The Bodhisattva led the crowd inside, and after paying their respects to the Jade Emperor, they met with Laozi and the Queen Mother. After they sat down, the Bodhisattva asked, "How was the Peach Banquet?"
The Jade Emperor said with a wry smile, "Every year we invite people to this gathering with joy, but this year, the monkey demon has caused trouble, so it's all in vain."
The Bodhisattva asked, "Where does this monkey demon come from?"
The Jade Emperor said, "The demon monkey was born from a stone egg on Flower Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country of the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory. Upon birth, his eyes shone with golden light, shooting towards the Dipper. At first, I paid no heed, but he gradually became a spirit, subduing dragons and tigers, and even erased himself from the Book of Death. The Dragon King and Yama reported this to me, and I wished to capture him. It was the planet Venus who reported: 'Throughout the Three Realms, those with nine orifices can become immortals.' I immediately instructed him to educate the wise, summoned him to the Upper Realm, and appointed him as the Keeper of the Imperial Horse Stables. That fellow disliked the low rank and rebelled against the Heavenly Palace. I immediately dispatched Li Jing and Prince Nezha to subdue him, and then issued an edict to pacify him, summoning him to the Upper Realm, whereupon I appointed him as 'Qi'." "The Great Sage is an official with no real power or reward. With nothing to manage, he wanders aimlessly. Fearing further trouble, I appointed him to temporarily manage the Peach Orchard. However, he disregarded the law, stealing all the large peaches from the old trees. When the Peach Banquet was held, being an unpaid official, he wasn't invited. So he tricked the Barefoot Immortal, disguised himself as him, and joined the banquet, stealing all the celestial delicacies and wine, as well as Laozi's elixir and some imperial wine, to enjoy with the monkeys of his mountain. I am deeply troubled by this, so I mobilized 100,000 heavenly soldiers to capture him with a net. One day has passed with no results; I wonder what the outcome will be."
Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva immediately instructed Huian Xingzhe, "You must quickly descend from the Heavenly Palace and go to Flower Fruit Mountain to gather intelligence on the military situation. If you encounter an enemy, you may offer your assistance, but be sure to report back truthfully." Huian Xingzhe straightened his clothes, took an iron rod, rode a cloud away from the palace, and went straight to the foot of the mountain. He saw that the heavenly net was dense and layered, with bells ringing and shouts from each camp gate, completely surrounding the mountain.
Huian stopped and called out, "Hey, heavenly soldiers at the camp gate, please announce: I am Muzha, the second prince of Heavenly King Li, and Huian, the eldest disciple of Guanyin of the South Sea. I have come to scout out the military situation." The Five Sacred Mountains soldiers immediately entered the camp gate. Soon after, the five divine soldiers—Xu Ri Shu, Mao Ri Ji, Xing Ri Ma, and Fang Ri Tu—transmitted the message to the central command tent. Heavenly King Li issued a command flag, ordering the net of heaven and earth to be opened and him to enter. At this time, dawn had just broken. Huian followed the flag into the camp and bowed to the Four Heavenly Kings and Heavenly King Li.
After paying his respects, Li Tianwang asked, "My son, from where did you come from?" Huian replied, "I accompanied the Bodhisattva to the Peach Banquet. Seeing the banquet desolate and the Jade Pool lonely, the Bodhisattva led all the immortals and I to see the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor told us that you and your father had gone down to the mortal realm to subdue the demon monkey, but there had been no news for a day, and the outcome was unknown. Therefore, the Bodhisattva ordered me to come here to find out the truth." Li Tianwang said, "Yesterday, we set up camp here and sent the Nine Luminaries to challenge us. But this fellow used his supernatural powers, and the Nine Luminaries were all defeated and fled. Later, we personally led our troops, and he also set up his formation. Our 100,000 heavenly soldiers fought him until nightfall, and he used a clone technique to retreat. When we withdrew to investigate, we only captured some wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards, but we didn't capture even a single demon monkey. We haven't gone out to fight yet today." Before he finished speaking, someone came to report from outside the gate: "The Great Sage is leading a group of monkey spirits and challenging us to battle outside." The Four Heavenly Kings, Li Tianwang, and the Prince were discussing sending troops. Moksha said, "Father, I was instructed by the Bodhisattva to come down and gather information. He said that if there is a war, I can help him. Now I am willing to go and see what kind of great sage he is!" The Heavenly King said, "My child, you have been cultivating with the Bodhisattva for the past few years. You must have some supernatural powers. You must be careful."
