Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"What? Brother Monkey went to the Heavenly Court? To accept an official position?"

Inside Water Curtain Cave Heaven, Ao Tian furrowed his brows. Over the years, Leng Xuan had informed them about the events at Flower-Fruit Mountain, and Ao Tian had now realized why Sun Wukong had been in such a hurry to leave the Dragon Nest Origin Point and return to Flower-Fruit Mountain—he must have had some bad premonition!

Fortunately, Sun Wukong had left early; otherwise, Flower-Fruit Mountain would have truly been inescapable from disaster!

But Ao Tian really couldn't understand why, at a time when Flower-Fruit Mountain's influence was flourishing and it was the perfect moment to further expand their influence and invite the strong ones from the Demon Clan across the world, Sun Wukong would accept the Heavenly Court's invitation, agreeing to ascend and accept an official position.

"The boss said, the Heavenly Court is testing us. If he didn't agree to ascend, then the Heavenly Court's second, even more intense attack, would have come immediately. Right now, Flower-Fruit Mountain lacks the foundation and needs time to develop, to progress steadily.

And this time, the boss said, would be bought by his going to the Heavenly Court to negotiate," Leng Xuan explained to Ao Tian and the others. Truth be told, he initially didn't understand the purpose behind Sun Wukong's actions either.

But once Sun Wukong explained it to him, he realized, Sun Wukong's decision appeared foolish, seemingly scared of the Heavenly Court, but with the Jade Emperor's fondness for achievements and soft ears, it was the only way to let him lower his guard towards Flower-Fruit Mountain temporarily, giving the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Clan more time to grow and strengthen.

"Brodther Wukong makes a good point; this truly is the best choice for Flower-Fruit Mountain right now."

Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan nodded, then showed a hint of regret with a bitter smile, "Ah, I had originally wanted to invite Brother Wukong to come with me to the Demonic Realm to help me, but it looks like I'll have to return alone…"

"Is Brother Chenxuan returning to the Demonic Realm?"

A voice sounded, and the figure of Six-Eared Macaque emerged from the depths of Water Curtain Cave Heaven, his vigor vibrant; he had ascended to the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm!

"This kid Six-Ears, really is extraordinarily talented!"

A gleam of admiration flashed in Leng Xuan's eyes. Among the higher echelons of Flower-Fruit Mountain, Six-Eared Macaque was the last to arrive at Flower-Fruit Mountain. His cultivation strength wasn't high when he arrived, but within just a century, his cultivation strength had rapidly advanced.

He had now reached the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm before them, a level of talent and aptitude in the entire Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Clan that, apart from Sun Wukong, everyone else, including the Bull Demon King, was inferior to!

"Six-Ears, congratulations! The boss really wasn't wrong about you!"

Leng Xuan congratulated Six-Eared Macaque, "None of us expected you to be the first to break through. Truly, congratulations are in order!"

"Oh, Brother Leng, you flatter me, it's just luck."

Six-Eared Macaque smiled, his tone revealing a hint of pride, but despite his internal pride, he dared not be presumptuous in front of Leng Xuan. Apart from Sun Wukong, Leng Xuan, the great general, was the biggest pillar of Flower-Fruit Mountain. His understanding of formation tactics was even superior to Sun Wukong's.

Although Six-Eared Macaque's combat power and cultivation were catching up to Sun Wukong most rapidly, he knew nothing about tactics. Even now that he had reached the Da Luo Golden Immortal cultivation, if he were to face Leng Xuan's lethal tactics, he might not escape unscathed.

Of course, Six-Eared Macaque never considered being an enemy to Leng Xuan. Although he was proud, he also knew to keep his arrogance within and not to overtly express it.

"Brother Chenxuan just said he was returning to the Demonic Realm? When will you depart?"

After exchanging courtesies with the Bull Demon King and others, Six-Eared Macaque inquired of Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan.

"In these few days. My injuries and cultivation are now fully restored; it's time to return to the Demonic Realm and settle scores with that bastard Jidu for these past years!"

Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan's eyes flashed with a cold light as he spoke in a chilled tone.

"With the boss going to Heavenly Court, he probably won't have time to accompany Brother Chenxuan to the Demonic Realm. How about I go with Brother Chenxuan instead?"

Six-Eared Macaque said playfully, yet a peculiar brilliance flickered in his eyes.

"Brother Six-Ears, are you serious?"

Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan's eyes lit up. Six-Eared Macaque was willing to go to the Demonic Realm to assist him? This was indeed a great opportunity!

In Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Clan, apart from Sun Wukong, Bull Demon King originally had the strongest cultivation strength, but now that Six-Eared Macaque had also ascended to the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm, it was not easy to say which was stronger.

Especially since, even at the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm, he could contend with Da Luo Golden Immortals and even withstand Erlang God Yang Jian temporarily. With this breakthrough, just how much his strength had increased, even Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan dared not casually speculate, but it was definitely unimaginably strong!

"Absolutely!"

Six-Eared Macaque nodded without hesitation. The Demonic Realm was a place of the survival of the fittest, even more brutal than the Three Realms, but it was also a good place for training. With Sun Wukong absent, it was a perfect opportunity for him to follow Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Mu Chenxuan into the Demonic Realm for some adventure.

Perhaps he could advance his skills again, and maybe even catch up to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong was unaware of Ao Tian and the others returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain. Following Great White Golden Star who entered the Heavenly Court from the Southern Heavenly Gate, he went straight to Lingxia Palace.

