Demons who mastered the Wanling Heavenly Dao were swiftly arranged into various positions urgently in need of talent.

The shortfall in staffing was somewhat eased but would not hold for many years.

"We must accelerate things."

After making his rounds, this is what Sun Wukong thought.

He couldn't always rely on this method to alleviate the talent scarcity; he needed to find a way to accelerate the awakening of the Wanling people.

He already had an idea, but as to its practicality, he wasn't sure how feasible it would be.

At this time, the Fox King came to find Sun Wukong.

"Great King, we have made progress."

He said excitedly.

"Progress?"

Sun Wukong was somewhat incredulous.

It had only been a few days; how could there be progress so quickly?

He went with the Fox King to Longevity Mountain.

Immortal Zhenyuan was very interested in the Wanling Net, so he allocated an area on Longevity Mountain for the Fox King and his team to build a small town and test the Wanling Net.

The Fox King handed over a scroll to Sun Wukong in the town.

"Is this the progress?"

Sun Wukong unrolled the scroll, which was blank as if it could be inscribed with Immortal Text, identical to the scrolls used to create Spirits Magic.

"This scroll can transmit images and sound, and also create spells."

The Fox King explained the scroll's functions to Sun Wukong.

Each scroll was uniquely numbered, allowing for communication and interaction.

This was a combination of several Spiritual Objects.

While it lacked the computing power described in the Heavenly Book, Sun Wukong was very satisfied with this stage of progress.

He also noticed a Holy Character Rune at the back of the scroll.

"This rune is the key."

The Fox King explained.

Their newly created Holy Character Rune could connect to the Wanling Heavenly Dao, effectively turning each scroll into a small node.

"I see."

Sun Wukong closed the scroll: "Can it be mass-produced?"

"Not yet, the materials needed for the scroll are not that easy to obtain."

The Fox King shook his head: "Great King, even you can't help us with this."

Sun Wukong knew many things, but his knowledge of the materials required for Spiritual Artifacts was limited.

The materials for many Spiritual Artifacts had to be extracted from ores and refined through Immortal Law, a profound science of material transformation.

In the small world, demons created generations of Spiritual Artifacts through long periods of trial and experimentation.

"We've brought the strongest helper."

The Fox King said as he took Sun Wukong to the testing workshop.

In the workshop, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad was leading the team in refining a special Rune pigment.

Sun Wukong was surprised to see him: "Lord Lao Zi, what brings you here?"

"These Spiritual Artifacts seem very interesting."

Lord replied: "I feel a sense of familiarity with these processes, perhaps I've worked on them before."

He and the Fox King's team were researching Spiritual Artifacts and he felt no strangeness; Lord Lao Zi was itching with curiosity.

"Great Saint, you must return the Hidden Soul to me."

Lord Lao Zi said: "I want to see what marvelous treasures I've crafted in those two hundred years."

Sun Wukong shook his head, he too wanted to return it, but it was not possible.

After a brief conversation, Lord Lao Zi recalled another matter.

"I hear you found an interesting little fellow in the Northern Continent."

He said: "That lad is destined for immortal ways, much like me, adept at creation."

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes: "How does Lord Lao Zi know that?"

"It's a secret."

Lord said mysteriously: "I've heard Buddha had people invite that lad, but he ended up being taken away by someone else."

"Ah."

Sun Wukong nodded. Buddha is Buddha, without the memories of the small world, he could still foresee what Sun Wukong was doing.

"It was I who had the boy taken away."

Sun Wukong replied.

But he only took the boy away; it seemed some misfortune happened along the way, leaving the boy to fend for himself.

"That boy, lost and alone, must endure trials in order to grow."

Sun Wukong said.

He didn't plan to spend too much effort on the boy; the boy's life must ultimately be charted by himself.

"The Great Saint seems not too attached."

Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad was somewhat surprised.

"Possibility does not necessarily become reality."

Sun Wukong responded this way.

He once had high hopes for another boy, but in the end, they never came to fruition.

Although that boy had come to a realization, this taught Sun Wukong that not every expectation would be successful.

The key lies not in a few individuals but in the Wanling Heavenly Dao.

"When the Heavenly Dao is strong, one or two failures are not an issue."

Sun Wukong said.

Lord Lao Zi saw his resolve and did not inquire any further about this matter.

However, regarding the struggle between Sun Wukong and the Buddha, Lord Lao Zi kindly reminded him to treat Golden Cicada kindly.

"You're not allowing Elder Jin Chan to leave, and even tied him up; this might give the Buddha an excuse, so be careful."

Lord Lao Zi said.

"What do you mean, tied up?"

Sun Wukong was puzzled.

"Didn't you hang Elder Jin Chan from a flagpole?"

Lord Lao Zi asked.

"..."

Sun Wukong decided to see what exactly Immortal Zhenyuan had done.

Elder Jin Chan had been hanging at the port of Yunxiao City for several days.

He looked towards the Western Continent, sensing the restlessness that came from the horizon.

Big events were unfolding in the Western Continent.

Elder Jin Chan felt anxious and soon noticed a familiar aura flying towards him.

Sun Wukong landed at the port and silently stared at the Golden Cicada, who was hung up like a crucifix on the flagpole for a long time.

"Can you let me down, Great Saint?"

Golden Cicada asked.

With a wave of his hand, Sun Wukong let Golden Cicada down.

"Thank you."

Golden Cicada untied the Immortal Rope from his body, loosening his limbs, and said, "Next time, I'll be the one hanging the Immortal right here."

But Sun Wukong didn't believe he could defeat Immortal Zhenyuan.

Sun Wukong escorted Golden Cicada back to the temple.

"Great Saint, there's something I don't understand."

Golden Cicada spoke while brewing tea.

"What?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"In two hundred years, how will the spirits interact with Buddhist sects?"

Golden Cicada looked at Sun Wukong; although he had guessed the answer, he still hoped for reassurance.

Sun Wukong talked with him in the temple for half a day.

After that, Golden Cicada said nothing but thoroughly dispelled the idea of returning to Lingshan.

Sun Wukong was about to get up and leave.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise from the roof, and something fell from the sky.

"What's that?"

Golden Cicada looked over.

Sun Wukong responded even faster, casting a spell to create an Auspicious Cloud before the object hit the ground, cushioning it.

"Houtu."

Sun Wukong looked in surprise at the girl lying on the cloud.

It was the young maiden Houtu.

"Great King, Great King."

A shadowy figure who was faintly visible flew down through the roof.

Sun Wukong looked up; it turned out to be an old daoist from the Underworld.

"How did you come to the Mortal World?"

"The goddess brought me."

The old daoist spoke and directed two maids following behind him to lift Houtu and place her in the Netherworld carriage.

"The goddess is visiting Huaguo Mountain for the first time and asked me to guide her."

The old daoist said to Sun Wukong, "She rarely comes out, and while visiting cloud tops to enjoy the scenery, she fell asleep and dropped down."

Sun Wukong looked up through the broken roof and saw a fiercely hot sun.

How could one fall asleep up there?

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