CHAPTER 532: CHAPTER 472, HARVESTING FLAT PEACHES

Sun Wukong looked up, puffed out his chest, and said with a sneering laugh, "Brother Dragon needn’t worry. He’s just a tiny bit weaker than me. If it really comes to a fight, I, Old Sun, will show some mercy."

Aoguang heaved a sigh of relief and gratefully said, "In that case, thank you, Monkey Brother. Servants, prepare the food and drink; I shall drink with Monkey Brother until we’re both fully satisfied!"

Two rows of maids brought in fine wines and delectable dishes into the Crystal Palace.

After a moment, Aoguang curiously asked at the banquet table, "Monkey Brother, do you have some business on this visit to the East Sea?"

Sun Wukong set down his wine cup, rubbed his furry monkey paws together, and said somewhat sheepishly, "Indeed, Old Sun does have a favor to ask!"

Aoguang chuckled and said, "Monkey Brother, don’t hesitate to speak your mind. If it’s within my power, there’ll be no delay. In the East Sea, Brother Dragon’s word still holds sway."

Sun Wukong looked downcast and said, "I, Old Sun, rebelled against the Heavenly Court, violated the Heavenly Rules, and was taken by your third son Ao Bing to the Heavenly Court to meet Emperor Gouchen."

Aoguang’s gaze flickered for a moment. Was the elder really paying that much attention to him? To personally meet him, even with Bai Jin’s current status, it would not be easy for anyone, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal, to see Bai Jin — much less a Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong continued, "That Emperor Gouchen accused Old Sun of not understanding cultivation, which is laughable. If I, Old Sun, didn’t understand cultivation, how could I possess such abilities? He even punished me by making me copy some Tao something scripture a thousand times."

"Monkey Brother, are you talking about the Tao Te Ching?"

Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly and said, "That’s right, that’s the one. I don’t even know what it is."

He rubbed his furry monkey paws, giggled, and said, "I, Old Sun, am all right in a fight, but I’m really not good at copying scriptures. Brother Dragon, could you copy it for me?"

Aoguang immediately shook his head and said helplessly, "Monkey Brother, it’s not that your brother is unwilling to help you, but you probably don’t realize Emperor Gouchen’s ability."

Sun Wukong’s curiosity was instantly piqued, and he hurriedly asked, "What kind of mighty power does Emperor Gouchen possess?"

Aoguang spoke reverently, "Emperor Gouchen rules over a myriad of the Demon Clan, commands the Three Realms’ weapons of war and killing, maintains the balance of the Three Realms, and before whom gods bow their heads and countless Buddhas pay homage. With a single glance of his divine eyes, he surveys everything across the Three Realms and Six Paths.

Dear brother, if I were to copy it for you, both of us would not escape Emperor Gouchen’s punishment."

Sun Wukong muttered, "Emperor Gouchen is truly so formidable."

Aoguang earnestly said, "Within the Three Realms, there’s a saying that Emperor Gouchen is the mightiest of all."

Sun Wukong inwardly sucked in a breath of cold air, hissing, Emperor Gouchen is the mightiest in the Three Realms? I wonder how many rounds my Master could last against Emperor Gouchen!

Aoguang said with profound gravity, "Monkey Brother, Emperor Gouchen punishes you to copy scriptures for your own good. You should just copy them. The only help I can offer is to provide you some paper and ink."

Sun Wukong spread his hands and said, "Bring the paper and ink!"

After receiving the paper and ink, Sun Wukong immediately left the Dragon Palace and headed towards Huaguo Mountain to start the arduous task of copying the scriptures.

Aoguang sat in the Crystal Palace eating and drinking, thinking, you want me to help you copy scriptures? No chance!

...

Meanwhile, in Western Buddhism, The Buddha was sitting on the Lotus Platform, with The Bodhisattva Guanyin, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Universal Virtue Bodhisattva, and Long-Eared Ding Guangxian among others standing below.

