After obtaining Mo Mo's consent, Guanyin returned to the Purple Bamboo Forest. Yi Chen and the others, who had been playing all day, returned to the bamboo house as the last rays of the sun disappeared on the horizon. A delicious and fragrant feast awaited them. Diao Chan had already returned before the sun set below the horizon and volunteered to help Mo Mo.
After eating and drinking their fill and cleaning up the dishes, Diao Chan returned to the Purple Bamboo Forest. After all, she was still nominally a disciple of Guanyin, so she had to return to the Purple Bamboo Forest to live. The little black dragon and the others also returned to the small world, because the bamboo house did not have enough rooms for them to live in, and they still had to take care of the things in the small world. After everyone left, only Yi Chen and Mo Mo were left in the bamboo house.
The two stood quietly in the dining room, looking at each other. An ambiguous atmosphere instantly filled the air. Yi Chen, being shy, was the first to give in, lowering her head with a slightly flushed face. Mo Mo, seeing this, smiled and walked up to Yi Chen, lifting her chin and kissing her glistening red lips. After the kiss, Mo Mo hugged her, turned her around, and slapped her bottom with a soft "smack" as she turned away from him. Then, he whispered in her ear, "Lie down on the table."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 465 Grand Gathering
Yi Chen trembled upon hearing this, her ears tickled from the breath Mo Mo exhaled, and her pretty face flushed red with embarrassment. However, she still obediently lay down on the table, and with a soft moan, a burst of spring light filled the room.
As the spring breeze blows, a hundred flowers bloom, and the peach blossoms outside seem to bloom even more brilliantly. Tonight is destined to be another sleepless night. Inside the purple bamboo forest, Guanyin watches the purple bamboo swaying in the wind under the night sky, her silver teeth lightly biting her red lips, her pretty face flushed red. Unfortunately, no one can see this scene.
Sunrise and sunset, flowers bloom and fade, and more than two months have passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Guanyin often came to Mo Mo to ask about cultivation issues. Sometimes she would also give Diao Chan some casual guidance on her cultivation. Yi Chen and the others would still go out to play often, sometimes not returning for several days. However, it was someone's idea that they would always bring back some good ingredients each time they returned. Mo Mo would never let Yi Chen off the hook, because the essence of the Black Dragon Quasi-Immortal Emperor in his body had dwindled to a tiny point, like an embroidery needle. However, these leisurely and happy days were about to end, because the time for Guanyin to give a lecture in the Purple Bamboo Forest was approaching. They also had to help make some arrangements, otherwise the immortals and Buddhas who came to the Purple Bamboo Forest to listen to the sermon would have to sit on the ground to listen, which was not the way to treat guests.
Although Guanyin emphasizes simplicity and naturalness, the proper etiquette still needs to be observed, and the necessary preparations still need to be made. As a result, Mo Mo was in a difficult position. The little black dragon and the others could handle the venue setup, but Mo Mo had to prepare the food. This was because only Mo Mo was proficient in cooking, while the others, even Kaguya, were only skilled and could only cook simple home-style dishes. She couldn't handle anything slightly complicated, so Mo Mo had to be in charge of the food and drinks.
Some might say that these people are here to listen to the teachings, not to attend a banquet, so why would they need food? A meditation cushion for each person is enough. But such thinking is completely wrong. I believe everyone has had the feeling that when you are in class or working hard, you always get hungry very quickly. That's because rapid thinking consumes a lot of energy. The same is true for immortals and gods. Listening to the teachings is like us attending class, but it consumes hundreds or thousands of times more mental energy than we do. Naturally, the energy consumption is also hundreds or thousands of times greater. Guanyin has not yet become a saint, and the spiritual energy gathered by heaven and earth when she preaches is far from enough to satisfy the consumption of the listeners. That's why the dishes and fruits come in handy.
