Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Li Yan silently recited the profound incantation, and his mind gradually sank into a state of clarity.

In his spiritual perception, the stone statue was no longer a cold stone.

As the light shone through, countless patterns appeared on the surface of the stone statue.

Those patterns are like the textures that naturally formed in the chaos at the beginning of time.

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged in front of the stone statue, his eyes closed and his mind focused.

Even his indestructible body trembled slightly at this moment.

The golden hairs stood up one by one.

This was a natural reaction of his innate Geng metal body sensing the Qi of the same origin.

"Junior brother, do you sense anything?" Li Yan asked in a secret voice transmission.

Sun Wukong nodded slightly, without opening his eyes, and replied telepathically:

"Senior brother, I, Old Sun, feel that there is something inside this stone statue beckoning to me."

That feeling... it felt like... like the feeling I had when the Patriarch was preaching back in Fangcun Mountain.

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat.

He sensed it too.

Deep within that stone statue, there was a faint, ethereal, and profound Daoist aura.

Its sound was exactly the same as the sound of the patriarch preaching that I heard in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

That is the Great Luo Daoist Rhyme.

It has remained for tens of thousands of years, and only those with a special affinity can sense it.

Li Yan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He gradually realized that what was sealed within this stone statue was not only the Taoist essence of the patriarch.

That was the ultimate truth of heaven and earth that a Great Immortal comprehended upon attaining enlightenment.

If one can glimpse even a fraction of this, the benefit to one's spiritual practice will be immeasurable.

Immediately, he focused his mind on the mirror of his heart and silently recited a phrase.

"Activate".

The mirror surface shone with golden light.

The golden light surged from the mirror of the heart, flowing along the meridians and directly into the Niwan Palace.

In the Niwan Palace, the primordial spirit sat upright. Sensing this golden light, it stood up, made hand seals, and recited a profound incantation.

That wondrous sound was the voice of the primordial spirit, profound and mysterious beyond measure.

The stone statue trembled slightly upon sensing the voice of the primordial spirit.

The clear light emanated from the stone statue, growing ever brighter.

In a short while, the entire Hall of Proof of the Way was illuminated as bright as day.

That clear light contained countless Daoist principles.

Li Yan felt the scene before him suddenly change.

The stone statues, the main hall, and the Bodhi Zen Temple have all disappeared.

The next moment, he stood in the void.

In the void, there is no heaven, earth, sun, or moon; only chaos remains, churning endlessly.

He looked down at his hands and feet, only to see their forms illusory and hazy, as if he were in a dream.

"Senior brother!"

Sun Wukong's voice rang in my ears.

Li Yan turned his head and saw Sun Wukong standing beside him, his figure equally ethereal.

Those golden eyes, however, remained as bright as ever, shining like two lanterns in this chaos, illuminating an area of ​​several feet.

"Junior brother, we've probably entered into a test left by our patriarch."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes swept around, and he grinned:

"I, Old Sun, love tests! Back in Fangcun Mountain, the Patriarch tested me, and I passed every single one!"

Li Yan smiled slightly, but was secretly on guard.

The trials left by the patriarch are no ordinary ones.

Who knows what mysteries are hidden within this chaotic void?

Just as he was pondering this, a radiant light suddenly condensed within the chaos.

The radiance was initially just a faint glow, like a firefly in the darkness.

It gradually grew stronger and transformed into a bright moon, hanging in the void.

The bright moonlight cast its clear glow, illuminating the chaotic scene with perfect clarity.

Under the moonlight, amidst the chaos, a line of large characters slowly emerged.

Those large characters, with their vigorous strokes and powerful lines, are the handwriting of the patriarch.

[First Challenge: The Way is in Excrement and Urine]

Upon seeing these four characters, Sun Wukong scratched his head: "The Dao is in excrement and urine? What does that mean? The Dao is in the outhouse?"

Li Yan was startled.

The Dao is in excrement and urine, from "Zhuangzi: Knowing the North".

Excrement and urine are filthy substances.

The Dao is therein, meaning that the Dao is omnipresent, regardless of status or purity.

The sages observed that even in excrement and urine there is a great principle.

Li Yan pondered to himself that the patriarch used these four words as the first test to examine the depth of one's understanding of the Dao.

Just as I was pondering this, another change occurred within the chaos.

Under the moonlight, a scene gradually emerged.

The scene depicted a bustling city.

The city has a market, bustling with traffic and people.

In a corner of the market, a beggar was squatting.

The beggar was dressed in rags, with unkempt hair and a broken bowl in front of him.

In the bowl, there were a few copper coins and half a piece of dried food.

Beside the beggar was a pile of filth, left by passing livestock.

