Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Author Ji Bai v is waiting for you with "Going to the West to Attain Immortality".

Sun Wukong did not react.

He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, breathing heavily.

The gray-black mist flowed out of his mouth and nose with each breath, and was then inhaled.

It goes on and on, endlessly.

Li Yan called out again.

"Your Majesty, I have returned."

Sun Wukong's body trembled slightly.

Those closed eyes slowly opened.

His bloodshot eyes looked at Li Yan.

In that instant, Li Yan saw many things.

"Brother...brother?"

Li Yan nodded.

"It's me, Your Majesty. I've returned."

Sun Wukong stared at him, not blinking.

The bloodshot veins in those golden eyes gradually faded, revealing the original gold beneath.

But in just a moment, the blood vessels surged up again.

Sun Wukong suddenly covered his head and let out a low growl.

"No...that's not right!"

"You're not a brother!"

"You're fake! You're one of them in disguise!"

"They disguised themselves as you to deceive me, Old Sun!"

"You've come to harm me, Old Sun!"

He suddenly stood up, his aura surging.

The gray-black mist surged and spread in all directions.

Li Yan stood still, his expression unchanged.

"Your Majesty, I am not a fake. I am real."

"Have you forgotten? We met on the mountain, practiced together, and came down the mountain together."

"You come to Flower Fruit Mountain, and I'll follow you. You teach those monkeys martial arts, and I'll teach them cultivation."

"On the night the underworld was collecting souls, I shielded you from it. When the five demon kings attacked, it was I who set up the formation."

"I remember everything you said the day you passed out drunk."

"You said that you were fortunate to have met me at the mountain gate in your life."

"You said you hoped that whatever I did, I would prioritize my own safety."

"If anything happens to you, you have to go to the deepest hell to get me back."

These words, one by one, reached Sun Wukong's ears.

He covered his head, trembling all over.

Bloodshot veins surged in those golden eyes, yet a sliver of clarity remained, as they struggled desperately.

"Brother...brother..."

"I, Old Sun...I, Old Sun, remember..."

"I, Old Sun, remember..."

"But those voices... those voices kept saying..."

"I'm saying you're a fake... I'm saying you're trying to harm me..."

"I, Old Sun...I, Old Sun, don't know...I don't know who to believe..."

Li Yan looked at him, feeling a slight pang in her heart.

He stepped forward, reached out, and placed his hand on Sun Wukong's shoulder.

Those shoulders were trembling violently.

"Your Majesty, trust me."

"Those sounds are manifestations of the defilements of time. They want to deceive you and harm you."

"As long as you stay true to yourself and don't believe in them, they can't do anything to you."

Sun Wukong raised his head and looked at him.

In those golden eyes, bloodshot veins intertwined with gold, struggle and confusion coexisted.

"I, Old Sun... I, Old Sun, can't hold out..."

"Those sounds...are getting louder and louder..."

"They said...they said someone wanted to harm the children..."

"Only by killing them all... can we protect Flower Fruit Mountain..."

"I, Old Sun... I, Old Sun, am about to lose control..."

Before he finished speaking, his aura suddenly surged.

The gray-black mist swept outwards in all directions.

Sun Wukong let out a low roar and crouched down.

"Go...brother, you have to go..."

"I, Old Sun... I, Old Sun, am about to lose control..."

Li Yan stood still, motionless.

He looked at Sun Wukong, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I will not leave."

"I came back to save you."

Before he could finish speaking, he raised his hand and made a hand seal.

[Seven Arrows with Nailhead].

This supernatural power is originally a technique of using talismans to injure the enemy invisibly.

But at this moment, Li Yan did the opposite.

He intended to use the Seven Arrows with Nailheads to calm Sun Wukong's mind.

He made hand seals and muttered incantations.

"The profound mysteries of heaven and earth...envelop my body..."

As the incantation was chanted, a golden light emerged from between his brows.

The golden light, as intense as sunlight, transformed into seven golden arrows that hung in the void.

The seven arrows of light were engraved with countless intricate runes.

Li Yan raised his hand and pointed.

Seven arrows of light shot out simultaneously.

Swift as lightning, fast as thunder.

They headed straight for Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong was struggling with his head in his hands when he suddenly felt seven golden lights coming towards him, and he instinctively tried to dodge.

In the blink of an eye, seven beams of light shot into his body.

They were nailed to seven vital points: the center of the forehead, the chest, the lower abdomen, both shoulders, and both knees.

Sun Wukong froze.

The surging, gray-black mist abruptly ceased.

He remained motionless, his body frozen in place, with his head in his hands.

But those golden eyes were still moving.

Looking at Li Yan, his expression was full of complex emotions.

Li Yan slowly withdrew his hand and exhaled a long breath.

These seven nail-headed arrows were originally deadly magical powers that could injure a person's soul.

His use of this reverse method, replacing killing with stillness, consumed far more magical power than usual.

But he couldn't care less about all that.

If Sun Wukong is not stabilized in time, he may really lose control.

