As soon as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Monkey King emerged from the depths of the cave, they soared into the clouds together. However, Monkey King's somersault cloud was incredibly fast, leaving the Great White Planet far behind and reaching the Southern Heavenly Gate first. Just as he was about to descend and enter, he was blocked by King of Growth and a group of heavenly soldiers, armed with spears, knives, swords, and halberds. The Monkey King thought to himself, "That Great White Planet is really cunning! He invited me here, yet he let these people block my way with weapons?" Just as he was complaining, the Great White Planet arrived. Seeing him, the Monkey King angrily said, "You old rascal, how dare you deceive me? You said you were inviting me on the Jade Emperor's orders, so why are these people blocking the gate, not letting me in?" The Great White Planet chuckled and said, "Calm down, Great Sage. You haven't been to heaven before and don't have a title yet. The heavenly soldiers don't recognize you, so how could they let you in just like that? Once you've met the Heavenly Sovereign and received your celestial title, you can come and go as you please, and no one will stop you." The Monkey King replied, "Well, if that's the case, I won't go in." The Great White Planet quickly persuaded him, "Please, come inside with me."
As they approached the gate, the Great White Planet shouted, "Generals of the Heavenly Gate, officers and soldiers, make way! This is an immortal from the mortal realm, and I am here to escort him by the Jade Emperor's decree." Only then did the King of Growth and the heavenly soldiers put away their weapons and step aside. The Monkey King finally believed him and followed the Great White Planet inside, taking in the sights. Truly, it was: the first ascent to the heavenly realm, just entering paradise, with golden rays everywhere and auspicious clouds all around. The Southern Heavenly Gate was a sight to behold, made of translucent green glass and glazed tiles, radiant and magnificent, adorned with precious gems. On either side stood dozens of celestial marshals, each leaning on pillars, holding ceremonial axes and banners; around them were several golden-armored deities, each wielding halberds and whips, brandishing swords and spears. The exterior was impressive enough, but the interior was truly astounding: the walls had large pillars wrapped with red-bearded dragons with golden scales glistening in the sun; there were also long bridges with red-crested phoenixes soaring above.
The brilliant glow of the clouds illuminated the sky, while the emerald mist veiled the stars. In the heavens, there were thirty-three palaces, such as the Palace of Dispatched Clouds, the Palace of Vishnu, the Palace of Five Brightness, the Palace of the Sun, the Palace of Flower Medicine... Each palace had rooftops adorned with golden beasts; and seventy-two treasure halls, such as the Hall of Morning Assembly, the Hall of Lingering Emptiness, the Hall of Treasure Light, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Hall of Spiritual Officers... Each hall had pillars carved with jade qilins. On the Longevity Star Terrace, there were famous flowers that never withered for a thousand years; near the alchemy furnace, there were embroidered grasses that remained evergreen for ten thousand years. They then arrived at the Holy Pilgrimage Tower, where red gauze robes shone like stars; lotus crowns gleamed with golden brilliance. Jade hairpins, pearl shoes, purple ribbons, and golden seals. When the golden bell tolled, the celestial officials presented their reports at the jade steps; when the heavenly drum sounded, myriad saints paid homage to the Jade Emperor. Finally, they reached the Hall of Miraculous Clouds, with golden nails adorning jade doors and colorful phoenixes dancing on vermilion gates.
The corridors and passageways were exquisitely crafted; the triple eaves and quadruple clusters were adorned with layers of dragons and phoenixes soaring. Above was a majestic purple dome with a bright and smooth golden gourd top; below were heavenly maidens holding fans and jade girls presenting celestial towels. The heavenly generals overseeing the court were imposing, and the immortal ministers accompanying the emperor were dignified. In the center, a glass tray held layers upon layers of Taiyi Elixirs; a crystal bottle contained twisted branches of coral trees. Truly, the heavenly palace was filled with rare treasures beyond compare, unmatched in the mortal world. Golden palaces, silver pavilions, and purple mansions, exotic flowers, and jade grass along with precious blooms. The Monkey King was fortunate to have reached the heavenly realm, no longer tainted by the dust of the mortal world.
