Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

"Teasing Chang'e? Hahaha. What a serious crime, what a respectable excuse."

Marshal Tianpeng suddenly looked up, staring intently at Sun Wukong, and said, "Monkey, you keep saying you'll protect my reputation? What about Curtain Roller? What should his punishment be?"

The smile on Sun Wukong's face finally vanished completely. He then sighed and said, "You and I, Juanlian, and even Jin Chanzi, who has reincarnated several times, are all just pawns in someone else's game."

"By accusing you of harassing Chang'e, your reputation will be damaged. But compared to Juanlian, you're still better off."

"Imagine a trusted confidant who has served the Jade Emperor for thousands of years being punished and banished to the Flowing Sand River to become a demon simply for accidentally breaking a glass cup."

"Not only that, General Curtain-Raising also suffers the torment of being pierced by ten thousand arrows every seven days. Compared to him, you are far more carefree."

Upon hearing of General Curtain-Raising's fate, Marshal Tianpeng couldn't help but sigh. Then he bowed to Sun Wukong and said...

"Monkey, I, Tianpeng, will remember your kindness. But you went to such lengths to bring me here, surely not just to tell me I'm destined to become a pig?"

Looking at Tianpeng, who resembled a wild boar driven to the brink of despair and displaying its ferocity, Sun Wukong was not annoyed at all; instead, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Have you ever thought about rebelling against the Heavenly Court? Since you're destined to be schemed against by them anyway, why not vent your anger before they scheme against you?"

Upon hearing this, Marshal Tianpeng frowned. After pondering for a moment, he muttered to himself.

"Since we're both being manipulated anyway, there's really no need to care anymore. We're both destined to travel to the West, and we're not going to die anyway, so let's go crazy together."

Sun Wukong hadn't expected Marshal Tianpeng to be so cooperative. He simply extended his furry monkey paw and gave Marshal Tianpeng a high five.

"Since you've made your decision, after you leave here, you should withdraw your troops and return to the Milky Way to prepare. It probably won't be long before the Jade Emperor sends someone to capture you and give the Fire Cloud Cave an explanation."

"Then we'll see how much weight you carry in the hearts of those 80,000 naval soldiers. If they dare to storm the Heavenly Court's execution ground, you'll lead them out of the Southern Heavenly Gate and descend to the mortal realm to become a demon."

"Of course, if your 80,000 naval troops are unwilling to lend a hand, Old Sun, I won't just stand by and watch you get slashed on that Demon-Slaying Platform."

"At that time, you will definitely lead a million demon soldiers to attack the Heavenly Court, and you will also send people to the Demon-Slaying Platform to rescue you. But if that happens, you will be in cahoots with me."

Upon hearing this, Marshal Tianpeng laughed and said, "So what if we're sharing the same pants? We'll be eating from the same pot sooner or later anyway. The only difference is a day earlier or a day later."

"But before I make a move, I need to give the curtain a heads-up. That guy is already a bit dim-witted, and if he gets tricked by the Jade Emperor like that, he probably won't come to his senses for tens of thousands of years."

Sun Wukong nodded. "Besides the Curtain-Raising Ceremony, there's also the Jade Dragon Third Prince, the White Dragon, who is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada and will carry him on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures."

“Since we’re going to make a move, let’s make it big. Let’s bring the White Dragon along too. Then, a million demon soldiers, plus the dragon clan, will attack the Heavenly Court together. You and Curtain Roller need to be inside agents as well.”

As he spoke, Sun Wukong plucked three hairs from the back of his head and presented them to Marshal Tianpeng.

"You only need to drip your blood onto these three hairs, and they will help you create three clones. The clones that are created cannot be seen by anyone but a sage."

Marshal Tianpeng did not refuse; he simply reached out and took the three hairs. Then he bowed to Sun Wukong and said, "I, Tianpeng, will remember this kindness. When the Journey to the West begins, I will be at your service, Brother Monkey, through water and fire."

Sun Wukong smiled and nodded, then pointed a finger at Marshal Tianpeng's brow. Immediately, a vast amount of information flooded his mind.

"This is the Seventy-Two Transformations of Earthly Fiends from the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique. You have a thousand years to comprehend it. I hope you can master it."

Marshal Tianpeng frowned. "A thousand years? Will the Jade Emperor really give me a thousand years? I'm afraid the heavenly soldiers who are going to capture me won't be here for long."

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Don't worry, the flow of time here is different from that of the primordial world. A thousand years of arduous cultivation here would only amount to a few days in the primordial world."

"These next few days are the best I can do for you. I hope you won't let me down."

Marshal Tianpeng nodded after hearing this, then took out a token from his person and handed it to Sun Wukong, saying, "I probably won't have a chance to see Juanlian again. Give him this, and he will know that I sent you to find him."

After receiving the token, Sun Wukong patted Marshal Tianpeng on the shoulder. Then, in a flash, Sun Wukong disappeared into the chaotic space.

In the vast chaotic space, only Marshal Tianpeng remained, sitting cross-legged on the spot and beginning to cultivate the Seventy-Two Transformations of Earthly Fiends.

After returning to the prehistoric world, Sun Wukong separated a wisp of his primordial spirit and went directly to the Heavenly Court. He immediately found General Curtain-Raising.

He himself wasn't idle either; he also went to the Heavenly Court and returned to the Peach Garden. However, he didn't intend to return to his post.

Meanwhile, the Jade Emperor, atop the Lingxiao Palace, wore an extremely grim expression. He directly addressed the civil and military officials of the Heavenly Court, asking them a question.

"Marshal Tianpeng led 80,000 naval troops down to the mortal realm without authorization to attack Flower Fruit Mountain. He even stirred up the Boundless Weak Water, polluting the East Sea."

"Now, not only has the human race's Huoyun Cave come to demand an explanation, but even the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, wants me to give him an explanation."

"Tell me, how should this matter be handled? We can't very well have our Heavenly Court directly wage war against the human and dragon races, can we?"

As soon as the Jade Emperor finished speaking, the entire Lingxiao Palace fell into complete silence. Even Taibai Jinxing, who always understood the Jade Emperor's thoughts best, was at a loss as to how to share his burden.

Just then, the sound of jade shattering echoed throughout the Lingxiao Palace. It was General Curtain-Raising, who was standing beside the Jade Emperor, who had accidentally broken the Jade Emperor's glass cup.

This sudden scene inevitably attracted everyone's attention. Even the Jade Emperor was somewhat surprised.

Little did they know that the Curtain-Rolling General's breaking of the glass goblet was not unintentional. Rather, it was something Sun Wukong had secretly instructed him to do, in order to verify what he had said.

After all, General Curtain-Roller had served the Jade Emperor for thousands of years, and his loyalty to the Jade Emperor was self-evident.

Even after Sun Wukong recounted the whole story in detail, the Curtain-Rolling General still refused to believe it.

Left with no other option, Sun Wukong could only send the Curtain-Raising General to test the Jade Emperor. To see who held more weight in the Jade Emperor's heart—himself or a glass goblet. (End of Chapter)