"Your Majesty, these seven arrows of light can immobilize your mind for seven days."

"Within seven days, those sounds formed from the chaos of calamity will no longer be able to disturb you."

"You should stay here and rest. I will come back to save you once I have figured out a solution."

Sun Wukong looked at him, his lips moved, but no sound came out.

Those seven arrows of light not only calmed his mind but also silenced his words.

Li Yan knew what he wanted to say and smiled slightly.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will definitely find a way."

"You just wait."

Having said that, he went outside the stone chamber.

As he reached the door, he glanced back.

Those golden eyes were still watching him.

Li Yan nodded slightly and closed the stone door.

Outside the stone chamber, General Beng and General Ba were waiting anxiously.

Li Yan said, "The situation is stable for now. There will be no further problems within seven days."

Upon hearing this, General Beng and General Ba breathed a sigh of relief.

But before he could finish exhaling, he raised his breath again.

Only seven days.

If no solution is found in seven days, the king will still lose control.

General Beng looked at Li Yan, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Li Yan knew what he wanted to ask and shook his head slightly.

"General, please go and rest. This humble Taoist needs to seclude myself for a few days to deduce a solution."

General Beng and General Ba exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

"Rest assured, Daoist Master, we will guard you. You can focus on your seclusion."

Li Yan bid farewell to the two generals, Bengba, and turned to walk towards his former stone chamber.

That stone chamber was located deep within the Water Curtain Cave, no more than a hundred feet away from Sun Wukong's stone chamber.

Forty-nine years have passed, and inside the stone chamber, the tables, chairs, and beds remain unchanged.

It was covered in dust and tangled with cobwebs.

Li Yan stood in the room and waved his hand.

A gentle breeze swept by, clearing away all the dust and cobwebs.

He sat cross-legged on the futon.

Li Yan closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the mirror of his heart.

On the mirror surface, rows of small golden characters, densely packed, were arranged in several lines.

His mind stirred slightly, and he took in all those records.

[Because Venus gave us a token, we forged a good relationship.]

[Aura of Fate +800]

[He debated with the Four Heavenly Kings at the South Heavenly Gate, and subdued the Heavenly King of Abundant Hearing with his theory of mental power.]

[Aura of Fate +600]

On the return journey, 137 ghosts, 268 demons, and 89 human cultivators were subdued.

[Aura of Destiny +2500 (Winning people over with virtue, without harming lives)]

[Returning to Flower Fruit Mountain, he used the Seven Arrows of Nailhead to stabilize Sun Wukong's mind for seven days.]

[Aura of Compassion +500 (Compassionate Heart, Righteousness of Protection)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 22200/5120]

Twenty-two thousand two hundred strands.

Li Yan felt a slight sense of relief.

These auspicious energies are all the wealth he has accumulated over these days.

Li Yan felt a slight sense of relief.

With so much karmic energy, he should be able to deduce and break the laws of the calamity.

He immediately activated the energy of destiny and immersed his mind in the deduction.

On the mirror of the heart, the numbers began to fluctuate rapidly.

22200.

20000.

18000.

16000.

……

In an instant, the mirror shone brightly.

Countless golden threads emerged from the mirror, winding and spiraling, enveloping the mind within them.

Each of those silk threads is a strand of karmic energy.

Tens of thousands of strands of karmic energy surged together.

The scene was like a galaxy pouring down, with light cascading from the heavens.

Li Yan felt a jolt in his heart.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

When I looked again, I found myself in complete chaos.

The sky above this world is a hazy, chaotic expanse, devoid of sun, moon, and stars.

The ground beneath their feet was also a chaotic expanse, devoid of mountains, water, grass, or trees.

Only endless chaotic energy surged and spread across the land.

Standing there, Li Yan felt as insignificant as dust.

This is the realm of deduction.

Whenever a major event occurs, he needs to discern the secrets of heaven. He then uses the power of destiny to enter this realm and deduce the solution.

This time, however, he used tens of thousands of strands of the aura of destiny.

Deep within the realm of deduction, something is faintly awakening.

Li Yan steadied himself, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

Time, in this realm of deduction, becomes blurred and indistinct.

Perhaps only a moment passed.

It could be that a thousand years have passed.

Li Yan didn't know how long he had been divination, but he felt his mind gradually becoming tired and his magical power gradually being exhausted.

However, they still couldn't find a solution.

When calamity and defilement penetrate the heart, no medicine can cure it.

Venus's words were indeed true.

He deduced countless methods.

Alchemy, talismans, formations, incantations, Qimen Dunjia, Yin and Yang and the Five Elements

Confucian principles, Buddhist Zen wisdom, Taoist mysticism, and so on, are all unsolvable.

A sense of despair gradually welled up in Li Yan's heart.

Is that monkey destined to become a puppet of the great calamity?

At that moment, a light suddenly shone from the depths of chaos.

The light was initially as faint as a firefly.

Then it blazed brightly like candlelight.

