Chapter 122

The Great Brand Heavenly Immortal Technique is a perfect match for Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong without the Golden Hoop Rod and Linked Golden Armor is incomplete.

But in this lifetime, the Golden Hoop Rod truly does not exist; back when Yu the Great controlled the waters, there was fundamentally no such thing as a Golden Hoop Rod.

"It seems I'll need to get Sun Wukong a Golden Hoop Rod later; otherwise, it will always feel a bit off." Looking at Sun Wukong studying earnestly, Patriarch Bodhi smiled and said.

Three years passed slowly.

During these three years, Sun Wukong switched to cultivating the Great Brand Heavenly Immortal Technique, his strength reaching the peak of Taiyi Golden Immortal; with a weapon's aid, he could likely contend with an early-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal.

"I have the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations; which do you want to learn?" That day, Patriarch Bodhi found Sun Wukong and asked.

"Master, I wish to learn the greater number." After a quick mental calculation, Sun Wukong said.

After hearing Sun Wukong's choice, Patriarch Bodhi laughed and shook his head—indeed, still that mischievous monkey!

"Let me first introduce these thirty-six and seventy-two transformations to you; you can choose later." Patriarch Bodhi said, looking at Sun Wukong.

"Yes!" Sun Wukong nodded.

These Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations are respectively: manipulating creation, inverting yin and yang, shifting stars and transposing the Big Dipper, reversing heaven and returning the moon, summoning rain and calling wind, shaking mountains and trembling earth, riding mist and soaring clouds, carving rivers into land, golden light piercing the earth, overturning rivers and stirring seas, pointing at the ground to turn it into bronze, the Great Escape of the Five Phases, the Six Jia Mysterious Gates, knowing the future against the flow, whipping mountains and moving stones, raising the dead and restoring life, flying body and leaving traces, nine breaths inhaling qi, guiding out the primal yang, subduing dragons and taming tigers, mending heaven and bathing the sun, pushing mountains and filling seas, pointing at stones to turn them into gold, standing upright without a shadow, transforming the fetal form, great and small as one wishes, flowers blooming in an instant, wandering spirit controlling qi, seeing through walls, winding wind returning fire, mastering the Five Thunders, diving into depths and shrinking the earth, flying sand and rolling stones, carrying mountains and surpassing seas, scattering beans to form soldiers, the nail-headed seven arrows, etc., thirty-six kinds of transformations.

The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations are: penetrating the hidden, driving away spirits, shouldering mountains, prohibiting water, borrowing wind, spreading mist, praying for clear weather, praying for rain, sitting on fire, entering water, covering the sun, riding the wind, cooking stones, spitting flames, swallowing blades, the pot heaven, divine movement, walking on water, staff release, manifesting a doppelganger, becoming invisible, reattaching the head, freezing the body, slaying demons, inviting immortals, pursuing souls, capturing souls, summoning clouds, seizing the moon, transporting, transferring dreams, fragmented, depositing the staff, cutting off the flow, warding off calamity, resolving misfortune, alchemy, swordsmanship, archery, earth travel, star numbers, deploying formations, assuming false forms, spraying transformation, point transformation, corpse liberation, shifting scenery, summoning forth, driving away, gathering beasts, taming birds, qi prohibition, great strength, penetrating stone, producing light, obscuring vision, guiding and pulling, consuming, opening stone walls, leaping over cliffs, sprouting heads, ascending and copying, drinking water, lying in snow, exposing to the sun, playing with pills, talisman water, medicine, knowing the time, recognizing the land, abstaining from grains, nightmare prayers, etc., seventy-two kinds of transformations.

"The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations seem fewer in number than the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations, but regardless of power or practicality they are stronger than the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations; do you still want to learn the Seventy-Two Transformations?" Patriarch Subhuti looked at Sun Wukong and laughed.

"Hehe, I misspoke earlier; I am willing to learn those thirty-six transformations." After hearing Patriarch Subhuti's explanation, Sun Wukong laughed and said.

"Since that's the case, I as your master will teach you both the thirty-six and the seventy-two transformations." Seeing Sun Wukong like this, Patriarch Subhuti said.

"Ah?" Sun Wukong was dumbfounded; does the master still have this kind of operation?

Afterwards came another lengthy period of study; the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend were not that easy to learn, and Sun Wukong studied for a full seven years before fully comprehending the one hundred and eight transformations.

At this point, Sun Wukong had already been on Mount Lingtai Fangcun for over twenty years; Patriarch Subhuti knew it was time to let Sun Wukong go.

Thinking of this, Patriarch Subhuti summoned Sun Wukong to his side.

"Wukong, how long have you been on my Mount Lingtai Fangcun?" Patriarch Subhuti looked at Sun Wukong and asked.

"Master, I have been here for over twenty years," Sun Wukong said honestly.

"Twenty years already! Time really flies." Patriarch Subhuti sighed.

"Wukong, do you want to know my origins?" Patriarch Subhuti looked at Sun Wukong and said.

