Chapter 63

Auspicious clouds pierced through the cloud layers, ascending steadily.

Su Chen stood on the cloud’s edge, feeling the fierce Gang wind whipping his Daoist robe.

This was his first time ascending to Heaven.

Looking down, Huaguo Mountain had shrunk to a tiny green dot; beneath him stretched the vast Eastern Sea, and the magnificent landscape of Dongsheng Shenzhou lay fully visible.

Su Chen could not help but feel a pang of emotion.

Mortals on the earth see only a narrow patch of ground.

Immortals stand atop the nine heavens, gazing down upon the mortal realm.

This transcendent detachment is precisely what countless cultivators spend their lives pursuing.

Sun Wukong, beside him, was also ascending to Heaven for the first time—and he was even more excited than Su Chen.

He ran to the cloud’s edge to peer downward, then flipped somersaults across the clouds, never still for a moment.

Tai Bai Jin Xing watched his unrefined behavior, stroking his beard with a smile.

“Truly a wild, untamable demon-immortal,” he thought silently, yet spoke gently, continuing to explain the rules of Heaven to the two.

In truth, he spoke mostly for Su Chen—Sun Wukong wasn’t listening at all.

As they spoke, Tai Bai Jin Xing pointed ahead and said, “Great Sage, Young Master Su, look—before you, that golden-glowing gateway is the Southern Heavenly Gate. One of Heaven’s four portals, guarded by the Four Heavenly Kings and their celestial troops.”

Su Chen followed his gesture and saw, indeed, a colossal gateway standing atop the sea of clouds.

The gate, forged from some divine metal, shimmered with radiant light, wreathed in a thousand auspicious rays.

Above its arch, three golden characters—“Southern Heavenly Gate”—flourished in dragon-like script, radiating an supreme authority that suppressed all realms.

At the gate’s entrance stood rows of celestial soldiers clad in divine armor, wielding sacred weapons, their expressions solemn and imposing.

Even before the auspicious clouds drew near, Su Chen sensed the immense aura emanating from the celestial generals.

“So strong—even the weakest gatekeeper here must have at least a Human Immortal’s cultivation base!”

Su Chen’s heart tightened, gaining a more direct understanding of Heaven’s power.

Even the gatekeepers were this formidable.

What manner of dragons and tigers must dwell within Heaven’s inner halls?

In that light, Sun Wukong’s rebellion in Heaven truly made no sense.

Soon, the auspicious clouds arrived before the Southern Heavenly Gate.

The celestial guards recognized Tai Bai Jin Xing and dared not obstruct them; all bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Golden Star.”

“Your efforts are appreciated,” Tai Bai Jin Xing returned the bow courteously, gesturing behind him. “This is the Great Sage Sun Wukong, summoned by His Majesty’s decree to receive his title. This is the Great Sage’s younger brother, Su Chen.”

The celestial soldiers and officers turned their gazes upon Sun Wukong and Su Chen.

Their eyes brimmed with curiosity and scrutiny, especially toward Sun Wukong—marked by clear hostility.

Clearly, they had already heard of Sun Wukong’s havoc in the Dragon Palace and the Underworld.

Sun Wukong could not bear such stares—he glared and prepared to lash out.

Su Chen, without a word, coughed softly behind him.

Sun Wukong paused, remembering Su Chen’s warning before ascending, and forcibly suppressed his anger, merely snorting and turning his head away.

Tai Bai Jin Xing observed all this, and his estimation of Su Chen rose further.

“This Su Chen can actually control that monkey.”

He quickly led the two through the Southern Heavenly Gate and into Heaven.

Upon entering Heaven, the scene shifted once more.

Ten thousand rays of golden light rolled like crimson rainbows; a thousand auspicious wisps spewed from clouds and mist.

Jade pavilions and crystal palaces floated amid the sea of clouds, carved with ornate railings, painted eaves soaring skyward—endless splendor, boundless immortal aura.

Immortal cranes danced through the clouds; spiritual deer raced across jade grasses.

Sun Wukong was dazzled, scratching his head and pacing, his monkey eyes barely able to take it all in.

