The Thirty-First Chapter

This is unprecedented. Patriarch Bodhi said, taking out a Sea Spirit Pearl from his sleeve, Your spell for collecting Magic Treasures is quite profound. I wonder if you can collect this spirit pearl of mine?

Zhuang Yan's expression turned serious. He also wanted to use this opportunity to probe the depth of the great cultivator's strength.

I'll give it a try. Zhuang Yan focused his gaze on the Sea Spirit Pearl and cast the One Thought Capture technique.

A mysterious light flashed in his eyes, and the spirit pearl in Patriarch Bodhi's palm instantly disappeared, falling into Zhuang Yan's hand.

Zhuang Yan toyed with the Sea Spirit Pearl, looking slightly surprised: It was this easy?

Patriarch Bodhi remained unfazed and took out another Sea Spirit Pearl: Try again now.

Zhuang Yan was stunned, then realized the other party hadn't used his full strength just now.

He cast One Thought Capture again, but a line of text appeared in his mind: Heavenly Dao Power is insufficient.

Upon closer inspection, Zhuang Yan discovered that collecting the spirit pearl in Patriarch Bodhi's hand now required one thousand points of Heavenly Dao Power.

Seeing the strange look on Zhuang Yan's face, Patriarch Bodhi asked, Is something wrong?

It now requires a great price to collect what fellow Daoist holds. Zhuang Yan stated frankly.

Patriarch Bodhi's expression slightly solidified: Just now, I only used the magic power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. What I am displaying now is the might of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal. It seems, young friend, that you are not incapable of collecting the Magic Treasures of great cultivators, but rather it requires you to pay a corresponding price?

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly. Because his magic power had not fully recovered, he could suppress Grand Unity Golden Immortals and those below them at will. However, when facing those of higher realms, he needed to consume Heavenly Dao Power. Fortunately, Heavenly Dao Power could regenerate and was not an unbearable price.

Zhuang Yan pondered inwardly: Since Patriarch Bodhi claimed to be displaying the magic power of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal, he must always have two thousand points of Heavenly Dao Power on hand in the future to deal with unexpected situations.

The fact that Patriarch Bodhi could display the power of a "Great Enlightened Golden Immortal" indicated that his cultivation had at least reached this realm.

Fellow Daoist's abilities have indeed exceeded my expectations, Patriarch Bodhi said.

Collecting the Magic Treasures of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal requires paying a price. Although the specifics are unknown, it is enough to prove his capability.

Zhuang Yan smiled slightly: Fellow Daoist flatters me. He suddenly had an idea: Why don't you help me with something else?

Patriarch Bodhi nodded: Speak freely.

Zhuang Yan looked at the "Infinite Dodge" status on himself and said directly: Please attack me with the power of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal.

Hmm? Patriarch Bodhi hesitated slightly, This technique is no small matter. I fear it may injure fellow Daoist.

Zhuang Yan pondered for a moment: Just use an immobilization technique.

Very well. Patriarch Bodhi flicked his whisk, Let's try the Immobilization Technique.

Before his words fell, a golden light shot towards Zhuang Yan.

Where he stood, a frozen afterimage remained, while his true body had already moved to the side of the incense table.

Wonderful! Zhuang Yan exclaimed, clapping his hands in delight upon seeing the afterimage immobilized.

This verification made him certain that passive defense did not consume Heavenly Dao Power. Only when actively attacking was it necessary to use it.

Patriarch Bodhi's eyes showed surprise: Fellow Daoist's escape technique is even more impressive than your treasure-collecting ability. Below the Great Enlightened Golden Immortal realm, I'm afraid no one can harm you in the slightest.

Thank you for your assistance, fellow Daoist. Zhuang Yan cupped his hands in thanks.

Patriarch Bodhi waved his sleeve, dispelling the spell. The afterimage vanished. Why be so formal? Come, let's have some tea.

The two sat and chatted. An hour later, Zhuang Yan finally took his leave.

As soon as he left the cave, Sun Wukong, who had been feigning sleep, leaped before him: My lord, is Master still angry?

