CHAPTER 531: CHAPTER 471, SUN WUKONG IS PUNISHED_2

Inside the grand hall, nine colossal coiling dragon pillars towered, with each piece of the floor harboring a ferocious demon beast entwined upon it. Above, the hall’s ceiling resembled a sky full of stars, as if one were beneath the Star River itself.

Seated in the place of honor was a supreme Divine Being, with a Divine Wheel brightening the heavens behind His head. Within the Divine Wheel, patterns of the Tao flickered intermittently, expounding upon the profound principles of countless Great Ways.

Judicial Heavenly God Ao Bing, carrying Sun Wukong forward, placed him on the ground and half-kneeling with fists clasped in respect, reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Judicial Heavenly God Ao Bing returns to fulfill his duty, having captured Sun Wukong and brought him to justice. Please, Your Majesty, decree the punishment."

Momentarily, Sun Wukong too was startled into submissiveness by the grandeur and majesty of the hall, finding himself in an awkward predicament.

Bai Jin’s mighty voice resounded: "Release him!"

"Yes!" Ao Bing stood up, reached out to grab, and the steel rope on Sun Wukong’s body swiftly retracted like a slithering snake, flying towards Ao Bing’s hand and suddenly solidifying back into a Fangtian Halberd which landed in his grasp.

Sun Wukong swiftly jumped to his feet, looking up at the dignified Emperor Gouchen above, and meekly uttered, "Great Emperor!"

Bai Jin’s mighty voice resounded: "Ao Bing, you may step down now!"

"Yes!" Ao Bing bowed and then turned around with his weapon in hand, striding away and quickly disappearing from sight.

In the entire grand hall, now only Bai Jin and Sun Wukong remained.

Bai Jin looked down at Sun Wukong and sternly asked, "Wukong, why do you rebel against the Heavenly Court?"

Sun Wukong immediately snapped back to reality and indignantly shouted, "Great Emperor, that old Jade Emperor has deceived ol’ Sun too far. Ol’ Sun possesses immense talent, yet he dared to make me, a master, serve as a mere stable hand."

"So you rebelled against the Heavenly Court for this? And you wish to claim the title of Great Sage Equalling Heaven?"

Sun Wukong nodded and said haughtily, "Ol’ Sun just wants the Jade Emperor to recognize my abilities. If that cowardly God Li Jing could become a Heavenly King, why can’t ol’ Sun be the Great Sage Equalling Heaven?

If it weren’t for Your Majesty sending a little dragon over, with all those cowardly Gods in the Heavenly Court, ol’ Sun alone could beat them to a scattered retreat."

Bai Jin said sternly, "It’s one thing to rebel against Heaven, but why did you destroy the Imperial Stables? Are you aware of how many Heavenly Horses died because of you?"

Sun Wukong felt a pang of guilt and said, "Ol’ Sun was too agitated at the time." Mainly because he was seen by Emperor Gouchen as nothing more than a stablekeeper, feeling a loss of face.

Bai Jin declared firmly, "Such overwhelming agitation! You’ve cultivated great abilities without an iota of magnanimity. Is this what you call cultivation?"

Unable to hold back, Sun Wukong retorted, "Ol’ Sun possesses the Seventy-two Earthly Fiend Changes, and the Somersault Cloud grants vast Divine Skills; capable of hiding and escaping at will, manipulating laws and seizing spirits. There are passages to the heavens above, doors to the earth below; I can walk under the sun and moon without shadow, enter gold and stone without hindrance; water cannot drown me, fire cannot burn me. How could this not be considered cultivation?"

"These are but trifles.

Wukong, you hail from the Huaguo Mountain, and thus share a certain karmic bond with me. On this occasion, your actions were unwarranted, disrupting the Heavenly Rules, and I must impose a punishment on you. Do you accept this willingly?"

Sun Wukong’s face shifted twice, then he looked up, chest out and said proudly, "Ol’ Sun was caught by mistake, whatever punishment you bestow, I will accept."

"Since you lack the Dao Heart, I will punish you to transcribe the Tao Te Ching a thousand times, hoping it may bring you some enlightenment."

Scratching his head and murmuring to himself, Sun Wukong grumbled, "Tao Te Ching, what is that?"

Bai Jin raised a hand and pointed, and a bright, shining Scripture flew out, heading towards Sun Wukong, floating in front of him.

Sun Wukong grabbed the Scripture, flipping through it casually, muttering, "What kind of Tao, what kind of Scripture is this?"

"Go back and transcribe it! Bring it to me when you’re done."

