Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

"One hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain?"

As the most favored handmaiden by Queen Mother's side, Zi Lan Fairy was the first to know this information. Her heart immediately filled with urgency. Ever since the disturbance in the Heavenly Court caused by Blood Dragon Ao Tian, and Sun Wukong's intervention to help, Zi Lan Fairy had been worried that the Heavenly Court would cause trouble for Sun Wukong.

She had also heard that the Jade Emperor had issued several decrees ordering Great White Golden Star to invite Sun Wukong to the Heavenly Court to become an official, but Sun Wukong had not even shown his face.

She had heard that this time Sun Wukong was not at Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the Heavenly Court took the opportunity to go directly and raid his home. Knowing Sun Wukong, once he learned that Flower-Fruit Mountain was under siege, he would surely rush back desperately, and that would be falling right into the Heavenly Court's trap!

"This won't do. If Wukong is not there, I have to warn the Demon Clan at Flower-Fruit Mountain to be prepared!"

The more she thought about it, the more anxious Zi Lan Fairy became. Unable to sit still any longer, she found an excuse to sneak out of the Jade Pool and hurried toward the Southern Heavenly Gate. But just as she was about to reach the Southern Heavenly Gate, she stopped suddenly.

She remembered that Sun Wukong had mentioned a good brother named Luo Bai, a disciple of the Leader of Tongtian who should currently be in the Supreme Pure Heaven's Greenwave Palace. With Flower-Fruit Mountain in trouble, she should inform Luo Bai—maybe he could be of great assistance!

With this thought in mind, Zi Lan Fairy turned her cloud around and flew toward the direction of the Heavenly Ladder.

"Who dares to rush up the Heavenly Ladder without authorization?"

Both the entrance of the Heavenly Ladder from the Ninth Layer of Heaven to the Thirty-Three Layer of Heaven was guarded by Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals. Unless it was someone bearing orders from the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, or the Three Purities, anyone would be stopped by the guards and questioned.

Although Zi Lan Fairy was highly favored and trusted by the Queen Mother, she was not at the level where she could carry the Queen Mother's written orders around and barge anywhere she pleased. Naturally, she was stopped.

"Isn't this Zi Lan Fairy? May I inquire as to what brings Zi Lan Fairy here?"

Among the guards, someone recognized Zi Lan Fairy and quickly put on a smile to ask.

"Please excuse me, brother. The Queen Mother has sent me to the Greenwave Palace to invite the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Venerate to a banquet at the Jade Pool."

Zi Lan Fairy replied with an easy smile.

"The Queen Mother is inviting the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Venerate to a banquet?"

A look of confusion appeared on the face of one of the guards, but he was sternly glared at by a companion, who pulled him aside and apologized to Zi Lan Fairy with a smiling face, gesturing her in, "Since it is an invitation from the Queen Mother, of course, there can be no delay. Please, Fairy, go ahead!"

Zi Lan Fairy nodded her head and flew past the checkpoint on her cloud, ascending the Heavenly Ladder. The guard who had been pulled apart by his companion scratched his head, still somewhat puzzled.

"Weren't we supposed to check for credentials from the Fairy just now?"

"Check what? Do you know who that was? That was Zi Lan Fairy, the favorite handmaiden of the Queen Mother who is treated by her like her own daughter. You have the audacity to stop her?"

The guard who had stopped his companion earlier gave him a knock on the head and scolded him, "The Queen Mother sent Zi Lan Fairy personally to invite the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Venerate, it means it's a small, private banquet she doesn't want too many people to know about. You're asking all these questions, do you still want to get ahead?"

"Ah? Is that so? I was rash. Thankfully big brother reminded me, much appreciated!"

Of course, Zi Lan Fairy did not know that the story she had made up on the spot was actually taken as the truth by those guards at the Heavenly Ladder. Along the way up, she encountered several more checkpoints.

However, among the guards at these checkpoints, there were those who recognized Zi Lan Fairy; seeing that the checkpoint below them had allowed her passage, they all knew their place and let Zi Lan Fairy through without question.

And so, Zi Lan Fairy arrived at the Greenwave Palace, which was located above the Thirty-Three Layer of Heaven.

The gates of the Greenwave Palace were closed tightly. Zi Lan Fairy did not dare to knock on the door rashly. This was the Daoist palace of the Leader of Tongtian, one of the Three Purities—no one could just trespass at will. If she were to anger the Leader of Tongtian, not even the Queen Mother could protect her, especially since she had come on a false pretence this time.

As she was caught in her dilemma, the doors of the Greenwave Palace suddenly opened with a rumbling sound. The voice of the Leader of Tongtian came out from the palace gate, "Come in."

Zi Lan Fairy was taken aback momentarily. She then made a bow toward the palace gate and stepped inside. Upon entering the Greenwave Palace's main hall, she saw the Leader of Tongtian sitting on the main seat and hurried forward to greet him. Just as she was about to speak, the Leader of Tongtian waved his hand and said, "No need for more words. I already know why you have come.

Luo Bai is currently in a critical phase of his retreat, pushing for the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm, and cannot be disturbed. Once he has succeeded, I will certainly inform him about the Heavenly Army's attack on Flower-Fruit Mountain."

Retreat to strike for the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm?

Upon hearing this, Zi Lan Fairy's heart sank. How easily could one reach the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm?

In this world, although there were Immortal Pills that could make one ascend to immortality overnight and elixir pills that could directly elevate one's cultivation to Taiyi Golden Immortal, the Da Luo Golden Immortal was different. It required one to fuse the essence of one's spirit fully, achieving Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and Five Qi Directed to the Origin.

