Chapter 233

233. Chapter 230 Yao Tribe Development

The next morning.

The sky faintly showed fish-belly white; while the whole city had not yet awakened, a thin parabola rose in the dark blue clouds, faintly visible as a black dot flying from afar.

The black dot drew nearer, turning out to be a golden eagle spreading its wings. The first ray of morning light fell on the eagle, its feathers all glittering with brilliant radiance; it shot straight out from the clouds like another sun slowly rising.

Unfortunately, at that time most people were still asleep and did not see such a miraculous sight.

The monkey leapt down from its back, the breeze making the hair on its face flutter, "Old Gold, take care."

"You too."

The golden eagle nodded at it, everything understood without words, let out a long cry, flapped its wings and flew off into the distance; its huge body was quickly swallowed by the dark blue clouds.

After hitching a ride on a favorable wind, the two monsters parted here, each heading to their own destination; their journey had just begun.

The sanitation worker cleaning the ground heard the sharp birdcall, instinctively looked up, a huge shadow swept over his head, and he could faintly see several glittering golden feathers.

He couldn't help rubbing his eyes and muttering to himself, "It must be that I got up too early and am hallucinating—how could I see such a huge bird?"

……

West Province, Yinhua City.

Mount Hua, anciently called Huabu Zhu, also known as Golden Palanquin Mountain, got its name because its shape resembles a lotus flower receiving water; only see the mountains connected endlessly, a single peak standing alone, no attached peaks, rising straight into the clouds.

Around the summit, clouds and mist swirl; blue peaks rise from the ground, the mountains and clouds reflect each other, forming a magnificent vista, layered ridges as if standing for a thousand years, silently recounting ancient history, making one cannot help but marvel at nature's supernatural craftsmanship.

Between the lofty mountains and steep ridges, a faint bell sound drifted; everywhere little monks could be seen striking bells in practice, harmonizing with the surrounding scenery, appearing thus harmonious.

Every day many tourists and nearby residents come here to play and do morning exercises.

"What an adorable little monkey, it even carries a bundle."

"It's too cute; I feel like bringing it home to raise."

"This monkey's breed must be a golden-haired monkey."

A cry of surprise came from the crowd at the mountain's base.

That monkey appeared about half a person's height, its fur sleek and oily, glowing golden in the sunlight, drifting with the wind, looking exceedingly soft.

Most astonishingly, it held a wooden stick and bore a small bundle, just like a human with a hiking pole; those who didn't know might think it was someone's child.

This fluffy, cute appearance struck the hearts of many present, who exclaimed how adorable it was and promptly pulled out their phones to take photos.

Faced with the excited crowd and flashing lights, the monkey remained unfazed, calmly continuing forward.

"It's really too cute, even found itself a hiking stick."

"I wonder what this little monkey's pack contains."

"Probably some fruit like bananas."

"Not really; looking at its outline and limbs, it feels like a humanoid object."

The crowd carefully examined the monkey's pack and indeed found it; someone with a wild imagination said, "Could it be carrying a ginseng fruit?"

"Why not just say it's Sun Wukong?"

Hearing this, the monkey's eyes lit up slightly; it glanced at the speaker, whose gaze met theirs, and for some reason, in those fuzzy beast eyes, it read a hint of praise and approval.

Really spooky—how does it feel like this monkey is praising itself?

Before he could react, the monkey grabbed its stick and darted into the nearby woods, vanishing from the spot in an instant.

"Ah, how did it run away?"

Many people showed expressions of regret.

Among the woods, a golden-yellow figure darted about, this little monkey being one of the monsters that came from Longyuan Mountain.

But back when he was in Longyuan Mountain, his stature was a full two meters tall, a single punch could blow the head off an M Country special forces soldier—quite unlike his current cute appearance.

Naturally, the reason was that Ye Qin saw they were about to be born, so he specially imparted the Divine Ability allowing their bodies to change size.

Of course, this Divine Ability is limited; the smallest they can become is what they are now.