These dishes are like giant spare batteries, silently replenishing the spiritual energy consumed by the immortals and gods while they listen to the sermon. Some dishes can also calm the mind and spirit, assisting the listeners in their listening and improving their efficiency. Therefore, preparing food for the listeners is essential, and it is also an important indicator of the organizer's dedication. However, good things are always scarce, so Mo Mo was having a headache. Finally, Mo Mo had a flash of inspiration and roasted nearly a thousand catties of melon seeds. He would put a plate of melon seeds on each table. Just imagine the scene: a large group of immortals and Buddhas sitting below, cracking melon seeds and listening to Guanyin preach on the stage like obedient children. Tsk tsk, the scene would be too beautiful, but it would be a bit too much for the eyes.
After roasting the melon seeds and drying them in the sun, Mo Mo set sail. This was the South China Sea, and what's the most abundant thing in the sea? Seafood. For some reason, neither immortals nor mortals in this world ate seafood, so Mo Mo planned to give them a surprise. However, before catching seafood, Mo Mo had already informed the Dragon King of the South China Sea. They were old neighbors, and the little black dragon would often visit the Dragon Palace, so they were quite familiar with each other. Moreover, Mo Mo was practically a host, so the old Dragon King readily agreed. After all, Mo Mo's targets were mostly unintelligent creatures, or demons tainted by bloodshed, so the old Dragon King didn't care at all. Besides, being so close to the source, the area around Mount Luojia was already full of his relatives from the South China Sea Dragon Palace. So the old Dragon King waved his hand and patted his chest, assuring Mo Mo that he would cover the ingredients and immortal fruits. Mo Mo was happy to have some peace and quiet.
However, seafood alone wasn't enough; he also needed some mountain delicacies. So, after dealing with the old dragon king, Mo Mo flew to a nearby continent. In the end, Mo Mo spent three days exploring the entire Great Wilderness, returning with a full load. The prey he hunted was piled up into a small mountain, and he also picked a lot of immortal herbs and spiritual medicines.
After returning to Luojia Mountain, it took three days just to process these ingredients, and this was with the help of Diao Chan and Kaguya. Although it was hard work, the results were gratifying, and the ingredients for three thousand people were finally prepared.
It must be said that Guanyin's reputation is indeed resounding. Only three months after the news of her upcoming sermon was released, nearly three thousand immortals and Buddhas confirmed their intention to attend. And this number only includes those named and qualified to enter Mount Luojia to hear her teachings; the number of those unqualified is even greater. Currently, there are tens of thousands of them lingering in the South China Sea alone, not even counting the aquatic creatures. If aquatic creatures were included, the number would probably be no less than a million, and all of them possess cultivation. Fortunately, Mo Mo doesn't need to worry about food for these people, otherwise he would definitely have to run away.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the day of the island's opening finally arrived. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luojia Mountain shone with dazzling light. Then, the light faded, and the great formation enveloping Luojia Mountain closed. A vibrant island quietly emerged above the South China Sea. The immortals and Buddhas waiting outside the island seemed to receive some signal, rushing towards the purple bamboo forest. However, only a small portion flew towards the purple bamboo forest; most landed around the island. At this moment, from a distance, the newly appeared island disappeared again, leaving only densely packed figures. These figures surrounded the entire Luojia Mountain, and the sea was similarly teeming with aquatic creatures. Despite this, they had no complaints, for they did not want to miss this grand event.
In stark contrast to this, although nearly three thousand immortals and Buddhas were seated in the Purple Bamboo Grove, the grove was not small and therefore did not feel crowded. There was a small table between every two people, and the tables were filled with immortal fruits and dishes. Of course, some tables did not have wine or meat, but only fresh fruits, melon seeds and the like. The most eye-catching items on these tables were small dishes with only a dozen or so golden lotus seeds. These were obtained when Guanyin was promoted to Quasi-Saint, and they contained traces of Dao essence. Taking them out now was just right and could achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Of course, the seafood feast that Mo Mo also prepared also broadened the horizons of the immortals and Buddhas, especially Lü Dongbin, who had already grabbed a hairy crab and started eating it. The Hundred Flower Fairy beside him glanced at him, shook her head helplessly, and then ignored him.
