Sun Wukong parted the waters and entered the bottom of the East Sea.
He didn't know where the Sea Dragon Palace was, so he searched around the seabed and, at last, he indeed found it.
From afar came a patrol demon, blocking his path and asking, "Who causes the water to part? To whom does your sacredness belong? Speak clearly, so I may announce and usher you in."
Sun Wukong thought that the Sea Dragon Palace was a place that valued propriety and thus grandly declared, "I am Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King of the Water Curtain Cave in Flower-Fruit Mountain, your venerable Sea Dragon King's neighbor. How could you not recognize me?"
Upon hearing this, the patrol demon hastened back to the Crystal Palace to report.
At this moment, the Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, was playing a game of pitch-pot with the dragon elders and dragon maidens, and a whole host of dragon descendants, when his fun was suddenly disturbed, causing him some irritation.
"What matter disturbs us?" he asked the patrol demon.
"Your Majesty, outside is the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong of Flower-Fruit Mountain. He says he is a neighbor of the King," the patrol demon quickly replied.
"The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong?" Ao Guang was greatly astonished.
Recently, the monkey hordes of Flower-Fruit Mountain had rallied seventy-two Demon Kings and over a hundred thousand demons to drill formations daily; such a show of force was naturally known to the Sea Dragon Palace.
It was even said that the Monkey King was a Daluo Golden Immortal who had cultivated outside for many years, suggesting his formidable strength.
Moreover, the recent massive battle near Flower-Fruit Mountain could also be heard from the Sea Dragon Palace.
According to the marine creatures nearby, it was precisely the Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain who had confronted the Demon King Bull Demon and five other great Demon Kings.
From this, Ao Guang could vaguely assess the Monkey King's strength, which was more than his East Sea dragon clan could afford to offend!
Thus, he had turned a blind eye towards the rapidly expanding power of Flower-Fruit Mountain, continuing his merrymaking in the Crystal Palace, behaving like an indifferent old Sea Dragon King.
He had not anticipated that Sun Wukong would take it upon himself to come knocking!
"I do not know him personally, so what does he want in my domain?" Though Ao Guang was unwilling and wary, he dared not show the slightest negligence.
After hearing the patrol demon's report, he immediately rose, instructed the dragon maidens to withdraw to the inner hall, then led his dragon descendants and assorted soldiers of shrimps and crabs out of the palace to meet the visitor.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong waited outside, looking at the magnificent Crystal Palace and thinking how the treasures of the East Sea dragon clan were indeed plentiful. The abode alone was so splendid that he, too, must build one in the future.
Before long, he saw an old man with a dragon head and human body, green hair, and red beard, leading a dense crowd of dragon kin and a retinue of shrimps and crabs.
"This must be the Sea Dragon King. He seems amiable," Sun Wukong observed carefully but still held an imposing stance, as befitted his status as a Daluo Golden Immortal.
"Forgive me for not coming out further to meet such a revered immortal," Ao Guang came forward to give a formal greeting.
"No offense taken, no offense taken, heh heh heh. Sea Dragon King, I've brought a gift," Sun Wukong laughed, bowing. Seeing the Sea Dragon King being so accommodating, he immediately dropped his facade.
"Revered Immortal, please come inside!" Ao Guang, reassured, hurriedly invited Sun Wukong inside and hosted him with tea upon taking the seat.
After the pleasantries, Ao Guang asked, "What brings the revered immortal to grace us with his presence?"
Sun Wukong chuckled, "As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Flower-Fruit Mountain is so close to the Sea Dragon Palace, it's natural for me to drop by and befriend the Sea Dragon King, so we can look out for each other in the future."
Ao Guang half-believed and half-doubted but smiled agreeably, "We are honored by the high regard from the immortal. If there's ever anything you require of this old dragon, please feel free to ask."
Sun Wukong discerned the underlying implication in his words—they indeed meant "feel free to ask," but whether the Sea Dragon King would act or act well remained to be seen.
However, with words already spoken, there was no going back now.
"Heh heh, the Sea Dragon King is an agreeable fellow, so I must not be coy," Sun Wukong smiled, "Today, I've come not only to make friends but indeed there is something for which I need your assistance."
Ao Guang's heart sank at these words, sensing trouble, yet he still forced a smile, "Please, speak your mind, revered immortal."
Sun Wukong smiled, "I have long been a monk and have never found the opportunity to acquire a suitable weapon. Today, I have specifically come to borrow one."
Upon hearing this, Ao Guang sighed in relief; it was just a request for a treasure after all.
