Chapter 3: Heavenly Mechanism Warns, Another Opportunity Awaits

The Taoist acolyte’s words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Su Chen’s head, chilling him from crown to toe.

No affinity.

Such light, fleeting words—yet they formed an invisible mountain, severing him utterly from the immortal sect.

He had imagined countless possibilities, but never once that he couldn’t even enter the gate.

Three months of travel, through wind and frost, through peril after peril—only to be met with “Go back whence you came”?

Su Chen’s lips moved, but no sound came out; a vast wave of disappointment and resentment surged within him.

The monkey beside him had none of his restraint; upon hearing this, he instantly bristled.

“What did you say?” The monkey leapt forward, golden eyes wide and blazing.

“You say my little brother has no affinity with the immortals? We came together—we enter together, or leave together! You immortals are utterly unreasonable! Why take only me, and not my little brother?”

The Taoist acolyte was startled by the monkey’s sudden fury, yet he kept his face stern, striving to maintain the dignity of a disciple: “This is the ancestral master’s decree. I am merely delivering the message. You monkey, cease your noise.”

“Decree? What damn decree!” The monkey bared his sharp fangs.

“I don’t care about ancestral masters—I only care about my little brother. If he doesn’t go in, I won’t bother learning this damn immortal art! Little brother, let’s go. This place isn’t worth staying in!”

Saying this, the monkey grabbed Su Chen’s wrist and turned to descend the mountain.

At that moment, golden characters flashed wildly before Su Chen’s eyes, pulsing with unprecedented urgency.

【Detected: Journey to the West protagonist Sun Wukong refuses to become a disciple. Causal thread will deviate severely!】

【Heavenly Mechanism Mirror under violent shock. Performing causal correction simulation…】

【Reward: Heavenly Mechanism Points +100】

【Current Heavenly Mechanism Points: 150】

Immediately after, a line of blood-red warning text appeared, each character heavy as a thousand jin, slamming into Su Chen’s heart.

【Heavenly Mechanism Warning: If Sun Wukong fails to become a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi, an unknown entity will take notice—extreme risk!】

Extreme risk!

Su Chen’s pupils shrank sharply; a chill raced up his spine to the crown of his head.

He had thought himself merely a hitchhiker, but now he realized—this tiny butterfly of his had truly stirred a storm capable of toppling the entire world.

If Sun Wukong doesn’t become a disciple, how can the Journey to the West unfold?

Without Patriarch Bodhi’s teachings, without the Seventy-Two Transformations, without the Somersault Cloud—what will he use to wreak havoc in Heaven?

What will he use to protect Tang Seng on his journey west?

The entire core of the Journey to the West’s causal thread begins right here—with becoming a disciple.

If this source is severed, everything that follows vanishes—and I, the one who triggered this deviation, will be the first crushed to ash by those supreme beings.

No! Absolutely not!

“Big Brother Monkey, wait!”

Su Chen grabbed the monkey’s wrist in return, his grip so strong it startled even the naturally powerful monkey.

“Little brother, what are you doing? These immortals are ungrateful—we won’t endure this insult!”

The monkey was still furious.

Su Chen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the storm within, his mind racing.

He could not tell the monkey the truth—he had to persuade him in a way he could understand.

“Big Brother Monkey, listen to me,” Su Chen met the monkey’s clear, stubborn eyes.

“Have you forgotten why you sailed across the sea?”

The monkey froze.

“You sought immortality—to escape the Three Realms, to transcend the Five Elements. You traveled for years, endured countless hardships, and finally found this place, found true immortals. The chance is right before you—how can you abandon it over a moment of anger for me?”

“But they won’t let you in!” The monkey stuck out his neck.

“Perhaps… this is the immortal’s test?” Su Chen’s tone grew guiding.

“Think—immortal Dao is hard to seek. How could it be easy? The immortal master may be testing your devotion to the Dao—whether you truly value the path enough to forsake all else. If you cannot transcend this small ‘separation,’ how can you cultivate?”