At this moment, everywhere it passed, within a radius of several hundred meters, all living things shuddered, prostrating themselves on the ground, daring not to approach.

If anyone passed through here, they would find the vicinity utterly silent—not even a common squirrel or hare, nor a single insect chirp or birdcall.

When leaving Longyuan Mountain, the Master once said, 'Let them each seek out famous mountains and rivers to place statues, and then cultivate again.'

The Monkey King wandered about, seemed to sense something in the dark, and finally chose Mount Hua.

At this moment it had already arrived at the summit of Mount Hua.

White clouds drifted leisurely, mountain peaks towered into the clouds, dark-hued sheer cliffs, cloud shadows interlaced; gazing afar, heaven high and earth vast, a hundred peaks vying in beauty, golden hooks drawn back and revealed, one feels the universe boundless, truly infinite wonder.

All scenery was reflected in those twin golden, radiant pupils, even heaven and earth alike.

I want this heaven, so it can no longer shield my eyes!

I want this earth, so it can no longer bury my heart!

I want all beings, so they will understand my will!

From now on, I shall call myself the Great Sage Monkey King!

Watching the surrounding clouds surge and mists swirl, gathering into various shapes, faintly able to glimpse the myriad forms of all beings within them, the Monkey King's eyes flashed with a resolute light.

Great Sage Monkey King!

This name was self‑given; when its spiritual awareness awakened, it happened to read Journey to the West, and what it liked most was the monkey therein.

At first it did not understand Sun Wukong; regarding the content and characters described in the book, it only stayed at the surface level of martial skill, but this did not hinder it from feeling admiration and longing, hoping that one day it could become a figure like Sun Wukong.

It even went out of its way to ask Ye Qin why this monkey was so extraordinary.

It forever remembers Ye Qin's gaze full of complex meaning, and his expression laden with deep significance.

Because this monkey broke free of fate's shackles, shattered the original cycle of rebirth, and did what it knew could not be done.

Back then it had just awakened its spiritual awareness; many things it did not understand, everything felt novel, but now it seems to gradually comprehend.

The book recounts that Sun Wukong dispersed hundreds of thousands of demons from Flower‑Fruit Mountain, standing alone between heaven and earth; he knew the consequences, knew exactly what his staff pointed at, and therefore he let the other similarly 'ignorant arrogant ones' disperse:

You don't know what cost the path you choose will demand, but I do, so I won't let you follow the same road I walked.

Some heroes are forced, some act out of ignorance, but only one like Sun Wukong—who knows death awaits, has already faced it, and still chooses to stand—is the true hero.

Just a short sentence fills it with fervent passion.

Upon seeing these words, its blood feels like it's boiling; the hazy horizon of its nascent wisdom reveals a golden road gleaming ahead.

With a strong spirit, nothing on the cultivator's path can stop you; facing every challenge head‑on and daring to fight—that is the true road of the strong.

Ye Qin constantly teaches them that the cultivator's path is full of countless hardships, and only by pressing forward bravely can one achieve the Great Dao.

From that day on, the monkey started to style itself as the Great Sage Monkey King.

Of course, back on Longyuan Mountain it wouldn't dare claim that title, afraid its fellow disciples would kill it.

But after leaving Longyuan Mountain, it ceased to matter.

The world is immense, and I am its king.

He hopes to one day, like Sun Wukong, break his fetters, shake heaven and earth, and shatter the original prisons and bonds.

As the master said, there were no cultivators in this world; Ye Qin, possessing a serpent's body and a human soul, forged a path never trodden by ancients and never to be walked by those to come.

Under the master's guidance, they awakened their spirits and intellect, and walked their own way.

Along the way, the monkey has not lived up to that title; its talent among the myriad monsters is not the greatest, and it cannot even stand out.

Yet, through its own perseverance and persistence, it was the first to grasp its own supernatural powers.

Now, having left Longyuan Mountain and faced the wide world, it leads the host of monsters, making clear that Ye Qin values and praises it—these signs are evident, not accidental.

