This monkey is truly clever.
Li Changshou couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't even entered the gate, yet he was already calling him 'Master.' It felt strangely familiar, as if he had been called 'Master' in a past life. Calm and dignified. It was just the Great Sage Equal to Heaven coming to seek tutelage; Li Changshou himself was about to turn the heavens upside down, so teaching this monkey would be quite fitting.
Li Changshou remained seated, while several disciples responsible for patrolling the monastery today stepped forward. These disciples were also lively; two men and two women flew directly to the top of the monastery gate. The male disciples wore proper Taoist robes, and the female disciples wore light white immortal skirts, standing on either side of the eaves.
Having lived in the mortal world for many years, where had the monkey ever seen such a display? Especially upon seeing the effortless manner in which these four immortals appeared, the monkey's Taoist heart was greatly excited, and he repeatedly bowed to the four disciples. These were the scholarly courtesies he had learned in the mortal world.
A female disciple to the side chuckled, "This fellow Daoist is quite courteous, but for some reason, he calls our Master the moment he opens his mouth and says he's here to seek tutelage. Could it be that he had a prior arrangement with our Master?"
The stone monkey hurriedly said, "I've never met him before, never. This is my first time coming to this sacred place; I wish to become a disciple and seek immortal magic."
Another male disciple smiled, "For a fellow Daoist to arrive here, it means you have a karmic connection with our Master. You might not know that over the past few decades, many immortal experts have wished to visit, but none have been able to reach this gate. Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist. We will go and report. If our Master wishes to accept you as a disciple, he will naturally allow you to enter this gate."
The stone monkey was overjoyed at this, understanding the deeper meaning of the words. He had become a fated being!
These four disciples were not rude; they treated him with courtesy throughout and never mocked the stone monkey's appearance. After all, different races have different aesthetics, and the stone monkey did not find these two young female immortals' faces ugly either.
One male disciple entered the monastery and hurried to Li Changshou to report, saying that a monkey-like creature with a Thunder God's face had arrived outside the monastery, claiming to be there to seek tutelage.
"Seek tutelage?"
Li Changshou deliberately put on an air of dignity, sitting cross-legged on a soft couch, and slowly said, "To reach the gate, he must be no ordinary being. My disciple, go and ask him the three entrance questions, to see if this monkey is sincere."
"Yes, disciple understands."
The disciple affirmed clearly, then turned and rushed back to the monastery gate. This coming and going attracted the other disciples of the monastery, who ran to watch. They stood on all sides of the walls, a mix of humans and demons, each wearing elaborate Taoist robes, with a faint aura of pure energy surrounding them. Upon seeing this, the stone monkey was so delighted he began doing somersaults. He was well aware that the world was divided into humans, demons, ghosts, and monsters, and that he belonged to the demon category. Many immortals with magical powers would often shout about "slaying demons and vanquishing evil." Seeing so many demon disciples here, he was overcome with joy. Many disciples were amused by him and whispered among themselves, asking where this monkey had come from.
*Creak* —
The monastery gate swung half-open, and the male disciple stepped out, bowing to the stone monkey. The stone monkey eagerly asked, "Has Master accepted me? Has he accepted me?"
"Fellow Daoist, Master says that since you have arrived here with a desire to seek tutelage, he will ask you three entrance questions to see if you are sincere." The male disciple said gently: "Please consider carefully. If you are unsure, think it through before speaking. But if you speak nonsense, Master will surely punish you for disrespect."
"Easily said, easily said!"
"First question: Where do you come from, where is your home, and how are your parents and relatives?"
The stone monkey bowed with both hands and quickly replied: "I came from the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory, a place called Aolai Country, where there are no human settlements nearby. I have no father or mother; I sprang from a stone. All the mountains and fields are my parents, relatives, brothers, and sisters."
"Nonsense!" The male disciple frowned, "A creature can emerge from a stone? Are you perhaps a primordial great power, a spirit embryo of heaven and earth?"
Just then, a voice transmission entered the male disciple's ear. It was their master, 'Patriarch Subhuti,' giving a reminder: "Next question."
The male disciple was also clever; he immediately understood something and became more gentle in his attitude towards the monkey. "You have passed this question; there was no insincerity. Now, listen to the second question. Why do you seek tutelage? Have you heard of our Master's name before?"
