This monkey head was truly clever.
Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh.
Haven’t even entered the door, yet already calling out “Master,” and there was a kind of… a kind of feeling like being called “Master” in his previous life.
Stay calm, and maintain dignity.
It was merely the future Great Sage Equal to Heaven coming to seek teachings, and he was about to overturn Heaven itself—this would be perfect for teaching.
Li Changshou sat motionless, while today’s disciples responsible for patrolling the temple came forward.
These disciples were lively, two males and two females flying directly above the temple gate. The male disciples wore proper Daoist robes, and the female disciples wore light white immortal dresses, standing on either side of the flying eaves.
How could the monkey, who had spent many years in the mortal world, have seen such a scene?
Especially seeing these four immortals appear with such casual grace, the monkey’s Dao heart was extremely excited, and he repeatedly bowed to these four disciples.
These were the scholarly customs learned from the mortal world.
A female disciple smiled and said: “This fellow cultivator is quite courteous, but I wonder why you immediately called out ‘Master’ and spoke of seeking teachings. Perhaps you had a prior arrangement with our master?”
The stone monkey hurriedly replied: “Never met before, never met before, I’ve come to this precious place for the first time, hoping to become a disciple and learn immortal methods.”
A male disciple smiled and said: “Fellow cultivator, that you could reach this place shows you indeed have karmic affinity with our master. Don’t you know that in these decades, countless immortal experts wanted to visit but couldn’t even reach this doorway?
Please wait a moment while we report to our master. If the old master wishes to accept you as a disciple, you’ll naturally be allowed through this door.”
The stone monkey was overjoyed at this, understanding the meaning of these words even more clearly.
He had become a being with karmic affinity!
These four disciples maintained proper etiquette throughout, treating him courteously, and never mocking the monkey’s appearance.
After all, different races had different aesthetics, and the stone monkey didn’t find these two young immortal ladies ugly either.
A male disciple entered the temple, hurrying to report to Li Changshou that outside the temple was a thunder god-faced monkey being who said he had come to seek teachings.
“Seek teachings?”
Li Changshou deliberately put on airs, sitting cross-legged on the soft couch, and said slowly: “To reach the doorway, he must be no ordinary being. Disciple, go ask the three entrance questions, see if this monkey’s heart is sincere.”
“Yes, disciple understands.”
The disciple acknowledged firmly, then turned and hurried back to the temple gate.
This coming and going attracted the temple’s disciples to run over and watch, standing all around the walls, humans and demons mixed, each wearing elaborate Daoist robes with one or two wisps of clear energy surrounding them.
Seeing this, the stone monkey was so happy he did somersaults.
How could he not know that this world was divided into humans, demons, ghosts, and monsters, that he [should] belong to the demon category, and that many who possessed magical powers would call for slaying demons and eliminating monsters?
Seeing so many demon disciples here, he couldn’t contain his joy.
Many disciples were amused by him, whispering among themselves, asking where this monkey had come from.
Creeak—
The temple gate half-opened, and that male disciple stepped out, making a Daoist salute to the stone monkey.
The stone monkey hurriedly asked: “Has Master accepted me? Has Master accepted me?”
“Fellow cultivator, the old master said that since you’ve reached this place and have the heart to seek teachings, he’ll ask you three entrance questions to see if your heart is sincere.”
The male disciple said gently:
“Consider carefully, if you’re unsure you can think it through before answering, but if you speak nonsense, the old master will surely punish you for disrespect.”
“Understood, understood!”
“First question: Where do you come from, where is your home, and what of your parents and relatives?”
The stone monkey made a salute with both hands and quickly answered:
“I come from the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, from a place called the Aolai Kingdom, with few households around.
I have neither father nor mother, having sprung from a stone, and all over the mountains and plains are my parents, relatives, and brothers.”
“Nonsense!”
This male disciple frowned and said: “How can a being spring from stone? Could you perhaps be a primordial powerful being, a Heaven and Earth Spirit Embryo?”
Just then, a whispered voice entered this male disciple’s ear, from their master ‘Master Puti’ reminding:
“Next question.”