The filth reeked, flies buzzed around it, and passersby covered their noses as they walked by.

The image freezes on the filth.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong stood in the void, gazing at this scene, and remained silent for a moment.

Sun Wukong frowned and asked, "Senior brother, why... why did the Patriarch want us to see this?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Junior brother, take a look at that filth."

Sun Wukong looked closely and saw that there were a few undigested grains of rice in the filth.

Although the grain seeds were amidst filth, they still showed a faint glimmer of life.

If someone takes it out, washes it, and plants it in the soil.

Next year, it may take root and sprout, grow into seedlings, bear ears of grain, and eventually turn into a bowl of white rice.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes lit up: "Senior brother, do you mean there's life within that filth?"

Li Yan nodded and said, "This is the Dao in excrement and urine."

Although excrement and urine are filthy, they contain the meaning of life.

The way of Heaven and Earth does not distinguish between purity and filth, nor between high and low status.

Both purity and impurity are manifestations of the Tao.

Whether noble or lowly, all are encompassed by the Tao.

Upon hearing this, the scene suddenly changed.

The filth disappeared, the beggars disappeared, the city disappeared.

It turned into nothingness.

In the void, beneath the large characters, a smaller line of characters appeared: 【One grain of rice may be taken】

When Sun Wukong saw this, he reached out to take it.

But when he reached out, he found that the image had vanished without a trace, leaving only a blur.

"Senior brother, how...how do we retrieve this?"

Li Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, using his primordial spirit to perceive.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and said, "Junior brother, what the patriarch wants to take is not the grain seed itself."

Rather, it is the Way within the grain.

Sun Wukong was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

He sat cross-legged in the void, closing his eyes and concentrating.

The primordial spirit sensed the energy of the grain seed within the chaos and merged its own path with that of the grain seed.

He cultivates the inner alchemy of the Golden Elixir, using his Geng Metal body to refine essence into Qi, refine Qi into spirit, and refine spirit into emptiness.

Although the grain seed is small, it contains the way of life and endless renewal.

Seeds are planted in the soil, take root and sprout, break through the soil, endure rain and wind, grow branches and leaves, and bloom and bear fruit.

Each of these processes embodies the principles of heaven and earth.

Sun Wukong's primordial spirit sensed the energy of the grain seed and felt a vibrant power surging from the chaos.

It resonated mysteriously with the Geng metal energy within the body.

Metal represents both strength and killing.

The growth of grain seeds is gentle and vibrant.

The balance of strength and gentleness, the interplay of killing and life.

This is precisely the principle that one understands after the Qian hexagram's "The dragon soars too high and regrets it"—that fullness cannot last.

A sudden realization dawned on Sun Wukong: the way of grain seeds and the energy of metal were two sides of the same coin.

Metal, being of the highest quality, can cut through all things, but it cannot create anything.

The softness of a valley is the same as the softness of a barren valley.

Only by combining strength and gentleness can one align with the great principles.

Upon realizing this principle, he felt a sudden clarity within his primordial spirit.

The primordial energy of the grain within the chaos transformed into a golden seed, which fell into the palm of the hand.

Sun Wukong opened his eyes and saw a grain of rice lying in his palm.

The grain seeds were golden yellow all over, with a faint shimmering light.

At that moment, a line of large characters appeared again from the chaos: 【One grain of rice, ten thousand generations of life】

The large characters slowly dissipated, transforming into a golden light that entered Sun Wukong's brow.

Sun Wukong felt a warm sensation between his eyebrows, and a profound and mysterious Daoist aura surged in from there, flowing through his limbs and bones.

The feeling was exactly the same as when the Patriarch touched his brow with his hand in Fangcun Mountain and imparted the secret to longevity.

"Grandmaster..." Sun Wukong murmured to himself, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his golden eyes.

Within that golden light, something was also wrapped up.

Sun Wukong opened his palm and saw that in addition to a grain of rice, there was also a small jade slip.

He probed with his primordial spirit and saw several lines of text engraved on the jade slip:

This grain is no ordinary thing; it is the seed of the ancient divine grain, the "Longevity Millet."

Planting it will yield a food that grants longevity, and eating it will prolong life.

Planted in a grotto-like environment, it can increase vitality and nourish all things.

Sun Wukong handed the jade slip and grain seeds to Li Yan: "Senior brother, these were given to us by the Patriarch."

Li Yan accepted it, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

Although the patriarch did not speak, he bestowed spiritual objects upon them in this way.

A single grain of rice, seemingly insignificant, is actually an ancient divine object.

Planted in the cave, the monkeys in the Paradise of Peace had a food for longevity.

