Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

After knocking, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, said "Class dismissed," put his hands behind his back, closed the central door, and left the crowd behind.

Although everyone in that class was a figment of Li Xiuyuan's imagination, they were actually no different from real people.

Seeing that Sun Wukong had angered the Patriarch and driven him away, they immediately began to complain about him. They said, "You impudent monkey, utterly unruly! Your master taught you the arts, how can you not learn them, but instead talk back to your master? Having offended him this time, who knows when you'll be released!"

Despite the contempt and disgust of the crowd, Sun Wukong was not angry at all. He just smiled obsequiously, but in his heart he was thinking about the actions of the Heavenly Dragon Patriarch. In his mind, he had already decided to follow suit.

Just now, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor struck him three times, which was to teach him to be mindful at midnight; he walked inside with his hands behind his back and closed the middle door, which was to tell him to enter through the back door, where the secret path to immortality would be passed on to him.

Returning to his room with his fellow disciples, Sun Wukong did not sleep. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused his mind, exhaling wisps of white breath from his nostrils to calculate the time.

Around midnight, Sun Wukong quietly got up, dressed, avoided the crowd, opened the door, and left the room.

It was midnight, and the moon outside was bright and clear, its mercury-like light enveloping the entire earth. A cold wind blew, carrying a hint of chill. In the distance, on a crooked tree, perched an unknown bird, chirping intermittently.

Following the back path, they arrived at the back door, which was half-open. Sun Wukong thought to himself with delight, "My master really is going to pass on his supernatural powers to me, which is why he left the back door open."

Slowly approaching, Sun Wukong slipped inside and went straight to his master's bed. He saw his master curled up, asleep. Not daring to disturb him, Sun Wukong knelt before the bed.

Li Xiuyuan, disguised as the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, was fully aware of Sun Wukong's actions. However, he did not wake up immediately, but slept for a while before spreading his legs and chanting: "Difficult! Difficult! Difficult! The Dao is most profound, do not take the golden elixir lightly. Without encountering a sage to impart the secret formula, empty words will only leave you speechless and your head dry!"

In this passage, Li Xiuyuan is talking about the importance of the Golden Elixir. The Golden Elixir can be said to be the foundation of longevity. Without the Golden Elixir, no matter how great your supernatural powers are, you are like a tree without roots or water without a source, and you cannot last long.

Upon seeing his master awaken, Sun Wukong responded, "Master, your disciple has been kneeling and waiting here for a long time!"

Li Xiuyuan, disguised as the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, sat cross-legged, wearing a robe, and shouted in a fake voice, "You monkey! Why aren't you sleeping in the front? What are you doing in the back of my room?"

Sun Wukong said, "Master promised in front of everyone yesterday that he would teach me the principles at midnight through the back door. Therefore, I boldly bow down to you at your bedside."

When Li Xiuyuan, who was actually the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, heard Sun Wukong say this, he was overjoyed and thought to himself, "This fellow is indeed a being born of heaven and earth! Otherwise, how could he have solved the mystery in my plate?"

Sun Wukong said, "There is no Six-Eared Man here, only your disciple. I beg you, Master, to show your great mercy and teach me the way to immortality. I will never forget your kindness!"

The Heavenly Dragon Patriarch said, "You are fortunate to have this opportunity, and I am happy to share it with you. Now that you understand the hidden riddle in the dish, come closer and listen carefully, and I will impart to you the wondrous way to immortality." Wukong kowtowed in thanks, washed his ears and listened attentively, and knelt down at the foot of the bed.

Chapter 436 Finally, the Art of Teaching Was Initiated

After saying this, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, continued:

"The true and wondrous secret of the perfect integration of exoteric and esoteric teachings lies in the cultivation of one's nature and life, for there is no other way."

All things must be kept in good order, and one must carefully guard and preserve them to prevent them from leaking out.

Do not reveal it, keep it within your body, and you will prosper by receiving my teachings.

Memorizing the mnemonic will bring many benefits, and by eliminating evil desires, one can attain coolness and peace.

It is cool and bright, a perfect place to admire the moon from the Dantai Terrace.

The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun hides the crow, and the tortoise and snake intertwine.

