Chapter 19: Mortal Immortal Country

The new king of the Kingdom of Aolai had not been enthroned long before Sun Wukong brought Ao Luan to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

The Dragon King warmly welcomed him, offering tea: "Wise Monkey, what brings you to my place today?"

Sun Wukong replied, "You made an island for me last time, and I've yet to thank you for it."

He gave Ao Luan a meaningful glance, and she immediately handed over a brocade box full of treasures to the Dragon King.

The Dragon King glanced at it: "Wise Monkey, you are too polite."

He directed the Prime Minister Turtle to accept the brocade box and then smiled, "But I suspect you're not just here for that, right?"

Sun Wukong smiled back, "Huaguo Mountain wants to trade with the Kingdom of Aolai, and I'm looking to enlist some help from you."

The Dragon King looked up at Ao Luan, who nodded slightly.

"It's not difficult to lend some hands," the Dragon King said. "But I don't have many talents left here, just some shrimp soldiers and crab generals."

"Father," Ao Luan couldn't help but interject, "my brother wishes for me to preside over the Kingdom of Aolai. I'm reluctant, so I suggested he seek help here."

The Dragon King immediately changed his mind.

"If that's the case, then I will send a Dragon Prince there."

After he said this, it surprised Sun Wukong a bit.

"Is that possible?"

"Of course, it is."

The Dragon King nodded.

As soon as Ao Luan spoke, he understood; his daughter didn't want to leave this monkey.

Sun Wukong was relieved of a concern and began to converse heartily with the Dragon King.

The Dragon King was a well-traveled and knowledgeable man, while Sun Wukong was extensively read and quick-witted, naturally enjoying the conversation.

The two discussed everything from the natural beauty of the lakes and seas to Taoist doctrines, and hours passed without them noticing.

Sun Wukong came to his senses, only to find Ao Luan had already run off somewhere.

"Wise Monkey, stay and have a meal."

The Dragon King invited him.

Sun Wukong nodded, "Could I take a tour of the Crystal Palace?"

"Of course you may."

The Dragon King personally escorted Sun Wukong around the Crystal Palace.

The Crystal Palace was magnificent and deep with crystal, its pillars made of white jade, and its walls of aquamarine; it was naturally grand and beautiful, but in fact, Sun Wukong wished to see if the Jingu Bang was present—unfortunately, it wasn't to be found.

He inquired about any recent anomalies with the Dragon King, who also wore a puzzled expression.

It seemed then that the Jingu Bang was not yet destined to appear.

Sun Wukong couldn't help showing a look of disappointment.

The Dragon King, surprised, asked, "Wise Monkey, why the disappointment? Is there something unsatisfactory about my Crystal Palace?"

"It's not that."

Sun Wukong shook his head, offering an excuse, "I was hoping to find some architectural inspiration for Huaguo Mountain, but the Crystal Palace has incorporated all the treasures of the world, making it an impossible standard to learn from."

The Dragon King couldn't help but laugh heartily; Sun Wukong's exaggeration was evident, yet it was true that in this Crystal Palace, even the curtains were made of stringed crystals, and aside from the Heavenly Palace, nowhere else could one find such a luxurious palace.

"What is that on the outside of your Crystal Palace?"

Sun Wukong continued to inquire.

He had noticed that there was a film around the exterior of the Crystal Palace, which could isolate the sea water and ordinary fish, and even protect against demon attacks.

"That is a Barrier."

The Dragon King stroked his beard, "If you're interested, I can teach it to you."

Sun Wukong showed interest immediately.

He had also learned some Array Formation Technique at the Three Star Cave; after achieving the Tao, he could draw a simple circle to prevent demons from entering—but he did not know how to create such a vast barrier.

The Dragon King took two hours to teach Sun Wukong the technique of the barrier.

Sun Wukong fully grasped everything, absorbing any spell with just one listen, quickly integrating and understanding it.

"Indeed, a naturally born spiritual monkey!"

The Dragon King thought to himself; the Immortal Law that common people cannot master in a lifetime, this monkey learned immediately after listening.

But, learning does not mean it can be used; maintaining such a Barrier without enough Spiritual Treasures is impossible.

After the meal, the Dragon King sent Ao Luan and Sun Wukong out of the Crystal Palace.

"Where did you go just now?"

On the way back to Shuilian Cave, Sun Wukong asked Ao Luan; he didn't see her during the meal.

"My brother doesn't have clothes that fit him well, so I found a set for my brother."

Ao Luan said.

She took out the clothes, and Sun Wukong was startled—wasn't this the outfit from the Heavenly Book?

A pair of lotus silk Cloud Stepping Shoes, a Locking Gold Armor, and a Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown.

This was exactly the attire from when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace as described in the Heavenly Book; Sun Wukong did not purposely pursue them but did not expect they would appear in Ao Luan's hands.

Could it be that these items were destined for him?

"Big brother."

Seeing Sun Wukong in a daze, Ao Luan took the initiative and said, "Would you like me to put them on for you?"

"No need."

Sun Wukong came to his senses, waved his hand to refuse: "Let's set aside these clothes for now, I'll wear them when the opportunity arises."

He slightly frowned, appearing contemplative as he turned and walked away.

Ao Luan stared at his back, then looked somewhat disappointedly at the extravagant clothes in her hands: "I thought he would like them."

Let's put the Dragon Girl's disappointment aside for now; when Sun Wukong returned to Huaguo Mountain, he quickly proclaimed the documents of the Kingdom of Aolai.

Huaguo Mountain and the Kingdom of Aolai opened up trade, with the volume of trade increasing year after year.

Especially for the Kingdom of Aolai, within a few years, it became a trade center; humans from the Southern Continent and the Eastern Continent brought their goods here to trade with the demons of Huaguo Mountain.

The prosperity of trade promoted the technological creations of the demons—not that it benefited Huaguo Mountain.

The goods of Huaguo Mountain were far less than those of human countries, naturally, they couldn't compete in trade; Huaguo Mountain, for ten consecutive years, had expenditures exceeding income, which made Ao Luan very troubled.

However, Sun Wukong had anticipated this and acted neither arrogant nor restless.

"It's almost time."

One day, Sun Wukong felt an intuition.

Under the stimulation of trade, the demons of Huaguo Mountain had almost absorbed human technology.

In a decade or so, with meticulous management, Huaguo Mountain had also cultivated a few batches of talents.

Sun Wukong gathered them together.

"I wrote 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' to help you properly understand the world."

Sun Wukong said.

To him, 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' was a tool to spread human technology to Huaguo Mountain, but that wasn't his main purpose.

Sun Wukong hoped that this book, through subtle influence, would help the demons understand the importance of technology and experience that improved productivity could make their lives better.

Demons don't have as many rules and beliefs as humans, so they are also more likely to change their concepts.

"'Heavenly Craftsmanship' is a cornerstone."

Sun Wukong said, he had long known that technological progress in this era would not be like forty million years later.

This era had its own path to follow—

But to tread this path, it was essential to change the deeply rooted concepts of everyone.

That was the view of Taoist Skills as merely tools for cultivation, as well as the idea of nature's spiritual energy and the essence of the sun and moon being seen only as sources of power.

If these could be freed from the tight confines of cultivation and power, to elevate the technology and productivity in every profession, the entire world would become different.

"We will use nature's spiritual energy to integrate Daoist Skills with craftsmanship, turning Huaguo Mountain into a paradise on earth."

Sun Wukong declared.

This sentence was truly the beginning of transforming heaven and earth.