Guanyin was indeed very popular. The Heavenly Court sent the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, the family of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, the Four Heavenly Kings, and a group of other well-known immortals and gods. The Buddhist Eighteen Arhats, Lingji Bodhisattva, and Ksitigarbha were also present. What surprised Mo Mo the most was that, apart from Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, the other three protagonists of the Journey to the West all appeared. If it weren't for the fact that he was the one who brought about this change in Guanyin, he would have suspected that the characters for the Journey to the West were chosen from the people here today.
"Before the chaos was divided, before heaven and earth were created..." As soon as Guanyin spoke, all the immortals and Buddhas present fell silent, listening quietly. At the same time, the immortals and cultivators outside the island also fell silent the moment Guanyin spoke. Thus, only Guanyin's clear and melodious voice remained in the world. Wherever this voice passed, all things became still, even the wind stopped blowing and the waves stopped surging.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 466 The Way
The sky was clear and the wind was gentle, and the world was quiet. At this moment, apart from the voice of Guanyin, Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea was completely silent. At the same time, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth rapidly gathered, and as time went by, this spiritual energy became more and more concentrated, gradually forming patches of spiritual mist. As time went by, the spiritual mist accumulated and thickened, gradually forming a thick layer of clouds in the sky above the sea area surrounding Luojia Mountain. When the clouds accumulated to a certain extent, spiritual rain began to fall in a light drizzle.
Cool raindrops fell on the immortals, gods, Buddhas, and demons present. Surprisingly, these spiritual raindrops did not awaken the listeners. Instead, they quickly seeped into their bodies. After the spiritual rains penetrated them, the furrowed brows of those who had not understood the teachings gradually relaxed, and those who were already deep in thought showed expressions of satisfaction.
However, this was only the beginning. After the spiritual rain, golden lotus flowers bloomed in the purple bamboo forest on Luojia Mountain, and they were spreading rapidly. However, unlike before, all the lotus flowers this time were golden and looked somewhat illusory. The phrase "Golden Lotus Emerging from the Earth" is always associated with "flowers falling from the sky," and this was no exception. These scattered golden petals were actually formed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth containing traces of Dao. So, as each petal fell, it eventually disappeared, because after falling, it would merge into the first object it touched, whether that object was inanimate or alive.
No matter how heavy the rain, it will eventually stop. The drizzle lasted for more than an hour before gradually stopping. However, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth continued to gather around. When the spiritual energy gathered to a certain extent, the same situation would repeat itself until the end of the lecture. This was one of the reasons why even those immortals, gods, Buddhas, and demons rushed here despite not having tickets. Another reason was naturally the sound of Guanyin echoing in the sea area near Luojia Mountain.
Of course, this is Guanyin. If someone else were to preach the Tao, it is estimated that apart from the immortals and Buddhas in the Purple Bamboo Grove, no one else would hear a single sound. This is because the Tao cannot be easily transmitted. As the saying goes, "Preaching the Tao, imparting knowledge, and resolving doubts" means that others who hear your teachings are indebted to you, and you will also be entangled in karma. If the listener later attains immortality or Buddhahood because of your teachings, that's fine. But if they become demons and harm all living beings, then your sins will be great, and you will lose merit. In the primordial world, merit is the most important resource, and even saints cannot ignore it.
However, Guanyin cultivates the path of saving the world, embracing all humanity, and speaking of compassion. Therefore, anyone can come to listen. But if any of those who come to listen practice evil ways, forget about gaining any benefits or improving their cultivation; they'll be lucky if they aren't completely purified from the heart to the core. This is why Guanyin dares to preach publicly. Of course, Mo Mo dares to do the same, and even if all those who listened later become demons, he won't be in any trouble. After he finishes speaking, he can simply walk away, and since he's no longer in this world, his merits won't be deducted.
