Heavenly Palace, the Palace of the Polestar that had just concluded a meeting, was now engulfed in another heated argument.

Jade Emperor urgently convened all the Immortals, all because of the Immortal Summoning Order issued by Huaguo Mountain.

"That Devil Monkey's wild ambition has finally revealed itself!"

Tota Li Heavenly King said, "Your Majesty, please issue an order to allow your humble servant to lead troops in punitive expedition!"

"Punitive expedition?"

Wuqu Star retorted, "How do you propose to mount an expedition? The Immortal Summoning Order from Huaguo Mountain clearly states that it's only an invitation for us to join in discussions, free to come and go as we please."

"That's correct," said Wenqu Star jumping in, "An Immortal Summoning Order can't be considered disrespectful towards the Heavenly Palace."

Jade Emperor sat above, feeling the situation was tricky.

That Sun Wukong, so bold and reckless, has even started to recruit Immortals.

Is he trying to establish a second Heavenly Palace?

It says for discussion purposes, but you only need to look at Immortal Zhenyuan to see what might happen.

If the Immortals stay in Huaguo Mountain for ten or twenty years, they might just refuse to leave.

And those years, in the heavens are merely ten or twenty days.

Jade Emperor was somewhat irritated; Sun Wukong's governance was truly frightening.

If Sun Wukong is not eradicated soon, allowing him to develop on earth for a century or two, Huaguo Mountain could become a major thorn in the side.

But Jade Emperor also had his reservations; he had sent messengers a few days ago to inquire with the Western Buddha.

Buddha, knowing the affairs of the universe, said only two words in regards to Sun Wukong: "Act prudently."

Jade Emperor had never heard the Buddha use these words before, and after much contemplation, he couldn't help but consider inviting Sun Wukong to heaven.

He was reluctant to entrust him with significant responsibilities, however.

As he pondered,

"Report!"

Thousand-mile Eye and Sharp-Hearing Ear rushed into the Palace of the Polestar.

"What is it?"

Jade Emperor asked.

Kneeling on the ground, Thousand-mile Eye and Sharp-Hearing Ear reported, "Your Majesty, the Barefoot Immortal has joined Huaguo Mountain."

"What!"

The Immortals were stunned.

Jade Emperor, enraged, demanded, "What's going on?"

"Your Majesty, while you argue here,"

Thousand-mile Eye replied, "a month has passed on earth."

All the Immortals were in an uproar.

"The Barefoot Immortal has always been free-spirited and forthright. How could he have joined Huaguo Mountain?"

"He must have been deceived by that Devil Monkey!"

"No, doesn't this precisely demonstrate that the Monkey King is worthy to be befriended?"

The Immortal Officials had two different opinions.

Jade Emperor realized that the emergence of the Floating City had indeed aroused the interest of some Immortals in Huaguo Mountain.

Jade Emperor turned to Thousand-mile Eye and Sharp-Hearing Ear, "You two Immortal Ministers, what is your assessment of the Monkey King?"

Thousand-mile Eye, sensing an opportunity, said, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong is wholeheartedly good-natured, truly different from the ordinary devils."

Thousand-mile Eye spoke well of Sun Wukong, to strive for his ascension to heaven and conclude his earthly stint sooner.

The sunlight reflecting off Yunxiao City every day was straining his eyes.

The response of Sharp-Hearing Ear was in agreement with Thousand-mile Eye.

"Your Majesty,"

Gold Star Taibai, seeing an opportunity, stepped forward and said, "It would indeed be best to summon Sun Wukong to heaven!"

Jade Emperor felt the situation was very troublesome, truly so.

Inviting Sun Wukong to heaven seemed simple, but from Gold Star Taibai's words, it could be seen that Sun Wukong had great ambitions.

Jade Emperor really disliked it; a mere Devil Monkey, after merely decades of cultivation, should consider ascending to heaven a grace, so how could he demand so much?

Gold Star Taibai signaled other Immortals with his eyes.

"Your Majesty, let's invite him to heaven!" said both Wenwuqu Stars, also stepping forward to petition.

"And I agree."

Soon after, an old Immortal spoke up.

Jade Emperor looked at him in surprise, "Lord Lao Zi, you think so too?"

