Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me-Chapter 194 - 187: Revealing the Origins of Sun Wukong

What the hell, what a change, a few moments of absence and these seven fairy maidens have suddenly learned to argue back.

Although surprised in his heart, Jiang Chen dared not acknowledge this, only laughing and saying: "Your Highness, you jest. I’m only concerned about your safety, and would never disrespect the celestial soldiers."

Saying so, Jiang Chen did not forget to add: "Even while in the lower realm, I have heard of the strength of the celestial soldiers."

At this moment, seeing that the two parties seemed about to quarrel, Heavenly King Li quickly interrupted: "Alright, Demon Suppression King, say no more. Since the princesses insist on going, let them accompany us."

"I just hope the seven princesses don’t stray from my sight."

The first sentence was to Jiang Chen, and the last sentence was to the seven princesses.

"We’ll heed Heavenly King’s orders completely." Seeing Heavenly King Li speaking up, the seven fairy maidens were obedient. There was no trace of their previously overbearing stature.

"Hmm!" Nodding, Li Jing took big strides, leading the way to the lower realm.

Truthfully, Li Jing was extremely reluctant to let the seven fairy maidens join them. But, they complimented him and his son so highly that if he were to refuse again, wouldn’t it tarnish the reputation of the Li family, admitting they were inferior to the demons of the lower realm?

With no other choice, he let the women follow. However, Li Jing strictly required the seven fairy maidens to stay within his sight.

He didn’t know whether Jade Emperor would punish him if the seven princesses were injured. But there was one thing he was sure of - the Queen Mother would not take it lightly.

Hence, it is acceptable to lose the battle, but the seven fairy maidens absolutely cannot get injured.

Why don’t the seven princesses understand this simple truth that the apple of one’s eye should not be risked?

...

On the road to Huaguo Mountain, Jiang Chen silently fell back to the rear of the army to avoid the seven fairy maidens’ gaze.

At this moment, Nezha walked over, nudged him with his hand, and whispered: "How did you offend those seven ladies, to the point where they blocked you at the South Heavenly Gate?"

With a sigh, Jiang Chen wore a helpless expression: "Ah, if I knew, I wouldn’t be so troubled. I would have resolved the matter long ago."

"When it’s my first time in Heaven Court, how could I have had a conflict with the seven fairy maidens?"

Although Jiang Chen was cunningly disguised, Nezha was keenly observant and wasn’t going to be fooled easily.

Seeing him not telling the truth, Nezha chuckled a couple of times, saying: "Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but if you don’t tell the truth, I’m not going to go out on a limb for you."

If Nezha was able to force out the truth with a few words, there would be no point for Jiang Chen to maintain his presence in the Three Realms. As such, he decided to engage in a banter with Nezha.

...

During their interactions, the army had already arrived at Huaguo Mountain in the Eastern Sea.

The army lined up in the sky, setting up camp, and Heavenly King Li conveyed the order to challenge.

At this point, Jiang Chen, who was hiding behind, had no choice but to join Heavenly King Li and the others front and center, stepping off the clouds to look at Huaguo Mountain.

Upon observing Huaguo Mountain, one could see the many demons, all various forms of wolves and tigers, running around, guns and swords twirling, jumping and roaring amidst the confusion.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Giant Spirit God arrived outside the Water Curtain Cave, shouting at the swarm of demons: "Beasts! Go and tell Stable Manager that I, as a supreme commander from Heaven, am sent by Jade Emperor to arrest him. Tell him to come out and surrender quickly to spare the lives here."

Upon receiving the message inside the cave, Sun Wukong put on his purple gold crown, donned his star-studded armor, stepped into his cloud-stepping shoes, and holding his Ruyi Golden Cudgel, he and his subordinates emerged from the door covered in dazzling starlights, preparing for battle.

Looking at Sun Wukong enveloped in a veil of stardust, Heavenly King Li curiously asked those around him: "Does anyone know the origin of that monkey’s armor?"

The armor, luminously radiant and accompanied by stardust, appeared as though the star river was swirling around it. On first glance, one could tell it was not ordinary, hence Heavenly King Li questioned.

Upon hearing this, everyone shook their heads. Even Heavenly King Li, the eldest among them who was only born in the late Ancient Times, could not recognize the star river armor of the ancient demon clan.

Only Nezha faintly recalled something, as though he had seen it in the vast past. But due to the extreme length of time and his past life’s memory not fully awoken, he couldn’t recollect it completely.

However, it didn’t matter if the others didn’t know, Jiang Chen would tell them.

Jiang Chen fixed his gaze on Sun Wukong, and said seriously: "We’re in trouble. Even though the Giant Spirit God is a Golden Immortal too, he might not be a match for that monkey."

Hearing this, one of the red-robed fairy maidens subconsciously retorted: "Demon Suppression King, you are tending to inflate the courage of others while diminishing your own. Do you know about the origin of the Giant Spirit God?"

"An inheritor of the ancient Giant Spirit Clan, with an innate lineage, and naturally unbeatable strength. There’s no way that a mere lower realm monkey could compare, right?"

Although the others didn’t say anything, their expressions showed they felt the same.

Shaking his head, Jiang Chen asked the red-robed maiden, "Since your highness is aware of the Giant Spirit God’s origins, do you know anything of the monkey’s lineage?"

A blue-robed maiden subconsciously responded, "Only a wild monkey from the mortal world, how can he have any significant lineage?"

