Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System
Chapter 40: Qi Tian and Zhen Wu

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Qi Tian and Zhen Wu

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Tai Bai Venus finally said, "What your servant has said is substantiated by evidence and witnesses. I implore Your Majesty to discern that Sun Wukong is indeed innocent."

Righteous Saint True Monarch added, "Your servant can bear witness."

After hearing this, all the immortals felt it was inconceivable. In less than two days, the case involving the Eastern Sea and the Underworld had been thoroughly investigated. Sun Wukong had some skills indeed; he wasn’t just one of those brutal Demon Kings known only for fighting and killing.

The Jade Emperor said, "Now that it has been investigated, which divine general shall descend to the mortal realm to capture the demon?"

Several marshals and divine generals immediately flashed out of the ranks.

Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, said, "Your Majesty, your unworthy servant requests your decree to subdue this demon."

Ne Zha, the Marshall of the Central Altar, said, "Your Majesty, your servant wishes to lead troops to the mortal realm!"

Huang Tianhua, Binglei Duke, said, "Your Majesty, your servant wishes to descend to the mortal realm to capture the Six-Eared Macaque."

Hong Jin, the Star Lord of Dragon Virtue, said, "Your Majesty, your servant requests to descend to the mortal realm, and I will surely bring back the Six-Eared Macaque to face justice!"

Several other divine generals also made such requests.

The Jade Emperor, with an expressionless face, looked down at the immortals and said, "Let Binglei Duke descend to the mortal realm, mobilize the gods of the human world and trace the Six-Eared Macaque."

Huang Tianhua hesitated for a moment, but still kowtowed in thanks and descended to the mortal realm.

"Interesting, interesting," Sun Wukong scratched his face.

Even though he didn’t understand the bureaucracy of heaven, he could tell there were issues with these immortals. It seemed they were fighting for the opportunity to subdue demons in the mortal realm, but they were probably competing for something else.

After the Jade Emperor had chosen Binglei Duke, he changed the task from capturing to tracing.

At that moment, the Jade Emperor turned his gaze toward Sun Wukong and said softly, "Sun Wukong has proved his innocence and should be given an immortal command. How do you think he should serve in our court?"

The immortal officers and divine generals, who had been clamoring just a moment before, fell into silence.

Even if Sun Wukong had proven his innocence, they didn’t believe they could control a Daluo Golden Immortal who possessed both strength and capability.

In the midst of silence, the Jade Emperor tapped on the nine-heavens throne.

Wuqu Star Lord stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, each palace and each hall in the Heavenly Court, every place has its officials, but the Imperial Horse Supervisor happens to be missing a chief handler."

Tai Bai Venus’s expression shifted, and he stepped closer, whispering, "Wuqu Star Lord suggesting that he manage horses? I fear he may not accept."

Wuqu Star Lord waved a hand with a laugh, "It’s a considerable position!"

Before he could return to the ranks, suddenly a hand grabbed his arm, and when he turned around, he saw it was Sun Wukong, making his heart skip a beat.

Sun Wukong asked with a playful chuckle, "Is this position not small?"

Wuqu Star Lord tried to maintain his dignified composure, "It’s quite substantial!"

Suddenly, Sun Wukong let out a cold laugh and leaned in, "Heh, do you really think I don’t understand the bureaucracy of heaven?"

Wuqu Star Lord, frightened, tried to retreat but couldn’t break free, and said in panic, "What are you planning to do?"

"I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll spare you this once, you dog of an official!" Sun Wukong released him and then saluted towards the dais, "I wonder, what position Your Majesty wishes to bestow upon me?"

The Jade Emperor, expressionless, asked, "What position do you want to take?"

"Your Majesty rules over the Three Realms, the greatest official above and below heaven, surely generous," Sun Wukong said, scratching his head with a smile. "I’d like a position just a little lesser than yours, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven."

"How audacious!" a divine general shouted in reproach.

"Sun Wukong, get down on your knees and confess your guilt, beg the Jade Emperor to spare your life!" another immortal officer hurriedly advised.

Looking around, Sun Wukong saw the diverse expressions of the immortals, anger, panic, schadenfreude, and he felt even happier.

