Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Luo Bai was overjoyed. He had thought about taking back the Sword of Slaying Immortal when he saw it in the hands of Ran Deng Buddha, but given Ran Deng's formidable strength, Luo Bai was no match for him. The idea had merely flickered through his mind before he suppressed it, never expecting Donghua Emperor would actually help him snatch the sword!

"But, Your Majesty, why didn't you personally deliver the Sword of Slaying Immortal to my master?"

Despite his joy, Luo Bai found something odd. It was clear that Donghua Emperor wanted to curry favor with his master, the Leader of Tongtian, but why didn't he deliver it to the Leader of Tongtian at Greenwave Palace himself?

Donghua Emperor just smiled and didn't answer Luo Bai's question. Luo Bai's eyes shifted, and he realized that it wasn't that Donghua Emperor didn't want to personally hand over the Sword of Slaying Immortal to the Leader of Tongtian, but that he couldn't!

Considering the Leader of Tongtian was among the Three Purities and had Proven the Tao and Become a Saint since the Primordial Era, his status was extremely revered, and his character had always been aloof and prideful. If Donghua Emperor personally delivered the Sword of Slaying Immortal, wouldn't that be a slap in the Leader of Tongtian's face?

After the Divine Enthronement War, many years had passed without the Leader of Tongtian retrieving any of the Four Swords of Immortal-Slaying. If Donghua Emperor now personally brought it to him, wouldn't it suggest that the Leader of Tongtian was inept, having to rely on others to retrieve his own Magical Treasure?

Handing it over to Luo Bai was different. Luo Bai would surely report the truth to the Leader of Tongtian. By doing so, he would not only earn favor with the Leader of Tongtian but also save face. The Leader of Tongtian would naturally be grateful to Donghua Emperor, and Luo Bai himself would feel indebted to him. It was a win-win situation, so why not do it?

Indeed, Donghua Emperor lived up to his reputation as the first among the Five Directional Emperors—his cultivation and strength were profound, and his scheming was unparalleled!

"All right, the Heavenly Army has retreated, and the directive this emperor received has lost its purpose. I will take my leave."

With a faint smile, Donghua Emperor turned to Zi Lan Fairy, "Fairy, will you return to the Heavenly Court with this emperor, or would you like to stay a few days at Flower-Fruit Mountain?"

"I..."

Zi Lan Fairy hesitated, glancing at Sun Wukong who was still unconscious in her arms. She finally bit her lip and said, "I want to wait until Wukong wakes up before leaving."

"Very well, Fairy, please take care of yourself, farewell!"

Donghua Emperor nodded, said no more, and turned to ride the clouds towards the Heavenly Court, disappearing into the far end of the sky in an instant.

"Let's go, we're heading back to Flower-Fruit Mountain."

After watching Donghua Emperor fly away, Luo Bai and the others exchanged glances and then rode the clouds toward Flower-Fruit Mountain.p>

In the Heavenly Court, at the Lingxia Palace.

"Rubbish! They're all useless!"

A crystal glass cup was fiercely thrown by the Jade Emperor onto the floor of the Lingxia Palace, shattering into pieces. Below, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and the four Divine Generals of Wind, Thunder, Water, and Fire didn't dare to breathe a word.

"A hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, a full hundred thousand, and less than twenty thousand have returned! Not only did we fail to annihilate Flower-Fruit Mountain, but we also lost the Grand Marshal. Are you all just freeloading, huh?"

The Jade Emperor stood up from his dragon throne, his rage like thunder, and all the immortals in the Lingxia Palace trembled, not daring to utter a word.

No wonder the Jade Emperor was so angry— a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals had besieged Flower-Fruit Mountain for years, suffering over eighty thousand casualties, with fewer than twenty thousand returning in disgrace to the Heavenly Court, and even the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing had been killed by Nezha the Third Prince.

The Heavenly Court had suffered a grave loss of face this time!

"Your Majesty, the demon race strongholds of Flower-Fruit Mountain are too numerous, and each one's strength is at the level of a Great Demon. Large numbers don't matter against them!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty, we did our utmost. Even Buddha Ran Deng took action but only managed to break the barrier of Flower-Fruit Mountain's Great Formation. Later, when Sun Wukong returned, he lured Buddha Ran Deng away, and the Heavenly Generals were tied up by the expert demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain, resulting in our heavy losses and forced retreat!"

"Is the demon race of Flower-Fruit Mountain truly that formidable?"

Originally brimming with rage, the Jade Emperor's anger subsided as he listened to the statements of the Four Great Heavenly Kings and others, his eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation as he asked.

"Indeed they are formidable! The Bull Demon King has reached the realm of a Da Luo Golden Immortal, and Six-Eared Macaque, although still a Taiyi Golden Immortal, was able to clash with a Da Luo Golden Immortal.

Later, Nezha the Third Prince appeared, destroyed Li Jing's Exquisite Treasure Tower, and with the arrival of the Da Luo Golden Immortal Green Lotus Sword Immortal Luo Bai, plus that Demon Monkey Sun Wukong, our high-level warriors were unmatched by the enemy!"

Mo Liqing, the Chief of the Four Great Heavenly Kings, expressed his bitter and indignant feelings. As the leader of the Four Great Heavenly Kings, he had never fought such a disgraceful battle, beaten without the capacity to fight back, fleeing like a bereaved dog, losing troops and officers, even losing the chief commander!

How utterly disgraceful!

"So, what do the esteemed ministers think we should do? Continue sending a large army to annihilate them?"

