Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 329 Wukong Descends the Mountain, the Curtain Rises

Sunrise and sunset, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.

Suddenly, the mountain forest was filled with starlight, and the figure of a monkey appeared. All 360 orifices on its body were scattered with starlight, shining brightly.

Good monkey, after countless hours of arduous training in the formation, finally achieved a divine power.

"Hahaha, I, Old Sun, have succeeded! I am a great supernatural being, revered by all in heaven and on earth."

The Monkey King laughed loudly, looking up at the sky with great arrogance.

Suddenly, Zhou Cheng's voice came from afar: "Wukong, come to the Dharma Hall to see me."

The Monkey King's expression turned solemn, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest. He hurriedly entered the lecture hall.

Upon entering the lecture hall, the Monkey King saw Zhou Cheng sitting upright on the jade platform, and immediately paid his respects.

"Disciple pays respects to the Ancestral Master! Pays respects to the Ancestral Master!"

Zhou Cheng nodded and smiled, "Your two uncles have both passed on to you the art of protecting the Dao. As your master, I should also pass on to you a fighting and winning technique so that you can protect yourself."

"The Art of Victory in Battle?"

Upon hearing this, the monkey's eyes lit up, feeling that this method was extremely profound. He immediately kowtowed and said, "Please teach me, Master!"

"My method of fighting and winning has three levels of true understanding."

"The first level teaches you to be versatile and capable of anything. All kinds of supernatural powers can be used as long as you can see them."

"The second realm teaches you to transform the Dao Fruit and borrow the Dao cultivation. Even if the heavens oppress you, you can still be as high as the heavens and no one can bully you."

"As for the final level, you must realize it yourself, and everyone's realization will be different."

The mere description of these three realms was enough to make the monkey's heart flutter with joy.

The last level was shrouded in mystery, and the Monkey King didn't bother to understand it, but the first and second levels were perfectly clear to the monkeys.

It is said that once one has mastered the first level of this skill, one will be able to roam freely between heaven and earth.

If one can learn the second level, no one can suppress him with their cultivation. It is so profound and extraordinary.

"Thank you, Master, for transmitting the Dharma!"

The monkey thanked him repeatedly, then approached and nestled under Zhou Cheng's bed.

Zhou Cheng chuckled and simply touched the monkey's forehead.

This method of fighting and winning is mysterious and profound; only a glimmer of inspiration appeared in my mind.

There is not a single word of scripture; it only says that by comprehending the profound truth within that spark of enlightenment, one can enter the first realm.

"Go on, go on, study it carefully, do not be negligent."

Zhou Cheng waved his hand, and the monkey instantly disappeared from the lecture hall.

……

Time flies, and before we knew it, several months had passed.

On this day, in the lecture hall, Zhou Chengyan preached the Dharma, which contained a thousand kinds of Taoist charm and ten thousand kinds of mysteries, presenting hundreds of millions of forms, and the disciples who listened were completely mesmerized.

Suddenly, another commotion arose. It was said that the monkey had gained some enlightenment, realizing the first realm of the initial true understanding. Overjoyed, he became so ecstatic that he jumped around wildly, oblivious to manners.

"Wukong, why are you making a scene in the Dharma Hall?"

Zhou Cheng stopped preaching and looked at the Monkey King.

The Monkey King immediately came to his senses and respectfully said, "Reporting to the Ancestor, I have heard your virtuous words and suddenly comprehended the profound mystery. I have cultivated the first realm of the Victory Strike Techniques transmitted by you. I am overjoyed. Forgive me for my sins."

"Very well, it is your destiny to be intertwined with this, so let this sermon end here."

After speaking, Zhou Cheng's figure vanished from the altar in an instant, like a dream or a bubble.

Immediately, all the disciples were dumbfounded.

Someone couldn't help but complain, "Wukong, it's all your fault for being impolite and displeasing the Patriarch. He's only been lecturing for a quarter of an hour today."

The one who spoke was a minor Confucian scholar in his previous life.

