Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

The braver monkeys all jumped in;

The timid ones, one by one, craned their necks, scratched their ears and cheeks, and shouted loudly. After a while, they all went inside.

Once the monkeys had jumped over the bridge, they scrambled for bowls and plates, vying for the stove and the bed, moving things back and forth. They were so mischievous and unruly that there was never a moment of peace. They only stopped when they were exhausted.

At this moment, the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva chuckled inwardly. All of this was arranged by him, so that the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain would have a place to live and continue the story of Journey to the West.

Li Xiuyuan's greatest advantage is his knowledge of the Journey to the West storyline. Although the world is different now, most of the main plot remains the same.

That's why Li Xiuyuan reappeared in the Water Curtain Cave of Flower Fruit Mountain. After the monkeys had played until they were tired, the stone monkey was still full of energy. After all, he was a master of the Heavenly Immortal level. Although he could not exert his strength, his energy and spirit were still very abundant.

But then the stone monkey sat upright and said, “Gentlemen, ‘A person without integrity is worthless.’ You said that whoever has the ability to enter and leave without injury should be made king.”

I have come and gone, gone and come back, finding this secluded haven for you all to rest peacefully and enjoy the blessings of family life. Why not worship me as your king?

Upon hearing this, all the monkeys immediately bowed and obeyed. They lined up according to their age and paid homage, all calling him "Great King of a Thousand Years." From then on, the stone ape ascended the throne, omitting the word "stone" from his name, and became known as the Handsome Monkey King.

A later poem testifies to this: "The union of three yangs gives birth to all living beings; the celestial stone contains the essence of the sun and moon. Borrowing an egg, a monkey is born, completing the Great Dao; using another's name, it is paired with the elixir. Inner observation reveals no form because it is without appearance; outward union clearly creates form. All people throughout history belong to this; calling themselves kings or sages, they roam freely."

When the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva saw that his goal had been achieved, he was even happier than Sun Wukong. He had completed the first task assigned by his master, and now all that was left was to get the stone monkey to leave Flower Fruit Mountain.

However, since the stone monkey had just obtained this Water Curtain Cave, he was naturally reluctant to leave so soon, so he had to wait a while before he could make his plans.

From then on, the Monkey King led a group of monkeys, macaques, and gibbons, assigning them roles as ruler, ministers, and assistants. They would roam Flower Fruit Mountain in the morning and sleep in Water Curtain Cave at night, getting along well with each other. They did not associate with birds or beasts, but reigned alone, enjoying immense joy.

Therefore: in spring, we gather a hundred flowers for food; in summer, we seek out various fruits for sustenance; in autumn, we harvest taro and chestnuts to prolong the season; and in winter, we search for golden millet to mark the passing of the year.

The Monkey King had been enjoying his carefree life for over twenty years. One day, the monkeys held a grand feast when suddenly an old ape collapsed. The monkeys, who had lived with the old ape day and night for many years, couldn't help but shed tears upon seeing him die.

At this moment, the stone monkey saw what was happening and quickly came over. When he saw the old ape dead, he was shocked. In the past, he had just played carefree in the Water Curtain Cave, but now, seeing the old monkey dead, he felt a sense of crisis.

After several days, the stone monkey's face was filled with melancholy, and he lost all interest in playing. When the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva saw that the effect had been achieved, he asked, "Great King, why are you so troubled!"

The Monkey King said, "Although I am happy, I have some worries about the future, which is why I am troubled."

At this moment, the lords laughed and said, "Your Majesty is so ungrateful! We enjoy ourselves every day in this blessed land of immortals and ancient caves, free from the rule of the Qilin, the Phoenix, and the constraints of human kingship. We are free and unrestrained, which is a boundless blessing. Why do you worry about the future?"

As they spoke, they were all filled with envy. Everyone wanted to be the king, but the current Monkey King was still somewhat dissatisfied, which truly surprised the lords!

Chapter 426 Crossing the Ocean

Hearing the Monkey King say this, all the monkeys were incredibly surprised. For them, becoming king was already a source of immense joy, yet the stone monkey still harbored sorrow. In their eyes, the stone monkey was truly ungrateful.

A monkey jumped out and asked directly, "Your Majesty, what is troubling you? Could you tell us?"

The Monkey King's face darkened, and he said, "Although we are not under the rule of the human king, nor the phoenix or the qilin, one day our vitality will decline, and then we will be under the control of the King of Hell. If we die, wouldn't it be a waste of our time in this world?"

Upon hearing the Monkey King's words, a trace of sorrow appeared on the faces of all the monkeys.

Although the abundant spiritual energy of Flower Fruit Mountain allows these spirit monkeys to live far longer than ordinary monkeys, easily exceeding two or three hundred years, even so, their lifespans eventually come to an end.

