Chapter 740: Teaching Monkeys (Part 2)

The Great Dao has a beginning, and the Great Dao has no end.

Grandmaster Hongjun sat leisurely in his bamboo house deep within the bamboo forest, gazing at the Disk of Creation laid out on the low table. The Disk of Creation displayed the scene within the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

The power of a supreme treasure could actually be judged by the clarity of the images it produced. For instance, the Grandmaster’s Disk of Creation could effortlessly manifest the Three Thousand Great Daos, and even the shape of a single speck of dust within its images was discernible.

It showed:

Patriarch Bodhi was meditating in the rear hall, while Sun Wukong and several fellow disciples played and sparred in the open space in front of the hall. Everything was much the same as it had been for the past sixty years.

Grandmaster Hongjun did not pay much attention to Patriarch Bodhi; his gaze focused on Sun Wukong, with a hint of appreciation.

He suddenly chuckled. “That monkey you spoke of, my friend, is truly delightful…”

As his words fell, Hongjun looked at the empty seat to the right of the low table and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

Indeed, they were long gone.

Hongjun lightly flicked his finger, and layers of mist rose in the bamboo forest, as if traversing the long river of time, returning to a distant point.

Three figures appeared beside Hongjun, some sitting cross-legged, others leaning back, all with relaxed expressions.

This was a projection of a memory.

Hongjun sat in the same position as before, but remained silent, his expression solemn. In front of him lay a neatly arranged row of jade tablets.

Beside him were two old Daoists, and opposite him sat a slightly stout Daoist with a reserved demeanor.

Amidst a few chuckles and conversations, time flowed slowly by.

Suddenly, faint ripples of Dao-rhyme appeared around them. Hongjun lightly flicked his finger, and the scenes quickly faded, leaving only him sitting by the low table, with the jade tablets gone from before him, replaced only by the Disk of Creation.

“My friend.”

A soft call came from outside the bamboo house.

An old Daoist in a grey robe stepped in and sat opposite Hongjun.

Hongjun asked, “How is it?”

“Li Chang Geng hasn’t moved,” the old Daoist replied. “He’s been in the Kunpeng Secret Realm the entire time. Xuandu and the others seem to be gathering the primordial beings who escaped from the heavens and earth, but they won’t amount to much.”

The grey-robed Daoist slowly said:

“Our informants have always been in the Kunpeng Secret Realm. Although they can’t directly contact Li Chang Geng for now, they can truly sense the operation of the Great Dao of Equilibrium. Several times, Yunxiao and Lan Ling’e entered and exited the grand hall, and could clearly see Li Chang Geng’s figure. He seems to be diligently cultivating, trying to fully comprehend the realm after the Great Dao of Equilibrium is perfected. He truly hasn’t left the Kunpeng Secret Realm.”

Grandmaster Hongjun smiled.

“It seems we truly worried too much before. Before he was driven out of the primordial world, he had only cultivated for a thousand years; his accumulation was far from sufficient. Although Chang Geng should not be underestimated, there’s no need to view him as too powerful. In the end, it’s merely a scheme of Grand Pure One.”

The grey-robed Daoist asked, “But my friend, if Li Chang Geng remains in the Kunpeng Secret Realm, must we keep waiting? Should we destroy the Kunpeng Secret Realm to force him to move sooner?”

“No matter, we just need to wait,” Hongjun said, straightening his posture. “If we pressure him too much, it could easily provoke him into open war with us, which would go against our plans. Although the Three Realms are completely under our control, if he uses the Kunpeng to forcibly breach the heavens and earth, we would also suffer unnecessary losses. For now, we simply need to observe and wait patiently. The power of living beings can no longer threaten the heavens and earth, and the Heavenly Court stands before the Heavenly Dao. If any living beings rebel against the heavens, the Heavenly Court can suppress them. Compared to the heavens and earth, living beings ultimately lack patience. We can afford to wait for several, even dozens, of Yuanhui.”

The grey-robed Daoist slowly nodded and asked, “How are the arrangements for the Journey to the West tribulations proceeding?”

“Look,” Hongjun chuckled, “This monkey is already taking shape. In another one or two hundred years, he will be ready for our use. There’s no need to worry about the Buddhist sect; Jieyin is already secretly under my control, and he hasn’t struggled at all. Now, the only variable remaining in the heavens and earth is Primordial Lord of Heaven, but he alone cannot sustain much. There’s no need to bother too much with him; among the Three Pure Ones, he is the most difficult to deal with.”