At this moment, Mo Mo was leaning against a purple bamboo in the bamboo forest. There was no other way; each person only had a futon to sit on during this sermon. Although the futon was said to be woven from some kind of hollow willow, which could keep the person sitting on it awake and also had the effect of calming the mind, it still couldn't change the fact that it was a futon. And the futon had no backrest, so Mo Mo could only move his position under a bamboo and lean against it. Apart from Ksitigarbha, Lü Dongbin and other top experts, no one else noticed Mo Mo's movement, because they were all so engrossed in Guanyin's teachings on the Dao of Heaven and Earth that they couldn't extricate themselves. Guanyin could only shake her head helplessly when she saw this.
Time flies, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye. The listeners, immersed in the Dao principles, did not feel the passage of time at all. When Guanyin stopped, they felt that only a moment had passed. When they came to their senses, they realized that so much time had actually passed. Guanyin stopped not because the sermon was over, but to give them some time to digest what she had learned and to answer the questions in the hearts of the immortals and Buddhas in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Outside Mount Luojia, rays of light shone, which were the light of the immortal spiritual energy that emanated from the body as one's realm advanced.
Nine days later, Guanyin spoke again. Surprisingly, although Guanyin's voice still echoed in the sea, many of the listeners present could not hear a sound. Upon closer observation, it was discovered that those who could not hear were the weakest among them.
Just as these people were hesitating, a clear, cold male voice rang in the minds of all the listeners present at the same time: "The Dao cannot be lightly transmitted. The Dao that follows is beyond your comprehension. Listening to it will not only be of no benefit but will also be harmful. So you should all go back."
Those listening outside the island, upon hearing this voice, were initially startled, but then calmly departed. Guanyin paused three more times, and after each pause, only a handful of people remained outside the island.
There were a thousand listeners, and without exception, all of them were powerful cultivators, with even the weakest among them possessing the cultivation level of a Xuanxian.
Time flies, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye. Just then, Mo Mo, who had been dozing with his eyes half-closed, suddenly opened them. At the same time, Guanyin gently closed her red lips and stood up, signifying the end of the sermon. After a short while, the immortals and Buddhas in the forest opened their eyes, their gazes filled with gratitude as they looked at Guanyin. Then, someone took the lead, and all the immortals and Buddhas present bowed to Guanyin, thanking her in unison.
However, the sermon was not yet over; on the contrary, it was at its most exciting part. Thus, a debate began. The immortals and Buddhas present enjoyed the food on the table while discussing gains and losses with those around them. In this intense atmosphere of sermon, nine days passed in the blink of an eye. After nine days, the debate gradually subsided, and the immortals and Buddhas present all turned their gazes to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Ksitigarbha smiled freely and gracefully flew to Guanyin's side, sitting cross-legged. Thus, the sermon originating from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva began. However, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's voice only echoed in the Purple Bamboo Forest and did not reach outside the island. After Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Lingji Bodhisattva, Lü Dongbin, and other immortals and Buddhas spoke one after another. This sermon lasted for three months. When the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King finished his sermon, all the immortals and Buddhas looked at Mo Mo with lingering interest.
Mo Mo did not refuse and went directly to sit down on the other side of Guanyin. The moment Mo Mo spoke, all the immortals and Buddhas present changed their expressions drastically, because Mo Mo's first words were "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name." Just when everyone thought they had misheard, Mo Mo's next words confirmed to them that what Mo Mo was reciting was the Tao Te Ching.
"The Way that can be spoken of, the name that can be named, refers to things and creates forms, but it is not its constant. Therefore, it cannot be spoken of, nor can it be named. Nameless, it is the origin of Heaven and Earth; named, it is the mother of all things." However, what puzzled them was that although Mo Mo was clearly reciting the Tao Te Ching of the Supreme Lord of Morality, they heard a different Tao in it. Only then did they finally understand Mo Mo's power, and they listened with heartfelt admiration to Mo Mo's Tao Te Ching, which was full of Taoist wisdom.