Although he was not well-known and far less famous than the philosophers of the pre-Qin period, he practiced what Confucius said about achieving benevolence and what Mencius said about upholding righteousness. He was a virtuous gentleman who sacrificed himself and was summoned by Taiwei Hua.

The other fellow disciples didn't say anything, but they also sighed.

Suddenly someone asked, "Junior Brother, what level of enlightenment did you reach in comprehending the sacred teachings passed down by the Patriarch?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong's guilty expression vanished, and he became invigorated: "It is indeed a supreme and wonderful method, called the Initial True Understanding, which has three realms. I have only comprehended one realm, yet I possess endless supernatural powers."

Someone asked curiously, "What do you mean by 'endless supernatural powers'?"

"Well, I would like to ask my fellow disciples for their guidance. You will understand at a glance."

Wukong stood with his hands on his hips, looking quite imposing.

Seeing this, a disciple of the military strategist stepped forward and said, "I have the Divine Hundred Refinements Method, which transforms heaven and earth into a furnace and uses myriad paths as craftsmen. Let's have a friendly exchange."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Great Dao flowed and commanded Heaven and Earth, capable of refining all things.

Upon seeing this, the monkey was overjoyed and exclaimed, "What amazing power! What amazing power!"

As they spoke, the monkey made a hand seal, its fingertips flashing with spiritual light, commanding heaven and earth to refine all things.

This scene left the disciples speechless with astonishment.

"Senior brother, is my Divine Craftsmanship Hundred Refinements Technique still effective?"

The monkey looked majestic and fierce, grinning with its teeth bared.

The disciple sensed the situation and discovered that his ability to command heaven and earth was being suppressed by his junior brother, and he immediately knew he was no match for him.

"Behold my Feng Hou Qi Men technique, the ancestor of all Qi Men techniques, encompassing the changes of the heavens, transforming me into a king!"

The senior brother, who looked like a Taoist priest, took a step forward. With a stomp of his foot, time and space reversed, and all things took shape.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent! Senior brother, watch my Feng Hou Qi Men technique open!"

The monkey followed suit, and with a stomp of its right foot, the mystical gate appeared, and the Great Dao followed it.

"This, this, this... Could it be the method passed down to you by the patriarch, which allows you to borrow all sorts of tricks?"

Some of the cleverer ones realized what was happening and stared at the monkey in disbelief.

Upon hearing this, the Monkey King laughed heartily and said, "Senior brother, you are wise. Our patriarch once said that as long as I master the first level of this great law, I will have immeasurable supernatural powers."

"All kinds of supernatural powers, as long as I can see them, I can use them with my hands. There is nothing I cannot do."

Upon hearing this, even the disciples present, who were all practitioners of the Golden Core Path and dedicated to cultivating their minds and character, couldn't help but let their banners flutter in the wind and their hearts be swayed by the wind.

Someone couldn't help but speak up, a sour feeling rising in their heart, secretly stirring up trouble: "Junior Brother has only been a disciple for the shortest time, yet he has been able to receive such a great technique from the Ancestral Master. Congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples present reacted in various ways, with only a very few remaining calm and composed.

"That's natural. I, Old Sun, am a spiritual being born of heaven and earth, so I am different from others. I was able to gain the favor of the ancestor and my two senior uncles and pass down the Great Law of Protecting the Dao."

The naive monkey, completely oblivious to the profound meaning of these words, remained smug, like a child receiving praise from an elder.

"Sigh... Wukong, is this the kind of supernatural power you're supposed to show off like this? If you act like this, won't your fellow disciples think that your master is being unfair?"

Zhou Cheng's voice rang out, and then all sorts of streams of energy appeared, forming a Dharma image that shone in mid-air, looking down at the disciples. "Greetings, Ancestor."

The disciples hurriedly bowed in respect.

At this moment, the monkey finally understood and quickly kowtowed, saying, "Disciple knows his mistake."

"Good monkey, now that you have attained enlightenment and your supernatural powers have been proven, go back to where you came from."