The Great White Planet led the Monkey King to the outside of the Lingxiao Palace. Without waiting for an announcement, they went directly before the Jade Emperor and paid their respects. The Monkey King stood to the side, not bowing, but listening intently to the Great White Planet's report. The Great White Planet reported, "I have followed the imperial decree and brought the demon immortal." The Jade Emperor, from behind the curtain, asked, "Which one is the demon immortal?" Only then did the Monkey King bow and reply, "I am the one!" The celestial ministers were all shocked and exclaimed, "This wild monkey! How dare he not bow in respect and answer so boldly with 'I am the one!' Such insolence!" The Jade Emperor decreed, "The Sun Wukong is a demon immortal from the mortal realm, newly transformed into human form, and unfamiliar with court etiquette. Let him be pardoned for now." The celestial ministers all thanked the Jade Emperor in unison, and only then did the Monkey King perform a grand salute. The Jade Emperor ordered the civil and martial celestial ministers to see where there was a vacancy for an official position and assigned Sun Wukong accordingly. The Star Lord of Martial Affairs stepped forward and reported, "In the heavenly palace, all palaces and halls, everywhere, have no vacancies except for the position of chief steward at the Imperial Stables." The Jade Emperor decreed, "Let him be the 'Stable Attendant' then." All the ministers thanked the Emperor, and the Monkey King performed another grand salute. The Jade Emperor then sent the Star Lord of Wood Virtue to escort him to the Imperial Stables to assume his duties.
At that time, the Monkey King joyfully went with the Star Lord of Wood Virtue to take up his post. Once the task was completed, the Star Lord returned to the palace. At the stables, the Monkey King gathered the assistant managers, deputies, record keepers, and laborers, along with all the officials, to familiarize himself with the duties of the stables, which included a thousand celestial horses. These horses were:
Stalwart and swift, noble and elegant; dragon steeds and purple swallows, winged and swift; silver-maned and flying yellow; powerful and radiant, red rabbits surpassing light; outshining brilliance, soaring above the clouds; chasing the wind, flying across the sky; swift like red lightning, floating like clouds; with purple scales and tiger-like markings, leaving dust behind; from the four corners of the world, the eight steeds and nine elites, unmatched over a thousand miles: These fine horses, one by one, spirited and vigorous, galloped like the wind, and their strength grew as they trod on clouds.
The Monkey King, after reviewing the records and counting the horses, found that at the Imperial Stables, the record keeper was responsible for preparing the fodder; the laborers were tasked with washing the horses, gathering grass, providing water, and cooking feed; the assistant managers and deputies assisted in overseeing these tasks. As for the Stable Attendant, he worked tirelessly day and night, attending to the horses. During the day, it was manageable, but at night, he had to be particularly attentive, waking the horses to graze when they slept and bringing them back to the trough when they wandered. As a result, the celestial horses became very obedient, each growing plump and strong. Time flew by, and half a month passed quickly. One day, during some leisure time, the officials of the stables organized a banquet to welcome the Monkey King and celebrate his new appointment.
While enjoying the feast, the Monkey King suddenly paused and asked, "What kind of official title is this 'Stable Attendant'?" Everyone replied, "That is the title." The Monkey King asked again, "What rank is this position?" They answered, "It has no rank." The Monkey King thought, "No rank, it must be a very high position." Everyone quickly explained, "Not high at all, it's just 'unranked.'" The Monkey King was puzzled, "What does 'unranked' mean?" They explained, "It's the lowest of positions, the smallest and most insignificant, merely overseeing horses. Even if you diligently feed the horses well, you would only earn a 'good' remark. If they are slightly underfed, you would be criticized; if severely neglected, you would be punished." Upon hearing this, the Monkey King felt a surge of anger, gritting his teeth, he said, "How dare they look down on me like this! I was a king and ancestor on Flower Fruit Mountain, how could I be tricked into tending their horses? Tending horses is for the young and inexperienced, not for someone like me! I quit! I'm leaving!" With that, the Monkey King flipped the table, pulled out his magical staff from his ear, shook it until it grew thick as a bowl, and stormed out of the Imperial Stables, heading straight for the Southern Heavenly Gate. The heavenly soldiers and generals, knowing he was the Stable Attendant, dared not stop him and let him exit the heavenly gate.
