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

Chapter 343 If one is not burdened by physical form, then the Taiyi Heaven is right before one's eyes.
"Hehe, Zen Master, I was very offensive before, please forgive me. This time I will not compete with you in magical power, but in learning supernatural abilities, how about it?"

This time, Sun Wukong showed courtesy. According to Guanyin Bodhisattva, even she couldn't afford to offend this Zen master, so he must be one of the most powerful beings in the Three Realms.

"You little monkey, you're so cunning and deceitful, trying to win by relying on that fighting technique, aren't you?"

Zen Master Wuchao spoke with a smile, but showed no sign of anger.

Seeing this, the monkey was overjoyed.

The Zen master knew Sun Wukong's abilities and saw through his plans, yet he maintained this attitude, which meant there was hope.

"Since the Zen master has allowed me, old Sun, to ask for help, he must be a magnanimous person. Surely he wouldn't be afraid to compete with me, old Sun, to learn supernatural powers?"

Sun Wukong used a provocation tactic; it was very direct and made no attempt to hide his intentions.

"Very well, very well then, I will grant your request."

Zen Master Wuchao smiled and said, "Tell me how the contest shall begin?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly said, "Show me your magic power. If you can't, then I'll lose."

"Of course, I will also use my supernatural powers to show you. If I cannot use them, I, Old Sun, will accept the defeat."

Zen Master Wuchao pondered for a moment, then asked, "What if you can perform them all, or you can't perform them at all?"

"That makes it a draw, Zen Master, what do you say?" Sun Wukong chuckled.

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Wuchao laughed and said, "I'll listen to you. If we end in a draw, then you've passed the test."

"Thank you, Zen Master. Thank you, Zen Master. Please enlighten me first." Sun Wukong was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

Zen Master Wuchao laughed and said, "Good monkey, watch closely, the fire of the mind... ignites!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zen Master Wuchao exhaled a wisp of fire, which seemed to have no temperature at all. It simply floated in the air and burned, showing no divine power whatsoever.

In reality, this could not be considered a great supernatural power, but it was only after the Golden Core righteous path subdued the five people that the mind of the monkey naturally appeared.

Just like Zhou Cheng's initial appearance of a restless mind, it was a primordial Qi.

The appearance of a restless mind in early life is quite common, indicating a fiery and restless heart.

This kind of restless mind is present in almost 90% of cultivators who follow the Golden Core path.

Only a very small number of practitioners possess the special appearance of the Monkey King.

"Oh, the Heart Fire Divine Power, this is the first time I've seen it. Behold my Victory in Battle!"

Sun Wukong made a hand seal and used the "Initial True Understanding". In just a moment, a fire rose in his heart and spread from the divine palace of his heart, burning his inner world.

"what!"

Sun Wukong let out a miserable scream, and then his whole body was engulfed in blazing flames of his heart.

Those who subdue the restless mind naturally possess the ability to freely manipulate its form, transforming it into a protective divine power.

However, if one has not subdued the restless mind, then igniting the fire in one's heart will first burn one's own heart.

To subdue the restless mind, one must sever the arrogance, conceit, vanity, restlessness, and other such tendencies, thus igniting the fire within.

Conversely, when the fire in one's heart is ignited, what burns first are things like arrogance and vanity.

If you can endure it, you can cultivate a pure mind.

If one cannot endure it, then naturally one will die and perish.

"It hurts so much!"

Sun Wukong rolled around on the ground, his hands constantly making hand seals, trying to extinguish the fire in his heart.

But they can't do it. They only say that the fire of the heart doesn't burn or store external things, but only burns the heart.

The agony of burning the heart is no less than that of the tight headband; both torment people at the level of their mind and character.

"Great Sage Sun, if you can endure it, the road ahead will be smooth; if you can't, you will die. It's up to your own fate."

As soon as Zen Master Wuchao finished speaking, he used a supernatural power to disrupt the flow of time, disturbing the passage of years within the abbot's burial area around the monkey.

"Zen Master, Zen Master... save me, Old Sun!"

Sun Wukong only said that he felt his whole body was being engulfed by raging fire.

Moreover, all the myriad supernatural powers and boundless magical strength were utterly ineffective, unable to even touch that inner fire.

"How can I save you? By cutting off your heart? Then you'll just die instantly."

This inner turmoil is like a person creating trouble for themselves when there is nothing wrong in the world.

It wasn't a real flame at all; it was just that Wukong believed it to exist, that he was burning himself, and that's what burning was.

The voice of Zen Master Wuchao echoed as he watched the monkey tumble and stir up the world.

"All supernatural powers are contained within a small space."

The Zen master spoke, demonstrating his ability to make his words come true, instructing the monkey that the damage caused by its frantic struggles would not affect the outside world.

While time in the outside world is but a fleeting moment, within this formation, countless millennia pass.

The Zen master simply said he was brewing tea for himself, watching the monkey being burned by his own inner fire for who knows how many years.