The monkey chuckled, "I seek tutelage to become an immortal and live forever, freely and without restraint! Before this, hehehe, I hadn't heard of Master's name. It was just by chance that I stumbled upon this place while searching for immortals."
"Oh?" The male disciple smiled, "There is also a third question, and it is the most crucial one. If you encounter a bottleneck in your cultivation and have no hope of breaking through in this life, would you choose to sit in solitude in the mountains and continue cultivating, or would you choose to go into the mortal world and perform good deeds?"
This question truly stumped the monkey. He scratched his head, looked up at the plaque above the gate, and felt the ethereal Taoist aura of the place. The monkey chuckled, "I will surely achieve immortality, surely achieve immortality!"
"The question is, if you cannot achieve immortality, what would you choose to do?"
"Good deeds or bad deeds are none of my concern. If I do good, others might perceive it as evil. It's better to go back and live a carefree life."
"Your answer..." The male disciple frowned and pondered for a few moments, and as expected, the second voice transmission arrived: "Let him in, change his clothes. I will accept him as a disciple in the main hall at noon."
"You have passed these three questions," the male disciple turned and made a gesture of invitation. "Enter. Master has agreed to accept you as a disciple. First, follow me to bathe, change, and put on new clothes."
The monkey knelt with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly towards the courtyard, "Thank you, Master! Your disciple thanks you, Master!" This quick wit was truly remarkable.
The monastery's large gate swung wide open. The disciples jumped down from the courtyard walls on either side, forming two lines within the courtyard, temporarily ceasing their discussions and each releasing their auras. The monkey leaped through the gate, not caring about any sense of ceremony. He kept bowing to both sides, jumping and frolicking in the courtyard, causing several female disciples to cover their mouths and giggle. The entire monastery immediately became lively.
In the back courtyard, Li Changshou sat quietly, pondering a few things in his mind. With the Heavenly Dao observing him now, he could no longer afford to be distracted by romance; he had to focus solely on calculating the Heavenly Dao. How could he introduce some variables for the monkey, who was already bound by destiny, right under the watchful eyes of the Heavenly Dao? The difficulty of this operation was truly considerable.
Two hours later, *Clang, clang, clang, clang* — the rhythmic sound of the wooden fish entered their ears, and the chanting of scriptures disturbed their minds. In the main hall of the monastery, embedded in the mountain wall, the disciples sat upright on either side, all reciting scriptures in unison. Li Changshou sat before the characters 'Heaven and Earth,' holding a whisk in his left hand and a string of prayer beads in his right. His hair ornament was a crane-hair Taoist headband, but he wore a patchwork Taoist robe. Truly, a practitioner of both Taoism and Buddhism.
At the hall entrance, a furry hand grasped the doorframe, followed by a furry head. The stone monkey showed no sign of nervousness at this moment; instead, with a playful curiosity, he scrutinized 'Patriarch Subhuti' from the doorway, as if trying to verify if he was an immortal of longevity. Li Changshou remained silent. The stone monkey was given a push and immediately leaped into the hall, bowing low to Li Changshou.
"Disciple greets Master, disciple greets Master!"
Only then did Li Changshou open his eyes, his expression neither joyful nor angry, and slowly asked, "Do you wish to become my disciple?"
"Yes, yes, disciple seeks tutelage, disciple seeks tutelage!"
Li Changshou asked, "Do you have a name?"
The stone monkey hurriedly replied, "Disciple has no surname or name. Please, Master, bestow upon me a surname and a name."
Li Changshou nodded and said, "You possess a face resembling the Thunder God, and a naturally formed Taoist body. You are free of karmic obstructions, and your mouth contains pure energy. Although you are of monkey origin, you have already attained enlightenment, and should be named Hu or Sun. In that case, I shall bestow upon you the surname Sun."
"Good Sun, good Sun!" The monkey exclaimed repeatedly, "Please, Master, give me a given name too!"
Li Changshou chuckled inwardly. *May you grasp the Great Dao without regret, and hold yourself in high esteem, overlooking all else.* However, he could not say this aloud. Li Changshou simply said, "This humble Taoist cultivates the Way of Emptiness and comprehends the Principle of Stillness. How about I call you Wukong?"
