CHAPTER 535: CHAPTER 475, THE EMPRESS SUMMONS

Sun Wukong, scratching his ears and cheeks in glee, said, "So the Great Emperor is an old friend of my Master, then we are not strangers. No wonder I always felt close to the Great Emperor."

Bai Jin closed the copied book and asked, "After copying the Tao Te Ching a thousand times, what truth have you realized?"

Sun Wukong, scratching his ears and cheeks nonchalantly, said, "I don’t understand, don’t understand at all. What’s written there, I don’t understand any of it. Isn’t it enough to just copy it?"

Bai Jin said helplessly, "Indeed, you don’t understand. If you did, you would not have privately picked flat peaches. Taking without permission is theft, and you have committed the crime of theft.

Do you realize your mistake, Wukong?"

Sun Wukong, still nonchalant and smug, said, "What’s this about crime and no crime? I, Old Sun, was born free. I do whatever I want, right?"

Bai Jin frowned and scolded, "Nonsense!"

Sun Wukong was startled by this.

Bai Jin spoke solemnly, "In ancient times, before the Heavenly Court was established, Between Heaven and Earth was in utter chaos, and the Ten Thousand Races waged endless wars.

Later, Hao Tian ascended to the esteemed throne, ennobling the Divine, separating Heaven and Earth, and governing the operation of the sun, moons, mountains, and rivers, thus bringing order to Heaven and Earth and the proper conduct of all things.

Since you are one of the Heavenly Court Gods, you should restrain yourself and contribute to the welfare of the Primordial World.

The Heavenly Court is not like your Huaguo Mountain, where you can behave as you please."

Unable to hold back, Sun Wukong retorted, "Great Emperor, isn’t cultivation all about seeking freedom and unfettered ease?!

I, Old Sun, have attained powers that can reach Heaven and Earth, yet I still have to suffer the ire of others. Isn’t that suffocating?"

"The freedom you seek tramples on the rights of others.

Rebelling against the Heavenly Court, shattering the Imperial Stables; you indeed felt at ease, venting your anger, but what of the innocent supervisor and the Heavenly Horses inside the stables?!

The Jade Emperor entrusted you with the Immortal Peach Orchard because of trust in you, and now you picked peaches, damaging the interests of both the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother.

Wukong, have you considered all this?"

Sun Wukong stood akimbo, his eyes darting about, and his monkey face flushed.

Bai Jin said with great emphasis, "Wukong, the first step in cultivation is to cultivate the heart. Since ancient times, those who have succeeded in cultivation have all possessed a flawless Dao Heart, steadfast in their own beliefs, without guilt towards themselves or Heaven and Earth, just like me.

Can you do that?"

Sun Wukong opened his mouth but had no words in response.

Bai Jin spoke sternly, "Wukong, since you have gained nothing and also committed theft, lacking in morality, go back and copy the Tao Te Ching ten thousand times."

Sun Wukong suddenly looked up, exclaiming, "Ten thousand times? How long will I, Old Sun, have to copy?"

He shook his head repeatedly, shouting, "I won’t copy, won’t copy, I, Old Sun, refuse to copy."

Bai Jin pointed a finger at Sun Wukong, and a Green Light bloomed.

Sun Wukong let out a strange laugh, shouting, "I, Old Sun, am off!" and somersaulted towards the door.

But just as he sprang into the air, he was suddenly frozen in place, still in the midst of a somersault, upside down with a look of horror in his monkey eyes, thinking, why can’t I, Old Sun, move?

A Green Light swallowed Sun Wukong, and he instantly disappeared into thin air.

In an unknown black Space, Sun Wukong looked around. All his powers seemed to have vanished, and he could neither see, hear, nor touch anything.

Sun Wukong tilted his head and dug into his ear, calling out, "Jingu Bang, come out for me, Old Sun!"

There was no response from inside his ears; the golden hoop was also in utter silence.

Sun Wukong called out, "Transform!" His figure did not change in the slightest; the 72 Transformations had also lost their effect.

Sun Wukong was shocked inside, what kind of Cultivation did Emperor Gouchen have? How could he trap I, Old Sun, so easily? Could he be an Ancient Great Power like my Master? I seem to remember Brother Dragon saying that Bai Jin is the strongest in the Three Realms. Is this the strength of the strongest in the Three Realms?

Sun Wukong looked up and shouted angrily, "Emperor Gouchen, I, Old Sun, kindly brought flat peaches for you; why do you harm me?"

Bai Jin’s vast voice resonated overhead in the great hall, "Wukong, you were born in Huaguo Mountain, and thus there is a connection between us. Since you behave without order, I will place restrictions on you."

Sun Wukong stood in the pitch-black space and defiantly shouted, "Emperor Gouchen, I, Old Sun, was naturally born and raised. No one has the right to punish me!

Do you think these little tricks can contain I, Old Sun? I will never surrender."

Bai Jin did not respond at all.

In the dark space, with no time, no space, no perception, only absolute loneliness, Sun Wukong felt as if he were back inside the rock from the beginning, lonely, cold, weak, and a sense of panic began to rise in his heart.

After an unknowable amount of time, Sun Wukong’s face went through several changes, then he suddenly looked up and shouted loudly, "Emperor Gouchen, I, Old Sun, admit defeat."

A bright light appeared in the dark space, and Sun Wukong instinctively covered his eyes. As the darkness receded, Sun Wukong reappeared in the Bird’s Nest, hurriedly looking around as if reborn, every plant and flower, water and bird song seemed so beautiful and melodious.

Sun Wukong didn’t hesitate and turned to run outside.

"If you run again, I will lock you up again until you repent."

Sun Wukong immediately stopped mid-air, turned around, and looked at Bai Jin, holding back anger as he shouted, "What exactly do you want?"

"Go first to the Imperial Stables, apologize to the supervisor, and then copy the Scripture twenty thousand times."

Sun Wukong’s eyes widened in fury, shouting, "Wasn’t it ten thousand times just now?"

Bai Jin raised a finger, with Green Light swirling around it.

Sun Wukong’s face changed several times, then he smiled and said, "Twenty thousand times it is! I, Old Sun, just love copying Scriptures."

Bai Jin lowered his finger and said calmly, "Go on then! Don’t think of running away, for with a single thought I can know your whereabouts."