The male disciple was quite clever and immediately understood something, his attitude toward the monkey becoming gentler.
“You pass this question, showing no insincere heart. Listen to the second question.
Why do you seek to become a disciple? Have you heard of our master’s name before?”
The monkey smiled and said: “I seek teachings to become immortal and gain eternal life, to be free and unfettered! Before, hehe, before I had never heard of Master’s name, I just happened to wander here while seeking immortals.”
“Oh?”
The male disciple smiled and said: “There’s still the third question, which is the most crucial.
If you encounter a bottleneck in cultivation, with no hope of breakthrough in this life, would you choose to sit in meditation in the mountains continuing to cultivate, or choose to do good deeds in the mortal world?”
This question truly stumped the monkey.
He scratched his head, and looked up at the temple’s plaque, feeling the ethereal Dao rhythm of this place.
The monkey smiled and said: “I will surely gain eternal life, surely gain eternal life.”
“This question asks what you would choose if you cannot gain eternal life.”
“Good deeds and evil deeds are not my concern. If I do good, others might think it evil, better to return to being free and happy.”
“Your answer…”
The male disciple frowned and pondered for a moment, indeed receiving a second whispered message:
“Let him in, change his clothes, accept him as a disciple in the hall at noon.”
“You’ve passed these three questions,” the male disciple turned and made a welcoming gesture, “Enter. The master has agreed to accept you as a disciple. First, follow me to bathe and change into proper clothes.”
The monkey fell to his knees with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing toward the courtyard: “Thank you, Master! This disciple thanks, Master!”
Such cleverness could truly be called “refined.”
The temple’s main gate opened wide, and the disciples jumped down from the courtyard walls on both sides, forming two lines in the courtyard, temporarily stopping their discussion, each releasing their aura.
The monkey jumped through the gate, paying no attention to the ceremony, repeatedly bowing to both sides, jumping and bouncing around the courtyard, causing several female disciples to cover their mouths and giggle.
The entire temple suddenly became lively.
In the back courtyard, Li Changshou sat quietly, contemplating.
With the Heavenly Dao watching at this moment, he could no longer spare attention for romance, only focus on scheming against the Heavenly Dao.
How could he, under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao, add some variables for the monkey who was already locked in destiny?
This operation’s difficulty was truly not small.
Two hours later.
Dong dong dong dong—
The sound of wooden fish drums entered the ears, sutra-chanting disturbing the mind.
In the temple’s main hall embedded in the mountainside, disciples sat properly on both sides, chanting sutras in unison.
Li Changshou sat before the characters for “Heaven Earth,” his left hand holding a whisk, right hand holding a string of prayer beads, wearing a crane-feather Daoist band in his hair, but dressed in a hundred-patched Daoist robe.
Truly practicing both Dao and Buddha.
At the hall entrance, a furry hand grabbed the doorframe, followed by a furry head.
This stone monkey showed no nervousness at this moment, but rather a playful nature, examining ‘Master Puti’ from the doorway, seemingly wanting to verify if this was truly an immortal of eternal life.
Li Changshou remained silent as the monkey was pushed forward, immediately jumping into the hall and kowtowing to Li Changshou.
“Disciple pays respects to Master, disciple pays respects to Master!”
Only then did Li Changshou open his eyes, his expression showing neither joy nor anger, saying slowly: “You wish to take me as your master?”
“Yes, yes, disciple seeks teachings, disciple seeks teachings!”
Li Changshou asked: “Do you have a name?”
The stone monkey hurriedly said: “Disciple has neither surname nor given name, please bestow them, Master.”
Li Changshou nodded and said: “You were born with a thunder god’s face, and have a naturally suited body for the Dao, with no karmic obstacles around you and pure energy in your mouth. Though born a monkey, you have already been enlightened, deserving either a Hu or a Sun.
Thus, I bestow upon you the surname Sun.”
“Good Sun, good Sun!”
This monkey head called out repeatedly, “Please Master give me a given name too!”
Li Changshou laughed slightly in his heart.
