Mythology

Chapter 450 Sun Wukong Pays Respects to His Master (Part 2)

"Hehe, I've been at sea searching for immortals for over ten years, and only now have I seen this otherworldly paradise. I suppose there must be some secret to immortality inside."

The monkey was emaciated, but its fur had a strange sheen, and its eyes shone brightly, clearly indicating that it was not an ordinary creature.

He squatted on the swaying raft, scratching his head and gazing at the distant fairy mountain.

He felt that the mountains were majestic, and the magnificent buildings were shrouded in golden waves of mist. The flying eaves and brackets were all wonders he had never seen before in his life.

Suddenly a beam of light swept across the top of the immortal mountain, startling him so much that he hurriedly ducked.

The monkey then noticed an ancient tree seven or eight meters tall on the mountaintop. Although it appeared to have intertwined roots, its branches were withered and dry. The light it had seen earlier was actually the constantly falling leaves.

"I wonder if there are any fruits on the tree; they must taste incredibly delicious, hehe."

The monkey couldn't help but shake the raft, splashing water that soaked its coarse cloth clothes.

The hunger that had lasted for three years was dispelled by the sudden excitement.

The sea in Xiniu Hezhou is vast and boundless, but devoid of any life. Even the monkeys, being a different species by nature, almost died of starvation on the journey.

"Immortal, your disciple will ascend the mountain immediately!!"

Just as the monkey was about to row the raft, a melodious, ethereal tune drifted into its ears.

"kindness?"

He turned his head sharply and immediately discovered that on the other side of the sea, an even more magnificent fairy mountain had appeared.

Compared to the misty fairy mountain, the suddenly appearing mountain range seems to be suspended in mid-air.

Above, the sky is shrouded in mist and clouds, the sun and moon shine together, the old cypress trees are as vigorous as dragons, the bamboo is lush and verdant, and the pavilions and towers appear and disappear in the mist.

More importantly, the mountains are full of peach trees, and you can smell the fragrance of the fruit from a long distance.

The monkey swallowed hard, its mouth watering.

"I've been searching for immortals for over ten years, risking my life, but either I never find an immortal mountain, or two immortal mountains appear at the same time. How can I choose?"

The monkey's nostrils twitched, subconsciously inhaling and exhaling yin energy.

The second immortal mountain was more tempting to the monkey, but his spiritual eyes flashed with light, and in an instant, the true names of the two immortal mountains flooded his mind.

'Fangcun Mountain'

'Myriad Transformations Heaven'

The monkey grinned, revealing a set of sharp, white teeth.

"No mountain is as vast as the sky; the immortals in the Myriad Transformations Heaven must be first-rate."

Before he finished speaking, the monkey plunged into the sea, its agile body breaking through the water's surface as it swam swiftly towards the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Dao Field.

The seawater was unusually warm, as if it were alive, supporting his body.

The monkey swam faster and faster, leaving a long trail of water behind it, completely unaware of the strange changes occurring on Fangcun Mountain.

Dark clouds loomed over Fangcun Mountain, shrouded in mist and haze, distorting the light.

The lush vegetation on the surface of the fairy mountain began to stir, the peach tree branches oozed viscous sap, and scarlet cracks appeared between the bamboo segments, from which countless pupils emerged.

The magnificent pavilions and towers, now resplendent in gold, seemed to rise and fall slowly as if they were alive.

Fangcun Mountain seems to have come back to life.

Gurgling.

Strange sounds came from the seawater, and the distance between Fangcun Mountain and Wanhua Heaven was getting closer and closer at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The once ethereal clouds have now transformed into clumps of fleshy mist, occasionally coalescing into numerous blurry human faces.

Just as Fangcun Mountain arrived within a hundred miles of Wanhuatian.

"Ugh."

Yang He's figure appeared in mid-air above the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Dao Arena, gazing helplessly at Fangcun Mountain.

He is the true form descending into the world of legends. Currently, the Cave Heaven Immortal Court is at the key stage of deep integration and cannot move the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Dao Field even half a step.

