Chapter 103: The Beginning

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“This is your residence, Great Sage Equal to Heaven,” said the celestial general, leading Sun Wukong to what was claimed to be the mansion of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. At this moment, Sun Wukong was dressed very lavishly—likely arranged by Venus Taibai—his attire befitting a high official.

“No, this is clearly the Stables Supervisor’s Office. Do you think I, Old Monkey, don’t recognize it?” Sun Wukong retorted.

“No, no, Great Sage, you’re mistaken. Most buildings in the Heavenly Court look similar. Since you’ve just arrived, it’s natural you don’t know yet. You’ll understand in time. See, the plaque above says ‘Residence of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven,’” the celestial general pointed at the sign, wearing a sly expression.

“Yes, Great Sage, all the buildings look like this,” chimed in seven or eight soldiers behind him.

Amid their chatter and smooth talk, even Yuan Wuji, watching in secret, almost believed them. Perhaps these celestial soldiers were masterful deceivers who had fooled their way into the Immortal Realm.

“Very well, then let’s go inside and see for ourselves!” Sun Wukong said, half believing, half doubting.

This was Sun Wukong’s second time in the Heavenly Court. He cared more about the title “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” than the rank or size of his official residence. The mansion itself was of little concern to him.

However, once Sun Wukong stepped inside the residence, the former supervisors of the Stables Office had already changed into the uniforms of the Tranquil Spirit Division.

“No, no, they are clearly the supervisors from the Stables Office. This is definitely the Stables Office!” Sun Wukong swung his sleeve and slapped the celestial general’s face in disbelief.

“You’re wrong again, Great Sage. They actually belong to the Tranquil Spirit Division, not the Stables Office supervisors,” the general continued to weave his web of lies.

“They’re from the same clan, so they all look alike. Once you spend some time in the Heavenly Court, you’ll naturally understand everything,” he added.

The celestial soldiers kept “explaining” nonstop. Even Yuan Wuji suspected they had been specially sent to fool Sun Wukong at the residence. Their skill in deception could have made them sales prodigies in a past life.

“Yes! Great Sage, I’m from the Tranquil Spirit Division, specially assigned here by the Jade Emperor,” one of the Tranquil Spirit officials added.

“The Jade Emperor holds you in high esteem, Great Sage, which is why we’ve been sent,” another chimed in.

The Tranquil Spirit members assisted the celestial soldiers in deceiving Sun Wukong, for this was a joint mission; failure meant joint punishment.

“Is that really so?”

“Absolutely,” they insisted.

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Yuan Wuji remained speechless in the shadows, but he could guess that Sun Wukong cared more for the title “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” than anything else. Otherwise, pursuing the matter further would easily reveal their deceit.

Sun Wukong only needed an excuse, and conveniently, the celestial soldiers provided a perfect one. Thus, the question of the residence was dropped.

Since the Jade Emperor’s bestowal of the title “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” was a hollow honor with no real duties, Sun Wukong spent his days in the Heavenly Court leisurely, making friends among the immortals who had ascended from the mortal realm. As for immortals from the Investiture of the Gods era or earlier, he had no acquaintances.

Among those who cultivated and ascended from the mortal realm, only the Eight Immortals and the Twenty-Eight Mansions fared well. Sun Wukong was on friendly terms with the Eight Immortals, but the Twenty-Eight Mansions belonged to the celestial clans of the Heavenly Court’s Eight Divisions, making them unreachable even if he wished to befriend them.

Meanwhile, Yuan Wuji was diligently cultivating. Of the eight dragon souls trapped within the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield, he had already devoured two, though the effects were no longer as pronounced as before.

What pleased Yuan Wuji was that the subtle trace of Samadhi True Fire surrounding the Geng Metal Golden Core had noticeably grown larger after absorbing those two dragon souls.

His mastery of the Fire element had reached the peak of fifty percent and was ready to break through at any time.

Yet, in several places within the Heavenly Court, anxiety prevailed over a certain matter.

At the Jade Pool,

only two presences remained—one was the Jade Emperor, and the other, undoubtedly, was the Queen Mother of the West.

“Are we really going to sacrifice all the Peaches of Immortality?”

“That is the Lord’s order. You have no choice but to comply.”

“Understood.”

If Yuan Wuji were present, he would be astonished. Who would have thought even the grand Jade Emperor had a master of his own? The expression on the Queen Mother’s face showed deep reverence for the master the Jade Emperor mentioned.

Upon receiving the Jade Emperor’s confirmation, the Queen Mother flew swiftly in one direction, with the Jade Emperor following closely behind.

Several powerful auras near the Peach Garden withdrew at the Queen Mother’s signal. She entered the garden, and when the Jade Emperor arrived, all the nine-thousand-year mature peaches had vanished.

“Shouldn’t you have left a few nine-thousand-year peaches? Otherwise, wouldn’t that go against the Lord’s wishes?”

“Isn’t that so?” The Queen Mother pointed to a few unripe peaches, which were smaller than even the six-thousand-year mature ones.

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The Queen Mother paid little heed to the Jade Emperor and left the Peach Garden with the peaches, leaving behind the Jade Emperor wearing a bitter smile.

“Fortunately, I had stored a few nine-thousand-year peaches. Such treasures are beyond even the Monkey King’s enjoyment; a few will suffice.”

The Jade Emperor produced several peaches, their aura swirling enticingly, causing him to swallow hard before reluctantly adding them to the nine-thousand-year peach stockpile.

Nine-thousand-year peaches were rare even for the Jade Emperor. Now, after the Queen Mother sacrificed the entire Peach Garden harvest for the Lord’s order, she was naturally displeased. Any attempt to ask the Queen Mother for more would make life difficult.

Better to pay out of one’s own pocket! Luckily, some reserves remained, but parting with a few nine-thousand-year peaches still pained the Jade Emperor deeply.

The relationship between the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother was delicate. The Jade Emperor was cautious not to offend the Queen Mother, so he often yielded to her in many matters.

At the Palace of Doushuai,

all the attendants had been sent outside by the Supreme Elder Lord, where an aged man with white hair and beard, resembling the Supreme Elder Lord, awaited—his expression similar yet distinct.

“Have you completed the triple-gourd nine-turn golden elixir I asked you to refine?” the old man above the Supreme Elder Lord inquired.

“They are all here, but can that Monkey withstand it?” Taibai Elder Lord displayed three large gourds.

“You must seal the triple-gourd nine-turn golden elixir until the Monkey enters the refining furnace, then use the Samadhi True Fire to help him absorb it. But remember, you must completely strip him of his innate divine powers.”

“I understand. And you must also remember your promise,” the Supreme Elder Lord said, looking at the old man above.

“Rest assured. Once the Monkey consumes your nine-turn golden elixir, it will sever the connection between us completely. With you here, there’s no benefit to me.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the old man vanished from the Palace of Doushuai.

The Supreme Elder Lord’s eyes were filled with worry. Originally, he was but a fragment of Laozi himself, dispatched to the Palace of Doushuai to oversee future events. Yet due to unknown reasons within the palace, this fragment had developed its own consciousness—now the Supreme Elder Lord. However, he lacked Laozi’s cultivation, possessing only his alchemical skill.