He tucked the grain seeds into his sleeve, his mind slightly focused. On the mirror of his mind, a line of small golden characters slowly appeared:

[Having passed the first test, one comprehends the principles of excrement and urine, and obtains a single seed of immortality.]

[Aura of Destiny +800 (The Way resides in the lowest places, and reason lies amidst filth)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 17200/20480]

At that moment, another change occurred within the chaos.

Under the moonlight, a second line of large characters gradually appeared: [Second Challenge: The Highest Good is Like Water]

Li Yan's heart stirred.

The highest good is like water, which comes from the Tao Te Ching.

Water benefits all things without striving, and dwells in places that others disdain, thus it is close to the Way.

While pondering.

A scene slowly emerged from the chaos.

The scene depicted a great river.

The river flows swiftly and ceaselessly.

Boats ply the river, and fishermen sing their evening songs.

On the riverbank, farmers draw water to irrigate their fields, women wash clothes, and children play in the water.

The scene slowly shifts, showing the river flowing from its source down through canyons, across plains, and into the sea.

The image freezes on the sea.

The sea was calm and still.

But beneath that calm lies a power capable of overturning heaven and earth.

Looking at the vast sea, Li Yan felt a sense of familiarity welling up inside him.

This is exactly the same as the waveless sea he saw when he was comprehending the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

As I was pondering this, ripples suddenly appeared in the scene.

The ripples gradually expanded, turning into waves. The waves surged and sprayed.

Amidst the spray of the waves, a crystal-clear droplet of water refracted the sunlight with iridescent colors.

The water droplet hung in the air, slowly rotating.

As it rotates, it sometimes transforms into clouds and mist, occasionally condenses into ice crystals, or flows into rivers and then merges into the sea.

Li Yan understood that this second test was an assessment of his understanding of the Way of Water.

Water is extremely soft and weak, adapting to any shape.

The virtue of water is to nourish things silently and benefit without contention.

Water has the power to cleanse impurities and wash away impurities.

Water changes, clouds, rain, frost, and snow appear in countless forms.

He sat cross-legged in the void, closing his eyes and concentrating.

The primordial spirit sensed the drop of water and combined its understanding of the Way of Water with the Way of Water contained within that drop.

He cultivates the Dao of the Grotto Heaven, using the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl as a guide, and has also obtained the Canglang Dao Scripture. He has already gained considerable insight into the Dao of Water.

At this moment, sensing the Daoist essence within the water droplet with one's primordial spirit, one feels as if a fish is in water, completely at ease.

Sensing his Daoist aura, the water droplet suddenly trembled, transformed into a beam of clear light, and entered his brow.

Li Yan felt a cool sensation between his brows, which instantly spread throughout his internal organs.

That scene was very similar to the feeling of sudden enlightenment he had when the patriarch guided him in Fangcun Mountain.

"Master..."

Within that clear light, something was wrapped up.

Li Yan opened his palm and saw a crystal-clear water droplet lying quietly in it.

Within those water droplets, one can vaguely discern rivers, lakes, seas, clouds, mist, rain, and snow, each with its own unique and unpredictable form.

Sun Wukong stepped forward and asked, "Senior brother, what is this?"

Li Yan probed with his primordial spirit and saw several lines of words engraved in the water droplet.

This water is called the Primordial True Water, which is the essence of the Primordial Water Mother and was transformed at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth.

When refined and absorbed into the body, it can enhance the virtue of water, nourishing all things.

It merges into the grotto, transforming into rivers, lakes, and seas, nourishing life.

Li Yan was delighted. He put the Yuan True Water into his sleeve while explaining to the monkey.

These water droplets, though from the same source, flowed differently from the Tianyi True Water he had just exchanged at the Naihe Market.

Tianyi True Water is the finest of acquired waters, while Yiyuan True Water is the essence of the innate jellyfish.

If the two can be integrated, the water-based practices within the grotto will surely reach a new level.

His mind calmed slightly, and another line of small golden characters appeared on the mirror of his mind.

[By passing the second test, one comprehends the principle of "the highest good is like water," and obtains a drop of primordial true water.]

[Aura of Destiny +1000 (Water benefits all things without contention)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 18200/20480]

Just as Li Yan withdrew his thoughts and was about to speak with Sun Wukong, another change occurred within the chaos.

Under the moonlight, the third line of large characters gradually coalesced.

[Third Challenge: Following the Way of Nature]

Upon hearing these four words, both Li Yan and Sun Wukong were startled.

People follow the earth, the earth follows the sky, the heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.

These sixteen characters are the general outline of Taoist cultivation and the foundation for attaining the Great Luo.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes shone brightly.

He vaguely sensed that this third trial was the key to attaining the Great Luo realm set up for them by the patriarch.