The Great Sage Monkey King has witnessed the earliest sun and the roundest moon; each day he is either cultivating or on the way to cultivation.

It drinks morning dew, eats fruit, keeps the clear breeze as company, and meditates beneath the waterfall, letting the icy, bone‑chilling water repeatedly wash it from the stone ledge.

Even when its flesh and blood are a blur, it rises again and again, its expression unchanged.

It also once, over several days, persistently questioned the most learned old turtle among the monsters about a single question.

Without exaggeration, everything the Great Sage Monkey King now has was earned step by step through solid, down‑to‑earth effort.

It looks up at the stars, steadfastly keeping to its original heart.

Having left Longyuan Mountain, the Great Sage Monkey King already had a plan in mind.

The Great Sage Monkey King's body gleams like gold; even the sun's light seems faint beside it, its fur drifting softly, its eyes suddenly shooting two golden rays, as if a sunrise.

This time it will surely not betray the master's trust, and will once again let the name 'Great Sage Monkey King' echo across the heavens!

"This Mount Hua is my first step!"

A majestic voice drifts on the wind, hovering over the mountain peaks, accompanying that golden figure, like a vast expanse of golden light.

Clouds roil and mist surges; the mountain wind sweeps by, and that mysterious figure has already disappeared.

The boundless mountains stretch on, and deep within them stand many temples; amid the blue pines and green cypresses appear red walls and green tiles, ancient‑style courtyards nestled here.

Wafting incense almost merges with the surrounding clouds and mist; the chanting of sutras and the wooden fish's sound drift between heaven and earth.

Behind the temple, a little novice monk yawns, glancing lightly at the morning bell.

A gentle breeze blows, the bamboo rustles; the little novice's head nods, and his hand movements gradually grow sluggish.

"Mealtime!"

A voice calls from the distant courtyard; he snaps his head up, and his drowsiness vanishes like a bug fleeing to the clouds, leaving no trace of his former sleepiness.

The little novice fills his bowl, finds a quiet spot to eat, and out of the corner of his eye sees several black shadows darting from under his feet, startling him so much his bowl nearly slips from his grasp.

A closer look reveals they are just a few squirrels darting into the bushes and running toward the back mountain.

The temple is surrounded by trees, often harboring various wild animals; people have even said jackals have accidentally wandered in.

The little novice initially ignored it, but soon several more squirrels, even weasels, ran past him, and he sensed something was amiss.

"Why are so many animals suddenly running out?"

The little novice scratches his head, looking puzzled; he curiously follows them to see what's happening.

The mountain gorge is deep and narrow, with ancient trees towering sky‑high.

As the little novice walks along, he suddenly sees the animals around him growing more and more; seeing his presence, they aren't afraid of people, as if they hadn't noticed him, and they all head in one direction.

The little novice grows ever more doubtful.

"What's going on? All these animals have gathered here."

Although each animal is small, their sheer number makes the little novice inevitably feel a bit afraid; though he is precocious and brave, he is still just a five‑ or six‑year‑old child.

Looking at the distant, somewhat blurry temple, his heart wants to retreat, yet he can't resist his curiosity.

"I'll just take a quick look; it should be fine."

He reassures himself and steps forward again.

As the little novice draws nearer, he faintly hears voices ahead; listening closely, it sounds like someone is chanting sutras.

"Could there be someone ahead?"

"Who is it, chanting sutras in the back mountain? That's too far away."

Although he doesn't know who would run so far, hearing human voices makes the little novice undoubtedly relax; at least there are other people nearby, so he isn't that scared.

With a bit of curiosity and a desire to investigate, the little novice pushes aside the grass taller than a person ahead and curiously looks over.

However, upon seeing the scene ahead clearly, his pupils contract sharply and he freezes on the spot.

Ahead is a dense mass of animals—squirrels, weasels, snakes, wild foxes, and so on; many of them are natural enemies, inherently opposed.

At this moment they are all utterly peaceful, sitting quietly in this clearing.

