Western Ox Continent, the waters around Square Inch Mountain.
Above the vast ocean, clouds churned. A figure stood atop auspicious clouds of five colors, his bearing imposing and divine light shimmering around him. It was none other than Zhao Gongming.
At that moment, he was circling the area around Square Inch Mountain, flying back and forth through the clouds and sea mist as he carefully searched for Sun Wukong's mysterious master's Daoist temple.
He harbored a faint hope that Sun Wukong's master might really have some connection to Master Tongtian.
Several days passed. He searched high and low, but found nothing.
"There isn't even a ghost around Square Inch Mountain. Where would a Daoist temple come from?"
Zhao Gongming's mouth twitched, and he was growing impatient.
Standing atop the auspicious clouds, he surveyed the surroundings, one hand behind his back and the other stroking his beard. He muttered disdainfully,
"Could that monkey have been lying to me? No, no. The monkey may love to brag, but he speaks sincerely. He doesn't seem like the type to lie!"
"Or could it be... that mysterious master of his sensed that I, Zhao, was coming and, afraid of losing face, is hiding away?"
His expression turned cold, and a hint of menace flickered in his eyes. His voice held a trace of mockery.
"Hmph, that must be it. Who is Zhao Gongming? I was the first breeze to take form after the heavens and earth were created, and I followed Master Tongtian for countless eons. How could my insight compare to that monkey with its hairy face and thunder-god's mouth?"
"Sun Wukong's master must have been afraid of embarrassing himself in front of me, so he hid."
With that thought, Zhao Gongming was about to turn and leave.
Suddenly, a dazzling golden light came rushing in like thunder splitting the sky, enveloping Zhao Gongming in an instant!
"Hmm?"
Zhao Gongming was startled, as if an invisible giant hand had forcibly dragged him away.
Heaven and earth spun; the four directions flowed backward.
When he opened his eyes again, the scene around him had completely changed.
Mist filled the air, blending heaven and earth into one.
In the distance, a mountain-like stone tablet stood silently between heaven and earth.
The tablet was dark green and black, made of some unknown material that seemed to contain the very source of heaven and earth.
It rose beyond sight, piercing the sky, its top already lost among the clouds. Like a pillar supporting heaven, it suppressed the entire cosmos.
Profound, inscrutable chaos runes wound across its face, while countless wondrous laws poured down from it like a waterfall of stars.
Zhao Gongming stared in shock and found himself holding his breath.
Around the tablet, countless phantoms of gods and demons could just barely be seen. They all knelt on the ground, gazing up at it and seeming to chant ancient prayers, their solemn expressions like those of pilgrims.
"What a... world-suppressing monument!" Zhao Gongming murmured.
Though he had seen much in his life, the pressure and ancient aura radiating from the tablet still filled him with an inexplicable sense of awe.
He walked forward slowly and looked up. A line of dark red ancient characters was carved into the tablet. Their archaic strokes were vigorous, their aura heavy, each character as if chiseled by an axe. It seemed every single one bore down upon an entire world.
Zhao Gongming's heart trembled. He fixed his gaze on the words and slowly read them aloud:
"Pangu opened the heavens, bowed to me three times, and borrowed my axe and chisel."
His voice faltered. His face changed, his throat tightened, and his brows twitched violently.
"Great God Pangu... the Sky-Opening Axe and the Earth-Splitting Chisel... were borrowed?"
His pupils contracted. For the first time, shock and disbelief mingled in his expression. He said gravely,
"The master of this Daoist temple has some nerve!"
"He actually claims that the divine weapons Great God Pangu used to create heaven and earth were borrowed from him?"
"What outrageous nonsense! This is the greatest joke under heaven!"
Every living being in the Primordial Wilderness knew Great God Pangu's name and power. There was no question of it. How could Zhao Gongming believe that Pangu had once bowed three times before someone and borrowed an axe to open the heavens?
"Heh..."
Zhao Gongming's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help rolling his eyes. His voice was full of disdain and disbelief.
"Playing tricks and putting on airs! You might fool that ignorant little monkey, but I, Zhao Gongming, won't be fooled by you!"
Though his tone was firm, Zhao Gongming remained in front of the tablet and continued reading.
"Hongjun merged with the Dao, but was in truth an old thief who stole my Jade Treasure."
By the time he read that line, Zhao Gongming was no longer as surprised as before. The monkey had already told him that Dao Ancestor Hongjun stole his master's treasure to attain sainthood.
But Zhao Gongming didn't believe a word of it!
Not a single punctuation mark!
"What utter nonsense! Playing tricks and putting on airs!"
"If you're so powerful, why are you unknown? The countless beings of the Primordial Wilderness know Hongjun, but not you?"
Zhao Gongming muttered to himself and continued reading:
"Nuwa became a saint by taking my form, kneading earth to create humanity."
"The Three Pure Ones established teachings, Erhu created Buddhism; all are lesser paths."
"If you ask about the Great Dao, it is the Supreme Being of Chaos, eternal freedom."
By now, Zhao Gongming was completely numb. The master of this Daoist temple had shown no regard for Pangu or Hongjun, let alone the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.
But this only convinced Zhao Gongming even more that the master of this place was a charlatan, a master swindler, a great liar!
"Heh. Never mind that Dao Ancestor Hongjun lectured at Purple Heaven Palace for three thousand years, teaching the way to the Great Encompassment, the way to the Primordial Golden Immortal, and the Path to Sainthood."
"Take my master Tongtian, for instance. He founded the Interception Sect, accepting disciples regardless of their origins and giving all living beings a chance at survival, so they could defy fate and change their destinies!"
"If my master Tongtian's path is a lesser one, then there is no Great Dao in this world!"
"What Supreme Being of Chaos, eternal freedom? Pure nonsense!"
"Those words might fool a monkey, but you think you can fool me, Zhao Gongming?"
"Hmph! I'll expose you for the charlatan and fraud you are!"
Zhao Gongming sneered repeatedly, walked around the tablet, and headed toward the Daoist temple. He followed a path paved with jade stones into the depths of the clouds, where he saw a divine hall suspended in midair, radiating billions of strands of immortal light.
"Hmph! All show!"
"Even if I were beaten to death or jumped down from here, I still wouldn't be fooled by a charlatan like you!"
As he spoke, Zhao Gongming stepped into the divine hall.
Ninety-nine Heaven-Supporting Divine Pillars held up the hall!
Each stood ten thousand zhang tall, nine layers of heavenly lightning winding around it as chaotic Daoist Charm poured down.
"Fake, fake, it's all just an illusion!"
Zhao Gongming silently recited a calming incantation. He passed through the hall, and darkness filled his sight, like the dead of night!
A bright moon hung in the sky, accompanied by scattered starlight.
Making his way forward by the faint starlight, Zhao Gongming saw still waters, drooping trees, and birds and beasts resting on the ground. If a gentle breeze hadn't blown past, he would have thought time had stopped here!
He looked more closely. Though the birds and beasts were fast asleep, their heads all pointed southeast, as if they were bowing in worship.
Southeast?
Zhao Gongming looked up and, by the starlight, widened his eyes.
There stood an ancient willow tree, rising from the ground to a height of countless tens of thousands of zhang and piercing the river of stars.
Its branches hung down like dragon scales, each wreathed in ten thousand rays of green light as they swayed in the wind.
Beneath the willow tree stood a simple reclining chair. A young Daoist was sleeping peacefully in it!
"Is that Sun Wukong's master?"
"Heh. Playing tricks and putting on airs. Let's see how I, Zhao Gongming, expose you!"
Before you continue