Blood and Flesh Taoist Temple, Twenty-Four Heavens, Qianyuan Mountain, Ten Absolute Cities.

It is changing all the time.

Yang He had tried his best to conceal his aura, but alas, his luck was not on his side.

His gaze fell on the monkey. Even though the senior brother had not yet entered the path of cultivation, he had unintentionally absorbed yin energy and had already reached the Condensation Realm. However, he did not possess supernatural powers and could not exert his strength.

"What kind of situation is this? I just want to quietly go into seclusion."

When Yang He felt even a slight malice towards the monkey, his spiritual vision suddenly surged by thousands of points, like he was dancing at a disco. If nothing unexpected happened, there was probably a large part of the Blissful World behind the monkey.

He could only watch helplessly as the monkey was about to step into the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Dao Arena.

Fangcun Mountain is still approaching, and the surrounding seawater has been tinged with scarlet, while a full moon appears on the ridge of the mountain in the clear blue sky.

The full moon, like an eyeball, spun around haphazardly.

Yang He is definitely no match for Bodhi Patriarch. Just by looking at Fangcun Mountain, it's clear that Bodhi Patriarch is not the immortal he was in the original work.

"There's no other way; preserving the existing resources is the only option for now."

He really didn't want to risk his true form. Either he would voluntarily give up the deep fusion, leaving the Celestial Court with no further opportunities, or...

They forced Fangcun Mountain to retreat.

"Come on, come on, I can also use someone else's power to bully others."

Yang He took a deep breath and took the initiative to communicate with the Heavenly Dao through the Myriad Transformation Tree. That's right, he decided to reshape the entire Daoist temple according to what Laozi said.

The first thing I need to do is sever my connection with the Way of Heaven.

The necessary condition for severing ties is communication with the Way of Heaven.

boom! ! !
When Yang He faced the Heavenly Dao Tree again after more than seven hundred years, his spiritual vision began to surge at a rate of tens of thousands per breath, and he was unable to extricate himself from it.

In his mind, he saw a thick, black swamp, like asphalt.

The Heavenly Tree was half-submerged and half-floating in the swamp. Its thick trunk was covered with cracks, the patterns of which did not resemble the natural cracks of bark, but rather looked like countless painful human faces pressed together.

The fruits that were originally hanging on the branches have rotted and spoiled. The fruits, which represent evil spirits in the world, are now swollen and black, with honeycomb-like holes on the surface, and white maggots can be seen wriggling inside.

Yang He suppressed his nausea and drew out the aura of the Heavenly Dao.

His consciousness was about to be overwhelmed by facing the Heavenly Dao. Before losing consciousness, his eyes were fixed on the monkey. "Senior Brother went out to seek immortality and cultivate, which is why Fangcun Mountain looks like a blessed land. Damn it!!"

"If I do the opposite and make the dojo look evil and heretical, my senior brother should back down and leave the Myriad Transformations Dojo."

Yang He simply didn't have the energy to befriend Sun Wukong, the legendary figure who descended in his true form. Therefore, offending the Buddhist monk would be tantamount to courting death.

"Brother Monkey, go to the Cave of the Crescent Moon and Three Stars, but whatever you do, don't come here!"

Yang He was fortunate that, under the erosion of the Heavenly Dao, the Myriad Transformation Tree had already shown some abnormalities. Even though it was not raining nearby, asphalt-like water droplets kept falling from its branches.

The Myriad Transformation Tree appears to be in a state of semi-living.

Fangcun Mountain, however, stopped and paused for a few moments before reluctantly disappearing into the sea.

Yang He glanced at the spiritual vision and realized that Fangcun Mountain had not completely given up, but he could no longer attend to both. Then, his true form disappeared from the dojo.

.........

The monkeys were swimming enthusiastically, completely unaware of the strangeness of Fangcun Mountain.

Or rather, Fangcun Mountain is intentionally concealing its own eeriness.

suddenly.