Su Chen was equally awestruck, but showed no outward reaction.

Tai Bai Jin Xing led them past countless heavenly palaces, straight to the outer steps of Lingxiao Precious Hall.

He told them to wait outside while he went ahead to announce them.

Soon, he emerged and said, “His Majesty’s decree: summon Great Sage Sun Wukong and Daoist Su Chen to the palace for audience.”

Sun Wukong, long impatient, stepped forward immediately.

Su Chen adjusted his Daoist robe and followed closely behind.

The two followed Tai Bai Jin Xing into the palace, symbol of the highest authority in the Three Realms.

As they entered, countless eyes instantly fixed upon them.

Those gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, disdain.

Su Chen looked up and saw the hall’s sides lined with civil and military celestial ministers.

Each dressed in elegant robes, radiating solemn dignity, their auras profound and unfathomable.

At the hall’s deepest recess, atop the high dais, sat a supreme sovereign clad in imperial robes, crowned with a flat-heaven crown.

Though seated motionless, he exuded an unmatched authority that governed all heavens and ruled all things—daring no one to meet his gaze.

He was the Lord of the Three Realms, the Jade Emperor.

Sun Wukong, by nature arrogant, knew nothing of court etiquette.

He merely stood in the hall, arms crossed, gazing around, too lazy to even glance at the Jade Emperor above.

His disrespectful demeanor instantly stirred discontent among the immortals.

Many gods and immortals already wore scowls.

Su Chen saw this and thought, “This is bad.”

He stepped forward quickly, before Sun Wukong could cause trouble, and bowed deeply to the Jade Emperor in a proper Daoist salute.

“Ordinary mortal cultivator Su Chen, pays homage to Jade Emperor, Great Celestial Sovereign.”

His humble posture and flawless etiquette softened the expressions of the court immortals.

Seeing his younger brother bow, Sun Wukong reluctantly, though unwillingly, raised his hands in a half-greeting.

“Old Monkey Sun Wukong, here.”

His awkward salute drew a chorus of quiet snickers.

The Jade Emperor acted as if he saw nothing, his gaze sweeping over Sun Wukong before speaking slowly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

“You are the demon-immortal from Huaguo Mountain—Sun Wukong?”

“That’s right, Old Monkey!” Sun Wukong replied, head held high.

The Jade Emperor nodded. “You are a celestial spirit born of heaven and earth, having cultivated to immortality. You should have pursued quiet cultivation, accumulated virtue. Yet your nature is unruly—you ravaged the Dragon Palace, stormed the Underworld, disrupted the order of the Three Realms. You deserve severe punishment.”

“But Tai Bai Jin Xing has repeatedly pleaded on your behalf, saying you are newly embodied, ignorant of heavenly law, and thus excusable. I, as a benevolent sovereign, cannot bear to see a celestial spirit fall into ruin. Therefore, I grant you a chance.”

The Jade Emperor’s voice was calm, yet carried unyielding authority.

“I hear you have styled yourself ‘Great Sage Equal to Heaven’ in the mortal realm?”

“That’s right!” Sun Wukong puffed out his chest, beaming with pride.

“Good!” The Jade Emperor clapped his hands in approval. “Such ambition is indeed remarkable.”

“Then today, I shall fulfill your wish—I appoint you ‘Great Sage Equal to Heaven.’ Your rank and title shall be as you desire. I also bestow upon you the ‘Great Sage Equal to Heaven Mansion,’ complete with celestial officials and attendants to serve you.”

“I hope that, after receiving this title, you will temper your nature, fulfill your duties, and no longer cause trouble—do not squander my earnest intentions!”

As the Jade Emperor finished, a celestial official stepped forward, bearing a jade seal.

Sun Wukong, upon hearing this, beamed with joy.

He had never expected this Jade Emperor to be so easygoing—truly granting him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

He took the jade seal, beaming as he raised his hands in thanks.

“Thank you, Jade Emperor!”

His lack of decorum once again drew shaking heads from the court immortals.

The Jade Emperor’s gaze then shifted from Sun Wukong to Su Chen.

“As for you, Su Chen...”