Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

The more Li Xiuyuan looked at the stone monkey, the more he liked it, and he wished he could immediately take the stone monkey as his disciple.

Fortunately, Li Xiuyuan knew that since the stone monkey had already arrived here and become his disciple, it was as solid as nails hammered into a plank—certain and without any possibility of mishap.

Looking at the stone monkey, Li Xiuyuan asked, "Your Highness, who are you kowtowing to? And what is the purpose of your kowtowing? It would be better to state your hometown first before bowing."

Upon hearing the inquiry, the stone monkey quickly replied, "This disciple is from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower and Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country, Dongsheng Shenzhou."

Li Xiuyuan, disguised as the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, shouted, "Guards, get this impudent monkey out of here! He's a charlatan; even if he becomes my disciple, he'll likely find it difficult to succeed in cultivating the Dao!"

The stone monkey was startled, wondering what he had done wrong to displease the Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva. In his haste, he kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "What this disciple has said is the truth, without the slightest falsehood."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, said, "Since you are honest, why do you say you came from the Eastern Continent of Victory? From there, it's across two great seas and the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa. How did you manage to get here?"

The stone monkey had no choice but to kowtow and say, "This disciple has traveled across the oceans and wandered the world for more than ten years before finally finding this place."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, nodded and said, "Since you came gradually, so be it. What is your surname?"

The stone monkey was taken aback and said, "I have no nature. If people scold me, I will not be angry; if they hit me, I will not be resentful, I will just apologize and that will be it. I have no nature in my life."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, laughed and said, "That's not the right surname. What were your parents' original surnames?"

The stone monkey said, "I also have no parents."

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch said, "Since you have no parents, you must have been born from a tree?"

The stone monkey said, "Although I was not born on a tree, I grew from a stone. I only remember that there was a fairy stone on Flower Fruit Mountain. When the stone broke open, I was born."

Although Li Xiuyuan already knew everything about the stone monkey, this time, hearing the stone monkey speak for itself, he couldn't help but smile and said, "So, you are indeed born of heaven and earth. Get up and walk around for me to see."

Upon hearing the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor speak, the stone monkey leaped up and walked around twice, wobbling and twisting.

The Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, laughed and said, "Although your body is ugly, it resembles a monkey that eats pine cones. I will give you a surname based on your appearance, meaning I will name you 'Monkey'. If you remove the beast radical from the character 'Monkey', it becomes 'Ancient Moon'. 'Ancient' means old; 'Moon' means yin. Old yin cannot nurture, so I will name you 'Monkey' instead. If you remove the beast radical from the character 'Monkey', it becomes 'Child'. 'Child' means son; 'Child' means infant. It perfectly matches the nature of an infant. I will name you 'Grandson' instead."

Upon hearing this, the stone monkey was overjoyed and kowtowed, saying, "Good! Good! Good! Today I finally know my surname. I beg my master to have mercy! Now that I have a surname, please also bestow a name upon me so that I may call you by it."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, said, "Our sect has twelve characters used to assign names to different generations. You are the tenth generation disciple. Our sect has twelve characters used to assign fates to different generations."

The stone monkey looked puzzled and asked, "Those twelve characters?"

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, said, "The twelve characters are Guang, Da, Zhi, Hui, Zhen, Ru, Xing, Hai, Ying, Wu, Yuan, Jue. When it comes to you, it's the character 'Wu'. How about I give you the Dharma name 'Sun Wukong'?" The Monkey King laughed, "Good! Good! Good! From now on, I'll be called Sun Wukong!"

The stone monkey, having received a name and successfully become an apprentice, was overjoyed and eagerly thanked the patriarch.

Upon seeing this, the stone monkey quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Old Immortal! This disciple greets you."

The woodcutter was startled and hurriedly dropped his axe, waving his hands and saying, "I dare not accept such praise! I am a poor man with no food or clothing, how could I dare to accept the title of 'immortal'?"

The stone monkey scratched his head, puzzled, and asked, "You're not a deity, so how can you speak like one?"

The woodcutter asked, "What kind of nonsense did I spout?"

The stone monkey said, "I just came to the edge of the forest and heard you say, 'Where we meet, we are either immortals or Daoists, sitting quietly and reciting the *Huang Ting Jing*.' The *Huang Ting Jing* is the true word of morality; what are you if not an immortal?"

The woodcutter laughed and said, "To tell you the truth, this poem is called 'Man Ting Fang,' and it was taught to me by a fairy. That fairy lived next door to me. He saw that my family was struggling and I was always troubled, so he taught me to recite this poem when I was troubled, partly to relax and partly to relieve my worries. I was just thinking about some shortcomings, so I recited it. I didn't expect you to hear it."

The stone monkey asked in confusion, "Since your home is next to the immortals, why don't you cultivate under their guidance? Wouldn't it be better to learn the secret to immortality?"