Before long, the Monkey King descended from the clouds and returned to Flower Fruit Mountain. He found the Four Great Marshals and the demon kings from various caves drilling their troops. The Monkey King shouted loudly, "Little ones! Old Sun is back!" A group of monkeys quickly came to kowtow and welcome him into the depths of the cave, inviting him to sit on the throne while they prepared a feast to celebrate his return. Everyone said, "Congratulations, Great King! You've been away in the celestial realm for over ten years. You must have returned with great success and honor!" The Monkey King replied, "I've only been gone for a little over half a month, not ten years!" The monkeys said, "Great King, you may not have noticed the passage of time in heaven. A day in the heavens is a year on earth. May we ask what position you held?" The Monkey King shook his head and sighed, "It's hard to say, truly hard to say! It's embarrassing! The Jade Emperor doesn't know how to use talent. Seeing my appearance, he appointed me as a 'Stable Attendant,' which is just a horse keeper, without any rank. When I first took the position, I didn't know, so I just muddled through at the Imperial Stables. Today I asked my colleagues and found out it was such a lowly position. I was very displeased, flipped the table, quit, and came back." The monkeys said, "Well done! Well done! Great King, you are so noble and happy here in this blessed cave, why should you go to be their stableman?" They then ordered, "Prepare some wine, quickly, to cheer up the Great King."
While they were happily drinking, someone came to report, "Great King, there are two One-Horned Demon Kings outside wanting to see you." The Monkey King said, "Let them in." The demon kings tidied their clothes and rushed into the cave, bowing deeply. The Monkey King asked, "What brings you to see me?" The demon kings said, "We've long heard that the Great King recruits talents and welcomes heroes, so we've come to pay our respects. We heard that you were granted a heavenly position and returned with honor, so we brought a reddish-yellow robe as a gift to congratulate you. We hope you won't disdain us and will accept us, so we can serve you loyally." The Monkey King was delighted, put on the reddish-yellow robe, and everyone lined up to pay homage. He immediately appointed the demon kings as vanguard commanders. After thanking him, the demon kings asked, "How long were you in heaven, and what position were you given?" The Monkey King said, "The Jade Emperor underestimated my talent and made me a 'Stable Attendant'!" Upon hearing this, the demon kings suggested, "With your great powers, Great King, why serve as a horse keeper for him? Why not proclaim yourself 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven'? Wouldn't that be better?" The Monkey King was overjoyed and exclaimed his approval, instructing the Four Great Marshals, "Quickly make me a banner with the words 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven' and hang it up at once. From now on, call me Great Sage Equal to Heaven, not Great King. Inform all the demon kings in the caves as well." And so it was done.
The next day, the Jade Emperor held court, and Celestial Master Zhang led the assistant managers and deputies of the Imperial Stables to kneel below the steps, saying, "Your Majesty, the newly appointed Stable Attendant, Sun Wukong, was dissatisfied with his position and fled the heavenly palace yesterday." Just as they were speaking, the Growth King from the Southern Heavenly Gate also came with heavenly soldiers to report, "The Stable Attendant somehow managed to leave the gate." Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor immediately decreed, "Let all the celestial beings return to their posts, and I will send heavenly soldiers to capture this demon." At this moment, Li Tianwang, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince, stepped forward and requested, "Your Majesty, we are willing to subdue this demon." The Jade Emperor was pleased and appointed Li Jing as the Grand Marshal of Conquering Demons and Nezha as the Great God of the Three Altars and Sea Meetings, ordering them to set out immediately.