The monkeys in the battle were crying out in pain.

"Bitterness is bitterness..."

Back then, the monkey was under the Five Elements Mountain, and he said that every day felt like a year.

But now, being burned by his own inner fire, he could hardly bear it for even a moment, and his consciousness gradually became clouded.

All the memories of my life since birth began to surface at once.

It was like a fleeting glance, a final dream on the verge of death.

"When I, Old Sun, was first born, how carefree and unrestrained I was... why was I lost?"

"Oh, I remember now. It turns out that I've discovered I'm not truly free. I'm still under the jurisdiction of Yama, the King of Hell, and my life and death are not in my own hands."

"Senior brothers...and Master, Uncle-Master, I regret it."

Monkey recalled his days in Taiyi Heaven and felt that those were the most heartwarming times.

And just a brief recollection made me feel that the burning pain had lessened by three points.

Then the monkey recalled completing his studies and returned to Flower Fruit Mountain.

At that time, I was very carefree.

Initially, he just wanted to live by his monkey offspring, but for some reason, he became vain and said that he wanted to subdue all the demons in the world and become a saint among demons.

That's how it happened, which led to the Heavenly Official's repeated rebellions against Heaven, ultimately resulting in the current situation.

With a headband on their head, they are no longer in control of their own lives and deaths.

"If when I see that old Buddha I can admit my mistake and not gamble or fight, and with the blessing of my master I can also find peace."

The monkey remembered some of the things that Buddha had said before he subdued him.

It was clearly a warning to him, telling him not to be arrogant, or his life would be in danger.

At that time, the monkey was only focused on staying in Luotian and did not understand the meaning behind it.

"But I am not reconciled!"

Monkeys are inherently intelligent beings embodying human spirit, and are born with a fighting spirit.

There is nothing wrong with having a fighting spirit. What is a fighting spirit? It means having the courage to resist when oppressed or exploited.

The monkey itself, however, did not cultivate its character; its fighting spirit turned into vanity and arrogance.

Now, after the monkey had mastered his skills, he was protected by a great virtuous person. Who could oppress him, and who dared to oppress him? He enjoyed a life of freedom, which is why he ended up in his current state.

"Hahaha, I, Sun Wukong, have lived a truly wonderful life. With all the gods and Buddhas around, who wouldn't envy me, old Sun Wukong? I've lived a life that's more than enough."

With his heart burning with anger, the monkey suddenly burst into laughter.

But even in this state, the inner fire that filled the monkey's entire body began to gradually die out.

All that former arrogance, conceit, and restlessness has been eradicated, leaving behind a clear and pure heart.

Thus... the restless mind has returned to its rightful place!
And then, in the divine palace of the heart, a divine ape roared, standing tall and upright.

This divine ape does not strive for fame or profit; it only does noble and righteous things and wields the power to break injustice.

This is the appearance of the Monkey King Sun Wukong's mind, a spirit of resistance!
“Zen Master, I, Old Sun, can also unleash this inner fire.”

Sun Wukong laughed heartily, opened his mouth and spat out a candle flame that flickered on and off in mid-air, which was a heart fire.

As soon as Sun Wukong finished speaking, the flow of time dissipated, and the cycle of time stabilized.

Then look at Zen Master Wuchao, who is sitting upright in a tree, brewing tea in front of him. He points to the futon opposite him and says, "Great Sage, please take a seat."

"Alright, I'll accept it without further ado."

Sun Wukong took a step forward and landed on the futon.

Then, Zen Master Wuchao waved his hand, and fragrant tea was served, landing in front of the monkey: "Please, Great Sage, taste it."

The monkey picked up the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said that his mouth was full of bitterness and had no aroma at all.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, Zen Master, this tea is terribly bitter; it's clearly not good tea."

The monkey spoke as if he were neither angry nor dissatisfied, nor did he display the previous arrogance followed by obsequiousness. It was as if two old friends were having a get-together, complaining that the other was unwilling to share something enjoyable.

However, after saying that, the monkey smacked its lips and said that there was a sweet aftertaste.

This sweetness and deliciousness were extraordinary; even Sun Wukong, who had tasted all the endless delicacies in heaven, had never tasted anything so sweet.

It's not the kind of sweet that's cloying, but rather the kind of sweetness that's refreshing, fragrant, and lingers on the palate.

"Haha, this tea is not tea, but a bittersweet drink. The more suffering a person endures, the more bitter it tastes. Conversely, the more happiness a person enjoys, the sweeter the aftertaste will be."

As soon as Zen Master Wuchao finished speaking, Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed, as the Zen Master said."

"I, Old Sun, have enjoyed every kind of blessing in my life. First, I was born into an extraordinary family, then I was accepted as a disciple of a famous master, and finally, I was ranked among the Four Emperors in heaven. I have also enjoyed the best food in the world."

