In the Celestial Palace, the Jade Emperor's court was in uproar. Messengers flew in from every direction, bearing grim news.
"Your Majesty! The monkey who served in Heaven has rebelled! He calls himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! He has built his own banner, raised his own army, and now the demons and spirits of the mortal world gather under him!"
The Jade Emperor's face darkened. "So he has broken our laws and mocked our Heaven?"
He struck the jade table before him. "Summon Marshal Li Jing of the Heavenly Hosts and Prince Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince. Let them lead their troops to subdue this insolent ape!"
Li Jing, the mighty Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, bowed. "Your servant obeys!"
Nezha, young and radiant, his lotus-fire wheels spinning beneath his feet, grinned fiercely. "I shall bring you his head within the day, Your Majesty."
And so, the Celestial Army of one hundred thousand soldiers descended upon the mortal realm in a blaze of golden light. Thunder shook the mountains, and clouds rolled over Flower Fruit Mountain like a storm.
***
Sun Wukong stood upon a cliff, his golden armor gleaming, his staff resting across his shoulders. When he saw the banners of Heaven rising in the distance, he laughed aloud.
"So, the Jade Emperor sends his lapdogs to bark at me? Excellent! My brothers, today we show Heaven the might of Flower Fruit Mountain!"
The monkeys cheered, beating drums and horns. The mountain trembled with their cries.
Soon, Li Jing's army surrounded the mountain. The sky blazed with celestial fire, and drums of war thundered across the heavens.
Marshal Li rode forward on his golden-eyed warhorse, his spear shining with divine light.
"Rebel monkey! Surrender now, and the Jade Emperor may show mercy!"
Wukong grinned. "Mercy? Tell your Jade Emperor to come himself if he dares!"
He leapt forward, swinging the Ruyi Jingu Bang. The staff grew thicker and longer, its golden light blinding. With one blow, he shattered the front line of heavenly soldiers; with another, he split the mountain ridge in two.
Nezha spun his Cosmic Ring and Fire-Tipped Spear, darting through the clouds like lightning. He clashed with Wukong in mid-air, their weapons striking sparks that rained like meteors.
They battled for three days and nights. Wukong transformed into a giant with a head touching the clouds; Nezha became a thousand-armed god, wielding a thousand blades.
But in the end, Nezha grew weary, while Wukong remained tireless. Laughing, the Monkey King transformed into a whirlwind, seized Nezha's spear, and flung him to the ground.
When Li Jing rushed to rescue his son, Wukong struck his pagoda aside and shouted,
"Go back to your Heaven! Tell the Jade Emperor that I, Sun Wukong, bow to no one!"
Li Jing and Nezha, their army shattered, had no choice but to retreat in shame.
***
When they returned to Heaven, they knelt before the throne.
Li Jing said bitterly, "The monkey's strength is beyond measure. No weapon can pierce his skin, and he wields a staff that obeys his will. He knows seventy-two transformations and commands demons as his soldiers. We could not subdue him."
The court fell silent. Even the immortals exchanged uneasy glances.
The Jade Emperor frowned, tapping his jade scepter. Then, the Venus Immortal Taibai Jinxing stepped forward again and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, this monkey is wild but cunning. If we cannot defeat him, perhaps we can pacify him. Offer him recognition — give him the title he craves. Let him return to Heaven as the 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,' a post of empty rank, to keep him from further rebellion."
The Jade Emperor pondered this, then slowly nodded. "Very well. Issue the decree."
***
A celestial envoy descended once more to Flower Fruit Mountain, carrying a scroll of gold.
"By decree of the Jade Emperor," the envoy proclaimed, "Sun Wukong is hereby granted the title of 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,' to be honored in the Celestial Court!"
Wukong burst out laughing, his tail swishing proudly.
"Ah, now he admits what I am! At last, Heaven recognizes my greatness!"
He summoned his monkeys and beasts. "Guard the mountain in my absence. I shall return to Heaven — not as a servant, but as an equal!"
He soared into the sky once more, his laughter echoing across the clouds.
When he arrived in Heaven, he was received with all ceremony. A grand palace was built for him beside the Peach Garden of the Queen Mother, its gates bearing the words:
"Residence of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven."
From that day, Sun Wukong roamed freely through the Celestial Court. He saluted no one and obeyed no order. When others bowed, he grinned and waved them off.
At first, the immortals whispered behind their sleeves. But over time, Wukong's mischief grew bolder.
He sneaked into the Jade Pool Banquet, drank the immortal wine, and devoured the peaches of immortality. When the celestial maidens tried to stop him, he laughed and vanished into the clouds, leaving chaos behind.
The heavens trembled once more.
***
For a time, Sun Wukong lived proudly in Heaven, his name echoing through the halls of immortals. But his wild heart could not bear stillness.
One day, as he wandered near the Peach Garden of the Queen Mother, he saw rows upon rows of immortal peaches—each glowing with a faint pink aura.
A celestial maid appeared and bowed. "Great Sage, these are the Peaches of Immortality. They ripen once every three thousand years. Tomorrow, the Queen Mother will host the Banquet of Immortals, and these fruits shall be served only to the worthiest."
