Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

On either side of the gate stood two rows of heavenly soldiers and generals.

The four Heavenly Kings, each occupying a territory, are the leaders.

Sun Wukong descended from the clouds and landed in front of the South Heavenly Gate, standing with his hands behind his back, head held high and chest out.

Li Yan followed closely behind, standing with his hands at his sides, his expression unchanged.

The Heavenly King of Growth stepped forward, about to question the monkey as usual, when suddenly a golden light shot into the sky from behind him.

He looked up and saw a flag fluttering in the wind high in the sky, with four large characters on it.

The Monkey King!

The Heavenly King of Growth's expression changed slightly, and he swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

When Master Li last came to the Heavenly Court, he was led by Venus and politely presented his visiting card.

Today, this monkey has really gone too far, raising its own banner high in the sky!

The Heavenly King of the North approached and whispered, "Brother, this monkey... was personally granted permission by the Jade Emperor."

The Heavenly King of Growth nodded slightly, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "Please come in, you two."

Sun Wukong grinned and strode towards the South Heavenly Gate.

Li Yan followed closely behind, and as he passed by the Heavenly King of Growth, he bowed slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Heavenly King."

The Heavenly King of Growth was taken aback, then returned the greeting.

He gazed at that retreating figure and nodded silently to himself.

This Li Yan is quite polite, unlike that arrogant monkey.

The two entered the South Heavenly Gate, and the scene before them suddenly changed.

In the heavens above, auspicious clouds swirled and countless streams of propitious energy flowed.

The magnificent palaces and pavilions are resplendent with gold and jade.

Cranes carry lingzhi mushrooms, and blue phoenixes offer fruit.

Jade-like grasses and rare flowers bloom everywhere.

It truly has the grandeur of a celestial palace, leaving one breathless with its beauty.

Sun Wukong, however, paid no attention to the scenery and strode forward.

He went to heaven with a pent-up anger in his heart.

The Jade Emperor's decision to appoint him as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses was clearly a sign of his contempt.

Although the promise has been made to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, it comes with conditions.

He wanted to see just how many people in the Heavenly Court truly respected him, the Monkey King.

Li Yan followed closely behind, secretly plotting in his heart.

Open your eyes to cause and effect, and observe carefully.

In the heavenly court, countless causal lines crisscrossed, densely packed, like a spider web.

Some of them shone with golden light, connecting towards the Lingxiao Palace.

Some parts are lush and verdant, connecting to the Jade Pool.

Others are grayish-black and gloomy, hidden in the shadows.

Li Yan secretly made a mental note of it.

As they were walking, a golden light suddenly appeared coming towards them from the front.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Old man, you've come at the perfect time!"

"I was just about to ask you, where is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's residence?"

Upon hearing this, Venus's expression stiffened slightly.

But unfortunately, this monkey is now the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, personally appointed by the Jade Emperor, so he can't really do anything about it.

He flicked his whisk and forced a smile, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't be anxious."

"I have come here to take you two to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's residence to settle down."

"Then hurry up and go! I, Old Sun, am in a rush!"

Venus secretly groaned, but did not show it on his face, and could only lead the way.

As he walked, he kept stealing glances at the monkey.

The monkey strode around confidently, looking fearless.

Then look at Li Yan, he walks with his hands at his sides, his expression as usual.

Venus sighed inwardly.

These two are fire and water.

The raging fire blazes wildly, while the deep waters remain still and silent.

But water and fire complement each other perfectly.

This time, ascending to heaven, the celestial court is likely to be in for some excitement.

Along the way, we passed through palaces and crossed cloud bridges.

But all the celestial officials along the way couldn't help but glance at Sun Wukong.

Pointing and whispering were common occurrences.

Some showed disdain and gave a cold snort.

Some people avoid it at all costs and take a detour.

Sun Wukong, however, paid no attention and continued striding forward.

The monkey understood that these people looked down on him simply because he was a demon king from the lower realm with no background.

But so what?

He, Sun Wukong, has never lived by relying on the opinions of others!

Li Yan followed behind, memorizing the reactions of each person.

He saw that the Martial Virtue Star Lord had spotted Sun Wukong in the distance and was taking a detour, his face displeased.

Then Zhang Daoling, one of the Four Celestial Masters, saw Sun Wukong, shook his head slightly, and looked disdainful.

Only Xu Xun nodded slightly upon seeing the two, as if to greet them.

Li Yan secretly plotted in his heart.

Indeed, the Heavenly Court is rife with factions and a cold, indifferent atmosphere.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord was a confidant of the Jade Emperor. He valued rules and regulations and looked down on demons and immortals in the lower realms.

Of the four Celestial Masters, three of them held themselves in high esteem and considered ordinary immortals beneath their notice.