The monkey felt a chill run down its calves. Looking down, it discovered that a large number of twisted and hideous ghostly figures were floating in the sea.

The ghostly figures stared with gaping eyes, their hair swaying like seaweed, silently gathering together—they were all water ghosts.

"hiss!!"

The monkey gasped, scratching its ears and cheeks, and said, "Did I accidentally stumble into the King of Hell's palace while I was out at sea searching for immortals?"

"Impossible, how could I be mistaken..."

The monkey looked up at the sky, where dozens of lanterns shaped like human heads floated and drifted into the clouds.

"How strange! Where did these lantern heads come from?!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud crash occurred.

A huge mound rose from the sea, and a ghostly head, several meters tall, rolled over, its face covered in barnacles and its tongue covered in octopus-like suckers.

The monkey quickly covered its mouth, thinking to itself, "What bad luck! If this disturbs him, he'll probably make a feast out of me!"

Upon closer inspection, human head lanterns were still popping out of the ghost head's ear holes.

"They look like they escaped from the underworld!"

The monkey swam forward with gritted teeth, only to find the seawater becoming increasingly murky, with countless white bones scattered beneath the surface.

His heart pounded with anxiety: "Could it be that I've stumbled into the lair of some demon? I'm seeking the secret to immortality; I don't want to lose my life."

The monkey had already begun to regret its actions, but returning the way it came was clearly not a realistic option.

The raft disappeared without a trace, and the seawater in Xiniuhezhou had a kind of bewitching quality, causing the monkey to feel its body temperature continuously decreasing.

If they don't come ashore soon, they may end up as skeletons at the bottom of the sea.

A moment later, the monkey carefully climbed ashore, shivering and soaking wet.

A majestic city stands atop Qianyuan Mountain, with black walls and red tiles, and the words "Ten Absolute Cities" on the city gate plaque gleam with an eerie light.

"My goodness!"

The monkey fell to the ground with a thud; it had been more than ten years since it left Flower Fruit Mountain.

He spent eight years in Jambudvipa, but unfortunately he did not have the chance to meet any immortals. After that, he traveled to the Western Ocean on a raft and stayed there for several more years.

At this point, the monkey's every move already resembled that of a human.

"This is no blessed land of immortals, it's clearly the City of Fengdu, the capital of Yama, the King of Hell!"

A foul wind wafted through the city, and countless dark figures could be vaguely seen scurrying across the city walls. The monkey was about to retreat, preparing to rebuild its raft and escape, when it heard a chanting sound carried on the wind, though the voice was that of a cat meowing.

Meow meow meow, meow meow meow.

The monkey understood and couldn't help but read a couple of lines, "When Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound Prajnaparamita..."

The cat's meows, clear and melodious, clashed sharply with the eerie scene.

Curiosity took hold of the monkey, which followed the sound.

He turned a corner and saw a large, jet-black cat sitting cross-legged on a blue stone.

The cat was wearing a kasaya, with Buddhist beads around its neck, and five-colored divine light flowing around its body. A precious artifact was hovering above its head, and it was chanting scriptures with its eyes closed.

"How strange! How strange!!"

The monkey couldn't help but jump out, "Greetings, Fox Fairy!!!"

He was born a different species, and with a flick of his spiritual eyes he knew that the black cat had noticed his approach, but he still did not show any malice.

The black cat slowly opened its eyes, its golden pupils seeming to shimmer with starlight. "Monkey, you have trespassed into the Myriad Transformations Heaven. Do you know where this place is?"

Yang He occasionally communicates with the black cat and can understand its meaning, but he thinks that the cat's meows are no different from those of an ordinary raccoon dog.

To the monkey, the black cat's words sounded solemn and dignified, inspiring a sense of awe.

The monkey had long forgotten the demons and monsters he had encountered along the way. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I have come seeking immortality and the Dao. This disciple sincerely wishes to join the immortal sect..."

When the words "Immortal Sect" were mentioned, he couldn't help but look around.