Normally, these monkeys are oblivious and unaware of what's happening, but now, upon hearing the monkey king's words, they can't help but feel worried.

Yes, although I am free now and the King Qilin can't control me, one day my life force will decline and I will eventually return to the underworld. At that time, it will be impossible for me to be as free as I am now.

Instantly, the entire cave became extremely quiet.

A look of worry appeared on the faces of all the monkeys.

Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan, the old ape transformed from the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, thought to himself, "I've fallen into your trap!"

All his previous schemes were for this very moment. Moreover, it can be said that the stone monkey's growing anxiety about life and death is the most crucial point in the entire Journey to the West.

If the stone monkey hadn't wanted to live forever, he would never have sought a master to learn skills, and if the stone monkey hadn't sought a master to learn skills, the entire Journey to the West would never have been able to unfold.

However, even if the stone monkey didn't harbor any ambition for immortality, someone would likely deliberately try to guide him. After all, the Journey to the West plan was something the two sages, Zhunti and Jieying, had been planning for a long time, and it was simply impossible for it to die in the womb.

Upon seeing the stone monkey, Li Xiuyuan, the old ape transformed from the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, emerged from the monkey troop and shouted sternly, "Your Majesty! If you truly think this way, then your Dao heart has been awakened! In this world, among the five kinds of creatures, there are three kinds of people who can escape reincarnation and live forever!"

The Monkey King's expression changed, and he asked urgently, "Those three types of people?"

Just now, the stone monkey was troubled by the cycle of birth, aging, sickness and death. Now, when he suddenly heard that some people could live forever and have long life, the surprise and joy in his heart were beyond words, even if all the rivers and lakes were filled with them.

The Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva said, "Those who can live forever are Buddhas, immortals, and saints! These three kinds of people can avoid reincarnation and live as long as the mountains, rivers, heaven and earth."

What are Buddhas, immortals, and saints?

The Monkey King grew anxious and quickly asked, "Do you know where we can find them?"

The Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva said, "They are only in the Jambudvipa world, within the ancient caves and mountains."

"I understand!" The Monkey King suddenly burst into laughter, gesturing wildly as he said, "In that case, tomorrow I will leave you and travel across mountains and seas, wandering to the ends of the earth, to those ancient caves and mountains, to find those immortals and learn a method for achieving immortality."

After saying this, the Monkey King looked at the monkeys below and said, "My children, once I find the immortals and learn the secrets to longevity, I will make you all immortal, just like me!"

The monkeys below, who had been immersed in the sorrow of birth, aging, sickness, and death, cheered upon hearing the stone monkey's words: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the King!"

The next day, because the stone monkey was going out to find an immortal to learn the secret to longevity, the other monkeys gathered some dry firewood and branches, found some vines, and wove them into a raft.

Then the monkeys went up the mountain and found some fruits, vegetables, lingzhi mushrooms, yams, and other things, which they placed in the raft.

The stone monkey took a bamboo pole as a punt, pushed hard, and floated towards the sea, leaving Flower Fruit Mountain behind.

Seeing the stone monkey leave Flower Fruit Mountain, the old ape that Li Xiuyuan, the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, transformed into, also did not linger in Flower Fruit Mountain any longer. With a leap, he left Flower Fruit Mountain.

Li Xiuyuan's Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva did not go far. Instead, he rode the clouds and followed behind the stone monkey, keeping a close eye on it and protecting it.

Although this stone monkey was born from the five-colored spiritual stones left over from Nuwa's patching of the sky, it possessed the cultivation of a celestial being from birth. Even if it accidentally fell into the sea, it wouldn't drown, but who knows what unexpected events might occur?

To prevent any accidents, the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva followed closely behind the stone monkey.

In the vast ocean, the waves surged, and the horizon met the sea, creating a boundless expanse. The stone monkey, riding a raft, seemed oblivious to direction, letting himself drift aimlessly on the water.

As for the stone monkey, although he always wanted to find the immortals and learn the secret to longevity, he was completely confused about where the immortals were and how to find them.

The Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva followed behind the stone monkey, noticing his situation. He thought to himself, "If you find me without any setbacks, you might start to look down on me. After all, the easier something is to obtain, the less likely it is to be cherished."

Fine, I'll let you wander around for a few years and encounter some setbacks. When you find me again, you'll naturally value me more.

This place should not be far from Jambudvipa (the southern continent). I'll send you there first to take a look. Once you get there, experience the mortal world and witness birth, aging, sickness, and death. This will surely strengthen your resolve to pursue the Dao.”