A scene slowly emerged from the chaos.

The image depicts an ordinary mountain.

There are trees, grass, flowers and stones on it.

A stream flows gently through the mountains.

Fish swim leisurely in the stream.

At the summit of the mountain, there is a huge rock.

An old man sat cross-legged on the boulder.

The old man's face was blurry and his features were unclear; one could only vaguely make out that he was meditating with his eyes closed.

The scene slowly shifts, the seasons change, and time flies.

All things revive, plants sprout, and flowers bloom.

Lush greenery, the chirping of cicadas, and the rushing stream.

The forests are ablaze with color, laden with fruit, and falling leaves flutter down.

Snow covered everything, all was silent, and the streams were frozen.

The four seasons change, and the cycle repeats itself.

The old man sat atop the mountain, unmoved by wind, rain, sun, or snow.

As Sun Wukong gazed at the scene, a flash of understanding crossed his golden eyes, yet he seemed even more perplexed.

He turned to look at Li Yan: "Senior brother, have you grasped the meaning?"

"Junior brother, look at that mountain."

Sun Wukong looked at the mountain.

Li Yan said, "The mountain is still the same mountain."

When spring comes, it is neither happy nor sad.

Flowers bloom and fade, neither increasing nor decreasing. Streams flow and recede, neither overflowing nor diminishing.

This is nature.

Sun Wukong said, "That mountain is dead, so it is naturally indifferent to joy and sorrow."

"I, Old Sun, am alive; how can I be as solid as a mountain?"

Li Yan said, "Junior brother is right."

Mountains are inanimate, but people are alive.

But the old man on the mountaintop was alive.

He sat there, unmoved by the changing seasons and the raging winds and rains.

This is not because he died, but because he became one with nature.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "To become one with nature?"

Li Yan nodded and said, "The Dao follows nature, not to turn people into stone, but to make people one with heaven and earth and all things."

Just as the sky has four seasons, so too do people experience joy and anger.

Just as the seasons change and humans are born, grow old, get sick, and die.

Just as heaven and earth have yin and yang, waxing and waning, so too do humans have movement and stillness, opening and closing.

This is the principle of "Man follows the Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows Nature."

As Sun Wukong listened, the light in his golden eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He recalled what the patriarch had said during his sermons in Fangcun Mountain:

"Heaven and earth were born together with me, and all things are one with me."

At that time, he didn't understand it; he just felt that the words were mysterious and profound.

Gazing at the old man atop the mountain, he fell into deep thought.

That mountain is him.

He is also that water.

Flowers bloom and wither, seasons change, all are manifestations of him.

Heaven and earth and he are one.

A sudden realization welled up from the bottom of Sun Wukong's heart.

It was inexplicable, yet that sudden realization struck like a lightning bolt, cleaving through the fog that had lingered in my heart for years.

The monkey sat cross-legged in the void, his eyes closed, concentrating his mind and calming his spirit.

Using his primordial spirit to sense the old man atop the mountain, he gradually merged his own Dao with the old man's Dao.

The way of Geng metal is the way of the monkey, which is strong, upright, and constantly striving for self-improvement.

However, at this moment, he glimpsed another path within the old man.

Sitting atop the mountain, enduring wind and rain, sun and snow, the old man remained steadfast and unmoved.

That's just how it is.

The four seasons cycle through heaven and earth, joy and anger reside in the human heart, and yin and yang are contained within the great Dao.

Softness and hardness, movement and stillness, life and death—aren't they all natural?

At this moment, the monkey's indestructible body trembled slightly.

Deep within his primordial spirit, the golden light exploded, transforming into countless tiny golden rays that spread in all directions.

Piercing through chaos and the void, those golden rays established a mysterious connection with heaven and earth and all things.

The monkeys sensed the presence of that ancient tree on Bodhi Mountain.

Its roots, deeply embedded in the earth, draw nourishment from the soil.

The branches reaching towards the sky are bathed in sunlight.

Not knowing why it was born, the tree simply grows silently.

That's how it is, naturally.

The waters of the River of Oblivion could not escape his senses either.

Flowing from high to low, winding around rocks and cascading over cliffs—this is the nature of water.

It flows, it just flows.

As for why it flows, the water never asks.

This, too, is the law of nature.

The celestial officials in Heaven were also sensed by the monkey.

Some vie for power and profit, some scheme against each other, and some stand by and watch indifferently.

This is still natural.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong muttered to himself, "So that's how it is."

The path to enlightenment, the Great Luo, requires seeing the most fundamental truth of this world.

Heaven and earth are not benevolent, and all things are dogs.

This is fair.

Heaven and earth treat all things equally, without distinction of kinship or social status.