The grey-robed Daoist also showed a slight smile, saying, “A Saint follows the heavens, and the heavens cannot disturb a Saint. With him being the only Saint left, there’s indeed no need to worry.”

“Having Jieyin as a restraint is sufficient.”

Grandmaster Hongjun tapped the Disk of Creation with his finger, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

“But for some reason, I always feel a bit uneasy.”

“Are you concerned Li Chang Geng might have learned something?”

“Indeed,” Hongjun slowly said. “Although all truths have been concealed by us, I always feel that Li Chang Geng, through some means we cannot ascertain, has grasped certain secrets he should not have access to. For example, how he arrived in the primordial world. Most of what he told me before cannot be trusted; perhaps he already understood the principle of true spirit traversal at that time.”

The grey-robed Daoist was silent for a moment, then asked, “Haven’t you already reviewed those few ancient texts from the Kunpeng?”

“I have indeed reviewed them, but there might still be some hidden information within.”

Hongjun said solemnly, “At this moment, I still can’t comprehend why Li Chang Geng was able to comprehend the Great Dao of Equilibrium in such a short time, even surpassing our understanding of it. Given his nature, he reveals three tenths of his power, conceals three tenths, and buries another three tenths, with the last tenth reserved as a means of escape. Was what we saw before truly his actual realm? I have doubts about this.”

The grey-robed Daoist fell silent.

Grandmaster Hongjun performed a divination with his fingers for a moment and whispered, “Could that fellow have left a contingency that we both overlooked?”

The grey-robed Daoist replied, “That person couldn’t possibly hide anything from you.”

“That’s not certain,” Hongjun responded. “I’m not privy to his inner thoughts.”

Grandmaster Hongjun’s expression showed a hint of emotion. He let out a soft sigh and slowly said, “Continue to monitor the Kunpeng Secret Realm. Other beings are not a concern; just keep a close watch on Li Chang Geng.”

“Very well.”

The grey-robed Daoist nodded slightly. His form was about to dissipate but then solidified again.

“Should we make Haotian more obedient?”

“No need.”

Grandmaster Hongjun pondered briefly and shook his head, “He’s merely acting on impulse. Deep down, he understands that the title of Heavenly Emperor would be nothing but a joke without our protection. Furthermore, his wife and daughter are in the Jade Pond; he has no retreat and nowhere to go.”

The grey-robed Daoist slowly nodded and said, “To be safe, perhaps we should place Heavenly Dao shackles on Li Chang Geng’s friends and disciples.”

“No need,” Hongjun slowly said. “Unless they threaten the Heavenly Dao, all beings are merely beings; there’s no need to act against them.”

The grey-robed Daoist said indifferently, “You still have compassion for Li Chang Geng.”

“You misunderstand, my friend,” Hongjun said with a faint smile. “I simply feel that living beings are quite wondrous. Since we have already controlled the Three Realms and eliminated most hidden dangers, there’s no need to trouble them. After all, living beings are also part of the heavens and earth; their vibrancy can add color to the heavens and earth. Such a stable primordial world is the most beautiful, isn’t it?”

“You speak wisely, my friend,” the grey-robed Daoist slowly nodded. “All for the eternal endurance of the heavens and earth.”

“Indeed, all for the eternal endurance of the heavens and earth.”

The grey-robed Daoist’s figure dissipated with the wind.

Grandmaster Hongjun’s smile slowly faded. He seemed to be deep in thought, and soon lowered his gaze to the scene in the jade disk.

What would be the next step?

Chang Geng was actually right.

The Heavenly Dao, due to his integration with it, had given birth to an awareness similar to that of a living being. This was not a good thing, because the Heavenly Dao would only consider how to protect the heavens and earth and suppress the power of living beings.

Grandmaster Hongjun gently tapped the jade disk with his finger several times, and various scenes appeared on it.

In a shimmering underwater mansion, the Grandmaster of Heaven, surrounded by iron chains, yawned idly, seemingly unconcerned by his current situation. What stood out was his unrestrained and easygoing demeanor.

In the Purple Cloud Palace, Grand Pure One’s seal was incredibly stable; it would be difficult to break without the full power of a Heavenly Dao Saint.

Grandmaster Hongjun understood this perfectly well.

Originally, Li Changshou’s greatest reliance was, firstly, that the Three Pure Ones were the primordial spirits of Pangu, and secondly, the combination of the Taiji Diagram, Chaos Bell, and Pangu Banner into the God-Opening Axe, which could destroy the heavens and earth to slay him, the Grandmaster, and the Heavenly Dao.

