Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 166 Wukong: Then I won’t be the Jade Emperor anymore

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Wukong: Then I won’t be the Jade Emperor anymore

"Your monkey disciples will all become your burial companions unless you can persuade His Majesty to forgive your crimes!"

Virūḍhaka the Guardian King looked at Sun Wukong, his voice bitterly cold, repeating the words of Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li.

Although Virūḍhaka the Guardian King did not know why Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li wanted Sun Wukong to seek out the Jade Emperor, it was still better than being stalled here with him.

They might not be able to hold on for much longer anyway.

If Wukong were to seek the Jade Emperor, His Majesty would surely be able to capture him.

At that moment, all the celestial soldiers and generals were watching Sun Wukong.

However, despite saying so, Virūḍhaka the Guardian King did not dare to relax his guard, for Sun Wukong was already a major offender of the Celestial Court, and letting him escape could lead them all to be interrogated for crimes.

Sun Wukong looked at Virūḍhaka the Guardian King, and with his current strength, he naturally sensed the arrival of Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li and noticed how Virūḍhaka, who had been struggling to cope, suddenly uttered these words.

If he hadn’t already learned about the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West from his senior brother, perhaps he would have been somewhat worried.

Not to mention that the Celestial Court would not press him so hard, his monkey disciples had already been relocated by him, so it would not be easy for these people from the Celestial Court to find them.

"Oh? Stand back, all of you. Don’t blame Old Sun for being merciless when he strikes!"

Sun Wukong snorted coldly, showing the fearlessness of a dead pig in boiling water.

Upon hearing this, Virūḍhaka the Guardian King was momentarily stunned, truly not expecting Sun Wukong to be so defiant, brazenly choosing to run away instead of playing along with his coercion.

Li Jing also frowned—wasn’t the demon monkey very concerned about his monkey disciples? Why was he now thinking only of escaping? Even so, he was unwilling to reason with the Jade Emperor?

What to do?

Although Sun Wukong knew that causing a huge ruckus in heaven wouldn’t allow him to escape, he also knew there was no need to run to the Jade Emperor and seek death. He was no fool.

"Celestial King, what should we do now?"

Seeing that his plan had failed, Virūḍhaka the Guardian King started to feel anxious.

Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li had no idea that his words, which he thought would leave Sun Wukong with no options, had been ineffective.

"You guys hold off Sun Wukong. I’ll go to His Majesty for reinforcements!"

Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li felt helpless as well. He wanted to take action, but he felt that making a move would be useless and would not change the situation.

"Celestial King Li? Celestial King Li..."

When Virūḍhaka the Guardian King heard this, he hurriedly wanted to ask more, but his words vanished like water entering the sea, without any echo in response.

"Big brother, what do we do?"

The other Four Celestial Kings couldn’t help but look over.

"Set up the Celestial Spider Web Formation to stop Sun Wukong from escaping!"

Virūḍhaka the Guardian King had no choice but to grit his teeth and press on.

At this moment, countless celestial soldiers and generals began to take their positions, then commenced the formation of the great Celestial Court.

Sealing off the paths by which Sun Wukong could leave.

As long as Sun Wukong doesn’t take this route, they don’t care.

"Court death!"

Wielding his staff, Sun Wukong steadily advanced towards the immense formation before him.

...

Meanwhile, inside the Ninth Celestial Palace, the Jade Emperor, along with many Deities of the Celestial Court, watched the Mystic Light Mirror with increasingly somber expressions.

"The demon monkey seems quite determined to leave the Celestial Court!"

"It’s troublesome now. Perhaps we should ask Tathagata, the World-Honored One, to go there!"

"Exactly, if this drags on, who knows how much more damage the Celestial Court will suffer!"

"..."

The Deities of the Celestial Court chattered endlessly.

Most of them were from the Cutting Teachings Sect, since this Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West had nothing to do with them.

They couldn’t care less what state the Celestial Court would end up in from the chaos caused by the Demon Monkey.

The orthodox deities of Daoism as well as those who ascended to heaven on their own did not wish for the prestige of the Celestial Court to be completely lost; if it weren’t for the Calamity of Measurement, they would all hope the Jade Emperor would simply eradicate Sun Wukong.

But even so, allowing the situation to drag on wasn’t beneficial for the Celestial Court either.

Those in the Celestial Court leaning towards Buddhism were even more anxious, for if they couldn’t suppress Sun Wukong and get him to comply, how would they proceed with the Journey to the West?

How would Buddhism thrive if the Journey to the West did not unfold?

This was their concern.

"Your Majesty, that monkey is impervious to both soft and hard tactics. What to do now?"

Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li rushed in, speaking anxiously.

Many orthodox deities also looked towards the Jade Emperor, who was seated above in the Golden Palace, and the Jade Emperor himself frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, since that’s the case, why not let Ancestor Buddha Tathagata go and suppress him?"

Zhang Daoling stepped forward and spoke respectfully.

Hearing this, the Daoist faction showed knowing smirks.

After all, having the Buddha Ancestor from Buddhism personally intervene would lack dignity.

This caused the Buddhist-inclined orthodox deities to glare furiously.

But they couldn’t say much, for this matter was fundamentally Buddhism’s affair.

Everything still depended on the Jade Emperor’s deliberation.

Meanwhile, Sakyamuni Tathagata, who had been meditating on a cushion, had his eyes closed, nurturing his vitality while awaiting Sun Wukong’s arrival. But contrary to his expectations, Wukong did not come.

"This macaque is truly not acting according to our predictions. But we have come to this point, how could we allow you to escape!"

Sakyamuni Tathagata murmured to himself.

He then conveyed a message to the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor had initially planned to dispatch forces to hinder Sun Wukong.

However, a voice resounded beside his ear.