That's natural.

At this moment, Sun Wukong's indestructible body underwent a mysterious transformation.

Those fine hairs stood up one by one, with strands of golden light flowing within them.

The golden light gradually condensed, forming a golden light curtain around them.

On the screen of light, there are mountains and rivers, the sun, moon and stars, plants, birds and beasts, and all kinds of things.

That light screen is the manifestation of the Tao.

His Dao gradually transformed into the natural Dao that encompasses all things in heaven and earth.

Just then, a bell rang out from the chaotic void.

The sound of the bell seemed to fall from the heavens, long and resonant.

As the bell tolled, the old man atop the mountain slowly opened his eyes.

The old man's face was still blurry, but his eyes were like two stars.

It was as if he had seen through the cause and effect of life and death in the universe.

Sun Wukong knelt in the void and kowtowed to the old man.

A wave of bitterness welled up in his heart, just like when his master drove him down the mountain years ago.

He knelt before the patriarch, tears streaming down his face.

The moment he straightened up, the monkey felt a burning sensation between his eyebrows.

Within the primordial spirit, the golden light grew ever brighter.

Within the golden light, a small monkey could be faintly seen, sitting cross-legged, its hands forming a mudra, and its mouth chanting mantras.

Sun Wukong calmed himself down.

He slowly guided the golden light within his primordial spirit, causing it to sink deep into the Niwan Palace.

Wherever the golden light passed, the blocked meridians were cleared.

The impurities hidden deep within were refined by the golden light, turning into wisps of green smoke that drifted out from the pores.

The primordial spirit and physical body became increasingly clear and powerful.

Just then, a portal suddenly appeared deep within the Niwan Palace.

The gate was about three zhang tall and its entire body shone with golden light.

The door was engraved with countless runes.

Those runes are patterns that naturally formed when heaven and earth were first created, containing the profound principles of the Dao.

A surge of wild joy welled up in Sun Wukong's heart.

That is the Gate of the Great Luo.

Push open this door, and you'll find yourself among the Great Immortals.

He gathered all the golden light within his primordial spirit into his palm and pushed it toward the portal.

boom!

The portal trembled slightly, and the runes on it lit up in unison, radiating a brilliant golden light.

The door slowly opened, revealing a small crack.

From that crevice, a vast and boundless power surged forth.

That power is the power of heaven and earth, the energy of all things, and the source of the Great Dao.

Sun Wukong felt that he had resonated with heaven and earth and all things.

The feeling was like a wanderer returning home, an indescribable sense of peace and comfort.

But at that moment, the door suddenly shook.

The runes on the door all dimmed.

The small gap that had been opened slowly closed.

Sun Wukong was shocked and hurriedly activated his primordial spirit power to try to stabilize the gate.

But the more he urged it, the faster the gate closed.

In a short while, the portal closed completely, and all the runes on the door went out, leaving it dim and without light.

Sun Wukong felt a tremendous force of recoil coming from the gate, which shook his primordial spirit.

He groaned, withdrew from the Niwan Palace, and opened his eyes.

In that chaotic void, the old man on the mountain peak had vanished without a trace.

Only the bright moon remained, hanging in the void, casting its clear light.

Sun Wukong stood in the void, his face slightly pale.

Although his primordial spirit was not damaged, he felt an indescribable sense of suffocation.

They were just one step away, just one step away from opening the gate to the Great Luo.

But why did the portal close by itself?

"Junior brother!" Li Yan's voice rang in my ears.

Sun Wukong turned his head and saw Li Yan standing beside him with a solemn expression.

He shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Senior brother, I, Old Sun... am just one step away."

Li Yan frowned and asked, "Junior Brother, did you see clearly why the portal was closed?"

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment and said, "I, Old Sun, am not quite sure either."

I felt a force coming from the outside as the door closed.

It instantly interrupted my, Old Sun's, resonance with heaven and earth and all things.

That power...that power seems to be related to the Heavenly Court.

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Is it related to the Heavenly Court?

At that moment, the chaotic void suddenly trembled.

The bright moon, its clear light filling the sky, shattered completely, turning into countless points of light that vanished into the void.

The bright moon, its clear light filling the sky, shattered completely, turning into countless points of light that vanished into the void.

The chaos gradually thinned, revealing the Hall of Enlightenment behind it.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong only felt a blur before their eyes.

The next moment, the two of them were sitting cross-legged in front of the stone statue, as if they had been transported to another world.

The stone statue still stands quietly in the hall, its face blurred, its hands forming a mudra, its eyes closed in meditation.

However, the faint, clear light emanating from the stone statue has vanished without a trace.