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, the monkey, who had been kowtowing incessantly, changed his expression drastically and asked in a trembling voice, "Master, are you going to expel your disciple?"

"On this journey down the mountain, do good deeds and avoid arrogance. Remember to cultivate your mind and character. Go now."

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, he waved his hand lightly, and the monkey disappeared from the spot.

Then Zhou Cheng looked at the disciple who was secretly stirring up trouble.

"It's clear you're clever and intelligent, but your heart is not pure; you scheme against your fellow disciples. Tell me, why did you say those things just now? What were you thinking?"

"Disciple, disciple..."

Zhou Cheng snorted coldly and said, "Your generation name is taken back. From now on, you are no longer a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. Now go down the mountain."

After he finished speaking, the middle-aged disciple with the Daoist name Yi Jian turned pale and hurriedly tried to explain himself, but suddenly found that his vision blurred for a moment. When he recovered, he was no longer in Taiyi Cave Heaven.

Then Zhou Cheng looked at all the disciples and said, "Although you are not my disciples, I will treat you all the same."

"That original true understanding is not transmitted in writing, nor is it established in scriptures. How could it be comprehended by ordinary people?"

"If any of you have the comprehension of Wukong, there is nothing I cannot teach you."

"Since you are cultivating, you must avoid being restless and impatient. Everyone, disperse, read more classics, cultivate your spirit and nurture your true nature, and achieve the Golden Elixir and the Great Dao of Immortality as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, the eldest disciple, the Legalist sage Yi Feizi, bowed respectfully and said, "I will humbly follow the teachings of my ancestor."

In terms of character, this former Legalist sage, now the leader of all the wise men, is of the highest caliber. He is indeed a direct descendant of Xunzi and one of the Seven Sages.

The so-called Seven Sages are the seven most influential figures among the various schools of thought.

The Confucian school occupies three positions: Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi.

Mozi, the founder of the Mohist school, and Han Feizi, the founder of the Legalist school, each occupied a seat.

The remaining two seats naturally belong to the two Taoist sages, Laozi and Zhuangzi.

“Yi Fei, I see that this monkey will bring about karma. You should take my magic weapon and go to the underworld to discuss the Dharma with Ksitigarbha for three years.”

As Zhou Cheng spoke, countless paths intertwined, creating a jade ruyi from the void, which landed in Yi Feizi's arms.

"In accordance with the teachings of the Patriarch, this disciple departs."

Yi Fei bowed respectfully, and then a golden light rose from the land, covering 240,000 li in an instant.

In the mountain pavilion, Zhou Cheng withdrew his gaze and looked at the two women beside him.

"The monkey is quite well-behaved, but it's a bit arrogant. If it's not taught properly, it will inevitably suffer in the future."

Taiwei Hua thought about how the monkey would be bound by a headband in the future, and he thought about the headband technique he had practiced when he subdued the Mind Monkey. For a moment, he felt a sense of empathy.

Yu Yun retorted, "Cultivation is like this. You can't learn it by being taught. You have to suffer yourself to know the benefits and dangers."

Taiwei Hua snorted lightly: "You'll refute everything I say, won't you?"

"Am I wrong?" Yu Yun asked seriously.

Upon hearing this, Taiwei Hua immediately fell silent.

……

Now, the monkey, after being sent down the mountain by Zhou Cheng, could no longer see the majestic Taiyi Mountain and the towering Chushi Peak, nor did he know where he was in the mountain gate. He could only weep and bow to the four directions.

After paying his respects, Wukong rode on the essence of the sun, leaping into the Sunlight Escape, and in an instant crossed the five continents and four seas, returning to Flower Fruit Mountain.

Now, the good Monkey King, upon returning to Flower Fruit Mountain, annihilated the Demon King who had occupied his homeland, trained his monkey subjects, and taught them martial arts and military strategies, but he was missing a single weapon.

