In the Virtue Palace, Sun Wukong held a farewell banquet, and more than half of the Immortals from the Heavenly Palace attended.

After the music ended and the guests dispersed, the two guards of Tranquility and Serenity approached Sun Wukong.

"Great Saint,"

they asked, "What should we do now?"

"Stay here," Sun Wukong replied, "Take good care of the Virtue Palace. I will come back to check in every day."

He was not resigning, so naturally, the Virtue Palace would not be abolished.

The two guards of Tranquility and Serenity breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great Saint,"

at this moment, the curtain-raising general came to find him, "The Jade Emperor asks for you."

Sun Wukong immediately hurried to the Tongming Hall.

"Your Majesty,"

in the Tongming Hall, Sun Wukong saluted the Jade Emperor.

"Sit down,"

the Jade Emperor invited Sun Wukong to sit and instructed the guards to pour a cup of tea.

"Can you really not reconsider?"

The Jade Emperor asked, "What does the Heavenly Palace lack compared to Huaguo Mountain?"

Sun Wukong shook his head, "Huaguo Mountain is my home."

Once he made the choice, he was determined not to stay in the Heavenly Palace any longer.

"Very well,"

the Jade Emperor sighed, "Join me for another game of chess."

Sun Wukong nodded.

The two of them played, but the Jade Emperor's mind was troubled, lacking the previous joy.

"Have you heard of Xiang Yu?"

The Jade Emperor suddenly asked.

Sun Wukong didn't understand why he asked this suddenly but nodded, "I've heard of him."

"At the end of the Qin dynasty, heroes arose across the Southern Continent. Originally, Xiang Yu was destined to be the Human King,"

the Jade Emperor said.

Sun Wukong found it a bit strange, "Wasn't it Liu Bang?"

"They both were True Dragon emperors,"

the Jade Emperor shook his head and continued, "Xiang Yu had the advantage of time and place, yet it was Liu Bang who ultimately won."

As he spoke of this, his voice seemed somewhat bitter.

"Your chess skills have improved significantly,"

the Jade Emperor changed his tone.

If he let his attention drift even slightly, Sun Wukong would capture some of his pieces.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's guidance,"

Sun Wukong said, as playing chess with the Jade Emperor daily surely resulted in some improvement.

The Jade Emperor looked up at Sun Wukong, observing that this monkey grew every day, with an unpredictable future.

The Queen Mother was right; releasing him now would make it difficult to handle matters a few years later.

The lesson learned from the Human King was just a few days ago. He couldn't afford to be as arrogant as that overlord.

*"Such is fate,"*

the Jade Emperor thought.

Perhaps the result was fated the moment he considered using the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence.

But as matters stood, hesitating would only make things worse.

The Jade Emperor looked at Sun Wukong, his decision already made in his heart.

He raised his hand.

Tota Li Heavenly King entered with thirty-six small Immortals.

In that instant, Sun Wukong's expression changed drastically.

"The Flask of Yin and Yang Essence!"

He saw the Flask carried by the small Immortals.

Though Sun Wukong had never seen the Flask before, he could guess what it was based on the number of people carrying it.

Sun Wukong turned his head, looking incredulously at the Jade Emperor, then suddenly stood up.

As he was about to use the Shrinking Earth Technique, a sudden drowsiness overcame him, causing him to sit back down.

"What is this?"

Sun Wukong's eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and the world became increasingly blurry.

He wanted to sleep, but how could he suddenly feel sleepy?

Tota Li Heavenly King seized the opportunity to grab him and push him toward the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence.

Heavenly King Li knew the drug's effect would only restrain Sun Wukong for a short time, and he would soon wake up.

If they didn't seize this moment, they would be at a loss!

"Hurry up!"

he shouted angrily, and the small Immortals activated the Flask's Immortal Energy, pulling Sun Wukong inside.

The immense devouring power of the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence revealed itself. Sun Wukong was unable to resist.

"Jade Emperor!"

Sun Wukong looked at the Jade Emperor's blurry figure, trying hard to struggle out of the drowsiness.