Upon hearing the master say that, Sun Wukong felt doubtful; isn't the master just the master? What else could there be to his origins?

Seeing Sun Wukong's doubt, Patriarch Subhuti smiled and said: "You are my disciple, so I do not wish to hide anything from you."

"I want to know," Sun Wukong nodded.

"Alright, then I will tell you both my origins and yours." Patriarch Subhuti glanced toward the West, then smiled and said.

"My name is Wu Gang; I am the leader of the Ren Sect and an incarnation of the Holy Sage of the Human Race." Patriarch Subhuti looked at Sun Wukong and said with a smile.

"Don't be surprised yet; listen as I explain slowly." Seeing Sun Wukong's look of astonishment, Patriarch Subhuti said to him.

Afterwards, Patriarch Subhuti told Sun Wukong his entire origins, including those of Mount Lingtai Fangcun and the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave.

"Master, do I have any special qualities?" After Patriarch Subhuti finished speaking, Sun Wukong asked softly.

"Yes!" Patriarch Subhuti nodded.

"Then can you tell me, master?" Sun Wukong looked curious.

"You were originally the Heaven-Mending Divine Stone; after Nüwa mended the heavens, the leftover piece was placed atop Mount Huaguo. By chance, you absorbed solar essence and lunar radiance, forming the Nine-Aperture Stone, and finally breaking out of the stone, which gave rise to the you of today. The reason I have been waiting for you here is that you are involved in this Great Calamity, and you are the one destined to face this Great Calamity."

"The one destined to face the Great Calamity?" Sun Wukong shook his head, not quite understanding.

Afterwards, Patriarch Subhuti explained Sun Wukong's mission and the concept of the Great Calamity; after finishing, he quietly looked at Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong actually understood everything; he is a smart person, otherwise he could not have reached his current strength in twenty years. Talent is certainly important, but if Sun Wukong were not clever, he could not have his present strength either.

"Master, are you telling me this so that I won't have to face the Great Calamity?" Sun Wukong voiced the key question.

"No, you cannot avoid this Great Calamity; I tell you this because there is another way to face the Great Calamity. If I did not tell you, you would only be schemed against and then forced onto the path the West has laid out for you. But you are my disciple, a Ren Sect disciple; we Ren Sect disciples always scheme against others, and no one has ever been able to scheme against a Ren Sect disciple." Patriarch Subhuti said this, and as he spoke the final sentence, his body filled with domineering aura.

This domineering aura comes from the foundation of the Ren Sect, from Panhuang's strength.

"Master, teach me!" Sun Wukong immediately knelt on the ground.

"I tell you this in order to change your fate of being schemed against." Patriarch Subhuti stroked Sun Wukong's soft fur, his eyes full of amusement.

"Thank you, master!" Sun Wukong said with a smile.

Afterwards, Patriarch Subhuti revealed the West's plans and schemes; upon hearing them, Sun Wukong's face showed no expression, but a flash of anger passed through his eyes.

"I tell you this not so that you go and oppose the West; with your current strength, you are fundamentally no match for the West." Patriarch Subhuti noticed the anger in Sun Wukong's eyes.

"Master, what should I do?" Sun Wukong asked.

"You have also been here with me for over twenty years; it's time for you to return." Patriarch Subhuti looked at Sun Wukong and said.

"Master, are you going to drive me away?" Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately panicked.

"I'm not trying to drive you away; you have already completed your training." Patriarch Subhuti said with a smile.

"When you return to Mount Huaguo, do not flaunt your abilities, do not rely on your strength to act recklessly, understand?" Patriarch Subhuti added.

"Yes, master!"

"After returning to Mount Huaguo, try not to come out for now; your identity is extremely sensitive. Once I have everything ready on my end, I will notify you, and when the time comes for you to face the Great Calamity, you will not be so passive." Patriarch Subhuti repeatedly instructed Sun Wukong.

"Master, rest assured; I will definitely not run around recklessly." Sun Wukong nodded.

"By the way, after leaving here, go to the ancestral land of humanity and pay a visit to Nüwa; strictly speaking, Nüwa is still your mother." Patriarch Subhuti, as if recalling something, said with a smile.

"I understand."

"Pack up; in a couple days, come down the mountain. This is all I can do for you. If you discover you have been schemed against, remember to go to Mount Shouyang for help." Patriarch Subhuti finally rubbed Sun Wukong's head, then vanished before his eyes.

"Disciple respectfully sees you off!" Sun Wukong kowtowed several times respectfully, then rose and left.

A few days after Sun Wukong left, Patriarch Subhuti dissolved the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, bringing everyone there back to Mount Shouyang; after all, they are also registered disciples of the Ren Sect, and Mount Shouyang is where they ought to stay.

After leaving, Sun Wukong first went to the ancestral land of humanity, paid his respects to Nüwa, and told her about his life over these years.

Seeing Sun Wukong like this, Nüwa in Nüwa's Palace smiled faintly, then waved her hand; a strand of creative power passed through the statues of the ancestral land of humanity and fell upon Sun Wukong.

Feeling the creative power on his body, Sun Wukong's mouth curled into a smile.

