CHAPTER 525: CHAPTER 467, THE BIRTH OF THE DIVINE ARTIFACT

Sun Wukong looked up at the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Iron and muttered, "It’s too thick and too long! If it was shorter and slimmer, it would be usable."

As his voice fell, the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Iron instantly slimmed down by half.

Sun Wukong’s eyes lit up, and he said expectantly, "It would be even better if it was slimmer!"

The huge iron rod immediately became slimmer by another half.

Sun Wukong laughed heartily and said, "Slimmer still, even slimmer!" The Ocean Stabilizing Divine Iron quickly shrank until it was the size of a bowl’s mouth and could be grasped with one hand.

Sun Wukong held the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Iron in his hand for a closer examination. There were two golden hoops on each end and a section of black iron in the middle. Near the hoops, there was an inscription: "Ruyi Jingu Bang," with a weight of thirteen thousand five hundred catties.

With the Ruyi Jingu Bang in hand, Sun Wukong became ecstatic and spun it around, immediately causing a bright golden light to flash, rivers overturning, and hidden currents churning.

Old Dragon King Aoguang hastily shouted, "Monkey Brother, slow down! Please stop immediately!"

Sun Wukong stopped the Ruyi Jingu Bang, laughing heartily, "Thanks for the treasure, Brother Dragon."

Old Dragon King straightened his disheveled hair, cupped his fists in his hands, and said with a wry smile, "Congratulations to Monkey Brother on acquiring the treasure. If you want to play with it, please do so elsewhere! Old brother’s Dragon Palace can’t stand Monkey Brother’s might."

Sun Wukong laughed heartily and said, "Brother Dragon, this Crystal Palace of yours is too feeble. In the future, I’ll seize the Heavenly Court and build you a better Crystal Palace." He couldn’t keep his hands off the Ruyi Jingu Bang.

Aoguang didn’t mind and said with a big smile, "I see that Monkey Brother has a divine weapon, yet lacks fitting attire to match. It is quite unbecoming. I happen to have a set of armor in my collection, which I will also give to Monkey Brother."

Sun Wukong spun the Jingu Bang in his hand, slung it over his shoulder, and said with bright, joyful eyes, "Thanks, Brother Dragon. You are truly too kind. West Sea Dragon King doesn’t even come close to comparing with you."

East Sea Old Dragon King laughed heartily, "It’s because we hit it off so well from the first meeting!"

After receiving the armor, Sun Wukong left, all excited.

...

On the other side, within the West Sea, Ao Qin sat in the main seat with a stern face, holding a golden sword.

Guanyin Bodhisattva stood below in the great hall, pinching a willow branch in her hand.

Ao Qin said angrily, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, didn’t you say that Sun Wukong would wreak havoc on the East Sea? How did he end up coming to my West Sea?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said helplessly, "Sun Wukong was indeed supposed to cause trouble in the East Sea, but due to some unforeseen shift of events, he came to the West Sea instead. This turn of events is also regrettable from the perspective of Buddhism."

Ao Qin said coldly, "Sun Wukong has looted my West Sea Treasure Vault; how shall we settle this matter?"

"It’s definitely not Sun Wukong who looted the vault, Your Majesty!"

"While he was causing chaos in the Dragon Palace, my treasure vault was robbed. If not him, then who else could it be?"

"Don’t play the fool, Your Majesty; you know very well that Sun Wukong is not capable of stealing from the treasure vault!"

With anger in his eyes, the Dragon King shouted, "My West Sea Treasure Vault was stolen due to your Buddhism’s scheming and you offer no explanation?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said with a smile, "Rest assured, Dragon King. The Buddha has decreed that West Sea Dragon King Ao Qin, for the greater good of Buddhism, has indulged Sun Wukong’s uproar in the West Sea. The losses and damages, as well as the looted treasure vault, will be compensated to a certain degree by Buddhism. We will not disappoint the Dragon King."

Ao Qin’s face lightened up a bit and said, "Thanks to the Buddha!"

Knowing that Buddhism cannot compensate for everything, as Guanyin Bodhisattva has said, and that Sun Wukong lacked the ability to steal from the West Sea Treasure Vault, surely there was a traitor within—Ao Qin’s eyes flickered with murderous intent.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There is one more matter for which we require the Dragon King’s assistance."

