Martial Arts Crossover: The Sweeping Monk of Wudang? That's our patriarch!

"Haha, how about it? Do you believe me now? Which monkey on Flower Fruit Mountain hasn't received personal instruction from the Great Sage? Now they've all mastered Qi cultivation, refined their spirit, and embarked on the right path of immortality."

"We are indeed demons, but demons can also ascend to the ranks of immortals—it's just that people call us 'demon immortals,' which sounds jarring."

Lin Daochen laughed loudly and tapped the old monkey's forehead: "What's so unpleasant about the words 'Demon Immortal'? It's just that you've already formed a knot in your hearts. To me, it sounds ordinary, but you frown as soon as you hear it. It's clear that it's not the name that hurts people, but that you're belittling yourselves."

The old monkey froze, its ear tips turning slightly red. It scratched the back of its head and said, "...That's really how it is. It turns out it wasn't that others looked down on us, but that we underestimated ourselves first."

The old monkey shook its head, too lazy to argue with Lin Daochen any longer, but Lin Daochen became more and more enthusiastic as they talked—especially since the old monkey in front of him was definitely not as simple-minded as it seemed.

He was very knowledgeable. After exchanging only a few words with him, Lin Daochen sensed that the old man had a deep and profound aura, and was probably on par with him, or even more skilled.

After downing two cups of wine, Lin Daochen felt his whole body burning up, and his heart felt light as if clouds were rising from his feet and wind was blowing down his back. He was floating between heaven and earth, and the mountains, rivers, grass, trees, sun, moon and stars all became the rhythm surging in his blood.

The old monkey next to him knew his place perfectly. He tilted his head back, downed two glasses, grinned, leaned close to Lin Daochen's ear, and whispered something in his ear.

"The path of cultivation is not about who steps into the Southern Heavenly Gate first, but about who can grit their teeth and persevere to the end, who can understand, see far, and guard their true self. Only those who endure countless tribulations and see through the illusions can truly stand firm on this path."

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the bottle again and gulped down two mouthfuls. His Adam's apple bobbed as if swallowing a river, and the liquor in his mouth tasted like nectar. After it slid down, he even let out a comfortable "ha" sound. As soon as that sound came out, Lin Daochen felt a surge of warmth in his heart and knew that the time was right.

He suddenly slapped the old monkey on the shoulder, stood up abruptly, and let out a long, loud cry:

"I want to attain immortality!"

The roar made the copper bells on the eaves hum, and the sound waves rolled across the mountain valleys and streams, carrying for dozens of miles. Many little demons, who were squatting on tree branches eating fruit, pricked up their ears upon hearing the sound, and were so startled that they dropped the peach pits.

At this moment, on the sea outside Huaguo Mountain, a lone boat gently swayed with the waves. The person on the boat turned his head upon hearing the sound, his gaze passing over the shimmering water to look in the direction of Lin Daochen, a warm smile slightly upturned at the corners of his mouth.

"Tsk, another old Taoist priest has come to Flower Fruit Mountain... Sigh, how boring. He keeps running around here every few days, always teasing my little monkeys. Oh well, let him do what he wants, at least he won't cause any trouble."

He shook his head, leaned back against the bow of the boat, and let the small boat carry him away slowly on the vast blue waves.

Meanwhile, Lin Daochen had already finished three rounds of wine and was slumped against the tea table, leaning against a bamboo chair, with his arm around the old monkey's shoulder, spitting as they talked.

"Brother, trust me! I'm no ordinary person—Shen Gongbao analyzed my destiny, and Jiang Ziya personally examined my birth chart! They both said I'll ascend to the ranks of immortals sooner or later!"

He was half-drunk, his tongue was slurred, and his words were crooked and distorted.

The old monkey chuckled and patted him on the back. The man and the monkey were very close, their laughter mingling with the fragrance of fruit, echoing amidst the piles of peaches, lychees, and bananas on the ground.

Lin Daochen chewed on the vegetarian fruit for a long time, but his stomach felt empty. Suddenly, he was stunned and turned to stare at the old monkey: "Your Flower Fruit Mountain is full of demons, but I haven't seen a single one harm anyone, nor have I seen anyone eat meat—you neither hunt living beings nor eat flesh and blood. Could you really be a troop of monkeys that doesn't touch meat or fish?"

He paused, his voice deepening, "What I'm curious about is... are you naturally vegetarian, or did you choose this vegetarian path yourself?"