Intertwined and resilient, they can even grow golden lotuses in fire.

Gather the five elements and use them in reverse order; once the work is complete, one can become a Buddha or an immortal.

After saying this, the Heavenly Dragon Patriarch, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, said, "Wukong, this is the general outline of cultivation. Remember it carefully. If you have any questions or difficulties in your cultivation in the future, think about this verse and you will understand."

Knowing that he would eventually expel Sun Wukong from the sect, Li Xiuyuan began by telling Sun Wukong this general outline of cultivation. Even if he was no longer by Sun Wukong's side, as long as Sun Wukong remembered this verse, there wouldn't be any problems, at least in terms of cultivation, he wouldn't stray into evil ways.

Upon hearing the instructions from the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, Sun Wukong bowed his head and said, "Master, rest assured, your disciple has remembered."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, nodded and said, "Since you desire immortality, then I will impart to you the art of immortality. I have a secret manual here. After you cultivate it, not only will your strength increase, but you will also be able to fulfill your wish of immortality."

Sun Wukong's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Thank you, Master." Then he looked up and stared at the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor with burning eyes.

When Li Xiuyuan, disguised as the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, saw Sun Wukong's appearance, a slight smile appeared on his face. He took out a secret manual from his bosom and handed it to Sun Wukong.

The manual was about the size of two palms and a little thicker than half a fingernail. It had no cover, just bound together pieces of white paper. On the white paper were densely packed, fly-sized characters.

Looking at the manual in his hand, Sun Wukong asked, "Master, what is the name of this manual?"

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, said, "Just start cultivating now. You don't need to ask about the name of this manual yet. You will know it when the time comes."

The manual that Li Xiuyuan took out was none other than the Nine Revolutions Yuan Gong, the most powerful body-refining technique in Buddhism. It was comparable to the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts of Taoism and was extremely powerful.

It can be said to be one of the top martial arts techniques in the world, and there are not many martial arts techniques in the world that can compare with it.

The reason Li Xiuyuan didn't tell Sun Wukong the name of the manual was that if Sun Wukong knew that the manual was the Nine Revolutions Yuan Gong, he would easily guess his identity.

Now is not the time to let Sun Wukong know his identity.

Sun Wukong stepped forward with both hands, took the manual, and carefully hid it on his person.

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, said, "I have marked all the difficult and questionable points in this manual. You can just follow the instructions to cultivate in the future. Of course, if you don't understand anything, you can come and ask me."

Although Li Xiuyuan had never cultivated the Nine Revolutions Yuan Technique, with his current cultivation level, he could easily see through most cultivation manuals at a glance.

Although the Nine Revolutions Yuan Gong is the strongest body-refining technique in Buddhism, it is not so profound and powerful that Li Xiuyuan could not understand it.

Upon hearing what the patriarch said, Sun Wukong nodded and said, "Yes, Master."

Li Xiuyuan, who was actually the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, waved his hand and said, "Alright, Wukong, you can go now."

Sun Wukong nodded and was about to leave when suddenly, Li Xiuyuan, who was actually the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, remembered something and called out to Sun Wukong, asking, "Wukong, let me ask you, do you know if there is a Heavenly Pillar in this world?"

"The Heavenly Pillars?" Sun Wukong said, "Master, when I was traveling in the mortal world, I heard people say that there are four Heavenly Pillars in this world that support the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers and earth. I suppose there are Heavenly Pillars in this world."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, shook his head and smiled, "Disciple, you must remember this: there are no Heavenly Pillars in this world. So, if you ever encounter a Heavenly Pillar in the future, what should you do?"

"What should we do?" Sun Wukong clenched his fists and said, "Disciple, I'll just smash him to pieces."

The Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, smiled and said, "No, you should leave your mark there."

Sun Wukong was taken aback and asked, "My mark?" Just as he was about to ask again, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, waved his hand at him and said, "Wukong, you can go out now."

Although Sun Wukong was full of doubts, he had no choice but to push open the door and go out after seeing his master say that.

"Hehe! Tathagata, although you will suppress my disciple in the future, my disciple is not someone you can suppress so easily. Although Wukong cannot beat you, he will still make you feel disgusted."

