I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Inside the alchemy room, the gourd rack was empty; the jade bottle and golden gourd that originally held the elixirs were nowhere to be seen.

Laozi stood in the center of the alchemy room, his face ashen, his hands trembling slightly.

"This...how is this possible?"

Lao Jun's voice was filled with anger and disbelief, "The Nine-Turn Golden Pill, the Purple Jade Pill, the Rejuvenation Pill... they're all gone!"
who is it?

Who did it?

The Jade Emperor stepped into the alchemy room, his gaze sweeping over the mess, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

He looked at Laozi and said in a deep voice, "Laozi, do you have any clues?"

Why did this fake Sun Wukong head straight for your Tushita Palace?

Laozi gritted his teeth: "That fake monkey must be after my elixir!"

hateful!

"I have been refining elixirs for thousands of years and have never made such a mistake!"

He paused, glanced at Sun Wukong, and sneered, "Monkey, what else do you have to say?"

Sun Wukong's eyes widened, and he jumped up and down, saying, "Old man, don't make false accusations!"
I, Old Sun, have already said it's fake!

fake!

"Look at me, I don't have the ability to turn your alchemy room into a pigsty!"

The Queen Mother gave a cold laugh and glanced sideways at Sun Wukong: "Monkey, you certainly know how to shirk responsibility."

But why would this fake Sun Wukong impersonate you?
"If you weren't so arrogant and domineering, always stirring up trouble, who would bother to frame you?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback, scratched his head, and muttered, "This... how would I know?"
Perhaps it's because I'm too handsome, and others are jealous?

Upon hearing this, all the immortals fell silent.

Jiang Wang stood at the back of the crowd, suppressing his laughter and lowering his head to hide the cunning glint in his eyes.

He thought to himself, "Sun Wukong, you're really being unfairly blamed for this."

However, this drama isn't over yet.

The Jade Emperor's gaze swept over the crowd, and he said in a deep voice, "This matter is far from being as simple as it seems on the surface."

A fake Sun Wukong, a hidden universe in his sleeve, the stolen elixir... there must be a bigger conspiracy behind it all.

"Taibai, order a thorough investigation into this matter and make sure the true culprit is found!"

Venus immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Sun Wukong, however, persisted, shouting, "You old Jade Emperor, my innocence has been completely cleared!"
You'd better give me an explanation!

Otherwise, wouldn't my title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven be meaningless?

The Jade Emperor snorted coldly, his gaze sharp: "Monkey, whether you are innocent or not, I will decide for myself."

You're not getting away until this matter is thoroughly investigated!

Sun Wukong wanted to say more, but a glare from the Queen Mother silenced him.

He scratched his head sullenly and muttered, "Hmph, I, Old Sun, don't care about your lousy Heavenly Court. I'll go back to my Flower Fruit Mountain and live a happy life sooner or later!"

Jiang Wang was overjoyed when he saw this.

He quietly left the Tushita Palace, and in a flash, he was teleported back to Flower Fruit Mountain.

Deep within Huaguo Mountain, in a secluded cave, Jiang Wang sat cross-legged, with a pile of jade bottles and golden gourds in front of him, exuding an ethereal aura and shimmering with spiritual light.

"Fifty Nine-Turn Golden Pills, thirty Purple Jade Pills, twenty Rejuvenation Pills..."

Jiang Wangqing counted his spoils, his eyes filled with excitement, "These elixirs from the Doulu Palace are indeed well-deserved of their reputation!"
The spiritual energy from these pills alone is enough for me to break through to the mid-stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!

He carefully put away the elixir, closed his eyes to sense his internal cultivation, and indeed felt a powerful spiritual energy flowing through his meridians, with faint signs of a breakthrough.

He let out a long sigh and murmured, "Laojun, your alchemy room is truly a treasure trove."

"This is all thanks to the system task; otherwise, such a good thing wouldn't have happened!"

Just then, a crisp sound rang in Jiang Wang's mind: "Ding!"

Congratulations, host, for exceeding the target for the mission 'Frame Sun Wukong'! You have received the following system rewards: The Thirty-Six Heavenly Arts - Manipulating Creation, Laozi's Alchemy Technique, and a High-Level Experience Point Scratch Card!

Jiang Wang suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes bursting with a blazing light: "Manipulate the destiny!"

The Alchemy Techniques of Laozi!
This...this is such a steal!

He couldn't wait to bring up the system interface to check the reward details.

"It can manipulate the workings of nature, reverse the course of events, and change the course of destiny. By using this method, one can reverse life and death, and turn decay into wonder... This is simply a heaven-defying divine power!"

Jiang Wang became more and more excited as he read, wishing he could start cultivating immediately. "And there's also the Supreme Lord Laozi's Alchemy Technique. With it, I can refine the Nine-Turn Golden Pill in the future. Haha, I'm going to be rich!"

He calmed himself down and his gaze fell on the last advanced experience point scratch card.

He stood up, solemnly burned incense and took a bath, changed into a clean blue robe, sat cross-legged in the center of the cave, and held the glittering scratch card in his hands.