But then he thought, borrowing? That's merely a polite way of robbing, better he had outright demanded it!
He only muttered in his heart but dared not say anything outwardly, instead making excuses, "Divine Skills, your prowess is vast, how could the treasures in my dragon palace catch your eyes."
Of course, the treasures could not be carelessly displayed, for if this Monkey King thought he had too many treasures, he might borrow even more, leading to a significant loss.
"Oh?" Sun Wukong smiled as he stepped forward a few steps, jumped in front of Ao Guang, and grabbed his beard, "Old Dragon King, everyone knows the East Sea Dragon Palace has many treasures. Don't be so stingy."
Ao Guang trembled inside but dared no longer make excuses and hastily instructed his subordinates to bring a large knife.
Sun Wukong waved his hand, "Old Sun doesn't use knives."
Ao Guang quickly had his subordinates bring a nine-pronged steel fork. Wukong tried it, found it too light, and threw it aside.
He then tried dual hammers, the Nine Section Whip, the Square Sky Halberd, and none suited him.
"These weapons are all useless, useless." Sun Wukong felt dissatisfaction in his heart, thinking that the old Dragon King was hiding the good things, not bringing them out.
Ao Guang was worried and cautiously said, "This... Divine Skills, the heaviest weapon I have here is this Square Sky Halberd. There is no other weapon left."
"Hehe, Old Dragon King." Sun Wukong laughed as he circled around Ao Guang, "Old Sun is here to borrow weapons, not to rob. If you have good things, just bring them out."
Ao Guang spread his hands, "I dare not deceive Divine Skills, truly there is no more."
Seeing the Monkey King becoming dissatisfied, the dragon granny and dragon maiden, hiding in the back hall, signaled the old Dragon King to come over.
Ao Guang asked Sun Wukong to wait momentarily and then went to the back hall.
The dragon granny said, "Your Majesty, this sage is not like ordinary Demon Kings; that piece of Sea-calming Divine Needle iron in our sea treasury has been emitting radiant and auspicious light these past few days. Could it be because of this sage's visit?"
Ao Guang shook his head, "That is what Da Yu used to determine the depth of rivers and seas during his water control project. Can it be of any use?"
The dragon granny said, "Who cares if it's useful or not, just give it to him and dispatch this matter earlier."
Ao Guang nodded in agreement, went back to the front hall, and informed Wukong about the Sea-calming Divine Needle, finally saying, "This is the finest treasure in my dragon palace. Divine Skills, if you can lift it, I'll gift it to you as a weapon."
"Oh? Where is it? Quickly, lead the way, lead the way." Sun Wukong, upon hearing this, instantly became interested.
They then arrived at the sea treasury, seeing a dazzling array of various treasures piled everywhere, overwhelming to the eyes.
But in Sun Wukong's eyes, none of these mattered; he immediately spotted a large black pillar in the center of the sea treasury.
Suddenly, the pillar emitted thousands of golden lights, extraordinarily mystical.
Ao Guang's expression changed. Could it really be an incredible treasure?
But it was too late to make excuses now, as the Monkey King's eyes shone with divine light, extremely excited, and in a flash, he was in front of the pillar.
"Too thick and too long, if only it were a little shorter and thinner," Sun Wukong walked around the pillar and observed.
As soon as his words fell, the pillar became somewhat smaller.
"This treasure must be to your liking!" Sun Wukong was overjoyed and continuously cried out for it to be shorter and thinner.
Soon enough, the large pillar transformed into a pole two meters long and as thick as the mouth of a bowl, with a segment of black iron in the middle and two golden hoops on each end.
It was also engraved with a line of characters, renamed "Ruyi Jingu Bang," weighing thirteen thousand five hundred jin.
"Hehehe, what a treasure, what a treasure!" Sun Wukong stretched out his hand, and the staff actively flew into his palm. With just one movement, the entire crystal palace began to shake.
"Divine Skills, please do not display your divine powers!" In terror and heartache, Ao Guang blocked Wukong, "Divine Skills, this is my ocean-subduing treasure; you can't take it away!"
Sun Wukong was reluctant to part with it, very delighted. He remembered the suggestions from his online friends not to smash or rob, so he twirled the Jingu Bang just once before stopping.
Hearing Ao Guang say this, he playfully said, "Old Dragon King, what are you talking about? Old Sun is borrowing, not taking. If others heard you, they might think Monkey King Sun Wukong is here to rob treasures,
let's go back to the front hall. Old Sun will write you an IOU to avoid any misunderstandings,"