May you comprehend the Great Dao without regret in your heart, looking down upon all while respecting yourself.
These words couldn’t be said like this, so Li Changshou only said: “This poor Daoist cultivates the way of understanding emptiness, comprehending the principle of fixing emptiness, so I’ll call you Wukong, how about that?”
The stone monkey carefully pondered: “Wukong, Wukong… Sun Wukong! I have a name now?”
Li Changshou smiled and nodded, shaking his whisk, while a male disciple came forward to guide the stone monkey to sit in a corner, thus completing the discipleship ceremony.
But the monkey quite understood propriety, kneeling and kowtowing repeatedly.
Li Changshou didn’t feel much, after all, this temple and these disciples here were all part of the environment created for the monkey’s growth—he was only responsible for giving the monkey abilities.
The rest, let the Heavenly Dao worry about it.
After Sun Wukong took his seat, Li Changshou signaled the disciples to stop chanting and began explaining the scriptures.
How could Sun Wukong settle his mind at this moment?
Although he recognized all the words coming from Master’s mouth individually, when these words came together, why did they make him dizzy, even more confusing than those old masters’ dialectal scriptures?
But Sun Wukong knew the rules and dared not disturb other fellow disciples’ cultivation, only staring with his big eyes, looking left and right, soon becoming drowsy, his head nodding like a pecking chick, his body swaying like a reed in a reed marsh.
Soon, there came the sound of “Hoo—Snore—”
Wukong single-handedly disrupted the entire classroom atmosphere.
Li Changshou almost burst out laughing inside, but maintained a serious expression outwardly, continuing to explain the scriptures unmoved.
The disciples also felt quite amused but had to maintain straight faces, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
When sunset came, Li Changshou’s form dispersed with the wind, and the disciples finally let out a breath, gathering around the sleeping monkey.
“Junior Brother Wukong? Junior Brother Wukong?”
Several male disciples exchanged glances, showing mischievous smiles, and pointed at the monkey, making him sleep even deeper.
Half a day later…
“Hmm?”
The monkey opened his eyes groggily, discovering himself hung on a large tree, the rope binding him still retaining traces of magical power.
Remembering how he had fallen asleep during class, he felt quite embarrassed. Turning his head to see this was in the temple’s back courtyard, he felt somewhat relieved.
How had he fallen asleep?
How had he dozed off?
It was normal to not keep up with the first lesson in cultivating the Dao, feeling like listening to heavenly books, but how did he…
Buzz~ Buzz buzz~
The monkey instinctively shuddered, looked up slightly, and couldn’t help but swallow.
The rope binding him was tied to the tree trunk, and just three inches from the rope was a beehive.
Why was Master’s punishment method similar to how he used to tease little monkeys?
Sun Wukong looked left and right, saw no one around, and his body swayed like a swimming fish, slipping out of the rope’s restraint and disappearing in a flash.
Just that?
Sun Wukong shrugged, sneaking back to his previously assigned quarters, but secretly worrying inside about how he could keep up with the master’s teaching pace.
…
“Sigh, being a Marshal is so boring.”
Heaven, beside the Celestial River.
A certain newly appointed Grand Marshal of the Celestial River Navy, wearing light golden armor, lay on the river embankment’s green grass, a withered grass stem in his mouth, complaining with feigned satisfaction.
Ao Yi, playing with a jade token in his hand, couldn’t help saying: “It is quite boring.”
Bian Zhuang wriggled closer, “What’s up? Brother, what position did you get promoted to?”
“Just Commander-in-Chief of the Three Thousand Worlds’ Celestial Army,” Ao Yi slowly shook his head, “not a big position, they’re having me replace Elder Brother Golden Peng.”
“Golden Peng…”
Bian Zhuang muttered, then suddenly understood: “So that’s what happened.”
“What?” Ao Yi frowned and asked.
“A few days ago, Golden Peng got drunk and said some things he shouldn’t have in public,” Bian Zhuang sighed, “This general, with his formidable abilities and vast divine powers, is solidly among the top ten experts among Heaven’s military commanders.