And his own greatest reliance was that they wouldn’t harm the heavens and earth. After all, they were not the entity residing within the ancient Fuxi. Moreover, how could he, a dignified Grandmaster, lack trump cards? For example, the Qiankun Cauldron, which could summon the primordial power of the heavens and earth, and the Four Divine Beasts of the Primordial Guardians, which he had refined in ancient times to form the Boundless Four Symbols Great Array of the Heavens and Earth, were among his many hidden cards. He also had trump cards. If, when the Investiture of the Gods calamity ended, Li Changshou had chosen to confront him directly instead of leaving, the outcome would have been hard to predict, but living beings would undoubtedly have suffered heavy casualties.

When Li Changshou chose to leave, in Grandmaster Hongjun’s view, if Li Changshou had not prepared some ‘heaven-defying’ level trump cards, his chances of victory would decrease over time.

After all, he, the Grandmaster, would not just sit idly by.

What would be the next step?

It was time to make the final preparations and devour this Heavenly Dao.

Transcension? That was actually nonsense. If one’s ambition reached far enough, the Sea of Chaos itself was merely a cage.

Therefore, long ago, he, the Grandmaster, had already embarked on a different path. To take the primordial heavens and earth as his Dao body, transform into an ultimate being that had never existed before, and contact the consciousness entities that set the rules for true spirits—this was his path to transcension.

Grandmaster Hongjun looked at the jade disk before him, and a slight smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth. That smile was identical to the expression he had deliberately used to scare Li Changshou in the Purple Cloud Palace.

“You all are still too shallow.”

Hmm…

Why does it feel like I’m being cursed behind my back?

In the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, Li Changshou opened his eyes. He resisted the urge to yawn, sorting through the subtle insights he had gained from his recent cultivation, feeling a slight sense of emotion.

Modifying the Great Dao of Unraveling Emptiness was truly not easy.

His immortal perception landed on the monkey, finding it happily jumping and leaping about, carefree and joyous.

Several female disciples teased him, calling out, “Wukong, come here!” and “Wukong, catch this!”

The monkey joyfully bounced left and right, intercepting the flower balls they threw back and forth, making the numerous male disciples nearby feel jealous.

There was nothing to be done; Wukong was simply too popular with the female disciples. As for why, Li Changshou had carefully analyzed it.

Firstly, this stone monkey was literally a stone, completely ignorant of matters between men and women, and had not left the slightest crack in his Dao heart. His heart was only for the Dao, and his Dao was only for his heart.

Secondly, the stone monkey was clever enough to offer praise and constantly flatter others. A series of praises when he first joined made the senior sisters treat him like a true brother.

Thirdly, Wukong himself didn't make the male disciples feel any 'pressure'. He was more like the mascot of the Daoist temple, even though his strength now surpassed that of the other disciples.

Fourthly, Wukong was skilled in combat, often able to defeat stronger opponents in a fight, and was particularly adept at close-quarters combat. During several trials in the nearby mountain forests, Sun Wukong charged ahead, effortlessly slaying powerful demonic beasts, exuding an indescribable heroic aura from his very being.

How could such a handsome Monkey King have poor popularity?

Li Changshou chuckled softly. He rose and walked near the door, where he sat in a rocking chair and watched his disciples play.

This kind of life was actually quite good.

But the current peace was merely superficial. If the Grandmaster wasn't removed and the will of the Heavenly Dao wasn't erased, the entire primordial world would be like a small sailboat adrift on an endless ocean. If the ocean was in a good mood, the sailboat could naturally move forward smoothly. But if the ocean decided to churn up some waves or create a storm, the sailboat would be swallowed by the waves in an instant.

This wasn't a hidden danger; it was an overt threat.

Soon.

Another two to three hundred years remained.

Once the monkey returned to Mount Huaguo, he could then escape from the Five Continents. If the Grandmaster then chose to eliminate Patriarch Bodhi, he would have no choice but to escalate the confrontation. If the Grandmaster chose to spare Patriarch Bodhi, he could then gain the last bit of winning odds he lacked and completely seize the initiative in the final gamble.

From the time his true self left the primordial world until now, a significant amount of time had passed in the blink of an eye. In fact, two or three hundred years would pass quickly. Sometimes, time was like this: a blink of an eye, and decades had passed.

Li Changshou always maintained a state of relaxed vigilance. He diligently taught the monkey the cultivation methods given by the Grandmaster, and also taught him divine abilities that the Grandmaster had not provided. Not only that, he even secretly imparted to the monkey some things that should not have been taught, without the Grandmaster's knowledge.

