Sun Wukong and the Jade Emperor talked for an entire morning, and nobody knew what they discussed.

It was only when Gold Star Taibai entered the Tongming Hall that his jaw nearly dropped.

"Listening to you is better than studying for ten years."

The Jade Emperor held Sun Wukong's hand as they sat together and said, "Tell me what kind of residence you want, and I'll immediately send someone to build it for you."

Sun Wukong shook his head, "I'd rather go back to Huaguo Mountain."

"That works too..." The Jade Emperor thought for a moment, then said, "Return to Huaguo Mountain first, and once I decide what position to bestow upon you, I'll issue an imperial decree."

Sun Wukong nodded with a smile.

Seeing Gold Star Taibai, the Jade Emperor waved and said, "Gold Star Taibai, go arrange a banquet, I want to properly entertain the Monkey King!"

Gold Star Taibai went ahead, still in a daze.

*What on earth was going on?*

When Gold Star Taibai arranged the banquet, he found an opportunity and pulled Sun Wukong aside, asking, "What did you say to His Majesty?"

"Nothing much."

Sun Wukong replied.

The Jade Emperor was suspicious, and the best way to deal with him was to be open-hearted and sincere—this was what Immortal Zhenyuan had told him.

Sun Wukong laid bare his feelings, dispelling the Jade Emperor's worries, showcasing the effectiveness of open communication.

As long as he could change the lackadaisical state of the Immortals, he had no ambition to challenge the Heavenly Palace.

The Jade Emperor, having undergone countless catastrophes, naturally understood and sensed that everything Sun Wukong said was true.

He knew what Sun Wukong was thinking and what he was about to do, realizing there was no harm to himself, and thus agreed to let him give it a try first.

The grand banquet in the Tongming Hall left the Heavenly Immortals stunned.

Many Immortals had been waiting to see the Jade Emperor punish Sun Wukong, but did not expect such a result.

From ancient times till now, no one had been able to persuade the Jade Emperor so easily.

At the banquet, the Jade Emperor rewarded Sun Wukong with three cups of Imperial Wine, astounding the other Immortals further.

"Father, what did Sun Wukong do to earn such trust from His Majesty?"

During the banquet, Nezha quietly asked Heavenly King Li.

"How should I know?"

Heavenly King Li snorted coldly, gulping down a mouthful of wine, "Sooner or later, I will catch that demon monkey in the act!"

Nearby, the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy was also drinking gloomily.

"It's over! That monkey is surely going to become an Immortal Official!"

The Marshal thought that if Sun Wukong became an Immortal Official, he might catch him out on a whim in the future.

Some other Immortals, however, were very pleased.

After the Jade Emperor left, Thousand-mile Eye and Sharp-Hearing Ear immediately came over to toast Sun Wukong, asking for his care in the future.

Sun Wukong was quite at a loss, not knowing how he was supposed to take care of them.

Another surprising guest was Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad.

This was just a small banquet that hadn't initially included Lord Lao Zi, yet he came over upon hearing the news.

Gold Star Taibai introduced Sun Wukong to Lord Lao Zi, and after a short conversation, Sun Wukong learned that Lord Lao Zi was interested in the techniques of Huaguo Mountain.

Lord Lao Zi loved alchemy and potion making, and his pursuit of technique was greater than that of common Immortals, naturally giving him much to discuss with Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong invited Lord Lao Zi to visit Huaguo Mountain in the Lower Realm when he had the time, and Lord Lao Zi agreed.

Besides this, Sun Wukong also met Immortal Zhenyuan before the banquet was over.

"Immortal, why are you here?"

Sun Wukong asked.

Immortal Zhenyuan glanced around the banquet, a smile appearing on his face.

"I was passing by."

He responded.

The words "passing by" were more fitting than "concerned."

Upon seeing the banquet hosted by the Jade Emperor for Sun Wukong, Immortal Zhenyuan knew that the Jade Emperor was quite fond of Sun Wukong.