Li Yan stood up, feeling sore and numb all over, as if he had just fought a major battle.

He looked at Sun Wukong and saw a trace of resentment flash in his golden eyes.

"Your Majesty, do not be discouraged."

Li Yan said in a low voice, "Since that portal has been opened a crack, it means that we have already glimpsed the gate of the Great Luo."

It's just one step away; there's always another chance.

Sun Wukong nodded, took a deep breath, and suppressed his resentment.

He looked at the stone statue, bowed deeply, and thought to himself, "Master, your disciple is unworthy and failed to open that door."

But the disciple will not give up.

"In the future, when this disciple has attained the Great Luo Realm, I will surely return to pay my respects to my master."

The stone statue did not respond; it simply stood there silently.

Li Yan also bowed deeply to the stone statue, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

Although the patriarch did not speak, he guided them through their confusion in this way.

Those three barriers, the Tao is in excrement and urine, the highest good is like water, the Tao follows nature.

It seems simple, but in fact it aligns with the three fundamental principles of the Great Luo Dao.

The first hurdle is the path to enlightenment, which lies in excrement and urine.

It means that the Tao is omnipresent, regardless of social status or purity.

Those who cultivate themselves should view all things with an equal mind and treat all beings with an ordinary mind.

This is the foundation of the Great Luo.

Secondly, the highest good is like water.

They were admonished to live with humility and act with altruism.

This is the virtue of the Great Luo.

The third level is following the natural way.

The teaching is to harmonize with heaven and earth with a natural mindset, and to respond to all changes with a mind of non-action.

It is the body of the Great Luo.

The three stages, each building upon the last, progress from the mind and character to understanding the world and ultimately to attaining enlightenment, are interconnected.

A surge of gratitude welled up in Li Yan's heart.

Suddenly, I felt my heart mirror tremble slightly.

With a slight sinking of the mind, a line of small golden characters slowly appeared on the mirror surface:

[By passing the third test, one comprehends the principle of following the natural way and receives the opportunity to learn from the patriarch.]

[Aura of Destiny +2000 (Following the Way of Nature, Harmony Between Heaven and Man)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 20200/20480]

Li Yan was shocked.

Twenty thousand two hundred strands, only two hundred and eighty strands short of the twenty thousand four hundred and eighty strands.

Just as he was about to withdraw his thoughts, he suddenly saw another line of small words appear on the mirror:

[Helped Sun Wukong break through the threshold of the Great Luo Immortal realm, with one foot already in the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal, but the breakthrough was interrupted due to the shock of the immortal register.]

[Aura of Destiny +500 (Those who see the Way prosper, those who understand the Way are enlightened)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 20700/20480]

A sense of satisfaction welled up in Li Yan's heart.

He couldn't help but look at Sun Wukong.

The monkey was sitting cross-legged in front of the stone statue, its eyes closed in deep concentration, its face showing neither sorrow nor joy.

"Junior brother?" Li Yan called out softly.

Sun Wukong slowly opened his eyes, a complex expression flashing in his golden pupils.

He stood up and bowed deeply to the stone statue again.

Then he turned to Li Yan and smiled:

"Senior brother, I, Old Sun, am fine. It's just that when that gate closed, I sensed something."

Li Yan asked, "What is it?"

Sun Wukong said, "I sense that there is a fight in the Heavenly Court."

That struggle affected the fortunes of the three realms, causing the balance of heaven and earth to become unstable.

My status as a celestial being is connected to the power of heaven and earth.

When the balance of heaven and earth is disrupted, the register of immortals becomes unstable.

If my status as a celestial being is unstable, I, Old Sun, will be unable to harness the power of heaven and earth to open the gate to the Great Luo.

That's why the door closed on its own.

Li Yan was shocked.

Is there a struggle taking place in Heaven?

He recalled that just now in the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor had sent Taibai Jinxing to the Beiji Palace to invite the Ziwei Emperor to discuss matters the next day.

The word "tomorrow," upon reflection now, carries a deeper meaning.

If the Ziwei Emperor does not come, or if he comes but does not admit his guilt, then...

Li Yan shook his head, suppressing his thoughts.

That's a matter between the Jade Emperor and the Ziwei Emperor; he should just focus on doing his own job.

"Junior brother," Li Yan said, "the affairs of the Heavenly Court are none of our business."

We will simply procure the necessary items for the Peach Banquet and prove our faith.

As for the strife within the Heavenly Court, let it be.

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Brother is right. I, Old Sun, only care about attaining the Great Luo Dao; I don't care who fights whom."

The two exchanged a smile, then turned and walked towards the palace gate.

Upon exiting the Hall of Enlightenment, one sees Dongfang Shuo and Master Jueming standing in the courtyard, whispering to each other.

