Chapter 739: Teaching the Monkey (Part 1)

The Dao follows nature, dwelling as one pleases.

On Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Li Changshou lay back in his rocking chair, basking in the warm sunlight. His face, which resembled that of an elderly man with the vitality of a child, wore a faint smile.

The rise of the West had nothing to do with him, and the birth of Jin Chan was irrelevant to his affairs.

His plan was to train the monkey properly and, in the process, plant some hidden threats before the Xiyou journey. Whether he won or lost, and regardless of whether the Xiyou calamity occurred, it wouldn't matter in the end.

If he succeeded, the world would enjoy peace; if he failed, he would retreat far into the chaos.

That said, Sun Wukong was truly a born powerhouse.

Today marked exactly the hundredth day since Sun Wukong had come to the mountain. In the main hall, as the scriptures were being explained, the monkey was now able to sit still and carefully ponder their meaning.

His performance was exceptionally outstanding.

As for teaching this monkey, aside from creating an atmosphere of equality, freedom, and kindness in the Xieyue Sanxing Cave, Li Changshou hadn't done much else for the time being.

Thanks to over a decade of trials in the mortal world, Sun Wukong quickly bonded with his senior brothers and sisters.

With Li Changshou's tacit approval, Sun Wukong had learned basic Daoist methods from them and, in just half a month, had advanced along a path that ordinary qi refiners might take years or even decades to traverse.

At this point, Li Changshou could no longer just sit back and watch; he had to step in and guide him personally.

Otherwise, they would miss the "golden period" of the monkey's rapid growth.

Li Changshou had plenty of ways to give the monkey special training. Today, during the scripture lecture in the great hall, he had already handled this perfectly.

What did he do?

Essentially, he went with the flow and gave the monkey a subtle hint.

After finishing the explanation of the Daoist scriptures and methods, Li Changshou asked the disciples if they had any doubts or unclear points.

A few outstanding "class representatives" raised some standard questions about the scriptures, and Li Changshou answered them one by one.

In the end, Sun Wukong couldn't hold back and asked a question himself.

"Master! Oh, hey, Master above, may this disciple ask if the cultivation I'm practicing now leads to immortality?"

Li Changshou replied expressionlessly, "The supreme laws of the world lie in the three thousand great paths. Each path can lead to immortality, depending on your opportunities and destiny."

How could Sun Wukong not see that this was just an evasive answer?

He quickly bowed in respect and knelt on his meditation mat, saying:

"This disciple has no intention of being disrespectful or questioning the Dao.

It's just, Master, this disciple is dull-witted. I've been out in the world for over ten years now and still haven't glimpsed the shadow of an immortality method.

If you have a way, could you give me a clear sign, so I can set my mind at ease?"

"How so," Li Changshou frowned slightly, "From your words, it seems that if I don't have a method for immortality, you'd defect to another sect?"

"This disciple wouldn't dare, this disciple wouldn't dare," Sun Wukong kowtowed as he bowed, "This disciple didn't bring any gifts, and you still took me as your disciple, so I'm not that heartless a creature!

It's just, Master...

This disciple just wants to know if immortality is possible or not. If it's not, I'll go back to Huaguo Mountain first to arrange things for my monkey kin, then return to serve you!"

Li Changshou said calmly, "Do you know how old I am?"

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment.

A senior brother nearby laughed and said:

"Junior brother, you're from the mortal world, so it's understandable you don't know our teacher's title.

Our teacher is a great power of the primordial world, addressed as 'old ancestor' or 'senior' by all.

Those immortal beings you envy are few and far between, but even they must show respect to our teacher. With a single finger from him, they could vanish into smoke."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up: "Oh? Is that true?"

"You little monkey!"

Li Changshou was genuinely amused by the monkey's audacity and flicked his finger lightly at Sun Wukong.

Before Sun Wukong's eyes, faint images appeared, and he felt an ancient, profound Dao rhythm that had existed in the heavens and earth for eons.

The stone monkey had no more doubts and knelt repeatedly, apologizing profusely.

Li Changshou said, "Cultivation is not about competing for strength; it's the path by which living beings pursue the Dao.

Sun Wukong, when you entered my sect, you already set foot on this road. How far or where you go depends on you to grasp.

I can teach you the methods of cultivation, but I can't help you overcome bottlenecks.

I can teach you to sense the Dao, but I can't place it directly in your hands.

Therefore, I won't speak to you or your fellow disciples about the realm of immortality or how to achieve it.

What you cultivate is the Dao, and what you pursue should be your true self, returning to your original nature, finding peace and freedom, seeking true meaning in the void, and exploring your essence in the haze.

Do you understand?"

All the disciples bowed their heads in unison and replied affirmatively, with Sun Wukong also cupping his hands repeatedly.

Li Changshou continued:

"Since we've come to this, let me say a bit more.

