Chapter 109: A Sugar Bean?

Sun Wukong had already departed from the Flat Peach Garden. As for the immobilization spell he had cast, it would take the Seven Fairies at least two hours to break free, given their level of cultivation.

"Release."

Hidden in the shadows, Yuan Wuji secretly dispelled the immobilization spell on the youngest fairy. He had no intention of concerning himself with the others. He then flew toward the Tushita Palace.

According to the records of the Western Journey from his past life, the Seven Fairies would go to complain to the Jade Emperor after two hours. By that time, Sun Wukong would have already successfully stolen and consumed Taishang Laojun's Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs. This meant that for these two hours, the Tushita Palace was absolutely secure.

"Eldest Sister, I think I can move now!"

Upon discovering that her immobilization spell had been lifted, the youngest fairy looked with confusion at the other six fairies and the local deity, who remained frozen.

"But why can’t we move?" the Sixth Sister shouted.

"Sixth Sister, don't be anxious. Little Sister can move now. We can send her to fetch reinforcements," the Eldest Sister said, her eyes fixed on the youngest. At this moment, the youngest fairy was their only hope.

"Understood, Eldest Sister! I’ll go summon reinforcements immediately!" With that, the youngest fairy flew off in a rush toward a specific direction.

Had Yuan Wuji been there, he would have realized that the direction she headed was precisely toward the Mansion of the Great General of Divine Monkeys. This, as it would turn out, would cause Yuan Wuji a bit of trouble later on. However, at this moment, Yuan Wuji was not thinking that far ahead; his mind was entirely consumed by the Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs within the Tushita Palace.

The Tushita Palace was currently deserted. Yuan Wuji could sense no aura, suggesting that Taishang Laojun had withdrawn all the acolytes from the palace.

Yuan Wuji slipped into the Tushita Palace through a gap in the door.

He was met with an intense wave of heat. A massive alchemical furnace appeared before him; even from a distance, he could feel the scorching heat within. Yuan Wuji felt as if the monkey fur on his body might ignite at any moment.

To his surprise, however, the seed of the Samadhi True Fire in his dantian became exceptionally excited. The Samadhi True Fire, which had felt somewhat unstable despite being nourished, began to lose that sense of fragility after he lingered near the furnace for a short while. Yuan Wuji realized that if he were to cultivate near the furnace, the Samadhi True Fire within him would surely grow stronger rather than remaining volatile.

But there was no time for cultivation; his primary mission was to steal the golden elixirs. Taishang Laojun seemed to have feared that Sun Wukong might not find them, for the location of the elixirs was remarkably conspicuous. Yuan Wuji spotted them at a glance.

There were three full gourds of Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs.

No barrier or even a minor formation had been set up nearby. Yuan Wuji easily obtained one gourd of the elixirs. He dared not take more; Sun Wukong would eventually be placed into the alchemical furnace by Taishang Laojun, and if he took too much, he could not guarantee that something unforeseen might happen to the Monkey King.

Thinking of this, Yuan Wuji took ten pills from the gourd in his hand and placed them back into the other two gourds. Having secured his prize, Yuan Wuji left the Tushita Palace with great speed, not lingering a moment longer.

Before Yuan Wuji returned to the Mansion of the Great General of Divine Monkeys, two familiar figures had departed from it. When he finally arrived, the heavenly soldiers at the gate attempted to say something to him, but with his mind still on the Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, he silenced them with a gesture and strode quickly into the mansion.

Within the mansion, there was a private cultivation chamber, and Yuan Wuji retreated into it. He held a single, shimmering golden elixir in his hand, turning it over. Even from the aura it emitted, he could tell it would be of great benefit to his cultivation.

"Hmm?"

After consuming one of the Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, Yuan Wuji discovered something amiss. The Nine-Turn Golden Elixir was a miraculous medicinal pill meant to enhance metal-element cultivation, and it was supposed to have no side effects.

To his surprise, the moment the elixir was swallowed, it was shredded by the Geng Metal Qi within his body. It was as if he had merely eaten a sugar cube; aside from the taste, it had no effect at all.

Refusing to believe it, Yuan Wuji sent a large quantity of the elixirs from the gourd into his body, but the result was the same as the first time: they were all shredded by the Geng Metal Qi.

This...

Yuan Wuji was speechless for a long time. Had this trip been in vain? He had prepared himself for a period of seclusion, but it seemed entirely unnecessary now. Only seven of the stolen elixirs remained; the rest had been destroyed.

However, Yuan Wuji soon let it go. After all, these were prepared by the Buddhist sect for Sun Wukong, so they must have had some special properties. That he couldn't benefit from them seemed reasonable in hindsight.

Just as Yuan Wuji emerged from his cultivation chamber, he saw Xiao Yu.

"Xiao Yu, why are you here?"

"Nothing."

Xiao Yu shook her head. There was a look of sorrow in her eyes as she looked at Yuan Wuji, but she quickly hid it and turned to walk away.

"What’s wrong with her?" Yuan Wuji was confused.

Could something have happened recently? He asked the sentry at the gate, "Has anything happened in the mansion lately?"

"Nothing much, sir," the soldier replied, shaking his head.

The soldier assumed Yuan Wuji was asking about the affairs of the Monkey General’s mansion, so he did not take Xiao Yu into account. Indeed, nothing major had occurred in the mansion, so the soldier was telling the truth.

Unable to gain any useful information, Yuan Wuji turned his thoughts back to Sun Wukong. The two hours were nearly up; a "great drama" was likely about to unfold in the Heavenly Court.

"Great General of Divine Monkeys, the Jade Emperor has issued a decree. You are ordered to assemble at the Hall of Supreme Harmony."

Du Nu arrived at the mansion with the Jade Emperor's verbal decree. Seeing Yuan Wuji outside, he stated his purpose immediately. Perhaps because the mission was of such urgency, Du Nu didn't even try to solicit a reward from Yuan Wuji, but instead hurried off toward the next destination.

"It seems Sun Wukong has truly rebelled against Heaven. But it’s strange that the Jade Emperor would call for me," Yuan Wuji thought to himself.

Nevertheless, he flew rapidly toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He had promised the Solar Deity that he would look after the Five Element Deities during critical moments, and they were among those tasked with suppressing Sun Wukong.

When Yuan Wuji arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, it was already filled with various immortals. The Jade Emperor, seated at the highest position, wore an extremely grim expression. Judging by the surrounding atmosphere, the Jade Emperor was genuinely furious.

Logically, if this were merely a staged performance, such a situation should not have arisen. Expressions could be faked, but the aura of the Jade Emperor's genuine anger could not be feigned. Could it be because of the young fairy? If that were truly the case, did the young fairy hold such an elevated position in the Jade Emperor's heart?

Would the Jade Emperor actually move against Sun Wukong for real? Sun Wukong was the lifeblood of the Buddhist sect; would the Jade Emperor truly strike him down?