Night had fallen. After dinner, Simon Stone—the Monkey King—sat quietly at the mouth of the cave, gazing into the distance where the firelight from three warships illuminated the horizon.
Beneath those warships, a sprawling military encampment had been erected. Flags fluttered in the wind, and layer upon layer of defensive nets had already been drawn.
The firelight cast its glow upon the upright figures standing tall within the camp.
Outside the camp, the scene bustled with activity as countless cultivators gathered, each eager for a chance to ascend and become a celestial general.
From time to time, the mournful cries of wild beasts echoed through the night, sending a shiver through the Monkey King's heart.
These must be the demons captured by the Heavenly Court, used as tools to select new generals. Forced to fight against various cultivators, they battled until death. The Heavenly Court had always relied on this most direct method to assess the strength of Daoist travelers, assigning them to suitable positions accordingly.
Simon could even imagine those pairs of eyes peering out from their cages, helpless and forlorn.
As for whether these demons had truly committed unforgivable crimes, no one cared.
Regardless of whether one followed the Sage's Path or the Traveler's Path, as long as the Heavenly Court selected them and they joined the ranks of the Celestial Army, they would receive incense offerings from the mortal realm. To reside in the Heavenly Palace meant richer spiritual energy—one day in Heaven was a year on Earth—extending one's lifespan by three hundred and sixty-five times.
If one achieved military merit, it was even possible to soar above the ranks and become a phoenix among men, blessed with Peaches of Immortality and Celestial Nectar to further prolong life. In this way, possessing dual immortal status was almost within reach.