The Cultivation Path of Mount Paozu

Chapter 2: The Path of Cultivation on Mount Paozu

Throughout the long and tranquil years on Mount Paozu, Sun Wukong and his grandfather, Sun Gohan, remained inseparable, embarking together on a journey of cultivation that was as arduous as it was filled with infinite hope.

At seven years old, Wukong was like the brilliant morning sun, his heart brimming with a fervent longing for great power. Whenever he saw those powerful skills flashing in his mind, he could not wait to master them immediately. However, Grandpa Sun Gohan knew well that cultivation was never a task to be accomplished overnight. With a gentle yet firm expression, he would speak earnestly to Wukong: "Child, the path of cultivation is like climbing a mountain that pierces the clouds. Every step you take must be solid and forceful; you must never be impetuous or seek quick success." A look of unwavering determination flickered in Wukong's star-bright eyes, and he nodded vigorously, as if making a solemn promise to his grandfather.

Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight gently bathed every inch of Mount Paozu, Wukong would follow closely behind his grandfather, treading upon the steep, rugged, and thorn-covered mountain paths. He would struggle time and again to cross streams as turbulent as galloping horses. Though he stumbled into the water countless times, soaking his clothes and even scratching his hands and feet on sharp stones, he never felt a shred of discouragement. Gritting his teeth, he would climb out of the water each time and press forward. He strove to scale trees that reached into the clouds, and even when crisscrossing branches tore at his cheeks and arms, he never cried out in pain, choosing instead to persist in silence. Grandpa Sun Gohan always stood to the side, watching Wukong with a gaze full of encouragement and love, shouting, "Wukong, charge forward bravely! Every fall is a precious testament to your growth."

While undergoing grueling physical training, Wukong also bravely began his path of cultivating his Martial Soul and soul skills. He focused all his attention on trying to mobilize the mysterious and powerful Martial Soul energy within him. At first, however, he found it difficult to control this surging power, causing it to scatter like a wild horse without a bridle. Yet, Wukong did not choose to give up because of these setbacks; relying on the unyielding tenacity within his heart, he continued to explore and experiment.

By the age of eight, after long periods of persistence and effort, Wukong's physical training finally began to show results. By this time, his body had become more robust and his movements more agile. He began to follow his grandfather to learn close-quarters combat. Every one of his grandfather's movements was as swift as a gale and as precise as a thunderbolt. Wukong observed every motion and every subtle change with intense concentration, then imitated them meticulously, practicing repeatedly. Even when sweat soaked his clothes like a stream and his body trembled from exhaustion, he never rested for a moment until he had practiced every move and stance to perfection, reaching a state where his heart moved in harmony with his actions.

At the same time, Wukong's control over his Martial Soul gradually became proficient. He began to be able to execute the soul skill "Ape Force Impact." Concentrating all his strength, he would charge forward like a fierce leopard, instantly erupting with a powerful force that made the surrounding air tremble, demonstrating considerable might. As his cultivation deepened, the Saiyan bloodline within Wukong was also quietly changing, gradually advancing from a primary Saiyan bloodline toward an intermediate one. His body became stronger, and his perception and control of power became sharper.

At nine years old, Wukong faced another major challenge in his cultivation journey: the training of the energy wave. He pressed his hands together in a cup shape, focusing intently on trying to gather the energy within his body into his palms. Initially, however, he struggled to concentrate, resulting in energy waves that were soft and weak, like a gentle breeze. Grandpa Sun Gohan guided him patiently from the side: "Wukong, calm your heart, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and use your heart to feel the surging 'ki' within you. Imagine it like a babbling brook, slowly gathering into your palms." Under his grandfather's careful guidance and constant encouragement, Wukong gradually entered the state, his mind as calm as a still lake, without a single ripple. Finally, he successfully unleashed a formidable Kamehameha, its blue light shining like a brilliant star, illuminating the entire Mount Paozu.

In terms of Martial Soul cultivation, Wukong also achieved a significant breakthrough. He successfully awakened a hundred-year yellow soul ring and mastered the powerful soul skill "Great Ape Protection." When he activated this skill, an energy shield shimmering with golden light instantly appeared around his body, not only greatly enhancing his defense but also emitting an awe-inspiring aura. At this stage, Wukong's Saiyan bloodline had successfully advanced to a high-level Saiyan bloodline; his power was deeply stimulated, and every function of his body underwent a qualitative leap.

At ten years old, Wukong set his sights with firm resolve on the even more arduous training of the Kaio-ken. During the process, his body endured unimaginable pressure; every inch of his muscle trembled, and every cell cried out. His face turned as pale as paper, and beads of sweat as large as peas poured down incessantly, soaking the ground beneath his feet. Grandpa Sun Gohan watched him from the side, filled with worry, his eyes brimming with concern and heartache. Yet, Wukong gritted his teeth, his determined gaze seeming to tell the whole world: "Grandfather, I can definitely do it!" In the end, relying on his indomitable perseverance and an extreme thirst for power, Wukong successfully mastered the Kaio-ken, and his combat strength increased significantly.