After thanking the Emperor, Li Tianwang and Nezha returned to their palace, assembled their troops, and led their commanders, appointing the Giant Spirit God as the vanguard, with the Fish-Belly General at the rear and the Yaksha General urging the troops. Before long, they exited the Southern Heavenly Gate and headed straight for Flower Fruit Mountain. They chose a flat area to set up camp and ordered the Giant Spirit God to issue a challenge. The Giant Spirit God received the order, prepared himself, and wielded his flower axe, arriving outside the Water Curtain Cave. There, he saw a group of demons and monsters, wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards, brandishing spears and swords, leaping and roaring. The Giant Spirit God shouted, "You beasts! Go tell the Stable Attendant that I am a great general from heaven, sent by the Jade Emperor to subdue him. Let him come out and surrender quickly, to spare you all from disaster." The little demons hurried into the cave, reporting in a panic, "Something's happened! Something's happened!" The Monkey King asked, "What happened?" The demons said, "Outside, there's a heavenly general claiming to be a Great Sage, saying he's here by the Jade Emperor's order to subdue us and telling us to surrender quickly to save our lives." Upon hearing this, the Monkey King ordered, "Bring me my armor!" He donned his purple-gold crown, golden armor, and cloud-walking shoes, wielding his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Magic Golden Staff), and led his demons outside, arranging them in formation. The Giant Spirit God looked closely and saw indeed a formidable Monkey King:
Clad in golden armor that shone brightly, wearing a golden crown that sparkled brilliantly. Holding a golden staff, stepping on cloud shoes, truly a perfect match. His eyes were as bright as stars, his ears strong and robust. His posture upright, capable of myriad transformations, his voice loud as a bell. The sharp-toothed, fierce Stable Attendant, with high ambitions, sought to be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
The Giant Spirit God shouted loudly, "You wretched monkey! Do you recognize me?" The Great Sage quickly asked, "Which deity are you? Old Sun has never seen you before. State your name quickly." The Giant Spirit God replied, "You deceitful monkey! Of course, you don't recognize me! I am the vanguard under the command of Li Tianwang, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, the Giant Spirit General! By the decree of the Jade Emperor, I have come here to subdue you. Surrender your armor and submit to the heavenly grace, or else all the demons on this mountain will suffer. If you dare utter a single word of defiance, I will turn you to dust in an instant!" Hearing this, the Monkey King was filled with anger, "You blustering god, stop boasting! I was going to kill you with one strike, but I need someone to deliver a message. I'll spare your life; go back to the heavenly court and tell the Jade Emperor: he truly doesn't know how to use talent! With my limitless abilities, why was I made to tend his horses? Look at the title on my banner. If he promotes me according to this title, I will not raise a sword, and peace will naturally prevail. If not, I will storm the Hall of Miraculous Mist, and he won't be able to sit steadily on his dragon throne!" The Giant Spirit God, hearing this, quickly looked upwind and indeed saw a tall pole outside the gate with a banner that read "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." The Giant Spirit God laughed coldly three times, "This wretched monkey, truly ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth, dares to call himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! Taste my axe!" With that, he swung his axe down. But the Monkey King was no easy opponent; he brandished his golden staff to meet the attack. This was a fierce fight:
The staff named Ruyi, the axe called Xuanhua. In their first clash, neither could gain the upper hand; the axe and staff struck left and right. One concealed profound skills, the other boasted shamelessly. They used their magic, conjuring clouds and mist; they displayed their tricks, scattering dust and sand. The celestial general had his divine powers, and the Monkey King's transformations were endless. The staff moved like a dragon playing in water, the axe came like a phoenix piercing flowers. The Giant Spirit was renowned across the land, but his skills were inferior; the Great Sage lightly swung his iron staff, making the Giant Spirit feel numb all over. The Giant Spirit God couldn't withstand it, and with a swing of the Monkey King's staff, he hurriedly blocked with his axe, only to hear a "crack" as the axe handle broke in two. He quickly retreated to save his life. The Monkey King laughed, "Coward! Coward! I've spared you, now go deliver the message! Go deliver the message!"
The Giant Spirit God returned to the camp gate, knelt before the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and hurriedly reported, "The Stable Attendant indeed possesses great powers! I was unable to defeat him and have returned in defeat to face punishment." Li Tianwang was furious, "This scoundrel has dulled my edge, take him out and execute him!" Nezha, the Third Prince, quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Father, calm your anger. Spare the Giant Spirit's life and allow me to go to battle; then we will know the depth of his powers." The Heavenly King, heeding the advice, temporarily let the Giant Spirit return to the camp to await punishment.