"If we're talking about suffering, it's truly suffering. The suffering of seeking the Dao, the suffering of spiritual ignorance, the suffering under the Five Elements Mountain, the suffering of the Tightening Spell, the suffering of being consumed by inner fire—each one is incredibly painful."

Upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, Zen Master Wuchao laughed and said, "Great Sage, I have lost this time. Please let that holy monk pass the test."

Sun Wukong clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your kind offer."

The concession here is not a humble statement, but rather Sun Wukong's genuine belief that he is no match for the Zen Master Wuchao.

The monkey's figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

A moment later, they saw Sun Wukong leading a horse towards them, with the old monk sitting on it.

The old monk approached, dismounted, and bowed, saying, "This time, my disciple thanks the Zen Master for his teachings."

"We are from the same school, so it should be so, it should be so."

The Zen master laughed heartily, transformed into the appearance of a young man, and, holding a jade ruyi, greeted the monkey: "Chuxiu, greetings, senior brother."

Upon seeing this, Wukong was overjoyed, his eyes even reddening: "You...you are the junior brother accepted by the Patriarch, or a disciple of the other two senior uncles?"

"But I was favored by the patriarch, became his disciple, and was taught the true method of the Golden Elixir."

As Chu Xiu spoke, she simply pointed at the jade ruyi, and the golden cudgel that had been confiscated earlier reappeared.

Sun Wukong accepted the golden cudgel and was about to say something when he saw Chu Xiu walk up to Tang Sanzang.

“Holy Monk, you and I have karma from past lives, so I have come here to give you some pointers. This journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is not only important for obtaining the scriptures, but also for the journey itself.”

Chu Xiu made a hand gesture and offered a greeting.

Tang Sanzang was taken aback upon hearing this, but then, as if remembering something, he quickly asked, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. May I ask if you could impart some secrets of cultivation?"

“This… I once heard the Buddha of the Western Paradise say that there is a volume of the Heart Sutra, which contains fifty-four lines and a total of two hundred and seventy characters. It can be passed on to holy monks, and if they practice it every day, they will have great magical power.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang immediately knelt down and said, "This disciple begs to hear the virtuous words of the Buddha."

Immediately, Chu Xiu recited the Heart Sutra once and instructed Tang Sanzang, saying, "This sutra can be called the general scripture of cultivation and the gateway to Buddhahood. It must not be neglected."

"This humble monk will remember the Master's guidance."

Chu Xiu laughed and said, "There is one more thing to say to calm the holy monk: Now, let's talk about that place with its thousands of mountains and rivers, a place full of miasma and demons. If you encounter the cliff that reaches the sky, don't be afraid... Ask your acquaintance, he knows the way to the west."

After speaking, Chu Xiu rode on auspicious clouds and prepared to leave.

At this moment, he was suddenly stopped by Sun Wukong.

“Junior brother… After I escaped, I used the double pupil technique to illuminate all the worlds in the three realms, but I could not see where our sect is. Please guide me, junior brother, so that I may see our sect.”

Sun Wukong was sincere and earnest, and pleaded repeatedly.

Chu Xiu was taken aback, then pointed in a direction: "Isn't that Taiyi Heaven?"

This time it was Sun Wukong's turn to be stunned, and he couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother... why can't I see it?"

"Could it be... that the patriarch doesn't want to see me?"

Chu Xiu thought about it carefully and shook his head: "It doesn't seem so. Perhaps it's a test from the patriarch for you, senior brother. I'll take my leave now."

After speaking, Chu Xiu bowed to Wukong repeatedly, then rode up a cloud and disappeared into the horizon.

In the end, only Sun Wukong remained, looking somewhat lost.

“You little monkey, you are a treacherous person, you can’t stand the Taiyi Heaven.”

A voice rang out, and the speaker was none other than the compassionate and merciful Master of the South Sea.

"May the Bodhisattva offer some guidance?"

A hopeful look appeared in the monkey's eyes, and he quickly asked.

Then the Bodhisattva smiled and transformed into the form of the Compassionate Salvation Heavenly Venerable, saying, "A word or two can reveal the profound; why need thousands of alchemical texts? If one is not burdened by form, the Taiyi Heaven is right before one's eyes."

As soon as the words of the Compassionate One fell swoop, he rode on auspicious clouds and spiritual light, and went far away to the horizon.

"Two gods are deceiving me? Or is it that my cultivation of the mind is insufficient?"

Sun Wukong immediately felt that he had found another goal.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang, who had been kneeling and worshipping the Bodhisattva, finally stood up, looked at the monkey and said, "Disciple, help me mount my horse and continue our journey westward."

"Alright, Master, let's continue on our way."

……

The journey continued, first passing through Eagle's Sorrow Gorge to rein in the horse, then passing through Gao Village to return the wooden mother to her place, and finally to the banks of the Flowing Sand River to gather Wujing.

Thus, the five members of the pilgrimage group were finally reunited, perfectly matching the five hearts symbol.

(End of this chapter)