Chapter 66

"Eh... why not use magic to stimulate growth? Suddenly there's a lot of monkey hair, you can buy it anytime!" Tianpeng asked doubtfully. This simple method, logically speaking, shouldn't be hard to think of.

Mentioning this, Sun Wukong's face immediately darkened: "You think I don't want to?!"

"I once tried before, but the crystal ball fundamentally doesn't recognize monkey hair grown using magic; it only accepts naturally grown hair!"

"After seeing it, Master even laughed and said something strange, like 'You're bugging with me?'"

Sun Wukong doesn't know what a bug is, but that day, his memory is still fresh!

He basically can't remember which hairs were magic-grown; he spent a whole day in front of the crystal ball before removing the unusable monkey hair.

It almost killed him!

After that, he never did this again, and maybe because he was born from stone, his monkey hair doesn't grow very fast.

With this trade-off, it became his current appearance.

"Oh, that's how it is," Tianpeng breathed a sigh of relief. If there were no limits at all, it would be too heaven-defying.

"But..." Sun Wukong said thoughtfully: "Regarding this awakening through eating, I, Old Grandson, also have some insights."

Upon hearing there might be some technique, Tianpeng said obsequiously: "Monkey Brother, you're joking, you've eaten for nearly ten years, that counts as my senior cultivation clan honorific, if you have any techniques, you must tell me, your younger brother!"

Sun Wukong, pleased by the flattery, said: "Based on my years of experience, starting to eat the first bite on the hour makes awakening much more likely!"

"Is that so?" Tianpeng murmured. No wonder he hadn't awakened his third divine ability for a long time—the problem was here.

"Then you must sincerely recite in your heart the Chaos Residence Prayer for Good Fortune from Master." Sun Wukong added.

"Exactly right!" Tianpeng excitedly slapped his thigh, his face twisted for a moment before he recovered.

How could I forget this most crucial step? I must recite it—not just during meals, but morning, noon, and night from now on!

Heartfelt sincerity opens metal and stone!

Thinking of that unnamed magic treasure he just obtained, Tianpeng couldn't suppress his urge to try it.

Sun Wukong and Tianpeng were discussing how to eat to gain divine abilities when a little monkey suddenly burst in.

"Great King, there's a white-bearded old man outside saying he has important business to see the Great King!"

Someone else?

Sun Wukong instinctively thought the Heavenly Court had sent someone again to cause trouble, and snapped: "Whoever came, report your name and fate!"

The little monkey thought, then said: "That old man also wanted to say his name is something Gold something."

"It's Tai Bai Jin Xing!" Tianpeng blurted out.

"Tai Bai Jin Xing?"

Sun Wukong frowned, hearing the last three characters inexplicably feeling powerful, so he asked: "Do you know his strength? Is he strong? How does he compare to you?"

Tianpeng confidently said: "Monkey Brother, it's not about whether he's strong or not—he's a Heavenly Court civil official, definitely not here to fight."

"Then why did the Heavenly Court send him?"

"Because of me!" Tianpeng pointed at himself with both hands, boasting: "I'm a Marshal, captured by you, Monkey Brother, so he must have come to negotiate my release!"

"Ah, I see!" Sun Wukong rubbed his chin and nodded, thinking Tianpeng's words made some sense.

"Then let him in." Sun Wukong wanted to wave and order, but Tianpeng quickly stopped him.

"No, Monkey Brother, I'm your captive—if Tai Bai Jin Xing sees us laughing and chatting, and he reports back to the Jade Emperor, I'm doomed!" Tianpeng said anxiously.

"Then what should we do?"

Tianpeng rolled his eyes and said: "Monkey Brother, we..."

Outside the Water Curtain Cave, Tai Bai Jin Xing was pacing back and forth, his ruddy, lustrous face now slightly anxious.

"Little monkey, when can your king let the old Daoist in?" Tai Bai Jin Xing asked the monkey guarding him.

How long has this been!

The monkey rolled his eyes and said: "You old man, why the rush? Haven't you already reported in?"

After a while, the monkey who went to report came out leisurely and said: "Our king agrees, you may go in!"

Having been permitted, Tai Bai Jin Xing rushed inside with three steps made into two.

Originally, the empty space between the Water Curtain Cave and the ground had already been condensed by Sun Wukong's magic into a small bridge—no need to deliberately jump in.

Upon entering the center of the Water Curtain Cave, Tai Bai Jin Xing was about to bow.

"Hold it! Tianpeng Marshal, I ask you, surrender or not!" Only Sun Wukong was seen brandishing the Ruyi Knife at Tianpeng, fierce and menacing!

Meanwhile, opposite Sun Wukong, the Tianpeng who had been placed down was now bound with fivefold ropes.

At this moment, Tianpeng's eyes, swollen and bruised, held the gaze of one facing death calmly, fists clenched, glaring angrily at Sun Wukong.

"Ah pah! Delusional fantasy—I am the Tianpeng Marshal of the Heavenly Court, loyal to the Heavenly Court, you dare not shake my will in the slightest!"

"I, Tianpeng, would die for the Heavenly Court without regret!"

Tianpeng roared loudly, his voice so uplifting it stirred the hearts of listeners.

"Come on, kill me!" After shouting, Tianpeng closed his eyes, lifted his neck, presenting the aspect of one facing death calmly.

"You refuse the toast, you'll drink the forfeit—this is your own doing!"

Sun Wukong roared, the Ruyi Knife rose high, ready to chop down!

Seeing this, Tai Bai Jin Xing was so terrified his soul nearly fled, he hurriedly ran toward Sun Wukong while shouting: "Great Immortal, Great Immortal! Spare his life... ouch..."

Because he ran so fast, his robe's lower hem was too long, and he tripped, falling in a most undignified manner—like a dog eating dung.

Sun Wukong raised his eyebrows, exchanged a vague glance with Tianpeng, and thought: He probably fainted.

Striding over to Tai Bai Jin Xing, Sun Wukong said with a stern face: "Who are you, old man?"

Tai Bai Jin Xing got up, adjusted his robe, and revealed an extremely affable smile: "This old man is Tai Bai Jin Xing, a minor official under the Heavenly Court Jade Emperor; Tianpeng Marshal is an official of our Heavenly Court—Great Immortal, can you show mercy and open the net on one side?"

"Oh? So you're here to ransom him?"

"No, this old man is ordered to invite the Great Immortal to serve as an immortal official in the Heavenly Court!" Tai Bai Jin Xing said, shaking his head.

Tianpeng:???

It's not even coming to ransom anyone, old man—what's the point of putting on an act then!

Sun Wukong, recalling what Tianpeng had just said, couldn't help but chuckle, his interest piqued: "Well then, out with it—what immortal post do you plan to give this Old Grandson?"

Eh...

Tai Bai Jin Xing hesitated for a moment—he hadn't mentioned that either.

Bowing respectfully, he spoke kindly: "Great Immortal, as long as you follow this old man to Heaven, your official position will be fully satisfied."

Not bad either, Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Then this Old Grandson shall give it a try."

He possesses various divine abilities at his disposal; even if the Heavenly Court returns, he still has sufficient confidence to return safely.

Incidentally unbinding Tianpeng, Sun Wukong instructed the Monkey Troop, then ascended to Heaven—Tianpeng, fearing embarrassment, directly retreated to his manor under the pretense of recuperating from injury.