However, Heavenly King Li picked up the hint in Jiang Chen’s words, asking, "Demon Suppression King, do you know the monkey’s lineage?"

Jiang Chen nodded gravely and declared:

"At the end of ancient times, when Empress Nuwa mended the sky, a divine stone used in the task fell into the Eastern Sea. I believe this monkey is a divine fetus nurtured by that very stone."

"Ah~~"

Expressions of surprise spread across everyone’s faces with these revelations.

They were hearing this for the first time. While aware that the monkey was earth-born, they never imagined that its origin was so grand.

The stone used to mend the sky, was related to Empress Nuwa!

"Its origin is indeed remarkable, but that’s not a reason to justify the monkey’s violations of the heavenly rules," Heavenly King Li remarked, regaining his composure after the initial shock.

"Indeed, heavenly rules exist as natural laws for the operation of the Three Realms, impartial and just; they do not favor or discriminate based on one’s identity," Jiang Chen chimed in agreement.

His revelation of Sun Wukong’s origin was not meant to intimidate the crowd, but rather elevate the monkey’s status. The higher the monkey’s status, the more credit would be due for capturing it.

Jiang Chen had a sure plan in mind.

Having discussed Sun Wukong’s origin, Jiang Chen gestured towards the armour the monkey wore and continued:

"The armour the monkey is wearing is named ’Starry Battle Armour’. According to records I’ve read, it’s a treasure from the ancient Heavenly Court, only the most elite offspring of the demon clan are entitled to wear it."

"Ancient Heavenly Court? Demon clan?"

"Why would the Heavenly Court have ties with the demon clan?"

On hearing Jiang Chen mention the ancient demon clan, only a few among the present had a clue; most were clueless.

Jiang Chen had forgotten that countless eons had passed since the ancient era. The glory of the witch and demon clans has been buried in the sands of history under deliberate concealment.

Nowadays, hardly anyone is aware of these things!

Well, this includes the Seven Fairies. According to Jiang Chen’s research, the Seven Fairies are the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s daughters, born during the middle-late Yin and Shang dynasties.

So, it’s understandable if they’re unaware of events from the ancient era unless someone informs them about it.

As for why the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother didn’t inform the Seven Fairies, how would Jiang Chen know? If you ask him, whom should he ask?

While others may not be aware, the Li family father and son definitely know about the ancient demon clan. They instantly furrowed their brows, expressing that "The ancient demon clan is indeed troublesome."

Though the Seven Fairies showed no emotion, they covertly took note of the key terms ’Ancient Heavenly Court’ and ’Demon Clan’, planning to inquire about them after returning.

At this moment, Jiang Chen pointed to the golden staff in Sun Wukong’s hand, and continued introducing, "The iron rod in the monkey’s hand is not ordinary. It’s the Sea Pacifying God Needle which was specifically crafted when Yu the Great controlled the water, and later became a merit treasure."

While an ancient demon clan might not ring a bell, everyone had heard of Yu the Great. Any merit treasure related to Yu the Great of the human race was bound to be potent.

Now, everyone knew that the Giant Spirit God was in trouble.

As if to confirm their speculation, the Giant Spirit God had indeed lost his fight just as Jiang Chen finished explaining Sun Wukong’s situation, and fled back in a panic.

Having saved the Giant Spirit God, they looked down to see a flagpole erected outside the Water Curtain Cave, flying a banner inscribed with the four characters "Great Sage, Equal of Heaven".

Seeing this, everyone was steaming with anger, cursing the monkey for having no sense of propriety.

Feeling that he had laid out sufficient groundwork, Jiang Chen was about to ask for permission to capture the monkey, but Nezha had already taken the initiative and charged down.

"How dare this demon monkey act so audaciously. Let this prince put him in his place!"

As he spoke, Nezha had already arrived in front of Sun Wukong outside the Water Curtain Cave, revealing his three heads and six arms, wielding six magic treasures; the Evil-Slaying Sword, Demon-Slicing Blade, Demon-Binding Rope, Demon-Subduing Pestle, embroidered ball and fire-tipped spear. He stepped on wheel of wind and fire, and began duelling with the monkey.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen could only suppress the urge to act and quietly observed the battle from the clouds. However, after a while, he noticed something fishy.

Was Nezha putting on a show?

Despite the monkey’s recent rise in strength, wasn’t beating him like a child’s play to Nezha, with his advanced peak Taiyi Golden Immortal’s cultivation that was nearing Great Luo Golden Immortal?

But now, after dozens of rounds with Sun Wukong, Nezha was gradually falling into a disadvantage. It certainly felt like a staged farce.

Particularly after seeing the magic treasures used by Nezha, Jiang Chen really wanted to say, "Brother, even if you’re acting, could you at least take it seriously?"

Common knowledge has it that Nezha inherited several innate spiritual treasures. There’s the high-grade innate spiritual treasure Qiankun Circle and Chaos Silk Ribbon given to him by Empress Nuwa. Taiyi Zhenren also gifted him the golden bricks, Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover and Yin-Yang Sword.

Any of these treasures are far more powerful than all the treasures with Sun Wukong combined.

Yet, Nezha didn’t use any of them.

If this wasn’t an act, Jiang Chen would be willing to chop off the monkey’s head and kick it like a football. He couldn’t let Nezha continue the act, otherwise, it would be time to retreat shortly.