Learning the Immortal Methods

Seven years have passed since Sun Wukong became a disciple of Old Ancestor Bodhi. During these seven years, he has been learning speech and manners, discussing scriptures and doctrines, practicing calligraphy and burning incense with his fellow disciples, doing so every day.

In his spare time, the Stone Monkey sweeps the floor, hoes the vegetables, grows flowers and plants, prunes trees, carries firewood, and fetches water—he does everything.

On this day, Old Ancestor Bodhi sat on the high platform, exchanged for the Immortal Slayer, and began to expound the Great Dao.

It describes a dazzling display of flowers from the sky and golden lotuses emerging from the earth, a wondrous exposition of the Three Vehicles of Buddhism, and the complete and subtle teachings of all dharmas.

Sun Wukong listened from the side, and he was so happy that he scratched his ears and cheeks, beaming with joy, and then couldn't help but stand up.

"Sun Wukong, what are you doing? Sit down quickly."

As soon as Sun Wukong stood up, he startled Red Sparrow, who quickly told him to sit down.

However, Sun Wukong seemed not to hear anything and began to dance wildly.

"I am giving a sermon, why are you gesturing wildly and not listening to me?"

Old Ancestor Bodhi immediately questioned Sun Wukong about his behavior.

"Please forgive me, Master. I listened attentively and was overjoyed when I heard the profound meaning of your teachings, which is why I started to dance with joy."

Upon hearing Old Ancestor Bodhi call his name, Sun Wukong realized what was happening and began to apologize to Old Ancestor Bodhi.

"Since you recognize my wondrous sound, then let me ask you, what path do you wish to learn?"

Seeing this, Old Ancestor Bodhi asked Sun Wukong what he wanted to say.

"No matter what Master teaches, as long as it contains Dao energy, this disciple is willing to learn."

Sun Wukong immediately gave a reply.

"There are 360 schools of Daoism, each leading to enlightenment. Which one would you like to learn?"

Old Ancestor Bodhi began to question Sun Wukong.

"Master, you can decide for me. I am willing to listen to you wholeheartedly."

Sun Wukong answered obediently.

"I will teach you the ways of the Technique School. The Technique School involves invoking spirits, consulting oracles, and divining with yarrow stalks to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune."

Instead of making a decision for Sun Wukong directly, Old Ancestor Bodhi first mentioned a gate and what one could do after learning it, letting Sun Wukong judge for himself.

"Master, if I learn this skill, can I achieve Changsheng?"

Sun Wukong stared intently at Patriarch Bodhi, his eyes revealing a deep longing for the secret to Changsheng.

"Unfortunately, learning this technique does not grant Changsheng."

The Patriarch Bodhi answered his question without expression.

"In that case, I will not learn this technique."

Upon hearing the answer that Changsheng was not possible, the monkey immediately refused.

"I'll teach you Liuzi, the way of the sect. Within this sect are Confucian, Legalist, Mohist, Daoist, Yin-Yang, and peasants. They either meditate on sutras, recite Buddha's name, pay homage to the truth, and so on."

Patriarch Bodhi then described another school of thought.

"Can learning this grant Changsheng?"

The monkey asked excitedly.

"Unfortunately, no."

The Patriarch Bodhi spoke, dispelling his illusions.

"If I can't Changsheng, why should I learn from him? I won't learn it."

Sun Wukong said with a look of disgust.

"How about I teach you the way of Stillness School?"

Patriarch Bodhi then introduced Sun Wukong to another sect.

"Master, can this Changsheng?"

No sooner had Patriarch Bodhi finished speaking than Sun Wukong impatiently asked.

"Unfortunately, that won't work."

The Patriarch Bodhi replied expressionlessly.

"This won't grant Changsheng, I won't learn it."

Sun Wukong said, sounding slightly annoyed.

"You monkey, you won't learn this or that, what exactly do you want to learn?"

Seeing Sun Wukong's appearance, Old Ancestor Bodhi became somewhat angry. He stepped down from the platform, struck Sun Wukong on the head three times, and then left with his hands behind his back.

Those people looked at each other, and all began to blame Sun Wukong, blaming him for making their master leave in anger.

"You've driven your teacher away like this, how are you going to study now?"

The Little Red Sparrow said with concern for him.

"Don't worry, you'll see in a few days."

Sun Wukong comforted him, saying that he now understood the meaning behind his master's three slaps and departure.

It was from this point that Sun Wukong learned the true skills of the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Somersault Cloud, and the Great Grade Heavenly Immortal Formula from Patriarch Bodhi.

After studying for about three years, Sun Wukong had become very proficient in these Law Techniques. However, when the Stone Monkey showed off his Law Technique in front of his fellow disciples, Patriarch Bodhi found an excuse to send him back to Flower-Fruit Mountain and forbade Sun Wukong from telling anyone that he had learned the Law Technique from him.

"Please take care, Master. This disciple will now take his leave."

After saying this, Sun Wukong summoned his Somersault Cloud and flew towards the Aolai Kingdom and Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory.

Old Ancestor Bodhi stood there, watching his figure gradually disappear into the distance.

"Fellow Daoist, is this the key figure you've found to complete your second Immeasurable Tribulation?"

"This Numinous Stone Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Havoc, does indeed possess excellent Root Bone and should be capable of undertaking this great task."

Suddenly, a person appeared beside Patriarch Bodhi and spoke to him. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that this person was Ao Changsheng's Great Dao of the Five Elements Body.

"Fellow Daoist, you guessed correctly. He is one of the people I sought out to resolve the second Immeasurable Tribulation."

"I laid out a plan long ago to get him here. The clan chiefs of Eastern Continent of Divine Victory, Aolai Kingdom, Flower-Fruit Mountain are among my disciples, as is the woodcutter who guided Sun Wukong ten years ago. They all did those things to guide Sun Wukong to this place."

"You know, I started planning to bring him here a hundred years ago, and a thousand years ago, I transformed into the Old Ancestor Bodhi to preach and teach here. All my efforts have finally paid off, and I've finally waited for him."

"He's a very important figure in this second Immeasurable Tribulation."

Old Ancestor Bodhi answered Ao Changsheng's question. Old Ancestor Bodhi was none other than Ancestor Hongjun, who used his great Divine Ability to divide this third Immeasurable Tribulation into three Immeasurable Tribulation.

The Somersault Cloud is said to travel 108,000 li in one somersault, and that's no exaggeration. After Sun Wukong stepped on it, he headed towards Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Aolai Kingdom Eastern Continent of Divine Victory. In less than half an hour, he returned here from Mount Lingtai Fangcun.

You should know that it took him a whole year to travel from Flower-Fruit Mountain to Mount Lingtai Fangcun. How could he have been so carefree and happy as he was now, riding on his Somersault Cloud and returning from Mount Lingtai Fangcun in less than half an hour?

Red Sparrow accompanied Sun Wukong on his return journey.

"Come, come, Red Sparrow, let me show you around my house."

As he spoke, Sun Wukong led the Red Sparrow on a tour of Flower-Fruit Mountain. He rode the Qingdao Man, sometimes slowly walking on the ground, sometimes soaring into the air and flying around, and sometimes darting into the river and going upstream.

But this one action brought him great rewards. He followed the river to a waterfall, and as he flew straight up the waterfall, he suddenly saw something behind it.