Following One's Heart, Ever-Changing

"Just as you said, an innocent heart nature may benefit cultivation, but it also makes one easy to scheme against. I can protect Wukong for a time, but not for a lifetime. A calamity awaits him in the future!"

"Are you willing to face that calamity in his stead?"

After casually speaking with Xuan Yin about the Great Dao Struggle between the Two Sages, Patriarch Bodhi shifted the topic back to Sun Wukong.

"Ah?"

Xuan Yin froze.

Face Sun Wukong's calamity in his stead? Did that mean he had to take a trip beneath Five Fingers Mountain himself?

That was no good thing!

Seeing that Xuan Yin did not answer, Patriarch Bodhi immediately smiled. "Wukong's calamity may be an unavoidable disaster to him, but to you, it may be an indescribable fortune! Haven't you been thinking of gathering the Innate Origins of the Four Mixed Monkeys?"

"This is an opportunity!"

Patriarch Bodhi pointed at the heavens, then at Xuan Yin. "You are now a Six-Eared Macaque. As long as you can collect the origins of the Arm-Reaching Ape Monkey and the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey, This Humble Daoist can make the decision to give you a portion of Wukong's origin!"

"Really?"

Xuan Yin was overjoyed.

He had not been idle during this time. He had continually gathered intelligence on the Three Realms and already learned that the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey was suppressed beneath Turtle Mountain, while the Arm-Reaching Ape Monkey was now the Heavenly Court's Four Wastes Star Lord.

If Patriarch Bodhi could give him a portion of Sun Wukong's origin, he could fully experience the Great Dao of the Chaos Demon Ape in this world.

"Why would This Humble Daoist deceive you?"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled. "This world actually contains several opportunities, but after much consideration, the Chaos Demon Ape Imprint is still the most suitable for you!"

Of course, everything he had said to Xuan Yin was merely an excuse!

Sages endured alongside Heaven and existed alongside the Dao, their divine abilities boundless. If they wished to bestow an opportunity upon someone, their words could manifest as law. Why would they need to beat around the bush like this?

This was actually a test!

The Grand Pure Sage's deductions were unparalleled, and his Way of Non-Action closely accorded with the Great Trend of the Heavenly Dao. He could even glimpse the future several hundred Epochs ahead from the Netherworld!

He had sensed a trace of change around Xuan Yin. Though his cultivation was not high, he had already exerted a slight influence upon the future.

This world was merely a fragment of the future that he had cut from the River of Time and Space using his own Great Luo Heavens. It had not merged into the main axis of time and space.

Only if Xuan Yin, in the identity of the Six-Eared Macaque, could shatter the shackles of destiny upon Sun Wukong would he be qualified to stir the great tide of the Primordial True Realm!

Truth within falsehood, falsehood within truth. The Way of Non-Action was not truly about doing nothing, but about seeing through the greater trend and preserving oneself within it.

A casual move could become a subtle thread stretching for a thousand miles, allowing one to reap the greatest benefit at a critical moment while keeping oneself safe.

"Ahem!"

Xuan Yin could not help coughing. "Patriarch, I have no objections, but I don't even possess a Magic Treasure suited to me. Even if I wanted to face Wukong's calamity for him, I simply lack the strength!"

He had some guesses about the Grand Pure Sage's intentions as well, but since this was a test, he had to secure enough benefits for himself.

"You are quite greedy!"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled. A golden-and-silver rod materialized before Xuan Yin. "When treasures were distributed at the Purple Cloud Palace, Tongtian received the most treasures. Could he possibly lack a Spiritual Treasure for you? Still, since you have asked, This Humble Daoist shall give you this As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff as a gift!"

The As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff?

Xuan Yin's mouth twitched as he looked at the Spiritual Treasure before him. Was this man really treating him as the Six-Eared Macaque?

Still, anything produced by Laojun was bound to be excellent. Although the As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff had been refined after the world's creation, it bore thirty-six Houtian Restrictions.

It was among the finest High-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures. In the Primordial Realm, some poorer Great Luo cultivators used nothing more than High-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures.