Ao Qin’s fierce light receded as he said, "Bodhisattva, please speak."

"We request the Dragon King to report Sun Wukong to the Palace of the Polestar, and ask the Jade Emperor for help in capturing him."

Ao Qin frowned slightly but then thought: Well, the ones who were supposed to be lost have already been lost. One more time doesn’t make a difference. He nodded and said, "Alright, I agree."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said with a smile, "Thank you, Dragon King!"

"Do not forget your promise!"

"Ao Lie can now be the Eight Heavenly Dragons’ Powerful Bodhisattva, receiving the protection of Buddhism’s Qi Fortune, and there is hope for reaching Quasi-Saint status in the future."

Ao Qin nodded slightly and said, "That’s good."

...

After Sun Wukong returned to Huaguo Mountain, he showed off his treasures and displayed his Divine Skills. He intimidated the tigers, leopards, wolves, insects, and all kinds of strange creatures on the mountain, as well as the Seventy-two Cave Demon Kings, until they kowtowed and paid homage in fear, their hearts trembling and their souls scattered. He was respected as the leader of the Seventy-two Cave Demon Kings.

Then, learning from the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, he appointed official ranks and trusted the matters of Huaguo Mountain to his fellows, while he himself rode on a cloud, roaming the Four Seas and enjoying himself in a thousand mountains. He showed off his martial skills, and visited heroes far and wide; exerted his Divine Skills, and made friends with the virtuous and capable. At this time, he also met seven new brothers: the Bull Demon King, Jiao Demon King, Peng Demon King, Lion Camel King, Macaque King, Yu Rong King, making it a group of seven brothers together with himself as the Monkey King.

...

In the Heavenly Court’s Doushuai Temple, the Alchemy Furnace let out a buzzing roar. The lid opened, and a white orb flew out from the furnace, surrounded by streaming lights, dazzlingly beautiful.

Bai Jin looked forward to the orb, happily asking, "Master, is it done?"

Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad stroked his beard and chuckled, "You can try to refine it and see if it meets what you had envisioned."

Bai Jin reached out and beckoned, and the orb flew towards him, floating in front of Bai Jin.

Bai Jin held the orb with his hands and let a strand of Divine Thought enter the inside of the orb. He immediately felt a powerful array of restrictions — as many as thirty-six layers.

Bai Jin closed his eyes to refine it, and after a short while, he opened his eyes in surprise. The orb flickered and then faded, disappearing.

Bai Jin spoke, "Xiao Jin~"

"Here! Master~" A crisp voice resonated in the hall.

Bai Jin looked up towards the main seat, excitedly saying, "Master, you’ve also left an Artifact Spirit!"

Lord Lao Zi said with a chuckle, "According to your words, creating this mainframe wasn’t difficult, but it required significant information processing capability, so I helped you create this Artifact Spirit. It can assist you in managing this mainframe well."

"Thank you, Master~" Bai Jin stood up and gave a serious, respectful bow.

Lord Lao Zi waved his hand and said, "Go on then! Earn some more money for me."

"Master, just you watch!" Bai Jin turned and walked out with joy.

When Bai Jin returned to the Heavenly Court Bird’s Nest, in this era, what’s most important is public opinion and information. As long as these two aspects are controlled, Buddhism might win, but my Heavenly Court will certainly not be defeated. You dare to deceive my Masters, my pure and innocent Bai Jin will never let you off.

Inside the Bird’s Nest, Bai Jin said, "Shi Ji, Gu Liang, come to me immediately."

Two streaks of light flew across the Heavenly Court and descended in front of the Bird’s Nest, transforming into Shi Ji and Gu Liang.

The two walked towards the interior of the Bird’s Nest, entered the main hall, and called out in unison, "Senior brother!"

Bai Jin gestured with his hand and said, "Sit down!"

The two women took their seats to the left and right.

Shi Ji asked, "Senior brother, where have you been all this time? During your absence, some major incidents have occurred in the Heavenly Court."

Bai Jin calculated for a moment and exclaimed in surprise, "It’s been that long already. I spent this time at Doushuai Temple, requesting the help of my master to forge a Divine Artifact. However, I had no idea that so much time had passed in the Primordial World. What has happened in the Heavenly Court?"