The little novice instinctively covers his mouth, almost crying out; a rough glance shows there are several hundred, a black‑packed crowd gathered here.

"How can there be so many animals!"

The little novice's expression is somewhat incredulous; he can't help but recall the Buddhist story his master once told.

It is said that when an enlightened monk chants sutras, it draws beings from all quarters; he originally thought his master was lying, but never expected to encounter it himself!

The little novice monk looked toward the center, extremely excited.

However, huge ripples surged in those innocent, pure pupils.

Because what lay at the very center was not some enlightened high monk, but a monkey.

Its whole body was golden, emitting a faint light that almost matched the sun; for a moment it shone brilliantly, as if the entire forest had become bright.

Moreover, it sat cross-legged, holding a statue in the center of its palm; the statue also emitted a hazy halo, complementing each other, making one unable to resist the urge to worship.

A monkey is actually meditating here!

It can also speak human words and chant sutras!

The scene before him kept striking the little novice monk's eyes.

"How could this be? It's actually just a monkey."

The little novice monk's whole body stiffened in place, and he couldn't help but shiver.

The monkey's seemingly incoherent babbling actually carried an inexplicable rhythm, like another language, causing the surrounding beings to listen, entranced and intoxicated.

They all quietly looked at the monkey, their animal eyes full of calm, as if on a pilgrimage, and for a moment harmony reached its peak.

The profound and mysterious aura, centered on the monkey, continuously spread outward; even the little novice monk felt his whole body become light and airy.

Watching all these miraculous scenes before him, an absurd idea involuntarily arose in his mind.

Is this monkey expounding the Dao? That must be why it attracted so many animals.

Just as the little novice monk was shocked, unbeknownst when it started, all the animals turned and looked toward his direction.

Countless gazes fell upon him in unison.

Including that monkey chanting sutras!

Suddenly locking eyes with those golden beast eyes, the little novice monk's mind went blank for a moment.

"Amitabha."

"Is this a monster?!"

The little novice monk finally came to his senses, a great fear welled up in his heart, even failing to notice that the bowl in his hand had fallen to the ground.

He turned and ran, sprinting all the way, fearing the animals behind would catch up, not daring to pause even a moment.

Watching his fleeing back, the Great Sage Monkey King was especially calm, having long sensed the little novice monk's arrival.

Having decided to take root in Mount Hua, the Great Sage Monkey King had already made up its mind; just as the little novice monk guessed, it was expounding the Dao for the animals here.

When leaving Longyuan Mountain, Ye Qin had once said that the monster clan's numbers were still too few; if there was an opportunity, they should broadly accept other kin.

While cultivating, if there is an opportunity, one should also develop one's own power.

In short, it is hoped that the disciples can seize the mountain as kings, create their own cave-heaven blessed land, and develop their own monster clan power.

Thus, only then can they cope with any future changes and get by.

Regarding Ye Qin's instructions, the Great Sage Monkey King had no doubt; after arriving at Mount Hua, it promptly stuck the talisman it carried all over the mountain, etched a simple spirit-gathering formation, and buried the spiritual artifact Ye Qin had given it underground.

This way helps the mountain quickly gather spiritual energy; although it cannot match Longyuan Mountain, it can still make Mount Hua a spiritual mountain.

At the same time, it also decided to emulate Ye Qin.

Of course, the Great Sage Monkey King's expounding the Dao cannot be the same as Ye Qin's; it cannot enable many animals to open their spiritual wisdom and thus cultivate and transform into the monster clan.

However, with the passage of time, it can lay a good foundation for them, helping them dispel chaos and enlighten their spiritual platform; there should be no problem.

Once these beings have shed their animal confusion, they can be put to use; Mount Hua is truly too large, with only a few subordinates it would be impossible to manage, and one cannot do everything personally—thus it is necessary to train a few capable helpers.

Then it can control the whole of Mount Hua, making affairs more convenient, and thus slowly create its own cave-heaven blessed land.

Finally become the monster king of this Mount Hua! (End of chapter)