Chapter 427 The Journey to Seek Immortality

This place should not be far from Jambudvipa (the southern continent). I'll send you there first to take a look. Once you get there, experience the mortal world and witness birth, aging, sickness, and death. This will surely strengthen your resolve to pursue the Dao.”

Thinking this, the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva suddenly opened his mouth and exhaled a breath. The moment that breath left the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva's mouth, it immediately turned into a whirlwind, causing the sea waves to surge and the sun and moon to lose their light.

The breath of the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva propelled the stone monkey's raft towards the southern continent of Jambudvipa.

After the great god Pangu died creating the world, the breath he exhaled became the Nine Heavens Gale. Although the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva's cultivation was not as powerful as that of the great god Pangu, and his breath could not become the Nine Heavens Gale, he could still exhale a simple breeze.

The stone monkey sat on the raft. Although he was somewhat surprised at where the gale came from, it was impossible for him, with his cultivation level of only a celestial immortal, to detect that the gale was a trick by the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva.

Moreover, for the stone monkey, with his celestial cultivation, he couldn't even use one-tenth of it, so it was even more impossible for him to sense this gale.

Under the strong wind blown by Li Xiuyuan's Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva, the raft on which the stone monkey sat drifted towards the territory of the Southern Jambudvipa.

On this day, the stone monkey sat on the raft and suddenly saw that the vast, boundless sea that stretched to the horizon was no longer there; land appeared before him.

Upon seeing land, the stone monkey was overjoyed and couldn't help but leap twice on the raft. He had been drifting on the sea for days without encountering anything. His purpose in coming out was to find a teacher among the famous mountains and rivers to teach him the secret to longevity.

Since he didn't encounter any famous mountains or rivers on the sea, perhaps there are some famous mountains or rivers, or even the abodes of immortals, on this land, where he can learn the secrets to immortality!

With that thought in mind, the stone monkey quickly steered the raft it was sitting on toward the shore.

After drifting for so long, the bamboo pole that the stone monkey was carrying when he set off from Flower Fruit Mountain had long been lost in the sea.

This time, the stone monkey used both its hands and feet as oars to paddle across the sea until it reached the shore.

Upon reaching the shore, Stone Monkey saw many figures on the beach. Under the scorching sun, they were either casting nets to fish, shooting geese with bows and arrows, or boiling water to produce salt. Large beads of sweat dripped down their faces, making a soft pattering sound as they hit the ground, but no one stopped; they were all working very hard.

The stone monkey had just emerged from Flower Fruit Mountain and was unfamiliar with the outside world. Upon seeing people, it immediately thought of asking for directions and inquiring if anyone knew of any immortals in the area.

On the seashore, there stood an elderly man in his sixties with white hair, dressed in a dark blue outfit, slowly drying his fishing nets under the blazing sun.

The stone monkey saw this, hopped and skipped forward, patted the old man on the shoulder, and asked, "Old sir, do you know where there are immortals?"

"Ok?"

The old man felt someone tap his shoulder and quickly looked behind him, only to find nothing there.

"That's really strange."

The old man shook his head, muttered something to himself, and without giving it much thought, continued tidying up the fishing net in front of him.

He believed he must have been hallucinating; there was no one around, so how could someone have patted him on the shoulder?

"Hey, do you know if there are immortals there? Why don't you tell me when I ask you?" the stone monkey said again, somewhat annoyed.

Back on Flower Fruit Mountain, he was the king of the monkey troop, and no one dared to ignore him. But this old man dared to disregard him, which annoyed him.

Upon hearing the sound, the old man quickly looked up and saw a monkey standing in front of him. He was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he squatted down on the ground, crying out, "Mommy, what is this thing?"

Then, the old man looked up again, and after taking another look, he immediately cried out "Monster!" and fainted from fright.

This is in Jambudvipa, a continent inhabited by humans, yet it is also inhabited by demons. It was precisely because of this that the old man fainted from fright.

After all, the old man had always heard people say how ferocious and terrifying monsters were. Now, suddenly, a monster appeared in front of him. The huge shock caused his brain to fill with blood, and he fainted.

If the stone monkey hadn't deliberately teased the old man earlier, the old man might not have been so frightened that he fainted.

After all, the first reaction of humans when they see a monster is usually to run away, not to faint.

Just now, when the stone monkey came to the old man's side, it first reached out and patted the old man's shoulder. After patting him, the stone monkey, relying on its agile body, darted in front of the old man.

That's why the old man didn't see the stone monkey when he looked back.

The old man looked back, but when he didn't see the stone monkey, he continued working, already feeling somewhat suspicious. The stone monkey suddenly spoke again, startling the old man once more. When the old man looked up and saw that it was a monkey speaking, his heart was practically pounding in his chest.