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03 Revolt Against Heaven

The two sides joined battle before the Water Curtain Cave. The Unicorn Demon King was no match for them and was driven back by the Nine Bright Stars to the head of the iron-plate bridge, and it seemed the cave must fall at any moment. Then a voice cried ‘Out of the way!’ and there was Wukong, whirling his golden-hooped rod, flinging aside all guard as he fought his way out. Wukong took on all nine at once and drove the Nine Bright Stars back at every point. Seeing this, the Heavenly King Li urgently ordered the Four Heavenly Kings and the Twenty-Eight Constellations into the field together. The heavenly generals all fell upon him at once, and the sky was filled with rolling haze and rank upon rank of arms and armor. Wukong knew no fear at all, but fought on among them in a great melee, till the sand flew through heaven and earth and the dust rose to fill the universe. Wukong grew fiercer as he fought and his battle-lust rose. With his golden-hooped rod in hand he passed through them as though none were there; and the hundred thousand heavenly troops could not hold him. Sky and earth went dark, and ghosts and gods cried out in terror. Cutting down generals and striking at commanders, Wukong displayed his full divine might and fought his way toward the central command. The Heavenly King Li dodged this way and that in consternation and urgently ordered Nezha and the Four Heavenly Kings to hold him. Knowing well that they were no match for him, they could do no more than ward off his blows in confusion. Seeing that the day was late, Wukong had no heart to fight on. He plucked a handful of hairs, chewed them in his mouth and spat them into the air, crying ‘Change!’ — and in an instant they became a thousand Great Sages, every one whirling a golden-hooped rod, all falling upon the heavenly generals together. If a single Great Sage was already matchless in valor, a thousand of them struck terror into the Heavenly King Li's very heart. The heavenly generals had no stomach for further battle; they cast aside helmets and armor and fled in utter rout. So great a victory was won. Gazing at the heavenly host scattered beyond mending, the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, pointed his rod at the halls of heaven and laughed aloud at the sky.

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