The ground trembled slightly.

The monkey's ears perked up as it noticed a four- or five-meter-tall insect-like creature crawling out from behind the hillside. The creature had eight spider-like limbs, but its abdomen was covered with a colorful human face.

"Mom!"

The monkey turned pale with fright and tumbled into the grass.

The black cat grinned, its dignified appearance instantly crumbling. Then it opened its blood-red maw, revealing a mouthful of serrated fangs.

"Meow!!"

Right in front of the monkey, the black cat swallowed the insect ghost whole.

Click click click.

The black cat chewed loudly on purpose, swishing its tail triumphantly.

The monkey covered its head and retreated repeatedly, crying out, "It's over! I'm going to die here today! What kind of fox spirit is this? It's clearly a man-eating demon!"

The black cat licked its paws, its robe stained with blood.

He narrowed his eyes and said in a mocking tone, "Little monkey, explain carefully why you sought out the immortal sect, or I'll eat you up."

The monkey hesitated for a moment, then scratched its head and asked, "I have traveled through mountains and rivers for over a decade, hoping to find a way to achieve immortality. I wonder if such a magical technique exists in the Myriad Transformations Heaven?"

"Meow meow meow meow~~"

The black cat laughed loudly, its fur trembling all over, and it even rolled on the ground, revealing its white belly.

The monkey was bewildered by the black cat and could only stand there nervously.

The black cat finally stopped laughing and stood up after a long while, a strange light flashing in its golden eyes.

"Immortality?"

The black cat licked its paws and said in a sarcastic tone, "There is no way to live forever in this world. My master mentioned that simply living a long life is useless; one must have sufficient cultivation."

The monkey shook his head. He sought the way to immortality not only for himself, but also for the monkeys and their descendants on Flower Fruit Mountain.

Rather than pursuing profound cultivation, he desired to obtain the method to benefit Huaguo Mountain.

The black cat mimicked Yang He's disdainful tone, deliberately overhearing Yang He's murmurs, "Immortality? Does living to ten thousand years count?"

I think...yes!

The monkey hesitated for a few moments, then counted on his fingers the two or three hundred years he had spent on Flower Fruit Mountain. Ten thousand years was dozens or even hundreds of times longer, enough to make him carefree and at ease.

The black cat began to boast about what it had seen and heard, asking, "Do you know about the Peach Garden?"

"There are three types of flat peaches. The flat peaches in the front area have small flowers and small fruits, but eating one can extend one's life by five thousand years. The flat peaches in the middle area have layers of flowers and sweet fruits, which can extend one's life by more than ten thousand years."

"The peaches at the very back..."

The black cat watched the monkey swallow hard, then pointed to the top of its head and continued, "What's the difference between extending one's lifespan by tens of thousands of years and achieving immortality? I'm afraid even just smelling it would extend one's lifespan by a thousand years."

"Yes, yes, yes! The Tanuki Fairy is right!"

The black cat became somewhat smug, "When we reach the western part of Heaven..."

"Uh."

Black Cat had intended to mention the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Banquet, but perhaps because it involved decades later, an invisible force brought his words to an abrupt halt.

"Then...then, Immortal Tanuki, where is the Peach Garden?"

Monkeys are naturally drawn to peaches, so how could they resist the urge?

"in the sky."

"It seems I'll be able to eat immortal peaches after I become an immortal! How wonderful!!"

The monkey danced with joy, its brows full of anticipation.

"What are you thinking about?"

The black cat spat out the worm-demon bone fragments stuck between its teeth, saying, "Even if the peaches are ripe, it's not for a little monkey like you to enjoy."

"That……"

"Just snatch it!"

The monkey was overjoyed. Even though he had studied in the mortal world for many years, he was still not enlightened. He couldn't help but remember the great truths the black cat had taught him.

Of course, he thought that if he was invited after becoming an immortal, he would go and taste the peaches of immortality, and bring some back to Flower Fruit Mountain to reward his monkey grandchildren.