I can go back now? A look of joy flashed across Sun Wukong’s face, and he said with a smirk, "So can ol’ Sun really leave now?"

Bai Jin nodded.

Sun Wukong immediately turned and ran quickly to the outside, sprinting until he reached the garden, where he let out a long sigh of relief, feeling even more pressure in front of Emperor Gouchen than in front of the Jade Emperor.

In the garden, Sun Wukong’s eyes darted around wildly, old habits resurfacing, as he sneakily plucked a few fruits and dashed away swiftly.

Bai Jin walked out from the grand hall, unable to help a wry smile. Indeed, a monkey is still a monkey; his nature is hard to change. But why do I have a familiar feeling towards Sun Wukong? What is going on?!

...

After leaving the Bird’s Nest, Sun Wukong did not stay in the Heavenly Court but went straight down to the Lower Realm, for the Heavenly Court had become a shameful place to him.

In the back garden of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, the East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang sat opposite the Dragon Queen, with several Dragon Sons and Dragon Girls seated by their side, all of them cheerfully sipping their drinks and laughing.

Dragon Mother picked up the wine pot in front of her, glanced at Aoguang who had been staring at her, and said, "Would you like a drink?"

"I don’t drink this?"

"If not, then forget it!" Dragon Mother poured herself a cup and then put the wine pot down.

Aoguang smiled slightly, coughed, and said, "Can you guess what I’d like to drink?"

"How would I know?"

Aoguang said affectionately, "I only want to take care of you."

"Pff~" A little Dragon Girl next to them spurted out a mouthful of wine.

The other young dragons and dragon girls also choked and coughed continuously, their little faces turning red.

The little Dragon Girl stood up and said, "Mother, I have something to do and have to leave first." She turned around to leave.

Aoguang hurriedly called out, "Have a little more to eat! You haven’t had your meal yet~"

The little Dragon Girl said expressionlessly, "Never mind! I’m full~"

The other young dragons and dragon girls all stood up and said in unison, "We’re full too!" They hurriedly left.

Dragon Mother glared fiercely at Aoguang, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Gui Prime Minister walked in quickly from outside, anxiously shouting, "Dragon King, it’s not good, Horses’ Fortune has come again."

Aoguang’s expression changed, and he said in surprise, "Sun Wukong, wasn’t he caught by my third child? How did he come back so quickly?"

He looked at Dragon Mother with a smile and said, "My lady, please wait, I will go and send him away."

Dragon Mother nodded slightly and said, "Go quickly!"

Aoguang got up and strode off.

...

Inside the grand hall of the Crystal Palace, Sun Wukong lay in a chair, with a bunch of grapes in one hand hanging in front of him, eating them one by one, without any restraint.

Aoguang laughed and said, "Great Sage, not holding a position in Heavenly Court, how come you have time to visit my East Sea?"

Sun Wukong jumped up from the chair, squatting on top of it, and shouted angrily, "Such bad luck, bad luck, the Jade Emperor actually asked me to tend to his horses, in a fit of anger I smashed the Imperial Stables and left Heavenly Court."

Aoguang gave a thumbs up and praised, "Great Sage, you are truly unrivaled as a hero!"

Sun Wukong blinked and asked, "Old Dragon King, don’t you have a child serving in Heavenly Court, named Judicial Heavenly God Ao Bing?"

Aoguang stroked his beard, chuckled, and said, "That’s my third son, a minor Judicial Celestial in Heavenly Court, unworthy of mention."

Shu Wukong chuckled and said, "Brother Dragon is too modest, Ao Bing’s skills are remarkable, matched with me."

His eyes sparkled twice, and he said, "I wonder what kind of Divine Position the Judicial Celestial holds?"

Aoguang laughed and said, "The Judicial Celestial patrols the Cycle, overseeing the divine, capturing and punishing any misbehaving Immortal Gods."

Sun Wukong appeared contemplative and said, "Then Ao Bing must be the strongest of the Heavenly Gods in Heavenly Court, right?! Otherwise, how could he oversee All Gods? No wonder he has such Cultivation."

He said cheerfully, "Brother Dragon, could you introduce me? I want to make friends with him."

Aoguang replied helplessly, "Not to hide from Monkey Brother, ever since my third son became a Judicial Celestial, he seldom returns to the East Sea, and even I find it hard to meet him.

When he next returns, I will definitely hold onto him and let him exchange some words with Monkey Brother."

Sun Wukong, scratching his ears and cheeks excitedly, said, "Previously I was careless, next time we meet, I definitely want to have a good match with him again."

Aoguang quickly called out, "Hey! Monkey Brother, you must not bully him! How could his modest skills compare with you?"