"Great celestial Venerate, at this juncture, it would be best for this humble monk to proceed with the suppression. Delaying any further would be pointless. Let us hasten the onset of the Calamity of Measurement!"

The Jade Emperor looked outside the Ninth Celestial Palace, nodding slightly.

No one said anything.

He then addressed the orthodox deities present, "Ancestor Buddha Tathagata has already gone to suppress the situation. We have nothing to worry about!"

The expressions of the deities in the celestial Court varied greatly; most of them had not anticipated that Ancestor Buddha Tathagata would agree so readily.

...

Near Southern Heaven, countless celestial soldiers and generals were wailing and screaming in terrible anguish.

Even the Four celestial Kings were in a state of depleted mana, retreating time and again, unable to withstand the onslaught any longer.

If they could not withstand it before, let alone now.

"Why has the celestial King not called for reinforcements?"

Virūḍhaka the Guardian King gasped for air, his mana exhausted.

"Reinforcements? Given the great distance from the Ninth celestial Palace and the need for mustering troops, even if I, Sun Wukong, were to leave, it is unlikely that they could reach here in time!"

Sun Wukong laughed heartily.

As he spoke, he casually strolled past the Four celestial Kings with his staff on his shoulder.

He had not dealt lethal blows to these heavenly soldiers and generals; he didn’t want to be entangled in karmic force, nor was it necessary. The scheme against him was concocted by Immortals and Buddhas, and without their removal, what use was there in killing these minions?

The Four celestial Kings watched Sun Wukong turn to leave and head into the distance, feeling incredibly conflicted. Even though they wished to stop him, they were helplessly incapable.

At that moment of frustration for the Four celestial Kings,

Sun Wukong deliberately slowed his pace; he was waiting for someone.

His senior brother had told him that Tathagata would come.

Just then, the sky was filled with Buddhist chanting, as strange and wondrous melodies descended.

Shamis gathered, with Eight-Petalled celestial Dragons clearing the path.

At the same time, a Buddha appeared in the distance, meditatively sitting upon a Lotus Platform, with his plump face and compassionate appearance. His eyes slightly opened, watching Sun Wukong.

"Senior brother was right; he couldn’t help himself after all!"

Sun Wukong murmured to himself.

Regarding the machinations of the Immortals and Buddhas, Sun Wukong still had some uncertainties. So, his senior brother had given him a piece of advice - regardless of what happened, he should not cause an uproar in front of the Jade Emperor, to see if this monk would show up.

If he did appear, it would confirm the truth of the Immortals and Buddhas plotting against him, and that no matter what, they would not let him go.

Indeed, now this great Monk had appeared.

"Halt, who is this great Monk? Get out of Old Sun’s way!"

Sun Wukong snorted coldly.

Addressed in such a manner by Sun Wukong, Tathagata was not angry; he still smiled and said, "I am Sakyamuni Tathagata from the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Pure Land, Posa Pure Land of the Western Direction."

"Today, hearing of your brazenness, repeatedly defying the celestial Court, I have specifically come to meet with you!"

"Meet for what? The celestial Court harbors no justice, so why should it matter if I, Old Sun, descend to the lower realm?"

Sun Wukong snorted again.

"You macaque, having no reverence for the Heavenly Dao nor respect for the heavens, still dare to think of escape?"

Sakyamuni Tathagata shook his head as he spoke.

"Oh, should a mere macaque like myself be toyed with by your Immortals and Buddhas?"

Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes and slowly replied.

Sakyamuni Tathagata was momentarily taken aback, feeling as if Sun Wukong knew something.

But then he thought it unlikely, because if Sun Wukong did know something, why would he enter into calamity?

"Since you’ve put it that way, Old Sun is indeed tempted to take the Jade Emperor’s throne for himself!"

Sun Wukong snorted coldly, inwardly rebuking himself for nearly revealing what he knew, which would have meant real trouble.

Not knowing anything might mean the celestial Court’s Immortals and Buddhas could let him go, but knowing made it a different situation.

Hearing Sun Wukong’s words, Sakyamuni Tathagata let out a sigh of relief.

He reassured himself he had overthought the situation.

"This humble monk would like to inquire, where were you born and bred? In what year did you achieve enlightenment? Yet you aspire to assume the position of the Jade Emperor?"

Tathagata looked at Sun Wukong, speaking evenly and calmly.

"I hail from Mount Huaguo, naturally nurtured a Stone Monkey, trained in the Water Curtain Cave, traveled the four corners, and studied under the square inch!

"As the saying goes, succession is passed down among human kings, the strong claim respect, why shouldn’t I have a turn? What’s wrong with that!"

Sun Wukong confidently declared.

Hearing Sun Wukong’s bold words, Sakyamuni Tathagata could not help but feel annoyed, yet he simply smiled and said, "You, a macaque, a wild monkey who gained enlightenment in the mountains, how dare you disregard the Heavenly Dao and still aspire to seize the Jade Emperor’s throne!"

"Do you not know the Jade Emperor ascended on the path of enlightenment during the Creation of Heaven and Earth, cultivating arduously, transcending the Calamities of the Mortal World, through one thousand seven hundred and fifty calamities, each lasting twelve hundred and ninety-six thousand years!"

"You macaque, calculate how many years of youthful endeavor might entitle you to partake in the Infinite Great Way."

"I advise you to convert early, to avoid a dire fate, lest in an instant you are reduced to ash!"

Sakyamuni Tathagata spoke with an edge to his words.

Sun Wukong could certainly hear the hostility in Sakyamuni Tathagata’s tone.

Of course, he knew that all of Sakyamuni Tathagata’s words served merely as a preface for the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West.

"Then Old Sun will not pursue it; let Old Sun be on his way!"