The Bodhisattva Guanyin said with a frown, "Buddha, ever since the Westward Journey commenced, nothing has developed as we envisaged. The original plan was for there to be Big Chaos in the East Sea Dragon Palace, which turned into Big Chaos in the West Sea Dragon Palace. Rebellion in the Underworld was meant to become a rebellion against the Yin Mountain Ksitigarbha Palace. Sun Wukong’s descent to the Lower Realm was supposed to be a defeat for the Heavenly Court, but now it has turned into Sun Wukong being captured by Ao Bing."

The Buddha’s profound voice resounded, "The bigger picture remains intact!"

The Bodhisattva Guanyin said, "But the details have significantly shifted."

Long-Eared Ding Guangxian sneered, "Bai Jin is still not reconciled, vainly struggling against the overwhelming tide of the Primordial World. An ant’s strength cannot topple a mountain."

The Buddha said, "The Bodhisattva Guanyin, you go to the Heavenly Court and guide Wukong to cause Big Chaos in Heaven, so as to establish his mighty name."

The Bodhisattva Guanyin placed his palms together, bowed his head respectfully, and replied, "I shall honor the Dharma Decree!" He then turned and walked outside.

...

Inside the Bird’s Nest, Bai Jin was deep in thought, pondering how to proceed and whether to turn the Big Chaos in Heaven into a havoc at Spiritual Mountain. But that seemed rather difficult to execute!

"Purple-clothed Immortal requests an audience with Emperor Gouchen~" A clear voice came from outside.

Inside the Bird’s Nest, Bai Jin came back to his senses and said, "Enter!"

A fairy dressed in purple stepped in from outside, carrying a bamboo basket, and with a curtsy, she said cheerfully, "I pay my respects to the Emperor!"

Bai Jin said with a smile, "Purple-clothed, what brings you here?"

"The Mother said there are too many peaches growing in the Immortal Peach Orchard, and asked me to pick the ripe ones to send some to the Emperor," she replied.

A thought struck Bai Jin’s mind, was this meant to set Wukong up as the master of the Immortal Peach Orchard? He smiled and said, "Thank you for the kindness, Madam. I shall pay a visit to express my gratitude someday."

The Purple-clothed Fairy set the basket she was holding onto the table beside Bai Jin, curtsied, and said, "Emperor, I also need to deliver some Flat Peaches to the Judicial Temple, so I will take my leave now."

Bai Jin smiled and said, "Off you go!"

The Purple-clothed Immortal turned and walked outside, quickly disappearing from sight.

Bai Jin waved his hand, and peaches from the basket began to fly out, suspended in the air.

With a movement of his hand and a mutter, he said, "This bunch is for Eldest Uncle!" And immediately a cluster of peaches was set apart, gathered together.

"This bunch is for Second Master!"

"This bunch is for Master!"

"This bunch is for Nuwa!"

"This bunch is for Ping Xin!"

Bai Jin quickly separated the peaches into piles. The ones left, not very attractive on the outside but likely very sweet, were for himself. Sigh – there are too many powerful figures to pay respects to; my life is truly difficult.

...

In a mountain stream of the Lower Realm, Hao Tian and Turquoise Pool were in plain clothes, admiring the splendid scenery.

Turquoise Pool said with a smile, "Buddhism is in a hurry! Even Ci Hang has been sent to the Heavenly Court."

Hao Tian laughed heartily and said, "Things for the Westward Journey have gotten off to a bad start!

That bratty Duobao wanted to climb the ranks using the Eastern celestial, but Bai Jin gave him a resounding slap. He’s now panicking."

"Bai Jin means well, but let’s hope his good intentions don’t backfire on him. As his uncles, we should still offer some advice.

Although the Buddha’s Ascension Calamity is now controllable, if Bai Jin intervenes too much, the immense repercussions of the Calamity will focus on him, and he may well sink into it too," Turquoise Pool expressed her worry.

Hao Tian said, "Don’t worry! I will advise him." Changing the subject, he said, "I heard the West Sea Dragon Palace is seeking a marriage alliance?"

Turquoise Pool responded, "The tribulations of this Westward Journey were meant to fall upon the East Sea Dragon Palace, yet for some reason, Sun Wukong went to the West Sea, causing chaos and devastation there. I heard even the treasury was robbed.

Now, seeking a marriage alliance may be the West Sea Dragon King’s attempt at seeking a stroke of fortune."