Sun Wukong returned to Biyou Palace in a flash.
The sages had already returned to their respective palaces.
Sun Wukong's Havoc in Heaven and Hongjun's intervention had revealed one thing: Journey to the West had begun.
The sages had all hurried back to make arrangements.
Tongtian personally came out to welcome Sun Wukong. Seeing Monkey beaming without the slightest resentment, he found it especially strange.
"Fellow Daoist, you seem to be in a very good mood?"
Any cultivator would be irritated after encountering something like this, wouldn't they?
Yet Sun Wukong was not only unresentful, but rather happy!
Sun Wukong laughed heartily.
"Fellow Daoist, how could Old Sun not be angry?"
"Haotian is a pathetic fool, and that bald Rulai is a despicable bastard. He couldn't beat Old Sun, so he actually called for reinforcements!"
"That reinforcement had profound cultivation. Forgive my bluntness, but Old Sun feels that even Fellow Daoist would not be his match."
Tongtian nodded.
There was nothing bad about saying so.
That was simply the truth!
Who had attacked Sun Wukong?
Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
If Tongtian did not reveal the Imitation Pangu Sky-Opening Axe, he definitely would not be able to defeat Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Hongjun was at the Peak Dao Integration Realm!
He was a supreme expert truly standing at the pinnacle of the Primordial Era's cultivators.
There was nothing shameful about not being Hongjun's match!
Sun Wukong smiled.
"When Old Sun left the island this time, my master told me that I would face a great tribulation and had to settle my Karma."
"I have to make the Journey to the West."
"How could Old Sun not be angry about such things?"
Tongtian found it even stranger. "Then, Fellow Daoist, why are you...?"
Sun Wukong smiled. "Because Old Sun's cultivation has improved! I must thank Fellow Daoist for allowing Old Sun to advance to Golden Immortal!"
He solemnly saluted Tongtian in thanks.
Tongtian hurriedly stopped Monkey and asked in confusion, "Fellow Daoist, when did I ever help you?"
Sun Wukong explained.
"When Fellow Daoist previously visited Penglai Immortal Island, my master extracted an ingenious cultivation method from you. Though it was a shortcut, it could preserve one's life."
"My master gained inspiration for this method by observing Fellow Daoist's cultivation, so Old Sun must thank you!"
Sun Wukong was radiant with pride as he declared.
"From now on, Old Sun is a Golden Immortal!"
What?!
Tongtian froze!
The Seven Immortals of Biyou Palace—Jinling had already been taken by Yuanshi to Chan Jiao to serve as its second-generation leader—all gaped in unison.
Could there be some mistake?
Sun Wukong was clearly Hunyuan!
How could he call himself a Golden Immortal?
Had something gone wrong somewhere?
Duobao braced himself and asked, "Junior Uncle-Master, may I ask what realm a Golden Immortal is?"
Monkey was quite delighted by his advancement, so he explained.
"A Golden Immortal controls the laws of the Great Dao, possesses Concept Immortality, can be reborn from a wisp of True Spirit, enter time and space, roam the River of Time and Space, possess immortal immortal blood, achieve the supreme Dharma form, wield an infinite Dharma body, and remain independent of the world even if the rules of time and space throughout the entire world are altered!"
Hiss!
This time, even Tongtian gaped.
As for the Seven Immortals of Biyou Palace, they looked as though they had been struck by five bolts of lightning. They were dumbfounded and could hardly believe it!
They all stared at Sun Wukong. You called that Golden Immortal?!
Then what were they?
Half-step Golden Immortals?
Tongtian's heart churned wildly.
He knew that Great God Lin Dong's classifications of cultivation realms were strict.
But he had never imagined they would be this strict!
Concept Immortality and roaming the River of Time and Space were merely the realm of a Golden Immortal?!
Even Tongtian himself could not fully accomplish that!
It was true that he possessed Concept Immortality, but he had achieved it through the power of the Heavenly Dao.
Roaming the River of Time and Space... even he could not do that!
And this was merely the Golden Immortal realm Senior Lin Dong had spoken of.
Above Golden Immortal was Grand Unity Golden Immortal, above that was Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and above that was Primordial Golden Immortal...
Tongtian suddenly understood the gap between himself and Great God Lin Dong.
They were separated by countless realms!
Tongtian smiled bitterly to himself. "No wonder Great God Lin Dong said I had entered Golden Immortal by taking shortcuts... I really did take shortcuts!"
He finally understood.
The many unbelievable things that he and the other sages saw were simply ordinary matters in Great God Lin Dong's eyes.
Who would care about ordinary things?
Duobao and the other Seven Immortals were parched.
They were left utterly dazed by the realm Sun Wukong had described.
That realm was something they longed for but could never attain.
To put it bluntly, even if they reached the Hunyuan realm, they would still fall short of the Golden Immortal realm Sun Wukong had described.
Before the Havoc in Heaven,
this Monkey Junior Uncle-Master before them had possessed less cultivation than they did.
But after the Havoc in Heaven, Monkey's realm had suddenly surpassed theirs, achieving Golden Immortal... no! Hunyuan!
He was now a true uncle-master!
Duobao steadied himself and asked, "Uncle-Master, did you say just now that you entered it by taking shortcuts?"
Sun Wukong did not hide it at all. "That's right!"
"Old Sun has entered this realm. Of the three major traits—controlling the laws of the Great Dao, possessing Concept Immortality, and roaming the River of Time and Space—Old Sun barely possesses one: Concept Immortality!"
"As for the other two, Old Sun still needs to spend time practicing them properly!"
Hiss!
All the disciples said in unison, "Congratulations, Uncle-Master!"
Concept Immortality was practically the ability cultivators desired most.
As long as one possessed that ability, there was no need to fear any great tribulation.
The Dao had no end, and tribulations were countless.
But if one possessed Concept Immortality, then no matter what Immeasurable Eon came, they would have nothing to fear.
They would not even fear an Immeasurable Eon anymore!
Once you were immortal, what was there to fear?!
Of course, the powerful experts also knew that immortality did not mean invincibility.
If an expert's cultivation far surpassed yours, they could use every means available to suppress you.
At that point, even immortality would not be of much use.
But your life would be safe!
As long as one remained alive, one would have ample time to cultivate, improve one's cultivation, and return to settle Karma!
Everyone below Tongtian was filled with envy.
Sun Wukong recalled something. "Old Sun happened upon something interesting."
He casually took out a small, exquisite mountain.
"This is an unexpected little gain, a small trinket Old Sun casually refined!"
He asked with a grin.
"Though this thing is small, it is enough for play."
"Which of you martial nephews wants it?"
Tongtian hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist, you must not! This is a Supreme Merit Treasure!"
His Dharma Eye saw it clearly.
This truly was a peerless Supreme Merit Treasure!
Judging by its power, it was no weaker than Taishang's Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda!
Sun Wukong was exceedingly generous.
"What are you saying, Fellow Daoist? Old Sun already has magic treasures. This little trinket was unintentionally refined while Old Sun was improving his cultivation just now."
Monkey pulled a face and said to the Seven Immortals.
"Do not listen to your master. Listen to Old Sun. Which of you wants it?"
He swept his gaze across the Seven Immortals and asked curiously.
"Where is Little Ling?"
Tongtian answered, "She went to my senior brother's place to lead a sect!"
Sun Wukong immediately had an idea.
"Then fine, this treasure will serve as Little Ling's congratulatory gift!"
He casually located Jinling's thread of Karma, tossed out the small mountain, and sent it flying over!
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