Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 154 The Battle of Wits in Chechi Kingdom (Twenty-Four)
When Ao Tu saw Nezha, he immediately turned his head away, pretending not to know him.

Upon seeing this, Nezha flew over curiously, stood in the air, and asked, "Don't you recognize me?"

Ao Tu said, "I recognize you. You are the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas."

Nezha said, "You lowly immortal from the mortal realm, how rude of you! Since you recognize me, why don't you bow?"

Ao Tu said, "I am new to the Heavenly Realm and do not know the rules, so I dare not make friends with anyone casually."

Upon hearing this, Nezha circled Ao Tu once, stroked his chin, and said:
"You Taoist priest, you don't look like someone who would dare to do that at all."

Ao Tu didn't want to get entangled with Nezha, and said:
"Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, I see all the gods in the hall, but you are not here. Do you have official business to attend to?"

Nezha said, "I am seriously injured, so I do not need to come to the hall."

Ao Tu was startled and quickly asked, "Seriously injured?"

Upon hearing this, Nezha suddenly looked over and stared intently at Ao Tu.

Ao Tu quickly composed himself and asked, "Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, what's wrong?"

Nezha said, "Your reaction just now was somewhat like that of someone I know."

In Nezha's eyes, the momentary urgency on Tai Xi Zhenren's face when he heard that he was injured was exactly the same as that of that damned demon dragon.

In fact, Ao Tu had just inadvertently revealed a flaw.

Ao Tu's current body is not an avatar, but a transformation he made using the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. Upon hearing the news of Nezha's serious injury, Ao Tu was momentarily surprised and inadvertently revealed some of his true form's reactions, which is why Nezha noticed him.

This is actually normal. Just like Wukong, after transforming, he often couldn't help but laugh like a monkey.

If Ao Tu had appeared in front of Wukong, it wouldn't have been a big deal, since Wukong thought he was dead and wasn't on guard, so he probably wouldn't have cared too much; but Nezha is different.

Nezha knew that Ao Tu was not dead, so he immediately became suspicious.

Ao Tu, however, was unaware that Nezha had already discovered his feigned death.

Ao Tu said, "The Great God of the Three Altars and Seas must have misjudged. I just didn't expect that even the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas could be injured."

Nezha approached and stared at Ao Tu, saying, "I was injured because of some heartless bastard!"

Ao Tu's expression remained unchanged.

He had been caught off guard just now, and only reacted inadvertently when he heard the news of Nezha's injury. Now that he was on guard, he naturally didn't reveal any flaws.

At this moment, a divine official came out and said, "Summon the wandering immortal from the mortal realm, the True Man of the Western Paradise."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu hurriedly went to the palace and paid his respects to the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor said, "True Man Taixi, listen to my decree. I hereby bestow upon you the title of True Lord Taixi, to govern the Flower Realm of the Heaven of Separation and Hatred, and to be the Lord of the Flower Realm."

Ao Tu accepted the imperial decree and expressed his gratitude.

Wukong objected, saying, "Your Majesty, when I ascended to Heaven, you appointed me as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, saying, 'All official positions are granted from the lowest to the highest, why do you complain about the small position?' Why have you appointed me as a True Lord today?"

Upon hearing this, all the immortals laughed.

The Jade Emperor laughed and said, "Wukong, it is only because of your strong recommendation that I have been granted the title of True Lord Taixi Zhenren."

Upon hearing this, Wukong's reluctance dissipated, and he smiled as he said to Ao Tu:

"Old Taoist priest, listen to me, it's all thanks to my recommendation that you were able to get by. Otherwise, you would have ended up as a lowly servant like Bi Hua Wen or Bi Cao Wen, and you wouldn't have the success you have today. Hurry up and thank me, Old Sun!"

Ao Tu smiled and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your recommendation, Great Sage!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong's smile widened.

The Jade Emperor then issued another decree, ordering the two craftsmen Zhang and Lu to build a palace in the Flower Realm for Ao Tu. He also bestowed upon Ao Tu a hundred golden flowers, ten bottles of imperial wine, and ten bolts of celestial brocade, instructing him to perform his duties diligently.

Ao Tu thanked the emperor again.

A celestial official, bearing gifts, led Ao Tu towards the Realm of Separation from Hatred and the Flower Realm.

Wukong descended to the mortal realm, but we'll leave that aside for now.

Let's start with Ao Tu.

The celestial official led him to the Flower Realm, where 1,200 female and 1,200 male celestial beings were already waiting outside.

