How should one properly teach a monkey?

After returning to Spirit Platform Mountain, Li Changshou began pondering this profound question.

For this purpose, he specifically went among mortals to observe and learn, visiting monkey performers and gaining some inspiration, developing many ideas in his heart.

The stone monkey would certainly be a being of abundant spirit, far surpassing ordinary mortals.

Having neither father nor mother, born from a stone embryo, it could claim Sovereign Mother Nüwa as its mother above, while being a unique being below that transcended the Three Realms and Five Elements.

In truth, Li Changshou held some reverence in his heart for the stone monkey.

Great Sage Equal to Heaven…

What manner of hero, and what degree of recklessness, would it take to claim such a title?

A newborn calf fears not the tiger; a newborn stone monkey fears not the Dao Ancestor.

Teaching the monkey would require focusing on two aspects.

One was preserving his natural character, the other was imparting the skills of combat.

Li Changshou’s most favored mystic technique was naturally the Eight-Nine Mystic Art, but this was now a protective teaching of the Dao sect, circulated only among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Development Sect.

‘Nominally,’ he had no way to obtain such techniques.

Moreover, the monkey’s Seventy-Two Transformations divine ability, cloud-somersault divine ability, and steel-hard body all needed to reach the level of ‘profound mystery’ for the monkey to handle all manner of future disasters.

Li Changshou had never thought about arranging or calculating the monkey’s path—he wanted the monkey to maintain its natural character.

But Li Changshou did calculate and consider various circumstances.

Just speaking of ‘combat power.’

Using Yang Jian’s combat power at the end of the Great Investiture of the Gods as a reference—after several hundred years, Yang Jian’s strength must have made tremendous advances.

When the monkey wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, his combat power should have been equal to Yang Jian’s;

Assuming the monkey spent several decades living freely on Flower Fruit Mountain after birth before coming to seek learning from him, it would take at least two to three hundred years to transform the monkey’s spirit power into magical power enough to fight evenly with the future Yang Jian.

This speed was already the limit.

After all, no matter how high the monkey’s comprehension, he couldn’t cultivate through sudden enlightenment like himself.

Unable to obtain the Eight-Nine Mystic Art, what should he teach the monkey?

As for that external body technique of plucking and blowing hairs into clones, Li Changshou naturally had over ten approaches he could teach, but the monkey would need constant years to cultivate.

Thinking it through carefully, this problem was truly troublesome.

Perhaps…

Start with prenatal education.

Li Changshou pondered for a while, feeling he could take this opportunity to probe the Dao Ancestor’s bottom line and see what solutions the Dao Ancestor might offer.

So, he sat in contemplation for several months in the Bodhi Residence of Three-Star Cave under the Slanting Moon, let out a long sigh, and said aloud:

“I request the Heavenly Dao’s guidance on how to instruct this fine disciple.”

In the Purple Void Palace, that imposing Daoist slightly furrowed his brows, his expression showing a tiny bit of disdain, as he pointed a finger at Square Inch Mountain.

Before ‘Empty Bodhi,’ streams of precious light gathered, condensing into three jade talismans.

Li Changshou rose and made a Daoist salute, sighing: “Thank you, Lord Heavenly Dao.”

Then he took the jade talismans in hand and looked closely.

Looking at the first jade talisman, Li Changshou secretly smiled in his heart, discovering that the Dao Ancestor’s method still focused on divine spirit and comprehension, having ‘Empty Bodhi’ help forge the monkey’s powerful physical body.

Simple and direct power-up.

This method was called the “Grand Heaven Immortal Formula.” This ‘Heaven Immortal’ didn’t refer to the Heaven Immortal realm, but rather meant ‘Immortal of Heaven.’

With this method, one could cultivate the Golden Immortal realm in a short time. If the monkey’s comprehension was good and the Heavenly Dao granted more insights, reaching Great Luo within a few hundred years wouldn’t be a problem.

However, there was one point—this method was for rapid achievement, and the great dao it carried was the ‘dao of combat.’

This was a relatively vague concept. This dao was born for combat itself, its main purpose being to keep beings of Heaven and Earth in endless struggle, with the miraculous effect of growing stronger through battle.

The drawback was equally obvious—apart from combat and battle, there would be no other insights.

It offered no improvement in cultivators’ qualities, cultivation, moral wisdom, beauty, or labor.

The Dao Ancestor had provided a solution, saving him some worry. At most, he would just leave some beneficial backup plans for the monkey.

