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

Chapter 445 The Immortals Offer Gifts, the Banquet Ends

Meanwhile, the gods came from all directions and gathered at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. Before the cave, rare flowers and jade herbs exuded fragrance; ancient cypress and pine trees were adorned with garlands, all in the form of the True Man's profound magic to welcome the gods.

Sun Wukong and the others waited respectfully for the gods outside the gate of the mansion. Upon seeing the gods arrive, they all bowed in reverence, showing no disrespect to them.

When the gods arrived at the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, they saw Sun Wukong and his companions and were all somewhat surprised by their imposing presence.

Sun Wukong wore a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, bound in golden chainmail, and shod in lotus-silk cloud-walking boots. His body was like black iron tempered in fire, and his eyes shone like golden lamps illuminating the sky. He wielded the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel), his arm outstretched like a monkey's, its tendons bulging like dragons coiling around a pillar; his golden eyes darted about, their light shooting like lightning splitting through layers of clouds. One could vaguely glimpse his madness, looking down upon the three realms.

Many of the immortals who had experienced the "Havoc in Heaven" in this sect couldn't help but recall the scene from years past, which made them feel cold and flustered, and they dared not look around.

In the blink of an eye, he saw Pigsy, his nine-foot-tall bear-like body standing like a mountain, his black mane and steel beard pointing to the sky. He wore a black gold chainmail armor, and a brocade robe with coiled dragons hanging from his belly. He dragged behind him a golden rake with nine teeth that gleamed with icy light. In his days as Tianpeng, he did not possess such imposing power. Now, cultivating in the True Man's mansion, his cultivation has truly made great progress.

They then saw the Bull Demon King, and indeed, with his men by his side, he was quite imposing and formidable.

The gods were astonished and secretly praised the immortal's wondrous methods. Everyone in the mansion exuded considerable power.

At the head of the group of gods, Laozi stepped forward.

Sun Wukong bowed deeply and addressed him as 'Laojun'.

Laozi laughed and said, "You little monkey, why are you so respectful? Judging from your appearance, you look like you're about to cause a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace again and knock me head over heels. Your respect makes me feel uneasy."

Sun Wukong said with a smile, "Back then, I was ignorant and made many mistakes. Please don't tease me, Laozi. Now that I'm here to protect my senior brother, I should put on a show of authority."

Laozi laughed and said, "Is that so? I won't make things difficult for you. Show me the way, and I'll go see Guangxin."

Sun Wukong then pointed at Wang Chongyang and the others, saying, "My two junior disciples, why don't you come and lead the way quickly?"

Wang Chongyang and Red Boy then stepped forward, bowed to Laozi and the other gods, and said that they would guide them on their path.

The gods readily agreed and asked Wang Chongyang and Red Boy to lead the way.

The two received the order and headed into the mansion, followed by the assembled gods. Seeing the two men calm and composed, and noticing that Wang Chongyang's mind was beginning to settle and his will was about to be tamed, the gods were secretly astonished. The disciples of the True Man were truly remarkable.

Many of the gods in the past had seen Zuo Liang’s demeanor; he was already a rare true cultivator. Recently, many people in the Three Realms have also heard of the name ‘Zheng Yuan’.

Now there's Wang Chongyang, who cultivates the Golden Elixir, and Red Boy, who is full of spirituality.

The master had three disciples, all of whom were exceptionally talented.

Before long, the two led the gods to the pavilion in the mansion. There, they saw the immortal had set up a table on the pavilion. He stood at the head of the table, his spirit focused on the vast emptiness, his demeanor profound and majestic. When he saw the gods arrive, he bowed and said with a smile, "We are grateful to the immortals of the heavens for not abandoning this desolate place and for their gracious descent."

The gods returned the greetings, congratulating the True Man on opening his residence and further celebrating his attainment of great magical power.

The immortal then instructed Wang Chongyang and Red Boy to invite the gods to take their seats, arrange the seating for each class, and prepare a banquet. The gods were solemn and followed their respective class order.