(End of this chapter)
2017/11/17 3:28:18|45481915
End of Chapter 467
The sound of the Dao lingered, and apart from the rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind, only Mo Mo's calm and tranquil voice echoed in the bamboo forest. There were no golden lotuses springing from the ground, nor any flowers falling from the sky. Mo Mo in front of me was like a scholar reciting poetry in the forest. However, in the bamboo forest, whether it was Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, or other immortals and gods, they all closed their eyes, their faces full of warm smiles, and were in a state of enlightenment.
The Tao Te Ching is not long, only a few thousand words long. It can be read in just a few minutes, and even if you read it word by word, it won't take much time. So Mo Mo stopped quickly because he had finished reading. What was surprising was that even though Mo Mo had finished reading, the immortals and Buddhas present did not seem to want to wake up. Mo Mo did not disturb them or leave. Instead, he sat quietly on the futon, calming his mind and silently comprehending something.
Feeling the surging power within him, even Mo Mo couldn't help but feel his heart pounding. He had now officially entered the late stage of True Immortal and was only a step away from reaching the peak of True Immortal. All of this was thanks to Yi Chen. During this period, Mo Mo had never slacked off in his cultivation, and the results were quite gratifying. Before Guanyin's sermon began, he had already entered the late stage of True Immortal, which was also the late stage of Quasi-Saint. Now, he was only one step away from reaching the peak of True Immortal. Once he reached the peak of True Immortal, it meant that he could reach the Immortal King realm at any time. In the Primordial World, that would be the Saint realm. How could Mo Mo not feel excited?
However, upon thinking that there are Quasi-Immortal Emperors and Immortal Emperors after Immortal Kings, he suddenly felt that the road ahead was still very long. Thus, his surging heart gradually calmed down, and he carefully comprehended the surging power within his body. At this moment, the black dragon Quasi-Immortal Emperor origin within him was reduced to a hair's breadth. Looking at this tiny dot, Mo Mo suddenly had a feeling that when he completely refined this origin, it would be the time when he would advance to the peak of True Immortal. This feeling came somewhat inexplicably, but Mo Mo firmly believed in it.
Time flies, and a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. When the hundred-year period came to an end, all the immortals and Buddhas present trembled and slowly awoke from their enlightenment. After they regained their senses, they quickly stood up. Except for Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, Lü Dongbin and other immortals and Buddhas of the Great Luo Golden Immortal level and above, they all bowed to Mo Mo as disciples and said in unison, "Thank you for teaching us, Master!"
Mo Mo nodded, gesturing for them to sit down, and then said softly, "What is the Dao?"
Mo Mo's voice was not loud when he asked "What is the Dao?", but all the immortals and Buddhas present were shocked when they heard it. Before they could react, Mo Mo continued, "What is the Dao? My Dao is the Dao of Heaven. I do not cultivate the next life, nor do I look at the past life. I only cultivate to be invincible in this life. This is my Dao."
"What is your Dao? I don't know what your Dao is, but I want to tell you that there are three thousand great Daos, but they all lead to the same destination. Everyone has their own Dao, and the path to find the Dao is right under your feet. The Dao is not something you cultivate, but something you walk. As long as you hold fast to your original heart and move forward steadfastly, I believe that one day you will find what you are looking for."
Many of the immortals and Buddhas present had heard Mo Mo's words before, but in the past, most of them would forget them after hearing them. However, after Mo Mo said them, they seemed to have been enlightened and understood instantly. Even those who did not understand seemed to have some thoughts. The reason why it was so effective was that Mo Mo used some methods while speaking these words to make them resonate with heaven and earth. In addition, they had just awakened from their enlightenment and were in a state of bursting inspiration. Therefore, Mo Mo only needed to give a slight hint for them to understand.
