Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

As for whether someone else had broken in and stolen it, Dipankara Buddha didn't even consider it.

"The Eight Trigrams Furnace wasn't stolen by that demon monkey," Laozi said, shaking his head.

Dipankara Buddha asked, "If he didn't steal it, then who did?"

Laozi said, "When I came in just now, I sensed two auras in this alchemy room. The first one was that of the demon monkey, and the second one was very blurry, so I couldn't tell them apart."

Dipankara Buddha quickly sensed it as well, and saw that the entire alchemy room was filled with a mixture of various auras, with several different auras permeating it. These auras were very similar, but he could not distinguish them.

Laozi said, "Now that there are many people in this alchemy room, it is filled with various auras, so you can't distinguish anything. I was the first to enter, so I was able to sense the second aura. If I'm not mistaken, my Eight Trigrams Furnace was stolen by that second person."

Dipankara Buddha asked, "Can Laozi deduce who the second person to enter was?"

Lao Tzu shook his head and said, "The secrets of heaven are in complete chaos, and nothing can be calculated."

As he spoke, Lao Tzu sighed.

Dipankara Buddha remained silent. If it weren't for Laozi's involvement in their charade, he would never have left the Tushita Palace. And if he hadn't left, the Eight Trigrams Furnace wouldn't have been lost.

Randeng said, "Laojun, I will immediately report this matter to the two sages, Jieyin and Zhunti, and ask them to help you calculate and see if they can find out who stole the Eight Trigrams Furnace."

Although Randeng knew that the divination abilities of the two sages, Zhunti and Jieyin, might not even be as strong as those of Taishang Laojun, the chances of the two of them being able to deduce it were probably extremely slim, if even Taishang Laojun couldn't do it.

Although Laozi's cultivation level was low, he was, after all, an avatar of that being and possessed most of that being's abilities, which was incomparable to others.

Laozi nodded and said, "Since that's the case, then you go ahead. I'll go and investigate that demon monkey to see if he managed to steal my Eight Trigrams Furnace."

Randeng was startled, somewhat afraid that Laozi might accidentally kill Sun Wukong if he went out. However, he couldn't take back what he had said. With a hint of worry, Randeng said goodbye and went out to find the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti.

Such a significant matter should be reported to the two sages to see how they handle it.

After Ran Deng left, Laozi exited the alchemy room and flew downwards. Laozi's Tushita Palace was located in the Lihen Heaven of the Thirty-Three Heavens, below which lay the Thirty-Two Heavens. Laozi flew all the way, and when he landed at the South Heavenly Gate, he saw a large group of heavenly soldiers and generals clad in silver armor gathered there. Their weapons gleamed coldly, and a chilling aura permeated the entire sky, accompanied by the booming sound of war drums.

"Laojun is here!" someone shouted upon seeing his back.

With a slight nod to the man, Laozi arrived at the front of the formation. There, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, was the commander, holding a command flag and directing the heavenly soldiers and generals to form a battle formation.

Among the heavenly soldiers and generals, almost all the gods in the Heavenly Court were present: the Four Heavenly Kings, Prince Nezha, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Nine Luminaries, the Twelve Earthly Branches, the Five Directions Protectors, the Four Duty Officers, the Eastern and Western Stars, the Northern and Southern Gods, the Five Sacred Mountains and the Four Rivers—almost everyone whose name could be called was here.

Upon seeing Laozi, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, hurriedly dropped his command flag and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant greets Laozi!"

Logically speaking, Laozi's official rank wasn't necessarily much higher than Li Jing's, so Li Jing didn't need to be so obsequious to him. However, the thought that Laozi was an incarnation of that being made Li Jing unable to resist trying to curry favor.

Seeing his father's obsequious actions, Nezha, who was standing to the side, had a look of disgust flash in his eyes.

Laozi asked, "Why is Marshal Li gathering heavenly soldiers and generals here? What has happened in the mortal realm this time?"

Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, said, "Laojun didn't know that there was a monkey demon named Sun Wukong on Flower Fruit Mountain in the mortal realm who repeatedly violated the Heavenly Laws and showed no remorse. The Jade Emperor originally wanted to kill him. However, out of pity for him, he gave him an official position to guard the Peach Orchard. But who knew that the fellow was so audacious? He actually used a spell to freeze the seven fairy maidens who were picking peaches, preventing them from doing so. Not only that, he also picked all the peaches in the entire orchard."

Chapter 482 Nine Luminaries Official

Li Jing said, "Besides that, that fellow also broke into the Jade Pool and stole the delicacies and wines of the Peach Banquet, making a mess of the entire banquet. Therefore, the Jade Emperor ordered me to lead 100,000 heavenly soldiers to capture him."

Laozi nodded, thinking to himself, "Since Li Jing is planning to deal with that demon monkey, I'll stay here and see what kind of abilities that demon monkey has, and whether he actually stole my Eight Trigrams Furnace."

Li Jing asked in confusion, "I wonder what brings Laozi here?"