Sun Wukong, you've been in the sect for a hundred days now, and I've seen your sincerity and diligence. I truly accept you as my disciple.

Today, I will pass on a cultivation method to you, and you can make your own choice."

Sun Wukong chuckled, "Master, whatever you teach, that's what this disciple will learn."

"Don't be cheeky and fawning; listen carefully."

Li Changshou said seriously, "I have a method called the Way of Emptiness. It involves comprehending the principles of the void, constantly correcting your true heart, seeing reality in illusions, and understanding illusions in reality.

Do you want to learn it?"

Sun Wukong asked, "Master, how long will it take to achieve immortality with this method?"

Li Changshou replied, "If your comprehension is deep, your practice smooth, and you avoid bottlenecks, perhaps five or six thousand years."

"That's too long, too long! This disciple still hopes to extend the lives of those old monkeys."

Li Changshou nodded and added, "I have another method that can illuminate your nature and increase your lifespan.

If you comprehend it diligently for three or four thousand years and everything goes well, you can achieve immortality."

"That's still too long, way too long!"

Sun Wukong's eyes were full of anticipation. He first offered apologies repeatedly, then asked, "Master, is there a method that can lead to immortality in just a few decades or centuries?"

Most of the disciples around couldn't help but smile.

One disciple chimed in, "Even if you practiced demonic arts, it's impossible to achieve the fruit of immortality in a few centuries."

Another added, "Sun Wukong, don't upset the teacher..."

"Humph!"

Li Changshou's expression turned stern as he said coldly, "Sun Wukong, your mind is restless and fixated on immortality. Step forward!"

Sun Wukong trembled a bit but quickly moved forward and knelt before Li Changshou.

Li Changshou stood up, summoned a wooden whip with a wave of his hand, and struck Sun Wukong's back three times—not too hard, not too light—as he scolded:

"Take this as a lesson and reflect on it properly!"

With that, Li Changshou's figure quietly vanished, leaving the disciples exchanging bewildered glances. They gathered around Sun Wukong, lecturing him for his disrespectful words that had angered the teacher.

Sun Wukong, however, just grinned playfully, showing no real shame.

On the other hand, they overlooked two issues.

First, the monkey's desire to quickly achieve immortality and then bring his monkey kin along for the ride implied a "one person ascends, and all rise with them" mentality, which was taboo among qi refiners.

This violated the primordial tradition of not lightly transmitting laws and could bring unpredictable variables to the sect, potentially inviting karmic obstacles.

Second, when the other disciples had joined the sect, the teacher hadn't asked them what methods they wanted to practice; he had simply thrown a cultivation text at them. Today, however, he had offered different choices.

Tsk, such favoritism.

Late at night, in the quiet hours, Li Changshou was resting.

In the Xieyue Sanxing Cave, a shadowy figure crept about stealthily, eventually darting to the window of Li Changshou's luxurious cave dwelling and calling softly:

"Master, Master."

It was Sun Wukong.

Seeing no response from inside, Sun Wukong carefully pushed the window open, tiptoed in, knelt by Li Changshou's bed, and kowtowed a few times without a word.

"Master, I wonder if this is what you meant, having me come see you in the middle of the night."

"You're not entirely foolish, you know."

As he spoke, Li Changshou activated the immortal energy barrier around the area and sat up from his bed, gazing at the monkey kneeling before him.

Sun Wukong looked up and met his eyes, his gaze still lively and clear.

Li Changshou said, "Get up. You don't need to be so formal from now on."

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master."

Sun Wukong spoke quickly, repeating short phrases as if afraid others wouldn't hear.

Li Changshou said, "Since you've figured it out, I can pass on to you the immortality method you want.

But, Sun Wukong, before I teach you, I'll ask you a few questions and set some rules. Agreed?"

"This disciple will follow all your arrangements, Master."

"Good," Li Changshou stroked his beard with a smile. "First, why do you cultivate? Besides seeking immortality and carefree living, do you have any other thoughts?"

Sun Wukong replied, "This disciple has no grand ambitions; I just want to learn immortality methods so my monkey kin can also live forever."

Li Changshou asked gently, "Are those monkeys and their descendants that important to you?"

"This disciple has no parents and doesn't understand the seven emotions and six desires."

Sun Wukong's expression grew a bit downcast, but he forced his usual cheerfulness. "Still, those little ones call me 'Great King,' so I can't just ignore them."

Li Changshou said, "Do you know that even if you bring back immortality methods, most of your kin won't even reach the Yuanxian realm?"

"Well... at least they'll have a chance, rather than none at all."

Sun Wukong laughed. "Master, have you ever been a great king?"

"No, I haven't. How does it feel?"

"Pretty freeing."

"Hahaha!"

Li Changshou chuckled while stroking his beard. "Very well, I'll give you some demon clan cultivation methods, but keep this quiet. Don't share what I teach you with anyone else."