Upon seeing the two, Dongfang Shuo quickly stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Gentlemen, have you gained any insight?"

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "I understand, I understand. Thank you, Master."

Master Jueming put his palms together and said, "Amitabha."

It is fate that the Great Sage and Master Li were able to enter this hall to comprehend the mysteries.

The Taoist essence left behind by the patriarchs cannot be sensed by those who are not destined to receive it.

Since you two have gained some understanding, it must be because the Patriarch is watching over us from heaven.

Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Master, you are too kind. I have another request."

Master Jueming said, "Please speak, Daoist Li."

Li Yan said, "I have heard that there is an ancient Bodhi tree on Bodhi Mountain."

The Bodhi seeds produced are needed for the Peach Banquet.

"This humble Taoist priest dares to venture up the mountain and gather a few."

Upon hearing this, Master Jueming's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and clasped his hands together, saying:

"Master Li, you may not know this. Although the Bodhi tree is on Bodhi Mountain, it is not located in this temple."

That tree, on the back of the mountain, is where the patriarch attained enlightenment.

That place is heavily fortified; even the monks of this temple dare not approach it lightly.

Dongfang Shuo laughed and said, "Master, there's no need to worry. With the Great Sage Equal to Heaven here, what restriction can't be broken?"

Master Jueming shook his head and said, "Mr. Dongfang is unaware of this."

The restrictions on the Bodhi tree are different from ordinary restrictions.

That restriction was set up by the patriarch using the power of the Great Luo, and it was in harmony with heaven and earth.

If you try to break it by brute force, you will be making an enemy of the entire Bodhi Mountain.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "Then, in your opinion, Master, what should we do?"

Master Jueming pondered for a moment and said, "If the Great Sage trusts me, I do have a way."

Sun Wukong said, "Master, please speak."

Master Jueming said, "The Bodhi tree ripens once every three thousand years, and each time it produces no more than a hundred fruits."

This year is a year of plenty.

I had planned to go up the mountain to collect them myself some time later.

Since the three of you have come from afar, this old monk will take you up the mountain together. However…”

Li Yan asked, "Just what?"

Master Jueming said, "But the Bodhi tree is protected by a tree spirit."

That tree spirit was enlightened by the patriarch and has cultivated for tens of thousands of years.

It has a strange nature and dislikes strangers. If it doesn't allow it, even this old monk cannot pick the Bodhi seeds.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo's expression changed slightly.

He has traveled through the three realms for many years and has seen many spirit trees and tree spirits.

Some of the tree spirits were gentle, some were irritable, and some were capricious.

They are the most difficult to deal with.

Sun Wukong, however, did not take it to heart and grinned, saying, "Don't worry, Master."

I, Old Sun, am the best at dealing with tree spirits.

Back in Flower Fruit Mountain, I, Old Sun, was good friends with all the peach tree spirits, plum tree spirits, and apricot tree spirits.

Master Jueming smiled slightly and said, "In that case, please follow me, the three of you."

The four of them left the monastery and headed towards the back of the mountain along the mountain path.

That Bodhi Mountain is three thousand feet high and eight hundred miles in circumference.

Ancient trees reach for the sky in the mountains, shrouded in clouds and mist.

Occasionally, the cries of monkeys and the roars of tigers could be heard coming from the depths of the dense forest.

The path, weathered by wind and rain, remains as smooth as ever.

Two rows of lush bamboos line both sides of the path, their green leaves swaying in the wind.

After walking for about half an hour, a stone bridge suddenly appeared ahead.

The bridge spans a deep ravine, the bottom of which is shrouded in mist.

A stone tablet stands at the head of the bridge.

The stele is inscribed with three large ancient seal characters: [Bodhi Stream].

Master Jueming stopped at the bridgehead, turned around and said:

"Three of you, once you cross this bridge, you will reach the place where our patriarch attained enlightenment."

The Bodhi tree is on the other side of the stream.

However, this Bodhi Valley is protected by restrictions set up by the patriarch.

That restriction is called the "Forget-Heart Array." Those who enter this array will forget their past lives, leaving only a pure and innocent heart.

"Without a childlike heart, one cannot cross this bridge."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo's expression changed slightly.

Wouldn't all his years of cultivation and memories be wasted?

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, what's so difficult about this?"

"I, Old Sun, have always had the heart of a child; why should I forget it?"

Having said that, he strode onto the stone bridge.

As he took his first step, the scene before him suddenly changed.

Instead, there was only a vast, white void.

In the void, there is no heaven or earth, no sun or moon, no mountains or rivers, no grass or trees, only silence.

Sun Wukong stood in the void, feeling a complete blank in his mind.

