Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 247: Dare not be the first in the world, and have a deep affinity with the Nine Cauldrons
Huabiao Zhenren officially accepted three disciples, namely Chongyang, whose Dharma name was Zhengwei, Zuoliang, whose Dharma name was Zhengyuan, and Niu Shengying, whose Dharma name was Zhengci.

After giving his three disciples Dharma names, the Immortal told them to go back to his mansion to rest for a while and he would call them back later.

The three of them all obeyed the order. Jiang Yuan asked Chongyang to take Zuo Liang to the mansion and find a quiet room for Zuo Liang to rest. Then he asked Red Boy to talk to Bull Demon King about becoming his disciple. From today on, Red Boy would stay in the mansion to practice.

After the three of them thanked Master Yu, they left.

The immortal turned around and went to the master's quiet room.

……

Chongyang was ordered to take Zuo Liang along the road in the mansion and find a quiet room with Zuo Liang.

Zuo Liang dressed straight and looked solemn as he followed Chongyang. He took in the sight of the palace, with its layers of deep pavilions and towers, and its pearly palaces and palaces. The indescribable quiet rooms and secluded abodes made one feel the wonder of the immortal palace.

Zuo Liang was greatly shocked. He said, "This is truly a place of immortals. I have traveled to many places in the human world, but I have never seen such a place of immortality."

Chongyang said, "This Immortal Palace was opened up by the ancestor. The ancestor has great magical powers, so the places he opened up are naturally different. Junior brother, most of the quiet rooms in the palace are uninhabited. You can choose any one. Do you have a favorite place?"

Zuo Liang asked, "Big Brother, what do you think of this?"

Chongyang pointed to various places in the mansion and said, "The quiet rooms in various places in the mansion are all different. For example, the place where I live is relatively quiet. The other places are also different. Junior brother, do you want to go and take a look?"

Zuo Liang shook his head and said, "Big Brother, I wonder if I can go with you to your place?"

Chongyang nodded and said, "I have a quiet room where I live. If you don't mind, you can live there. But the Immortal Palace is very vast. Why don't you go around and take a look before making a decision?"

Zuo Liang replied, "Thank you, Senior Brother. Just take a quiet room and practice without any other use. So you don't need to go around and look around."

Chongyang heard this and was deeply impressed by Zuo Liang's character. He bowed and said, "Junior brother, your practice is ahead of mine."

Zuo Liang shook his head and said, "Big Brother, how can I have magical powers? Compared with ordinary people, I am just more free."

Chongyang shook his head and said, "Magic power is not true cultivation. Junior brother, in my opinion, cultivation is the cultivation of the mind. You have cultivated, but I am not like this. I have never been able to find the way, so I feel irritated and it is difficult for me to concentrate. I almost go astray."

Zuo Liang asked, "What sect is this?"

Chongyang then talked to Zuo Liang about the "golden elixir". While they were talking, they went to the quiet room.

Outside the Sanxing Immortal Cave.

Red Boy was overjoyed to find the Bull Demon King.

At this time, Bull Demon King was practicing martial arts with Si King in the mountains. While the two were fighting, Bull Demon King saw Red Boy coming. He turned around, threw away his iron stick, said "Let's fight later", and walked up to Red Boy.

Qingniu was depressed, but when he saw Red Boy coming, he didn't say anything more to Bull Demon King and turned away.

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "The Holy Infant is here? I have finished talking to you."

Red Boy was overjoyed and said, "Father, I have a great affinity."

The Bull Demon King asked, "Why do you say that?"

Red Boy said with a grin, "Father, the Master has accepted me as his disciple. Now I have become the Master's third disciple. My generation name is 'Zheng' and my Dharma name is Zhengci."

When the Bull Demon King heard this, he was delighted. He had never thought that his child really had this destiny. He smiled and was about to say something, but suddenly he saw Red Boy jumping for joy and looking complacent. He stopped talking happily and asked, "Holy Infant, although the master has accepted you as his disciple, you must not become arrogant and forget to practice. This would be putting the cart before the horse and ruining the destiny."

Red Boy said, "Father, I have reflected on myself."

The Bull Demon King asked, "Holy Infant, what is the meaning of your Dharma name?"

Red Boy replied, "Master once said that my Dharma name is 'Zhengci'. Ci means to respond to the Three Treasures, be kind and frugal, and not dare to be the first in the world. Master once taught me to save the world and save people."

The Bull Demon King said: "I dare not be the first in the world. This is to teach you to be humble and restrained. Don't fight for the first place or rush ahead. You should remember it well. There is a reason why I took this as my Dharma name."

Red Boy asked, "Father, are there really so many meanings to a Dharma name?"

The Bull Demon King shook his head and said, "If it is an ordinary sect, there will not be so many principles, but the disciples of the Grand Master must have them. For example, the Buddha of Zen Wisdom is called Zhenjian, because the Grand Master knew that it was difficult to 'see', so he used this as his Dharma name. I will give you this Dharma name to teach you to take this as a warning."