Only Xu Xun, who had served as an official in the mortal realm, was well aware of the fickleness of human relationships, and therefore treated people with more amiability.

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard Sun Wukong say, "Brother, look what that is!"

Li Yan looked up and saw a mansion standing tall not far ahead.

Although the mansion was not as magnificent as the Lingxiao Palace, it was still quite impressive.

The gate is painted vermilion, with golden nails and jade railings. Two stone lions stand majestically in front of the gate.

Above the lintel hangs a plaque with five large characters: "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Mansion".

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed and rushed forward in three strides.

Pushing open the gate, one sees pavilions, towers, winding paths, artificial hills and flowing water, and exotic flowers and plants—everything one could need.

Inside the main hall, there are rosewood tables and chairs, and calligraphy and paintings by famous people are displayed.

In the backyard, there is a peach grove, which, though not as lush as the Peach Garden, still has its own charm.

Sun Wukong circled the mansion several times, growing happier with each look. He then turned to Li Yan, who had just seen Venus off, and said:

"Brother! This mansion is almost as good as my Water Curtain Cave!"

Li Yan smiled and said, "I'm glad Your Majesty is satisfied."

However, we're not here to enjoy ourselves in heaven.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong stopped joking and nodded, saying, "Brother is right. Shall we go investigate the case now?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No rush. Your Majesty, think about it. The deaths of those three demons have far-reaching implications."

If we act rashly, we might alert the enemy.

"It would be better to visit a few old acquaintances first, sound them out, and then make a decision."

Sun Wukong said, "In this Heavenly Court, my old friends are only that old man and that old man."

Li Yan said, "Then let's go to the Tushita Palace first and visit Laozi."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he said, "Good! I, Old Sun, am just curious to see what that old man is doing!"

The two left the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace and headed towards the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Tushita Palace, located above the Heaven of Separation and Hatred, is the residence of Laozi (Taishang Laojun).

As they climbed higher, the wind grew increasingly fierce, and the sea of ​​clouds gradually thinned.

Celestial officials along the way became increasingly rare.

After traveling for about half an hour, a palace suddenly appeared ahead.

The palace was neither as magnificent as the Lingxiao Palace, nor as opulent as the Yaochi Palace.

It is simple and unadorned, yet possesses a profound and weighty quality.

Above the palace gate hangs a plaque with three large characters: [Tushuai Palace].

The palace gates were tightly closed, and there were no guards in front of them.

Only a blue ox lay by the door, its eyes closed as if dozing.

The blue ox was enormous, its body entirely bluish-black, with two curved horns that gleamed with golden light.

Hearing the noise, it opened its eyes, glanced at the two of them, and then closed them again, seemingly unconcerned.

Sun Wukong stepped forward, about to greet him, but Li Yan raised his hand to stop him.

"Your Majesty, please wait. Laozi is the incarnation of the Dao Ancestor, and his status is extremely high. Since we have come to pay our respects, we should observe proper etiquette."

Having said that, he straightened his clothes, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said loudly:

"Disciple Li Yan, accompanied by Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven of Flower Fruit Mountain, has come to pay homage to Laozi. Please inform him of our arrival."

Upon hearing this, the blue ox opened its eyes again and glanced at Li Yan.

They were no longer as polite as they had been in the Tushita Palace.

It slowly stood up, yawned, and said in a muffled voice, "Wait."

Having said that, he entered the palace gate.

Sun Wukong gazed at the retreating figure of the green ox, his golden eyes flashing slightly, and whispered:

"Brother, this old ox helped me, Old Sun, a lot back in the underworld."

"This senior is Laozi's mount, having followed him for countless eons, so naturally he possesses great supernatural powers."

Upon hearing this, a hint of fighting spirit flashed in Sun Wukong's golden eyes, but he only chuckled.

A moment later, the palace gates slowly opened.

The blue ox strode out and said in a deep voice, "Laojun invites you."

Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

After saying this, he and Sun Wukong walked into the palace together.

Passing through several gates, one sees a forest of alchemy furnaces, their aroma filling the air.

There was a Bagua furnace, which was eighteen feet tall and made entirely of bronze.

The furnace body is engraved with Bagua patterns, and faint flames are visible.

There are also purple-gold censers, small and exquisite, suspended in mid-air, with faint purple mist rising from them.

There is also the Nine-Turned Furnace, with nine layers stacked on top of each other, each layer with flowing runes, mysterious and unpredictable.

Sun Wukong was dazzled by the sight and marveled at it.

Li Yan, however, kept his eyes straight ahead and followed the blue ox inside.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a quiet room suddenly appeared ahead.

Inside the quiet room, an old Taoist priest sat cross-legged.

The old Taoist priest had white hair and a youthful face, wore a Taoist robe with Bagua symbols, and held a whisk in his hand.

A pure energy flowed around him, exuding a Taoist charm.