"Products made by our system are guaranteed to be of the highest quality!"

I'm going to have to scratch this scratch card carefully!

Jiang Wang took a deep breath and carefully scratched open the card.

As golden light shone, a line of numbers slowly appeared: 88888 experience points!
Eighty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight!

Jiang Wang's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter, "This experience point is enough for me to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to the fifth revolution!"

"System, you're truly my lucky star!"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the cave, unable to contain his excitement: "With this experience point, I'm one step closer to the mid-stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal!"
The fifth stage of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique—tsk tsk, its power! It could probably knock Sun Wukong's teeth out with a single punch!

Jiang Wang's imagination grew more and more vivid as he thought about it, and he couldn't help but dream about the future: "These scratch cards are really great. Without them, if I relied solely on doing tasks to accumulate experience, it would probably take me forever to break through."

Hehe, system, oh system, you'd better give me a few more!

He calmed himself down, sat cross-legged, and gazed into the distance, as if looking through the cave towards the distant Heavenly Court: "Old Jade Emperor, Laozi, you must be furious by now, right?"
I wonder if you guys will use Sun Wukong as a scapegoat.

"Wow, I really sang that part perfectly!"

Jiang Wang's lips curled up, revealing a meaningful smile: "Now, let's see how your Heavenly Court responds."

"I'll see how long this mastermind can stay hidden!"

Inside the Hall of Fragrant Breeze, golden light flowed and auspicious clouds swirled. The Jade Emperor sat regally on the Nine-Dragon Throne, his brows furrowed with a mixture of majesty and deep thought.

Laozi stood in the hall, wearing a dark yellow Taoist robe, holding a whisk, his gaze calm yet containing a hint of worry.

The hall was filled with ethereal mist and the fragrance of sandalwood, yet there was an invisible tension between the two.

"Laojun, do you have any progress on the Peach Banquet?"

The Jade Emperor spoke, his voice deep and resonant, as if thunder were contained within it.

Laozi nodded slightly, waved his whisk lightly, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, after much consideration, I believe that the fake Wukong is cunning and skillful, and is very likely related to Zhen Yuanzi."

After all, that shimmering array was Zhen Yuanzi's unique divine power, difficult for others to imitate.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the armrest of his dragon throne with his fingertips, producing a crisp sound.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Zhen Yuanzi... I have also had my doubts about him."

"But Laozi, are you aware that I have other doubts about the Purple-Gold Red Gourd?"

"A purple-gold gourd?"

Lao Jun was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"

That gourd was a treasure I crafted, unique and irreplaceable. I have never let it leave my side, nor have I entrusted it to any servant or mount to take down to the mortal realm.

The Jade Emperor chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

He rose, walked with his hands behind his back, his dragon robe trailing on the ground, stirring up a gentle breeze.

"Laojun may not know this, but Taibai Jinxing once said that he saw the purple-gold-red gourd in the cave of the Black and White Demon Kings of Huaguo Mountain, and was even trapped in it for decades."

And Sun Wukong was imprisoned for a full one hundred and twenty years. "What?"

Upon hearing this, Laozi's expression changed drastically. He shook his whisk and almost lost his composure. "How is this possible?"

My Purple Gold Red Gourd has never descended to the mortal realm, so how could the Black and White Demon King possess such a treasure?
Could it be... someone is making a copy?

"Imitation?"

The Jade Emperor stopped and turned to look at Laozi, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Laozi, do you know that the method of refining the Purple Gold Red Gourd was your own creation?"

"In this world, who else but you could forge such a magical treasure?"

Lao Jun frowned and said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, I swear on my Daoist heart that there is no second Purple Gold Red Gourd!”
If I utter even half a lie, may I suffer the wrath of Heaven!

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's gaze softened slightly, and he waved his hand, saying, "Laojun, there's no need for that. I do not doubt you."

However, the origins of this Black and White Demon King are unknown, and his methods are bizarre; I must proceed with caution.

"The Black and White Demon King..."

Laozi murmured, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "Your Majesty, has Venus calculated their origins?"

The Jade Emperor shook his head and sighed, "Taibai tried to calculate with his fingers, but to no avail."

The black and white demon kings seemed to appear out of thin air, concealing even the secrets of heaven perfectly.

"To conceal the secrets of heaven?"

Lao Jun's expression grew increasingly solemn. "To be able to do this, it is no ordinary demon."

Your Majesty, I suspect, that these Black and White Demon Kings might be pawns of the mastermind behind the scenes, specifically used to disrupt the overall Journey to the West.

The Jade Emperor snorted coldly, sat back on his dragon throne, and said in a deep voice, "The mastermind behind this... Hmph, I'd like to see who's pulling the strings behind the scenes!"

However, I believe that we should not draw conclusions lightly about the matters of Laozi and Zhen Yuanzi.

The shimmering array and the purple-gold gourd—these methods seem related to him, but what if the mastermind behind it all possesses multiple unique supernatural abilities or magical treasures?

Lao Jun nodded slightly and pondered, "Your Majesty's words make sense."

