Journey to the West Arrives: Start by becoming an apprentice of the Tongtian Sect Leader!

Upon hearing these words, Sun Wukong was incredibly excited.

It seems that the scene of myself standing in the void, facing countless gods and Buddhas, has already appeared in my mind...

For a moment, Sun Wukong's breathing became somewhat rapid.

"Senior brother! I, Old Sun, must learn real skills!"

"You must learn real skills!!!"

Li Xuancang nodded upon hearing this.

"Wukong, our master is one of the strongest beings in the world. As long as you cultivate diligently, he will surely pass on his true skills to you."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong became so excited that he jumped up and down excitedly.

He couldn't help but think to himself that when he got back, he must study etiquette properly and also learn to read and write diligently.

However, a monkey's temper comes and goes quickly.

After Li Xuancang led Sun Wukong to explore the back mountain of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain for a while, they returned to Xieyue Sanxing Cave.

Inside the Cave of the Crescent Moon and Three Stars, Sun Wukong looked at the characters in front of him that he was supposed to learn, and felt as if he were reading a book written in heaven.

It made my whole monkey brain swell up!

After watching for only a few minutes, I couldn't stand it anymore.

He casually tossed the book aside, squatted on the futon, and scratched his head.

"This thing is so hard to learn!"

"I, Old Sun, really can't learn that!"

"Why don't we go find our senior brother and have some fun? His stories are much more interesting than what's in this book."

With this in mind, Sun Wukong went to find Li Xuancang again.

Seeing the monkeys return, Li Xuancang felt somewhat helpless.

I was saying I'd study hard, but it hasn't been long, and I can't sit still anymore.

"You monkey, instead of studying properly, why are you running around here with your elder brother again?"

Sun Wukong smiled sheepishly.

"Hehe... Senior brother, I really can't understand those celestial books."

"Instead of reading those cryptic books, I'd rather listen to my senior brother tell me some stories."

"Senior brother, you're so funny! I, Old Sun, really love what you say!"

In the past few days, Li Xuancang did indeed make up some short stories to amuse the monkey, but who would have thought that the monkey would like to listen to stories so much.

"Do you remember where I left off in the story?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately perked up and hurriedly said...

"Last time, my senior brother talked about Lin Daiyu uprooting a willow tree and Jia Baoyu in the snow at the mountain temple!"

Li Xuancang nodded upon hearing this.

"In that case, I will tell you today the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's bloody battle at the Mandarin Duck Tower, and Cao Cao's furious killing of Yan Poxi."

In an instant, Sun Wukong sat obediently in front of Li Xuancang, like a primary school student waiting to listen to a lecture.

Sun Wukong felt that this kind of life was really comfortable.

Above him was the guidance of his master, below him were a group of fellow disciples to play in the world, and the eldest disciple would tell him stories. When thirsty, he could drink some spring water, and when hungry, he could go to the back mountain to pick some peaches to eat.

These days are making the monkey so happy!

Time flies in the mountains, and seven years passed by in this way.

For seven years, Sun Wukong lived a comfortable life on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, but he never received the cultivation method taught by Patriarch Subhuti.

Although Sun Wukong was naturally active, those seven years were enough for him to learn all the characters, and he also often listened to the teachings with his fellow disciples during this time.

Although he couldn't understand it, and although sometimes Subhuti's teachings weren't about the path of cultivation, Sun Wukong still listened with great interest.

This time, Subhuti once again preached to his disciples.

Although the lecture was not about the path of cultivation, the disciples still listened attentively.

Only Sun Wukong was naturally restless, constantly looking around, scratching his ears and cheeks, and making some strange noises.

Upon seeing this, Subhuti frowned.

"You monkey, why are you chattering away and not listening to me?"

Sun Wukong hurriedly spoke.

"Your disciple listened attentively, and was overjoyed when Master spoke of the most profound points. I beg Master's forgiveness."

After nodding, Subhuti asked again.

"Since you understand the subtle points, let me ask you, how long have you been here on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong counted on his fingers.

"Master, I was ignorant, but I remember that my eldest brother often took me to the back mountain to eat peaches. Those peaches have ripened seven times already."

Subhuti spoke again.

"The peach ripens seven times, which means seven years have passed. You have been an apprentice for seven years. Now, I ask you, what path do you wish to learn?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was immediately delighted.

After seven years of studying at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, my master is finally going to pass on his Taoist teachings to me!

So Sun Wukong hurriedly said.

"I will follow Master's teachings and learn whatever Master instructs me to learn!"

Subhuti nodded and then asked a question.

"I will teach you how to invoke the spirits, consult divination sticks, and so on, so that you can understand the principles of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune. What do you say?"

Sun Wukong didn't quite understand, so he could only ask a question in return.

"Is it possible to live forever?"

The patriarch shook his head...

"Of course not!"

Upon hearing that immortality was impossible, Sun Wukong hurriedly shook his head.

"I won't learn it! I won't learn it!"

Upon hearing Sun Wukong say he wouldn't learn, Patriarch Subhuti spoke again.

"In that case, I will teach you Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Yin-Yang philosophy, Mohism, and medicine; or you can study scriptures, chant Buddhist mantras, and even seek veneration from the gods and saints, what do you say?"

Sun Wukong asked again if it was possible to achieve immortality, and Subhuti shook his head once more.

Upon hearing that immortality was impossible, Sun Wukong declared he would not learn it!

Then Subhuti Patriarch spoke of various magical arts, but none of them could grant immortality, so Sun Wukong did not want to learn any of them.

After asking for a while, Subhuti frowned, a hint of displeasure on his face, and stepped down from the platform to stand in front of Sun Wukong.

"You monkey, you won't learn this or that, what do you want?!"

After saying this, Subhuti pulled out a ruler from somewhere and banged it three times on Sun Wukong's head.

After teaching Sun Wukong a lesson, Patriarch Subhuti left with his hands behind his back and abandoned his disciples.

Upon seeing this, the fellow disciples were immediately displeased and began to discuss amongst themselves.

"You impudent monkey! Your master taught you the Daoist arts, yet you refuse to learn them!"

"That's right, that's right! It's one thing to not study, but you also talk back to Master! Master finally gave a lecture, and you, you impudent monkey, ruined it!"

"Alas, you impudent monkey, you have offended your master so much. I wonder when your master will be able to preach again..."

The group of fellow disciples were all talking amongst themselves, but Sun Wukong wasn't angry; he just kept smiling and trying to appease them.

However, he began to ponder in his heart.

My master just hit me three times; he must be telling me to go and learn the Dao at midnight!

He just left with his hands behind his back and closed the main door, so he must be telling me to come in through the back door!

Upon thinking of this, Sun Wukong immediately became excited.

Master is definitely going to teach me, Old Sun, some real skills!

Thinking of this, Sun Wukong's eyes became even more piercing.

Just then, Sun Wukong spotted Li Xuancang and his eyes lit up.

I couldn't help but think that my senior brother and I, Old Sun, have always been close, and he has always taken good care of me...

Today, Master is going to impart the true Daoist teachings to me, Old Sun, and I, Old Sun, cannot forget my Eldest Brother!

In that case, I'll go and talk to my senior brother about it later, and then we'll go together to listen to the Dao at midnight!

Thinking of this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed and hurriedly hopped and skipped after Li Xuancang.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Wait for me, I, Old Sun, have something to tell you!"