Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

He knew that something that could be introduced so solemnly by the Jade Emperor was no ordinary thing.

"This light may seem dreamlike and ethereal, but it is actually the essence of the world's most poisonous, decaying, and rotten things, which is then refined in reverse by the supreme Buddhist teachings."

The Jade Emperor continued, his tone cold.

"It corresponds to the 'food desire' among the 'five desires,' but it does not satisfy the desire for food. Instead, it takes the poisonous principles of gluttony, corruption, and destruction to the extreme. It is said that nothing is not poisonous and nothing is not corruptible."

Where the light shone, metal crumbled, spirit wood turned to ash, flesh and blood dissolved, and primordial spirits dissipated. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal, without the protection of a special treasure or heaven-defying divine power, would find it difficult to survive three breaths if struck directly by its light. That Medicine Buddha had actually refined this life-extinguishing, apocalyptic, and malevolent substance into his own divine power!

He looked at Lin Zhu, a fleeting look of lingering fear crossing his eyes.

"Your Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp and Merit Golden Lotus are both supreme defensive treasures, especially the Merit Golden Lotus, which is inherently effective against Buddhist supernatural powers. However, under the erosion of the pure, half-step Quasi-Saint peak Glazed Illusionary Light, it was still insufficient. If I hadn't been here in time and used the 'Inverted Yin and Yang' technique to distort the Yin and Yang laws of that small area and repel and isolate the poisonous light, I'm afraid that you would be in trouble now..."

The Jade Emperor did not continue speaking, but his meaning was self-evident.

Lin Zhu felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.

He personally experienced the terror of that light; the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp shattered instantly, and the light of the Merit Golden Lotus dimmed rapidly. That destructive corrosive power was almost all-pervasive. If the Jade Emperor hadn't intervened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

He took a deep breath and solemnly bowed to the Jade Emperor once more.

"Your Majesty's life-saving grace is something I will never forget. The wickedness of this light is beyond imagination; the actions of the Western Heaven have truly reached the point of having no bottom line!"

"Completely shameless?"

A cold glint appeared in the Jade Emperor's eyes again, and his voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable majesty and anger.

"They are not just shameless! Right before my eyes, they attacked the prison god I appointed, destroyed the gates of my Heavenly Court, and slaughtered thousands of lives in the mortal realm! This is not just obstructing the law, this is open rebellion, showing no regard for the laws of the Heavenly Court, and no regard for me!"

With a flick of his sleeve, an overwhelming imperial majesty swept out, causing the surrounding clouds to swirl and recede.

"This matter must not be left unresolved! I will personally go to Mount Ling and demand an explanation from that old Buddha! If he does not hand over that beast, the Medicine Buddha, and allow me to deal with him according to the Heavenly Laws, I will let him know who this supreme being of the Three Realms really is!"

The Jade Emperor was truly enraged and decided to no longer tolerate it. He would personally step in to support Lin Zhu and seek justice for the dignity of the Heavenly Court.

However, Lin Zhu raised his hand at this moment and gently stopped him. Although his action was respectful, his tone was firm.

"Your Majesty, please quell your wrath."

The Jade Emperor frowned and looked at him.

Although Lin Zhu's face was still a little pale and his breathing had not fully calmed down, his eyes had regained their usual calmness and depth, and even carried a hint of sharp light.

He said slowly.

“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your protection. However, it is not the best time to directly interrogate you. Although I have faced life-threatening dangers this time, I have not come away empty-handed.”

He paused and continued.

"My first priority is to recuperate, restore my strength, and repair the damaged magical artifacts."

The shimmering, iridescent light possessed a strange and potent toxicity, and its residual corrosive power needed to be slowly dispelled. Secondly, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

"I have finally 'completed my mission' and 'captured' the demon monkey Sun Wukong, who violated the heavenly rules, destroyed mountains, and injured people."

He deliberately emphasized the words "apprehend and bring to justice." Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's expression shifted slightly, his anger subsided, and he revealed a thoughtful look.

Lin Zhu sensed to himself that the 200,000 merits indicated by the system had been credited to his account.

He had already accumulated a great deal of merit, and now with the addition of these 200,000, he was only 70,000 short of achieving the perfect merit for the half-step Quasi-Saint realm!

And in his possession, he still had the "Merit Divine Water" that he had previously acquired, which could be directly converted into merit! This meant that, if he wished, he could use the divine water to fill this final gap at any time and try to break through to the true Quasi-Saint realm!

But this life-or-death crisis also served as a wake-up call for him.

He clenched his fist, feeling the still surging power within him, yet always seeming to fall short of the final push, and a strong sense of unwillingness and urgency welled up in his heart.