What he truly wanted to uncover was the root of Flower Fruit Mountain—why was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven born from the shattered spirit stone? Was it because the monkey's heart was pure and untainted by worldly defilement that he was able to undergo a complete transformation? Or was it because human thoughts were too complicated and desires too heavy, thus being rejected by the Great Dao?

If that's really the case, Lin Daochen will probably have to completely overturn and start over with his previous cultivation methods.

The old monkey opened his mouth, stammered for a long time, and only managed to squeeze out one sentence: "These things... are as easy for Sun Wukong as picking a peach. It's a pity he's still traveling. By the time he returns, you'll probably be long gone."

The old monkey deliberately sighed and shook his head repeatedly.

Lin Daochen laughed heartily upon hearing this, and was about to reply when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from afar, steady and heavy, carrying a metallic aura.

He looked up and his pupils contracted instantly—the newcomer was nine feet tall, with a cold, gleaming eye between his brows, and was carrying a three-pointed, double-edged halberd that gleamed with a chilling light.

Good heavens, Erlang Shen has actually stepped into this land!

However, Lin Daochen dared not speak rashly—this person was too powerful, being the Jade Emperor's maternal uncle. If he were to casually strike up a conversation, he feared he would be doomed before he even finished speaking.

……

He silently shook his head, remaining seated and motionless. He had encountered Erlang Shen in his younger days, but that time it was merely a phantom clone of the deity; the one standing before him now was the real, genuine figure, and he could not afford to be careless in the slightest.

The old monkey beside him, however, was completely unfazed. When Erlang Shen approached, it somersaulted onto his back, baring its teeth and scratching its ears and cheeks, looking exactly like a drunken, mischievous monkey.

Judging from his demeanor, the old monkey was clearly quite drunk and showed no respect whatsoever for the dignified saint—who was, after all, a true god who ruled the Three Realms and commanded the heavenly army; at the very least, he should have bowed and paid his respects.

"Erlang Zhenjun! Erlang Zhenjun! What brings you to Flower Fruit Mountain? I can hardly remember the last time you stepped into the mountain gate! Is there something you need to ask of us today? But we monkeys are busy practicing our skills and drying peaches, and we really can't spare the time to chat with you."

Erlang Shen stood coldly like an iron tower, his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distant sea of ​​clouds. He didn't even lift an eyelid towards the old monkey, only uttering four words:

"Enough with the nonsense. Where is the Monkey King? I've come specifically to find him."

The old monkey was taken aback, his face twitching slightly—how could this usually aloof and arrogant True Lord suddenly call himself "Great Sage Sun"? He usually calls him "Sun Wukong" by his full name, his tone carrying a hint of imposing authority.

"Hey! Erlang Shen?" The old monkey squinted, tilting his head to examine him. "You're not playing tricks again, are you? Either you're an imposter, or you're a complete imposter—when has the True Lord ever used the title 'Great Sage Sun'? He only ever recognizes the three words 'Sun Wukong'!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the "Erlang Shen" frowned suddenly, and his right hand subconsciously rose to his ear, his fingertips gently scratching it—the movement was so practiced that it seemed to be etched into his bones.

Lin Daochen's heart skipped a beat: This was clearly monkey instinct! But the person in front of him, his eyebrows, his demeanor, and even the eerie light emanating from the third eye on his forehead, were exactly the same as the Erlang Shen he had seen before.

The old monkey could no longer restrain itself and slapped the man's crown with its palm!

"Six-Eared Macaque! Still daring to pretend? Of all people to impersonate, why pretend to be an old friend of the True Lord? Do you think you can fool the True Lord? Show your true colors now!"

Lin Daochen suddenly realized—it wasn't a true god descending to earth, but rather the Six-Eared Macaque in disguise. Just by looking at the old monkey's clenched teeth, it was clear that he had been exposed long ago.

Thinking back to the phrase "Sun Wukong" further confirms the guess: Zhenjun never speaks so politely, but this Six-Eared Macaque loves to imitate human mannerisms and embellish them.

"Not again? Didn't you get enough of your act last time?" The old monkey swung his arms, looking annoyed. "The Great Sage has long since gone into seclusion. We can talk another day—don't get in my way!"

Lin Daochen clicked his tongue in amazement: The disguise of this Six-Eared Macaque was truly terrifying—not only was his appearance lifelike, but even his aura of an unapproachable saint was perfectly imitated without any flaws.

He slowly stepped forward, circling the man and examining him closely, but still couldn't discern the slightest clue.

"How extraordinary! Although you have not revealed your identity, your ability to mimic form and captivate souls is unparalleled. May I humbly request some guidance?"