But he’s just a bit too arrogant.”
Ao Yi said: “General Golden Peng isn’t arrogant, he just has some unresolved grievances.”
Bian Zhuang asked: “What grievances? Hasn’t Heaven treated him well enough?”
Ao Yi started to speak but stopped, his eyes thoughtful, shaking his head uncertainly.
Bian Zhuang asked again: “It’s strange, you’re from the Dragon race, he’s from the Phoenix race. Dragons and phoenixes are mortal enemies, yet you call each other ‘Elder Brother’ and ‘Worthy Brother.'”
“I always feel particularly close to General Golden Peng,” Ao Yi said slowly, “The Dragon-Phoenix Calamity is ancient history, so long ago that there’s no lingering hatred.
I once asked the King Father… never mind.”
Ao Yi sighed softly, closing his eyes, but in his heart appeared the scene from a few days ago, kneeling before his father.
‘King Father, your child always feels something missing in his Dao’s heart, your child always feels very uncomfortable staying in this Heaven.
King Father, did something happen before…’
‘Silence, withdraw.’
Again, this result.
Ao Yi stared at the transfer token in his palm, lost in thought.
Bian Zhuang chuckled, lying there with his arm as a pillow, looking indescribably comfortable, muttering: “If only we could see Fairy Chang’e again, that would be wonderful.”
Ao Yi smiled but didn’t say more.
Meanwhile;
At Mount Mei, True Lord Erlang Yang Jian’s residence.
Nezha, who had cultivated to appear as a youth, was peeling an orange while watching the bronze mirror’s live broadcast with interest.
In the mirror were several fairies practicing dance—this was a celebratory dance that could be performed in public;
If it were for the Jade Emperor or the Peach Banquet, they naturally couldn’t rehearse in public.
Yang Jian exhaled nearby, carefully wiping his Three-Point Double-Edge Spear.
Nezha suddenly said: “Senior Brother, my murderous qi problem might be acting up lately.”
Yang Jian’s hand trembled, nearly drawing blood from his Eight-Nine Mysterious Body with the Three-Point Double-Edge Spear.
“What symptoms? This isn’t a small matter.”
“Well,” Nezha couldn’t quite explain, moving his gaze from the bronze mirror to look at the ceiling, “A faint figure keeps appearing in my heart, and from time to time, several phrases echo beside my ear.
It feels like the Demon Ancestor is calling.”
Yang Jian was on high alert, saying seriously: “Lie down, let me look with my Heavenly Eye.”
“Don’t look carelessly,” Nezha felt somewhat embarrassed, “I’m not a little kid anymore.”
Yang Jian snorted a laugh, taking out a scroll from his sleeve and placing it beside him.
His marriage agreement with a certain Dragon Palace Princess—the princess had just hatched two years ago and was sent to the Jade Pool for education, to be married in a hundred years.
The marriage was bestowed by the Jade Emperor, intending for Yang Jian to represent and restrain the Dragon race.
After careful consideration, Yang Jian didn’t refuse. He was at the age for marriage, and as long as she was virtuous and kind, he wouldn’t look down on them just because he was of pure human lineage while they were of the Dragon race.
Now, Yang Jian opened his Heavenly Eye, aiming at Nezha’s forehead to peer into his spirit platform.
Just for an instant.
Yang Jian first froze, then paled, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.
Nezha wondered: “What—”
Yang Jian moved quickly, suddenly pressing his hand over Nezha’s mouth, immediately saying: “Don’t speak, this murderous qi has already taken form. Let’s go find Master and Uncle Master first.”
Nezha didn’t understand, but Yang Jian was on high alert, picking up his spear and summoning the husky Howling Celestial Dog, heading to Mount Qianyuan with Nezha.
He had seen that floating shadow in Nezha’s heart, and suddenly remembered something Master had told him.
Heavenly Dao taboo;
One who opposes Heaven;
The taboo being who once single-handedly raised the entire Heaven but was expelled by the Dao Ancestor, the true Grand White Star.
‘Uncle Chang’!