Old Sun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Old Sun (老孙); Sun Wukong 205 252
Alias(es)	Great Sage; Great Sage Equal to Heaven; Victorious Fighting Buddha, a title he rejects 166 235 250
Species/Race	Golden monkey born from a Heaven and Earth Spirit Stone 208 221
Gender	Male 205
Affiliation	Taoist tradition; disciple of Patriarch Bodhi; Huaxia Alliance 166 220
Occupation/Role	Co-founder and Elder of the Huaxia Alliance; Monkey Sun’s master 203 220 234
Status	Alive; body and soul restored; actively confronting the Great Thunderclap Monastery 210 252
First Appearance	Mentioned as Sun Wukong in the account of the Buddhist–Taoist conflict; explicitly identifies himself as Old Sun later 166 205

Power Progression

The context uses both Infinite Realm and Boundless Realm terminology. Old Sun’s later advances are documented without exact level numbers 221 224 232 234.

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Infinite Realm	210	Retrospectively described as having reached the realm without cultivation because he was born of heaven and earth.
Third level of the Infinite Realm	234	Historical level when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace; his later strength far surpasses this.
True body recovered	208	Number Three retrieves his golden-monkey body through a substitution scheme. His incomplete soul still prevents full recovery.
Soul made whole	209	Wenlong restores the damaged soul; further work is needed to unite it fully with the body and rebuild his strength.
Soul and body reunited	210	Wenlong completes the restoration using the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and prepared materials. Old Sun then cultivates unharmed inside a level-ten Heavenly Tribulation Array.
Advancement through heavenly tribulation	221	Returns after successfully surviving a tribulation; Wenlong confirms that his cultivation has risen another step.
Rapid cultivation increase	224	Merges the essence of Heaven and Earth Spirit Stones gathered in the Forbidden Grounds into himself, preparing for another tribulation.
Further cultivation increase	232	Takes the Expedition Team’s Heaven and Earth Spirit Stones as his origin source and leaves to undergo another Heavenly Tribulation.
Strength sufficient to challenge Tathagata	234	Returns enormously stronger, but postpones revenge to consolidate his cultivation and strengthen his supporting force.

Background / History

Old Sun took form from a Heaven and Earth Spirit Stone. Although this origin explains his exceptional natural abilities, its deeper cause remains uncertain: an attempt to trace his origins found no record of him, and the possibility that a higher Great God created him remains speculation 210 221 238.

He belonged to the Taoist tradition and studied under Patriarch Bodhi, who forbade him from revealing his master and sect. The novel’s unofficial histories describe his participation in the journey to the Western Paradise as part of the struggle between Taoism and Buddhism: he endured the scripture-retrieval journey, became Tang Monk’s disciple, and received the title of Victorious Fighting Buddha. His true body’s whereabouts subsequently became unknown 166.

Accounts of his fate include betrayal and a supposed plan to refine him into pills. These are initially presented as reports and legends rather than established explanations. Old Sun later confirms his lasting grievance against Tathagata and credits the “great monk” with his suffering 183 184 209 220.

Before revealing his identity to Wenlong, Old Sun lived as Monkey Sun’s black-robed master in the Mist Forest. He used collected immortal herbs on his disciple, tolerated the younger monkey’s bullying of local spirit beasts, and repeatedly criticized him for lacking his ancestor’s bearing. When Monkey Sun suggested seeking Wenlong’s medical help, Old Sun hesitated because he feared drawing Wenlong into danger 180 203.

Appearance

• True body: A golden monkey; after its recovery, he sits up and drapes his former black robe over himself 208.
• Concealed presentation: Appears as Monkey Sun’s mysterious black-robed master before identifying himself 203 205.
• Eyes: Flecks of golden light shine in his eyes when he awakens after restoration 210.

Personality

Old Sun is irreverent, proud, and fond of teasing Wenlong. He refuses the burden of leading the Huaxia Alliance, choosing the position of Elder instead, and openly mocks the authority of the Jade Emperor. His preferred identity is the Great Sage, not the Buddhist title imposed on him 234 235 250.

His ordeal tempers his former recklessness. He acknowledges that overconfidence and insufficient cultivation left him vulnerable, delays revenge until his strength is consolidated, and advises Wenlong not to mistake a powerful helper’s abilities for his own. His anger remains dangerous: recalling his unresolved grievance briefly causes him to release pressure that overwhelms nearby companions 209 219 234.