Sun Wukong’s cultivation steadily and rapidly improved, completely ignorant of what a bottleneck was. Most of the extremely powerful spiritual energy contained within him had already transformed into his own magical power.

He cultivated a body of copper skin and iron bones, and mastered the Art of Outer Incarnations.

He learned to ride clouds and mist, and cultivated an undying golden soul.

Li Changshou, residing deep within Patriarch Bodhi’s consciousness, waved his hand, and time rapidly flowed around him, transforming into shimmering streaks of light.

And fast forward to—

Sun Wukong successfully passed his tribulation to become a Golden Immortal and was expelled from the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars after revealing his divine power.

In the two hundred and thirty-sixth year of Sun Wukong's time on the mountain, he smoothly passed his Golden Immortal heavenly tribulation and gained considerable benefits from it. After Sun Wukong emerged from several months of cultivation and couldn't resist showing off in front of his senior brothers and sisters, he was caught by ‘Patriarch Bodhi’, who sternly reprimanded him.

“'Wukong, did I teach you the Great Dao for you to show off?'”

Wukong quickly admitted his mistake. Clever as he was, he had already discerned something from his master's expression.

Sure enough, Li Changshou flicked his sleeve and scolded, “'The karmic bond between master and disciple is severed. Leave now and do not return.'”

Sun Wukong was greatly startled, and the other disciples were also quite surprised. Among them, a Golden Immortal of Longevity had finally emerged after much effort. Why would their master so simply drive him away?

The disciples pleaded one after another, and Sun Wukong also tried to persuade him with various arguments, but Patriarch Bodhi seemed to have a heart of stone. He flicked his sleeve and directly flung Sun Wukong tens of thousands of miles away.

Seeing that their master was truly angered, the disciples dared not speak further. Many female disciples, with reddened eyes, returned to their residences to cultivate.

That night.

Li Changshou lay on his side on a soft couch, facing the inner wall of the cave dwelling.

“Master…”

A slightly trembling voice came from outside the window; it was the stone monkey, who had returned.

Li Changshou remained silent, as if deeply asleep.

With two soft creaks, the monkey silently climbed through the window and knelt before the bed. He wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say, so he simply bowed his head and knelt.

After kneeling like this for half an hour, Li Changshou still said nothing.

Sun Wukong tremblingly asked, “Master, have I displeased you somewhere? You can beat me or scold me, but to send me away like this, I… I can’t bear it.”

Li Changshou remained silent.

After another moment, Sun Wukong sighed, “Master, do you perhaps have something that is inconvenient to tell your disciple?”

Li Changshou remained silent.

Sun Wukong couldn't help but close his eyes and took a soft breath.

“Master, could you please say just one more word to your disciple, just one…”

Finally…

“Do not mention to anyone hereafter that you were my disciple.”

Li Changshou transmitted his voice thus, and Sun Wukong was almost instantly overcome, his face turning quite ashen.

This fellow… never mind.

Li Changshou transmitted his voice to explain:

“This is not because I think you are unworthy of being my disciple, but because the karmic bond between us as master and disciple has indeed ended. Wukong, do you still remember why you sought a master? And do you remember what you told me on that first night you knelt here?”

“Disciple… disciple…”

Li Changshou transmitted his voice:

“Cultivation in the mountains is cultivation, and walking in the mundane world is also cultivation. You have a restless nature. My asking you to leave is simply because I believe you have nothing more to learn here. Go. The heavens and earth are vast enough for you to turn somersaults. Although the primordial world now lacks many great powers, it is still vibrant and exciting, perfect for you to venture forth. But remember, never mention to anyone that we were master and disciple. And if you cause any trouble in the future, do not come seeking me.”

With that, Li Changshou waved his hand.

Sun Wukong only felt white mist swirling around him. When he reappeared, he was already at the foot of Mount Lingtai. It was the very place where he had encountered the woodcutter when he first arrived.

Sun Wukong stood stunned for a moment, feeling only the gentle night breeze, slightly cool. He sighed, lowering his head, and prostrated himself several times towards the mountainside. He rose to leave on a cloud but couldn’t help but turn around on the cloud and bow his head several times towards Li Changshou’s location.

Finally, the monkey, with reddened eyes, rode his cloud back along the path he had taken when he first sought immortality.

Li Changshou: …

Once the Grandmaster made his move, he would immediately initiate his follow-up actions.