With a sigh, Laozi said, "I have come here for this very reason. The five golden gourd pills I refined in my alchemy room were all stolen and eaten by that demon monkey. I have come to teach that demon monkey a lesson."

"What?" Li Jing's face was full of disbelief. "Laojun, all the golden pills in your five purple-gold gourds were eaten by that demon monkey?"

Laozi said, "That's right. I originally intended to offer those golden pills to the Jade Emperor for a pill-refining ceremony, but who knew that the monkey would steal and eat them."

Li Jing said, "Don't worry, Laozi, I will definitely capture that demon monkey and bring him to justice."

Looking back at the heavenly soldiers and generals behind him, Li Jing shouted, "Where are the Nine Luminaries Star Officials?"

"Marshal, we are waiting!" The Nine Star Officials appeared.

The nine star officials were all fierce and menacing, with faces full of scars, eyebrows like swords and axes, and muscles that bulged like small hills. They were all dressed in black armor and each held a weapon, exuding an imposing and intimidating aura.

Li Jing said, "Nine Star Officials, that demon monkey is courting death and has wreaked havoc at the Peach Banquet. I hereby order you all to go down and capture that demon monkey to serve as a warning to others and to enhance the reputation of our Heavenly Court. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" the Nine Star Officials replied in unison.

Nine people rode on a swirling cloud of black mist and flew down toward Flower Fruit Mountain.

On Flower Fruit Mountain, the monkeys were playing and frolicking when the Nine Luminaries Star Officials flew in, weapon in hand, and shouted sternly, "You demon monkey! We are the Nine Luminaries Star Officials, sent down to the mortal realm to capture your king! You'd better go back and report to him, and make him come out and surrender. Maybe then we can spare his life. If he dares to resist even a little, we'll beat him to dust!"

The monkeys rushed into the Water Curtain Cave in a panic, shouting, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Nine fierce gods have come outside, saying they've come to capture you, Your Majesty. They want you to come out and face your death!"

Sun Wukong angrily said, "What kind of scoundrel dares to bully me, Old Sun? Let me go out and meet him!"

As they were talking, Sun Wukong had already rushed out of the Water Curtain Cave. He took out his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel), waved it in his hand, and it grew to the thickness of a bowl and twelve feet long.

Having established his stance, Sun Wukong said, "You bunch of hairy gods, how dare you be so reckless as to bully me, Old Sun!"

The Nine Luminaries Star Official shouted loudly, "You ignorant and reckless stable boy, how dare you steal peaches of immortality, steal imperial wine, disrupt the Peach Banquet, and steal Laozi's elixir?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "What you said about these things is true! It's true! But what can you do to me now?"

The Nine Luminaries said, "We are here by imperial decree of the Jade Emperor to subdue you. You must quickly surrender! Otherwise, these creatures will be slaughtered. We will level this mountain and overturn this cave!"

Sun Wukong roared in fury, "What power do you little devils have to spout such nonsense? Don't run away, take a blow from my staff!"

The Nine Luminaries, wielding their weapons, charged forward, and the two sides immediately clashed. Sun Wukong already possessed the cultivation of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and after stealing the peaches from the Peach Garden and the five purple-gold gourds of golden pills from Laozi's alchemy room, his strength had been greatly enhanced.

In particular, his Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, with the help of those peaches of immortality and golden pills, leaped to the sixth level.

The Eight-Nine Arcane Arts is divided into nine levels. The further you go, the more difficult it becomes to break through. However, once you break through, your strength will increase very rapidly.

The Eight-Nine Arcane Arts is a body-refining technique. After Sun Wukong broke through to the sixth level, his body's defense increased significantly. He could be said to have a body of copper skin and iron bones, impervious to swords and spears, and even lightning and thunder could not harm him.

To kill him, unless a saint-level expert intervenes, other cultivators will have no chance unless they suppress him.

In a sense, Sun Wukong is already the number one person below the sages. As long as the sages do not appear, he has no fear for his life.

After the breakthrough, his strength also increased significantly, and he swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang with even greater force. In just a short while, the Nine Luminaries Star Official's hands and legs went numb, and his tiger's mouth was injured.

"This monkey demon is incredibly strong!" The Nine Luminaries were all somewhat astonished. They simply couldn't believe that Sun Wukong, a small, thin monkey less than four feet tall, could possess such terrifying strength, forcing the nine of them to retreat steadily.

"The demon monkey is too powerful, let's retreat!"

The nine star officials exchanged glances, then dragged their weapons and flew back to the Southern Heavenly Gate.

Sun Wukong did not chase after them, letting the Nine Luminaries leave.

Upon returning to the South Heavenly Gate, the Nine Luminaries Star Official reported, "Marshal, that demon monkey was incredibly powerful. The nine of us were no match for it. Please forgive us, Marshal!"

While the Nine Luminaries were fighting Sun Wukong, Li Jing stood atop the Southern Heavenly Gate, having witnessed the battle. He let out a disgruntled snort. Although Sun Wukong was powerful, he couldn't possibly have completely defeated the Nine Luminaries in such a short time.