When the immortal saw that the gods had taken their seats, he apologized to them and sent Wang Chongyang to invite Sun Wukong and the others to take their seats. He then personally left his seat to invite the patriarch to take his seat.

When the Patriarch arrived, the True Man humbly declined, allowing the Patriarch to take the seat of honor. The Patriarch then declined the offer and allowed the True Man to take his seat, and only then did the banquet begin.

The banquet began, and the various deities were seated, passing around wine cups, adorning themselves with flowers, and playing zithers, enjoying themselves immensely. Auspicious light swirled around them, thousands of colorful rays shone, and the air was filled with the fragrance of jade, as phoenixes and luan birds sang in harmony. Everyone was delighted with the gathering. It was truly a scene of 'fragrant incense as immortals gathered, peace and tranquility within the palace to celebrate the True Man.'

Halfway through the banquet, suddenly a celestial being sent by the Jade Emperor appeared outside the mansion. The celestial being carried a treasure box and said that this was the Jade Emperor congratulating the Immortal He. Inside the box were peaches of immortality, described as "half red, half green, exuding a sweet fragrance, their beautiful immortal roots having lasted for ten thousand years. Their purple veins are delicate and rare in the world, their yellow pits are sweet and unparalleled." Truly a treasure!

The immortal, deeply grateful for the Jade Emperor's kindness, was followed by a celestial maiden, fairy spirits, beautiful women, and hairy maidens who arrived at the banquet. Some sang, others danced. It was a scene of 'beautiful celestial music and melodious songs, with the high-pitched sounds of phoenix flutes and jade pipes.'

After the celestial being finished standing, he immediately moved to the side, not daring to disturb him.

Then Laozi presented a congratulatory gift, which was a treasure gourd filled with "Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pills." If an ordinary person obtained one, they would ascend to immortality in broad daylight; it was an elixir of immortality.

The immortal gladly thanked Laozi, bowed deeply, and addressed him as 'teacher'.

Then the Queen Mother of the West appeared, presenting a jade box containing a thousand-year-old treasure fruit, its purple glow reflecting the power of immortality.

The real person then expressed gratitude.

The four Dragon Kings of the seas arrived together, with the East Sea offering a bright pearl that illuminated the small room; the West Sea presenting coral that reflected the jade steps; the South Sea offering silk that was as thin as smoke; and the North Sea offering black ice that was cool and refreshing to the bone.

The Five Sacred Mountains Emperors received the essence of the mountains, and auspicious clouds filled the sky.

The Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi presented ginseng and immortal fruit.

The Big Dipper Star Lord presents the celestial globe, which rotates in mid-air, reflecting the light and darkness of the four seasons.

The Barefoot Immortal offered pears and countless jujubes as a token of his respect.

The River God and Water Official presented the Nine-Bend Mysterious Pearl, its shimmering light reflecting off the grotto.

Immortals from the ten continents and three islands offered countless rare flowers and herbs, and fine wines and elixirs.

The immortal bowed to each of the gods in gratitude for their kindness. He then noticed that Zuo Liang had arrived at some unknown time, and offered him some rare treasures. The immortal accepted them with a smile and asked him to take a seat.

……

I knock on the gate of mystery, seeking the Way time and again, through countless springs and autumns. Fungi sprout from withered pines, stones are boiled into porridge, how many seasons have passed? My sleeve holds Kunlun Mountain, my pot contains the Milky Way, the red pine claps its hands and laughs. In a single moment, water and fire are in harmony, dragon and tiger unite, instantly freeing me from the prison of life and death. Enlightenment brings me to roam the eight directions and six realms, all obstacles vanish into the nine netherworlds and three evil paths.

This banquet lasted for seventy-eight days before it finally came to an end.

After the gods finished their work, they bid farewell to the True Man and departed in order, returning to their Heavenly Palace to perform their duties. Only the Supreme Lord Laozi remained in his residence.