Li Yan stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Li Yan greets Laozi."

Sun Wukong also cupped his hands in greeting, grinning as he said, "Old man, I've come to see you!"

Laozi opened his eyes, glanced at the two of them, and nodded slightly.

"sit."

Li Yan and Sun Wukong sat cross-legged on the prayer mat.

The green ox also strolled in, lay down beside Laozi, and closed its eyes as if dozing.

Laozi looked at Sun Wukong and said, "You monkey, you do have some guts."

The title "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" has never been used by anyone since the beginning of time.

Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Even if I, Old Sun, use it, what can I do?"

Lao Tzu neither agreed nor disagreed, only saying, "A title is nothing but an empty name."

The important thing is whether you can live up to that title.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was about to speak.

Li Yan preemptively said, "What Laozi said is absolutely right."

Therefore, this disciple has come to ask Laozi how one can be worthy of this title.

Laozi looked at Li Yan, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"What do you want to ask?"

"This disciple dares to ask, Lord Lao, in this Heavenly Court, is the Jade Emperor the sole authority, whose word is law?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and the green ox also opened its eyes and looked at Li Yan.

Laozi, however, remained expressionless and simply asked, "Why do you ask this?"

Li Yan said, "When I was refining elixirs in the Heavenly Court last time, I saw that the civil and military officials were all performing their duties in an orderly manner."

However, I have also heard that there are many factions in the Heavenly Court, each with its own agenda.

Therefore, this disciple wishes to ask Laozi about the proper measure in this matter.

Upon hearing this, Laozi slowly said, "You are indeed a wise man. In that case, I will not hide anything from you."

He said slowly, "In the Heavenly Court, although the Jade Emperor is the supreme ruler, he does not have absolute authority over everything."

Everything has its rules and regulations.

If the Jade Emperor wants to do something important, he must consult with the Three Pure Ones, the Four Emperors, and the Five Elders of the Five Directions.

The Three Pure Ones are: Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun.

The Four Emperors are: the Great Emperor of the North Pole of the Central Purple Palace, the Great Emperor of the South Pole Longevity, the Great Emperor of the Upper Palace of Gouchen, and the Earthly Emperor of the Empress Who Follows the Laws of Heaven.

The Five Elders of the Five Directions: the Buddha of the West, the Holy Emperor of the East, the Mysterious Spirit of the North Pole, the Guanyin of the South Pole, and the Great Immortal of the Yellow Horn in the Center.

"These people each have their own dojos, their own disciples, and their own power."

Although the Jade Emperor is revered, he cannot act arbitrarily. All matters require discussion, compromise, and balance.

As Sun Wukong listened, a hint of disdain flashed in his golden eyes.

He was impatient with all this rambling, but he knew that Li Yan must have a reason for asking these questions, so he patiently listened.

Li Yan then asked, "And you, Laozi, what is your place in all of this?"

Laozi smiled slightly and said, "Although I reside in the Heavenly Court, I do not concern myself with worldly affairs."

"I only practice alchemy and cultivate Taoism here, living a leisurely and carefree life."

Li Yan nodded to himself.

Laozi's words are quite clear.

He is one of the Three Pure Ones, holding an extremely high position. He neither helps the Jade Emperor nor anyone else.

I just want to be a carefree and leisurely immortal, living a life of ease and freedom.

Li Yan then asked, "What other forces exist beneath the Jade Emperor?"

Laozi said: "Under the Jade Emperor are the Four Emperors, the Five Elders, the Six Ministers, the Seven Primordial Lords, the Eight Extremes, the Nine Luminaries, and the Ten Capitals."

These individuals each have their own responsibilities and wield considerable power.

Among them, the Four Emperors are the most outstanding.

The Ziwei Emperor reigns over the star realm, governing the twenty-eight constellations, the nine luminaries, and the twelve earthly branches.

The Eternal Emperor, ruler of all spirits, commands the Five Directions Protectors, the Four Duty Officers, and the Eastern and Western Stars.

Emperor Gouchen, with his mighty power over thunder and lightning, commands the thirty-six generals of the Thunder Department, the Wind God and Rain Master, and the Thunder God and Lightning Goddess.

"The Empress Earth, with her great virtue, sustains all things, and governs the mountain gods, land deities, city gods, and altars of the land."

"In addition, there is Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, who commands heavenly soldiers and generals and holds military power."

That is, the Great Savior of Suffering, delivers the souls of the dead.

The Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation and Responding to the Origin of Thunder in the Nine Heavens is in charge of punishing good and evil.

These were all figures of immense power, second only to the Jade Emperor.

Sun Wukong, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed by all this nonsense, scratched his head and said, "All this rubbish is giving me a headache!"

Li Yan, however, kept all of these in mind.

He then asked, "And what about Mount Ling? Where is Mount Ling located within the Heavenly Court?"

