After the Buddha had flattened the monkey monster, he summoned Arhat Anuo and Maha Kasyapa to accompany him back to the Western Paradise.

Just then, Marshal Tianpeng and General Tianyou hurriedly came out from the Lingxiao Palace, saying, "Please wait a moment, Lord Buddha, my master is coming in a grand procession."

Upon hearing this, the Buddha turned around to look. In no time, he saw the Eight Scenic Phoenix Chariots and Nine Radiant Jewel Canopies, accompanied by celestial melodies and enchanting music, praising the boundless divine virtues, scattering precious flowers, and emitting true fragrances.

The procession arrived in front of the Buddha, and the Jade Emperor expressed his gratitude, "Thanks to the great Dharma for vanquishing the demonic evil. I hope the Buddha can stay for one more day and join the immortals in a feast to show our appreciation."

The Buddha couldn't refuse, so he clasped his hands in thanks. "This humble monk follows the divine decree to be here. What powers do I possess? It is truly the Almighty and all the gods who bestow abundant blessings. I dare not forget to thank you. "

Following the Jade Emperor's orders, the Gods of Thunder went to invite the Three Pure Ones, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Five Elders, the Six Departments, the Seven Stars, the Eight Trigrams, the Nine Luminaries, the Ten Celestial Guards, the Thousand Immortals, and the Ten Thousand Saints to attend the gathering and express their gratitude to the Buddha.

The Jade Emperor also commanded the Four Great Heavenly Teachers and the Nine Heavenly Fairies to open the Jade Capital's Golden Palace, the Tai Xuan Treasure Palace, and the Dong Yang Jade Mansion. They prepared a grand seven-jeweled divine platform for the Buddha and arranged seating for various divine beings, serving dragon liver, phoenix marrow, and immortal peaches with jade nectar.

Before long, the Jade Pure Origin Beginning Heavenly Lord[1], Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Lord[2], Great Pure Virtue Daoist Heavenly Lord[3], Five Jue Immortals, Five Dou Stars Lords, Three Officials and Four Sages, Nine Luminaries True Lords, Left Assistants, Right Supports, Heavenly Kings, and Nezha, all the immortals and celestial beings, came before the Buddha to pay their respects. Everybody waved banners and canopies or carried precious pearls, rare fruits, and exquisite flowers. They expressed their gratitude for the immeasurable power of the Buddha in subduing the Monkey King and thanked the Great Heavenly Lord for hosting the banquet and inviting them all to attend. They then asked the Buddha to give a name to this gathering.

The Buddha accepted the request and said, "Let's call it the 'Peaceful Heaven Assembly'."

All the immortals and heavenly beings agreed in unison."A wonderful 'Peaceful Heaven Assembly' it is!" With that, they took their seats, toasted and drank, and played music and instruments, making the gathering joyful and festive. A poem was composed to commemorate the occasion:

In feasting for the peaches, the monkey stirred the fray,

Beyond the grand assembly, the heavenly court held sway.

With dragon banners waving and phoenix chariots bright,

Banners of auspicious hues, radiance taking flight.

Celestial melodies resound with mystic song,

The phoenix flute and jade pipes play, melodies strong.

Amidst the scents of jade and joy, the immortals convene,

The universe in harmony, celebrating the sacred scene.

Everyone was delighted and joyous.

Then the Queen Mother of the West led a group of celestial maidens, fairies, and beautiful ladies, gracefully dancing toward the Buddha. They bowed respectfully and said, "During the previous Peach Banquet, the Monkey King caused quite a commotion. Thanks to the collective efforts of the celestial beings and Buddhas, we've now achieved success. We are grateful for the great power of the Buddha in subduing the unruly monkey and for the joyous occasion of the Peaceful Heaven Assembly. There's nothing we can offer to express our gratitude adequately. However, I shall personally pick several ripe peaches from the grand peach tree to present as an offering."

Half red, half green, exhales a sweet scent,

Exquisite immortal root, ageless and unbent.

Mock the plants in Wuling springs they grow,

For heavenly treasure, theirs can't outshow.

Purple veined, tender, rare in the sphere,

Crimson seeds, a sweetness none can near.

Prolongs life, grants vigor anew,

Destined eaters, a select few.

The Buddha expressed his gratitude to the Queen Mother with folded palms.

Then the Queen Mother instructed the celestial maidens and fairies to sing and dance.

The entire gathering of celestial beings praised and admired the performances. It was a scene of heavenly fragrance, filled with exquisite flowers and precious treasures, enhancing the grandeur of the Jade Palace and its golden gates. Countless rare and priceless wonders adorned the place.

The deities and celestial beings all wished for longevity equal to that of heaven, and their lives were enriched with countless eons of blessings. The passing of time and the vastness of the sea seemed insignificant.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The Buddha himself remained calm and composed, undisturbed and untroubled.

While the Queen Mother was organizing the celestial maidens and fairies for another round of singing and dancing, the cups and goblets were raised and clinked in merriment. Suddenly, they heard a sound:

A waft of fragrance fills the air so sweet,

Stirring stars and constellations to greet.

Celestial beings and Buddhas pause,

Gazing upward with wide-eyed applause.

Amidst the heavens, an elder appears,

Holding Lingzhi, transcendent spheres.

Within the gourd, an elixir's charm,

Sacred scriptures to bestow long charm.