Erlang Shen was taken aback at first, then grinned, revealing two sharp monkey teeth. He scratched his ears with his paws, and in the next instant, his golden fur grew out and his six ears stretched out, transforming him into a spirit monkey with a body of pure gold and six clusters of ears.

Sure enough it was him.

The Six-Eared Macaque shook its head, blinked at Lin Daochen, and flicked its tail lightly:

"Little fellow, you have good taste! I can teach you, but—we have to see the Great Sage first. If he avoids us, this Flower Fruit Mountain will be turned upside down today!"

Upon hearing this, the old monkey stomped his heel on the ground with a loud "boom," causing the entire cliff to tremble and even the distant waterfall to stop flowing—who would have thought that this old monkey's cultivation was so unfathomable.

Lin Daochen's heart trembled slightly; in such a short time, he had already been startled several times. But upon reflection, he realized that these turmoil were nothing more than fleeting clouds to him. He had come to Flower Fruit Mountain solely to seek the Dao, examine his heart, and temper himself.

Whether it's the Six-Eared Macaque or the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, as long as they are willing to impart their true teachings, what does it matter who the master is?

He walked straight up to the six-eared macaque, looked up at the clever monkey with six ears, and sighed from the bottom of his heart:

The energy he exuded was exactly like that of Sun Wukong—although their appearances were quite different, their arrogance, temperament, and fearless spirit were almost identical.

"Six-Eared Macaque, you've come all this way to find the Great Sage, is there something urgent? If not, why don't we find a quiet place to talk? I have a few perplexing questions on my mind, and I'd like to ask you for your advice. As for a reward... just name your price, I'll gladly go through fire and water for you."

At this moment, Lin Daochen no longer cared about his dignity. He only felt that his cultivation level was stuck at a bottleneck, and he was extremely hungry and thirsty. He wanted to rush up to anyone who seemed to have real skills and kowtow to ask for their guidance...

His gaze swept over the Six-Eared Macaque before him, who was versed in all musical scales and could hear the secrets of heaven and earth. His heart warmed: Wasn't this the benefactor who could enlighten him? Even if he only casually uttered a few words of truth, it would be better than ten years of secluded cultivation!

Upon hearing this, the Six-Eared Macaque raised the corners of his eyes slightly, turned his head, and looked Lin Daochen up and down three times, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

"The little guy is quite savvy—unfortunately, not today. I came here to find Sun Wukong. A few days ago, a strange phenomenon appeared in the eastern sky: a spirit stone was floating among the clouds, sometimes appearing and sometimes disappearing. I'm thinking that this matter is probably related to us, the Four Mischievous Monkeys."

"Therefore, this visit is not for casual strolling, but to invite him to go and investigate the matter—where exactly did that spirit stone come from? Will it disturb the fates of the four monkeys and shake their foundations?"

Before he could finish speaking, Old Hou suddenly slapped his thigh, his eyes wide with surprise: "Hey! Is the sun rising in the west? You, the Six-Eared Macaque, are actually worried about my king's safety?"

He rushed forward, peered closely, and circled around him halfway, as if seeing his old rival clearly for the first time.

"Since you're so sincere, fine! I'll give you the directions—" He reached into his robes, pulled out a monkey hair with a pale golden sheen, and carefully placed it into the palm of the Six-Eared Macaque.

Sun Wukong was always swift as the wind and never stayed in one place for long. The monkeys searched for him entirely by relying on the hairs that were transformed from his clones and carried his original essence—in short, these were the only ropes that could hold onto that "wild monkey's tail."

"What about me?" Lin Daochen scratched the back of his head, his voice tinged with frustration. "I can't just stand here and wait, can I?"

Old Hou and the Six-Eared Macaque exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. The Six-Eared Macaque stepped forward and slapped Lin Daochen's shoulder hard with his large, fan-like hand, making Lin Daochen's legs go weak.

"Young man, take a rest first—I rushed here at lightning speed, and I'm afraid your bones won't even be properly shaken before your soul is thrown off."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure suddenly elongated, transforming into a streak of silver light that tore through the air, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Lin Daochen only felt the whistling wind in his ears before he was already ten miles away.

Old Hou laughed and shoved him: "What are you staring at? Come on, let's have a couple of bowls of tea! There's no tea to serve you here, and no work for you to do. What kind of spiritual practice is it to just sit around doing nothing?"

Lin Daochen paused for a moment, then smiled and followed Old Hou deeper into the hall, intending to dig out more of the old monkey's old stories.

Time flowed slowly, and about three hours passed when a golden light suddenly flashed outside the door—two people stepped inside.