Chapter 30: Monkey

Three years of seclusion, one moment of success.

Su Chen stood on Wanshou Mountain, feeling the ceaseless flow of immortal energy within him, a sense of unprecedented power filling every limb and bone.

The Human Immortal realm had already transcended the mortal, extending his lifespan to five thousand years; with every gesture, he could summon the power of heaven and earth.

This was not the greatest gain.

With a flick of his thought, he took a single step—and his form blurred instantly where he stood, reappearing a hundred zhang away.

Shrinking earth to inch—that was his self-realized spatial technique.

“Good, good, good!”

Su Chen couldn’t help laughing aloud, his laughter echoing through the mountains, startling countless birds into flight.

This journey to Wuzhuang Temple had yielded far more than expected.

Not only had he obtained the foundation of Wood Element, laying a solid base for his future attainment of Jin Xian, but he had also unexpectedly glimpsed a corner of the Spatial Dao.

He calmed his turbulent emotions and summoned the Tianji Treasure Mirror.

“To decode the scroll requires two hundred Tianji points.”

His immediate priority was to earn Tianji points.

And the source of Tianji points was altering karma.

He was now a Human Immortal, with spatial technique at his disposal—his self-preservation had greatly increased; it was time to find ways to earn Tianji points.

“I wonder how far the monkey has come by now?”

Su Chen pondered.

He had been in seclusion for three years and knew nothing of the outside world.

So he decided to seek out a local cultivator with good information.

The first person he thought of was Master Xuanming of Gongshan, who had once guided him.

Making up his mind, Su Chen oriented himself, abandoned wind-riding, and instead used the Shrinking Earth to Inch technique, heading toward Gongshan.

With each step, mountains and rivers reversed, scenery blurring past.

The journey that once took half a day now took only the time of one incense stick—Gongshan’s familiar peaks loomed in the distance.

Su Chen landed beyond the Mingxin Temple’s formation, not forcing entry, but as he had on his first visit, walked step by step along the mountain path to the temple gate.

He gently tapped the door ring.

The gate creaked open, and the same young Daoist acolyte peered out.

Seeing Su Chen, he froze, uncertainly asking, “Are you Master Wuchen?”

“Indeed, this humble Daoist.” Su Chen smiled and bowed.

“Master, please come in! Master has often spoken of you!” The acolyte was delighted, quickly ushering him inside.

Through the courtyard, Master Xuanming sat cross-legged on a stone terrace behind the temple, inhaling and exhaling the mountain mist.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly ended his cultivation, opening his eyes.

Master Xuanming rose at once, hurried forward, and bowed: “Xuanming greets you, Daoist!”

“Master need not be so formal,” Su Chen sidestepped, returning the bow.

“I have come today for two reasons: first, to thank you for your guidance back then; second, to inquire about recent developments in the cultivation world.”

Master Xuanming invited him to sit beside a stone table and had his disciple serve tea.

“What would you like to know? I’ve cultivated in the Western Paradise Continent for centuries; though I cannot claim to know everything, I’ve heard of major events in the cultivation world.”

Su Chen paused, then asked: “I’ve been in seclusion for years and heard nothing of the outside. Has Master heard of any major events in the Three Realms recently?”

“Major events?” Master Xuanming stroked his beard, thinking, then his expression turned grave. “There is indeed one—something that could shake the Three Realms. It concerns the demon race.”

“Oh? Please elaborate.” Su Chen’s interest stirred.

Master Xuanming lowered his voice, his eyes filled with awe and caution: “About two years ago, seven mighty demon kings gathered at Jilei Mountain, burned incense, swore brotherhood, and modeled themselves after the ancient Demon Court, calling themselves the ‘Seven Great Demon Kings of the Demon Race’!”

“Seven Great Demon Kings?” Su Chen’s hand holding the teacup paused, barely noticeable.

“Precisely!” Master Xuanming nodded, his tone heavy. “Each of these seven Great Kings is a formidable demon lord ruling his own domain, with boundless magic power and vast abilities. The leader is the Pingtian Great King, Niu Mowang, of Moyun Cave on Jilei Mountain—he is widely connected and holds immense prestige among demons.”

“The others are: Fuhai Great King Jiaowang of the Northern Continent, Huntian Great King Pengwang on the western shore of the Western Sea, Yishan Great King Shituo Wang of Shituo Ridge, Shentong Great King Yurong Wang of Yurong Mountain, and Qushen Great King Mihouwang, master of stealth and spirit manipulation.”

Master Xuanming finished listing the six, paused, then said: “And the seventh—the one with the loudest name and most flamboyant deeds—is the Meihouwang of Huaguo Mountain’s Water Curtain Cave in the Eastern Divine Continent. He calls himself the Qitian Great King!”

“Qitian Great King!” Su Chen softly repeated the four characters, a flash of brilliance passing through his eyes.

Master Xuanming continued: “This Qitian Great King is truly a lawless rogue. Rumor says he stormed the Eastern Dragon Palace and seized divine weapons—soon, the Heavenly Court will surely act.”

Su Chen’s thoughts raced.

The uproar in Heaven—this was the most critical phase of the Journey to the West calamity, its karmic weight incalculable.

If he could subtly alter fate’s course during this storm, the Tianji points gained might be enough to decode that mysterious scroll.

But how to intervene?

Directly aid the monkey against the Heavenly Court?

No, too risky.

The Heavenly Court was vast, brimming with experts; even as a Human Immortal, he was but a pawn before them.

Then warn the monkey?

Tell him to tone it down, not push things too far?

The moment this idea surfaced, Su Chen felt it was viable.

Sun Wukong’s nature was defiant, fearless of heaven or earth.

But he was not entirely deaf to counsel—in the original tale, he had always remembered Patriarch Bodhi’s warnings.

If he could somehow make Sun Wukong aware of the danger approaching, perhaps the monkey would choose differently.

As long as his choice diverged from the original tale, the karma would be altered.

“Thank you for your insight, Master,” Su Chen set down his teacup, stood, and handed Master Xuanming a jade tablet. “I’ve disturbed you long enough. Please accept this jade tablet—if you ever need me, crush it.”

Master Xuanming did not refuse, accepting the tablet and urging: “Daoist, why not stay a few more days? I have some mountain delicacies I’d like you to taste.”

Su Chen declined: “I have urgent matters—I cannot linger.”

Indeed, how could one fathom the actions of such a high cultivator?

“If you have urgent matters, I won’t detain you,” Master Xuanming sighed, pulling a jade slip from his robe and offering it to Su Chen. “Daoist, this is a map of the Western Paradise Continent I compiled from gathered intelligence, marking major cultivation factions and perilous lands. It may be of use to you.”

“Thank you, Master,” Su Chen took the jade slip.

He did not linger further; after bidding farewell to Master Xuanming, he headed straight toward the Eastern Divine Continent.