The demons of Huaguo Mountain celebrated for Sun Wukong for several days.

Their Great King was about to be registered as a real Immortal, and his fiefdom was at Huaguo Mountain, something the demons could never have dreamed of.

"Great King, you've earned the Jade Emperor's favor this time, but what position will he grant you?"

The Demon Kings asked.

Immortal Zhen Yuan stroked his beard: "I guess it will be a True Monarch."

This wise brother possesses vast divine skills, it would be unreasonable not to grant him an honorable position, but too high a position is also unlikely. After much thought, Immortal Zhen Yuan felt the position of True Monarch was most suitable.

The Demon Kings didn't know what rank True Monarch was, but they all felt very happy.

"Don't be too quick to rejoice."

Sun Wukong laughed: "Now that I am an Immortal Official, you all need to work harder. Who knows, maybe in the future, each of you could become Immortals."

The Demon Kings were shocked.

"Is that possible?"

"Why would it be impossible?"

Immortal Zhen Yuan said: "Given the Jade Emperor's fondness for our wise brother, there will be many rewards in the future, and sharing some with you would be sufficient."

Sun Wukong shook his head: "Becoming an Immortal must come from oneself."

He continued: "In the future, many Immortals will reside in Huaguo Mountain, you should humbly seek their guidance. With the direction of an Immortal, you might just be able to achieve immortality."

The Demon Kings looked skeptical.

Sun Wukong secretly shook his head, becoming an Immortal was not such a trivial matter. All of Immortal Zhen Yuan's disciples were Immortals, and even the troops of Immortal Master Erlang were Immortals.

Immortals come in different ranks, and Sun Wukong could make these Demon Kings into Immortals now if he chose to.

However, he hoped the Demon Kings would achieve it on their own— he vaguely felt that he shouldn't interfere, perhaps the demons would find an unexpected way to achieve immortality.

Just as Sun Wukong was lost in thought, four old monkeys approached.

"Gr-Great King..."

The old monkeys joyfully served Sun Wukong wine.

Back when they had been exposed to wind and rain, who could have imagined today?

Back then, Sun Wukong had been Monkey King for just one year before setting off on a raft to seek immortality, and these four old monkeys believed in him, convinced he would indeed achieve immortality and return.

They had guessed the beginning correctly, but never imagined that upon Sun Wukong's return, he would develop Huaguo Mountain to such prosperity.

Not only did he teach the demons skills to improve their lives, but now he had also become an Immortal Official, transforming Huaguo Mountain from a lair of devils into a fiefdom of Immortals.

From now on, under the protection of Sun Wukong, the demons of Huaguo Mountain no longer needed to live in fear, having earned recognition as subjects from the Immortals.

In the midst of joy, the four old monkeys couldn't help but shed tears.

Sun Wukong spent quite a while comforting them.

While he was comforting them, a voice came from outside.

"Big brother!"

Ao Luan stepped inside, saying: "Gold Star Taibai has come down with a decree."

"So soon?"

Sun Wukong was surprised.

According to his expectations, the Jade Emperor would need at least a day to decide what position to grant him.

Waiting for Gold Star Taibai to come down from the Heavenly Palace with the decree, that would have taken till next year —how could it be less than a week, and Gold Star Taibai has already arrived with the decree?

Sun Wukong led the group of demons out to receive the decree.

"Demon Immortal Sun Wukong, possessing both virtue and capability, has educated countless demons and developed skills..."

Gold Star Taibai began declaring the decree.

The Jade Emperor deemed Sun Wukong has achieved great merit, and appointed him as 'Great Wise and Benevolent Monkey of Huaguo Mountain'.

Immortal Zhen Yuan also listened from the side, initially pleased, but as he listened further, something felt off.

Great Wise and Benevolent Monkey of Huaguo Mountain? What sort of official is that supposed to be?

"Isn't having it the same as not having it?"

Immortal Zhen Yuan thought to himself, feeling somewhat angry.

However, the demons didn't think so much; hearing the Jade Emperor personally acknowledge their Great King as the Wise Monkey in the decree, they were very pleased.

Sun Wukong received the imperial decree.

"Monkey King, His Majesty originally intended to appoint you as a True Monarch."

Gold Star Taibai said, "Unfortunately, Heavenly King Li disagreed and led the Immortal Officials to strongly oppose it, so we can only reluctantly appoint you for now."

Sun Wukong glanced at Immortal Zhenyuan, he almost guessed it right.

"Gold Star Taibai."

Sun Wukong did not care about the official title, "Has my job changed?"

"No." Gold Star Taibai shook his head and smiled, "The Jade Emperor has ordered you to select five Immortals each year to study at Huaguo Mountain."

"That's good."

Sun Wukong was relieved.

The official title was only secondary; the content of the job was what mattered.

Selecting five Immortals each year was what he had requested from the Jade Emperor. The Immortals must stay at Huaguo Mountain for a year to participate in various studies.

This inclusion of Immortals was a great boon for Huaguo Mountain, and once the Immortals learned the skills and returned to the Heavenly Palace, they were no longer under Sun Wukong's management, allowing the Jade Emperor to rest easy without worries.

One year at Huaguo Mountain was equivalent to one day in heaven.

For the Jade Emperor, sending down five Immortals each day was not considered a threat, and they could learn from the Monkey King's knowledge; why not do so?

Gold Star Taibai spent a few more days playing at Huaguo Mountain.

After he bid farewell and left, Sun Wukong was considering which five Immortals to invite when the first one arrived.

The arrival of this Immortal made Sun Wukong hurry to greet him.

"Lord."

Sun Wukong paid his respects to Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad.

"Monkey King, no need for such formalities."

Lord Lao Zi dismounted from the Green Ox and said, "I haven't been practicing alchemy recently, so I came down first. You won't mind, will you?"

"Of course not."

Sun Wukong promptly replied.

He led Lord Lao Zi back to Shuilian Cave and inquired what he wished to observe.

Just as Lord Lao Zi was about to answer, something stirred in his mind, and he stepped out of Shuilian Cave, looking towards Flower Valley, "What place is that?"

"That is Flower Valley."

Sun Wukong said, "It is inhabited by some flower spirits, not really a good place."

Lord Lao Zi shook his head, "I see Merit Qi lingering there, there must be a sacred object emerging."

Sun Wukong was startled, he looked using his golden vision but saw nothing.

He calculated with his fingers, and upon looking again, saw Flower Valley enveloped in golden light.

That light was faint, as if not yet existent, the unmanifested Merit Qi that could not be calculated by anyone other than an Immortal of Merit.

Sun Wukong slightly furrowed his brow; Lord Lao Zi's understanding of Merit clearly far surpassed his own.

"Monkey King, do you have any clue about that sacred object?"

Lord Lao Zi continued to inquire.

Sun Wukong nodded.

Such immense Merit Qi, it certainly wasn't something ordinary.

After some thought, he could only think of rice.

"Those flower spirits have been studying a crop."

Sun Wukong said with a smile, "Would you like to see it, Lord?"

"Of course."

Lord Lao Zi nodded.

As the two were about to head towards Flower Valley, Sun Wukong suddenly noticed Lord Lao Zi's Green Ox, and said, "The flower spirits are delicate and frail, I'm afraid the Green Ox might trample them. How about we leave it here?"

Lord Lao Zi nodded and handed the ox rope to an old monkey.

"You must prepare fodder well, it must not go hungry."

Sun Wukong instructed the old monkey to take good care of the Green Ox and then went with Lord Lao Zi towards Flower Valley.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.