
Otherwise, it is better not to ask at all!
This is not Sun Kong's idle talk, but a true "historical precedent."
Not to mention the distant past.
Just take the last era. Originally, a young attendant in the Wa Huang Palace, Ling Zhuzi, was reincarnated as Nezha due to the Investiture of the Gods calamity. Although he was doing work for Nuwa, he received no benefits whatsoever.
If he had not obtained the Qiankun Circle, the Wind Fire Wheels, and other spiritual treasures from Taiyi Zhenren after his reincarnation, he would have had to fight King Zhou with nothing but his bare body.
Along the way, Nezha encountered various risks and crises, facing death several times, yet Empress Nuwa offered not the slightest help or rescue.
It was all thanks to Taiyi Zhenren, that old fellow, who had some conscience and escorted Nezha until his physical body achieved sainthood, becoming the present Grand God of the Three Altars of the Sea.
From this, it can be seen that Nuwa's attitude towards her subordinates is divided into two types.
One is for those who have left the Wa Huang Palace. No matter how close they were, they are no longer considered her own.
They must bear their own fortunes and misfortunes, and their lives and deaths are up to fate.
The other is for those who are still in the Wa Huang Palace. No matter how distant they are, they are still her own.
They must be protected at all costs.
Another case of Nuwa's personality is none other than the three demonic spirits of Xuanyuan Tomb, who were sent by her to King Zhou during the Investiture of the Gods calamity.
These three demons were the Nine-tailed Fox Spirit, the Nine-headed Pheasant Demon, and the Jade Pipa Spirit.
The fact that these three demons were allowed to reside in the tomb of the legendary Emperor Xuanyuan indicates that they possessed considerable merit.
As a result, simply because Nuwa controlled the Demon Summoning Banner and the demon race, and out of personal grievances, she pushed the three demons to the hottest front line of the Investiture of the Gods calamity – Chaoge.
Before their departure, she dangled a carrot before the three demons, telling them that as long as they sowed chaos in the Shang Dynasty and took revenge on King Zhou, she would not only protect them from death afterward but also help them achieve righteous results.
She had the three demons completely fooled.
However, afterward, she did not fulfill any of her promises. Instead, she let the three demons be hunted by Yang Jian, Wei Hu, Lei Zhenzi, and others, leaving them in a sorry and pitiful state.
Finally,
To avoid staining her title of Saintess Nuwa, she dispatched her attendant Biyun to capture the three demons with the Demon Binding Rope and hand them over to Jiang Ziya for execution.
At that time, the three demons pleaded and begged in various ways but received no forgiveness. Instead, they were casually eliminated, achieving a glorious reputation for the Western Zhou!
Of course, for Sun Kong, all of this was history from the previous great calamity, something that could no longer be revisited, much less mentioned.
Currently, to retrieve the fragment of the Tiangang Guiyi Gong from Nuwa, there seems to be only one method.
That is to play the family card!
What family card to play?
It is of course the cooperation that Nuwa and the two Saints of the Western Sect discussed during the Journey to the West calamity, where each would contribute a Mani Bead and a Five-Colored Stone, and the task would be carried out by the Buddha Tathagata.
This card!
Although Sun Kong had tormented the Buddha Tathagata, driving him to acknowledge their adoptive father-son relationship, it appeared that Empress Nuwa might not acknowledge their godmother and godson relationship.
To avoid being too closely linked with the Buddha Tathagata.
But Sun Kong knew another thing.
That is, in the original "Journey to the West," although Sun Wukong did not seek help from Empress Nuwa many times, he indirectly received a lot of assistance.
Otherwise, with just the identity of the Handsome Monkey King, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, from the Flower-Fruit Mountain, how could the heavenly deities and the Buddhist monks of Spirit Mountain have gone to such lengths to help him?
To put it plainly, there were two reasons why everyone helped him.
One was the desire for merit and personal gain.
The other was that Sun Wukong was glib-tongued and good at flattering Empress Nuwa, often making her extremely happy and in a good mood.
Helping him was equivalent to helping Empress Nuwa. In the future, if any of the heavenly deities or Buddhist monks of Spirit Mountain encountered any three calamities or nine disasters, they could use this as an opportunity to ask Empress Nuwa for help.
It was simply too pleasant!
"They say women have three great hobbies: men's flattery, precious treasures, and delicious food that nourishes beauty. Any one of these can make them ecstatic and unable to resist."
"What a coincidence, I lack none of these three."
"Flattery? I can do that."
"Although as the dignified Great Sage Equal to Heaven, flattering someone, especially a woman, is a bit beneath me, this is Empress Nuwa, a Saint, and also my godmother. What is there to be ashamed of?"
"Treasures? Although I don't have as many as I did initially, besides the Journey to the West Gatling gun, the Chaos Golden Cudgel, the Chaos Somesault Cloud, and others, each one is a first-class spiritual treasure or treasure, enough to make her happy."
"As for delicious food? That goes without saying. Even the Three Pure Ones were shocked and amazed after drinking my Holy Water Soup, let alone a mere woman?"
"Godmother, oh godmother, this time, you cannot escape. Although you are a Saint, I, Sun Kong, am not a pushover. I guarantee a three-pronged attack, and I will have you captured in minutes!"
With this thought, Sun Kong did not hesitate at all. He immediately activated the Chaos Somesault Cloud and soon arrived at the Wa Huang Palace.
He saw two attendants standing by the entrance, responsible for receiving gifts. Without a gift, they would not grant passage, much like the Ananda and Kashyapa at the Buddha Tathagata's side.
Sun Kong did not confront them head-on. Instead, he immediately took out some spiritual medicines and fruits he had obtained from wandering around during this period.
He then handed them over!
"Oh, it's the Great Sage. No problem, no problem. It's good enough that you've come, why bother with gifts? You make us feel so awkward."
"Please, don't be so polite. Let us announce your arrival. I believe the Empress will see you soon."
"After all, you are her godson, aren't you?"
Having received a gift, the attendants became much more amiable.
After accepting Sun Kong's spiritual medicines and fruits, the two attendants were about to go inside to announce his arrival.
But Sun Kong smiled and stopped them.
"Such a small matter, why trouble two handsome young men?"
"I've come to catch up with my godmother and give her something. There's no need to trouble you. I'll do it myself."
Sun Kong had a system with him, how could he let these youngsters snatch away his chance to shock Nuwa?
Therefore,
While persuading them not to go for the moment,
He simultaneously amplified his voice to the maximum, putting on the grand demeanor that had shocked the Buddhist monks of Spirit Mountain, the heavenly deities, and the great Saints.
He shouted towards the depths of the Wa Huang Palace!
"Godmother, your good godson Sun Monkey is here. Knowing that you, a beautiful Saint, have unique tastes and dislike your godson being overly extravagant, I have prepared a small token of my appreciation."
"A bowl of Holy Water Soup, to give you beauty and radiance, further enhancing your already peerless looks."
"A gold brick from the Lingxiao Palace, for you to step on."
"Finally, it is my godson's hundred percent sincere filial piety."
"Ever since my godson took form, I have been busy with my livelihood, living from hand to mouth. But I have never forgotten your kindness in bestowing a physical body upon me. I have come to pay my respects this time. I beg my godmother not to dislike me!"