Great Sage Who Settles Accounts, Enter My Dao Field!

Western Ox Continent.

On Spiritual Terrace Square Inch Mountain, within the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave, Patriarch Bodhi was in the midst of preaching when his gaze suddenly sharpened, fixing on the direction of Spirit Mountain. A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips!

"The time has come!"

"The Great Tribulation of Journey to the West is about to begin!"

"It's time to teach that Mischievous Monkey the arts!"

Patriarch Bodhi's smile faded as his eyes swept across the assembled disciples, finally settling on Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, since you've been listening to my teachings, let me ask you—how long have you been on my Square Inch Mountain?"

Sun Wukong scratched his monkey head, a look of pure, foolish innocence in his eyes, and said, "This Disciple is muddled and knows not the passage of years. I only recall a peach tree at the back mountain where I've eaten my fill seven times."

Patriarch Bodhi nodded. "That mountain is called Rotten Peach Mountain. Since you've eaten seven times, that makes seven years."

"Let me ask you—what kind of Daoist arts do you wish to learn?"

Hearing this, Sun Wukong's face lit up with wild joy. He kowtowed and said, "This Disciple knows nothing—I'll follow whatever the Patriarch teaches!"

Patriarch Bodhi nodded. "I'll teach you the art of seeking immortals and divining fortunes, of courting good fortune and avoiding disaster. How about that?"

Sun Wukong asked, "Patriarch, will this grant me eternal life?"

Patriarch Bodhi shook his head. "It cannot, it cannot."

Sun Wukong said, "Seeking immortals and divining fortunes—better to be one's own master. Won't learn, won't learn."

Patriarch Bodhi continued, "Then I'll teach you to chant sutras and recite scriptures, to pay homage to the true and summon the saints. How about that?"

Sun Wukong asked, "Will this grant me eternal life?"

Patriarch Bodhi shook his head again. "It's like fishing for the moon in water—in the end, it comes to nothing."

Sun Wukong scratched his monkey cheek and said, "If that's the case, chanting sutras and reciting scriptures is no match for having skill in one's own hands. Won't learn, won't learn."

Patriarch Bodhi pressed on, "Then I'll teach you to meditate in Zen, to keep silent vows and observe fasts. What do you say?"

Sun Wukong asked once more, "Will this grant me eternal life?"

Patriarch Bodhi shook his head. "It's also like viewing flowers in a mirror—you want to pluck them but cannot."

Sun Wukong's monkey eyes went wide, and he grew so anxious he started jumping up and down. "Won't learn, won't learn! Meditating in Zen is no match for wielding a staff and throwing punches. Patriarch, pick something else!"

Hearing this, Patriarch Bodhi let out a "hmph," feigning anger. "You wretched monkey—won't learn this, won't learn that. I'll have you taste the sting of my Measuring Rod!"

With that, he raised the Measuring Rod in his hand and struck the monkey head three times hard, then flicked his long robe and strode away.

Instantly, all the other disciples grew displeased, glaring angrily at Sun Wukong.

"You Mischievous Monkey, daring to offend the Patriarch!"

"Exactly! A little monkey like you, ruining the Patriarch's sermon!"

Seeing the senior brothers and sisters all voicing their complaints, Sun Wukong quickly slipped away, vanishing like oil off a pan.

Now, back in his bedchamber, Patriarch Bodhi was immensely pleased with himself.

He had deliberately struck the monkey head with force!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Three blows!

That monkey was born from Nuwa's Sky-Mending Stone—though wild by nature, he was gifted with sharp wits.

Surely the monkey would grasp his intent!

Come the third watch tonight, when the monkey arrives, he would teach him some Immortal Arts and Daoist Methods.

Then the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West could truly begin!

Dao Ancestor Hongjun had already spoken—the Great Prosperity of the Buddhist faith was just around the corner!

As for Sun Wukong, having been inexplicably struck three times by Patriarch Bodhi and then scolded by his fellow disciples, he felt a surge of immense grievance. He summoned a cloud and drifted aimlessly over the sea.

Though Sun Wukong had not yet learned the Somersault Cloud!

Having listened to Patriarch Bodhi's teachings for seven years, he still knew the most basic Cloud-Stepping Technique.

"Does Old Sun just want to learn the art of immortality—is that wrong?"

"Tell me, among all living things in this world, who doesn't want to live forever?"

"Could it be that Patriarch doesn't even understand the art of immortality? Is that why he's angry?"

Sun Wukong rubbed his swollen, aching head, yet felt that Bodhi's strikes carried hidden meaning.

Just as he was dazed, he suddenly spotted a Immortal Island amid the vast sea surface, radiating Five-Colored Divine Light!

"There seems to be immortals living there—Old Sun will go take a look!"

Sun Wukong steered his cloud and flew over!

The moment he reached the island's sky, he was yanked down by a mysterious force and plummeted straight down.

Before him lay thick mist; as it cleared, a massive Stone Tablet stood before him, piercing the clouds and tearing through the sky.

Sun Wukong blinked and looked up. On the tablet was carved a row of vigorous, ancient characters. He read them word by word:

"Pangu Opens the Heavens, bow to me thrice, borrow my axe and chisel."