Moreover, this treasure changed according to one's will, making it perfectly suited to Xuan Yin's current state.

"What does Patriarch need me to do?"

Xuan Yin put away the As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff and smiled. "I can take the blame, but you can't expect me to fight the Jade Emperor and Rulai, can you?"

Although this world had been created by Laojun and its rank was far inferior to the Primordial True Realm, Xuan Yin had carefully investigated it with his Innate Divine Ability during this time. The top Great Powers in this world might only possess the status of Great Luo, but their strength still far surpassed that of ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals!

Furthermore, since this heaven and earth was a Sage's Great Luo Heavens, he was the Heavenly Dao of this world and could suddenly strengthen any Great Power at any moment.

If the other side suddenly raised the difficulty... no number of him could possibly clear it!

"You only need to help Wukong escape his destiny!"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled. "Of course, if you wish to spar with the Jade Emperor or Rulai, This Humble Daoist can arrange that as well!"

"Escape his destiny?"

Xuan Yin frowned.

What was Sun Wukong's destiny?

Was it wreaking havoc in the Dragon Palace? Breaking into the Underworld? Causing havoc in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall? Or protecting Tang Sanzang on his pilgrimage for scriptures?

No!

In this world, the Grand Pure Sage was the true destiny. No matter what Sun Wukong did, as long as he remained in this world, he could never escape the fate arranged for him by the Grand Pure Sage!

Under the Heavenly Dao, all things were encompassed. Following Heaven was destiny, defying Heaven was also destiny. Only by stepping beyond the chessboard could one escape the shackles of this world's destiny!

Sometimes, an act that defied Heaven might not necessarily be outside the Heavenly Dao's arrangements!

"This junior understands!"

Xuan Yin nodded and promised, "This junior will do his utmost. As for whether I can succeed, that depends on whether Patriarch can truly remain uninvolved!"

Given the current situation, success was not impossible with careful planning.

But the prerequisite was that Patriarch Bodhi before him, Laojun of Tushita Palace, the true Heavenly Dao of this world, would not personally intervene!

"I will not leave Square Inch Mountain!"

Patriarch Bodhi shook his head and smiled. "Furthermore, so long as it is permitted by the rules, Laojun and the Jade Emperor will not intervene either!"

"This..."

Xuan Yin wore a bitter smile. Patriarch Bodhi, Taishang Laojun, and the Jade Emperor would not act, but Buddha Tathagata might not abide by that!

Besides that, this world also contained existences such as Guanyin Bodhisattva and the True Martial Emperor. They might not possess the strength of Patriarch Bodhi or Rulai, but they were still no small threat to Xuan Yin.

"Looks like I'll have to borrow strength!"

The various factions in this world stood side by side. They could not possibly be completely united, and that was something Xuan Yin could exploit.

Patriarch Bodhi left. Although Sun Wukong had yet to subdue his Mind Monkey and Will Horse, he had already decided to teach him the Method of Longevity and arts to protect the Dao!

Xuan Yin left as well!

Although he could now wield the strength of a Golden Immortal in this world, that level of power was far from enough to help Sun Wukong escape his destiny!

Remaining on Square Inch Mountain could not allow him to increase his strength in a short time.

He headed directly for Turtle Mountain!

In the myths of this world, after Da Yu controlled the floods, the Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey, the Water Ape Great Sage Wu Zhiqi, was suppressed beneath Turtle Mountain.

Boom!

Guided by a vague, unseen resonance, he soon found the place where Wu Zhiqi was sealed. He immediately activated all his Magic Power and struck it.

The As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff erupted with immeasurable golden light. With a casual swing, peals of thunder resounded through the void, and countless realms of time and space were instantly reduced to nothingness.

The seal shattered at once.

A moment later, a soaring baleful aura burst forth, accompanied by laughter. "Hahaha! The time has finally come for me, Wu Zhiqi, to be born!"

In an instant, endless Water Elemental Power converged around Turtle Mountain. Myriad laws intertwined, sketching the enormous Water Ape True Form in the void!

Wu Zhiqi had emerged!