The Heavenly Court.
The Grand Hall of Lingxiao.
"The Great Havoc in Heaven has been canceled?"
"How dare Spirit Mountain unilaterally change the plan!"
On the golden dragon throne, the Jade Emperor roared in fury.
The immortals of the Heavenly Court also showed surprised expressions upon learning that Spirit Mountain would no longer be staging the Great Havoc in Heaven.
While the Great Havoc in Heaven seemingly would result in the loss of many Heavenly soldiers and generals for the Heavenly Court.
However, Heavenly soldiers and generals were merely low-cultivation grunts; their lives were expendable.
But the karma generated by the Great Havoc in Heaven could be closely linked to the Journey to the West.
Once the Journey to the West began, the Heavenly Court could dispatch immortals to participate, jointly dividing the immense merits from the tribulation with the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain.
"Reporting to Your Majesty."
"Spirit Mountain merely stated that the situation had changed, forcing them to act this way."
"In my humble opinion, this matter likely has a great deal to do with Sun Wukong."
The one speaking was Taibai Jinxing.
After his unsuccessful attempt to invite Sun Wukong to serve in the Heavenly Court last time, he was ridiculed by the immortals of the Heavenly Court.
Especially Li Jing, who had previously opposed Taibai Jinxing's lenient stance towards Sun Wukong and his opposition to Li Jing's execution of Sun Wukong. For a long time, Taibai Jinxing could not hold his head up in front of Li Jing.
Originally, he had intended to go to Spirit Mountain to bring Sun Wukong back, thereby salvaging his reputation.
Who would have thought that Sun Wukong would actually remain at Spirit Mountain and refuse to leave.
This not only prevented the Heavenly Court's plan from being implemented but also put Spirit Mountain in an extremely passive position.
Now, even Spirit Mountain had to change its plans. It was obvious that the problem lay with Sun Wukong.
"Hmph!"
"The great trend of the Journey to the West is determined by the Heavenly Dao."
"Even we immortals cannot go against the will of Heaven."
"However, even if the West is destined to prosper, not a single bit of merit that belongs to our Heavenly Court should be lost."
"For Spirit Mountain to attempt to monopolize the Heavenly Dao's merits is wishful thinking on the part of Tathagata."
"Regardless of the method, we must bring Sun Wukong to the Heavenly Court. Even if it means using force, the Great Havoc in Heaven must proceed!"
The Jade Emperor's expression was stern, his words brooking no argument.
His authoritative demeanor, which brooked no opposition, was entirely different from his portrayal in the original storyline.
Indeed.
A being who had cultivated for 1.2 billion years was forced to feign weakness and even act terrified, hiding under a table from Sun Wukong.
This itself was incredibly absurd.
One could only say that the Jade Emperor's acting skills were definitely worthy of an Oscar for Best Actor.
"Reporting to Your Majesty."
"The Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Four Directors of Merit and Virtue, who are responsible for surveillance, have already reported Sun Wukong's whereabouts."
"Due to the escape of Tang Sanzang, and Sun Wukong openly allowing him to leave, the Buddhas were enraged."
"However, Spirit Mountain has not yet reached a consensus on how to deal with Sun Wukong."
"If the Heavenly Court were to contend for him now, it would be the opportune moment!"
Taibai Jinxing was overjoyed upon hearing this and eagerly voiced his thoughts.
There was no other reason; he simply wanted to seize this opportunity to regain some lost face.
However, this would also mark the first direct confrontation between the immortals of the Heavenly Court and the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain.
Just thinking about such a scene made it feel momentous.
As for the outcome, it would depend on whether the Heavenly Court's resolve was stronger, or Spirit Mountain's persistence.
"Li Jing!"
"I command you to immediately lead the Heavenly soldiers and generals, along with the Thirty-Six Divine Generals of the Thunder Department, and proceed to the West."
"No matter what, you must capture the demon monkey and bring him back."
"Anyone who dares to obstruct this will be killed!"
