Chapter 7: Seven Years of Woodcutting, the Monkey King Also Learns to Read

Time flew like an arrow, and another seven years passed in a flash.

For mortals, seven years is enough for a child to grow into a teenager, and for a man in his prime to add white hair.

But for the seekers of the Dao in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, seven years was nothing more than a few blossoms and falls, a few winters and summers, passing in the snap of a finger.

For seven years, Su Chen's life was simple to the extreme.

Every day before dawn, he would appear in the woodshed in the back mountain, pick up the axe, and walk into the mountain forest.

"Whoosh—"

One axe strike, seemingly ordinary, carried a unique rhythm.

In seven years, he didn't know how many axes he had swung or how much wood he had chopped.

Every piece of firewood used in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, from the Patriarch's quiet room to the kitchen, came from his hands.

At first, there were disciples whispering behind his back, saying that this "Junior Brother Wu Chen" was probably a fool, that the Patriarch just said "the Dao is in the axe" casually, and he actually took it seriously, ignoring the many profound Dao methods in the cave and obsessing over a pile of wood.

But gradually, this voice disappeared.

Because they discovered that the aura on Su Chen's body was becoming deeper and more solid at a terrifying speed.

He clearly didn't sit and meditate like other disciples, contemplating scriptures, but his cultivation progress was not worse than anyone else in the cave!

In the first year, he went from just entering Refining Essence into Qi to perfection.

In the third year, the "Qi" in his body began to undergo a qualitative change, threads of spiritual sense were born from the Qi, merging with the Qi, and he formally stepped into the realm of Refining Qi into Spirit!

At that moment, Su Chen only felt his five senses infinitely magnified, and the movements of wind, the chirping of insects and birds within a few miles, were all clearly reflected in his mind.

His lifespan also soared, possessing a full two hundred years of time.

This progress left a group of senior brothers dumbfounded.

You know, many of them had been stuck at the step of Refining Essence into Qi for more than ten years, or even decades.

And Su Chen had walked through most of their lives in just three years.

Especially Senior Brother Wu Ming, whose heart was a mix of complex feelings.

He considered himself orthodox, having practiced bitterly for decades, but was only at the mid-stage of Refining Qi into Spirit.

But this junior brother he had regarded as a "wild path" had gradually caught up to him in cultivation with the posture of a latecomer.

How could he endure this?

Thus, Wu Ming's suppression of Su Chen and Sun Wukong turned from secret to open.

"Junior Brother Wu Chen, the Patriarch is preaching the 'Yellow Court Scripture' today; why aren't you going to listen?" In the dining hall, Wu Ming stopped Su Chen, who was preparing to eat, with a serious face.

Su Chen replied calmly: "Master has ordered me to realize the Dao through the axe. The firewood is not yet sufficient, so I dare not slack off."

"Hmph, the Patriarch asked you to realize the Dao, not to be a woodcutter for a lifetime!" Wu Ming's disciple said sarcastically, "I think you've picked up sesame seeds and lost the watermelon. You don't listen to the Great Dao scriptures taught by the Patriarch, but insist on messing with some inferior axe skills."

Before Su Chen could speak, Sun Wukong jumped onto the table with a "swoosh", pointed at the disciple's nose and cursed: "You know nothing! My little brother's Dao was personally allowed by Master! What are you, to dare to chatter here?"

In these seven years, Sun Wukong had also changed greatly.

He was no longer the wild monkey who only knew how to jump around.

Under Su Chen's supervision and company, he patiently read through all the classics, histories, and works of the hundred schools of thought collected in the cave.

Although he still didn't understand many profound principles, he had at least completely escaped from ignorance, could read and write, and had a bit more logic in his speech and behavior.

It was just that the unruly nature in his bones had never been worn away. Especially when he saw someone bullying Su Chen, he was more anxious than anyone.

"Presumptuous!" Wu Ming's face sank, "Sun Wukong, you monkey, how dare you make noise in the dining hall and be rude to your senior brother! It seems the scriptures of these seven years have all been read into a dog's belly!"

"So I'm rude, what of it?" Sun Wukong bared its teeth, looking like it would make a move if he said one more word.

The disciples in the cave all knew this monkey feared nothing, and if they really fought, they, who hadn't practiced any great supernatural powers, might not necessarily be able to beat this naturally strong monkey.

For a time, the atmosphere was tense.

"Monkey Brother."

Su Chen gently pulled Sun Wukong's sleeve, signaling him to calm down.

Then, he turned to Wu Ming: "Senior Brother Wu Ming's lesson is correct. However, there are three thousand Daos, and every path can prove the Bodhi. Senior Brother walks the sunny path, and I, Junior Brother, might be walking a single-plank bridge, but the destination is no different. As for who is higher and who is lower, it's too early to conclude."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Wu Ming and the disciples behind him, his tone turning sharp: "Instead of having time to criticize Junior Brother's cultivation here, you senior brothers should spend more effort on yourselves."

"I see that your Qi is floating on the surface and your spirit is scattered, Senior Brother; these are signs of instability in the realm of Refining Qi into Spirit. If you don't stabilize in time, I'm afraid there's a risk of falling in realm."

Su Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.

Wu Ming's face turned pale "swish".

Because what Su Chen said was absolutely correct.

He had been eager for success recently, leading to floating cultivation and unstable aura; this was something he had been secretly worried about and had never told anyone.

But now, it was pointed out by Su Chen.

What did this mean? It meant Su Chen's vision and perception were already above his.

