Chapter 1: Eight years of martial arts, and you tell me this is Journey to the West?

Su Chen stood on the streets of the Jiang Kingdom's royal capital, staring at the monkey before him—wearing human clothes and speaking human words—and his entire being went numb.

The monkey was about three feet tall, clad in a coarse cloth long gown of unknown origin that covered its body. Although the stitching was crude, it barely counted as clothing. On its head sat a hat, shielding its furry scalp.

It squatted on the stone steps by the street, a nimble, intelligent light flickering in its golden eyes.

"Little brother, I come from the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. May I ask if you know where there are immortals?"

The monkey tilted its head, eyeing Su Chen, its tone filled with curiosity.

"You just said you come from the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit?"

Su Chen suppressed the shock in his heart, trying his best to make his voice sound calm.

"Exactly!"

The monkey slapped its thigh. "I became the Handsome Mi Mi Hou Wang on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. I should have been carefree, but a few days ago, I suddenly realized one thing—though I am king in the mountains, I can never escape birth, aging, sickness, and death."

As it said this, its voice lowered.

"I saw those old monkeys die of old age, and I don't want to become like that."

"So you came out to seek the way of longevity?"

"That's right!"

The monkey scratched its cheek.

"I've wandered the Southern Continent for several years, learning to speak human words, wear human clothes, and understand human etiquette. But those humans only practice martial arts; they cannot become immortals."

Su Chen's heart hammered violently.

Southern Continent.

Mountain of Flowers and Fruit.

Handsome Mi Mi Hou Wang.

Seeking the way of longevity.

With these keywords pieced together, the answer was ready to emerge.

The monkey before him was none other than the future Great Sage Equal to Heaven—Sun Wukong!

And this world was, shockingly, the Journey to the West world!

"Little brother, what's wrong? Your face doesn't look too good."

The monkey asked with concern.

Su Chen took a deep breath.

He ranted crazily in his heart.

Eight years!

Eight whole years of bitter training!

He had become the number one expert in the Jiang Kingdom!

And the result?

This is the Journey to the West world!

What Sun Wukong wreaking havoc in the Heavenly Palace, what the eighty-one tribulations on the pilgrimage, what the gods and Buddhas filling the sky!

A mortal who practices martial arts like him is no different from an ant in this kind of world.

"I heard people say that in the Western Continent, there are immortal mountains, and on those mountains, there are immortals."

The monkey continued, "I intend to go find those immortals and learn the art of immortality. I heard that you, little brother, are the number one expert in the Jiang Kingdom, so you must be well-informed. Do you know where there are immortal mountains?"

Su Chen opened his mouth.

Of course he knew.

The Mountain of Spirit Terrace and Square Inch, the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

Patriarch Puti.

But just then, a strange sensation surged into his heart.

A line of golden text appeared out of thin air before his eyes.

【Heavenly Secret Tianji Baojian】 activated.

【Detected host contacting the protagonist of Journey to the West, tainted by Journey to the West karma】

【First activation reward: Heavenly Secret Points +100】

Su Chen was stunned.

A golden finger?

He had transmigrated for eight years and never awakened any system, thinking he was just an ordinary transmigrator.

He didn't expect his golden finger to appear only now!

More information flooded his mind.

The 【Heavenly Secret Tianji Baojian】 could shield his heavenly secrets, making it impossible for the great powers of the Three Realms to calculate his existence.

It could gain insight into the hidden karma of the Journey to the West world.

It could consume Heavenly Secret Points to obtain guidance.

And the source of Heavenly Secret Points was changing the karma of Journey to the West!

Su Chen's heart beat even faster.

What did this mean?

It meant he didn't have to continue being a mediocre martial artist!

It meant he had a chance to go further in this world where immortals were everywhere!

"Little brother? Little brother?"

The monkey's voice pulled him back to reality.

"What are you thinking about?"

Su Chen looked at the monkey before him, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

In the original plot, Sun Wukong found the Mountain of Spirit Terrace and Square Inch alone.