Lord Lao Zi chuckled, "It's just a Monkey King with some minor magical knowledge. Why should Your Majesty see him as a formidable enemy?"

The Jade Emperor slightly furrowed his brow.

"Your Majesty, I too think it would be best to invite Sun Wukong to ascend to Heaven."

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy braced himself and stepped forward to speak.

"Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, hold your tongue for now, let me think."

The Jade Emperor rubbed his temples.

In his heart, he still hoped to eliminate Sun Wukong.

He didn't quite believe Sun Wukong was truly so capable of Divine Skills.

"Your Majesty, the Bodhisattva Guanyin has arrived."

At that moment, a Heavenly Soldier came in to report.

"Please, invite her in at once!"

The Jade Emperor eagerly welcomed her.

The Bodhisattva Guanyin entered the Palace of the Polestar.

"Your Majesty, remain calm and at peace."

Seeing the Jade Emperor's brows tightly knotted, the Bodhisattva knew he was troubled.

"The Bodhisattva must know what troubles me, may I dare to ask if..."

The Jade Emperor inquired: "Do you have any method to deal with that Sun Wukong?"

"Why not send someone to test him first?"

The Bodhisattva Guanyin, aware of the Jade Emperor's thoughts, said: "If the Monkey King does possess vast divine powers, then invite him to ascend to Heaven, and all the Immortals will be convinced."

The Immortals of the Palace of the Polestar nodded in agreement.

The Jade Emperor thought this was a good idea; he wanted to discern the truth.

"All Immortal Ministers, is anyone willing to go on my behalf?"

The Jade Emperor asked.

Tota Li Heavenly King immediately came forth: "Your humble servant is willing!"

"Tota Li Heavenly King is not suitable," said the Bodhisattva Guanyin, shaking her head.

She had already had someone in mind upon arriving here.

"Your Majesty has a nephew, Immortal Master Erlang, who now resides at Guan River Mouth, enjoying the incense of the mortal world, and possesses vast divine skills."

The Bodhisattva Guanyin said: "Your Majesty could issue an edict to him, instructing him to test Sun Wukong."

The Jade Emperor nodded joyously, agreeing that Immortal Master Erlang was indeed much more formidable than Tota Li Heavenly King, and skilled in transformation. Surely he could restrain Sun Wukong.

"But... what reason shall I use?"

The Jade Emperor continued to inquire, genuinely having no reason to dispatch troops for a conquest.

"No reason is needed."

The Bodhisattva Guanyin said: "Your Majesty is not embarking on a demonic subjugation, merely sending Immortal Master Erlang to compare abilities with Sun Wukong."

"Good."

The Jade Emperor nodded.

"Gold Star Taibai, go to Guan River Mouth and convey the edict to Immortal Master Erlang."

The Jade Emperor finalized the edict and entrusted it to Gold Star Taibai.

Gold Star Taibai sighed inwardly but also felt the idea could work.

He took the edict and departed.

Before long, Gold Star Taibai reached Guan River Mouth, descended from the clouds, and as the ghost officials saw him, they bowed and welcomed him.

"I bear an edict from the Jade Emperor. Where is Immortal Master Erlang?"

Gold Star Taibai did not see Immortal Master Erlang.

The ghost officials quickly responded: "The True Monarch has gone out."

"Gone out?"

Gold Star Taibai was baffled: "To where?"

The ghost officials shook their heads: "We do not know, but in recent years, while examining his worshippers at Guan River Mouth, the True Monarch saw that even a monkey's incense offerings were more bountiful than his own."

"Enraged, he claimed he would see who was so divine and departed," the ghost official continued: "But who would have thought, once he left, he never returned. We do not know where he may be now..."

With no other option, Gold Star Taibai returned to the Palace of the Polestar.

"Your Majesty..."

Gold Star Taibai bowed and said: "Immortal Master Erlang is not at Guan River Mouth."

"What?"

The Jade Emperor looked surprised: "Where has he gone?"

The expression on Gold Star Taibai's face became somewhat complex: "He likely went to Huaguo Mountain."

"Huaguo Mountain?"

The Jade Emperor felt a wave of dizziness.

Why would Immortal Master Erlang also go to Huaguo Mountain?

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