In the cave, boundless realms unfold,

Pot of sun and moon, his dreams enfold.

Roaming the seas with joyous ease,

Ten continents embraced, all at peace.

Once at Peach Banquet, merrily drunk,

Awakening with the moon, still bright and plunk.

Long-headed, big-eared, stature slight,

Southern Pole celebrates his ageless might.

The God of Longevity had arrived. After paying respects to the Jade Emperor and greeting the Buddha, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "I heard earlier that the Monkey Demon was taken by the Old Lord Laozi to the Heavenly Mansion for refining, and I thought it would bring peace. Unexpectedly, he managed to escape again. Fortunately, the Buddha skillfully subdued this monster and arranged this banquet to express gratitude. Upon hearing about it, I came immediately. I have nothing else to offer, so I brought these Purple Reishi mushrooms and Jade Lotus roots as a token of my respect."

With emerald lotus, they serve the elixir pure,

To Shakyamuni, revered, their devotion sure.

The Tathagata's life spans sands untold,

Countless eons, his blessings unfold.

In peaceful joy, Three Paths unite,

A tapestry of bliss, forever bright.

Prosperous and ever-long,

Ninefold blooms their life's sweet song.

Within the formless gate, true masters lead,

In boundless sky, celestial beings freed.

All realms acclaim, both near and far,

Ancestral sages, guiding every star.

Standing tall, a golden frame,

Blessed with health, a life untamed.

The Buddha gladly accepted the thanks.

After passing the wine cup, the God of Longevity took his seat.

Suddenly, the Daoist Barefoot arrived. He respectfully bowed before the Jade Emperor and expressed his gratitude to the Buddha, saying, "I deeply admire your divine power in subduing the monkey monster. I have nothing worthy to offer, but I have brought two juicy pears and several dates as a humble gift."

The great immortal, barefoot and wise,

Offering ripe jujubes, pear's sweet surprise.

To Amitabha, with reverence and grace,

A life of longevity, their offering embrace.

On the lotus throne of sevenfold gems,

Steady as mountains, like priceless stems.

Life's abundance rivals the heavens above,

Fortune akin to the vast ocean's love.

Longevity and blessings, no mere tale,

True as the stars in the celestial trail.

As promised, their lives enriched and true,

In blissful serenity, to the Western horizon they flew.

The Buddha expressed his gratitude once again and asked Arhat Anuo and Maha Kasyapa to collect all the offerings. Then, they proceeded to thank the Jade Emperor for the banquet.

Everyone was in high spirits.

Suddenly, a patrol officer came to report, "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven has poked his head out!"

The Buddha said, "It's all right, don't worry." He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve with six golden characters: "Om Mani Padme Hum." He handed it to Arhat Anuo and instructed him to stick it on the mountain summit.

Arhat Anuo took the paper, passed through the Heavenly Gate, and arrived at the peak of the Five Elements Mountain. He firmly attached the paper to a square stone, and the mountain immediately took root and closed up the gap.

With the power of his breath, the Great Sage tried to break free, but the stone wouldn't budge.

Arhat Anuo reported, "The paper has been posted."

After bidding farewell to the Jade Emperor and the heavenly gods, the Buddha left through the Heavenly Gate, together with the two honored disciples. With compassion in his heart, the Buddha chanted sacred mantras and summoned a local earth deity to watch over the Five Elements Mountain.

The earth deity joined forces with the five Gates to reside on the mountain and guard the imprisoned Great Sage. When the Great Sage felt hungry, they would feed him iron pellets, and when he was thirsty, they would offer him molten copper to drink. When the time of his punishment was completed, someone would come to rescue him.

Bold Monkey defied the heavenly hall,

Yet Buddha's hand made him take the fall.

Thirsting for copper, years he endured,

Hungry, he feasted on iron, time obscured.

In trials and tribulations, heavenly wrath,

Life's hardships seemed to cross his path.

Yet in the desolation of human strife,

Longevity's gift brought joy to his life.

If the hero's spirit rises once more,

In years to come, to the West, he'll soar.

As a devotee of Buddha, he'll find his place,

In the Western realm, receiving grace.

And another one:

Mighty and bold, he rose to command,

Taming dragons and tigers with skillful hand.

Stealing peaches, sipping heavenly wine,

Receiving blessings in the realm divine.

His wicked deeds burdened him deep,

Yet his virtuous nature, ever to keep.

Freed from Buddha's grip, a chance to shine,

Awaiting the arrival of a saintly monk, divine.

In the Tang Dynasty, a journey's quest,

With a holy monk, he'll stand the test.

As for what happens next, we do not know when or how the calamities will end. Let us wait for the next chapter to find out.

----------------------------------------

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuanshi_Tianzun : One of the Three Pure Ones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pure_Ones), AKA Yuanshi Tianzung AKA Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning, AKA Primeval Lord of Heaven, AKA Jade Pure One

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingbao_Tianzun : One of the Three Pure Ones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pure_Ones), AKA Lingbao Tianzung AKA Heavenly Lord of Spiritual Treasures AKA Shangqing

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daode_Tianzun: One of the Three Pure Ones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pure_Ones), AKA Daode Tianzun AKA Taishang Laojun, AKA Laozi, AKA Dao Daddy (totally valid translation for 道教之祖 ). That guy has even more names. Let’s stop here.