I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

The two quickly composed themselves, suppressed the turmoil in their minds, straightened their Taoist robes, and hurried out of the teahouse.

The stone door to the cave slowly opened, and Bodhi Patriarch sat upright on the cloud bed, his body exuding Daoist energy that blended with heaven and earth. A slight smile played on his lips, clearly indicating that he was in a very good mood.

He was becoming more and more satisfied with his disciple Ning Chen, who had solved several missions perfectly in a row.

He himself had great fortune and obtained many treasures in succession!

Therefore, perhaps we could try entrusting more.

As for the monkey, perhaps it can be given a chance to follow its heart and make its own free choice.

Thinking of this, Patriarch Bodhi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze peaceful and profound, falling on Ning Chen and Sun Wukong.

Seeing the unwavering devotion to the Dao in Sun Wukong's eyes, now completely settled, the Patriarch stroked his long beard, his eyes revealing undisguised approval.

Both of them gained a lot from this trip down the mountain, which would allow them to expedite that matter a little earlier.

"It's good that you're back."

The patriarch's voice was calm and undisturbed.

"Enlightenment".

"Disciple is here!"

Ning Chen responded respectfully.

"You did very well in this ordeal!"

The patriarch first praised Ning Chen as usual.

"You have foresight, skill in utilizing resources, and the ability to do the impossible without acting rashly. With ordinary monkeys, you have set up ingenious formations, borrowed methods from another world, and united the power of all living beings to defeat the scattered immortals, avert Wukong's calamity, and reunite the monkey troop's will. You have also promoted talented individuals to solidify the foundation. This sense of responsibility, resourcefulness, and ability to leverage resources are truly rare."

The patriarch recounted the events in detail, as if he had personally witnessed Ning Chen's strategic planning at Huaguo Mountain.

Ning Chen felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that in front of the patriarch, all attempts to conceal the truth would be in vain.

He humbly lowered his head.

"Master, you flatter me!"

The patriarch looked at Sun Wukong again, his tone softening.

"Wukong, after experiencing this trial by fire in the mortal world, witnessing life and death, has your restless heart found any peace?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Sun Wukong kowtowed repeatedly.

"Master, I understand! I will certainly restrain my restless mind and devote myself to cultivating the Dao!"

"good."

The patriarch nodded slightly, clearly quite satisfied with Sun Wukong's current state.

He looked at the two of them one last time, his tone returning to its usual calm.

"The tribulation has passed, and worldly ties are temporarily severed. Wuchen, go down and diligently comprehend this, solidifying your foundation. Wukong, stay here!"

Ning Chen was shocked. Had the Patriarch prepared to pass on the Great Celestial Immortal Technique to Sun Wukong by leaving him behind alone?

This can't be right! It's a full five years ahead of what he knew the plot was going to happen!

Seeing that Ning Chen had not left, the Patriarch slightly opened his eyes and let out a sound.

"Hmm, Wuchen, do you still have any doubts?"

Ning Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head.

"Thank you for your grace, Master! This disciple will now take his leave!"

He turned and left, leaving the monkey alone in front of the patriarch's gate.

The moment his gaze met Sun Wukong's clear, golden eyes, the Patriarch couldn't help but sigh softly. He spoke slowly.

"Wukong, come forward..."

With a heart full of trepidation, Wukong entered the ancestral master's cave, and the stone door slowly closed behind him.

.........

After a long time, Sun Wukong returned to the teahouse, sat on his stone bed, and silently gazed at the flowing clouds outside the window with his golden eyes.

The monkey's eyes had lost their usual mischievousness; instead, they seemed somewhat lost.

"Junior brother..."

The monkey suddenly spoke, its voice carrying an unusual seriousness.

"Let me ask you something. If you had to choose between two options for your life, one is to live a peaceful and uneventful life, and the other is to become a great hero, achieve great things, but you'd have to endure countless hardships, pay unbearable prices, and even risk your life. Which would you choose?"

Ning Chen's heart skipped a beat. He put down the Tai Xuan Shang Qing Scripture he was reading and looked at his senior brother, Sun Wukong.

He could sense the inner struggle his senior brother was going through; this was no trivial matter.

Thinking about Sun Wukong's fate in the original historical trajectory, Ning Chen already had some guesses in his mind.

The patriarch may have revealed his destiny to the monkey, or rather, given him the opportunity to make choices about his future.

Should one cultivate the Great Celestial Immortal Technique and become the mighty Great Sage Equal to Heaven, or return to Flower Fruit Mountain and live a life free from illness and disaster?

Sun Wukong's question also touched on Ning Chen's deepest secret.

He entered the perilous Journey to the West Divine Realm in pursuit of the Great Dao, immortality, and transcendence, but he never failed to consider using his own strength to completely resolve the imminent cataclysmic crisis facing Earth.

Ning Chen remained silent for a long time, carefully considering the words, his thoughts swirling in his mind.

This time, he went down the mountain not only to help Sun Wukong resolve the crisis at Flower Fruit Mountain, but also because Sun Wukong saved him from the clutches of the Black and White Impermanence. His relationship with Sun Wukong was no longer just that of fellow disciples.

Finally, Ning Chen made up his mind to tell his senior brother, who had gone through life and death tribulations with him, part of the truth.

The bond between the two made him unable to stand idly by and watch the monkey be enslaved by the Buddhist sect and recognize the pedantic Tang Sanzang as his master.

"Senior brother!"

Ning Chen spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet carrying an immense weight.

"My hometown is not this world. There are no immortals or Buddhas in the sky, nor any supernatural powers to move mountains and fill seas. We are just ordinary people, born in humble circumstances and raised in the dust."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes instantly focused on Ning Chen's face, filled with surprise and curiosity.

Although he had long known that his junior brother had an extraordinary background, the identity of this visitor from another world was far beyond his previous predictions.

"However......."

Ning Chen changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious.

"My homeland is facing a colossal crisis that could overturn the heavens and earth and annihilate all living beings! If we cannot overcome this calamity, all things will return to nothingness, and all will vanish."

Ning Chen couldn't help but recall the scene of a powerful demon from the Divine Realm descending upon Blue Star, feeding on the people and bringing endless despair to everyone.

Green Lion Demon! Spider Demon! Giant Elephant Demon! .....

Even if he cultivated to the Golden Immortal level, he would still be no match for these powerful demons.

"In order to find that glimmer of hope, and to give myself the possibility of turning the tide in the midst of disaster."

"I left my home and embarked on this perilous path of cultivation. This beginning meant that I placed myself in the game of gods and Buddhas, and under the claws of demons. My future was uncertain, and I faced nine deaths and one life. The price might be my own death and the annihilation of my cultivation, or it might be that my homeland could never be saved..."

Ning Chen paused, took a deep breath, and looked directly into Sun Wukong's eyes.

"But I still chose this path, because if we live in peace for a while, we will eventually be destroyed. If we fight back, even if we die, there will be a spark of hope. Peace and happiness are certainly desirable, but if we don't even have the strength to protect that peace, then the so-called peace is nothing but a mirage that can be easily crushed by external forces at any time."

"What I value is not physical stature or imposing presence, but rather a sense of responsibility and commitment. I can afford the price, and I must pay it!"

There's a saying that goes, "If it benefits the people, I will risk my life; how could I avoid it because of personal gain or loss?"

The theater was completely silent, except for Ning Chen's deep and clear voice echoing continuously.

He frankly admitted his own background and that the dangers and crises he would face upon entering the Journey to the West world were no less than the fate that Sun Wukong would face.

Sun Wukong was stunned. The playful smile on his face had vanished, leaving only a look of shock hidden in his eyes.