The woodcutter said, “My life has been full of hardship. I was raised by my parents from a young age until I was eight or nine years old before I could understand human affairs. Unfortunately, my father passed away, and my mother became a widow. I have no brothers or sisters, only myself. I have no choice but to serve her day and night. Now that my mother is old, I dare not leave her. However, my fields are overgrown and I lack food and clothing. I can only chop two bundles of firewood, carry them to the market, sell them for a few coins, buy a few bushels of rice, cook for myself, and prepare some tea and rice to support my elderly mother. That is why I cannot practice cultivation.”

The stone monkey said, "According to you, he is a virtuous man who practices filial piety, and he will surely be blessed in the future. But I hope you can point me to the abode of that immortal so that I may visit him."

The woodcutter pointed to the mountainside and said, “Not far, not far. This mountain is called Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. There is a cave called Xieyue Sanxing Cave in the mountain. There is a deity in that cave, named Tianlong Patriarch. The Patriarch has countless disciples, and there are still thirty or forty people who cultivate under him. If you follow that path south for about seven or eight miles, that will be his home.”

Chapter 434 Taking Wukong as a Disciple

The stone monkey glanced in the direction the woodcutter was pointing, and saw only high mountains and deep forests. He wondered where the immortal lived. He quickly grabbed the woodcutter and said, "Brother, come with me. If I find anything good, I will never forget your kindness in guiding me."

The woodcutter's face showed a hint of anger. He said, "You stubborn man! I just told you this, and you still don't understand? If I go with you, won't it disrupt my business? Who will take care of my old mother? I need to chop wood, so go ahead, go ahead!"

Seeing that the woodcutter said so, the stone monkey had no choice but to say goodbye to the woodcutter, find a small path, and hurry up in the direction the woodcutter pointed.

In those mountains and forests, ancient trees rise to the sky, blocking out the sun. The woods are dark and gloomy, making it easy for people to lose their way.

Fortunately, the woodcutter had already told him the way and direction. As long as he followed the direction the woodcutter pointed, he should be able to find that old immortal soon.

After the stone monkey left, the woodcutter who had been chopping wood suddenly transformed into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated.

The woodcutter was naturally a figment of Li Xiuyuan's imagination. After receiving the message from his benevolent self, the Great Sun Dragon Bodhisattva, Li Xiuyuan used his magical power to conjure up the woodcutter, so that he could guide the stone monkey.

Otherwise, without the woodcutter's guidance, who knows if the stone monkey would have missed it when passing by Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Although the woodcutter was an illusion created by the stone monkey, in reality, he was no different from a real person, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death, as well as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. With the stone monkey's cultivation level being merely that of a celestial immortal, it was utterly impossible for him to see through the woodcutter's illusion.

Moreover, he couldn't even unleash one-tenth or one-hundredth of the Stone Monkey Celestial's cultivation level.

The stone monkey bid farewell to the woodcutter, suppressed his excitement, and followed the direction the woodcutter pointed, finding a path and hurrying along. In just a short while, a cave appeared before him.

The cave looked very secluded. In front of the cave, thousands of pine and cypress trees were planted, standing tall and verdant. Beside the pine and cypress trees, there was also a large bamboo forest.

Seven or eight years have passed since Li Xiuyuan, who was transformed into the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, took the stone monkey as his disciple and named him Sun Wukong.

On this day, the Great Sun Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, once again opened an altar to give a lecture, recounting the various mysteries of cultivation.

As Li Xiuyuan, in his guise as the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, recounted the story, one after another, fist-sized golden lotus flowers burst forth from the ground, transforming the entire hall into a sea of ​​golden blossoms.

Golden rays of light rose from the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was transformed from Li Xiuyuan, highlighting his majestic and dignified appearance.

Since Li Xiuyuan took the stone monkey as his disciple and named him Sun Wukong, he had spent the last seven or eight years sweeping the ground, tending the garden, growing flowers and pruning trees, gathering firewood, and carrying water in the Xieyue Sanxing Cave.

Suddenly, upon hearing Li Xiuyuan expound such a profound and wonderful method, he was so overjoyed that he scratched his ears and cheeks, his eyebrows and eyes beaming with delight. He couldn't help but dance with joy and gesticulate wildly.

Li Xiuyuan sat down and looked at it, and couldn't help but laugh to himself. Monkeys are monkeys after all. No matter how much they try to imitate humans, their nature is hard to change.

Looking at the time, there isn't much time left before the Journey to the West begins. Now it's time to teach him magic and supernatural powers so he can unveil the first act of the Journey to the West world.

However, the thought that Sun Wukong, as his disciple, would one day be suppressed by that bald monk Tathagata made Li Xiuyuan feel somewhat uncomfortable under the Five Elements Mountain.

"Forget it! After that bald monk Tathagata suppresses Wukong, I'll go find him and get back at him on his way back. It'll be my turn to vent my anger and avenge my disciple."

