Chapter 20: The Power of Heaven—Only the Tip of the Iceberg
The Monkey King wielded his golden staff and soared into the sky. Nezha, brandishing his Fire-Tipped Spear, ascended on clouds to meet him. The two battled above Mount Huaguo, each displaying their divine powers, exchanging blows in a dazzling magical duel.
The Monkey transformed into a massive Golden Roc, spreading his wings and slicing through the sky like a blade. Nezha morphed into his iconic three-headed, six-armed form, holding the Demon-Slaying Sword, Demon-Binding Rope, and Demon-Subduing Cudgel, emanating an imposing aura. Their clash raged in midair, triggering tempests and crackling thunder.
“I never imagined that monkey had such divine powers, to go toe-to-toe with Nezha!”
Up in the clouds, Li Jing was growing increasingly alarmed. He had once studied under the scattered immortal Zhenren Du’e of Western Kunlun, and later apprenticed with the deputy leader of Chan Buddhism, Randeng Daoren. Now, he served under Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp in the Western Pure Land. Yet, owing to his poor aptitude, his cultivation had reached no higher than Golden Immortal.
Li Jing understood his rebellious son’s power firsthand. If it weren’t for the Exquisite Pagoda bestowed by the Ancient Buddha, their father-son relationship wouldn’t be so “harmonious.”
“Heavenly King, the Third Prince has never failed in subduing demons, but today he’s struggling. Shall we move the army in?” whispered a subordinate beside Li Jing.
Li Jing glanced at him and calmly replied, “The Third Prince is relishing this fight. If you go down there now, aren’t you afraid he’ll skewer you first? Besides, using numbers to bully the few—I, for one, disdain such tactics.”
His other two sons were both serving under the Buddhist sect. Coupled with the Jade Emperor and Venus Star Lord’s attitude, Li Jing had a clear grasp of the bigger picture behind this demon-subduing operation.
Inside the Water Curtain Cave, Qin Chuan, the Monkey King, and Nezha sat around a stone table, fragrant wine filling the air. Ao Xue stood by, while a watery projection hovered above, reflecting the illusionary battle between the Monkey and Nezha outside.
The Monkey King burst out laughing:
“Little Nezha, your father really has poor eyesight. Didn’t he notice these were just illusions?”
Nezha shook his head slightly and responded coolly, “He has his own strengths.”
Everyone in the Three Realms knew that Li Jing, Marshal of the Heavenly Armies, was skilled at playing both sides.
Qin Chuan raised his cup and chuckled, “Monkey, don’t tease Nezha. If you hadn’t told me in advance, I wouldn’t have guessed you two were acquainted.”
Before he finished speaking, the battle scene outside suddenly froze. The Monkey and Nezha both looked up at the water projection, where their illusionary selves continued to trade blows, seamlessly shifting techniques.
With a laugh, the Monkey shouted, “Brat, take this!”
His golden staff struck towards Nezha. Nezha didn’t back down, his spear intercepting the blow.
The Monkey shrugged, “Back in Heaven, I mostly met useless drunks and fools. Only little Nezha was to my liking.”
Nezha casually picked up a peach, chewing as he spoke, “Monkey, I know your powers are great, but don’t underestimate Heaven. Without me, my father’s army wouldn’t even rank among the real powerhouses.”
“And in Heaven, there are countless immortals and saints stronger than me.”
The Monkey seemed unconcerned, his face flushed with wine, thinking Nezha was just being modest: “Even if that old Jade Emperor sends people, your Grandpa Monkey has no fear!”
Qin Chuan’s curiosity was piqued. He asked, “Nezha, everyone knows the most famous military leader in Heaven is Li Jing. What other powerful forces does Heaven have?”
Nezha tossed the peach pit aside and downed a cup of Monkey Wine, replying, “Brother Qin, I know you and Monkey come from an extraordinary lineage, but no matter how I ask him, he refuses to tell me anything.”