The prince, wielding an iron cudgel in both hands and fastening his embroidered robes, leaped out of the gate and shouted, "Which one is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven?" The Great Sage, brandishing his Ruyi Jingu Bang, replied, "I am Sun Wukong. Who are you, daring to ask me such a question?" Mucha said, "I am Mucha, the second prince of Li Tianwang. I am here today to protect my disciple before the throne of Guanyin Bodhisattva. My Dharma name is Huian." The Great Sage said, "Why are you here to see me instead of cultivating in the South Sea?" Mucha said, "I was sent by my master to scout military intelligence. Seeing your rampant behavior, I came to capture you!" The Great Sage said, "How dare you speak such boastful words! Don't run! Take this cudgel from me!" Mucha was not afraid at all and met the attack with his iron cudgel. The two stood halfway up the mountain, outside the gate, and the battle began—the cudgels clashed, the iron cudgels were different, the weapons were different, and the people fighting were different. One was the Great Sage, a wandering immortal of Taiyi, and the other was Zheng Yuanlong, a disciple of Guanyin. The iron cudgel was forged a thousand times, and the Six Ding and Six Jia used their divine power. The Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff) is fixed by the Milky Way, a divine treasure of the sea with boundless power. Two true rivals meet, their strategies endless. One wields a sinister staff, a thousand fierce attacks, swift as the wind as a rope around the waist; the other wields a spear-like staff, never missing a shot, how can they possibly contend with each other? On one side, banners flutter; on the other, drums thunder. Ten thousand heavenly generals circle in a swarm; a cave of demonic monkeys huddles together. Strange fog and sorrowful clouds blanket the underworld; wolf smoke and malevolent aura shoot towards the heavens. Yesterday's chaotic battle was still manageable; today's struggle is even more ferocious. How admirable is the Monkey King's true skill, for even after defeat, he escapes again.
The Great Sage fought Huian for fifty or sixty rounds. Huian's arms grew sore and numb, and he could no longer fight back. He feigned an attack and fled in defeat. The Great Sage also gathered his monkey soldiers and set up camp outside the cave entrance. Just then, outside the Heavenly King's camp, the heavenly soldiers, large and small, received the prince, made way for him, and entered the camp. He was still panting heavily when he saw the Four Heavenly Kings, Li Jing, and Nezha: "Great Sage, Great Sage! You are truly powerful! I could not defeat you and have been defeated again!" Li Jing was alarmed and immediately ordered a petition to be written for help. He then sent the Mighty Ghost King and Prince Muzha to Heaven to make the petition.
Above the East Sea, the vast ocean is boundless. Since Pangu separated heaven and earth, breaking through the chaos to form the primordial world, the clear and the turbid were formed. When heaven and earth were clear, the five elements were born to give rise to all things in heaven and earth.
The great god Pangu possessed unparalleled magical power, having created the primordial world, vast and boundless. Beyond the land lay the edge of the heavens, and the ocean was immeasurably vast. The immortals of the primordial world named themselves after the four directions of heaven and earth: east, west, south, and north. Above the East Sea lay an island, formed from fragments of chaos that fell upon it when Pangu created the world. Born of chaos, its secrets unknown, its location could only be known by sages. Xuan Tian, having traveled through time, found this island under the guidance of the Great Dao, making it his dwelling place—truly a blessed destiny.
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