If I don't get an invitation, well, there's no rush to try again.

at this time.

The ground trembled violently, and the monkey stumbled and nearly fell.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding vegetation withered and rotted, turning from emerald green to gray-black, with foul-smelling pus and blood oozing from the branches and leaves.

"Come with me! My master has given you permission to come up the mountain!!"

Upon receiving Yang He's telepathic message, the black cat leaped towards the mountain peak with a flick of its tail.

The monkey followed closely behind. Its cultivation level was only at the Condensation Realm, but its physical body was already very close to that of a True Immortal. The cat and the monkey passed through the Ten Absolute Cities.

The city gate with its black walls and red tiles is deformed, and black water flows between the gaps in the bricks and stones.

The monkey had never seen tall buildings before and couldn't help but stare at them repeatedly.

The black cat didn't even turn its head: "Come quickly!"

Turning the ridge, the majestic Taoist temple stands tall amidst the thick fog.

The walls were covered with cracks, and flesh and blood were writhing in the cracks. The red paint on the beams and pillars had peeled off, revealing white bones. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves were actually shrunken skulls.

"We've arrived." The black cat squatted in front of the Taoist temple, its tail pointing towards the gate.

A series of muffled thuds came from deep within the Taoist temple, like the beating of some enormous heart.

The monkey swallowed hard: "Fairy Tanuki, what kind of cultivation does your master practice?"

"The way to eat peaches."

The monkey swallowed hard to calm itself, and like an old scholar attending a private school, it tidied its fur in front of the Taoist temple before bending down to step over the threshold.

The Blood and Flesh Taoist Temple was riddled with holes, but the three statues of gods barely managed to suppress the cave and prevent it from deteriorating further.

A Taoist priest sat on a futon.

The monkey took three steps in two, knelt down with a thud, kowtowed three times, then clasped his hands together, looked up at the Taoist priest, and his eyes revealed a hopeful light.

“Master, I have traveled across the ocean for more than ten years. It is my great fortune to see your face today! I have no father or mother and was born and raised by the earth. Today I wish to become your disciple.”

He secretly observed the Taoist priest, noticing his gaunt face and the gloomy look between his brows, and couldn't help but add.

“This disciple is indeed a monkey, but I am also well-mannered. Back in Jambudvipa, I studied the Analects with a private tutor for several years and understand the principle of respecting teachers. If Master is willing to take me in, this disciple will definitely study diligently and never slack off!”

The monkey kowtowed again as it spoke, becoming more and more excited as it talked, gesturing wildly.

“Master, you see, although I am thin, I am quite strong. Back in Flower Fruit Mountain, I could lift a boulder weighing a thousand catties, catch turtles in the sea, and dive for half a day without taking a breath. If Master doesn’t mind…”

"Ugh."

Yang He looked at his Hakimi with a complicated expression, a mixture of love and hate.

When the black cat first came into contact with Sun Wukong, he wanted to stop him from the bottom of his heart, but now the situation has changed and he has to rely on Sun Wukong.

Yang He had never encountered a situation where the deep integration of a character caused him to get stuck.

At the same time, the connection between the Tree of Myriad Transformations and the Heavenly Dao is extremely close.

He had a premonition that if he didn't choose to save himself, he would most likely have to go into seclusion for hundreds of years, and the story of the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave would only last for twenty or thirty years at most.

The only one we can count on is Sun Wukong.

Yang He decided to give up and gently stroked the monkey's head.

The monkey's breathing became steady, and it heard Yang He say, "My Daoist name is... Wanhua. Do you have a name? Where are you from?"

"This disciple is from Huaguo Mountain in Dongsheng Shenzhou, and has no name or surname."

Yang He had a mischievous streak and wanted to name Sun Wukong after Xiao Yan and Han Li, but then he considered that Monkey King was also his childhood idol.

"I see you're Hu Sun, so how about you take the surname Sun and be named Wukong?"

"Sun Wukong greets his master."

(End of this chapter)