Opening the second jade talisman, ‘Empty Bodhi’s expression didn’t change, but Li Changshou cursed inwardly for the first time in a long while.

This?

What was this?

Seventy-Two Transformations—seventy-two kinds of transformations, able to change into grass, wood, insects, stones, living things, and spirit beings, truly a treasure for avoiding disaster.

What Li Changshou found hard to accept was that the transformation incantations and divine ability cultivation methods within were the same as the improved transformation technique he had written in his grass hut on Little Jade Peak and passed on to Yang Jian, Ling E, and Long Ji!

It was completely a copy of the transformation method he had researched back then!

The Dao Ancestor had gone too far! Directly plagiarizing his insights written in the jade talisman!

And for free! Without even a word of notice!

Grass—refers to a type of plant.

Li Changshou silently cursed his bad luck, but could only grumble in his true body’s heart, while ‘Empty Bodhi’s’ dao heart remained perfectly peaceful, even showing a bit of joy.

The third jade talisman recorded many powerful divine abilities, such as the Vajra Iron Bones (Heavenly Dao enhanced version), Dharma Realm Manifestation, Five Elements Avoidance Formula, Cloud-Somersault, and so on.

As a supplement, Li Changshou would also teach the monkey some combat abilities that couldn’t be determined by cultivation methods.

Such as [How to Handle Being Surrounded by Countless Warriors], [How to Quickly Sense Formation Weaknesses], [81 Small Tricks About Force Redirection in Combat], [Close Combat Instant Kill Routines].

All were precious summaries of combat experience.

Of course, these things had to be taught gradually and subtly, not directly compiled into texts.

Letting the Dao Ancestor become suspicious over such small matters would be losing the greater for the lesser.

Under the Heavenly Dao’s watch, Li Changshou began studying these three jade talismans, cultivating each method one by one, carefully comprehending and understanding, and even adding some of the ‘void-breaking’ great dao.

The imposing elder Daoist in the Purple Bamboo Grove was quite satisfied with this.

These few years, the Buddhist sect began missionary work as soon as it was established, broadly accepting disciples and appointing Bodhisattvas and Arhats.

Because the Treasure Master was originally the Senior Brother of the Severing Sect, those Severing Sect disciples who had been converted back to the Western Teaching by Sovereign Guide were no longer just restricted by the ‘dao of saving people’ and the ‘banner of guidance.’

There were still quite a few experts among them.

Especially now that the power of beings in Heaven and Earth had been downgraded again due to the Great Investiture of the Gods’ calamity. With Sovereigns not manifesting and great beings in seclusion, even Great Luo Golden Immortals dared to call themselves regional experts. Spirit Mountain’s strength could not be underestimated.

After such a roundabout path, the Heavenly Dao’s prophecy of Western prosperity was about to be fulfilled.

Those Sovereigns and Sovereign disciples who had fought back and forth—some died, some were wounded.

Worldly affairs are inconstant, the Heavenly Dao is inconstant.

Without reaching the final step, no one knows who will be the ultimate winner.

On Square Inch Mountain, Empty Bodhi revealed a peaceful smile, closing his eyes to sense the great dao of Heaven and Earth, his spirit seemingly relaxed but actually maintaining a state of constant tension.

Just hold on a bit longer—the days of retirement and rest weren’t far off.

In the tenth year after Buddhism’s establishment, the East Sea was shrouded in auspicious light for several consecutive months, with various anomalies appearing around Flower Fruit Mountain.

The demon tribes seemed to sense something, with lesser demons mostly avoiding the area of Flower Fruit Mountain, while greater demons watched the area of strongest anomalies.

There was a great formation there, concealing some unknown treasure within.

Some elder demons said that since they had discovered Flower Fruit Mountain, it had been forbidden ground, surrounded by profound dao rhythms that caused terror in those who approached.

Several messages spread among the demon tribes along with that auspicious light.

[A peerless Demon King will emerge from Flower Fruit Mountain, able to lead the demon tribes to their next glory.]

[The peerless Demon King of Flower Fruit Mountain is extraordinary, wrapped in Sovereign power from early on, likely part of a Sovereign’s calculations.]

[The peerless Demon King of Flower Fruit Mountain is a divine general cultivated by the Heavenly Court, born to exterminate the demon tribes.]

These messages grew more and more mysterious as they spread, and there were some bold ones among the demon tribes who entered the mist.

But they never returned, their soul essence dissipating like smoke.