"Your Majesty, your servant Great White Golden Star brings Sun Wukong, Nezha, and Zi Lan Fairy to see Your Majesty!"

"Summon Great White Golden Star, Sun Wukong, Nezha, and Zi Lan Fairy to the palace!"

In the Heavenly Court, where ceremonies were strict, after several layers of reports, Sun Wukong, following Great White Golden Star, entered the great hall of Lingxia Palace with Nezha and Zi Lan Fairy behind him.

Upon entering Lingxia Palace, everyone bowed deeply to the Jade Emperor, but Sun Wukong merely clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

"How audacious! To show such disrespect in the presence of His Majesty! What should be the punishment?"

A Divine General of Lingxia Palace shouted sternly, only to see Sun Wukong suddenly look up and shoot a brilliant golden light from his eyes. The blinding divine light startled the Divine General so much that he involuntarily stepped back, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

"Jade Emperor, didn't you invite me, Old Sun, to ascend to heaven and be conferred an official title? This fellow starts yelling as soon as he sees me—is this what you call conferring a title?"

In front of the Jade Emperor, Sun Wukong had never had much respect, not in his past life and not in this one either. A slight bow was already giving enough face to the old Jade Emperor. To expect him to pay deep respects was wishful thinking!

"Your Majesty, this Sun Wukong is a Demon Monkey from the Lower Realm and is unfamiliar with the rituals of the Heavenly Court. Your Majesty need not stoop to his level!"

Seeing displeasure on the Jade Emperor's face, Great White Golden Star hurriedly stepped forward and whispered into the Jade Emperor's ear, "He's already come to the Heavenly Court, just give him the title of Great Sage Equalling Heaven and appoint him to a nominal official position to keep him in check.

Without him as their leader, the Demon Race of Flower-Fruit Mountain won't be able to cause much trouble!"

During his month-long stay in Flower-Fruit Mountain, Great White Golden Star truly felt that Flower-Fruit Mountain was different from other demon forces, with strict military discipline and high morale, something he had never seen in other mountain-dwelling demon tribes, but his main intent was to persuade Sun Wookong to accept the offer to ascend to heaven and receive a title, which naturally he did not reveal to the Jade Emperor.

"Sun Wookong is a demon immortal from the Lower Realm and is not versed in the etiquettes of the Heavenly Court; there is no need for strict formality!"

The Jade Emperor waved his hand. His goal was to keep Sun Wookong under control within the Heavenly Court; whether the rituals were perfectly observed did not matter much. In the Heavenly Court, so many people paid their respects to him daily, and he had grown tired of it.

As intended from the beginning, the Jade Emperor conferred on Sun Wookong the title of Great Sage Equalling Heaven, but it was just a title with no real power, unlike the various deity officials and great emperors who had their own followers and immortal mansions.

Sun Wookong had no objections—this was something he had experienced in his past life and he was well aware of what the Jade Emperor was thinking. He had no plans to settle down in the Heavenly Court. His only home was Flower-Fruit Mountain.

In terms of assigning Sun Wookong an official position, the Jade Emperor was somewhat at a loss; there were basically no good vacancies in the Heavenly Court.

During discussions, some minor positions, such as Equine Supervisor, were suggested—all rejected by Great White Golden Star who whispered to the Jade Emperor that Sun Wookong already knew the bureaucratic classifications of the Heavenly Court. He knew that Equine Supervisor meant taking care of horses and Avian Supervisor meant taking care of birds.

These positions might fool the naive but using them on Sun Wookong would be ridiculous.

"Great Sage Equalling Heaven, there are no good official positions available in the Heavenly Palace for now. There are only vacancies for a deputy general in the Heavenly River Navy and the Northern Heavenly Gate Guard. Which would you prefer?"

The Jade Emperor's words made Sun Wookong frown slightly. Deputy General of the Northern Heavenly Gate Guard? Wasn't that just a gatekeeper? Essentially, he would be confined to guarding the Northern Heavenly Gate and wouldn't be able to go foraging for Peaches of Immortality or Golden Cores.

That certainly was out of the question!

As for the Heavenly River Navy, wasn't that the force commanded by Zhu Bajie, his past self being Marshal Tianpeng? So, they were suggesting he serve under his past self, Marshal Tianpeng?

Well, that wasn't necessarily a bad idea. It would be interesting to see what that lazy, cunning swine was like in his previous life!

"I, Old Sun, choose to be the deputy general of the Heavenly River Navy."

"Very well, I hereby appoint the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wookong, as the deputy general of the Heavenly River Navy. Report to the Naval Marshal's Residence of the Heavenly River tomorrow. Additional promotions will be considered based on your meritorious deeds."

With Sun Wookong's conferment and appointment completed, the Jade Emperor turned his attention to Nezha, praising him amicably without a single mention of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.

He even transferred all the command over the Heavenly Court's garrison, which originally belonged to Li Jing, to Nezha, maintaining his position as the Great God of the Third Lotus Altar, Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court.

As for Zi Lan Fairy, the Jade Emperor was equally unreserved. The Queen Mother had long considered taking Zi Lan Fairy as her adopted daughter, and by then, he, the Jade Emperor, would become her nominal father. After consoling her briefly, he allowed Zi Lan Fairy to return to the Jade Pool first.