Zhuang Yan smiled slightly: Wukong, your master is no longer angry. It's just that your master-disciple destiny only lasts for ten years. Now that the deadline has arrived, you should return to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Sun Wukong was stunned upon hearing this, and memories surged like a tide: Bursting from stone, becoming king of Flower-Fruit Mountain, seeking immortality in the Four Seas, cultivating in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars…

His memories finally settled on the scene of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

A gentle breeze blew, and Sun Wukong suddenly snapped back to reality. He looked at the Spirit Platform Mountain range, then at the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, and finally his gaze fell on Zhuang Yan.

My lord, he suddenly grinned, Can I go stay at Danchi Ridge for a few days?

Zhuang Yan nodded: As you wish. With that, he mounted a cloud.

Sun Wukong, however, chuckled: This cloud is too slow! With a somersault, he carried Zhuang Yan into the highest heavens, and in an instant, they landed before the Spirit Platform Divine Mansion on Danchi Ridge.

Zhuang Yan stood firm and laughed: Is this the Somersault Cloud?

Sun Wukong was surprised: My lord recognizes it?

The techniques taught by fellow Daoist Bodhi, how could I not know them?

Then does my lord know my current cultivation?

Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Zhuang Yan replied without hesitation.

Sun Wukong's eyes rolled: It must have been the Patriarch who told you. Seeing Zhuang Yan smile without speaking, he playfully winked: My lord, you must cultivate diligently.

Zhuang Yan lightly patted his shoulder: Little monkey, don't get too cocky.

Just joking! Sun Wukong cupped his hands in a salute, I'm going to find Vanguard Hu to catch up.

Zhuang Yan raised an eyebrow: Feeling itchy?

Sun Wukong chuckled and transformed into a breeze, disappearing. Zhuang Yan, in turn, transformed into a white cloud and floated to Vanguard Hu's location. He saw Sun Wukong had transformed into the appearance of his wife, Lan'er.

Husband~ the fake Lan'er pounced into Vanguard Hu's embrace. Vanguard Hu's ears turned red: Why, my dear wife, so suddenly…

She wanted to get close to her husband~

Just as Vanguard Hu was about to get cozy, the person in his arms suddenly burst into familiar laughter. Vanguard Hu froze in place: "Hus... Honey?"

Not far away, Chi Ling suddenly got up, sensing something was wrong, and said, "Brother Hu, she doesn't seem to be Sister Lan'er."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly elbowed Vanguard Hu, who doubled over in pain, crying out. Then came a suplex that slammed Vanguard Hu heavily onto the ground. With a thud, dust flew up, revealing Sun Wukong's true form. He clapped his hands gleefully, "Old Brother Hu, did you enjoy my way of showing affection?"

Chi Ling stopped in her tracks and burst into laughter when she saw this as she was about to rush forward to help. Vanguard Hu scrambled up in embarrassment, his face turning red with anger when he saw it was Wukong playing a trick. He cursed, "You skin-peeling monkey, how dare you!" With that, he summoned the Heavenly Sin Blade and leaped into the air, bringing it down.

Wukong neither dodged nor evaded. The blade struck his head, sending sparks flying, but it didn't even harm a single hair. The recoil sent both the blade and Vanguard Hu flying back. The Heavenly Sin Blade plunged into the ground, and before Vanguard Hu could land, he was trapped in mid-air by the Immobilization Technique.

Wukong turned to Chi Ling with a grin, "Little snake, it's time to settle our old scores today." Chi Ling's face changed drastically, and she summoned the Heavenly King Golden Halberd, throwing it at him. Wukong lifted his leg and kicked the weapon away, sneering, "Magic Treasures are marvelous, but your Dao Cultivation is too shallow."

Chi Ling revealed her true form as a Red-Scaled Giant Python and swallowed Wukong whole. However, as soon as she chewed, her teeth broke, and she had no choice but to spit Wukong out. She reverted to her human form, covering her face and sobbing. Wukong saw this and hurriedly clasped his hands, "Don't cry, don't cry, Old Sun was just playing with you."

Looking at the blood-stained broken teeth scattered on the ground, Wukong repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Shall I treat you?"

Chi Ling blinked and asked, "Can you treat it?"

Sun Wukong scratched his head. He suddenly remembered that he hadn't learned any medical skills when he was studying under Patriarch Bodhi.

"Well... Old Sun doesn't know how," he answered honestly.

Chi Ling's tears welled up again. Just then, a red light streaked across the sky, and the Fire Spirit True Immortal drifted down gracefully. She gently placed a hand on Chi Ling's shoulder, "What happened?"