The monkey scratched his cheek, tilting his head, as if the logic held some weight.

Su Chen pressed on: “Besides, I’m just a mortal. It’s natural the immortals don’t see worth in me. But you—you’re a stone monkey born of heaven, brimming with spiritual energy, a once-in-a-million cultivation seed! The immortals saw you at a glance.”

“This is your destiny—a tremendous destiny! If you master the art of immortality, you can come back for me. Won’t we still be brothers, free and joyful? If you grow powerful enough, you might even teach me a trick or two!”

This speech, half comfort, half flattery, struck the monkey right in the heart.

“You… you’re telling the truth?” The monkey wavered.

“Of course I am!” Su Chen patted his shoulder, voice sincere.

“Big Brother Monkey, go in. I won’t leave—I’ll wait right here at the foot of the mountain.”

“If you master your arts, come down and find me. If you’re mistreated inside, come tell me—I can’t fight the immortals, but I can still give you advice.”

The monkey stared into Su Chen’s eyes, his anger slowly ebbing.

“Alright,” the monkey finally relented, yet still warned, “Little brother, don’t wander far! When I master my skills, I’ll come find you first! If anyone dares harm you, I’ll make them pay!”

“Don’t worry, Big Brother Monkey—I’ll wait for you.”

A great weight lifted from Su Chen’s heart; a genuine smile spread across his face.

The Taoist acolyte watched coldly from the side; seeing the monkey finally persuaded, he spoke indifferently: “Since you’ve come to your senses, follow me. The ancestral master awaits.”

The monkey looked back at Su Chen with every step, then finally followed the acolyte into the deep stone gate.

The monkey looked back at Su Chen every three steps, finally following the Daoist acolyte into the deep stone gate.

The stone gate slowly closed, then slammed shut with a final “Bang,” severing two worlds entirely.

Outside, only Su Chen remained.

The mountain wind blew, carrying a chill.

Brothers on separate paths.

From this moment, Sun Wukong would ascend his path to immortality—while he, Su Chen, remained a mortal barred from the immortal gate.

Su Chen stood still, silent for a long while.

He looked up at the ten great characters: “Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave,” his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

He looked up at the ten large characters—“Spirit Platform Sloping Mountain, Slanted Moon Three Stars Cave”—a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Return to Jiang State, spend his life as a warrior, then die of old age or sickness?

No! He would never accept fate!

If the main gate is closed, he would find another way—even if he had to carve one himself!

He closed his eyes, sinking his spirit into his mind.

“Heavenly Mechanism Mirror.”

A golden interface unfolded in his consciousness.

“I have been rejected by Patriarch Bodhi. Spend Heavenly Mechanism Points to find me a path to cultivation!”

【Heavenly Mechanism Points -100】

【Current Heavenly Mechanism Points: 50】

【Simulating for host…】

Golden light flowed across the interface; after a moment, new text slowly appeared.

【Outside Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave, the woodcutter who watched chess until his axe handle rotted. Filial piety moved heaven and earth; the lost axe holds mysterious sound.】

The woodcutter who watched chess until his axe handle rotted?

Su Chen’s eyes snapped open; instantly, the image of the man singing the mysterious Dao song, claiming only to be an ordinary woodcutter, flashed in his mind.

Su Chen suddenly opened his eyes, and immediately in his mind appeared the figure of the man who sang the mysterious Dao song, claiming only to be an ordinary woodcutter.

He claimed to have an elderly mother to support, so he could not cultivate.

Wasn’t that precisely “filial piety moved heaven and earth”?

“The lost axe holds mysterious sound…” The lost axe concealed a mysterious Dao melody?

Su Chen’s heart pounded uncontrollably.

He understood—the Dao’s cycle always leaves a thread of life.

This woodcutter was his opportunity!

Su Chen hesitated no longer. He cast one final glance at the sealed stone gate, then turned and strode resolutely down the mountain.

Su Chen no longer hesitated; he cast one final glance at the sealed stone door, then turned resolutely and strode swiftly down the mountain.