Chapter 30

This was indeed unprecedented. As Patriarch Bodhi spoke, he took a Sea Spirit Pearl from his sleeve. "That technique of yours for taking magical treasures is quite marvelous. I wonder if it can take this pearl from me?"

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

"Let me try." Zhuang Yan focused on the Sea Spirit Pearl and used One Thought Capture.

A flash of mysterious light passed through his eyes, and the pearl in Patriarch Bodhi's palm vanished instantly, appearing in Zhuang Yan's hand.

Zhuang Yan rolled the Sea Spirit Pearl between his fingers, somewhat surprised. "That was so easy?"

Yet Patriarch Bodhi remained impassive and produced another Sea Spirit Pearl. "Now try again."

Zhuang Yan froze for a moment, then understood that the other party had not used his full strength earlier.

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

Upon closer inspection, Zhuang Yan discovered that taking the pearl from Patriarch Bodhi's hand now would cost one thousand points of Heavenly Dao Power.

Seeing the change in Zhuang Yan's expression, Patriarch Bodhi asked, "Is something wrong?"

"It now requires an enormous price to take something from Fellow Daoist's hand," Zhuang Yan admitted.

Patriarch Bodhi's expression tightened slightly. "Earlier, I used only the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. What I have displayed now is the might of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal. It seems you are not incapable of taking a great power's magical treasures—you merely need to pay the corresponding price?"

Zhuang Yan nodded lightly. His mana had yet to fully recover. He could suppress Grand Unity Golden Immortals and those below at will, but against those of higher realms, he needed to expend Heavenly Dao Power. Fortunately, Heavenly Dao Power could regenerate, so the cost was not unbearable.

Zhuang Yan secretly pondered, Since Patriarch Bodhi claims he can wield the power of a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal, I must keep two thousand points of Heavenly Dao Power in reserve from now on to handle unexpected situations.

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

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

Taking a Great Enlightened Golden Immortal's magical treasure came at a cost. Though he did not know precisely what that cost was, it was enough to prove that Zhuang Yan possessed such ability.

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Fellow Daoist." Suddenly, an idea struck him. "How about doing me another favor?"

Patriarch Bodhi nodded. "Speak freely."

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

"Hm?" Patriarch Bodhi hesitated slightly. "This is no trivial matter. I fear I may injure you."

Zhuang Yan considered briefly. "Just use a restraining technique."

"Very well." Patriarch Bodhi lightly flicked his whisk. "Then let us try the Immobilization Technique."

Before his words had faded, a streak of golden light shot toward Zhuang Yan.

A frozen figure remained where he had stood, while his true body had already moved beside the incense table on the left.

"Wonderful!" Seeing the afterimage immobilized, Zhuang Yan clapped and laughed.

This test convinced him that passive defense required no Heavenly Dao Power. Only when he actively attacked did he need to use it.

Surprise filled Patriarch Bodhi's eyes. "Fellow Daoist's evasion technique surpasses even your treasure-taking ability. Below the Great Enlightened Golden Immortal realm, I fear 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, withdrawing the technique, and the afterimage vanished. "No need for such courtesy. Come, have some tea."

The two sat facing each other and talked freely. Only after an hour did Zhuang Yan take his leave.

The moment he stepped out of the cave mansion, Sun Wukong, who had been pretending to nap, leaped before him. "Prefect, is Master still angry?"

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly. "Wukong, your master's anger has faded. But the bond between master and disciple lasts only ten years. Now that the time has come, you should return to Flower-Fruit Mountain."

Sun Wukong stood stunned at those words, memories surging through him like a tide: emerging from stone, becoming king of Flower-Fruit Mountain, seeking immortals across the Four Seas, cultivating in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars...

In the end, his memories settled upon the sight of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

A breeze swept past, and Sun Wukong suddenly came back to himself. He looked at the Spirit Platform Mountain range, then at the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, before finally turning his gaze to Zhuang Yan.

"Prefect," he suddenly said with a broad grin, "can I stay at Danchi Ridge for a few days?"