"Your Majesty, I haven’t finished," he saluted again, "I like to roam freely, so I ask Your Majesty to grant me a position a bit bigger than the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, but without a salary to avoid dealing with day-to-day affairs, sparing me the trifles."

An official without emoluments?

The immortals looked at each other in confusion, what exactly was this monkey up to?

Free and unfettered? Who would believe that!

Although they couldn’t figure it out, they still felt a slight sense of relief in their hearts—it was fine as long as he wasn’t in power.

Even the Jade Emperor above spoke out, "Sun Wukong, in recognition of your contribution to the investigation, today I hereby appoint you as the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. However, the Heavenly Court is not a place for unrestrained freedom, one cannot have a title without duties.

Regardless of the rank, go manage the Imperial Horse Supervisory as the main hall official in addition to your current role, to prevent you from stirring up trouble due to idleness."

"Thank you, thank you." Sun Wukong didn’t say anything else. Once the Jade Emperor had spoken to this extent, it would be disrespectful to decline any further.

Moreover, this was also the advice given by the senior netizens.

[Congratulations, you have completed the advice—’Do not despise a lowly position,’ and received a Third-Rank Treasure Box.]

[Congratulations, you have completed the advice—’Be the Great Sage Equalling Heaven in name only,’ and received a Fourth-Rank Treasure Box.]

When Taibai Jinxing had gone to invite him to the heavens, he had consulted the senior netizens on Zhihu about what he should pay attention to when ascending.

Back then, he received two pieces of advice, and now he had finally fulfilled them.

After thanking the Jade Emperor, Sun Wukong also noticed that some of the faces of the Immortal Officers and Divine Generals did not look too pleased.

"Heh, even such a minor post is contested?"

He remembered what a senior netizen had mentioned about the problem with the bureaucracy in heaven: everyone there was an immortal aspiring to eternal life, making vacancies rare.

Even if someone committed an offense, as long as it wasn’t utterly unforgivable, the usual practice was to be sent for reincarnation, and upon returning, one was practically reinstated to their original position, or transferred laterally to another post.

For instance, after King Qin Guang incurred collective wrath, he was merely sentenced to a hundred lifetimes of reincarnation.

A lifetime being thirty years, that summed up to merely three thousand years.

And with the Ksitigarbha King as his patron, by the time King Qin Guang’s reincarnation ended, he would likely still be a high-ranking official in the Netherworld since the seat of the Netherworld King in the first hall was still vacant.

"So this is what the bureaucracy is like." Sun Wukong had an epiphany. He had only known about bureaucracy through senior netizens, but now he truly understood it.

But he quickly put these thoughts behind him. What did he care about scheming and plotting, or cunning machinations—all he wanted was to live freely and at ease.

Just then, the Jade Emperor sitting aloft spoke again, "Where is the True Saint of Salvation?"

The True Saint of Salvation, with a treasure sword in hand, stepped forward and bowed.

The attention of the immortals also shifted away from Sun Wukong. They had been curious as to why the seldom-seen True Saint of Salvation was attending the court meeting, especially since he had testified on behalf of Wukong.

Only to hear the Jade Emperor speak with authority, "The True Saint of Salvation has guarded the Northern Heavenly Gate for many years, a meritorious achievement. Having now attained the rank of Daluo Golden Immortal, he should be promoted to the position of an emperor, and be known as the Martial Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the immortals changed. When they looked at the Martial Emperor, envy filled their eyes, but some bowed their heads in deference.

The Martial Emperor stood proudly in front of the hall, ignoring the many gazes and bowed once more, "Your servant Martial Emperor, thanks Your Majesty."

Sun Wukong watched from the sidelines, scratching his face, unexpectedly upstaged!

But he wasn’t annoyed in the slightest, feeling that this was true prestige.

The awaited Great Sage Equalling Heaven, after all, was no match for real power.

Subsequently, the Jade Emperor assigned the Wood Deity to escort him to the Imperial Horse Supervisory to take office, and thus dispersed the court meeting.

The immortals each left the Lingxiao Treasure Hall with mixed emotions.

As for Sun Wukong, he went to take up his post with great joy, especially since the Jade Emperor had also ordered the works department to prepare, planning to build a Great Sage Equalling Heaven Mansion to the right of the Peach Garden.

The Immortal Mansion would soon be completed, which was highly anticipated.

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