The disciples around looked at Wu Ming with strange expressions.

"You... you're talking nonsense!" Wu Ming was both shocked and angry, but had no way to refute, and finally could only leave a harsh threat: "Hmph! Sharp-tongued!"

After saying this, he took his people and left in a sorry state.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong laughed triumphantly and made a face at their backs: "A bunch of cowards, scared away by one sentence from my little brother!"

Su Chen shook his head helplessly and pulled him off the table: "Alright, let's eat."

"Little Brother, you're amazing!" Sun Wukong said vaguely while eating greedily, "When will I be able to see through others' problems at a glance like you?"

"When you can recite the 'Tao Te Ching' backward, perhaps you can." Su Chen joked.

"Ah?" Sun Wukong's face instantly collapsed, "Then forget it; those 'The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao' things are more tiring than chopping wood."

Su Chen smiled and didn't speak again.

He knew the monkey's opportunity didn't lie in these scriptures and classics.

Everything he was doing now was just to sharpen its unruly heart.

Deep in the night.

Su Chen sat cross-legged in his stone house.

Before him, the old axe that had accompanied him for seven years was floating. At this moment, this axe made of mortal iron was faintly emitting a layer of warm treasure light in the moonlight.

In seven years, he had used his own essence, Qi, and spirit to nourish it day and night, and this axe had long since connected with his heart and spirit, becoming a unique magic tool.

Su Chen's heart moved, and the panel of the Heavenly Secret Treasure Mirror appeared in his mind.

【Host: Su Chen (Dharma Name: Wu Chen)】

【Cultivation: Refining Qi into Spirit (Mid-Stage)】

【Lifespan: 200 years】

【Cultivation Method: "Qi Refining Technique" (Corrected by Patriarch Puti)】

【Spells: None】

【Magic Treasure: Dao-Nourishing Axe (Made of mortal iron, containing the host's seven years of Dao rhyme)】

【Heavenly Secret Points: 50】

For seven years, because he had always been content with his lot and cultivated in the cave, not actively changing any major karma, his Heavenly Secret Points hadn't increased.

"Still too slow." Su Chen thought to himself.

Refining Qi into Spirit, seemingly not bad, but in the entire Journey to the West world, it was still at the bottom.

Let alone those Heavenly Immortals and Golden Immortals, even a demon occupying a mountain was stronger than him.

He now possessed a lifespan of two hundred years, but these two hundred years, for the long path of immortality, were just a fleeting moment.

And Sun Wukong, its opportunity was coming soon.

Once it learned Patriarch Puti's "Great Grade Heavenly Immortal Art", Seventy-Two Transformations, and Somersault Cloud, its strength would undergo earth-shaking changes in a short time.

By then, if he, as the "little brother", couldn't keep up in cultivation, he probably wouldn't even be qualified to wave a flag for it.

No, he must find a way to improve his strength as soon as possible.

Su Chen's gaze fell on the upcoming opportunity of Patriarch Puti's preaching.

In the original work, the Patriarch preached and only taught Sun Wukong alone.

But now, there was him, this variable.

He must seize this opportunity and hitch a ride on this train!

Just then, Sun Wukong's voice came from outside.

"Little Brother, are you asleep? I don't recognize a character; let me take a look."

Su Chen collected his thoughts and got up to open the door.

He saw Sun Wukong holding a bamboo slip, scratching its ears and cheeks, looking distressed.

Su Chen took it and looked, smiling: "This character is read 'Chen', the 'Chen' in 'prophecy'."

"Oh, oh, prophecy..." Sun Wukong muttered, then asked, "Little Brother, when do you think Master will finally teach me real skills? I read books or sweep the floor every day and haven't learned any real skills at all."

Su Chen looked at its impatient appearance, his heart moved, and he comforted: "Monkey Brother, don't worry. Master is sharpening your temperament; when your heart is stable, the Great Dao will come to find you. Perhaps, tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Sun Wukong's eyes lit up.

Su Chen smiled and didn't say clearly.

He knew the time was really coming.

The next day, Patriarch Puti indeed preached again.

The disciples sat on the meditation cushions, listening to the Patriarch preach the wonderful sounds of the Great Dao.

"The wonderful secret formula of the manifest and secret, there is nothing else to say about cultivating nature and life. It all comes down to essence, Qi, and spirit, carefully guarded and hidden, never leaking..."

The Patriarch's voice seemed to carry some kind of strange magic, making people's hearts calm and immersed in it.

Su Chen was also listening carefully, verifying every word the Patriarch said with his own "Axe Dao".

Just then, Sun Wukong beside him suddenly began to dance.

He scratched his ears and cheeks, grinning foolishly one moment, and dancing excitedly the next, his appearance as if he had realized some peerless wonderful principle.

The surrounding disciples looked sideways, all looking at him with eyes like looking at a madman.

Wu Ming frowned, his face full of disgust.

But seeing this scene, Su Chen's heart was crystal clear.

It's here!

The timing for Patriarch Puti to teach the Great Dao had finally arrived!

Today, the Patriarch would inevitably hint to Sun Wukong to find him in the middle of the night through the back door by "hitting his head three times, putting his hands behind his back, and walking into the middle door", to secretly teach him the Great Dao.

This was Sun Wukong's huge opportunity, but Su Chen was absolutely unwilling to just be a spectator.

He must seize this opportunity to justifiably follow Sun Wukong to meet the Patriarch and seek the true Great Dao of longevity! ===== CHAPTER 8 =====