If one could not achieve this, regardless of how many magical elixirs one consumed, it would be of no use!

Now Luo Bai was striving for the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm. Who knew when he could succeed and emerge from his retreat? By the time he emerged, Flower-Fruit Mountain might have already been overrun by the Heavenly Army!

"Zi Lan Fairy, do not fret. With Luo Bai's comprehension, he will definitely break through within a year. Then, I will have him go to Flower-Fruit Mountain to help," said the Leader of Tongtian.

One year?

Zi Lan Fairy couldn't help but smile bitterly, knowing that in one year's time, Flower-Fruit Mountain would have turned to ashes!

Zi Lan Fairy's thoughts were seen through by the Leader of Tongtian with just one glance. The corners of his mouth curled up in a mysterious light smile as he said meaningfully, "The Flower-Fruit Mountain of that little monkey, Sun Wukong, is not a common Demon Clan's force. It won't be so easily breached.

If the Heavenly Court underestimates their enemy this time, I'm afraid they are going to suffer a significant loss. With one year's time, they should be able to hold on. Now, let me send you on your way!"

With a wave of his palm, a space rift silently appeared in front of Zi Lan Fairy.

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerate!"

A hint of confusion flashed through Zi Lan Fairy's eyes. Why was the Leader of Tongtian so confident about Flower-Fruit Mountain? To withstand the siege of the One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals for a year, were the demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain really that formidable?

Though she did not understand, Zi Lan Fairy still bowed to the Leader of Tongtian and then stepped into the space rift. The next moment, her figure appeared before the mountain gate of Flower-Fruit Mountain, right at the entrance to the barrier of the Primordial Unity Grand Formation.

"Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Venerate, truly his Taoist techniques reach the heavens!"

Zi Lan Fairy praised silently in her heart. It took but an instant to transport her from the Jade Pool atop the Thirty-Three Layer of Heaven to the front of Flower-Fruit Mountain. If she had to travel by cloud herself, it would have taken at least two days.

Inside Flower-Fruit Mountain, within the Council Hall of Water Curtain Cave Heaven.

"Zi Lan Fairy? Why has she come? Is she looking for the boss?"

Leng Xuan received the report of Zi Lan Fairy's arrival and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Go, invite Zi Lan Fairy in, and remember, be polite!"

The messenger quickly led Zi Lan Fairy into the Water Curtain Cave Heaven of Flower-Fruit Mountain. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zi Lan Fairy relayed the news that the Heavenly Army of One Hundred Thousand Soldiers and Generals was about to besiege Flower-Fruit Mountain to Leng Xuan and the others.

"One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals? This is bad!" Continue reading at empire

Leng Xuan's face turned particularly grim. He did not doubt the accuracy of the news brought by Zi Lan Fairy. Not many in Flower-Fruit Mountain knew about the relationship between Zi Lan Fairy and Sun Wukong; Leng Xuan just happened to be one of them. Clearly, Zi Lan Fairy had taken a great risk to come and warn them.

"Fairy, thank you for bringing the warning. When will the Heavenly Court's army arrive?"

"They will be here in three days at the earliest."

Three days...

Leng Xuan and Sun Wushuang exchanged looks, and the faces of everyone present were stern. Indeed, they had conceived the possibility that the Heavenly Court would come to punish Flower-Fruit Mountain, but they had not expected it to be so soon and so sudden. If not for Zi Lan Fairy's warning, they might only have found out once the Heavenly Army had completely encircled Flower-Fruit Mountain.

The most critical issue was that Sun Wukong was currently not on Flower-Fruit Mountain, and they had no clue where he was, not even how to send him a message.

"This time it is Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing in command, with the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the gods of wind, thunder, water, and fire, and the Twenty-Eight Constellations all set to come. His Majesty the Jade Emperor's decree is to uproot Flower-Fruit Mountain entirely! One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, enough to cover the entire sky, you must make preparations!"

After confirming that Sun Wukong was not on Flower-Fruit Mountain from the mouths of Leng Xuan and the others, Zi Lan Fairy shared the decree of the Jade Emperor and the plans of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing with them. Afterward, she stood up to take her leave, as she had sneaked out of the Heavenly Court and could not stay out for too long.

"Wukong, this is all I can do for you. The rest is up to you!"

Leng Xuan had someone escort Zi Lan Fairy out of Water Curtain Cave Heaven and sent for the Six Great Demon Kings and other high-ranking members of Flower-Fruit Mountain to come for a meeting. Then he turned his gaze to the side hall, speaking in a deep voice: "Nezha, you can come out now!"

A figure walked out from the side hall, and it was Nezha the Third Prince. Ever since Sun Wukong had brought him back to Flower-Fruit Mountain, he had been living there for years and had become well-acquainted with the various demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain. Zi Lan Fairy was unaware that Nezha the Third Prince was still alive and hiding within Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Not wanting this information to leak, Nezha had purposely avoided her earlier by hiding in the side hall, listening clearly to everything.

"Nezha, this time, it's your foster father, Li Jing, in command. With One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, what do you think we should do?"

Leng Xuan was the brain of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult, having traveled widely in the Three Realms in his early years and was considered experienced and knowledgeable. Yet, battling with the Heavenly Army, especially an army of One Hundred Thousand, was still a first for him.

Now, of everyone here, Nezha the Third Prince was the most knowledgeable about the strength of the Heavenly Court's immortals and army, naturally, Leng Xuan wanted to hear his opinion.

After all, with One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, just the thought of it sent shivers down their spines!