This further stirred the demon tribes’ desire to peek, and they secretly captured several human cultivators of low cultivation to investigate inside, having these cultivators leave behind a strand of soul essence.

However, when these cultivators entered the area, their soul essence instantly dispersed.

One corpse was even thrown out, with golden characters written upon it.

[Demons retreat, do not disturb the spirit embryo.]

It was signed with a Buddhist seal. Just eight characters and one seal made all the demon experts tremble in fear.

After a brief deliberation, the demon tribes decided to temporarily avoid Flower Fruit Mountain and observe future developments.

Finally, the auspicious light at Flower Fruit Mountain flickered for one hundred and seventy-nine days.

Flower Fruit Mountain experienced several earth vein tremors, leaving the mountain apes—who had been left behind by the monkey tribe but had not yet awakened their spirit intelligence—completely bewildered.

…

The Heavenly Palace, Jade Imperial Hall.

The Jade Emperor sat quietly on his throne, maintaining this position without movement for several hundred years.

Because his heart would not submit, because of his stubborn temperament.

In truth, the Jade Emperor knew that if he simply yielded, if he just bowed his head, those chains on his body would naturally disperse, and he could freely wear white robes or yellow imperial robes again.

First in the Heavenly Dao sequence, with cultivation at Great Luo perfection, unless the Dao Ancestor directly erased him or decreed a great crime within the operating rules of the Heavenly Dao to replace the Heavenly Emperor, he could not be moved.

Why resist the teacher?

It wasn’t resistance, just some discontent in his heart over the teacher’s ruthlessness in handling certain matters.

He was the being closest to the Heavenly Dao.

His authority was granted by the Dao Ancestor, who also gave him his current position as ruler of the Three Realms.

Ruler of the Three Realms…

The Jade Emperor smiled self-mockingly in his heart, but due to the Heavenly Dao’s restraints, could not make any expression.

He was merely the Dao Ancestor’s puppet.

He didn’t know how Changsheng was doing in the Chaos Sea. He had said before that he had a way to survive in the Chaos Sea, but one still couldn’t help but worry.

Sometimes the Jade Emperor also wondered if things might be different today if Treasure Master had called for rebellion against Heaven and he, as Heavenly Emperor, had stood up to oppose the Heavenly Dao.

But…

Ultimately there were too many attachments, too many connections, and too many concerns.

Elder Brother Supreme Clarity had tried opposing the teacher, but still couldn’t separate the teacher from the primordial Heaven and Earth.

The teacher had already become the will of Heaven and Earth.

For him, the ‘spokesperson’ of Heaven and Earth’s will, to oppose Heaven and Earth would have no decisive effect, but would cause even greater calamity to befall Heaven and Earth.

It would be a great war of the Heavenly Dao overturning all beings.

Because the vast majority of beings cannot survive separated from Heaven and Earth, beings were destined to be the losers, forced to compromise with the Heavenly Dao.

Besides Changsheng, no one understood the Heavenly Dao better than he, the Jade Emperor.

He had known long ago what the Dao Ancestor would do and had seen the script of the Divine Investiture even before it began.

His crying complaints in the Purple Void Palace weren’t just because he, as Heavenly Emperor, was being stifled, and ignored by the disciples of the Severing and Development sects’ Sovereigns.

More than that, it was because he had seen too much, and wanted to change things but couldn’t, with too much bottled up in his heart.

Sometimes the Jade Emperor would even think, if Changsheng were sitting in his position, could he counter the teacher?

Of course, this was just a fantasy. He could neither decide whether to abdicate nor choose the next Heavenly Emperor.

The Great Jade Emperor, Jade Clear Boy…

How ironic.

He and the Queen Mother were originally primordial beings created by the Heavenly Dao, meant to be the executors and guardians of the Heavenly Dao’s order!

Enough, speaking of these things was useless.

Changsheng had done so much for the Heavenly Court, only to end up banished.

Changsheng was right—to be a Heavenly Emperor who protects beings, one must learn to control one’s desires, maintain sufficient rationality, and find balance between the Heavenly Dao and living beings.

Now the Three Realms were sealed, with the Dao Ancestor extending the power of the Heavenly Dao’s origin to form barriers of Heaven and Earth, sealing Changsheng, ‘the one who fled,’ outside Heaven and Earth…

He had also purified the Nine Pollution Spring before, removing the power of karmic obstacles from Heaven and Earth.

A Heaven and Earth without variables, without calamities, that could exist eternally—it had been built just like that, hadn’t it?