Laozi said, "Mount Ling is located in Xiniuhezhou, a sacred Buddhist site."

Its master is the Tathagata, also known as Shakyamuni Buddha, who is one of the Five Elders of the Five Directions and the Western Buddha.

Although Mount Ling is outside the Heavenly Court, it has a very deep connection with the Heavenly Court.

Whenever there is an important matter, the Jade Emperor will consult with the Buddha.

Although Buddhism and Taoism have differences, they are also interdependent.

Li Yan pondered to himself, this was the structure of the Heavenly Court. Although the Jade Emperor was the supreme ruler, he still had to balance the various forces.

The Three Pure Ones are detached from worldly affairs, the Four Emperors each govern a region, and the Five Elders each occupy a place.

Although Lingshan is a Buddhist temple, it is also part of this overall structure.

He then asked, "The Jade Emperor has offered the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven to the King and ordered his disciples to thoroughly investigate the deaths of the three demons with the King."

Is there any deeper meaning behind this?

Upon hearing this, Laozi's eyes flashed with admiration.

"You are indeed quick-witted. In that case, I shall have something to say to you."

"The deaths of those three demons, though seemingly ordinary vendettas, actually involved far more complex matters."

The person behind it is of extremely high status and possesses extraordinary abilities.

The Jade Emperor sent you to investigate because he wanted to use you to test the person behind it all.

Sun Wukong asked, "Whom are we testing?"

Laozi shook his head and said, "I don't know."

However, those who could make the Jade Emperor so cautious are few and far between in the Three Realms.

Just as Li Yan was about to ask again, he suddenly saw the blue ox raise its head and say in a deep voice, "Laojun, it's time to eat those kumquats."

Upon hearing this, Laozi nodded slightly, took out a golden fruit from his sleeve, and handed it to the green ox.

The blue ox took it, swallowed it whole, and snorted contentedly.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he said, "Old man, it also eats kumquats?"

Lao Tzu said calmly, "This ox has followed me for many years. It is not picky about anything else, but only likes to eat kumquats."

No less than three per day.

Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Old man, it's quite lucky."

Li Yan's heart stirred.

He looked at the blue ox, and saw that after the ox finished eating the kumquat, it closed its eyes and pretended to sleep.

Beside it, there was a faint line of cause and effect, connecting to that unknown place in the north.

Li Yan's heart trembled slightly.

Just as I was about to take a closer look, the causal line suddenly vanished without a trace.

He made the decision in his heart, but his face remained expressionless. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Laozi. This disciple is deeply grateful."

Laozi nodded slightly: "It's good that you understand. As for the deaths of the three demons, you can investigate them slowly. There's no rush."

However, there is one thing I must remind you of.

Sun Wukong asked, "What is it?"

Laozi said, "In the Heavenly Court, the rules are strict and the human relationships are complex."

Since you are new here, you must act with caution.

Do not act recklessly just because you have the Jade Emperor's decree.

Some people, even the Jade Emperor, would not easily offend.

"I will keep Laozi's teachings in mind."

Laozi flicked his whisk and said, "Alright. You may go."

Li Yan and Sun Wukong rose, bowed, and turned to walk out of the quiet room.

The blue ox suddenly opened its eyes and said in a deep voice, "Young friend Li, please wait."

Li Yan turned around and glanced at the blue ox, noticing a deep meaning flash in its eyes.

Li Yan turned around and glanced at the blue ox, noticing a deep meaning flash in its eyes.

A slight thought crossed his mind, but he didn't ask any further questions, and simply cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble, senior."

After saying this, he left the Tushita Palace with Sun Wukong.

Once outside the palace gates, Sun Wukong asked, "Brother, did you get anything out of all those questions you asked?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I found out some things."

After concealing the secret, he whispered in a secret voice:

"That person from the north is very likely a powerful figure in the Heavenly Court."

Even one of the Four Emperors and Five Elders.

"Oh? Then what do we do?"

Li Yan said, "Investigate."

Now that we have the Jade Emperor's decree in our possession, our actions are perfectly legitimate.

As long as we don't cross the line with those powerful figures, they won't dare to openly attack us.

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Brother is right. So, where shall we begin our investigation?"

Li Yan said, "Let's start by investigating the Macaque King and the Yu Rong King."

These two are pawns of the northerners.

If we find some clues, perhaps we can find out who that northerner is.

Sun Wukong said, "Shall we go to Mount Emei now?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No rush."

Your Majesty, think about it. The Monkey King is currently in Mount Emei, discussing the Dao with the Immortal with Long Arms.

That Long-Armed Immortal was an ancient divine ape with profound Taoist cultivation and great supernatural powers.

"It would be unwise for us to go there rashly."

"What should we do then?"

"Let's return to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace first, and after I have done some calculations, we will decide on our next move."