"Hongjun Merges with the Dao, truly an old thief, stole my Jade Treasure."

"Empress Nuwa Becomes a Saint, took my form, kneaded clay to make man."

"Three Pure Ones Establish Teachings, Erhu Creates Buddhism, all are minor paths."

"If you seek the Great Dao, the Supreme Being of Chaos, eternal and free."

Each word and phrase was desolate and ancient, majestic and weighty!

Like the Great Dao Laws themselves, enduring for eternity.

It made living beings tremble in awe, yearning to prostrate and worship, lying flat on the ground.

"This dojo's master has a huge mouth! Bigger than Old Sun's foot odor!"

"Great God Pangu, Empress Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones Saints—in his words, they're all worthless?"

"I wonder, between this place's master and my Patriarch Bodhi, who's stronger?"

Muttering to himself, Sun Wukong rounded the Stone Tablet and walked forward. The scene before him utterly stunned him.

A winding path carved entirely from Ten-Thousand-Year Divine Jade stretched into the depths of the clouds.

The jade surface was flawless, engraved with the mysteries of heaven and earth, light flowing with profound and arcane laws.

"Even the road is carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Divine Jade—what extravagance!"

Sun Wukong's expression grew solemn as he stepped forward. With each step, a lotus bloomed beneath his feet, auspicious light radiating.

Every stride sent vast spiritual energy surging from the soles into his limbs and meridians. In an instant, his spirit cleared, his body felt reborn!

At the path's end, a Supreme Divine Palace stood silently beneath the sky.

The hall's doors were wide open, emitting billions of immortal rays!

Sun Wukong stepped inside. Ninety-nine Heaven-Supporting Divine Pillars held up the palace!

Each pillar was ten thousand zhang tall, Ninefold Heavenly Thunder coiling along them, Chaotic Daoist Charm cascading down.

Passing through the palace, the world transformed. Divine Trees loomed like mountains, Spirit Springs spread like seas.

In the distance, a Willow Tree rose from the ground, towering millions of zhang, piercing the starry river.

Its branches hung down like dragon scales, each draped in ten thousand beams of green light, swaying in the wind.

Beneath the Willow Tree sat a Writing Desk, plain and unadorned.

On the desk lay a scroll of white paper spread open.

Before the desk stood a Young Daoist, holding a Wolf-Hair Brush, wielding ink with sweeping strokes.

With every brushstroke, Golden Script soared into the air, Dao Patterns flickering.

Each completed character birthed a law, shaking the heavens.

He spoke not a word, focused solely on his brush and ink.

Around him, Daoist Charm flowed unceasingly, Great Dao Runes flashing. Billions of phantom Gods and Devils prostrated in worship at his side, boundless golden light of faith surging like rivers and seas.

With one stroke of his brush, the sky trembled, the Great Earth shook, stars shifted, sun and moon dimmed.

This man was neither Saint, nor god, nor devil, nor immortal—yet he had surpassed all paths, like the very origin of the Dao!

As if before heaven and earth were split open, he already stood at the peak of Chaos, writing the source of all realms.

Sun Wukong stood far off, his heart already trembling, cold sweat pouring from his brow.

He suppressed even his breathing to the utmost, lowering his head in solemn silence, like a child seeing the world for the first time.

The Old Ancestor Bodhi he once revered now seemed merely an elder outside the Dao's gate.

And the Young Daoist before him!!!

Sun Wukong's gaze burned, his mind shaken, a voice thundering in his thoughts:

"The Young Daoist before me is unfathomably deep. Compared to him, Patriarch Bodhi probably isn't even worthy of holding his chamber pot!"

He wanted to speak, yet dared not! He wanted to bow, yet dared not! He could only stand solemnly before the tree, watching that Daoist trace the Grand Plan of the Heavenly Dao stroke by stroke.

None knew how long passed before the Daoist finished a single stroke, slowly set down his brush, and gave a faint smile.

In that instant! Behind him, peach blossoms burst into bloom for a thousand miles, radiant light streamed in ten thousand beams, auspicious vapors filled the heavens, Divine Birds sang in unison, and Immortal Music flowed through the air.

Then, the Young Daoist lifted his gaze and glanced at Sun Wukong, his tone indifferent: "Which monkey dares trespass in my domain? Do you know your crime?"

In that moment, Sun Wukong felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. Trembling with fear, he bowed and clasped his hands in salute, saying: "Immortal above, I am called Old Sun!" "I have come here seeking immortals and the Dao!"

Hearing this, Zhou Xuan looked down. So this was the protagonist of the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, born from Nuwa's Sky-Mending Stone!

"You monkey, born of a stubborn stone, raised by heaven and earth, yet you still understand some courtesy." Zhou Xuan's casual remark sent a shock of terror through Sun Wukong.

This Immortal could see through Old Sun's origins with a single glance—truly unfathomable! Without further hesitation—

Thump! He fell to his knees!

"Immortal above, Old Sun hails from the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country, Eastern Continent of Divine Sands!" "I beg the Immortal to take me as a disciple!"