Heavenly Court.
The sea of clouds was vast and boundless.
Outside Doushuai Palace.
A thousand auspicious rays of light shone.
The ancient, unchanging scent of elixir from the palace gates, mixed with the crisp, cool wind of the Immortal Realm, wafted into his nostrils.
Sun Wukong stood outside the palace gates, his hairy hand under his golden armor scratching his cheek impatiently.
It had been over a hundred years since he successfully escorted Tang Seng and was conferred the title of Victorious Fighting Buddha.
Life on Flower-Fruit Mountain was certainly carefree, but the restlessness etched into his bones was not something that Buddhist titles and scriptures could easily smooth away.
He hadn't been to Heavenly Court in a long time, and today he specifically found an excuse to come up and spar with an old acquaintance.
The palace gate opened with a 'creak', and a Taoist boy with a double-bun hairstyle hurried out, his robe corners fluttering as he walked quickly.
Sun Wukong's figure flickered, blocking the Taoist boy's path.
The Taoist boy, focused on hurrying, unexpectedly bumped into a golden-armored Divine Being, stumbled in fright, then looked closely and quickly bowed in Rei: “It turns out to be Victorious Fighting Buddha. This humble Immortal, Jinjiao, greets Great Sage.”
He spoke the Buddha's title, but habitually called him “Great Sage.”
Sun Wukong's Fiery Golden Eyes scrutinized him, and he grinned, saying, “Little boy, why are you in such a hurry? Are you rushing to reincarnate?”
Jinjiao's face showed a hint of anxiety: “Great Sage is joking. I wonder why Great Sage has leisure today to come from Flower-Fruit Mountain to the Thirty-Three Heavens?”
“Old Sun got bored staying in the mountain and wanted to come up and play with that three-headed, six-armed boy.” Sun Wukong pulled the Golden Cudgel from his ear, transforming it into the size of an embroidery needle, spinning it between his fingers, “But I searched all over Heavenly King Li's mansion and didn't see him.”
Jinjiao understood, saying, “Third Lotus Prince? He should be at Execution Platform right now. This humble Immortal is also rushing over there.”
Sun Wukong's eyes lit up, he put the Golden Cudgel back into his ear, and leaned closer: “Execution Platform? That place is usually very deserted. What excitement is there to see today? Quickly tell Old Sun!”
Jinjiao looked left and right, then lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously: “Great Sage doesn't know. A month ago, a daring Loose Immortal appeared in West Niuhe Continent. I don't know what kind of guts he had, but he tore down seven or eight temples in one go and smashed the Buddha statues.”
He grew more animated as he spoke, his face beaming: “This really stirred up a hornet's nest and angered those bald donkeys of the Western Religion. You know, they are the most petty...”
Mid-sentence, Jinjiao's words suddenly stopped.
He looked at the Victorious Fighting Buddha, who was enveloped in Buddha light, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
How could his mouth forget the identity of the person before him?
Who in Heavenly Court didn't know that this Great Sage the Equal of Heaven was now also a Buddha of the Western Heavens?
He stammered to amend: “Great Sage... this humble Immortal... I... I didn't mean that...”
Sun Wukong, however, showed no sign of anger. Instead, he burst into laughter, patting Jinjiao's thin shoulders: “Hahahaha! Bald donkey is bald donkey! Old Sun hears you! You continue, what happened next?”
Seeing that he truly didn't mind, Jinjiao finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiped off some sweat, and continued: “Although that Loose Immortal was wrong, he is, after all, an Immortal. Ordinary Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire cannot harm him. Western Religion sent word, saying that this person must be completely annihilated in body and spirit to quell their hatred. To achieve complete annihilation, he must pass through Execution Platform and endure a single cut.”
Sun Wukong stroked his chin, a light swirling in his golden eyes: “Oh? And that old Jade Emperor allowed it?”
“This is precisely the most delicate part of the matter.” Jinjiao spoke with more enthusiasm, “Great Sage, think about it, the Jade Emperor has always been unwilling to meddle in the affairs of the Western Religion. This time, they specifically requested to use Heavenly Court's Execution Platform, so the Jade Emperor couldn't avoid it even if he wanted to. If he agreed directly, it would make Heavenly Court seem like their execution ground; if he didn't agree, he would offend the Western Religion. The Jade Emperor's intention is that he neither wants to issue this order nor can he not issue this order.”
Sun Wukong snorted. He knew the temperament of that Dominator of the Three Realms all too well.
Jinjiao continued: “So the Jade Emperor issued a decree, saying that this matter concerns the face of Heavenly Court and the Western Religion, and ordered all Immortals of Heavenly Court to go to Execution Platform to witness the execution. If everyone watches together, it won't be his decision alone. This way, it gives an explanation to the Western Religion and also shows Heavenly Court's stance. At this moment, I'm afraid all the Divine Beings have gone to watch the excitement.”