What if he went with it?

Would that count as changing karma?

"I do know where there is an immortal mountain."

Su Chen said.

The monkey stood up abruptly. "Really?"

"Really." Su Chen nodded. "But I have a condition."

"What condition?"

"I want to go with you."

The monkey was stunned, then grinned.

"Good, I'm lonely by myself anyway. So when shall we set off?"

"I need to settle things at home. Let's meet at the west gate of the city in two days."

Su Chen turned and left after speaking.

He had to go back and arrange his family affairs.

The Su family was considered a wealthy household in the Jiang Kingdom; his parents were still alive, and he had an older brother.

If he were to leave, he had to entrust his parents to his brother.

Two days passed quickly.

Su Chen stood at the gate of the Su residence, carrying a bundle in his hand.

Inside were dry rations, a change of clothes, and some silver.

His father, Su Yuanshan, stood before him, his face full of reluctance.

"Chen'er, do you really have to go?"

"Father, I must go." Su Chen said earnestly.

"The world is vast, and the Jiang Kingdom is just a corner. I want to see the outside world and seek greater power."

His mother, Li Shi, had red eyes.

"Chen'er has had his own ideas since he was young. Since you've decided, Mother won't stop you. Just... you must be very careful out there."

"Don't worry, Mother, I will."

Su Chen turned to look at his brother, Su Feng.

"Big Brother, I leave Father and Mother to you."

Su Feng patted his shoulder.

"You go ahead and venture out, kid; I've got things at home."

After saying goodbye to his parents and brother, Su Chen strode toward the city gate.

The monkey was already waiting there.

It was carrying a wooden stick found from somewhere, and seeing Su Chen approach, it immediately jumped up.

"Little brother, you finally came!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Monkey Brother."

"Not late, not late! Shall we set off now?"

"Wait."

Su Chen closed his eyes.

【Do you wish to consume 100 Heavenly Secret Points to obtain the correct route to the Mountain of Spirit Terrace and Square Inch?】

He silently thought: Yes.

The next moment, a clear map appeared in his mind.

Starting from the Jiang Kingdom, head northwest, pass through the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, cross the river, climb over the Ten Thousand Zhang Ridge...

Every step of the route was clearly marked.

【Heavenly Secret Points -100】

【Current Heavenly Secret Points: 0】

【Detected host changed Journey to the West karma (accompanying Sun Wukong to seek immortality), causing a slight impact】

【Heavenly Secret Points +50】

【Current Heavenly Secret Points: 50】

Su Chen opened his eyes, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Changing karma could earn Heavenly Secret Points.

This golden finger was interesting!

"Monkey Brother, let's go."

"Where to?"

"To the northwest!"

One man and one monkey walked side by side, leaving the Jiang Kingdom's royal capital behind as it gradually faded into the distance.

Ahead lay an unknown path to immortality.

The monkey hopped and skipped along the way, clearly in a very good mood.

"Little brother, do you think the immortals on that immortal mountain will accept me?"

"They will."

Su Chen said affirmatively.

Patriarch Puti would take Sun Wukong as a disciple and teach him the Seventy-Two Transformations and the Somersault Cloud.

As for himself...

Su Chen touched the long sword at his waist.

He had practiced martial arts for eight years, and although it wasn't worth mentioning in the Journey to the West world, it at least proved he wasn't a waste.

As long as he could be accepted into Patriarch Puti's sect, he would have a chance to practice real immortal arts!

"Little brother, why do you want to go seek immortality with me?"

The monkey suddenly asked.

Su Chen was silent for a moment.

"Because I also want longevity."

The monkey grinned.

"Same as me!"

Su Chen reached out his hand.

"From now on, we are brothers! Just call me Little Brother, and I'll call you Monkey Brother."

The monkey also reached out its furry hand.

"Okay, Little Brother."

Under the sunlight, two figures walked further and further away.

One man and one monkey embarked on the path to seek immortality. ===== CHAPTER 2 =====