Nezha, fully armed, charged out of the camp with great momentum, heading straight for the Water Curtain Cave. Sun Wukong was about to withdraw his troops when he saw Nezha approaching fiercely, causing him to be cautious. Speaking of this prince, he indeed was:
Young and clever, with a spirited demeanor and an innate elegance. Truly a celestial child, a phoenix of the immortal realm. Equipped with six divine weapons, capable of endless transformations, wielding immense power. Now, by the Jade Emperor's decree, he is titled the Great God of the Three Altars and Sea Meetings. Sun Wukong approached and asked, "Which family's young lad are you, coming to my doorstep?" Nezha shouted, "Wretched monkey! Don't you recognize me? I am Nezha, the Third Prince of Li Tianwang, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and I am here by the Jade Emperor's order to capture you." Sun Wukong laughed, "Little prince, your teeth haven't even fully grown, yet you dare speak such big words? I won't fight you. Look at the title on my banner and go tell the Jade Emperor: if he grants me this official title, I will submit; otherwise, I will storm the Hall of Miraculous Mist." Nezha looked up and indeed saw the four characters "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." He disdainfully said, "What ability does this demon monkey have to dare call himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Fear not, take my sword!" Sun Wukong calmly said, "I will stand still and let you strike a few times." Enraged, Nezha shouted "Transform!" and instantly turned into a three-headed, six-armed form, wielding six weapons, fiercely attacking Sun Wukong. Seeing this, Sun Wukong was startled, "This little fellow really has some skills! Let's not be rude, see my magic!" The Great Sage also shouted "Transform," becoming three-headed and six-armed, his golden staff splitting into three, wielded in his six hands to meet the attack. This battle of magic was truly earth-shattering and spectacular:
The six-armed Prince Nezha faced the naturally born stone Monkey King, truly a match of equals, a meeting of talents. One was sent to the mortal realm by decree, the other was causing chaos. The demon-slaying sword was sharp and exposed, the demon-cutting sword was fierce and ruthless; the demon-binding rope like a flying python, the demon-subduing cudgel like a wolf's head; the fire wheels flashing like lightning, the embroidered ball rolling back and forth. The Great Sage's three Ruyi staffs blocked and defended, strategizing and planning. The two fought to a standstill, Nezha unwilling to yield, his six weapons turning into thousands, all striking at Sun Wukong. The Monkey King, undaunted, laughed heartily, his iron staff swirling, one becoming a thousand, a thousand becoming ten thousand, dancing chaotically in the sky. The demon kings of the caves shut their doors, the ghosts and monsters on the mountain hid their heads. The celestial soldiers were filled with anger, the sound of the iron staff echoed loudly. On one side, the heavenly soldiers shouted, everyone afraid; on the other, the monkey demons waved flags, each worried. Both sides fought fiercely and bravely, neither willing to show weakness.
Nezha and Sun Wukong each displayed their divine powers, battling for thirty rounds. Nezha's six weapons transformed into thousands, while Sun Wukong's golden staff also multiplied into countless numbers, raining down like meteors in the sky, making it difficult to determine a winner. With quick hands and sharp eyes, Wukong pulled out a strand of his hair amidst the chaos, shouting "Transform!" to create a clone of himself wielding the golden staff to continue fighting Nezha. Meanwhile, his true form leaped behind Nezha and struck him on the left shoulder with his staff. Nezha, caught off guard by the swift attack, was struck and fled in pain. He retracted his magic and weapons, retreating in defeat.
Li Tianwang had seen everything and was eager to assist in battle. Nezha, trembling, came forward and reported, "Father! The Stable Attendant is indeed formidable! Even with my powers, I couldn't defeat him and was injured by his strike." The Heavenly King was shocked, "With such divine abilities, how can we triumph?" Nezha replied, "There's a banner outside his cave with the words 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven.' He claims that if the Jade Emperor grants him this title, all matters will be resolved; otherwise, he will storm the Hall of Miraculous Mist!" The Heavenly King said, "In that case, let's not engage him head-on for now. Let's return to the celestial realm and report this matter, then send more heavenly soldiers to capture him." Nezha, injured and unable to continue fighting, returned to heaven with his father to report.
Meanwhile, the Monkey King returned triumphantly to the mountain, where the demon kings of seventy-two caves and his six brothers came to celebrate. In the blessed cave, they drank and reveled joyously. The Monkey King said to his six brothers, "Since I am titled the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, you too can take on the title of Great Sage." The Bull Demon King suddenly proclaimed, "Well said, dear brother. I shall be the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven." The Dragon Demon King said, "I shall be the Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas." The Roc Demon King said, "I shall be the Great Sage Who Confounds Heaven." The Lion Camel King said, "I shall be the Great Sage Who Moves Mountains." The Macaque King said, "I shall be the Great Sage Who Communicates with the Wind." The Baboon King said, "I shall be the Great Sage Who Drives Away Spirits." Thus, the seven Great Sages each took a resounding title, and they all enjoyed a day of merriment before dispersing.
