The Book of Life and Death is arranged chronologically, so with the exact time of death and birth, finding a specific entry is actually very easy.
It took Monkey less than fifteen minutes after entering the Hall of Life and Death to find Birdie's death entry. However, the real problem was only just beginning.
To link a soul's past and future lives for easy reference, the Book of Life and Death always adds a note after each death entry, stating the year, month, and place of the next reincarnation. If there is no such note, the 'soul pending judgment' box is checked.
Yet when Monkey turned to Birdie's page, he found that not only was the space where the reincarnation note should be left blank, but the 'soul pending judgment' box was also empty...
"Senior Brother, help me take a look." Turning around, Monkey anxiously handed the Book of Life and Death to Elder Stillwater, his eyes wide with hope.
Taking the Book of Life and Death, Elder Stillwater gently stroked the page and quickly reached a conclusion: "The details about reincarnation have been sealed by secret arts—there's no way to uncover them. But the 'soul pending judgment' box is genuine."
"So that means..."
"So that means..." Elder Stillwater said slowly, "she must have already reincarnated or been revived. There must be another record of her somewhere in the Book of Life and Death."
Monkey couldn't help but laugh—a genuine, irrepressible laugh from deep within.
Did this mean he would soon see Birdie, the one he had longed for day and night?
He couldn't help scratching his head, just like a child bursting with joy, overcome by the urge to tears.
More than a hundred years—it had been more than a hundred years. The destitute wild monkey from a century ago had grown into the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, feared throughout the Three Realms, now able to fulfill every wish of that silly little bird.
Yes, every wish—if only he could find her, there would be nothing she wanted that he couldn't give, nothing at all.
He couldn't help but grin foolishly, smiling so wide that the surrounding demons were left stunned.
That smile was as simple as an ordinary monkey in the wild.
They had never seen this side of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven—the ruler of all demons, the terror of Heaven, the one who had forced the Jade Emperor into a corner—revealed so plainly.
Belle watched Monkey's joy in silence, dazed and wordless. A sense of helplessness welled up inside her.
If he's found her, then everything will be exposed, won't it? she thought.
Holding the Book of Life and Death, Elder Stillwater murmured, "But the spell sealing these details is extremely strange—I'm afraid no one will be able to break it for quite some time."
"It's fine, it's fine," Monkey reassured himself. "As long as her record is here, we'll definitely find her... If Lord Lao could find it in half a year, so can we. King Brightcourt—! King Brightcourt—! Get out here!"
King Brightcourt struggled and squeezed his way out of the crowd of demons.
"I am here! I am here!"
Before King Brightcourt could steady himself, Monkey strode over, seized him by the collar, and demanded, "Tell me at once—which volume, which book did Lord Lao consult last?"
"Lord Lao?" King Brightcourt was instantly bewildered.
"More than a hundred years ago, Lord Lao came to your Hall of Life and Death to inspect the Book of Life and Death, spending half a year here. Don't tell me you've forgotten!"
Staring at Monkey's ferocious face at such close range, King Brightcourt shuddered violently, swallowed hard, and nervously pointed to the side. "Lord Lao... Lord Lao checked that bookshelf over there last..."
"Move!" Monkey dragged King Brightcourt in the direction he indicated. "Which bookshelf? Speak up!"
"Th-these few right here."
"A few?" Monkey paused, grinned menacingly, straightened King Brightcourt's robes, and said with a cold smile, "Are you telling me Lord Lao was consulting several bookshelves at once? Are you tired of living?"
King Brightcourt panicked, his face crumpling as he pleaded, "Great Sage... Lord Lao really did check several shelves at once! I swear I’m telling you everything I know—how could I dare deceive you, Great Sage?"
"Is that so?"
Before the words had faded, Monkey's hand was already tightening around King Brightcourt's throat.
The other Judges of Hell were all stunned, mouths agape, but none dared intervene for fear of getting themselves in trouble.
Monkey's bloodshot eyes widened, his mouth splitting to reveal sharp fangs as he spoke each word slowly and clearly: "I'll give you one more chance. If you can't give me the answer I want, I'll go ask someone else."
King Brightcourt was so frightened his nose ran, his mouth gaping but unable to speak for a long moment.
"Wait." At that moment, Ewan—now in demon form—reached out and grasped Monkey's wrist, speaking softly: "He's probably telling the truth. With Lord Lao's cultivation, checking several shelves at once is hardly unusual."
Monkey slowly turned to look at Elder Stillwater.
Elder Stillwater silently nodded and said, "He's telling the truth."
At those words, Monkey finally loosened his grip.
King Brightcourt collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for breath, casting a fearful glance at Monkey and not daring to move.
Monkey looked up at those enormous, boundless bookshelves, his face full of bewilderment.
"So we just have to search book by book?"
Elder Stillwater silently nodded again.
"If that's the case, then let's get started! Every bookshelf, every book, every single page—leave nothing unchecked!"
"Yes, sir!" the demons responded in unison.
Monkey leaped into the air, spiritual energy shooting out as he drew hundreds of books before him, flipping them open automatically.
His gaze darted swiftly between the books.
Belle still stood there, dazed.
Undoubtedly, this would be a colossal undertaking, but compared to the hundred-plus years of his long journey, it was nothing.
...
In the Imperial Library of Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor sat quietly, still waiting for news from the Netherworld.
"Still no confirmation on what he's searching for?"
"To answer Your Majesty, it remains uncertain," Lord Fortune replied respectfully. "But it's certain the matter is related to Lord Lao."
"Lord Lao?" The Jade Emperor was instantly alarmed.
After a long while, the Jade Emperor fiddled with his thumb ring and said, "Investigate further! This matter must be clarified!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lord Fortune replied.
...
High above in the Thirty-Three Heavens, Lord Lao sat cross-legged, head bowed, eyes closed, lost in hesitation.
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In the courtyard of Qi Tian Palace on Blossom Mountain, Anna Yang sat in a daze, clutching the jade slip she used to communicate with Monkey.
...
In Crescent Star Cave, Subhuti quietly stood by the railing, gazing up at the sunset on the horizon, waiting in silence.
...
In Mi’luo Palace, Lord Genesis and Lord Skygate played a game of chess.
...
At this moment, the fate of a little golden canary’s soul seemed to have become the key to the ownership of Heaven and Earth. All the major powers were watching closely, waiting.
...
The Yin miasma slowly spread between the bookshelves. The candles in the Hall of Life and Death were replaced again and again, and the ghost soldiers on guard were relieved in batch after batch.
The demons carefully flipped through the ledgers of life and death. Over two thousand demons gathered together, and all that remained was the rustle of pages and their heavy breathing.
There is no day or night in the Netherworld. As the light and shadows passed, under the watchful eyes of all the powers, ten days flew by in a blink.
A third of the bookshelves documenting the births and deaths across the Three Realms in the span of a month had already been combed through.
Monkey still soared through the air, book after book flashing before him at incredible speed, then shoved back onto the shelves.
"No... no... still nothing... What is going on?"
His patience was gradually worn away with every page turned, and his heart grew increasingly restless.
The Spirit-Refinement-stage demons had long since reached their limit and had to take turns reviewing. The lengthy and tedious work had exhausted this once high-spirited elite force, but none dared to voice it.
How could they complain when even the Great Sage himself hadn’t said he was tired?
Blackie timidly approached Monkey: "Great Sage, the Prime Minister asks when you’ll return. He’s urged four times already... Blossom Mountain can’t do without you."
"Any movement from Heaven?"
"No, nothing."