The reason they were able to win so quickly was that the Nine Luminaries Star Officials were not putting in any real effort and left to retreat as soon as they saw the situation was not going well.

Otherwise, even if the Nine Luminaries were no match for Sun Wukong, it would take him three days and three nights to defeat them all.

However, since these Nine Luminaries Star Officials were not from his faction and had some background and a wide circle of friends, he dared not punish them.

Turning his head away and ignoring the nine people, Li Jing asked, "Where are the Four Heavenly Kings and the Twenty-Eight Constellations, Nezha?"

Chapter 483 All Defeated

"Your subordinate is here!" Nezha, the Third Prince, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Twenty-Four Constellations all appeared.

Li Jing said, "The Nine Luminaries Star Official Lang Kang is no match for that demon monkey. I now order you all to descend to the mortal realm and capture that demon monkey. Do you understand?"

"This humble general understands and will certainly live up to the Marshal's expectations!" Nezha, the Third Prince, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Twenty-Four Constellations all replied.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Nezha, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Twenty-Four Constellations rode on clouds and flew straight towards Flower Fruit Mountain.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Court, Li Xiuyuan was riding a lucky cloud, slowly flying towards the South Heavenly Gate.

After stealing the Eight Trigrams Furnace from Laozi's alchemy room, Li Xiuyuan did not rush to leave. Instead, he found a place to hide and only left when he felt the time was right.

After all, if he had fled in a panic from the beginning, it would have easily aroused suspicion.

Flying all the way to the South Heavenly Gate, Li Xiuyuan saw rows of celestial soldiers and generals lined up before it. At the very front of the ranks stood a figure clad in golden armor and helmet, wearing a golden jade crown, with a majestic appearance, a gleaming sword at his waist, and carrying a pagoda. Li Xiuyuan recognized him; he knew it was Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.

Beside Li Jing stood a somewhat aged figure dressed in a yellow Taoist robe with the Bagua symbol, holding a whisk. Li Xiuyuan recognized him at a glance as Laozi, the Supreme Lord Lao. His Bagua robe was undeniably eye-catching and stylish.

Even when faced with Laozi, Li Xiuyuan was not afraid. He descended on a cloud and asked knowingly, "Marshal Li, what is the Heavenly Court doing mobilizing these heavenly soldiers and generals?"

Li Jing hurriedly said, "So it is the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva. Li Jing greets the Marshal."

As he spoke, he bowed to Li Jing.

Although Li Jing was a marshal of the Heavenly Court, he also had some connections with Western Buddhism, so he naturally knew about Li Xiuyuan, the newly promoted Bodhisattva.

After the ceremony, Li Jing replied, "Bodhisattva, you were unaware of this. Let me explain. In the Flower and Fruit Mountain of the Eastern Continent of the mortal realm, there once lived a demon monkey named Sun Wukong. He repeatedly violated the Heavenly Laws and showed no remorse. Originally, he was to be executed, but the Jade Emperor took pity on him as a living being and spared his life. He was given the task of guarding the Peach Garden. However, who knew that the scoundrel would steal peaches from the Peach Garden, injure the Seven Fairy Maidens, and disrupt the Peach Banquet? Not only that, he also stole Laozi's elixir of immortality. His crimes are truly unforgivable, so the Jade Emperor sent me to lead troops to capture that demon monkey."

"I see," Li Xiuyuan said. "There are many evil spirits in the lower realm, who are stubborn and unruly. They should be eliminated with swift and decisive measures."

"I wonder who the Marshal sent to fight that demon monkey just now?" Li Xiuyuan asked.

Li Jing said, "Reporting to the Bodhisattva, I just sent the Nine Luminaries Star Officials to fight, but who knew that the Nine Luminaries Star Officials were really incompetent and were defeated in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Now my son, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Twenty-Four Constellations are fighting against that demon monkey."

Li Xiuyuan said, "I've heard that the Great God Nezha of the Three Altars and Seas is very powerful. With him on the case, that demon monkey should be captured easily, right?"

Li Jing said, "Bodhisattva, you flatter me. My son deserves such praise. I have a Heavenly Mirror here, which can see any scene in the Three Realms. Why don't we see how my son is doing with that demon monkey?"

As he spoke, Li Jing took out a bright, round mirror from his person. The mirror was about the size of a palm, with gold trim around it, and several golden dragons coiled and danced, baring their fangs and claws.

The round mirror was very strange. When Li Jing first took it out, it was only the size of a palm, but when Li Jing threw it into the air, it expanded as soon as it was exposed to the wind, becoming about ten feet in size, and the image of Nezha appeared inside.

Nezha had a face like a full moon, two small braids on his head, fair skin, and round arms like lotus roots. He held a fire-tipped spear, rode on wind-fire wheels, and wore the Qiankun Ring on his wrists, exuding an aura of overwhelming power.

Standing before Nezha was Sun Wukong, who wore an ochre-yellow robe over golden armor and a purple-gold crown. He was short, a head shorter than Nezha.

"He has indeed broken through to the sixth level of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts." Li Xiuyuan thought to himself, looking at the aura emanating from Sun Wukong.