Li Xiuyuan remembered that he had just told Sun Wukong to leave his mark if he ever encountered the Heavenly Pillar again.

For monkeys, leaving their mark is simply a matter of urinating in the same spot.

Sun Wukong left his master's room and stepped outside. A gust of cold wind blew past, instantly making him more alert. Looking at the manual in his hand, Sun Wukong was filled with joy. His long-cherished wish could finally be fulfilled today.

Holding the manual in his hand, Sun Wukong did not return to his room. Instead, under the moonlight, he opened the manual that the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor had just given him and began to read it slowly.

Although Sun Wukong could run, jump, walk, and talk from birth, he couldn't read. Fortunately, during the seven or eight years he traveled in the Southern Continent, he managed to sneak into a private school and learn some characters.

In addition, the secret manual given to him by the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, was not profound and was very easy to understand. He did not find it difficult.

Chapter 437 Nine Revolutions Yuan Gong

Moreover, during the seven or eight years he spent at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Li Xiuyuan would occasionally send people to teach him to read and write.

Although he was mischievous and couldn't sit still, he had learned quite a few characters over such a long period of time.

Time flows by like water, always slipping away quietly from you when you least expect it.

Before we knew it, the east was already bright, and the chirping of birds could be heard from the distant branches.

Sun Wukong closed the manual in his hand and woke up. If it weren't for the bird calls in the distance, Sun Wukong would probably still be immersed in the manual.

Sun Wukong gained a great deal that night. He not only obtained the immortality manual he had been dreaming of, but his cultivation level also increased directly.

In the latter half of the night, as Sun Wukong examined the manual in his hand by the moonlight, the spiritual energy contained within his body began to circulate on its own.

Moreover, as he read more of the manuals, the speed at which he processed them also increased.

As the speed of the energy circulation increased, the spiritual energy within his body suddenly stagnated. By the time he realized it, the spiritual energy within him seemed to explode, increasing dramatically in an instant.

Sun Wukong was born with the cultivation of a celestial being, which was terrifying. Because he was one of the four great spiritual monkeys of heaven and earth, he had been absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the years since his birth.

However, all this spiritual energy remained stored within his body, and he did not use a single drop of it.

After obtaining the manual, as his understanding of the techniques recorded in it deepened, the spiritual energy within his body began to circulate involuntarily, helping him cultivate to the level of a True Immortal.

The next realm after the Celestial Immortal realm is the True Immortal realm.

The reason Sun Wukong was able to break through was not only due to his long-term accumulation of knowledge, but also largely due to the secret manual.

Normally, Sun Wukong only had spiritual energy in his body, but he didn't know how to use it, just like having a lock but lacking a key.

And now, that secret manual is the key to unlocking that lock.

Feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body, Sun Wukong's face lit up with joy. Before, he had spiritual energy within him but couldn't use a single bit of it. Now, with this manual, he could barely utilize some of that spiritual energy.

Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, three years have passed.

On this day, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan, sat on the high platform again and talked with Sun Wukong and his fellow disciples.

Of course, apart from Sun Wukong, the others were all manifestations of his thoughts. It was less a preaching to Sun Wukong and his fellow disciples, and more a preaching to Sun Wukong alone.

Li Xiuyuan, transformed into the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, spoke eloquently, causing golden lotuses to spring from the ground, and everyone was captivated by the Great Dao he described.

Having said that, the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor, who was actually Li Xiuyuan in disguise, suddenly asked, "Where is Wukong?"

Sun Wukong was engrossed in the great Dao he was expounding when he heard the question. Startled, he quickly replied, "Disciple is here."

Li Xiuyuan asked, "Wukong, how's your cultivation going lately?"

Sun Wukong said, "Since obtaining your secret manual, Master, I have diligently cultivated and have reached the fourth stage of cultivation."

Hearing that Sun Wukong had already cultivated to the fourth stage, Li Xiuyuan was still taken aback, even though he was somewhat prepared.

He had only cultivated the Nine Revolutions Yuan Gong to the sixth stage, while Sun Wukong had only cultivated it for three years and had already reached the fourth stage.

This talent is truly terrifying; if Sun Wukong were given more time, he would probably be able to catch up with him immediately.