“Honestly, the trouble this Monkey stirred up this time is no small matter. I suggest you seek help from your elders. I once…”
He paused, clearly unwilling to recall past memories, then continued: “Even casually naming a few of Heaven’s forces, they’re far stronger than my father’s army.”
“For instance, at the head of the Northern Dipper Four Saints, there’s Marshal Tianpeng, commanding 80,000 Celestial River Marines. They are stationed year-round by the Galaxy, keeping the Weak Waters from spilling into the mortal realm—true elite troops.”
“If it weren’t for my personal history with Tianpeng, his Celestial Navy could scatter my father’s army in a single encounter.”
“True!” The Monkey hiccupped drunkenly. “Back when I ran wild in Heaven, I passed by the Milky Way and saw that fatty—hic—Marshal Tianpeng. He’s got some skills. But I never saw the Celestial River Marines you mentioned.”
Nezha continued: “Besides them, Heaven also has eight departments: Thunder, Dipper (Dou), Fire, Water, Wealth, Pox, Plague, and Tai Sui—many of whom possess extraordinary powers.”
“In terms of military might, only Thunder and Dipper stand out.”
Qin Chuan refilled Nezha’s cup, gesturing for him to continue. Inwardly, he marveled: Heaven’s number one rebel really lives up to the name.
Nezha drained his drink and said, “Among the Eight Departments, Dipper is the strongest, followed by Thunder.”
“The Dipper Division is headed by Goddess Doumu, presiding over the Dipper Mansion, commanding 84,000 stars and fiendish spirits, all under her orders.”
“There are also the Five Dipper Star Lords, Seven North Star Lords, Nine Radiant Star Officials, and so on… The Dipper Division governs the cosmos, maintaining the movement of stars across the Three Realms. Any god linked to celestial bodies belongs to this department—countless as the sands of the Ganges.”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh:
“Under my father’s command, even that Giant Spirit God was considered a rare general.”
“Then there’s the Thunder Division, led by the Nine Heavens Respondent Thunder God, Lord of Universal Transformation. Under him are the Eight Emperors of Divine Firmament, Five Thunder Lords of the Five Directions, 24 Cloud-Summoning and Rain-Assisting Heavenly Guardians, 36 Thunder Generals, Wind Lord, Rain Master, and others.”
“I once fought those 36 Thunder Generals. They trapped me in a formation—I couldn’t break out for quite some time.”
The Monkey was already snoring, while Qin Chuan listened intently, mulling it over in silence:
“Many of Heaven’s current gods were once mortals who perished in the great calamity of the Fengshen era. Though their souls entered the Investiture of the Gods, and they can no longer advance in cultivation, back then, many of them were Great Luo Golden Immortals!”
Nezha saw that the Monkey King had fallen asleep and didn’t mind—he had mainly been speaking for Qin Chuan’s benefit. He had also noticed that the Monkey held great respect for this Brother Qin.
“All that I’ve said is just what’s on the surface. Who knows what powerful figures are secretly hiding their own private armies!”
With those words, Nezha stood up. The Wind-Fire Wheels beneath his feet spun to life.
“Brother Qin, we’ve been here a while. If we don’t head out soon, it might arouse suspicion. I shall take my leave.”
Qin Chuan cupped his fists in a respectful gesture:
“Safe travels, Third Prince!”
As he finished speaking, Nezha turned into a streak of flame and vanished from the Water Curtain Cave.
In the water projection above, the illusionary versions of the Monkey King and Nezha had already exchanged over a hundred rounds. Nezha summoned his treasure—the Universe Ring (Qiankun Circle)—and hurled it at the Monkey King.
Seeing this, the Monkey leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of golden light to dodge. Nezha immediately followed by throwing the Red Armillary Sash (Huntian Ling). A flash of red light wrapped tightly around the Monkey King, binding him in place.
At that moment, the Golden-Hooped Staff turned into a beam of golden light and shot towards Nezha. Caught off guard, Nezha was struck by the golden light and plummeted from the clouds.