The Jade Emperor had already received news from the Donghua Emperor, who said that by the time he arrived, the Heavenly Army had already dispersed, so he returned to his palace. The Jade Emperor felt a mix of annoyance and curiosity as to why the Donghua Emperor arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain so late, but it wasn't appropriate for him to inquire. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

After all, the Donghua Emperor, like himself was one of the Five Directional Emperors and the strongest among them. He didn't fall under the Jade Emperor's command. He held the title of Sovereign of the Three Realms only because it was designated to him by the Hong Jun Daoist Ancestor. The Donghua Emperor heeding his imperial edict was a sign of respect; without it, he had no recourse.

"Your Majesty, this would not be wise,"

Great White Golden Star stood up and said, "That Flower-Fruit Mountain possesses formidable strength, with a congregation of demon immortals of high cultivation. Even Nezha the Third Prince has been pulled over to their side. If we wage another large military campaign now, even if we win, our Heavenly Court will suffer heavy losses, which could give the Buddhist Sect a favorable opportunity!"

Indeed, the Buddhist Sect!

A chill ran through the Jade Emperor's heart. Compared with Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect was the greatest threat to the Heavenly Court. Spiritual Mountain, like the Heavenly Court, also had the Nine Dragons Gathering Stars Formation, capable of converging stellar spiritual qi into a significant power.

Although on the surface, the Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court maintained harmony, they were actually competing in the shadows—competing for talents, resources, and the power of faith within their spheres of influence. Basically, they were competing for everything.

With the Heavenly Army's campaign against Flower-Fruit Mountain resulting in substantial losses, even with Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing lost, it was indeed unwise to stir up further conflict.

"Then, according to Golden Star, how should we proceed?"

After weighing the pros and cons, the Jade Emperor abandoned the idea of sending troops to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain once more and turned to Great White Golden Star for advice.

"Your Majesty, Sun Wukong has only claimed a mountain as king. Although he previously caused great disturbances in the Dragon Palace and the Netherworld, there were reasons for his actions, and he did not actively offend the majesty of heaven. After this campaign, he should understand the strength of our Heavenly Court. Moreover, Flower-Fruit Mountain has been greatly weakened by this conflict.

If Your Majesty issues a decree of appeasement, Sun Wukong will not refuse to accept it!"

"Are you suggesting that we invite Sun Wukong to come to the Heavenly Court to take an official position?"

"Exactly, that is the idea! Not just Sun Wukong, but also the Bull Demon King, Six-Eared Macaque, and Green Lotus Sword Immortal Luo Bai can be invited to join the Heavenly Court. Grant them nominal positions, binding them to the Heavenly Court. If they earn merits, consider promotions, and if they harbor thoughts of rebellion, they can be captured nearby.

In the Heavenly Court, regardless if one is a dragon or a tiger, they must coil or lie down—why fear them turning Heaven upside down?"

Great White Golden Star's words immensely pleased the Jade Emperor, who nodded vigorously, "Excellent, exquisite indeed! Your idea is marvelous! Then I shall trouble you to make a trip to Flower-Fruit Mountain and deliver my imperial edict of amnesty. Let that demon monkey Sun Wukong along with the other skilled demons come up to heaven to take official positions.

Also, remember to issue a special pardon for the Third Prince. I will no longer pursue the matter of his slaying of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing. It was a grudge between father and son; with the death of Heavenly King Li, the grudge should be settled.

As long as he returns, he will still be the Great God of the Three Altars of the Sea Meeting, our Nezha the Third Prince of the Heavenly Court!"

"I shall heed Your Majesty's decree with utmost care!"

Great White Golden Star accepted the command and upon slight preparation, he left the Southern Heavenly Gate and headed for Flower-Fruit Mountain on a cloud.

In Western Heaven's Spiritual Mountain, within the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

"Is that demon monkey Sun Wukong truly so formidable? Domain power... Ancient Buddha, are you certain you did not missee?"

Tathagata Buddha looked at Ran Deng Ancient Buddha, his face unable to hide the shock.

Even though the Heavenly Dao Saint could communicate with the Heavenly Dao to calculate all things in heaven and earth, it was not omnipotent. Predictions about Quasi-Saints were much more obscure, and for those approaching the Half-Step Saint Realm, predictions were nearly impossible. They had already begun communicating with the Heavenly Dao and would be protected by it.

Sun Wukong was an exception; his destiny was not constrained by the Heavenly Dao's trajectory, making him unpredictable to all.

Tathagata Buddha was indeed paying attention to Ran Deng Ancient Buddha's battle with Sun Wukong, but the clash of forces on site was so intense that the details viewed remotely were unclear. Tathagata Buddha had not seen the moment Sun Wukong used his Heaven-Breaking Domain. Now, hearing it from Ran Deng Ancient Buddha, he was stunned.

Sun Wukong was supposed to be at the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm, wasn't he? To master domain power at the level of a Da Luo Golden Immortal was something no one would believe if told. Had anyone else but Ran Deng Ancient Buddha made such claims, Tathagata Buddha would have long slapped them.

"How could I have seen incorrectly? I even contested domain power with that demon monkey. He controls the domain power through his Golden Hooped Iron Rod!"

Ran Deng Ancient Buddha clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred. The thought of being wounded in the domain power contest with Sun Wukong, which resulted in his inability to break free from Donghua Emperor's domain and being forced to surrender the Sword of Slaying Immortal, caused him much heartache. His hatred for Sun Wukong flowed endlessly like a surging river.

He wished to devour Sun Wukong's flesh and crush his bones!

"I understand. Ancient Buddha, your injuries are not light; you should go and recuperate,"

said Tathagata Buddha after a thoughtful pause, nodding at Ran Deng Ancient Buddha.

"Yes, Ancestral Buddha."

Ran Deng Ancient Buddha opened his mouth as if wanting to say more, but with a gesture from Tathagata Buddha, he had to swallow his grievances and turn away, walking out from the grand hall of the Great Thunder Sound Temple.