The stone monkey savored the words, "Wukong, Wukong... Sun Wukong! I have a name now?"
Li Changshou smiled and nodded, flicking his whisk. A male disciple stepped forward to remind the stone monkey to take a seat in the corner, indicating that the discipleship ceremony was complete. The monkey, however, was quite aware of proper etiquette, kneeling down and kowtowing repeatedly. Li Changshou didn't feel much; after all, this monastery and these disciples were all part of the environment created for the monkey's growth. His only responsibility was to impart skills to the monkey. As for the rest, let the Heavenly Dao worry about it.
Once Sun Wukong was seated, Li Changshou motioned for the disciples to stop chanting and began explaining the scriptures. How could Sun Wukong possibly settle down at this moment? Although he recognized every word that came from his Master's mouth, when put together, they made him dizzy, more so than the dialect scriptures of old scholars. But Sun Wukong knew the rules and dared not make a sound to disturb his fellow disciples' cultivation. He just stared with wide eyes, looking left and right, and soon became drowsy, his head bobbing like a pecking chick, his body swaying like a reed in a marsh. Soon, loud "hoo—snore—" sounds filled the air. Wukong, by himself, ruined the entire class atmosphere.
Li Changshou almost burst out laughing inwardly, but outwardly, he remained stern, explaining the scriptures undisturbed. The disciples also found it quite amusing but had to maintain straight faces, which was a bit uncomfortable. As the sun set, Li Changshou's form dissipated with the wind. Only then did the disciples sigh in relief, gathering around the sleeping monkey.
"Junior Brother Wukong? Junior Brother Wukong?"
A few male disciples exchanged glances, a mischievous smile appearing on their faces, and pointed a finger at the monkey, making him sleep even deeper.
Half a day later...
"Hmm?" The monkey groggily opened his eyes, only to find himself hanging from a large tree, the ropes binding him still retaining a faint trace of magical power. He recalled his behavior during class, feeling quite embarrassed. He turned his head and saw that he was in the monastery's backyard, which somewhat relieved him. How did he fall asleep? How did he just drift off? For a first-time Taoist practitioner, it was normal to not keep up with the lessons, feeling like listening to a heavenly book. But how did he...
*Buzz, buzz, buzz*
The monkey instinctively shivered, then looked up slightly and couldn't help but swallow. The ropes binding him were tied to the tree trunk, and just three inches from the ropes was a beehive. How was Master's method of punishment similar to how he used to prank little monkeys?
Sun Wukong looked left and right, saw no one around, and then, swaying his body like a fish, slipped out of the rope's restraint and vanished in a flash.
Just this? Sun Wukong shrugged, found his way back to the residence he had already memorized, but secretly fretted in his heart about how he could keep up with his Master's lectures.
"Ugh, being a marshal or something is so boring."
Heavenly Court, by the Heavenly River.
A newly promoted Grand Marshal of the Heavenly River Navy, clad in light golden armor, lay on the grassy bank of the Heavenly River, a dry blade of grass in his mouth, complaining with feigned arrogance. Ao Yi, idly playing with the jade talisman in his hand, couldn't help but say, "It is quite boring."
Bian Zhuang wiggled closer, "What's up? Brother, what rank did you get promoted to?"
"Just the overall commander of Heavenly Soldiers across the Three Thousand Worlds," Ao Yi slowly shook his head. "It's not a significant official position; it's to replace Brother Golden Wing Peng."
"Golden Wing Peng..." Bian Zhuang murmured, then suddenly realized, "So that's what happened."
"What do you mean?" Ao Yi asked with a frown.
"A few days ago, General Golden Wing Peng got drunk and said some things he shouldn't have in public," Bian Zhuang sighed. "This general is immensely powerful and possesses vast divine abilities, easily ranking among the top ten martial experts in the Heavenly Court. But he's just a bit too arrogant."
Ao Yi said, "General Golden Wing Peng is not arrogant; he just has some unresolved grievances."
Bian Zhuang asked, "Why the unresolved grievances? Hasn't the Heavenly Court treated him well enough?"
Ao Yi hesitated, then shook his head thoughtfully, appearing somewhat uncertain.
