Chapter 005: The Lower Realm

Some people dislike those who flatter others, yet there are also some who consider such individuals to be perceptive and clever.

Feeling a sense of relief, he stepped forward a few paces, knelt on one knee without hesitation, and raised both hands high, holding the shattered Pegasus album.

Sha Monk was not demoted from the Heavenly Court, but he is the Curtain-Lifting General of the Jade Emperor, and such a person can also be considered a personal bodyguard

Let alone that Shi Zhongkui is still nothing.

Moreover, it is not only Shi Zhongkui who is aware of how the Monkey King was provoked by others.

Hmm?

This ethereal energy is nothing to the God of War, but to Shi Zhongkui, it is like nectar.

If there is disagreement, it is likely that the God of the Martial Star will secretly cause trouble, which would complicate matters further

It was confirmed that the roster had indeed been destroyed, and the Jade Emperor furrowed his brow even deeper as he said, "The demon monkey is so audacious, summon Li Jing."

But now that one's own treasure has been destroyed, it is a different matter

Perhaps a greater possibility is that they benefited, which is why they acted so readily. After all, due to the existence of the Investiture of the Gods, many celestial officials in the Heavenly Court are constrained by the Jade Emperor

The Jade Emperor did not take it to heart at all; with a simple "granted" and a sweep of his sleeve, Shi Zhongkui appeared outside the Lingxiao Palace

Unfortunately, what Shi Zhongkui did not know was that the memories of soul reincarnation would be sealed, allowing one to live an entire life in the guise of a mortal.

Even if it were truly necessary to do so, it would not be possible to eliminate everything in one go, as there would inevitably be someone above who would investigate

Thank you, esteemed sir

It is hardly possible to eliminate all 6 minor officials of the Imperial Horse Monitoring Office, is it

The Lord of the Martial Star walked out of the Lingxiao Palace with a secret delight in his heart, while Shi Zhongkui hurriedly paid his respects and followed.

Your Majesty, the newly appointed Minister of War has deemed the position too insignificant and has returned to the heavenly court

The Lord of the Martial Star smiled and shook his head, saying, "The purpose of descending to the mortal realm is not for cultivation. No matter how excellent the techniques are, practicing in the mortal world cannot compare to that in the Heavenly Court"

This also reassured Shi Zhongkui, as having this connection meant that at least he would not be devoured by monsters upon descending to the lower realm

What else could it be? As soon as Shi Zhongkui heard this, he knew it was an attempt to send him off to a place from which it would be difficult to return for a while

For immortals, being banished to the mortal realm is a punishment, while for a lowly official like Shi Zhongkui, who is destitute and without prospects, the mortal realm represents an opportunity

However, if they are dismissed one after another, there will certainly be people who will speak indiscriminately

Upon witnessing this, the Lord of the Martial Star hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the demon monkey is so rampant that it will surely pose a threat to the Heavenly Court in the future. Furthermore, before this demon monkey descended from the heavens, it had already destroyed the registry of all the horses in the world that the Imperial Horse Monitoring Office had compiled. Such contempt for heavenly regulations undoubtedly indicates an early intention of rebellion."

"Hahaha," the Lord of the Wenchang Star could not help but laugh, "I indeed did not mistake the person; you are an intelligent individual who knows what needs to be done"

As for whether there is collusion with Western teachings, that is beyond his capacity to speculate

Oh?

It is conceivable that having someone to corroborate would significantly increase the probability of dispatching troops to the mortal realm to capture demons, as a strand of celestial spiritual energy was effortlessly infused into Shi Zhongkui's body

What are you still dawdling for? Quickly present the destroyed roster.

Or it may take several lifetimes to atone for all sins

Only those like Tianpeng, who have reached a certain level of cultivation and are well-connected, can quickly regain their memories

Shi Zhongkui hurriedly bowed and said, "I dare not, it is all an opportunity given by the esteemed ones; otherwise, I would not know if I would have the chance to come to the Lingxiao Palace in this lifetime."

After leaving the palace and finding Li Jing, the Lord of the Martial Star looked at Shi Zhongkui with a smile and said, "Well done"

After some thought, he said, "Thank you, Lord Xie, for the illustrations in the book. However, I dare to request that you impart some cultivation techniques to me."