...
...
The Western Heavens.
The golden light of the myriad Buddhas shone brilliantly.
Several hours had passed, yet not a single disciple of Spirit Mountain had departed.
Even Guanyin, who had originally returned to report, had reappeared.
It seemed she had received definitive orders from Tathagata.
"Wicked monkey!"
"You, for privately releasing Tang Sanzang and injuring our honored venerable of Spirit Mountain, have committed a heinous crime."
"I, under the command of our Buddha, will cast you into the eighteen layers of hell to endure five hundred years of purgatorial suffering. I hope you will sincerely repent!"
Guanyin solemnly pronounced the sentence upon Sun Wukong.
However, the outcome was precisely as Sun Wukong had predicted.
"Five hundred years."
"Another place to suppress Old Sun?"
Sun Wukong sneered, showing no fear.
Five hundred years of suppression could temper the pride of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven; it was not merely Sun Wukong lying under the Five Fingers Mountain.
Five hundred years was far more than just enduring wind and rain and eating molten copper and iron pills.
After all, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, with his bronze head and iron bones, was impervious to knives, fire, and even the nine heavens' thunderbolts.
Why would he care about such torment?
What truly made Sun Wukong fearful was the gradual dissipation of his cultivation under the Five Fingers Mountain.
It caused him, a Taiyi Golden Immortal comparable to Erlang Shen, to gradually descend to the level of an ordinary Golden Immortal.
Otherwise, how could the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in the Journey to the West be inferior to mere ordinary demons?
Cultivation and strength were the foundation of Sun Wukong's rise and survival.
If he lost his abilities, what use would his pride be?
Therefore, he had submitted.
He had even been willing to become the disciple of a handsome young monk.
Now, the same fate was about to befall Sun Wukong once more.
The only difference was that the Five Fingers Mountain was replaced by the eighteen layers of hell.
And there was only one being in the entire Underworld capable of suppressing him.
"Ksitigarbha?"
Sun Wukong softly uttered the name.
However, his face showed no trace of fear.
If it were any other immortal, Sun Wukong would have scoffed.
He held a degree of fondness for Ksitigarbha.
An immortal who could utter, "If the hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha," and who had been tirelessly converting souls in the Underworld for tens of thousands of years.
Such a practical immortal was truly rare to see.
However, Sun Wukong's desire to meet Ksitigarbha was not out of reverence.
It was because, throughout the entire Journey to the West, Ksitigarbha never truly appeared.
The only time he showed himself was in the Tale of the True and False Monkey Kings, when Sun Wukong sought him out.
But even when merit was offered to Ksitigarbha, he did not accept it.
He could recognize that the false Monkey King was the Six-Eared Macaque, yet he dared not say so.
For such a peripheral figure in the Journey to the West, Tathagata wanted him to be responsible for suppressing Sun Wukong for five hundred years.
Wasn't this akin to doing hard labor without pay?
If he was lucky, Sun Wukong might be able to persuade Ksitigarbha.
Even if his plan failed, with Sun Wukong's current strength, he could break through to the Hunyuan Daluo Jinxian realm in a short period.
And Ksitigarbha was merely a Hunyuan Daluo Jinxian.
Under the same realm, the idea of a one-sided suppression was pure fantasy.
Therefore, no matter the circumstances, Sun Wukong entering the Underworld was always a win-win situation.
"Come, take Old Sun to the eighteen layers of hell."
Sun Wukong grinned and extended his hands, adopting a posture of surrender.
The Buddhas, seeing this, truly felt that his face was begging for a beating!
However, as soon as his words fell, something unexpected happened to both Sun Wukong and the Buddhas.
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
In the clouds, the sound of war drums spread throughout the nine provinces and four seas.
Breaking through the mist, dense formations of Heavenly soldiers and generals revealed themselves.
Had the immortals of the Heavenly Court made their appearance at this very moment?
"You want to take Sun Wukong? Have you asked our Heavenly Court?"