The Jade Emperor furrowed his brows and averted his gaze.

Sun Wukong, in that moment, understood everything.

"Is that so? If that's the case—"

He closed his eyes and was immediately sucked into the Flask.

"Your Majesty!"

Heavenly King Li turned to the Jade Emperor, bowing with undisguised joy, "We have captured him. How should we deal with him?"

"Sun Wukong possesses immense divine skills. Cutting him with knives or chopping him with axes, piercing him with spears or stabbing him with swords, would likely not harm him,"

the Jade Emperor said, "This Flask of Yin and Yang Essence is a Heaven and Earth Treasure. Just keep him inside it. In a few days, he will naturally dissolve into a thick liquid."

He waved his hand, "Immediately take the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence to the Heavenly Prison. Do not speak of this matter to anyone."

"Yes."

Tota Li Heavenly King promptly left with the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence.

Not long after he departed, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad entered the Tongming Hall and immediately sensed something was off.

The Flask of Yin and Yang Essence was his creation, and he could sense the residual aura in the air.

"Your Majesty, have you captured Sun Wukong?"

Lord Lao Zi was worried, "This is a grave mistake. Quickly, release him."

"Lord, I have no other choice,"

the Jade Emperor said coldly. Having Sun Wukong in the heavens for fifteen days not only failed to put his mind at ease but made him feel even more uncontrollable.

Now that it had escalated, he had to be decisive.

Lord Lao Zi paced around the Tongming Hall, but his calculations could not reveal Sun Wukong's whereabouts.

The Jade Emperor clearly had prepared thoroughly.

Lord Lao Zi noticed a teacup on the table, and his expression shifted once again.

"Your Majesty used my Reincarnation Elixir?"

The teacup emitted a wisp of Immortal Energy, the scent of the Reincarnation Elixir.

The Reincarnation Elixir, refined from Reincarnation Jade Liquid, was meant for small Immortals during their tribulations, blocking reincarnation, avoiding the three disasters, and ensuring temporary safety.

But its effect was so profound that even a Taiyi Heavenly Immortal would sleep for several days after consuming it.

Lord Lao Zi picked up the cup that Sun Wukong drank from and, as expected, the Jade Emperor had used the Reincarnation Elixir to restrain Sun Wukong.

The Reincarnation Elixir was an Immortal Elixir, not poison, so naturally, Sun Wukong was not cautious,

"Your Majesty!"

Lord Lao Zi looked at the Jade Emperor in shock.

How could he use his refined elixirs and magical treasures for such deeds?

The Jade Emperor closed his eyes.

"Lord, say no more,"

he felt somewhat exhausted.

"Your Majesty..."

Lord Lao Zi looked at the Jade Emperor with closed eyes, his expression shifting multiple times before asking, "What about Huaguo Mountain?"

The Jade Emperor was silent for a moment, "Leave it alone for now."

Huaguo Mountain was troublesome, but without Sun Wukong, it was not a major issue.

He need not offend Immortal Master Erlang and Immortal Zhenyuan over such a matter—the Elder Jin Chan was no small character either.

The Jade Emperor believed that once Sun Wukong died, the Huaguo Mountain could not cause much trouble.

"Let's discuss this tomorrow,"

the Jade Emperor waved, dismissing Lord Lao Zi.

After a moment of hesitation, Lord Lao Zi finally withdrew.

His expression was complex, feeling ashamed to return to Huaguo Mountain, and instead turned back to Doushuai Temple.

Once he departed, the Jade Emperor opened his eyes, sighing once more.

He ultimately went through with this.

Once done, Sun Wukong had to be killed.

The Jade Emperor did not regret it, but there was an enduring unease in his heart.

He could not pinpoint the source of this unease.

Meanwhile, in the Western realm, Tathāgata slowly opened his eyes.

"Amitābha..."

he sighed softly.

He had long foreseen the events of today.

Nevertheless, when it truly unfolded, it still stirred some feelings.

The Jade Emperor's momentary decision would alter the fate of the Three Realms.

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