In the evening, Sun Wukong bade farewell to Gold Star Taibai.

"Junior brother."

Immortal Zhenyuan came over and asked, "Why didn't you agree to his proposal?"

"How could I possibly agree?"

Sun Wukong shook his head.

Gold Star Taibai wanted Sun Wukong to ascend to Heaven because he sensed that the Jade Emperor's intentions were gradually changing, hoping Sun Wukong would take the initiative to recommend himself and show goodwill to the Jade Emperor.

Sun Wukong was not so naive.

"But you also did not refuse."

Immortal Zhenyuan said.

Sun Wukong nodded: "If the Jade Emperor is willing to make good use of me, I will agree."

He wanted to change the world, and the power of the Heavenly Palace was indispensable, after all, those immortals were top talents.

If subordinates under Sun Wukong were not demons but immortals, certainly anything could be achieved.

"As long as the Jade Emperor is willing to make good use of me and listen to my suggestions."

Sun Wukong said: "Even if it means ascending to Heaven to become an official, what's wrong with that?"

This statement touched Immortal Zhenyuan a bit: "I thought, junior brother, you did not like immortals."

"How could that be."

Sun Wukong shook his head; he felt those immortals lacked discipline, but there was still a chance to remedy them.

"Junior brother..."

Immortal Zhenyuan thought for a moment, then said, "Why don't you just agree to Gold Star Taibai and go to the Heavenly Palace to start as a minor official? With your talents, you will definitely be able to gain trust and use gradually."

"Where is the time for that?"

A passage from the Heavenly Book flashed through Sun Wukong's mind: "I don't have time to climb the ranks slowly."

If he does not change this world, he will eventually be destroyed by it.

The quickest method is to get the Jade Emperor to make good use of him quickly—but that is not easy.

Sun Wukong's first task upon ascending to Heaven would be to find a way to make the time in the Heavenly Palace the same as the time on the ground.

This is probably something not even the Jade Emperor could agree to.

Sun Wukong set aside his thoughts and turned back to Shuilian Cave.

Just like that, another six years passed.

Huaguo Mountain grew increasingly prosperous, the construction of the Royal City was nearly half completed, attracting the best craftsmen from the Four Great Continents.

The fertilizer granules produced by the demons were named 'Dew', which was widely used in Huaguo Mountain—yet not very welcomed by humans.

There were many factors involved, the main one being that the effect of Dew was not 'astonishing' enough.

Moreover, transportation was inconvenient in this world, and the cost of transporting Dew was higher than its actual selling price.

The inevitable failure of the Dew trade dealt a blow to the demons.

But for Sun Wukong, this was enough—at least the research on Dew continued.

One day, Sun Wukong sensed a familiar presence and opened his eyes from meditation.

"The elder has returned."

He stood up and said.

Immortal Zhenyuan seated beside him also stopped meditating.

"He's back so soon?"

Both walked to the temple and indeed saw a group of monks happily serving food to Jin Chanzi.

"Elder."

Sun Wukong approached and said, "Welcome back."

Jin Chanzi put down his chopsticks, clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, this monk traveled on a bamboo raft in the Southern Continent and suddenly a strange wind blew, which carried me back to Huaguo Mountain."

Sun Wukong and Immortal Zhenyuan exchanged glances, realizing that this fellow had gotten lost and found his way back.

Back in Huaguo Mountain, Jin Chanzi was overjoyed.

He ate several bowls of rice in a row until he could no longer fit another spoonful in his stomach, then said, "During my journey, I have observed all walks of life among humans and now understand that you, Wukong, were right."

"What was correct?" Sun Wukong asked.

"Technology is very important."

Jin Chanzi sighed.

Only after comparing the human world with Huaguo Mountain did he truly understand the significance of technological progress.

"The food of the humans is really not delicious."

Jin Chanzi said: "They don't even have many iron pots!"

Sun Wukong was about to laugh.

"Great King." A cypress demon stepped into the temple and said to Sun Wukong, "We have been discussing for several days and really can't come to a conclusion."

Sun Wukong turned to look at him: "Keep discussing for a few more days."

"We're about to start fighting!" the cypress demon said, "Great King, please give us the answer!"

"What are they talking about?"

Jin Chanzi inquired Immortal Zhenyuan.

Immortal Zhenyuan frowned slightly: "The conflict between Dao Skills and technology."

Huaguo Mountain had fully absorbed human technology, and the demons had more and more ideas.

In recent years, there was a fierce debate whether Dao Skills or technology should take precedence, resulting in a split among Huaguo Mountain's residents into two factions.

One was the Dao Skill faction, the other the technology faction.

The so-called Dao Skill faction prioritized Dao Skills using various technologies to assist and improve Dao Skills, making them simpler, even usable by mortals, but still with Dao Skills at the core.

The technology faction, on the contrary, was the opposite.

"Powerful demons are from the Dao Skill faction." Immortal Zhenyuan said. "It seems the lesser demons lean more towards the technology faction."

He added another line: "I see no difference between them."

Jin Chanzi looked on in a daze, having been away for only a few years, how could so much change have occurred?

"Great King."

The cypress demon sought an answer from Sun Wukong.

In Huaguo Mountain, only his response could make the disputes disappear.

Sun Wukong frowned slightly, sharing a similar view to Immortal Zhenyuan—that the strife between Dao Skill and technology was essentially equivalent.

"Then let's prioritize Dao Skills!"

The demons' technological development had already reached a certain extent and was now delving into details.

However, the maturity of Dao Skills at present far surpassed technology, so Sun Wukong opted for the faster path—using technology to enhance Dao Skills.

The difference between the two was not big; there was no need to halt and quarrel. Regardless of which was lighter or heavier, neither would be left behind, and in the end, the result would be the same.

"You should focus on developing universal Dao Skills as the main direction of research."

Sun Wukong waved his hand, indicating the cypress demon to leave.

Jin Chanzi heard this and seemed to see a flash of Buddha Light in his eyes, as if he had realized something, yet perhaps not.

He felt more and more that many things he saw were different from what the Buddha had said.

"Wukong, I will go into seclusion."

Jin Chanzi said and then walked into the temple, closing the door behind him for seclusion.

"What's with that guy?"

Immortal Zhenyuan wondered.

"I don't know." Sun Wukong replied.

Immortal Zhenyuan laughed: "Hope he doesn't end up like Elder Guang Hui."

Sun Wukong looked around the temple and indeed Elder Guang Hui was nowhere to be seen.

Elder Guang Hui was at the Royal City construction site, holding a Daoist Talisman, and loudly directing the work.

"Move the bricks quickly!"

He shouted to a group of monks moving bricks: "Today's progress is delayed; we must hurry up!"

"Elder." The monks were on the verge of tears: "Why do we have to do this hard labor?"

"We also have to contribute to Huaguo Mountain."

Elder Guang Hui was impassioned: "We cannot be outdone by the demons!"

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