As for Li Tianwang and Prince Nezha, they led their generals straight to the Hall of Miraculous Mist to report to the Jade Emperor, "We were sent to subdue the demon monkey Sun Wukong, but his powers are vast, and we could not succeed. We request additional forces to eliminate him." The Jade Emperor, slightly displeased, said, "It's just a demon monkey. How powerful can he be that more forces are needed?" Nezha quickly stepped forward, "Please pardon my offense, Your Majesty! That demon monkey used an iron staff to first defeat the Giant Spirit God, then injured my shoulder. He has a banner outside his cave with the words 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven.' He claims that if granted this title, he will submit; otherwise, he will storm the Hall of Miraculous Mist." The Jade Emperor, surprised, said, "This demon monkey is so audacious! Order the generals to kill him immediately." At this moment, the Star Lord Taibai stepped forward and advised, "The demon monkey only speaks arrogantly without knowing his limits. If we send troops to fight him, it may take time to subdue him and cause unnecessary trouble. It would be better for Your Majesty to show great mercy, issue a decree to grant him amnesty, and give him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but only as an honorary title without real power or salary." The Jade Emperor asked, "What does 'a title without salary' mean?" Taibai explained, "He would be titled the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in name, but without specific duties or salary, allowing him to remain peaceful in the celestial realm, thus ensuring peace throughout the world." The Jade Emperor, finding the suggestion reasonable, agreed and ordered Taibai to deliver the decree of amnesty.
Taibai Jinxing once again arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate and headed straight for the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain. This time, unlike before, the demons on the mountain were all imposing and fierce, brandishing various weapons and roaring. Upon seeing Taibai, they immediately moved to attack. He quickly said, "Leaders, please inform your Great Sage that I am an envoy from the celestial realm with an imperial decree to deliver." The demons hurried inside to report, "There's an old man outside claiming to be a heavenly envoy with a decree for you." Sun Wukong, delighted, said, "Good, good! It must be Taibai Jinxing from last time. Although the position wasn't high, it allowed me to visit the celestial realm and learn the way in and out of the heavenly gates. This time, he must bring good news." He then instructed his leaders to prepare a formation to welcome the envoy, dressed himself neatly, and led the monkeys to greet Taibai Jinxing with a bow, "Old Star, please come in. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
Taibai Jinxing entered the cave, stood facing south, and said, "Great Sage, previously you left the Imperial Stables due to dissatisfaction with your position, leading to complaints from the officials to the Jade Emperor. The Emperor said, 'All appointed officials start small and grow in rank, why the dissatisfaction?' Thus, Li Tianwang and Nezha were sent to capture you. However, your divine powers were too great for them to succeed, and they returned in defeat. Later, I risked my life to petition on your behalf, asking the Jade Emperor to grant you amnesty, which is why I have come to invite you." Sun Wukong laughed, "Thank you for your efforts! But I wonder, is there such a title as 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven' in heaven?" Taibai replied, "I dared to come with this decree because of that title; if it weren't possible, it would be my fault."
Sun Wukong was overjoyed and wanted to invite Taibai for a drink, but Taibai declined. Together, they rode the clouds to the Southern Heavenly Gate, where the celestial soldiers and generals greeted them with bows. They proceeded directly to the Hall of Miraculous Mist, where Taibai Jinxing reported, "Your Majesty, I have brought the Stable Attendant Sun Wukong." The Jade Emperor said, "Sun Wukong, come forward. You are now appointed as the 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,' a very high position, but you must not cause any more trouble." Sun Wukong simply bowed and thanked him. The Jade Emperor then ordered the Ministry of Works, Zhang and Lu, to build a Great Sage Equal to Heaven Mansion beside the Peach Garden, with two departments: the Office of Tranquility and the Office of Peace of Mind, staffed with celestial officials for support. He also sent the Five Star Lords to escort Wukong to his post, gifting him two bottles of imperial wine and ten golden flowers, urging him to settle down and stop causing disturbances. The Monkey King gladly accepted, went with the Five Star Lords to his new residence, opened the wine, and drank with the others. After the Star Lords returned to the palace, Wukong was content, enjoying his time in the celestial realm without restraint. As the saying goes: "The immortal name remains forever in the record of eternal life, passing through the ages without entering the cycle of reincarnation." What happens next will be told in the following chapter.