“I was originally in the elixir chamber, watching the Eight Trigrams Furnace for Old Lord, which is a very important task. It was only with great difficulty that I got leave from Old Lord, and only then did I get this bit of free time to sneak out. If I'm any later, I won't be able to see anything at all!”
Upon hearing about such a grand spectacle involving Heavenly Court, the Western Religion, and various Divine Beings, Sun Wukong's heart, which had been quiet for a hundred years, instantly livened up.
He grabbed Jinjiao's arm, with such force that the Taoist boy winced.
“Let's go, let's go! Let's go together!” Sun Wukong, excited, scratched his ears and cheeks, “How can Old Sun miss such an interesting event! Quick, lead the way!”
Before his words finished, he had already lifted Jinjiao and transformed into a golden streak of light, speeding towards Execution Platform.
The sea of clouds was split open by them, forming a long path, and the serene scent of elixir outside Doushuai Palace was instantly scattered.
With a flash of golden light, when they landed, Jinjiao only felt dizzy and nauseous. He leaned against a nearby jade railing, dry heaving for a long time before he could barely stand steady.
He looked up and found himself on a vast white jade platform.
The platform hung above the sea of clouds, open on all sides, with only the biting Heavenly Wind whistling past.
There was no auspiciousness of the Immortal Realm in the wind; instead, there was a bone-chilling cold.
In the very center of the platform, a tall platform cast from profound iron rose from the ground. Ferocious Beast totems were carved upon it, and a chilling aura of death assailed one's face, making one's heart clench.
That was Execution Platform.
At this moment, the area around Execution Platform was already bustling with people, and divine light shone brightly.
The various Divine Beings were clearly divided into several groups.
To the east were the Immortal Officials of Heavenly Court. Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing pressed his hand on his treasure pagoda, his expression solemn; Taibai Jinxing stroked his long beard, his brows tightly furrowed; the Lei Department Generals stood with their arms crossed, their expressions grave.
They gathered in small groups, conversing in low voices, their gazes occasionally darting towards the other side.
To the west, there was a group of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats from the Western Religion.
They wore kasayas, their precious light solemn, either with eyes closed and brows lowered, or holding Magical Artifacts. Though they did not speak, they exuded a powerful aura that caused the surrounding Immortal Qi to become somewhat stagnant.
Sun Wukong's Fiery Golden Eyes swept through the crowd and immediately found his target.
Nezha stood alone closest to Execution Platform, clad in lotus armor, holding his Fire-tipped Spear, with the Universe Ring floating gently behind him like red flames.
Sun Wukong chuckled, a plan forming in his mind.
He quietly plucked a monkey hair, blew on it, and the monkey hair transformed into a tiny, invisible hand. It silently wove through the crowd, circled behind Nezha, and then yanked hard on his flowing Universe Ring.
Nezha's figure swayed, nearly stumbling.
What kind of person was he, to be pranked in plain sight of everyone?
A surge of anger rushed to his head. He spun around, his Phoenix eyes wide, and sharply demanded, “Who?”
This shouted question drew the attention of the surrounding Divine Beings.
But when Nezha's gaze met that grinning monkey face, his anger instantly vanished.
He first froze, then his tense lips curved upwards, revealing a knowing smile.
“You mischievous monkey, you're already Victorious Fighting Buddha now, yet you're still the same as before, unable to change these petty, undignified tricks.”
Sun Wukong darted to his side in a few steps, punching Nezha's lotus armor with a dull 'clang': “Little Nezha, long time no see, you've become even more imposing. What, did this kind of occasion call you here too?”
“Didn't you come too?” Nezha rolled his eyes at him, then turned his gaze back to Execution Platform, “The Jade Emperor's decree, who dares not come.”
Sun Wukong followed his gaze.
On the cold, desolate Execution Platform, a figure was kneeling.
It was a Human Race youth.
He wore a simple green robe, tattered and dusty.
His hands and feet were bound by golden Immortal-Binding Ropes, and his long hair, disheveled by the Heavenly Wind, covered half of his face.
But even in such a sorry state, his spine was held perfectly straight, like an unyielding spear.
Sun Wukong's Fiery Golden Eyes saw clearly that Immortal Qi flowed within the youth, and his Foundation was stable; he had indeed reached the cultivation of an Earth Immortal.
However, his eyes did not resemble those of any Immortal Sun Wukong had ever seen.
The surrounding whispers reached his ears.
“That's him, he tore down the Buddhist temples and smashed the golden statues.”
“I heard the Western Religion sent eighteen Arhats to capture him, but he injured them all.”
“Truly audacious, a mere Loose Immortal dares to oppose the Buddhist faith.”