"A half-step Quasi-Saint... against a true Quasi-Saint, or an opponent like the Medicine Buddha who possesses a top-tier half-step Quasi-Saint killing move, it's still not enough! The Thirteen-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, known for its unparalleled defense, was instantly shattered by that shimmering illusory light! If it weren't for His Majesty's intervention..."

He clearly understood that his greatest reliance, besides his own cultivation level, was the terrifying God-Slaying Spear and the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, which could qualitatively change its power. Only the God-Slaying Spear, empowered by the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, could truly threaten a Quasi-Saint level being, and even make a Buddha like the Medicine Buddha wary and retreat.

"However, the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone is ultimately an external object, and it does not seem to be inexhaustible..."

Lin Zhu pondered in his heart, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Once I'm exhausted, how can I possibly contend with those ancient monsters and supreme Buddhas on my own? No, I must find a breakthrough as soon as possible and truly elevate my strength to the quasi-saint level! Only by becoming strong myself can I truly succeed!"

Although he did not voice his resentment and determination, the slightly bulging veins on his clenched fists and the increasingly intense flame in his eyes, a flame called "becoming stronger," did not escape the Jade Emperor's notice.

Looking at Lin Zhu's expression, the Jade Emperor's anger subsided slightly, replaced by a complex mix of relief and anticipation.

As a man of his stature, he naturally saw that Lin Zhu, far from being defeated by this ordeal, had instead been aroused with an even stronger drive to succeed, and it seemed that... he was getting closer to that crucial threshold.

He could almost see the terrible price the Western Paradise would pay to force out such an even more terrifying opponent.

He stepped forward and gently patted Lin Zhu's shoulder. The overwhelming imperial pressure subsided and transformed into a deep and supportive presence.

"My dear minister, the path of cultivation cannot be rushed, nor can it be delayed. I am very pleased that you have such aspirations. Remember, you are not fighting alone."

"This Heavenly Court, and I myself, are your support."

Feeling the deep strength on his shoulder and the profound meaning in his words, Lin Zhu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded solemnly.

"Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you."

Just then, a slightly urgent yet eager voice broke in from the side.

"Um... Brother Prison God, Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, shouldn't we... go to the Heavenly Prison?"

It was Sun Wukong.

He scratched his head, watching the Jade Emperor and Lin Zhu talk, already getting quite impatient.

His eyes lit up especially when he heard Lin Zhu say "apprehend and bring to justice." The Jade Emperor was interrupted and was slightly taken aback. He looked at the lawless monkey who had shown amazing fighting power and stance in this battle and asked with some helplessness.

"You little monkey, what's the rush to the Heavenly Prison?"

Sun Wukong grinned, laughing heartlessly, even with a hint of joy.

"Jail! I, Old Sun, did something wrong, you know? I destroyed the Five Elements Mountain, and... uh, I fought with the Buddhists. Brother Prison God said he's taking me back to the Nine Heavens Prison to face justice! I'm just cooperating!"

He spoke with such confidence, as if going to prison was some kind of cushy job.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he raised an eyebrow at Lin Zhu, his eyes clearly asking a question.

What did you say to him?

Looking at Sun Wukong's "obediently waiting to be imprisoned" appearance, Lin Zhu recalled the desolate landscape of the lower realm and the fleeing figure of the Medicine Buddha. He sighed inwardly, but a faint, almost mocking sneer appeared on his face.

He addressed the Jade Emperor in a calm yet meaningful tone.

"Your Majesty, you see, the world can be so absurd sometimes. Those who follow the rules and act according to the law are merely capturing a monkey who has indeed violated the heavenly law but for a reason, and they are then ambushed, attacked, and nearly lose their lives."

Those who truly trample on divine laws, slaughter living beings, and launch sneak attacks from behind, can use the name of Buddha to escape punishment and even accuse others of being demons.

He paused, his voice becoming even colder.

"I am but a prison god who enforces the law. I only know how the heavenly laws are written, so I do what they say. I kill the lawbreakers who deserve to be killed and take care of the lawbreakers who are under my jurisdiction. On the contrary, some people who claim to be compassionate and save all living beings are more ruthless and cruel than anyone else when it comes to breaking the law."

The Jade Emperor, upon hearing this, understood Lin Zhu's plan and tacitly comprehended the true meaning behind his words, "brought along a lawless monkey that should be managed."

A bitter smile, tinged with helplessness and indulgence, appeared on his face.

"So, how does my subject intend to 'act according to the law'? This time... do you need me to 'cover your retreat' again? Or, should I go to Mount Ling to 'reason' for you?"

Lin Zhu cupped his hands in greeting, his tone returning to its usual lazy yet unquestionable manner.

"Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. How could I dare trouble Your Majesty to personally intervene in such a trivial matter? I have my own 'measures' and my own 'reasons' to explain to them. As for the outcome..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"We have to make them 'willingly' recognize their mistakes and make reasonable 'compensation'. After all, we are the ones who are reasonable."

The Jade Emperor looked at his expression—clearly intending to exploit him but pretending to act in accordance with the law—and his helpless smile deepened, while at the same time, he felt completely at ease.

He knew that since Lin Zhu had said so, Xitian would likely have to bleed and bow down to avoid this crisis. And he was happy to see it happen.

"Very well, since you have your own ideas, I will not interfere any further."

The Jade Emperor nodded, but then his face darkened again as he recalled the destruction of the South Heavenly Gate and the attack on Lin Zhu.

"However, the Western Paradise has directly attacked you and destroyed my Heavenly Gate. This matter cannot be let off lightly. Although I will not go to Mount Ling, I still need to think carefully about how to give them an unforgettable 'lesson'."

Lin Zhu smiled slightly and said no more. Some things were better left to the Jade Emperor; he was more suitable and more authoritative to do them.

……

The deepest and most "comfortable" of the nine-story prison is the Class A No. 1 special prison cell.

Unlike typical dark and damp prisons, this place was brightly lit and well-ventilated, with even a small area simulating outside sunlight, letting in a warm glow. The cells were spacious, simply yet cleanly furnished, containing only a stone bed, a stone table, and a few stone stools.

Lin Zhu, accompanied by Sun Wukong, strolled in lazily and casually removed the barrier at the door—more of a sign reminding others not to disturb them than a barrier.

"Great Sage, let's rest here for now. The sunlight here is quite good; you can bask in the sun when you're bored."

Lin Zhu pointed to the area illuminated by the light, and then to several jade pots and bottles that had been placed on the stone table at some point.

"This is Heavenly Imperial Wine. Although it is not as good as the Queen Mother's Peach Wine, it has its own unique flavor. These few bottles are basic Strengthening Elixir, which should be beneficial to your consolidation of the Great Luo Realm and healing of old injuries. Please take as much as you need, and we'll talk if you need more."

As soon as Sun Wukong entered, his fiery eyes widened, and he looked around and touched everything. His nostrils twitched constantly as he smelled the rich aroma of the imperial wine and the refreshing medicinal scent of the elixir. An almost dreamlike expression appeared on his face.

"This...this is the Heavenly Prison?"

Sun Wukong's voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement.

He lunged at the stone table, grabbed a jade pot, uncorked it, and gulped down a large mouthful. The clear, mellow wine flowed down his throat, transforming into a warm current that spread throughout his body. The exquisite taste and abundant spiritual energy created a terrifying contrast between his five hundred years of imprisonment under the Five Elements Mountain, enduring the bitterness, stiffness, and agonizing torment of his internal organs by eating iron pellets and drinking molten copper.
“Great wine!!”

Sun Wukong shouted loudly, his eyes brightening slightly.

He grabbed another bottle of elixirs, poured out a few round pills emanating a misty aura, and tossed them into his mouth without even glancing at them, crunching them away. The powerful yet gentle medicinal energy dissolved, nourishing his indestructible body, which had been tempered in the Eight Trigrams Furnace and suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years. Some minor old wounds and dark marks were slowly disappearing, and he felt a warm, indescribable comfort all over his body.

"Woo..."

Sun Wukong suddenly whimpered, blinked his reddened eyes hard, turned around, his back to Lin Zhu, and his shoulders shrugged slightly.

Five hundred years of suffering and torment, five hundred years of loneliness and despair, and now, after being freed, he faces an impending calamity and a brutal battle. Now, suddenly found in this safe, comfortable, and even "luxurious" "prison," enjoying fine wine and elixirs, the dramatic shift from hell to heaven is so overwhelming that even with his iron will, he cannot help but feel a surge of emotions and lose control.

Lin Zhu saw this but didn't say anything; she simply stood quietly by the door.

He could understand Sun Wukong's feelings at that moment.

After a while, Sun Wukong turned around, his face back to its usual playful expression, though his eyes were still slightly red.

He scratched his head and chuckled.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Brother Prison God. This place... is really nice! It's not much different from my Water Curtain Cave in Flower Fruit Mountain! It's just... a bit too quiet."

He was by nature restless, and now that he was safe and well-fed, he began to feel a bit bored. He started jumping around in his cell, touching the walls, and studying the array that simulated sunlight.

Seeing this, Lin Zhu said calmly.

"The Heavenly Prison is a sacred and quiet place. However, the diet is not always so monotonous. In our Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison, we practice frugality and thrift. The prison guards and... 'guests' mostly replenish their vital energy and maintain their cultivation with imperial wine and elixirs." (End of Chapter)