Red Boy smiled and said, "Father, I know. I have devoted myself to cultivation and have been nurturing my spirit since I was young. How could I be arrogant?"

The Bull Demon King said: "This is a different time, you should remember it well and not forget your original intention. I am afraid that one day your magic power will grow and you will forget your original intention."

Red Boy asked, "Father, are you afraid that I will be like my uncle?"

The Bull Demon King pointed at Red Boy and said with a smile: "How can you compare with my dear brother? My dear brother was born in heaven and earth, and it took him several years to achieve the Golden Elixir."

Red Boy said, "My uncle is now very powerful, much stronger than before. I feel that my uncle has great magical powers. If I fight him again, I am afraid I will be defeated in less than ten rounds."

He had just finished speaking when he heard a voice beside his ear.

"Why do you praise me like this, my dear nephew?"

Red Boy looked up, and saw Sun Wukong standing on a tree, holding a peach in his hand and eating it happily.

Red Boy bowed and said, "Uncle."

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "My dear brother, when did you come here? How come I didn't notice you?"

Sun Wukong jumped down and walked to the front of the Bull King and his son. He stretched out his hand to help Red Boy up, then said with a smile: "Brother, I went to the mountain behind to pick some peaches. I wanted to see if there was anyone there. I searched for a long time but couldn't find anyone, so I went to eat peaches on the tree over there. I heard there was someone here, so I came closer. I didn't expect to hear my nephew exaggerating me."

The Bull Demon King said: "What the Holy Infant said is reasonable. My brother's magical powers are far greater than before."

Red Boy stepped forward and said, "Uncle, I was not wrong. You are very capable now."

Sun Wukong said: "Because I have cultivated my mind for a while, I have made some progress, but if you practice more, it will not be difficult for you to surpass me."

The Bull Demon King smiled and said, "Now that the Holy Infant has become your disciple, I expect that in the future, he will definitely be better than me, even if he can't win."

Sun Wukong was somewhat surprised when he heard this, and said, "Is my nephew really the son of Master's brother?"

Red Boy said, "Uncle, that's right, that's right. Master gave me the Dharma name 'Zhengci'."

Sun Wukong said: "Okay, okay, okay! In that case, my dear nephew should call me Uncle Master."

Red Boy immediately changed his words and said, "Uncle Master."

Sun Wukong was overjoyed.

A group of people were talking in the mountains and forests.

……

In the Master's quiet room, Jiang Yuan and the Master were playing chess, passing one move after another, setting up their positions. On the chessboard, the black and white dragons were fighting, the black dragon was furious, and the white dragon was majestic. The two of them were fighting fiercely on the chessboard, and they were both happy when they reached the mysterious and subtle points.

However, the real person was not as good as the master after all. After half of the game, the real person fell into a disadvantage. At the end of the game, the master won.

The master said: "The boy is very good at chess."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I don't dare to be a master to say so."

The master smiled and said, "Why not? You have really grown up now. Tell me what you have seen and heard this time."

Jiang Yuan responded, sat next to the master, and told him what he had seen and heard during his trip.

The master smiled widely and listened to what the boy said. He took out some fire dates and placed them in front of the boy to satisfy his craving.

Jiang Yuan bowed and thanked the ancestor, and took the fire date fruit for use.

The two talked for a long time in the quiet room, and mentioned that Laojun said that the immortal had a destiny with the Nine Cauldrons, and the Water Official Emperor personally showed the way.

The ancestor looked the real person up and down, nodded and said, "Boy, you have a connection with the Nine Cauldrons. When you first got the Yu Cauldron, you had some connection with the Nine Cauldrons, but it was very shallow, almost nothing. But since you got the Ji Cauldron, your connection with the Nine Cauldrons has become deep. The Qing Cauldron appeared because of the connection, but you can go look for the other cauldrons. With your connection, you will definitely find them."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Master, I don't need to look for it. As long as there is a predestined method, the artifact will appear."

The master smiled and said, "What you said makes sense. If you have the predestined relationship, the divine weapon will appear."

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, but the Nine Cauldrons have wonderful uses. I have three cauldrons, and I will benefit greatly from teaching them."

The master said, "The nine tripods have their own magical effects, each with its own wonderful use. With the three tripods in your body, nothing in the world can hurt you. Boy, let's not talk about the nine tripods for now. What sects should your three disciples practice?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, Chongyang should practice the Golden Elixir Dao. I see that he is determined not to change his mind. If I try to dissuade him, it will be bad. The Dao is at his feet. If he can cultivate it, then he should practice this Dao."

The ancestor asked, "Which sect should Zhengyuan practice?"

Jiang Yuan heard this, pondered for a long time, shook his head and said: "Master, I don't know, Zhengyuan is sixty years old and just started practicing, his roots are unstable, and his essence is prematurely ejaculated. Even if there are disciples who use golden elixirs to make up for some of his deficiencies, they still cannot make up for them. But he has a good understanding and talent. I don't know how to choose, so I will ask him later and let him choose."