Simultaneously, Wukong's Martial Soul continued to evolve. A thousand-year purple soul ring shone forth like a brilliant purple star in the night sky. He learned the mysterious and powerful soul skill "Ape Shadow Clone." When he used this skill, he could instantly create multiple clones with powerful attack capabilities; these clones acted like phantoms to confuse the enemy, making him difficult to track. That year, Wukong also successfully achieved the transformation into a Super Saiyan 1. At that moment, his hair instantly stood on end and turned a dazzling gold, while a scorching golden aura radiated from his body. His ki and power were greatly enhanced, as if he had been reborn.

At eleven years old, Wukong faced the massive test of cultivating the Spirit Bomb. To cultivate the Spirit Bomb, he needed to use his heart to perceive the ki of all things and collect their energy. For the young Wukong, this was undoubtedly an unprecedented and arduous challenge. However, Wukong was not intimidated by the difficulty; he bravely took every step. He traversed every inch of Mount Paozu, communicating with every blooming flower, conversing with every towering tree, resonating with every flying bird, and dancing with every running beast. He used his heart to comprehend the life force they contained and to feel the endless mysteries of nature.

After countless days and nights of unremitting effort, Wukong finally succeeded in gathering a powerful Spirit Bomb. At that moment, the Spirit Bomb in his hands shone with a brilliant light, as if it contained the power of the entire universe. At this time, Wukong's ten-thousand-year black soul ring awakened. The soul skill "Berserk Ape Strike" allowed him to enter a berserk state instantly during battle, boosting his power and speed in an instant, making him as unstoppable as a beast released from a cage. His Saiyan bloodline also reached the level of a top-tier Saiyan bloodline, allowing him to switch freely between Super Saiyan 3 and higher forms with ease, displaying world-shattering power.

At twelve years old, Wukong's mind became increasingly mature and steady. When he began to practice the high-difficulty skill of Instant Transmission, he encountered an unprecedented bottleneck. No matter how hard he tried, he could not accurately perceive the ki of others, which made him feel incredibly confused and frustrated. Seeing Wukong's dejection, Grandpa Sun Gohan walked to his side and comforted him: "Wukong, do not be impatient. The path of cultivation is inherently filled with obstacles. Use your heart to feel it, and believe that you will surely overcome this difficulty." Hearing his grandfather's words, Wukong took a deep breath, letting his restless heart calm down. He settled his mind and tried persistently, attempting to perceive that subtle ki over and over again. Finally, in a single moment, Wukong felt as if he had merged with the entire world, and he successfully achieved Instant Transmission.

Thereafter, the cultivation of skills like Dragon Fist Explosion, Afterimage Technique, Solar Flare, and Destructo Disc was equally filled with hardship and challenges, but Wukong, relying on his unyielding perseverance and persistent pursuit of power, broke through the layers of difficulties one by one. Furthermore, Wukong's Martial Soul achieved another astonishing advancement; a hundred-thousand-year red soul ring appeared. The powerful soul skill "Great Ape Domain" allowed him to unfold a special domain during battle, within which all his attributes were greatly enhanced while simultaneously suppressing the enemy's strength. His Saiyan bloodline finally evolved into a God-level Saiyan bloodline, perfectly fusing with the power of gods, granting him the aura and strength of a deity, as well as a certain level of insight and control over the laws of the universe. His Martial Soul also evolved into the Saiyan Golden Great Ape Martial Soul, and all his soul rings and soul skills were elevated to the God-level. At the same time, Wukong had mastered all transformations from Super Saiyan 2 to Super Saiyan 10, with each transformation causing his strength to grow geometrically.

Six years of time passed in the blink of an eye. Wukong had transformed from that ignorant, naive, and curious child into an incredibly powerful and awe-inspiring warrior. He had mastered all his skills, and his strength had undergone a qualitative leap that turned the world upside down.

On a quiet and beautiful evening, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the entire Mount Paozu a golden hue. Wukong and Grandpa Sun Gohan sat side by side on the mountaintop, enjoying the picturesque and magnificent sunset together. Wukong's eyes were filled with gratitude as he said sincerely, "Grandfather, thank you for your careful teaching and meticulous care all this time. If not for you, I could never have become this strong." Grandpa Sun Gohan smiled and gently stroked Wukong's head, his loving gaze full of gratification: "Wukong, all of this is the result of your own unremitting efforts. The road ahead is still long and full of unknowns, but Grandfather believes that you will surely use this powerful strength to protect justice and the world we cherish." Wukong nodded with a firm gaze; he knew deep down that his own legendary journey had only just begun, and there were more challenges and adventures ahead waiting for him to conquer.