Zhen Yuanzi is the ancestor of all earth immortals, and he is indifferent to worldly affairs. Without solid evidence, hasty suspicion may lead to unforeseen consequences.

The Jade Emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Never mind who the mastermind is, let's leave that aside for now."

In my opinion, the Journey to the West is the most important task.

Once Sun Wukong's cultivation level improves and he successfully completes the Journey to the West, the mastermind's conspiracy will naturally have no chance to unfold.

"To enhance Sun Wukong's cultivation level?"

Lao Jun was taken aback, then frowned. "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

The Jade Emperor's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Laojun, I intend to directly bestow the Taiyi Xuanhuang Pill upon Sun Wukong to help him break through his cultivation level, so that he no longer needs to resort to those theatrical tricks."

"Taiyi Xuanhuang Pill?"

Lao Jun's expression changed, and he said urgently, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Although the pill can improve one's cultivation level in a short period of time, it will destroy one's foundation, making it difficult to make further progress through self-cultivation in the future.

Moreover, that monkey is inherently suspicious; if it senses anything amiss with the elixir, it might rebel.

The Jade Emperor waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "Laojun is overthinking it."

Whether Sun Wukong has doubts or not is none of your business.
If he has any doubts, then the Bodhi Patriarch will explain.

As for his foundation, humph, that monkey is the one destined for tribulation. After completing the Journey to the West, he will naturally receive merit to help him achieve the Great Luo status, or even become a Quasi-Saint.

Matters of fundamental importance are not worth mentioning.

Lao Jun remained silent for a moment, his eyes still showing some worry.

"Your Majesty, I still feel that this move is too risky."

If the monkey harbors rebellious thoughts, it might ruin the grand plan of the Journey to the West.

The Jade Emperor's gaze turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Lord Lao, my mind is made up!"
Moreover, I have another plan to ensure that the monkey will obey.

"A plan?"

Laozi looked up at the Jade Emperor, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

The Jade Emperor chuckled, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"What do you say, Old Man of the Moon?"

Outside the hall, a red light flashed, and the Old Man of the Moon walked in with a smile, holding the Red Thread Book, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am here."

"Go and tie a red thread for Sun Wukong."

The Jade Emperor said calmly, "Then, we'll break up the couple, provoke that monkey, and make him rebel against Heaven."

The Old Man of the Moon was taken aback for a moment, then smiled knowingly and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty has a brilliant plan!"
"I will take care of it immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Laozi frowned slightly but said nothing more.

He knew that the Jade Emperor's move, though seemingly risky, was in fact a well-thought-out plan.

Sun Wukong is fiercely independent. If he is hurt in love, he will definitely rebel in a fit of rage, which is exactly what the Jade Emperor wants: "Havoc in Heaven".

……

Inside the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong sat cross-legged on a stone bed, his eyes slightly closed, and spiritual energy circulated around him.

Ever since the Peach Banquet, he had a vague feeling that the Heavenly Court was treating him strangely, and his mind was filled with doubts, but he had no way of finding out.

"Old Sun just doesn't feel at ease..."

Sun Wukong murmured, opened his eyes, and a golden light flashed in them, "What exactly is that old Jade Emperor up to?"

Just as he was pondering this, a golden light shot in from outside the cave, transforming into a golden-armored heavenly general who respectfully said, "Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Jade Emperor has decreed that you must ascend to Heaven immediately!"

"The Jade Emperor summoned me?"

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow and a cold smile appeared on his lips. "Hmph, he's just in time. I'd like to see what tricks he's up to this time!"

Having said that, he somersaulted into the air and headed straight for the South Heavenly Gate.

A moment later, Sun Wukong stepped into the Hall of Fragrant Breeze. His gaze swept across the hall and he saw the Jade Emperor sitting on a high seat, with Laozi and Venus standing on either side. The atmosphere, however, was strangely unsettling.

"Monkey, greetings to the Jade Emperor!"

Sun Wukong cupped his hands in greeting, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

The Jade Emperor smiled slightly and said in a gentle tone, "Wukong, rise."

I have summoned you here today because of the Peach Banquet that took place previously.

"You have been wronged, and I feel guilty. Therefore, I bestow upon you three Taiyi Xuanhuang Pills as compensation."

"Taiyi Xuanhuang Pill?"

Sun Wukong's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. "Old Jade Emperor, what are the wonders of this elixir?"

Venus stepped forward and said with a smile, "Great Sage, this Taiyi Xuanhuang Pill was personally refined by Laozi. Taking it can directly lead one to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, greatly increasing one's cultivation. It is truly wondrous!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of wariness flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes.

Although he didn't know the details of the Taiyi Xuanhuang Pill, it was a "gift" from the Heavenly Court.

It's never that simple.

"You old Jade Emperor, such a generous reward is too much for this old man to bear."

The Jade Emperor waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "Wukong, you're overthinking it."

I know you have doubts, but there is absolutely no problem with this elixir.

Taibai, take out the elixir and show it to the Great Sage. (End of Chapter)