"The Three Realms are at peace now."

Immortal Zhenyuan thought to himself.

*His wise younger brother was truly extraordinary.*

After the banquet dispersed, Sun Wukong requested to return to the Lower Realm, and the Jade Emperor did not detain him.

Immortal Zhenyuan flew out with him from the South Heavenly Gate.

Out of the South Heavenly Gate, Sun Wukong looked back at the Heavenly Palace and suddenly sighed.

"What a pity..."

"Pity what?"

Immortal Zhenyuan's heart skipped a beat, "Wasn't the Great Venerable very fond of you, my wise brother?"

"That's one thing."

Sun Wukong nodded, then said, "I presented the evolution of all things to His Majesty, and he observed it all, yet he never looked back."

"Never looked back?"

Immortal Zhenyuan slightly furrowed his brows.

Sun Wukong's manifested illusions had once included this thought-provoking question.

To be prudent, Immortal Zhenyuan had advised Sun Wukong to position the Jade Emperor's least favored illusion behind him.

If the Jade Emperor looked back, he would see a different scene—a scene concerning demons.

But the Jade Emperor only looked beneath his feet and ahead.

He was the Great Venerable, and he couldn't possibly be unaware that there was something behind him too.

His lack of turning back indicated that demons remained the one thing the Jade Emperor and Sun Wukong could not communicate about.

"The Great Venerable still doesn't trust demons."

Immortal Zhenyuan said, then comforted Sun Wukong, "No worries, that's a normal reaction."

Sun Wukong nodded; he understood that demons committed many sins, and it was impossible for the Jade Emperor to immediately believe they could be educated.

*"No worries,"*

*Sun Wukong thought to himself.*

*The current result was already very good, and he could gradually work on convincing the Jade Emperor in the future.*

*For Sun Wukong himself, being on good terms with the Jade Emperor relieved a great burden from his heart.*

*This was worth a grand celebration.*

*If all went well, he could accomplish the reforms step by step without having to cause chaos in the Heavenly Palace or worry about the Buddha.*

Sun Wukong gazed down at the earth, finding it surprisingly beautiful, and his pressure vanished as he suddenly thought of his master.

"Immortal, you head back first; I have some matters to attend to."

Sun Wukong bid farewell to Immortal Zhenyuan and turned to fly toward the Western Continent.

It didn't take long before he returned to the Three Star Cave, facing the cave entrance, and bowed with cupped hands.

"Master, your disciple has returned."

The entrance of the Three Star Cave was tightly shut, with no sound at all.

Sun Wukong stood with his hands cupped, quietly waiting for the Grandmaster to appear.

In the blink of an eye, a day passed, and deep in the night, the door of the Three Star Cave slowly opened.

"Junior brother."

A Daoist child emerged from the door, though in the form of a child, he was still Sun Wukong's senior brother.

The Daoist child knew that Sun Wukong possessed powerful skills and dared not show any disrespect; he cupped his hands and said, "Master said, if you want him to come out, you must first fulfill your vows."

"But there's no obstacle ahead anymore."

Sun Wukong said.

The Daoist child shook his head, "Whether or not there is an obstacle, you must fulfill them first."

With that, he performed another bow, turned back into the cave, and shut the door.

Sun Wukong felt helpless; with things this way, when could he hope to persuade the Grandmaster to return?

However, since the Grandmaster was unwilling, he couldn't force it and would have to return to Huaguo Mountain for the time being.

He had only been in the heavens for half a day, but six months had passed at Huaguo Mountain.

Before even reaching Yunxiao City, Sun Wukong saw Ao Luan floating in the sky, staring intently toward the South Heavenly Gate.

"What are you doing here?"

Sun Wukong approached and asked.

"Brother."

Ao Luan turned around, surprised to find Sun Wukong returning from behind.

*"That deceitful Immortal tricked me again!"*

Ao Luan felt annoyed but couldn't hide the joy on his face.

"Welcome back."

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