The celestial official arrived with Ao Tu and read out the Jade Emperor's decree. Upon hearing this, all the male and female immortals knelt down and said, "Greetings, True Lord!"

Ao Tu glanced around and saw that most of the male and female immortals looked quite similar. After passing the Celestial Pool, they all had the same celestial skin and jade-like bones, with only a few exceptions. Ao Tu saw Jiang Zhu among them, recognized her, but did not call out to her. Instead, he said to the other immortals, "Get up."

The immortals rose.

Among the immortals, Mingniang saw the appearance of Zhenjun and realized that he was also an immortal with a dignified and venerable demeanor. She made up her mind that she must gain Zhenjun's favor.

The celestial official said, “True Lord, this is the Flower Realm. After you go in… Oh dear! How could I forget the talisman! This Flower Realm was originally given to the Queen Mother by the Supreme Lord Laozi. The talisman for entering and exiting must be obtained from the Tushita Palace. Please follow me, True Lord.”

Ao Tu laughed and said, "No need, I brought the talisman."

After speaking, Ao Tu took out the Taiji Talisman and activated it. The flower realm was immediately revealed upon sensing the activation.

Upon seeing this, the celestial official thought to himself, "He's indeed extraordinary. He claims to be a rogue cultivator from the lower realm, yet he possesses the talisman of the Tushita Palace. I've been in the Heavenly Court for so many years, and when have I ever seen a celestial position truly reserved for a rogue cultivator from the lower realm?"

The celestial official thought this to himself, but his face remained unchanged. He smiled and said to Ao Tu, "True Lord, please!"

Ao Tu and the celestial official stepped into the Flower Realm, followed by celestial officials responsible for receiving rewards, then by Zhang and Lu, the two craftsmen, and a group of artisans, and finally by more than two thousand male and female celestials.

The crowd entered in an orderly fashion.

Ao Tu had been here once before, so this time he was quite familiar with the place.

Those celestial officials and craftsmen frequently visited various celestial palaces and divine halls, and were not at all surprised by this place.

Only those male and female immortals, with a slightly narrower perspective, marveled at the infinite mysteries and boundless heavens of this realm.

The group was in a palace, surrounded by twenty-four halls and countless rooms of various sizes.

This is a resting place connecting the Flower Realm to the outside world, and also the residence of True Lord Ao Tu. Time flows at the same rate here as outside, but it is somewhat dilapidated due to long-term neglect.

The two craftsmen, Zhang and Lu, led their men to rebuild the palace, employing the magical construction techniques of immortals, and soon the palace was completed.

Above the palace, a new plaque with golden characters has been erected.

It was then said: "Taixi Flower Realm".

Below are twenty-four halls, each with its own department, such as the Morning Department, Evening Department, Night Department, Spring Department, Summer Department, and so on, according to their respective duties.

After the palace was completed, the two craftsmen, Zhang and Lu, paid their respects to Ao Tu and then left with the other craftsmen.

After the celestial officials and others carefully put away the gifts bestowed by the Jade Emperor, they took their leave.

Next, it will be Ao Tu's turn to manage this flower realm.

The twelve hundred female immortals and twelve hundred male immortals waited anxiously for Ao Tu's orders.

Outside, the celestial officials and others had just left the Flower Realm when they saw Wukong riding the cloud over.

The celestial official hurriedly bowed and said, "Great Sage."

Wukong said, "Where is Taixi Zhenjun? I need to see him."

The celestial official said, "It's inside."

Just then, the celestial officials and others came out, and the Flower Realm was not yet closed, so Wukong hurriedly entered.

When Ao Tu saw Wukong approaching, he asked knowingly, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"

Wukong said, "It's all because of your disciple, he..."

Ao Tu said, "My disciple? What happened to him? Great Sage, don't be anxious, tell me slowly. Um, quickly make some tea for Great Sage."

Ao Tu casually pointed to Jiang Zhu, who was twelfth in the second row.

Jiangzhu was taken aback for a moment, then hurried out to make tea.

All the female immortals cast envious glances their way.

Mingniang thought to herself in the crowd, "How could it be her? What good luck!"

Jiangzhu brewed some celestial tea, and Aotu leisurely handed it to Wukong.

Here, the system's blocking period increases by one day every so often.

Wukong sipped his tea and said, "Your disciple is too rigid, he..."

　Bonus chapter for last month's monthly pass

　　
　
(End of this chapter)