After coming out from the shore of the East Sea, Sun Wukong directly returned to Mount Huaguo; he hadn't gone back for twenty-odd years, and although Mount Huaguo remains the same as before, his monkeys and monkey grandchildren have already been replaced by a new batch.

"Children! I'm back!" Sun Wukong shouted loudly when he arrived at the Water Curtain Cave.

The next second, countless monkeys came from all directions, surrounding him, shouting "Great King!" with excited faces.

Looking at the monkeys before him, Sun Wukong's sorrow was instantly overwhelmed by joy; although many familiar faces were gone, the number of his monkeys and monkey grandchildren had increased, which was indeed a happy thing.

As Sun Wukong returned to Mount Huaguo, Spirit Mountain began to move.

But soon Spirit Mountain discovered that Sun Wukong showed no movement; the people they had planted in Mount Huaguo had fed him so many tales of dominating heaven and earth, yet Sun Wukong remained utterly still, which made Spirit Mountain frantic.

"Damn it, the Underworld actually has no movement at all!" Guanyin was somewhat annoyed.

They had originally agreed with Lady Peaceful Heart, but now the Underworld has taken no action, which has made Spirit Mountain a little anxious.

Thinking of this, Guanyin went straight to the Underworld.

"When the Tathagata told us earlier, there was no such item; we also agreed with the Tathagata that Sun Wukong could come, but we never said we had to go first! Sun Wukong has now become a Taiyi Golden Immortal, his name is not in the Book of Life and Death; if we go to seize souls, the nature would be different." Yama looked at Guanyin and said with a smile.

Guanyin was left speechless by Yama's words; back when the Tathagata was lobbying all sides, Guanyin had not participated at all, so Guanyin really didn't know the specifics, and now this is somewhat troublesome.

"Hmph! Causing a ruckus in the Underworld is probably out of the question; nowadays the Heavenly Court is in the hands of the Great Golden Crow, so causing a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace is also impossible, and the Holy Court has no hope either, after all that Sun Wukong is a disciple of the Ren Sect." After hearing Guanyin's words, the Tathagata said coldly.

"Namo Buddha, what should we do next?" Guanyin asked, frowning.

"Wait! Since Sun Wukong can't become famous, let him stay unknown; we just need to connect the Human King and Gold Cicada Child at the right time." The Tathagata said, his words full of helplessness.

The entire Wasteland is trying to prevent the rise of the West, yet he insists on making the West rise.

"Sun Wukong has returned to his place; Yang Jian and the Great Peng can return to their places at any time; next is Gold Cicada Child." In the Splendid Radiance Hall, Pan Huang muttered to himself.

Ever since Pan Huang and Lady Peaceful Heart schemed against Gold Cicada Child, the demon pearl in his primordial spirit has increased with each reincarnation.

Pan Huang, based on the idea of the unity of Buddha and demon, devised a cultivation method that can transform demonic qi into Buddhist power, but this requires the practitioner to have extremely strong concentration; otherwise, it is also highly possible to become a demon with a single thought.

Thus, after several lifetimes, Gold Cicada Child's demon pearl turned into a Buddhist pearl; once Guanyin examined Gold Cicada Child's primordial spirit and discovered this Buddhist pearl, Guanyin was overjoyed—this is a naturally born Buddha's child, who would have thought that after so many cycles of reincarnation, a Buddhist pearl would form inside Gold Cicada Child's body.

After the Tathagata learned of this, a smile also appeared on his face; as long as Gold Cicada Child has no problems, the West can rise, the main body of the West's rise is Gold Cicada Child, not Sun Wukong, and Sun Wukong is ultimately just a guardian deity of the West.

But what the Tathagata does not know is that this Buddhist pearl will bring him a great surprise in the future, a surprise that he and the entire West cannot withstand.

As time passed, Sun Wukong noticed many cultivators appearing around Mount Huaguo, constantly spying on Mount Huaguo but daring not to enter, which reminded him of what his master had said back then.

"Master, after I survive the calamity, I will go to Shouyang Mountain to find you." Sun Wukong muttered toward the direction of Shouyang Mountain.

"Great King! Someone outside claiming to be from the Dragon Palace requests an audience." Just as Sun Wukong was missing Patriarch Bodhi, a white-haired old monkey walked into the Water Curtain Cave.

"Let him come in!" Sun Wukong nodded.

The dragon clan is the totem of humanity, and the dragon clan is on good terms with both humanity and the Ren Sect—these Sun Wukong knows.

"Greetings, Beautiful Monkey King!" Soon an old turtle appeared before Sun Wukong.

"Are you the turtle prime minister of the Dragon Palace?" Sun Wukong asked upon seeing the old turtle.

"That's exactly me, the old fellow!" the turtle prime minister nodded.

"I don't know what business the turtle prime minister has coming to my Mount Huaguo." Sun Wukong was a little curious.

Since returning from his studies, he seems to have had no dealings with the dragon clan at all; so what does the dragon clan want from him by seeking him out?

(End of chapter)