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

But Sun Wukong laughed. "This cloud is far too slow!" With a single somersault, he carried Zhuang Yan into the Ninth Heaven, arriving before the Lingtai Divine Manor at Danchi Ridge in the blink of an eye.

After steadying himself, Zhuang Yan smiled. "So this is the Somersault Cloud?"

Sun Wukong looked surprised. "Prefect knows it?"

"It is a Daoist method taught by Fellow Daoist Bodhi. How could I not know?"

"Then does Prefect know my current cultivation?"

"A Grand Unity Golden Immortal." Zhuang Yan answered without hesitation.

Sun Wukong's eyes rolled. "The Patriarch must have told you." Seeing Zhuang Yan smile without speaking, he winked mischievously. "Prefect should cultivate diligently too."

Zhuang Yan patted his shoulder. "You little monkey, do not get too smug."

"I was only joking!" Sun Wukong cupped his hands in salute. "I'm going to find Vanguard Hu and catch up."

Zhuang Yan raised a brow. "Your hands itching?"

Sun Wukong laughed and transformed into a breeze, vanishing. Zhuang Yan transformed into a white cloud and drifted over to Vanguard Hu, just in time to see Sun Wukong transform into Vanguard Hu's wife, Lan'er.

"Husband~" The fake Lan'er threw herself into Vanguard Hu's arms. His ears turned bright red. "W-Wife, why did you suddenly..."

"I just wanted to get close to my husband~"

Just as Vanguard Hu was about to return her affection, the person in his arms suddenly burst into familiar laughter. Vanguard Hu froze. "W-Wife?"

Not far away, Chi Ling abruptly rose to her feet and sensed something amiss. "Brother Hu, she does not seem to be Sister Lan'er."

Before her words had faded, the fake Lan'er drove an elbow into Vanguard Hu, making him double over in pain. Then came a takedown, slamming Vanguard Hu heavily to the ground. Dust billowed with a bang, revealing Sun Wukong's true form. He clapped gleefully and said, "Brother Hu, did you enjoy my way of being affectionate?"

Chi Ling was about to step forward to help, but stopped short at the sight and doubled over with laughter. Vanguard Hu scrambled to his feet in embarrassment. Seeing that Wukong had tricked him, he flushed scarlet and cursed, "You skinless monkey, how dare you!" With that, he beckoned for the Heavenly Sin Blade, leaped into the air, and chopped down.

Wukong neither dodged nor evaded. The blade struck the top of his head, sending sparks flying, yet it did not damage even a single fine hair. The rebounding force flung both man and blade away. The Heavenly Sin Blade embedded itself in the ground, while Vanguard Hu was caught by the Immobilization Technique in midair before he could land.

Wukong turned to Chi Ling with a toothy grin. "Little serpent, it is time to settle our old grudges." Chi Ling's expression changed drastically as she summoned the Heavenly King Golden Halberd and hurled it at him. Wukong kicked the weapon away and sneered. "The magical treasure may be fine, but your cultivation is too shallow."

Chi Ling returned to her true form as a Red-Scaled Giant Python and swallowed Wukong whole. Yet the moment she bit down, all her teeth shattered. She could only spit Wukong back out, transform into human form, and cover her face as she sobbed. Seeing this, Wukong hurriedly cupped his hands. "Do not cry, do not cry. Old Sun was only playing around with you."

Looking at the bloodstained broken teeth scattered across the ground, Wukong repeatedly apologized. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. How about I treat you?"

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

Sun Wukong scratched his head, suddenly remembering that he had never learned medicine while studying under Patriarch Bodhi.

"Um... Old Sun can't." He answered honestly.

Chi Ling's tears welled up again. Just then, a streak of red light crossed the sky, and Fire Spirit True Immortal floated down gracefully. She held Chi Ling's shoulder with concern. "What happened?"

Sun Wukong rushed to explain, "It was all Old Sun's fault. I only wanted to spar with her, but I accidentally broke her teeth."

Fire Spirit True Immortal carefully examined the half of Chi Ling's teeth that were missing, then comforted her with a smile. "It is only a small matter. Do not cry." As she spoke, she took out a jade-green pill. "This is a supreme healing medicine."