Laughable…

Laughable!

“Your Majesty.”

A gentle call came from the side as that kindly-faced, thin elder held his fly whisk and made a Daoist salute, saying softly, “It’s time to summon the gods for court.”

The Jade Emperor opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat lifeless, and said flatly: “Summon them.”

“Yes.”

The elder acknowledged, swung his fly whisk, and melodious bell sounds rang out from outside the Jade Imperial Hall.

Soon, streams of immortal light shot in from all parts of the Thirty-Three Heavens, transforming into civil and military officials who lined up outside the hall before walking into the great hall with lowered heads.

When the hundred proper gods had assembled, the Great White Elder beside the Jade Emperor called out, and the assembly of gods bowed to the Jade Emperor.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

“Rise, beloved officials,” the Jade Emperor said slowly, completing most of the ‘work’ of a court session.

Under the Great White Elder’s management, the duty god of Communication Hall spoke of recent trivial matters in the Three Realms, mostly general situations of seasonal changes, rain and dew, and mortal birth, aging, sickness, and death.

There were also immortals and gods presenting memorials, which the Great White Elder read one by one, selecting important matters for the assembly of gods to discuss.

The whole court session was quite lively, and efficiency wasn’t low.

The Jade Emperor would occasionally say a few more words, all about major matters related to governing the Three Realms.

Today, a military official submitted a memorial recommending several heavenly generals to formally enter the ranks of gods.

The Jade Emperor saw a familiar name among the memorials.

You Qin Xuanya.

The Jade Emperor directly said: “List General You Qin Xuanya as a fourth-rank proper god, receiving a third-rank proper god salary, with the right to command troops. Enter her into the ranks of the Combat Department gods, responsible for guarding the Moon Palace from now on.”

Many immortals and gods below were stunned.

Great White Elder beside him smiled and said: “Your Majesty, such a sudden promotion, isn’t it…”

“Oh?”

The Jade Emperor’s gaze swept to the side, and the Great White Elder quickly lowered his head.

“Are you saying my words don’t count?”

“Your Majesty forgive me, the Heavenly Court is naturally yours to command.”

“Go handle it.”

The Jade Emperor snorted, throwing the memorial onto the jade desk. “Also bestow upon General You Qin Xuanya a demon-slaying divine sword, have the Imperial Stables find several heavenly horses, and the Jade Pool bestow immortal robes and peaches of immortality.”

Minister Wood hurriedly said: “But Your Majesty, shouldn’t we give General You Qin some merits first?”

“I find her pleasing to my eye—isn’t that merit enough?”

The Jade Imperial Hall instantly fell silent, all gods holding their tongues as the Great White Elder accepted the command and hurried away holding his fly whisk.

The Jade Emperor said flatly: “Continue court business.”

The assembly of gods acknowledged the command and resumed their previous rhythm. Many immortals and gods were lost in speculation, but those who knew the truth of the matter knew this was merely the Jade Emperor expressing dissatisfaction with the Heavenly Dao while protecting You Qin Xuanya.

The Heavenly Dao wouldn’t deepen contradictions with the Jade Emperor over an ordinary Golden Immortal whose memories had been modified.

Halfway through the court session, You Qin Xuanya had already received numerous rewards and been granted a new mansion.

You Qin Xuanya was quite confused, rising to look toward the Jade Imperial Hall, wondering why she had suddenly received so many rewards, thinking of going to the Jade Imperial Hall to ask the Jade Emperor to take back his decree.

Suddenly, a seven-colored auspicious light appeared in Heaven and Earth, shining from the Eastern Heaven Gate, breaking through layer after layer of heavenly palace halls, directly striking the Jade Imperial Hall!

In the Jade Imperial Hall, the Jade Emperor’s brows furrowed tightly, still thinking it was a warning from the Heavenly Dao.

However, just as the Jade Emperor smashed the jade desk and shouted “What dares to shake Heaven’s might,” rising to begin confronting the Heavenly Dao, Thousand-Mile Eyes and Favorable-Wind Ears hurriedly came from outside the hall.

“Report—”

“Auspicious light shines from the East Sea shore, shaking Heaven’s Court and Earth’s Prison!”

East Sea?

The Jade Emperor felt slight doubt in his heart, and after carefully sensing the Heavenly Dao’s operations again, discovered this light was not a warning from the Heavenly Dao.

He had misunderstood the teacher this time.

“Investigate!”