Wukong's eyes sparkled. "Three thousand years? Why wait?"
Before she could stop him, he leapt into the trees and plucked the largest peach. He bit into it—sweetness flooded his mouth, divine essence coursing through his veins. Laughing, he devoured peach after peach, until whole branches were bare.
Then, drunk on celestial wine and arrogance, he found his way into the Jade Pool Banquet Hall itself. The tables were laid with the Elixir Wine of Laozi, glowing golden in crystal cups.
"Ah, such fine hospitality," he said, grinning as he poured himself a drink. "It would be rude not to taste it."
He drank and feasted until the hall was in disarray. Then, when celestial guards approached, he transformed into a beam of golden light and vanished—back to Flower Fruit Mountain, clutching the treasures of Heaven itself.
***
When news reached the Celestial Palace, chaos erupted.
The Queen Mother fumed. "He has eaten my peaches!"
Laozi thundered. "He has stolen my elixirs!"
The Jade Emperor's voice shook the heavens. "Enough! Assemble the full Celestial Army!"
From the Four Heavenly Gates, ten thousand divine generals marched. Celestial drums roared; banners blazed with golden sigils. The Nine Heavens themselves darkened as the Jade Emperor declared:
"Bring me the Monkey King—alive or dead!"
***
Sun Wukong, upon his mountain, had already donned his armor and summoned his troops. Demon kings, spirit beasts, and immortal apes stood beside him.
"Brothers!" he shouted, the wind whipping through his fur. "Heaven calls me a criminal for seeking my own path. But I was born free beneath Heaven and Earth—why should I bow to anyone? Let them come! We'll show them what it means to challenge the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
The battle that followed shook the world.
Heaven's soldiers clashed with the monkey army; lightning flashed, mountains split, and rivers turned to mist. Wukong's staff grew as tall as the sky, sweeping aside thousands of celestial warriors with a single swing.
Even the Four Heavenly Kings could not withstand him. Their pagodas shattered, their treasures scattered.
But then, the clouds parted—and from the light descended a single god, clad in silver armor, eyes sharp as swords. His third eye blazed upon his forehead.
It was Erlang Shen, the Celestial General of True Vision, the nephew of the Jade Emperor himself.
"Wretched monkey!" he called. "You've mocked Heaven long enough. Today, I, Erlang Shen, shall bring you to justice!"
Wukong laughed, spinning his staff. "I've heard tales of your strength, Erlang Shen. Show me if they're true!"
They clashed in midair. Staff met spear; mountain met mountain. Wukong transformed into a giant eagle—Erlang turned into a falcon. Wukong became a fish diving into the sea—Erlang turned into an otter and chased him through the waves.
They fought across the skies for days, neither yielding. The heavens dimmed, the stars trembled, and even the immortals hid behind the clouds to watch.
At last, as the battle reached its peak, Laozi opened the gates of his Eight-Trigram Furnace and sent forth divine fire. Exhausted, Wukong was caught in the flames and struck down by Erlang Shen's spear.
Chains of gold bound him, and celestial soldiers dragged him before the Jade Emperor.
"Rebellious monkey," said the Emperor coldly, "you've violated every law of Heaven. You shall be executed!"
They placed him in Laozi's furnace, sealing it for forty-nine days—thinking the flames would burn him to ashes.
But when the furnace opened…
Wukong stepped out, his body unscathed, his eyes burning with golden fire.
"Ha! Your flames could not harm me—they've only tempered my body!"
Panic swept Heaven. The monkey had become indestructible.
***
At last, the Jade Emperor raised his hand and spoke softly:
"No immortal can subdue him. There is but one who might."
He turned toward the West.
"Summon the Buddha."
From beyond the clouds, a calm light descended—radiant, vast, and still. The Buddha of the Western Paradise arrived, his gaze gentle yet infinite.
"Why rage so fiercely, Great Sage?" he asked softly. "What is it you seek?"
Wukong bowed mockingly. "I seek nothing but freedom—and equality with Heaven itself!"
The Buddha smiled. "Then let us wager. If you can leap beyond my palm, I shall grant you that title. But if you cannot… you must submit."
Wukong laughed, confident. "Your palm? Watch closely!"
He leapt into the sky, flying faster than light, past mountains, stars, and clouds. At last, he saw five great pillars piercing the heavens.
"This must be the edge of the world!" he declared proudly.
He scrawled on one pillar: "Sun Wukong, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, was here." Then, to mock the Buddha, he relieved himself at the base—and leapt back triumphantly.
"I've been to the edge of the universe and back!"
The Buddha raised his hand—and Wukong froze. For the markings he had carved were written… upon the Buddha's fingers.
"You never left my palm," the Buddha said.
Before Wukong could speak, the Buddha flipped his hand, pressing the monkey beneath a mountain of gold and stone.
"Here you shall remain, until humility dawns upon you."
The mountain closed with five shining sigils — the Five Elements Mountain.
Underneath, the once-proud Monkey King struggled and roared, but could not escape.
Thus ended the rebellion of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.