Bian Zhuang asked again, "It's strange, really. You're from the Dragon Clan, he's from the Phoenix Clan. Dragons and Phoenixes are natural enemies, yet you call each other 'brother' and 'virtuous younger brother.'"
"I just feel a certain kinship with General Golden Wing Peng," Ao Yi said slowly. "The great tribulation between dragons and phoenixes is ancient history. So much time has passed; there's no lingering hatred or unresolved resentment. I once asked my father... Never mind."
Ao Yi sighed softly, closed his eyes, and in his mind, the scene of him kneeling before his father a few days ago resurfaced.
*"Father, your son always feels that something is missing in his Taoist heart. Your son always feels that staying in the Heavenly Court now is very awkward. Father, did something happen before..."*
*"Silence, retreat."*
It was the same result again. Ao Yi gazed at the jade talisman of his transfer order in his palm, lost in thought. Bian Zhuang chuckled, lying there with his arm as a pillow, feeling indescribably comfortable. He murmured, "If only I could see Fairy Chang'e again, how wonderful that would be."
Ao Yi smiled but did not speak further.
Meanwhile, at Meishan, the residence of Erlang True Monarch Yang Jian.
Nezha, who had cultivated to appear as a young man, was peeling an orange, watching with great interest the live broadcast on the bronze mirror in front of him. The bronze mirror showed several fairies rehearsing a dance. This was a celebratory dance, suitable for public performance. If it were a dance for His Majesty the Jade Emperor or the Peach Banquet, it certainly couldn't be rehearsed in public. Yang Jian, beside him, breathed a puff of air and meticulously wiped his Three-Pointed, Two-Edged Lance.
Nezha suddenly said, "Senior Brother, my evil qi condition might be acting up again recently."
Yang Jian's hand trembled, and the Three-Pointed, Two-Edged Lance almost caused some blood to seep from his Nine Revolutions Arcane Body. "What are the symptoms? This is no small matter."
"Well," Nezha was a bit uncertain, shifting his gaze from the bronze mirror to the ceiling. "A faint figure always appears in my mind, and occasionally, a few words echo in my ears. It feels like the Demon Ancestor is calling."
Yang Jian became serious, as if facing a formidable enemy, and sternly said, "Lie down, and I will examine you with my Heavenly Eye."
"Don't look around aimlessly," Nezha said, a little embarrassed. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
Yang Jian chuckled disdainfully and took out a scroll from his sleeve, placing it to the side. His engagement to a certain princess of the Dragon Palace—that princess had just hatched from her egg two years prior and was sent to Yaochi for upbringing, with their marriage to take place a century later. The engagement was bestowed by the Jade Emperor, intended for Yang Jian to represent and keep the Dragon Clan in check. After careful consideration, Yang Jian did not refuse. It was also time for him to start a family. As long as the other party was virtuous and benevolent, he wouldn't look down on them just because he was of pure human lineage and they were of the Dragon Clan.
Thereupon, Yang Jian opened his Heavenly Eye, aimed it at Nezha's forehead, and peered into Nezha's spiritual platform. Just for an instant, Yang Jian first froze, then his face turned pale, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.
Nezha wondered, "How..."
Yang Jian, swift of hand and eye, suddenly reached forward and covered Nezha's mouth, immediately saying, "Do not speak. This evil qi has already taken form. Let's go find Master and Senior Martial Uncle first."
Nezha didn't understand why, but Yang Jian acted as if facing a formidable enemy, picking up his spear, summoning his Howling Celestial Dog, and vanishing towards Mount Qianyuan with Nezha. He saw the ethereal shadow floating in Nezha's mind and suddenly remembered something his Master had told him: a Heavenly Dao taboo; one who opposed Heaven; the forbidden being who once single-handedly established the entire Heavenly Court but was expelled by the Dao Ancestor—the true Grand White Glimmer.
'Uncle Chang'an'!
[58 seconds from now] Chapter 283: Lou Shuwang
[32 seconds from now] Chapter 1541: Compassionate Palm Heavenly Doctor
[15 seconds from now] Chapter 4611: The Tian'ga Tribe Attacks
[5 minutes ago] Chapter 1398: Chen Ling's Warning
[5 minutes ago] Chapter 282: Breakthrough
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