Li Xiuyuan has now severed both his good and evil corpses, reaching the level of a quasi-saint. Moreover, he severed both good and evil corpses on innate spiritual treasures. This is completely different from other Buddhist cultivators who sever their three corpses on their golden bodies.

In a real contest, Li Xiuyuan's method of severing the three corpses on an innate spiritual treasure is far superior. His cultivation level after severing the corpses is also much higher than those who sever the three corpses on a golden body.

Therefore, in terms of strength, Li Xiuyuan is not much weaker than Tathagata.

During these seven or eight years, Li Xiuyuan did not begin to teach Sun Wukong magic and supernatural powers for two reasons. First, there was still some time before the Journey to the West began. Second, although he did not teach Sun Wukong any magic or supernatural powers, Sun Wukong had already laid a very solid foundation with his intentional or unintentional help during these seven or eight years.

With just a little more guidance, Sun Wukong could leap into the air and become a master.

Seeing Sun Wukong jumping around happily in the classroom, Li Xiuyuan, who was actually the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, said with slight anger, "Wukong, why are you jumping around so wildly in the classroom? Aren't you listening to me?"

Sun Wukong was startled and quickly explained, "I was sincerely listening to the lecture, but when I heard Master's wonderful voice, I was overjoyed and unconsciously acted this way. I hope Master will forgive me!"

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, nodded slightly and asked, "Since you recognize Miaoyin, let me ask you, how long have you been in the cave?"

Sun Wukong said, "This disciple was originally ignorant and did not know how much time had passed. I only remember that there was a mountain behind the mountain with good peach trees, where I ate my fill of peaches seven times."

As a cultivator's strength increases, they can gradually begin to abstain from grains, no longer needing to worry about eating three meals a day. Sun Wukong was born with the cultivation level of a celestial being, so logically he should have already abstained from grains long ago.

However, Sun Wukong's monkey nature was hard to change. When he saw the delicious peaches, he drooled and couldn't resist picking them.

Chapter 435 The Stone Monkey's Apprenticeship

The large peach orchard that Sun Wukong mentioned was already discovered by Li Xiuyuan when he was exploring the mountain peak. Perhaps because the spiritual energy on that mountain peak was exceptionally abundant, the peaches that grew there all contained spiritual energy.

Although it can't compare to the peaches in the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Garden, it's still quite good.

Moreover, besides the peaches, there was also a group of spirit monkeys in that peach grove. It's unknown whether Sun Wukong encountered them.

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor nodded slightly and said, "That mountain is called Rotten Peach Mountain. Since you have eaten it seven times, you must have been in this mountain for seven years. What kind of Dao do you wish to learn from me now?"

Sun Wukong said, "I will learn from your teachings, Master. Even if it is just a little bit of Daoist energy, I will learn it."

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch nodded and said, "That's very good. However, there are 360 ​​side paths within the 'Tao' school, and all side paths lead to enlightenment. I wonder which one you wish to learn?"

Sun Wukong's breath hitched. He thought to himself that his master was finally willing to teach him the secret to immortality. But he said aloud, "I will obey your will, Master."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor said, "Since that's the case, how about I teach you a 'technique' within the sect?"

Sun Wukong asked, "What is the meaning of the art of magic?"

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor said, "The arts of divination involve summoning immortals and spirit mediums, consulting oracles and divining with yarrow stalks, and understanding how to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune."

Sun Wukong asked, "Can one achieve immortality through this method?"

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor shook his head and said, "No! No!"

"Since immortality is impossible, I won't learn it! I won't learn it!"

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch then said, "How about I teach you the Way of the 'Flow' School?"

Sun Wukong then asked, "What are the principles and meanings within the 'Flowing' school?"

The patriarch said: "Within the Liu school, there are Confucianists, Buddhists, Taoists, Yin-Yang masters, Mohists, and medical practitioners, who either read scriptures, chant Buddha's name, or worship the true saints."

Sun Wukong asked, "Can one achieve immortality through this method?"

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch said, "If you want to live forever, it's like 'putting a pillar inside a wall'."

Sun Wukong said, "Master, I'm an honest man and I don't know any slang. How does 'anchoring a pillar in the wall' mean?"

The patriarch said, “When people build houses, they want them to be sturdy, so they put a pillar between the walls. But when the building collapses, the pillar will surely decay.”

Sun Wukong said, "According to this, one cannot attain immortality. If one cannot attain immortality, I will not learn it! I will not learn it!"

Next, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, asked Sun Wukong about the Way of "Stillness" and the Way of "Movement" again. However, after Sun Wukong asked about the inability to achieve immortality, he rejected all of them.

Seeing Sun Wukong's rudeness, Li Xiuyuan, who was actually the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, suddenly shouted and used his magic power. A ruler more than three feet long flew into the air and struck Sun Wukong's head three times.