After some thought, the Lord of the Wuxing Star said, "Your cultivation is virtually nonexistent. Staying in the Heavenly Court is both a blessing and a curse. Since you have voluntarily requested to descend to the mortal realm, and His Majesty has granted permission, I shall lend you a helping hand. How does that sound?"

Upon seeing this, the God of the Martial Star hurriedly looked towards Shi Zhongkui, who was about seven or eight meters away, with his head lowered, gazing at the ground

The Jade Emperor furrowed his brows and stood up, pacing back and forth as he contemplated whether to send troops to capture Sun Wukong

Even the words personally granted by the Jade Emperor, in a certain sense, serve as one's own talisman

As a humble official serving as the chief officer of the Imperial Horse Monitoring Bureau, I have failed to safeguard the precious treasures. I hereby request to descend to the mortal realm to receive punishment, and I earnestly beseech Your Majesty for your gracious approval

Once the memory is sealed, if Shi Zhongkui commits crimes in the mortal realm again, after death, not only will he be unable to return to the heavenly realm, but he will also be sent directly to hell, never to rise again.

The Star Lord of Wuqu can handle the informant Shi Zhongkui without taking any risks

Previously, the Dragon King of the East Sea and King Yan reported to the heavens, one claiming that the monkey had stolen the Dinghai Divine Iron, and the other stating that the monkey had scribbled on the Book of Life and Death. However, the losses did not affect the Heavenly Court, and the Jade Emperor was still considering how to avoid conflict if possible

Shi Zhongkui glanced at the heavenly general and the fairy beside him, then looked towards the Jade Emperor, noticing that he remained silent

In that case, it would be better to agree more straightforwardly

It is unfortunate that not only the God of the Martial Star, but also the majority of celestial officials in the Heavenly Court did not anticipate that the monkey could nearly overturn the Heavenly Court

As instructed

However, if one were to truly consider the matter, he indeed bears responsibility

"Thank you, my lord," Shi Zhongkui was able to confirm this time that the God of the Martial Star intentionally forced the monkey down from the Heavenly Court

Everyone knows that the responsibility does not lie with Shi Zhongkui, and he is also unable to stop Sun Wukong

Voluntarily requesting to descend to the mortal realm for punishment may seem unwise, but in the future, if one wishes to navigate the heavenly court and even seek promotion, it is better to accept the punishment in front of the Jade Emperor rather than have others hold this matter against one indefinitely, thus allowing the issue to be resolved.

Not only was the Jade Emperor taken aback, but also the Star Lord of Martial Arts, the General of the Rolling Curtain, the celestial maidens, and the attending heavenly officials were all astonished

Of course, not everyone appreciates clever individuals who are adept at scheming, but for a monarch, as long as they can be controlled, having a few more clever individuals is a good thing

As the God of the Martial Star led Shi Zhongkui towards the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, he noticed the faint traces of dried sweat on his forehead, which immediately displeased him

It is better to buy them off, as the benefits that Shi Zhongkui and others find remarkable are merely trivial actions for the God of the Martial Star.

Suddenly frightened, Shi Zhongkui almost broke into a sweat again. Fortunately, the remnants of the celestial energy within his body circulated, and not only did he not sweat, but he also became invigorated and full of vitality.

Shi Zhongkui had a sudden inspiration and quietly asked, "Is it beneficial to the country and the people, and can it earn merit?"

However, even so, due to accidentally knocking over a lamp post and shattering a glass lamp, he was demoted by the Jade Emperor from the Heavenly Court and sent to the Sand River to become a monster

Not only does it cleanse his body and soul, but it also expands the space within his soul, breaking through from an initial size of 1 cubic meter to 10 by 10 by 10 cubic meters

The Lord of the Wuxing Star casually tossed a token to Shi Zhongkui, saying, "We, the Lords of the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, along with the Lord of the Purple Tenuity Star and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, are occasionally dispatched to the mortal realm by the Jade Emperor. In the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, it is only permissible with the approval from above, therefore, you can only be sent to a small world. This is my token; you should give it to the duty officer, and he will arrange for your descent to the mortal realm."

However, the rule that one must be punished for damaging treasures is certainly not false

Of course, it is also possible that the Jade Emperor did this intentionally, sending the Sand Monk to infiltrate the Western teachings

If Shi Zhongkui were to return to the Heavenly Court in a body of merit after his death, the Lord of the Martial Star believes that the monkey would surely have been sent to the Demon-Slaying Platform long ago