He answers loyalty with protection. After Wenlong restores his body, Old Sun promises to stake his life for him. Later, he pushes Wenlong into difficult battles while intervening when necessary; when he senses a threat beyond Wenlong’s perception, he orders an immediate retreat 208 236 237 238.

Abilities & Skills

Innate Resilience

• Fears neither lightning nor fire and water; the level-ten Heavenly Tribulation Array causes him no apparent harm 210.
• Wenlong explicitly regards him as immune to heavenly tribulation and capable of rescuing someone from tribulation lightning 224.
• His extraordinary durability does not prevent natural formations from trapping him. Wenlong repeatedly needs to retrieve him from the Forbidden Grounds 221.

Origin-Based Cultivation

• Heaven and Earth Spirit Stones are his own origin source, rather than ordinary cultivation Spirit Stones 221 233.
• Absorbing their essence causes unusually rapid cultivation growth and allows him to prepare for successive heavenly tribulations 224 232.
• Rapid advancement still requires consolidation; he postpones fighting Tathagata for this reason 234.

Somersault Cloud and Spatial Movement

• A single Somersault Cloud carries him 108,000 li 220.
• The technique derives from array formations 220.
• Also performs a great spatial shift, vanishing before Wenlong returns from his tribulation 224.

Seventy-Two Transformations

• Possesses the Seventy-Two Transformations, which the novel explains as applications of array formations 190 224.
• Can transform into his most powerful original form 224.
• Creates a convincing double of his true body for Number Three’s retrieval mission; his own aura is central to making the substitute credible 205 208.

Staff Combat and Manifested Palms

• His staff techniques are among the abilities Wenlong considers most characteristic of him 224.
• Uses an enormous staff to scatter the Heavenly Court’s vanguard and force its army to retreat 250.
• Manifests a huge, hairy palm to strike two ambushers simultaneously 237.
• Effortlessly destroys an attacking palm in the Heaven Realm and later pins down Nezha with an unseen hand 236 250.
• Captures the saboteur attacking Wenlong before physically arriving at Hanging Mountain 252.

Overwhelming Pressure

• Immobilizes the invading sea-beast army, including a great black dragon, ending Huaxia City’s immediate crisis 214.
• Uses his presence at the alliance assembly to deter disobedience and reassure members that they have a powerful protector 234.
• An uncontrolled release also harms allies nearby, forcing him to withdraw it 219.

Cultivation Enlightenment

• Greatly advances Long Zhang’s cultivation through enlightenment 234.
• Grants Zhu Xiaojie a dramatic cultivation boost and also enlightens Long Yin 246.

Knowledge of the Higher Realms

• Explains the Heaven Realm’s four guarded gates, Southern Heavenly Gate registration, and Heavenly Court enforcement 219.
• Selects Hanging Mountain as a potential alliance base 234 235.
• Identifies the Huaxia Domain’s natural formation as valuable protection against powerful outsiders searching for it 234.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden Cudgel — Appears in his hand when he confronts Tathagata at the Great Thunderclap Monastery 252.
• Black robe — Worn during his concealed life and retained after recovering his golden-monkey body 205 208.
• Communication Talismans — Wenlong gives him two before his Forbidden Grounds expeditions; they allow him to request rescue when trapped 221.

