Korin the Immortal

Taking advantage of the post-meal chatter, Wuchen asked Bora about the Korin Tower he guarded.

After receiving his reply, Wuchen was filled with curiosity, while Wukong was brimming with excitement.

According to Bora, legend had it that a Korin lived at the top of Korin Tower; as long as one climbed to the summit by hand, they could meet the immortal.

Once they met the immortal, they only needed to pass his trial to obtain something called the Ultra Divine Water, which could increase one's strength several times over after consumption.

Wuchen was quite curious about this. An "immortal" certainly wasn't the kind he understood. He wondered if this Korin had any connection to his grandfather, Master Roshi.

Wukong, however, was clamoring to climb up, eager for the Ultra Divine Water that could multiply his strength.

Wuchen signaled for Wukong to be patient, then took out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and conjured a large refrigerator filled with spirit fruits.

After giving the majority to Bora and Upa for treating them to fish, Wuchen found a medium-sized box and filled it with spirit fruits that looked good, though their effects were identical to the others.

With a little bit of packaging, a simple gift box was ready. Only then did Wuchen pull Wukong along to begin the climb.

Indeed, Wuchen had no intention of using the Flying Nimbus, nor did he plan to fly straight up.

Since it was said that one must climb by hand, regardless of whether there were any mystical reasons behind it, this was clearly a rule set by Korin. Since they were here to pay a visit, they ought to follow the rules.

Soon, the two brothers had climbed to an extreme height, far higher than they usually reached when using the Flying Nimbus or flying on their own.

The air grew thin, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty, not to mention the occasional gusts of wind that swept past.

"Wukong, regulate your breathing and watch your rhythm," Wuchen reminded him in time.

Being blown off was a minor concern, as they could fly, but this was a rare training opportunity. It required a certain level of control over one's own aura, which was something Wukong truly needed.

Thus, the two brothers slowed their pace. Wuchen urged Wukong to stay mindful and focus on his perception.

It had to be said, Wukong was truly a genius.

His aura gradually converged, his power contained rather than released. While minimizing unnecessary expenditure, his climbing speed did not decrease by much.

Wukong rapidly improved his control over his body, which brought a gratified smile to Wuchen's face. My brother, you have the potential to become an immortal!

However, Wuchen soon sensed something was wrong; Wukong seemed a bit off.

"Wukong, are you seeking Momentum Insight?" He felt Wukong's aura become subtle after reaching a certain level of restraint. This was the hallmark of Momentum Insight, and this time, Wukong was grasping the Earth Momentum.

Wuchen had not failed to foresee this; back at the desert village and the oasis dam, Wukong had already begun to ponder the nature of "earth."

Silt and sand soak to become earth, which can gather water and nourish life; earth and stone pile up to form dams, which can block water and divert flows...

If water is abundant and earth is scarce, it floods; if earth is abundant and water is scarce, it withers; when water and earth combine, wood is born...

These concepts had already taken root in Wukong's mind.

Therefore, his fourth momentum was bound to be the Earth Momentum; it was only a matter of time.

At the same time, Wukong had been stuck at the third level of Soul Condensation for quite a while, his foundation already very solid. All he lacked was the insight into a new momentum.

Yet, it had to happen now, at this critical juncture.

He must have had an epiphany regarding the heavy, steady nature of the earth while restraining his breath and disciplining himself. Seeing that Wukong did not respond and even showed signs of losing his grip, Wuchen quickly scooped him up and flew vertically toward the top.

Soon, Wuchen sensed an aura at the summit—not particularly strong, but extremely peaceful.

Then, a spherical structure came into view, as if "plugged" into the top of the pillar.

That must be the top of Korin Tower.

The pillar was connected to the base of the spherical building, and there was an entrance. Wuchen flew directly inside.

It was a room of modest size, containing a bed, tables, chairs, stools, cabinets, bottles, and jars, as well as a staircase leading upward.

The only thing missing was a person, though Wuchen could sense that the aura was just upstairs.

Wuchen carefully placed Wukong on the ground. Wukong unconsciously assumed a meditative posture; looking at this, he was likely about to break through to the fourth level of Soul Condensation in one go.

Wuchen did not dare to disturb him, instead following the stairs up to the "second floor."

The so-called second floor resembled a circular balcony; apart from a stone pedestal in the center holding an exquisite water pot, there were only a few pillars supporting the structure and a railing around the edge.

There were no walls or windows, or rather, it was just a ring of open space.

Looking out, one could see white clouds below, partially obscuring the landscape. Inside, sheltered from the sun and rain, one could feel the gentle breeze.

Right on the railing, a white cat was dozing, leaning against a pillar with a staff in its paw, even crossing its legs. If one squinted from a distance, they would never think it was a cat, but rather a relaxed old man enjoying the scenery.

Wuchen immediately bowed and spoke softly, "Sun Wuchen and Sun Wukong of Mount Paozu, greetings to the immortal."

This cat's aura was not strong, but its cultivation was profound!

It was as if it were sleeping yet awake, dreaming yet not. Wuchen could feel that the cat's aura fluctuated just like someone in a dream. Yet, anyone who tried to launch a sneak attack would surely fail, unless their strength was vastly superior.

"Meow~, the young man who defeated Tao Pai Pai, you have finally come up." The cat had indeed been feigning sleep; it had heard Wuchen's soft voice quite clearly.

It hopped lightly off the railing, its round body swaying slightly, and the white cat opened its eyes. "Your brother, what is wrong with him?"

Wuchen did not find it strange that the other party could state so much information in just a few words.

This world was very mysterious, and the one before him was an ascetic... cat, and this was his territory. It was no surprise that he had special means to gather information.

"Thanks to the good fortune of Korin, my younger brother has gained some insights while climbing the sacred tower. I must apologize for the intrusion, but I ask to borrow your grounds for a short while so he may complete his realization. Please accept this humble gift as a token of our appreciation."

There was no need to guess; the figure before them was undoubtedly Korin. Wuchen stepped forward at the opportune moment, offering a gift box with both hands.

As the saying goes, flattery never fails, and Wuchen's words left Korin beaming with delight.

Under normal circumstances, a being who had lived for nearly a thousand years like Korin should not have been so easily swayed.

However, Wuchen was someone capable of riding the Flying Nimbus, and his extraordinary strength at such a young age naturally set him apart.

"No problem at all, you can stay as long as you like, meow~," Korin said with a smile as he took the gift box, his mood clearly excellent.

"Then many thanks, Hermit."

Since his rebirth, Wuchen had maintained a humble posture in most of his dealings.

He saw things clearly: his status as an Immortal Venerable belonged to his past life, in another world. Now, he was merely a seeker of the Way, blessed by the legacy of those memories.

"Right, you two brothers came up here for the Ultra Divine Water, didn't you?" The Cat Hermit pointed his wooden staff toward the water jug on the stone pedestal in the center and continued:

"The Ultra Divine Water is in that jug. If you want to drink it, all you have to do is snatch it from my hands."