Having received Mo Mo's guidance, the immortals and Buddhas present bowed deeply to him once again, looking at him with gratitude. At this moment, Mo Mo was their guide and their second parent in their eyes. Little did they know that their guide was smiling at them while secretly plotting something.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this is a great kindness, though I wouldn't repay it with my life, but you wouldn't refuse if I needed your help or asked for something, would you?"
Guanyin's sermon lasted for over a hundred years and finally came to a successful conclusion. All the immortals and Buddhas who came left with satisfied expressions. However, after the sermon, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Lingji Bodhisattva of Buddhism stayed behind, as did Lü Dongbin and the Hundred Flower Fairy. However, they did not stay in the Purple Bamboo Forest, but instead came to Mo Mo's Peach Blossom Forest. The reason they stayed was simple: Lü Dongbin came to ask for wine, while Ksitigarbha and the others stayed because the Stone Monkey was about to be born, and the Journey to the West was the most important thing for Buddhism at the moment, which could not tolerate any carelessness. Therefore, when the time came, they naturally had to double-check whether there were any mistakes or omissions.
Compared to the somber atmosphere in the Purple Bamboo Forest, Mo Mo and his group were much more relaxed and cheerful. Under the peach tree, they were sitting at a table laden with dishes, enjoying a hearty meal. In the center of this three-meter-diameter table sat a giant crab, its body larger than a washbasin. Its legs were already resting on the edge of the table before they were fully open. The crab was bright red, and its shell was crystal clear, as if it were carved from the finest rubies. It didn't look like food; it seemed more like a work of art.
The dishes surrounding the crab were not much less impressive. For example, there was a lobster in front of each person that was larger than their head, and there were also slices of crystal-clear sashimi, which were cut from the most exquisite parts of a great demon-level tuna and processed by Mo Mo's special techniques. Such dishes were everywhere on this large table. This seafood feast was the result of his careful selection from a mountain of ingredients. And this mountain was not an exaggeration, but a fact. He still had a large amount of ingredients left in his storage space.
After Guanyin finished her sermon, Luojia Mountain returned to its usual tranquility. Guanyin still occasionally came to ask Mo Mo for advice on cultivation matters. Of course, she usually asked these questions when Yi Chen was not around. As for Diao Chan, through her diligent practice, she had now begun to grasp the basics of the Seventy-Two Transformations. When she transformed into plants, she could already do so indistinguishably from real plants. However, since there were not many animals on the island, she could only transform into things like carp at the moment. She couldn't transform into lions or tigers yet.
Yi Chen and the little black dragon would occasionally run outside to play. Mo Mo, considering Diao Chan's weakness in the Seventy-Two Transformations, waved his hand and let Diao Chan follow the little fox and the others. The results were gratifying. In less than two years, she was already able to transform into slightly smaller animals.
On this day, Mo Mo was playing chess with Guanyin. Guanyin's white pieces were surrounded by Mo Mo's black pieces and she was about to win. Just as she was preparing to press her advantage and end the game, a huge roar suddenly resounded between heaven and earth. The roar shook many peach blossoms in Mo Mo's peach grove to the ground. Immediately afterwards, two huge golden lights shot into the sky from the direction of Aolai Kingdom in the East Sea.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 468 The Stone Monkey is Born
The spirit stone sprang forth, and the stone monkey emerged, startling heaven and earth. Ghosts wailed and wolves howled. Sun Wukong was indeed a spirit monkey born from the essence of the sun and moon, nurtured by Nuwa Stone Scripture for millions of years. The commotion of his birth was earth-shattering. The loud noise was heard by anyone with the cultivation level of a Loose Immortal, and the two golden beams emanating from his eyes reached straight to the Heavenly Court.
This earth-shattering event proclaimed to all beings in the Three Realms that the Stone Monkey had finally been born. The scheme that the Buddhist sect and the Heavenly Court had been discussing and arranging for thousands of years was also officially launched at this moment. Meanwhile, on Flower Fruit Mountain, Mo Mo and Guanyin were hiding in the clouds, watching the monkey on the ground, which was only slightly shorter than an ordinary person and was running around all over the mountain.