Within ten breaths of swallowing the pill, the bruising and swelling on Chi Ling's cheek vanished, as did the pain. Only her empty gums remained. She pouted. "Sister, my teeth..."

"What is there to fear for a cultivator?" Fire Spirit True Immortal pinched her cheek. "As long as you diligently cultivate your origin true qi, new teeth will grow within a hundred days."

"Really?"

"When has Sister ever lied to you?"

Chi Ling broke into a smile through her tears, then suddenly pointed at Sun Wukong and complained, "This monkey is awful! He even froze Brother Hu in the sky!"

Fire Spirit True Immortal looked up at Vanguard Hu hanging rigidly in the air and could not help but laugh. She nodded. "All right, Sister will vent your anger for you."

Seeing that Chi Ling was fine, Sun Wukong had just relaxed when Fire Spirit True Immortal turned toward him. He immediately cupped his fists in salute. "Please enlighten me, Assistant Prefect." He had always held this capable assistant of Zhuang Yan's in great respect.

The instant the words "please enlighten me" left his mouth, Fire Spirit True Immortal transformed into a sky full of flowing fire and vanished without a trace.

Sun Wukong formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation. Golden flames immediately surged around him. He stretched his limbs within the fire and called out with a grin, "Not strong enough! Make it fiercer!"

The flames surged in response, yet he looked as comfortable as if soaking in a hot spring. He even waved his arms and danced. "This fire is so lukewarm. It is only scratching Old Sun's itch!"

Strangely, the more he shouted, the weaker the golden flames became until they finally went out completely. Yet Fire Spirit True Immortal did not appear.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong felt his rear end burning. He leaped thirty feet into the air and frantically slapped his buttocks—an eerie crimson flame was burning there, making him bare his teeth in pain.

Chi Ling clapped and laughed. At that moment, Zhuang Yan, transformed into a white cloud, quietly released Vanguard Hu from the Immobilization Technique.

Vanguard Hu dropped heavily from the air. As he hurriedly climbed to his feet, he saw Sun Wukong clutching his smoking rear and jumping about wildly, shrieking at the top of his lungs.

Chi Ling covered her mouth and giggled. "That is Sister Huoling's Fire Control Art, a method personally taught by Patriarch Bodhi."

"Fire Control Art?" Sun Wukong's eyes shifted. He suddenly flipped a somersault and shot one hundred and eight thousand li away. The Profound Yang True Fire on his rear immediately went out—he had moved beyond Fire Spirit True Immortal's casting range.

In the blink of an eye, he somersaulted back to Danchi Ridge. His divine sense swept across the entire mountain range, freezing every trace of fire-element qi. Amid a series of clear clinks, even Fire Spirit True Immortal, who had transformed into fire spirit qi, was forced to reveal her true form, frozen in midair.

Vanguard Hu and Chi Ling hurried forward. Sun Wukong waved a hand to undo the spell, and Fire Spirit True Immortal drifted gracefully to the ground. Rather than getting angry, she praised him, "What a monkey. Now even I am no match for you."

"You let me win, you let me win." Sun Wukong laughed and cupped his hands, casually patting out the sparks on his pants and revealing his bright-red bare backside. He formed a hand seal and changed into new clothes, grinning. "Assistant Prefect's fire art is truly formidable. It nearly roasted Old Sun into cooked meat."

Fire Spirit True Immortal smiled. "Unfortunately, its casting range is limited. The moment you left, it lost its effect."

"Luckily, Old Sun sprang from stone. Anyone else would have become charcoal long ago!" Sun Wukong turned to Vanguard Hu. "Once I return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, I will surely make a great name for myself!"

The three exchanged smiles. Chi Ling said brightly, "When your name shakes the Three Realms in the future, do not forget us."

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

Vanguard Hu looked surprised. "Though the Prefect is an Earth Immortal, his depths are unfathomable..."

Remembering how Zhuang Yan had subdued her back then, Fire Spirit True Immortal said meaningfully, "I was defeated by the Prefect myself. Have you truly thought this through?"

Sun Wukong patted his chest. "Do not worry. The Prefect is an elder, so Old Sun knows his limits."