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Alright! Then I'll do as you say, brother!"

The two headed towards the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion.

Throughout the journey, Li Yan secretly made plans.

After the green ox finished eating the kumquat, the causal line that appeared beside it connected to an unknown place in the north.

This is by no means a coincidence.

That senior, though merely a mount, has followed Laozi for countless eons; every move he makes must have profound meaning.

Could it be that the Green Ox has seen people from the North?

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.

The two returned to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion, closed the gate, and entered the main hall.

Sun Wukong sat down on the sandalwood chair. Crossing my legs, how comfortable!

Li Yan, however, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, concentrated, and began to use the Qimen Dunjia technique.

But the scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

Before chaos was divided, the primordial world was first created.

The five elements flow and rotate, like a millstone grinding, giving rise to endless changes.

The eight trigrams manifest, each occupying its proper position, evolving into heaven, earth, wind, thunder, water, fire, mountain, and marsh.

Li Yan stood amidst the chaos, his hands forming hand seals, his feet treading the steps of a divine warrior, and his mouth chanting incantations.

The art of Qimen Dunjia takes the Eight Trigrams as its foundation, the Nine Palaces as its application, the Three Wonders and Six Instruments as its core, and the Eight Gates and Nine Stars as its framework.

Deducing the secrets of heaven and exploring the workings of creation are truly mysterious and unpredictable.

Since obtaining this method, Li Yan has studied it day and night. He also received guidance from Laozi on the principles of Yin and Yang when he was refining elixirs. Now he can glimpse some of the secrets of heaven.

At this moment, with his mind focused, he used the Macaque King and the Yu Rong King as guides and the thread of cause and effect as a rope to carefully deduce the origins of the Tongbi Immortal.

I don't know how much time passed.

From the chaos, light gradually began to gather.

That radiance, at first, was just a faint glimmer.

It gradually grew stronger, like the bright moon in the sky, shining brightly.

Finally, it transformed into a picture, suspended in the chaos.

In the picture, a majestic mountain stands tall above the sea of ​​clouds.

That mountain was covered with towering peaks and ancient trees.

The mountains are shrouded in mist, and cranes occasionally fly by, while the cries of monkeys echo through the valleys.

At the summit of the mountain, there is a stone cave with a waterfall hanging from its entrance, like a white ribbon cascading down, the sound of the water roaring.

Beside the cave entrance, on a huge rock, sat an old ape sitting cross-legged.

The old ape was tall and silver-white all over, except for its face, which was as black as ink.

His eyes were closed, as if he were in a meditative state.

A pure energy circulated around him, with a faint glow emanating from him.

Beside him lay a crimson fruit—a peach.

Li Yan observed it carefully.

Although the old ape was in deep meditation, its earlobes trembled slightly, as if it were listening to all the sounds in the world.

Those hands had long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles, and a faint, radiant light.

"The Immortal with Tongbi..." Li Yan murmured to himself.

The hand gestures were performed again, and the scene gradually changed.

Every few days, the Long-Armed Immortal would take a peach and savor it.

With each one consumed, the radiance around the body intensifies.

Occasionally, mountain spirits would come to pay their respects, and he would not refuse them, but would simply nod slightly and offer a few words of guidance.

Having received the guidance, the spirits left happily.

Every ten days or so, the Tongbi Immortal would open his eyes and look towards the direction of Dongsheng Divine Continent, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

A thought struck Li Yan, and he delved deeper into the matter.

Suddenly, countless causal lines intertwined and entangled around the body of the Long-Armed Immortal.

Some links lead to the Monkey King in Mount Emei, while others lead to the Flower and Fruit Mountain.

There was another path, faintly connecting to the heavens, but it was hazy and indistinct.

Just as Li Yan was about to take a closer look, the image suddenly shook violently and vanished without a trace.

He was jolted awake, knowing that the deduction had reached its limit, and that forcing it any deeper would likely result in a backlash.

He finished his practice and slowly opened his eyes.

The main hall was brightly lit.

Sun Wukong sat opposite him, his golden eyes shining brightly as he gazed at him.

"Brother, have you figured it out?" Sun Wukong asked.

Li Yan let out a long sigh and slowly said, "I've deduced a thing or two."

He stood up, paced around the hall, and pondered, "That Tongbi Immortal is indeed extraordinary."

Judging from his lineage, he is a descendant of an ancient divine ape, with pure blood and unfathomable cultivation.

He has resided on Mount Emei for countless years, and all the spirits and monsters in the mountain revere him.

Sun Wukong asked, "Is he connected with the Monkey King?"

Li Yan said, "Yes. I observe that the thread of cause and effect connects the Tongbi Immortal and the Monkey King in countless ways."

However, the Monkey King is currently in Mount Emei, discussing the Dao with the Long-Armed Immortal. (This is a title/phrase, not part of the main text.)