Sun Wukong quickly explained, "It's all my fault. I just wanted to spar with her, and I accidentally broke her teeth."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal carefully examined Chi Ling's half-missing teeth and comforted her with a light laugh, "It's a small matter, don't cry." As she spoke, she took out a green pill, "This is a sacred medicine for healing."

Within ten breaths of the pill entering her stomach, the swelling on Chi Ling's cheek subsided, and the pain disappeared, though her gums were still empty. She pouted and said, "Sister, my teeth..."

"What are cultivators afraid of?" The Fire Spirit True Immortal pinched her cheek, "As long as you diligently cultivate your innate true energy, you'll grow new teeth within a hundred days."

"Really?"

"When has Sister ever lied to you?"

Chi Ling stopped crying and suddenly pointed at Sun Wukong to complain, "This monkey is so wicked! He's still got Big Brother Hu stuck in the sky!"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal looked up and saw Vanguard Hu frozen in mid-air. She couldn't help but nod with a smile, "Alright, Sister will get justice for you."

Sun Wukong's heart, which had just settled after seeing Chi Ling was alright, dropped when he saw the Fire Spirit True Immortal turn to face him. He quickly cupped his fists in greeting, "Please guide me, Assistant Prefect." He had always respected Zhuang Yan's capable assistant.

As soon as the words "Please guide me" left his lips, the Fire Spirit True Immortal had already vanished into a sky full of flowing fire.

Sun Wukong formed a hand seal and chanted, and golden flames immediately erupted around him. He stretched his limbs in the fire, laughing, "Not strong enough! Make it hotter!"

The flames surged in response, but he seemed as comfortable as if he were soaking in a hot spring, even dancing with joy, "This fire is so mild, it's just tickling Old Sun!"

Strangely, as he shouted, the golden flames gradually weakened and finally extinguished completely. However, the Fire Spirit True Immortal did not reappear.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong felt his buttocks burning. He leaped three feet into the air, frantically slapping his behind with both hands--a strange crimson flame was burning there, making him grimace in pain.

Chi Ling clapped her hands, laughing. At this moment, Zhuang Yan, who had transformed into a white cloud, quietly released Vanguard Hu from the Immobilization Technique.

Vanguard Hu fell heavily from mid-air. As he scrambled to get up, he saw Sun Wukong jumping up and down, holding his smoking backside and crying out.

Chi Ling chuckled beside him, "This is Sister Fire Spirit's Fire Control Art, a technique personally passed down by Patriarch Bodhi."

Fire Control Art? Sun Wukong's eyes darted around. He suddenly somersaulted out for over a hundred thousand miles, and the Profound Yang True Fire on his backside immediately extinguished--it turned out he had already exceeded the Fire Spirit True Immortal's range of casting.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to Danchi Ridge. His divine sense swept across the entire mountain range, and he actually immobilized all the fire elements. With a crisp ding, even the Fire Spirit True Immortal, who had transformed into fire energy, was forced to reveal her original form and was frozen in mid-air.

Vanguard Hu and Chi Ling hurried forward. Sun Wukong waved his hand to release the spell, and the Fire Spirit True Immortal landed gracefully. Not only was she not angry, but she praised, "Well done, monkey. You're even stronger than me now."

"You flatter me, you flatter me." Sun Wukong cupped his hands with a smile, casually patting out the sparks on his pants, revealing a bright red bare bottom. He formed a hand seal and changed into new clothes, grinning, "Assistant Prefect's fire technique is truly powerful. It almost roasted Old Sun into cooked meat."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal smiled, "It's a pity the casting range is limited. It lost its effect as soon as you left."

"Fortunately, I was born from a stone. Anyone else would have turned into charcoal by now!" Sun Wukong turned to Vanguard Hu and said, "When I return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, I will definitely achieve great things!"

The three of them looked at each other and smiled. Chi Ling said crisply, "When you become famous throughout the Three Realms in the future, don't forget us."

"I won't forget!" Sun Wukong suddenly scratched his head, "I want to spar with the Prefect."

Vanguard Hu was surprised, "Although the Prefect is an Earth Immortal, he is unfathomable..."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal recalled how she was subdued by Zhuang Yan back then and said meaningfully, "I was defeated by the Prefect. Have you really thought it through?"

Sun Wukong patted his chest, "Don't worry, the Prefect is an elder. I know what I'm doing."