Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Chapter 509: 509

East Victorious Divine Continent, Jiling City, has endured a drought for three years with not a drop of rain, as if it had been abandoned by the heavens above.

The cracked ground resembled the deeply etched wrinkles on the face of an old man after braving the elements, so stark and so full of helpless sorrow. The faces of the people were all painted with a color of endless despair, as scorching heat and death shrouded the entire city.

“Alright, old Dragon King, make it rain!”

Above the vault of heaven, Sun Wukong, Ao Tian, and the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang rode clouds high above, with Sun Wukong frowning at the vista of death and gloom below, his brow instinctively creasing.

Sun Wukong was not one to have a compassionate disposition, but such a sight still stirred an inexplicable anger within him. No rain for three years—was this an intent to wipe out the entire city’s populace? And in the most cruel way, by dying of thirst!

“But His Majesty the Jade Emperor has decreed that this city must not receive rain…”

Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang wore an expression of difficulty, “If the little dragon disobeys and brings rain at will, I shall be sent to the Dragon Execution Platform!”

“If you don’t make it rain, I’ll swallow you alive right now!”

Ao Tian’s eyes flashed fiercely, and the regal might of a senior dragon spread from him, causing Ao Guang’s body to tremble involuntarily.

“Ao Guang, I already told you, the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan’s backing is now us from Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the Heavenly Court can’t control you anymore, so you need not listen to the Jade Emperor’s commands!”

Sun Wukong’s eyebrows knit slightly together, speaking with some dissatisfaction, “Are the Jade Emperor’s words orders, while mine are to be disregarded?”

“No no no, Great Sage, calm your anger, calm your anger! The little dragon will make it rain right now, this instant!”

Sensing the icy murderous intent in Sun Wukong’s eyes, Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang shuddered and hurriedly agreed, hastening to summon clouds and rain and directing them toward Jiling City.

Defying the edict of the Jade Emperor would certainly lead to punishment, and possibly execution on the Dragon Platform, but if Ao Guang didn’t listen to Sun Wukong now, he feared he might indeed be swallowed whole by Ao Tian!

After all, Ao Tian could be considered one of the ancestral figures of the entire Dragon Race. In the presence of Ao Tian, it’s doubtful that anyone from the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas would dare utter a word of refusal, let alone when there’s Sun Wukong, that calamitous star. Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang was sure that if he didn’t obey the order to bring rain, he certainly wouldn’t live through the day!

“It’s raining! It’s really raining!”

“The Great Sage has shown his divine power! The Great Sage has shown his divine power! It’s really raining!”

“Great Sage, bless us! Great Sage, your mercy and compassion have finally saved Jiling City!”

As the heavy rain descended upon Jiling City, shouts of joy and expressions of gratitude echoed from all corners of the city. A smile appeared on Sun Wukong’s face, and he nodded in satisfaction. His Void-Breaking Divine Eye could clearly see strands of the Power of Faith emerging from the ramparts and flowing towards the city’s Great Sage Temple. This Power of Faith of Jiling City was now thoroughly secured!

Since the decision to reestablish the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Court had been made with Demon Master Kunpeng and others on Flower-Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong had been cooperating with Leng Xuan and others’ arrangements. He moved through the East Victorious Divine Continent, presenting himself as a savior to the suffering and a proponent of justice, gathering the Power of Faith. He convinced more and more believers to abandon the Buddha Dao and instead worship the Demon Cult and the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.

In Jiling City, where no rain had fallen for three years, Leng Xuan and others unanimously agreed that it was the perfect place to gather the Power of Faith.

After three years of drought, the local Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries had been prayed to countless times without a single raindrop falling. At this critical moment, to make the rain fall in the name of Sun Wukong, the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Cult and the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, would be more effective than any other propaganda in saving Jiling City from its arid plight!

Sun Wukong also conducted investigations and found that the reason for the continued lack of rain in Jiling City was not that the people had committed any atrocious sins. On the contrary, within a hundred miles, the local customs were simple and virtuous, and the city was renowned for its benevolent governance. The governor himself governed well without any impropriety. It was baffling why His Majesty the Jade Emperor had taken leave of his senses, specifically issuing a decree forbidding Lord of Thunder and Mother of Lightning and the Dragon King of the Four Seas from bringing rain to Jiling City, intending to let the populace perish of thirst!

Sun Wukong didn’t care about the Jade Emperor’s decrees. He was willing to do anything that would upset the Jade Emperor, especially when it meant saving the people of a city and converting their Power of Faith from the Taoist Sect to himself—a win-win situation. There was no reason for hesitation.

First, he had the city’s governor establish a Great Sage Temple and enshrine a golden statue of Sun Wukong. Of course, the temple and statue were arranged by the followers of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult. Once all preparations were in place, Sun Wukong, along with Candle Dragon Ao Tian, went to the Eastern Sea Palace and dragged Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, back with them, commanding him to bring the rain.

And so, as had just been witnessed, under Sun Wukong’s formidable pressure, the Dragon King Ao Guang had no choice but to make it rain in Jiling City. The entire city’s populace was naturally grateful to the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong—the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Cult. In no time at all, every household had replaced their household deities with spirit tablets or statues of Sun Wukong, as a ceaseless stream of the Power of Faith flowed towards the city’s Great Sage Temple.

“Great Sage, the rain has been going on for quite a while now. May I take my leave?”

After the rain had poured for over an hour, the Eastern Sea Dragon King stopped casting his spell, bowed to Sun Wukong with folded hands, and asked humbly. Sun Wukong was no longer the nameless demon immortal who had once visited his Eastern Sea Dragon Palace in search of a weapon. The name Great Sage Equalling Heaven was known throughout the Four Seas, and neither the Heavenly Court nor the Buddhist Sect could do anything about Sun Wukong, who had twice made a mess of the Heavenly Palace, nearly breaking it apart.

Now that the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult had officially unfurled its banner to establish its faith and was actively expanding its influence to collect the Power of Faith, the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang had seen it all, and yet the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect had shown no reaction, seemingly accepting this new reality.

If even the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect had backed down, what could the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang say? Moreover, with the Dragon Race’s ancient progenitor, Candle Dragon Ao Tian, standing by, if he refused to comply, he would not only risk his life but also become a disgraced descendant.

“Yes, you may leave. Just remember to bring some rain to Jiling City from time to time. If the Heavenly Court causes you trouble, just invoke my name and call for help from Flower-Fruit Mountain,” Wukong nodded and waved his hand.

“Thank you, Great Sage! I understand. Candle Dragon ancestor, I take my leave!”

With nods and bows, the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang made his respects to Sun Wukong and Ao Tian before turning into a cloud and flying back toward the Eastern Sea.