In reality, he was under the protection of the Immortal with Long Arms.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "That Long-Armed Immortal, is he the one from the North?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No."

Although the Tongbi Immortal was powerful, he was merely a pawn.

I observed that around him, there was a causal line connecting to the heavens, hazy and indistinct.

That's the real person behind it all.

Sun Wukong sneered, "This Heavenly Court is indeed a den of filth!"

Li Yan waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. We are new here, so it is best to be cautious."

He added, "However, in this deduction, I have also deduced one of the habits of the Tongbi Immortal."

Sun Wukong asked, "What are their habits?"

Li Yan said with a smile, "That Tongbi Immortal is a great lover of peaches."

Sun Wukong was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "What a coincidence!"

On my old Sun's Flower and Fruit Mountain, there are a few peach trees, though not as good as those in the Immortal Peach Garden, they are still...

"Your Majesty, please wait," Li Yan interrupted. "What I am referring to is not that ordinary peach."

Rather, they were the immortal peaches from the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Garden.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "Brother, you mean..."

Li Yan walked to the window, looked towards the depths of the celestial palace, and slowly said:

"From my divination, I have learned that the Immortal with Long Arms eats a peach every few days."

He must have quite a few peaches in his cave. But where did they come from?

Sun Wukong said, "Of course, someone gave it to me."

Li Yan said, "The Immortal with Tongbi has lived on Mount Emei for a long time and does not often interact with the Heavenly Court, yet he is able to enjoy the peaches of immortality."

This humble Taoist suspects that someone is secretly supplying them.

"Therefore, I have a plan."

Sun Wukong, intrigued, stepped forward and said, "Brother, tell me quickly!"

Li Yan said in a low voice, "Let's send that Tongbi Immortal an invitation to the Peach Banquet in the name of the Heavenly Court, inviting him to ascend to Heaven ahead of schedule."

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "The Peach Banquet? Isn't the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Banquet still several months away?"

Li Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty is unaware of the truth."

Although the Peach Banquet was hosted by the Queen Mother of the West, the task of distributing invitations was actually handled by someone else.

In the Heavenly Court, during the annual Peach Banquet, invitations are sent to respected immortals and cave masters throughout the Three Realms as a sign of imperial favor.

The Tongbei Immortal resides on Mount Emei; his Taoist cultivation is profound, and he is extremely senior. Logically, he should have received an invitation long ago.

"However, the Tongbi Immortal has always kept a low profile and does not associate with the Heavenly Court, so the invitation to the Peach Banquet was never sent to him."

This time, we're here to make up for this missed opportunity.

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "But those invitations were sent by the Queen Mother of the West. How are we supposed to deliver them?"

"Although the distribution of invitations falls under the jurisdiction of the Queen Mother of the West, it is actually handled by a celestial official."

This person was none other than Dongfang Shuo, who was in charge of all matters related to the Peach Banquet.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "When I was in the mountains, I, Old Sun, had heard of this person."

It is said that this person was exceptionally quick-witted and eloquent, and deeply trusted by the Queen Mother of the West.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Yes, Dongfang Shuo is a disciple of the Eastern Emperor and also a disciple of the Queen Mother of the West."

His status in the Heavenly Court was special.

He has been in charge of distributing invitations to the Peach Banquet for thousands of years.

He personally reviewed and approved all the prominent immortal cave masters in the Three Realms.

He smiled and said, "We just need to find this person and ask him to send an invitation to that Tongbi Immortal, then we can legitimately invite that old ape to heaven."

Then we'll seize the opportunity to capture the Monkey King.

Sun Wukong clapped his hands and said, "Great plan! Shall we go find Dongfang Shuo now?"

Li Yan waved his hand and said, "No rush. Although Dongfang Shuo is just a celestial official, he is a shrewd person."

If we go there rashly, he might not be willing to help. We need to think of a way to get him to willingly send out the invitation.

Sun Wukong asked, "What method?"

"During my time refining elixirs, I heard Senior Green Ox mention that Dongfang Shuo was a heavy drinker."

I especially love the fine wines of the mortal world.

Although he held an official position in Heaven, he often descended to the mortal realm to seek wine and drink.

Why don't we cater to their preferences...?

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Brother, are you going to treat him to a drink?"

Li Yan smiled and said, "That's right."

However, this wine cannot be drunk for free.

We need to use him to find out about the various forces within the Heavenly Court.

Dongfang Shuo has been in the Heavenly Court for thousands of years. He is knowledgeable and experienced. What does he not know about human relationships and worldly affairs?

If he's willing to speak, we can save ourselves a lot of trouble.

Sun Wukong asked, "Then what kind of wine should we bring to invite him?"

