"I am here by the Jade Emperor's decree, requesting Your Majesty to ascend to the Heavenly Realm and accept an official post!"
A wizened old man with a kindly face smiled at Sun Wukong.
"Your Majesty?"
"How did I turn into a monkey?"
Sun Kong looked around in confusion, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Monkeys roamed the mountains and plains, and the valley was brimming with spiritual energy.
In the distance, the words "Water Curtain Cave" were carved onto a massive waterfall.
"I've become Sun Wukong?"
Sun Kong was astonished.
He had read "Journey to the West" since childhood. If he didn't know what the Water Curtain Cave meant, then all his years of reading would have been in vain!
"So, you must be Taibai Jinxing?"
Sun Kong turned to the old man, a smile on his face.
"Does Your Majesty know this humble one?"
Taibai Jinxing was flattered.
He had come to ask for a favor today, so he naturally had to adopt a humble posture.
Although the monkeys on Flower Fruit Mountain were not very capable, Sun Wukong was an exception.
A spirit stone monkey with innate wisdom.
Furthermore, he had cultivated for three years at the Three Stars Cave of the Slanted Moon in Mount Fangcun, reaching the Golden Immortal realm.
In contrast, Taibai Jinxing had cultivated for countless years longer than Sun Wukong, yet remained stagnant at the Golden Immortal level.
It was truly embarrassing!
"You're a social butterfly of the Three Realms, who wouldn't know you!"
Sun Kong chuckled, his tone filled with disdain.
"You!"
Taibai Jinxing was speechless.
He had actually been insulted by a monkey!
No, he had to endure!
This trip to the mortal realm was his idea; he had recommended Sun Wukong to be an official in heaven.
He absolutely could not fail!
"His Majesty's boundless grace, knowing of Your Majesty's extraordinary talent, has ordered this humble one to descend and invite Your Majesty to ascend and become an official."
"May I ask Your Majesty's thoughts?"
Taibai Jinxing suppressed his displeasure and asked patiently.
"Become an official?"
Sun Kong's brow furrowed slightly.
Was he going to be the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses?
To put it nicely, he was the head steward of the Imperial Horse Facilities, but in reality, he was just a stable boy.
However, there was one thing Taibai Jinxing hadn't lied about.
The recruitment by imperial decree was the result of his forceful arguments.
Before this, Li Jing and the God of War had advocated for capturing him, even destroying Flower Fruit Mountain.
Thinking about it, the idea of remaining on Flower Fruit Mountain as a carefree king had become a luxury.
Since neither path was feasible, he had only one option left...
To defect to Buddhism!
That's right, to defect to Buddhism!
It was said that the "Journey to the West" was a conspiracy orchestrated by Buddhism.
However, judging by the outcome, Sun Wukong was undoubtedly a winner.
The Victorious Fighting Buddha was one of the thirty-five Buddhas.
Theoretically, he was on equal footing with the Tathagata, and his position was higher than that of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Moreover, after enduring eighty-one tribulations, Sun Wukong attained the Golden Body and soared to become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Wasn't that a hundred times better than being a Keeper of the Heavenly Horses in heaven, tending to the fruit gardens?
And no matter how bad Buddhism was, they rarely harmed their own followers.
From Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti at the top, down to the Tathagata, they were all known for their protectiveness of their disciples.
Following these powerful figures would be more comfortable than following the petty-minded old Jade Emperor!
What's more, Sun Wukong would eventually join Buddhism anyway. Rather than being forced, it was better to surrender willingly.
This would also save the trouble of all those powerful figures scheming against each other over him!
[Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering the Super Karma System!]
[The host only needs to change the karma of the Journey to the West to receive generous rewards. Rewards will be granted based on the degree of shock caused to others, with greater shock leading to richer rewards!]
The system, the standard equipment for a transmigration, had arrived!
Sun Kong suppressed his joy, repeatedly pondering the system's prompts.
Gradually, a bold idea began to form.
"To tell you the truth, this old monkey has been thinking of taking a trip to heaven these past few days!"
Sun Kong grinned at Taibai Jinxing.
"Excellent!"
"Your Majesty, shall we depart immediately?"
Taibai Jinxing breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he could finally complete his mission.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, Sun Kong ascended to the heavens.
Under Taibai Jinxing's gaze, Sun Kong leaped onto a somersault cloud and fled westward.
"This..."
Taibai Jinxing was stunned.
Was this monkey lost?
The Southern Heavenly Gate was not in the west!
However, Sun Wukong's somersault cloud was incredibly fast.
One somersault covered 108,000 li.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace.
Taibai Jinxing was dejected.
The monkey had been successfully recruited, but he was lost.
Would the Jade Emperor believe such an excuse?
"Never mind, this humble one will wait for him on Flower Fruit Mountain."
"He wouldn't get lost on the way home, would he!"
Taibai Jinxing said with a helpless expression.
At the same time.
Spirit Mountain, Great Thunderclap Temple.
Buddhist chants wafted, and golden light spread across the land.
What a sacred place of Buddhist cultivation.
This was tens of thousands of times more awe-inspiring than the scenes in the novel.
"So this is where the gods reside, the amount of spiritual energy is terrifying!"
Sun Kong could not help but exclaim.
Looking at Spirit Mountain below, Sun Kong took a deep breath, then opened his mouth wide and shouted:
"Disciple Sun Wukong wishes to convert to Buddhism!"
The single sentence echoed through the heavens and earth.
It reached Spirit Mountain, pierced the nine heavens, and was heard clearly throughout the Three Realms.
Taibai Jinxing, who was on Flower Fruit Mountain, turned to stone on the spot.
The various deities in the Hall of Lingxiao were all dumbfounded.
And the monks in the Great Thunderclap Temple were stunned into silence.
Sun Wukong voluntarily converted to Buddhism?
This was not the script they had agreed upon!
[Ding, the host has shocked the Tathagata, receiving the reward: Innate God-Demon Foundation!]
[Ding, the host has shocked Guanyin, receiving the reward: Innate Chaos Profound Technique!]
[Ding, the host has shocked Manjushri, receiving the reward: Buddhist Land in the Palm!]
[Ding, the host has shocked Samantabhadra, receiving the reward: Pangu's Essence Blood 1!]
[Ding, the host has shocked Maitreya Buddha, receiving the reward: Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner!]
...
[Ding, the host has shocked Taibai Jinxing, receiving the reward: Indestructible Vajra Body!]
[Ding, the host has shocked the Jade Emperor, receiving the reward: Great Dao Cushion!]
[Ding, the host has shocked Taishang Laojun, receiving the reward: Soaring to the Heavens!]
...
A string of rewards poured into Sun Kong's pocket as if they were free.
His face was almost splitting with joy!
So this was what it felt like to have cheats!
It was too awesome!
While Buddhism and the Heavenly Court were still reeling, Sun Kong was quietly examining his spoils.
What was this Innate God-Demon Foundation? Used it!
What was this Innate Chaos Profound Technique? Learned it!
What was this Pangu's Essence Blood? Consumed it!
In short, no need to overthink the good things; use what can be used, eat what can be eaten.
Only by becoming powerful could he qualify to not be exploited.
As for how others felt, what did it matter to him!