Within the pavilion, only the True Man and Laozi remain; the Patriarch is still alive.

Looking at the transcendent aura emanating from the True Man, Laozi exclaimed in admiration, "Guangxin is a true cultivator. For countless eons, no one has attained great magical power. Now you have great magical power, and all the gods worship you. Throughout the Three Realms, everyone knows your name, and no one dares to obstruct your decrees."

Jiang Yuan, who was in a lower position, first bowed to the ancestral master, then bowed to Laozi, and said, "It is all thanks to my master and teacher. This disciple dares not claim to have made great contributions."

The Supreme Lord Laozi pointed to the True Man, looked at the Patriarch, and smiled, "Bodhi, your disciple has now attained great magical power, why are you still so humble? It was fine if your magical power was shallow in the past, but now you have great magical power, which is different from before."

The Patriarch smiled and said, “When he attained enlightenment in his early years, I saw that he still had the appearance of a child, so I knew that this was not something that could be easily transformed. Now, with great magical power, he still has the appearance of a child.”

The True Man smiled and said, “Master, Teacher. A pure heart should endure forever. Is there an end to the Way? No, the Way is endless. Therefore, I dare not slacken my efforts. Whether I attain the Way or gain great power, I will never slacken my efforts.” Laozi stroked his beard and nodded, smiling, “Bodhi, it is truly your good fortune to have such a disciple to carry on your mantle.”

The patriarch smiled and nodded.

Laozi then said, "Guangxin, Sun Wukong and the others are waiting for you in the Jade Terrace of the Cave. You may go there, and I will talk to Bodhi here."

The True Man naturally accepted the order, paid homage to the Patriarch and Laozi, and then departed from the pavilion.

Seeing the immortal leave, Laozi turned around and smiled, saying, "Bodhi, your disciple's skills have greatly improved. What do you think?"

The patriarch laughed and said, "My child's skills have improved greatly, and I am delighted. What else could I possibly feel?"

Laozi said, “Now the Dharma of Guangxin has spread throughout Xiniuhezhou. The Buddha’s teachings are gradually being taught there, but the matter of Kinnara has never stopped. If Kinnara reappears, Guangxin will surely be implicated.”

The Patriarch shook his head and said, "Guangxin has always been among them. Ever since Kinnara appeared on the westward road, Guangxin has been fighting against him. Furthermore, Wukong, if you really see that they are all connected with Mount Ling, if Wukong and the others suffer, given your nature, you will surely show yourself to help them."

Laozi pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "What you say makes some sense."

The Patriarch smiled and said, "I know your abilities, boy. Kinnara will not amount to anything and is no match for you. If you need to worry, you should worry about him becoming your master in the next kalpa."

Laozi said, “I have thought about this matter. After he has finished establishing his residence, I will take him to meet the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, and others. But before that, Bodhi, you should tell Guangxin the details so that he does not know about this matter.”

The Patriarch said, “I will explain this matter to him myself, so Laozi can rest assured.”

The two talked in the pavilion.

……

Meanwhile, at the Jade Terrace, Sun Wukong and his companions arrived, along with Wang Chongyang, Zuo Liang, and Red Boy.

Sun Wukong sat in the classroom and said, "I didn't expect so many immortals and gods to come. How did such immortals and gods descend to the mortal realm? I have spent some time in the Heavenly Palace and know that they each have their own duties and do not usually descend to the mortal realm."

Pigsy said, “Brother, you don’t know this. It must be His Majesty’s grace that so many immortals and gods have descended to the mortal realm. Moreover, His Majesty also sent celestial beings to offer congratulations. Your influence is truly remarkable.”

Sun Wukong nodded, having also understood the reasoning behind it. He then asked, "During the banquet earlier, did you all see the Manifestation Saint True Lord?"

Zhenjian said, "Of course you can see it. The seventh one on the left is the Manifestation Saint True Lord. The True Lord has an extraordinary bearing and is very easy to spot. Junior Brother, have you not seen him?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Of course I saw it, but did you all see it? Behind the Manifestation Saint True Lord, there is a woman who seems to be quite accomplished in her cultivation."