Li Yan took out a jade pot from his sleeve and said:

"Your Majesty, please do not forget that when I was in Flower Fruit Mountain, I also brewed several jars of fine wine."

I brought several jugs with me on this trip to heaven.

This wine is called "Drunken Immortal Brew," made with the spiritual fruits from Flower Fruit Mountain and the spiritual spring water bestowed by Laozi when he refined elixirs.

It was then sealed using the art of Qimen Dunjia and buried underground for eighteen years before this pot was finally obtained.

He lifted the lid of the pot, and a rich aroma of wine immediately filled the air.

Sun Wukong sniffed, his golden eyes shining brightly: "Good wine! Even I, Old Sun, am drooling just from the smell!"

Li Yan quickly put the lid on:

"This wine is prepared for Dongfang Shuo. After we finish this matter, I will brew a few more jars for Your Majesty."

Li Yan looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late."

I have heard that Dongfang Shuo goes to the Zuixianlou restaurant near the South Heavenly Gate to drink every evening.

Let's go there and wait for him.

The two left the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace and headed towards the South Heavenly Gate.

It was already evening in the heavenly court.

On the horizon, the sunset glowed like fire, turning the layers of palaces golden and red.

Amidst the swirling auspicious clouds, cranes occasionally return to their nests, and blue phoenixes return to the forest.

The number of celestial officials along the way gradually decreased as they returned to their respective residences.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a pavilion suddenly appeared in front of them.

Although the pavilion was not as magnificent as the Lingxiao Palace, it still had its own unique charm.

The three-story pavilion features flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Two old pine trees stand in front of the gate, their gnarled branches twisting and turning, their verdant leaves glistening with moisture.

Above the door hangs a plaque with three large characters: "Drunken Immortal Pavilion".

The building was brightly lit, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong entered the building.

In the lobby on the first floor, there were more than a dozen tables and chairs, and three or five celestial officials were already seated, drinking and chatting.

Upon seeing the two enter, the celestial officials all turned their heads and whispered among themselves.

Sun Wukong's name is now known to everyone in Heaven.

The banner of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven was raised even higher in the heavens.

Although these celestial officials did not show it on their faces, they each had their own plans in mind.

Li Yan, however, did not take it seriously. He looked around and saw that the door to the private room on the second floor was tightly closed.

Just as he was about to ask, the waiter behind the counter came up to him.

The waiter was actually a crane that had cultivated itself into a spirit; he was handsome and very clever.

Upon seeing Li Yan and Sun Wukong, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Esteemed immortals, would you like to have a meal?"

Li Yan asked, "May I ask, young sir, has the Immortal Official Dongfang Shuo arrived today?"

The waiter was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Immortal Master, are you referring to Master Dongfang?"

He arrived today and is currently in a private room on the second floor.

only……"

Lower your voice.

"However, Master Dongfang is in a bad mood today and has already drunk quite a bit. If the Immortal Master wishes to see him, I'm afraid..."

Li Yan smiled slightly, took out a bottle of elixirs from his sleeve, and handed it over:

"Please inform them that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and Daoist Li Yan have come to pay their respects."

The waiter's eyes lit up when he saw the elixir, and he quickly said, "Please wait a moment, Immortal Master, I will go and inform him right away."

After saying that, he quickly went up to the second floor.

A moment later, the door to the private room on the second floor opened, and a hearty laugh rang out.

"Hahaha! The Monkey King? What a prestigious title! Quickly, invite him up!"

Li Yan and Sun Wukong exchanged a glance, then climbed the steps and entered the private room.

The private room was simply furnished, yet it was a hidden gem.

An eight-immortal table, several armchairs, and a few small dishes and wine pots on the table.

By the window, a man sat leaning against the railing, holding a wine glass, smiling as he watched the two of them.

That man had a face as beautiful as jade, eyes as bright as stars, and three long strands of beard flowing down his chest.

He wore a carefree headscarf, a blue cloth robe, and cloud-patterned shoes, with a vermilion gourd hanging from his waist.

A pure aura circulated around him, with a subtle, ethereal mist.

Upon seeing him, Sun Wukong cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "I have long admired Brother Dongfang's name. It is my great honor to meet you today."

Dongfang Shuo looked Sun Wukong up and down and laughed, "What a magnificent Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

As expected, it lives up to its reputation. Come, come, sit down and let's talk.

He then looked at Li Yan, a strange light flashing in his eyes: "This is Daoist Li Yan?"

I've heard that you, Daoist Master, are proficient in alchemy and highly praised by Laozi. Meeting you today, I am truly impressed by your extraordinary bearing.

Li Yan bowed and said, "Li Yan greets Mr. Dongfang."

"Sir, you flatter me. I am but a novice with only a superficial understanding; how could I dare to compare myself to Laozi?"

Dongfang Shuo laughed heartily and said:

"Humble and polite, unlike some people who are arrogant and disdainful of others just because they have some ability."