Relationships

• Wenlong — Savior, friend, alliance co-founder, and battle partner. Wenlong restores his body and soul; Old Sun supplies protection, combat training, and support for the alliance’s expansion 208 210 220 237 246.
• Monkey Sun / Little Sun — Younger monkey identified as his descendant and later shown as his disciple. Old Sun cultivates his potential with immortal herbs; Monkey Sun seeks Wenlong’s help for his master’s illness and assists in recovering his body 180 203 205. Monkey Sun is a separate character from Old Sun.
• Patriarch Bodhi — Master and powerful protector. Old Sun initially avoids involving him in revenge, but later undergoes tribulation under his protection; Bodhi also backs him during the Heaven Realm confrontation 166 209 220 236.
• Tathagata — Principal enemy and target of his unresolved vengeance. Their hidden struggle precedes Old Sun’s open challenge at the monastery 220 238 252.
• Tang Monk — Former scripture-journey master. His attempt to calm Old Sun at the monastery is met with accusations about his role in Old Sun’s suffering 166 252.
• Guanyin — Rebuked for her past involvement in his suffering; Old Sun moves to attack her before Old Pig intervenes 252.
• Old Pig / Zhu Bajie — Former journey companion and present ally. Sends Zhu Xiaojie to find Old Sun and later attacks Guanyin during the monastery confrontation 245 252.
• White Dragon — Joins Old Pig against Guanyin in support of Old Sun’s confrontation 252.
• Zhu Xiaojie — Zhu Bajie’s descendant, who calls Old Sun his granduncle. Old Sun accepts him and strengthens his cultivation 245 246.
• Long Zhang — Huaxia Alliance Steward; receives Old Sun’s cultivation enlightenment 234.
• Number Three — Captured cultivator who carries out the dangerous substitution mission and retrieves Old Sun’s true body 205 208.
• Nezha — Familiar associate whose boast about challenging Old Sun ends with him being effortlessly pinned down and apologizing 250.
• Heavenly Court — Former opponent that recognizes his Great Sage Equal to Heaven title. Its soldiers retain their fear from earlier defeats and withdraw when he intervenes at Immortal City 250.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recovery of the True Body

• Wenlong rejects a conventional cure that could take decades or longer and proposes replacing Old Sun’s captive body with a double 205.
• Old Sun prepares the substitute while Monkey Sun finds a lookalike and Wenlong arranges concealed teleportation routes 205 206 208.
• Number Three retrieves the true body, but a supreme opponent nearly destroys the escape route. Wenlong responds by hiding the group in the Forbidden Grounds and erasing their traces from Huaxia City 208.
• The rescue leaves Old Sun physically restored but spiritually incomplete; Wenlong subsequently repairs and reunites his soul with his body 209 210.

Defense and Formation of the Huaxia Alliance

• His seclusion initially prevents Monkey Sun from delivering Wenlong’s urgent request for help against the sea beasts 213.
• He arrives before the invasion destroys Huaxia City and suppresses the attackers, enabling Wenlong to subdue their leaders 214.
• He and Wenlong seal the Huaxia Alliance with a clasp of their human and monkey palms 220.
• After further growth, he asks Wenlong to return the members’ imprisoned wisdom souls so they can cultivate and become a supporting force. Wenlong complies while retaining their life souls as insurance 234.
• Old Sun becomes Elder at the alliance’s first assembly, declining administrative leadership 234.

Heaven Realm and Guardian Recruitment

• Guides Wenlong through the Southern Heavenly Gate, where the Giant Spirit God recognizes him and offers no resistance 235.
• Helps defeat a challenger sent to test his strength; the captive becomes Number Six, the alliance’s Grand Protector 236.
• Threatens the Hall of Miraculous Mist after an attack on Wenlong. His master’s backing discourages the Heaven Realm and Western Paradise from escalating the confrontation 236.
• Defeats further attackers who become Guardians Seven through Thirteen, but withdraws when he detects a greater unseen danger 237 238.
• Returns to the Huaxia Domain, which he prefers to Hanging Mountain as a cultivation base 238.

Expansion and the Heavenly Court

• Endorses Wenlong’s campaign against criminal factions and promises to deter Heavenly Court interference 246.
• His enormous staff and unmistakable voice end the Heavenly Court’s assault on Immortal City; Li Jing orders retreat rather than face him again 250.
• His standing makes recruiting other Elders difficult: few candidates can match his strength and stature 251.

Confrontation at the Great Thunderclap Monastery

• Captures the hidden attacker sabotaging Wenlong’s six-color tribulation, allowing Wenlong to kill the culprit and seize his soul 252.
• Accompanies the mobilized Huaxia Alliance to the Western Paradise and openly challenges Tathagata 252.
• While Wenlong’s Guardians suppress the Eighteen Arhats, Old Sun confronts Tang Monk and Guanyin over his past suffering. Old Pig and White Dragon join the fighting 252.

Notable Quotes

“Young Master Wen, no words of thanks can repay your immense kindness. If the day comes when I must stake my life for you, I, Old Sun, will not hesitate to give it.” 208

“No matter how powerful a helper is, that strength isn't your own. Only by becoming powerful yourself can you surpass the Gods.” 219

“Heh heh, don't even bring that up. I'm only suited to being an Elder. Don't come to me with troublesome business.” 234