He couldn't remember who he was, where he came from, or where he was going.

He felt as if he were a pebble, a blade of grass, a cloud, or a gentle breeze.

Without thought or worry, without joy or sorrow.

This is the heart of a child.

Sun Wukong stood in this void for an unknown amount of time.

It may be a moment, or it may be ten thousand years.

He felt a sense of emptiness in his heart, like an old man on a mountaintop, unmoved by wind and rain.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the void.

The voice was ancient and distant, as if it came from the beginning of time.

"Who are you?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback. He wanted to answer, but found himself speechless.

He didn't know who he was, so naturally he couldn't answer that question.

The voice then asked, "Where do you come from?"

Sun Wukong still couldn't answer.

The voice asked again, "Where are you going?"

Sun Wukong still couldn't answer.

The voice paused for a moment, then said, "You don't know who you are, where you came from, or where you are going."

Do you know why you are here?

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, then grinned.

Unable to speak, he conveyed his answer through telepathy.

"I don't know who I am, where I came from, where I'm going, or why I'm here."

All I know is that I am here, and that is it. This very existence is the Way.

The voice remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a long sigh.

"Excellent, excellent. Over the past tens of thousands of years, countless people have crossed this bridge."

Some people struggle to figure out who they are, some desperately try to recall where they came from, and some persistently search for where they are going.

Only you, I don't ask about coming or going, nor do I care about beginning or end.

This very existence is the Way, and the Way is right here. You have grasped the true meaning of the Way's natural way.

As the sound faded, the vast white void suddenly shattered, turning into countless points of light that vanished without a trace.

Sun Wukong felt a sudden light before his eyes, and the stone bridge, the deep ravine, and the green bamboo all reappeared before him.

He looked down and realized he was standing on the other side of the stone bridge.

Behind me was a vast expanse of white mist.

In front of him was a lush, green forest.

Deep in the woods, there was a towering tree with a canopy that blocked out the sun.

"Junior brother!"

Li Yan's voice came from behind.

Sun Wukong turned around and saw that Li Yan had also stepped across the stone bridge and was standing beside him.

Dongfang Shuo and Master Jueming, however, remained on the other side of the bridge, their faces blank.

"Senior brother, you've come too?" Sun Wukong said with a smile.

Li Yan nodded, his face slightly pale.

He had also experienced the Forgetfulness Formation just now.

However, he was different from Sun Wukong; he cultivated the External Harmony Cave Heaven Dao, and his mind was inherently clear and empty.

For him, the Forget-Mind Formation was nothing more than a gentle breeze.

"It seems that the Master and Mr. Dongfang are in deep trouble."

Li Yan looked towards the other side of the bridge and saw Dongfang Shuo pacing back and forth at the bridgehead with a furrowed brow, as if deep in thought.

"I wonder how Mr. Dongfang obtained the Bodhi seed last time?" Li Yan muttered to himself.

Master Jueming sat cross-legged at the head of the bridge, closed his eyes and entered meditation, his face calm.

Sun Wukong asked, "Then what do we do? Wait for them?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No need to wait."

The Bodhi tree is just ahead. Let's go pick some Bodhi seeds first, then come back to fetch them.

The two turned and walked deeper into the woods.

The forest was filled with ancient, towering trees that blocked out the sun.

The forest was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting dappled gold spots on the ground.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which felt soft and spongy underfoot.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a clearing suddenly appeared ahead.

In the center of the open space stood a towering tree.

That tree was a hundred feet tall, with a canopy that blocked out the sky and the sun.

The tree trunk is so thick that it takes more than ten people to encircle it.

The bark is engraved with countless fine lines, like a mysterious and enigmatic script.

Countless Bodhi seeds, golden in color and faintly shimmering with light, hang from the branches.

That is the Bodhi tree.

When Sun Wukong saw the tree, his golden eyes lit up, and he grinned:

"What a huge tree! Bigger than the old peach tree on my Flower and Fruit Mountain!"

Li Yan, however, had a solemn expression.

He sensed a vast power within the tree.

That power was not as gentle as that of ordinary spirit wood; instead, it carried a sharp and oppressive force.

At that moment, the Bodhi tree trembled.

Above the tree canopy, the golden Bodhi seeds shimmered and hummed.

Within that sound, a figure could be faintly seen slowly emerging from the tree trunk.

The figure was entirely emerald green, with a blurred face and an ethereal form.

He stood in front of the tree, looking at Li Yan and Sun Wukong, his voice hoarse.

"For tens of thousands of years, in this smooth and orderly manner, only the two of you have passed through the Forgetfulness Formation."

Sun Wukong asked, "Are you the tree spirit?"