“I once observed my senior brother’s Divine Strategist’s Hundred Refinements Method, which can turn the rotten into the miraculous. It is fitting that he can transform rocks and plants into precious weapons, and equip them together with my monkey grandsons.”

With this thought in mind, Wukong made a hand seal and used the clone technique to gather rocks and refine them into gold essence. In a short while, he had created eighteen kinds of treasures and hundreds of thousands of divine weapons.

This breathtaking scene filled the monkeys with joy, and they all shouted in unison, "Our King is mighty!"

Now, the monkeys and their offspring, each having obtained a divine weapon, were overjoyed and immediately began to practice.

Seeing this, the Monkey King was also very satisfied.

Just then, the monkey had a sudden inspiration, as if it had some unseen premonition.

"How strange! Could it be that I, Old Sun, am entangled in some karmic entanglement?"

As he spoke, the monkey once again used his profound skills. His double pupils of the sun and moon illuminated cause and effect, and his Qimen mental technique reflected his inner vision. He then saw a bright light shining on the shore of the East Sea, as if there were treasures there, responding to the monkey.

"Could it be that the time for a destined encounter is approaching?"

Wukong was overjoyed, but then a thought flashed through his mind: "I remember that the East Sea is the residence of the Dragon King. It would be impolite to go there rashly."

With this thought in mind, the monkey summoned General Bengba and Marshal Ma Liu, instructing them to gather rare flowers and exotic fruits from the mountains and forests as a gift to the old Dragon King.

Once the gifts were ready, Wukong used a magic spell to store them away, then rode a cloud and entered the depths of the East Sea.

That old Dragon King was indeed insightful.

At a glance, one could tell that the monkey was extraordinary. It possessed a Daoist aura that was flawless, without flaw, without birth or death, and was truly a great being. Naturally, one dared not be disrespectful and quickly summoned the dragon prince, dragon princess, and others to pay their respects.

"Immortal, you have come to visit. I, Xiaolong, have failed to greet you properly. I hope you will forgive me."

The Dragon King served tea and paid his respects without the slightest negligence.

Upon seeing this, the Monkey King felt even more pleased and laughed, "Ignorance is no excuse. I only recently returned home and had not yet settled down when I sensed a treasure awakening in the East Sea, calling to me."

"That's why I came to pay my respects to the old Dragon King and ask if there have been any unusual phenomena in the East Sea in the last three to five days?"

Upon hearing this, the Dragon King pondered for a moment and said, "In the next three to five days?"

At this moment, the old woman came forward and said, "Your Majesty, do you remember the ruler that Yu the Great used to measure the depth of the sea when he was controlling the floods?"

"You mean that piece of metal?" The Dragon King seemed to remember something and looked at the Dragon Granny uncertainly.

That measuring stick was merely a ruler used by Yu the Great to measure during his flood control efforts; what use could it possibly have?
“It is indeed that Dingzi. For some reason, it has been bathed in brilliant light and filled with auspicious energy these past few days. Could it be that it is destined to appear and encounter this saint?” Longpo looked at Wukong meaningfully.

With his cultivation level, Wukong could even perceive their telepathic communication. Upon hearing this, he quickly said, "Good neighbor, since you have a treasure that I, Old Sun, am destined to see, why not take me there to meet it? Don't be stingy."

Seeing this, the Dragon King no longer hesitated and said, "In that case, Immortal, please come with me."

The Dragon King led Wukong to the middle of the sea, where they saw countless golden rays and auspicious colors.

The Dragon King said, "Immortal, please observe."

Wukong quickly went closer and saw that it was an iron pillar, about the thickness of a bucket and more than two zhang long.

"Too thick and too long! It would be usable if it were shorter and thinner." The monkey looked it up and down and casually remarked.

But before he could finish speaking, the treasure was indeed much shorter and thinner, revealing its true form: a divine staff.

The magic staff has a golden hoop at each end, and a section of black iron in the middle. Right next to the hoop is a line of words engraved on it, which reads "Ruyi Jingu Bang" (the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff).

(End of this chapter)