As he said this, he glanced at Sun Wukong, seemingly unintentionally.

Sun Wukong, however, did not take it seriously. He sat down casually, grabbed the wine pot on the table, and poured a mouthful into his mouth.

"puff--"

Sun Wukong spat out a mouthful of wine, grinning, and said, "What kind of wine is this? It's as bland as water!"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo was not angry, but simply laughed and said, "Great Sage, you have quite the big mouth."

This wine is called "Jade Elixir," the finest wine in Heaven, yet the Great Sage says it's as bland as water?

Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Brother Dongfang, please don't be offended."

I, Old Sun, drink wine brewed from the spiritual fruits of the mountain on Flower Fruit Mountain; it's very strong.

The wine from Heaven is good, but it lacks potency.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Dongfang Shuo's eyes: "Oh? Great Sage has strong liquor? May I have the honor of tasting it?"

Sun Wukong looked at Li Yan.

Li Yan smiled slightly, took out the jade pot from his sleeve, and placed it on the table.

"Sir, please take a look. This wine is called Drunken Immortal's Brew."

As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the pot, and the rich aroma of the wine immediately filled the room.

Dongfang Shuo twitched his nose, his eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward, took a deep breath, and exclaimed:

"Excellent wine! Excellent wine! This wine has a rich aroma, a mellow and lingering flavor; it is truly an extraordinary product!"

Before he could finish speaking, he eagerly poured himself a glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"good!"

Dongfang Shuo exclaimed in admiration,

"This wine is sweet and refreshing on the palate, with a long aftertaste, and the fragrance of flowers and fruits, as well as the sweetness of spring water. It is indeed a fine wine!"

"I have lived for thousands of years and have never tasted such fine wine!"

He drank three more cups in a row before putting down his cup, letting out a long sigh, looking at Li Yan, and smiling:

"Master Li, you've brought out such fine wine to serve me; surely you have something to ask of me?"

Li Yan smiled slightly and said, "Sir, you are indeed very perceptive. I have come here today with a request."

Dongfang Shuo waved his hand and said, "Wait a minute. Let me guess."

He pondered for a moment and said, "You have come to heaven to investigate the deaths of those three demons."

The deaths of those three demons have far-reaching implications. You are newcomers to this place and unfamiliar with the people and the land. You would like to find someone to inquire about the details of the Heavenly Court.

Yes or no?"

Dongfang Shuo was indeed exceptionally quick-witted.

He didn't hide anything and frankly said, "What you say is correct."

When we first arrived in Heaven, we were unfamiliar with the various factions and social customs within the Heavenly Court.

Therefore, I would like to ask for your guidance.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo simply poured himself another cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

He was silent for a moment before saying, "Master Li, do you know why I am in a bad mood today?"

Li Yan said, "I have heard that you have been in charge of the Peach Banquet for thousands of years."

The Peach Banquet, which takes place only once every three thousand years, is the busiest time for the Master.

Distributing invitations, verifying guest lists, arranging seating—everything required personal attention.

"But is it because of this?"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo glanced at Li Yan in surprise.

"It's rare to find someone like Brother Li who understands me!"

After saying that, he drank another cup.

"This job may seem glamorous, but it's actually the most difficult to manage."

In the Three Realms, there are countless prominent and influential immortal cave masters.

But in that peach orchard, the number of peaches produced by the 3,600 peach trees was predetermined.

The first 1,200 plants have small flowers and small fruits, and they ripen once every 3,000 years. People who eat them will become immortals and attain enlightenment, and their bodies will be healthy and light.

The middle 1,200 trees bear layered flowers and sweet fruit, ripening once every 6,000 years. Those who eat them will ascend to heaven and live forever.

The next 1,200 trees, with purple veins and yellow kernels, ripen once every nine thousand years. Those who eat them will live as long as heaven and earth, and be as old as the sun and moon.

"Therefore, each time the Peach Banquet is held, only a few hundred people can be invited."

How to allocate these hundreds of slots is an enormous problem.

Who gets a gift and who doesn't, the seating arrangement—all these are matters of great importance. A slight misstep can offend a powerful faction.

Li Yan understood after hearing this.

Although Dongfang Shuo was a disciple of the Queen Mother of the West, he was merely an administrator.

The final decision on the list was made by someone else.

He was caught in the middle, torn between two options, and felt a deep sense of bitterness.

Dongfang Shuo was already somewhat drunk, and before Li Yan and the other could react, he began to speak to himself:

"This Peach Banquet is scheduled for after March."

However, the list of invitees has not yet been finalized.

Some wanted more spots, some wanted a better seat, and some wanted to bring their disciples along.

Each had their own agenda and displayed their unique abilities.

"These past few days, I've been hiding here drinking, just wanting some peace and quiet."