"Is this the future protagonist of the world, the eldest brother of Journey to the West?" Mo Mo asked Guanyin with some surprise as he looked at the stone monkey frolicking all over the mountain.
Guanyin turned her head and glared at him before turning her gaze back to the stone monkey frolicking all over the mountain. She didn't answer his question, and Mo Mo, seeing this, wasn't annoyed, but just chuckled. Just then, the stone monkey on the ground, perhaps tired from playing, or perhaps with a belly full, climbed up a peach tree laden with large, bright red peaches and stopped.
Sun Wukong had just been born. Although he could vaguely sense some things about the outside world before he was born, he had never actually seen the outside world. Therefore, he was full of curiosity about everything in the outside world. So, driven by his curiosity, he picked a bunch of peach tree leaves, put them in his mouth, chewed them a few times, and then swallowed them.
Mo Mo was speechless. "..." The first thing Monkey King ate after being born was a peach leaf instead of a peach, which all monkeys love to eat. Can you believe it? Even Guanyin, who was next to Mo Mo, was surprised by Sun Wukong's action. Although monkeys do eat leaves, why would you eat leaves instead of the plump, juicy, sweet and refreshing peaches right next to you? What are you trying to do?
After swallowing a mouthful, Sun Wukong glanced at the leaves in his hand and then decisively threw them all away. He only vaguely knew that there was something to eat on the tree, but he didn't know if it was leaves or peaches. After all, the divine stone that nurtured him was quite a distance from the forest, so he could only vaguely sense some things, but not clearly. This was also the reason why he could run and jump from birth.
With a hint of wariness, Sun Wukong took a small bite of a large peach on the treetop next to him. Instantly, a sweet taste filled his mouth, dispelling the bitterness that lingered. The deliciousness made him unable to resist taking another big bite of the peach, and then he devoured the fist-sized peach in just a few bites.
After eating his fill, Sun Wukong leaned against a tree, gazing contentedly at the distant scenery. Just then, the sounds coming from the distant woods caught his attention. Upon closer inspection, he saw many monkeys that looked much like him. He happily ran over, but to his surprise, they didn't seem to like him. They all screamed at him, and some even threw things at him in an attempt to drive him away.
Sun Wukong was quite disappointed after being treated like this. He was about to leave dejectedly when an old monkey, who was even taller than Sun Wukong, came out with a cane and stopped the monkeys from making a commotion. Then he asked Sun Wukong, "Where did you come from, little monkey? We've never seen you before."
"Me?" Sun Wukong pointed to himself, and the old monkey nodded. Sun Wukong said proudly, "I've lived here since I was a child, but I just popped out of the stone, so you've naturally never seen me before."
The monkeys were shocked and immediately panicked. They had almost been scared to death by the earth-shattering noise. Now this big monkey was telling them that he was the one who made the commotion. They didn't believe it at all. The old monkey also thought that Sun Wukong was lying, but he still accepted Sun Wukong's story.
Afterwards, Sun Wukong lived with the monkey troop and quickly integrated into their group. Then, by chance, he overheard the monkeys talking and learned that there was a cave hidden under the waterfall of Flower Fruit Mountain. He also learned that whoever could cross the waterfall and find the cave would become their king. And so, he became the king of the Flower Fruit Mountain monkey troop without any suspense whatsoever.
Guanyin was standing above Flower Fruit Mountain with Mo Mo, so even if Sun Wukong had jumped in the opposite direction, he could still jump in, let alone if he had found the right direction. How could the Buddhist sect, which had planned for so long, let such a farcical thing happen?