The ancestor nodded and said, "How is the Holy Infant?"

Jiang Yuan said: "The Holy Infant knows etiquette, but his cultivation of mind is not as good as Zheng Yuan's. I think it won't be too late to let him cultivate his mind for a few more years before passing on the sect to him."

The ancestor said: "As long as you have an idea, you can finally become the founder of a government."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Master, I really don't have the ability to open a mansion, but I am thinking that I will open a mansion. I have some doubts in my heart. I don't know if I can open a mansion. I think I am not capable enough."

The master shook his head and said, "How can you always have such thoughts, boy? If you are not capable enough, how many people in the Three Realms dare to say that they are capable enough?"

Jiang Yuan was about to say something else.

The master said, "My boy, don't say such things anymore. You are capable enough to open a temple and become a 'master'."

Jiang Yuan had no choice but to bow and say "yes".

The master smiled and said, "This round is over. You can go and have a rest. On the way, call Zhenjian and Wukong."

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, I will go now."

Say it.

The immortal immediately left the quiet room and went outside, calling Sun Wukong and Zhenjian, and asked them to go to the ancestor's quiet room. Only then did he return to his residence to rest.

……

Time flies, and before I knew it, two or three months have gone by.

Jiang Yuan stayed in the quiet room to cultivate his nature and never went out. After more than two or three months, he came out of the quiet room.

The immortal came out of the quiet room, walked to the Yaotai, ascended the altar and sat on it. He called together his disciples and began to lecture on the great Dao.

Chongyang, Zuo Liang, and Red Boy all came in response, sat down in the Yaotai class, and waited for the immortal to start his lecture.

The Immortal originally wanted to talk about some Dharma scriptures with his three disciples, but he never expected that he had just called his three disciples, Sun Wukong, Zhenjian, and Bull Demon King, who came when they heard the voice.

Jiang Yuan looked at Sun Wukong and the other two sitting in the class. He smiled and said, "How are you going to sit in the class?"

Sun Wukong said with a smile: "Big Brother, we know that Big Brother is going to give a lecture, so we came here to listen."

Zhen Jian said: "What Wukong said is very true, elder brother, we will listen to your lecture for a while and will not disturb your disciples."

The Bull Demon King also agreed and said, "Master, we know that you are going to give a lecture, and we know that there is a wonderful method here, so we came here to listen."

Jiang Yuan heard what the three said and replied, "Two of you are Buddhas, and Niu'er is also a capable person. What I am talking about now are some Dharma scriptures, which you know. It is useless for you to listen to them."

Zhen Jian shook his head and said, "Big Brother, although we know the Dharma Scripture, there are differences when it comes from two people. Big Brother has profound magical powers, and we often have different opinions when the Dharma Scripture comes from Big Brother's mouth."

Jiang Yuan said: "If you don't mind waiting, then take a seat in the class."

Zhen Jian smiled and said, "It is our good fortune to be able to listen to our elder brother preach the Dharma. How can we complain?"

Sun Wukong and Bull Demon King both responded in the same way.

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, and asked the three people to sit down in the class, and he was ready to start the lecture.

Zhenjian and the other two walked into the class and asked Chongyang and the other two to stand up and bow to Zhenjian and the other two. After they finished bowing, Chongyang and the other two made way and gave the three leading seats to Zhenjian and the other two to sit down.

After Zhenjian and the other two took their seats, Chongyang and the other two sat behind Zhenjian and the other two.

When Jiang Yuan saw that everyone was seated, he began to lecture on the Dharma Sutra. Just as the Immortal had said, this time he was not talking about any profound scriptures, nor about some wonderful Dharma or supernatural powers. What he was talking about were nothing more than the basic knowledge of cultivation and the Dharma Sutra.

The Immortal is a Taoist immortal with profound magical powers. He has different opinions on the methods of cultivation he talked about. Therefore, whether it was a cultivator like Zhenjian or a beginner like Chongyang, they all listened with great interest.

This lecture on the Dharma lasted for three or four months.

After Jiang Yuan finished explaining the Dharma Scriptures, he did not talk about more advanced Dharmas, but left them for later use, allowing Chongyang and the other three to ponder the matters of cultivation.

After he finished speaking, he sent Zuo Liang, Hong Haier, and Zhen Jian away, leaving only Chongyang behind.

In the Yaotai, Jiang Yuan looked at Chongyang and said, "Zhengwei, I know that your cultivation is very difficult and you almost went astray. After this, you should know how difficult it is to cultivate the Golden Elixir. Are you still willing to cultivate the Golden Elixir? If you don't want to, I will allow you to cultivate in another way. But with your talent, if you cultivate the side way, you will definitely succeed easily. If you cultivate the Golden Elixir, it is hard to say whether you can succeed."

Chongyang stood up, knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said: "Master, I am determined to practice the golden elixir and will never regret it until I die. If I cannot succeed, it is my fate, and I will never complain."

(End of this chapter)