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

"Get up," Li Changshou said, as a duster appeared in his hand. With a light sweep, Sun Wukong was pushed onto a meditation mat by the bed and sat down.

Li Changshou didn't hold back; he brought out the techniques given by Daozu and guided Sun Wukong to quickly master the basics and solidify his foundation.

This was the real special training.

It was also one of the few times Li Changshou had direct, close contact with the stone monkey. As he observed the monkey's aptitude, he felt as if he'd swallowed a mouthful of aged vinegar.

This monkey's talent was good enough to make an ordinary Golden Immortal's Dao heart collapse!

Still, cultivation required steady progress, step by step. Situations like this special training would become the norm for the monkey going forward.

These rules were quite interesting.

They were the guidelines Li Changshou set for Sun Wukong: not to harm fellow disciples, not to show off his divine abilities, and not to reveal anything about his own cultivation to others.

Sun Wukong understood that the methods he was being taught differed from those of his senior brothers and sisters.

And Sun Wukong raised a soul-searching question:

"Master, why not teach this wonderful method to my senior brothers and sisters as well?"

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said seriously, "Do you think this is unfair?"

"This disciple thinks... it is a bit unfair."

"But you're the one benefiting from this unfairness."

"It's still unfair," Sun Wukong said puzzled. "Master, this technique couldn't possibly have been specially created just for me."

Li Changshou laughed. "This method was created before you were born. Only those with a powerful physical body can practice it, and only those with a robust primordial spirit can master it. Among us, you're the only one who meets those criteria."

Sun Wukong accepted this explanation.

On the first night of his special training, Sun Wukong officially began his path of cultivation. From that night on, his realm started soaring rapidly.

For rapid cultivation cheats, none compare to those from Zixiao Palace, where Hongjun is busy!

As Li Changshou had instructed, Sun Wukong didn't boast about it to anyone.

This left Sun Wukong feeling quite stifled.

But for the sake of immortality, he had to hold it in; he sneaked off to see Li Changshou every few days, and his cultivation and realm skyrocketed without any risk of backlash.

And so, time passed unnoticed in the mountains, with no ripples in the river of years.

In the blink of an eye, another sixty years had gone by.

During these sixty years, Li Changshou took some time to travel and wander, planting several dozen hidden threats in various places—staying true to his main pursuits.

Although Tiandao was constantly watching this place, its focus was on the monkey, not on him as the Puti Laozu.

The world remained calm, with no major events unfolding.

The mortal lands of Nanzhou were stable, and the former Great Shang kingdom from hundreds of years ago was rarely mentioned, and when it was, it was mostly criticized.

For instance, Emperor Xin was now vilified in the mortal world as a tyrannical ruler, saddled with the derogatory title "Zhou," and burdened with countless fabricated crimes.

In reality, Emperor Xin was living as a leisurely immortal in Heaven, enjoying life with Daji.

Though he hadn't won, it wasn't a total loss.

Heaven continued to develop steadily, with its celestial soldiers and generals maintained at a prudent level, as Li Changshou had suggested, avoiding unnecessary expansion.

It was better to have a core of elite forces than a bloated, ineffective army.

The three thousand worlds were generally stable, with the Temple of Heaven and the Immortal Alliance serving as Heaven's right and left arms, assisting in managing them.

However, these two organizations had gradually earned a poor reputation among qi refiners.

This was inevitable.

Order restricts individual freedom, and excessive freedom can undermine order.

For the beings of the three thousand worlds, the Temple of Heaven and the Immortal Alliance represented order; naturally, qi refiners, feeling constrained by them, wouldn't speak well of them.

Back to Lingtai Mountain.

In just sixty years, the monkey's cultivation had reached the late Zhenxian stage.

Of course, the monkey didn't know what "true spirit indestructibility" meant; he was simply following Li Changshou's guidance through one realm after another.

The hidden spiritual energy within him had been activated, propelling him toward the immortality realm.

Beyond his Dao realm, in these sixty years, the monkey had learned various combat techniques and divine abilities. The Seventy-Two Transformations were now properly mastered, and cloud-somersaulting was second nature to him.

The monkey's rapid progress inevitably planted two lemon trees on Fangcun Mountain—that is, envy among the disciples.

For example, today, before Li Changshou was about to hold a lecture, a male disciple came forward to report that Sun Wukong had been in the sect for a long time but still looked like a monkey and refused to transform into an innate Dao body.

Li Changshou just smiled and shook his head, watching Sun Wukong playing with a few disciples in the mountains, and said softly:

"It's fine; he can choose his own path and way of living.

My disciple, your heart is not at peace."

The disciple looked ashamed, bowed, and quickly withdrew.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, then calculated with his fingers and chuckled lightly.

To play it safe, he'd arrange for that male disciple to go on a journey tomorrow to avoid any potential teaching mishaps.

Teaching the monkey was serious business for him.

Finally, he'd figured out how to handle the last plot complications...