As in the story, Sun Wukong became the king of the monkey troop and went to the Water Curtain Cave. Overjoyed, he summoned the monkeys to hold a party. The monkeys, upon receiving the order, went to pick fruit and retrieved the monkey wine sealed in the tree hole. After eating and drinking their fill, the old monkey who had accepted Sun Wukong unexpectedly died. At that moment, a monkey told him that the old monkey was too old and had died of old age, and that one day he too would die.
The monkey's words filled Sun Wukong with deep fear. He had only been born a short time ago, and there were still many beautiful sights he hadn't seen and many delicious fruits he hadn't tasted. He didn't want to die, so he asked the monkey if there was any way to avoid dying.
The monkey shook its head and said, "It's difficult. We are all mortals, and we will die in a few decades at most. Unless we cultivate into demons or attain immortality, we will die sooner or later."
"How can I cultivate to become a demon or an immortal?" Sun Wukong asked anxiously.
"I don't know either, but the people on the other side of the sea must know. However, we are surrounded by the sea, which is full of dangers. If we are not careful, we may drown. So, Your Majesty, you should not go. It would be better to stay in Flower Fruit Mountain and be our king in peace. Although it will only be for a few decades, it is still better than drowning." The monkey's words did not dispel Sun Wukong's idea of going to sea. On the contrary, they strengthened his belief in going to sea to seek immortality.
Subsequently, at the dissuasion of the monkey troop, Sun Wukong used stones to cut down several large trees and chopped the trunks into several sections. He then used vines to firmly bind these uneven trunks together, and soon a canoe was formed. After testing that it was sturdy enough, he ordered the monkeys to move the canoe to the shore and put a lot of fruit on it. Just as he was preparing to set sail, the monkey who had told him about the secret to immortality overseas and how to make a raft laboriously dragged a bunch of coconuts to him and told him that the sea water was undrinkable, so he could drink the coconut juice inside these coconuts to quench his thirst after reaching the sea.
Sun Wukong was deeply moved when he saw the monkey. He patted the monkey on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will definitely come back. When I return, I will teach you the secret of immortality so that you can live forever like me."
The monkeys were deeply moved upon hearing this and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty, have a safe journey!"
Finally, under the eager gaze of the monkey troop, Sun Wukong sat on the raft and drifted away with the waves. However, what none of the monkeys noticed was that after Sun Wukong went far away, the monkey who told him that there was a way to achieve immortality overseas suddenly disappeared. And above the clouds, in front of Mo Mo and Guanyin, there appeared a Buddhist Arhat. The monkey was actually this Arhat in disguise, and his task was to get Sun Wukong to go to sea.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 469 Head-to-Head
The Arhat only paid his respects to Guanyin once before leaving. His mission was complete, so he should return to Mount Ling. With such merit, although the Bodhisattva status was impossible, Mo Mo believed that his status in Buddhism would definitely be elevated. Watching the unknown Arhat gradually disappear into the distance, Mo Mo chuckled and said, "You Buddhists always say that monks don't lie, but now you've teamed up to deceive a monkey."
Guanyin was furious upon hearing this, but what Mo Mo said was true, and she couldn't refute it. So she could only glare at him resentfully and ignore him. Mo Mo, however, persisted with a smile and asked, "Am I wrong? But I find it quite cute when you roll your eyes."
Even though she already knew Mo Mo's nature, Guanyin couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. For some reason, her mental cultivation was useless in front of Mo Mo; she would always be easily swayed by his words. Over time, she figured out how to deal with him. So she flew away on a cloud. Mo Mo knew he couldn't provoke her anymore; he understood the principle of moderation.
After Sun Wukong set sail, Guanyin followed him. With Guanyin by his side, although Sun Wukong suffered a lot at sea, he eventually made it to shore safely. What he didn't know was that behind him, countless sea monsters were silently lying on the seabed.
What the Arhat who had transformed into a monkey did not tell him was that besides storms and waves, there were countless monsters in the sea. Without Guanyin's protection along the way, Sun Wukong would probably have been swallowed up by the sea monsters and left without a trace not long after setting sail.