Pigsy said, "Brother, why are you so concerned about who's behind that True Lord? Could it be that Brother Monkey, having lost his virginity, has been tempted by worldly desires?"

Sun Wukong glared at Zhu Bajie and said, "You idiot, what nonsense are you talking about? If I'm not mistaken, the woman behind you is the Third Holy Mother."

Pigsy was startled and said, "Then how come the Third Holy Mother is at the master's banquet if she isn't at the foot of Mount Hua?"

Sun Wukong said, "This must be the Manifestation Saint True Lord, who, through his merits, obtained permission from His Majesty the Jade Emperor to pardon his sins and release the Third Holy Mother. Judging from the appearance of the True Lord, he does not seem to have left the mountain. He must have gone to the back of the mountain to meet with Chenxiang."

Pigsy said, "Chenxiang is seeing his mother? Brother Monkey, why aren't you watching over him? What if something goes wrong?"

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "You fool, how can you say such things? That Manifestation Saint True Lord is Chenxiang's uncle, and the Third Holy Mother is his biological mother. How could anything go wrong? You are just talking nonsense here."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy also felt that what Sun Wukong said made sense. If the matter of his family were to truly pass by, it would be better not to say anything more, so he simply stopped talking about it.

He peeked over and saw Wang Chongyang and the other two talking about when the first disciple of the True Man's academy would arrive.

Pigsy stepped forward and said with a smile, "Why are you talking about this? If you have such doubts, why don't you ask the master? The master here has become a great master, he must know the truth about this."

Wang Chongyang and the other two looked at Zhu Bajie, about to say something.

Suddenly a sound came from outside the Jade Terrace.

"Those who are destined to follow the Dharma will come and see the Three Star Immortal Cave, which is located within a small space. But those who are not destined to follow the Dharma will not be able to come, no matter how much time passes. There is no need to force it or ask any questions."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards the outside of the Jade Terrace, and there they saw the Immortal approaching. They all rose and bowed in respect to welcome the Immortal.

The master walked up to the high platform, waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, please take your seats."

Sun Wukong and the others took their seats in accordance with the decree.

The Master smiled and said, "When I opened my mansion, I was overwhelmed with other matters and troubled you all to protect me outside the mansion. I am especially grateful to you all for entertaining the gods for me."

Sun Wukong and the others bowed respectfully, saying that this was what they should do and that the immortal need not express his gratitude.

The master said, “I must thank you for this. I have received many congratulatory gifts, including some precious treasures. Is there anything you need? If so, please just say the word, and I will give you the treasures.”

How could Sun Wukong and the others dare to accept such a gift? They all shook their heads, saying they did not need any treasures.

Upon seeing this, the immortal smiled, took out some treasures from his sleeve, and distributed them to everyone.

Seeing that the master's mind was made up, the crowd dared not disobey and had no choice but to accept the gift, bowing to the master repeatedly.

The master waved his hand, telling everyone not to stand on ceremony, and then looked at Yu Zuoliang and said, "Zhengyuan, you have traveled a long way to congratulate me, which makes me very happy."

Zuo Liang stepped forward and said, "Master, it is already a great sin for me not to be here to help you when you open your residence. What is a little trouble I have gone through today? Your disciple, Zheng Yuan, is here today to congratulate you on opening your residence!"

The master smiled and said, "I know your intentions. Now that you've come to my residence, you should rest here for a while."

Zuo Liang responded, "Disciple will obey Master's decree."

The master was about to say something more when he suddenly felt something, looked outside the mansion, and said, "Wukong."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and said, "Eldest Brother, I am here."

The True Man said, "The Manifestation of the Holy True Lord outside the mansion is coming, accompanied by the Third Holy Mother and Liu Chenxiang. Bring them here, and I will wait here."

Sun Wukong responded and left immediately.

(End of this chapter)