Finally, it shone as brightly as the sun.

In the light, a figure slowly walked towards them.

The figure was tall and slender, draped in a long black robe.

The robe was embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, birds, beasts, plants, and all living things.

The patterns on his body flowed slowly with his steps, as if they were alive.

As he approached, Li Yan finally saw his face clearly.

He was a middle-aged scholar with a handsome face, bright eyes, and three long strands of beard flowing down his chest.

He wore a black jade crown, a green silk sash around his waist, and held a bamboo scroll in his hand.

The bamboo slips were blank, yet a faint radiance emanated from them.

He looked at Li Yan with a gentle and warm smile.

Li Yan felt that the gaze upon him seemed to see through his past, future, and three lifetimes.

He felt a chill run down his spine and quickly bowed in greeting.

"Junior Li Yan greets Senior."

The scholar nodded slightly and raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"No need for formalities." The voice was clear and melodious, like a spring gurgling over stones.

Li Yan stood up, looked at him, and had a vague guess in his heart.

"Senior is...?"

The scholar laughed and said:

You guessed right.

I am that patriarch, the past incarnation of the one who attained the [Primordial Golden Immortal] realm.

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Past incarnation?

When the patriarch attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal of Hunyuan, what was the past body he severed?

When he was at Fangcun Mountain, the patriarch once said that to become a Primordial Golden Immortal, one must cultivate three bodies.

Past body, present body, future body.

The three bodies unite as one, thus proving the primordial unity.

The Primordial Golden Immortal, also known as a sage, is a legendary figure whose attainment is said to be impossible to achieve.

Could the patriarch's past incarnation be here?

Could the patriarch's past incarnation be here?

Seeing his shock, the scholar offered no explanation, only saying:

"Your use of the law of destiny to deduce and decipher the method of calamity and turbidity has disturbed a trace of my mark left deep in the chaos."

"This trace of me should not have appeared in this world."

But you and my true self have a master-disciple relationship. Since I have disturbed you today, I have come to see you.

Li Yan's heart was in turmoil.

The patriarch still retains traces of his past life deep within the chaos.

What level of enlightenment did the patriarch attain back then?

He suppressed his shock and bowed, saying:

"This disciple dares to ask for guidance on how to break free from the turbidity of the calamity."

The scholar looked at him, a strange glint in his eyes.

"You're quite straightforward. Alright, I'll ask you a few questions."

Li Yan said, "Master, please speak."

The scholar asked, "Have you ever been to Mount Ling?"

Li Yan was taken aback, then nodded and said, "Although I haven't, I did spend a few days meditating in the Buddha Kingdom in the palm of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's hand."

The scholar then asked, "Have you ever been to the Heavenly Court?"

Li Yan said, "I have been there. I spent forty-nine days refining elixirs in the Tushita Palace and met with Laozi."

The scholar nodded slightly and said:

"Have you ever seen any signs of calamity or defilement on the bodies of immortals and Buddhas?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan was startled.

He immediately recalled.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, his whole body is bathed in Buddha light, clear as a mirror, where is there even a trace of calamity?

Venus, the planet of Venus, exudes a warm and jade-like aura, clear and flawless, free from any turbidity or impurity.

The Supreme Lord Laozi possesses a vast and unfathomable Daoist aura, with pure energy flowing around him and not a trace of impurity.

Although the Four Heavenly Kings exude a fierce aura, they are purely divine generals, unrelated to the calamities and corruptions.

However, the calamity is a projection of the great calamity of heaven and earth, which can corrupt the mind and cloud the spiritual platform.

Those immortals and Buddhas had not a trace of calamity or defilement on them?

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Logically speaking, when a great calamity arrives, the higher a person's cultivation level, the heavier the karmic burden they bear, and the deeper the calamity should be.

But those immortals and Buddhas were completely clean, without a trace of impurity.

Why is this?

He shared his doubts with the scribe.

The scholar listened and nodded slightly.

"Your ability to think of this shows your quick wit."

"Then let me ask you again, if you were one of those immortals or Buddhas, how would you cope with the great calamity of heaven and earth, and the torment of being entangled in the turbidity of calamity?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and then slowly said:

"If I were them, I would either use great supernatural powers to suppress the calamity, or use great magical power to resolve the calamity."

The scholar shook his head.

"The Calamity is a projection of the great calamity of heaven and earth. It is extremely difficult for anyone other than a saint to suppress and resolve it with great supernatural powers."

"Then, what should we do?"

A profound look flashed in the scholar's eyes.

"Transfer".

Li Yan was slightly taken aback.

"Transfer?"

The scholar nodded.

"Transfer your own calamities to another place. Borrow another's body to suffer the calamities in your place."

Li Yan was shocked, and a series of guesses began to surface in his mind.

"What the patriarch meant was..."

The scholar said, "I suspect that the Buddhist and Taoist sides have reached some kind of agreement."

The calamities and impurities that had plagued the immortals and Buddhas were transferred to the mortal realm, and then to that monkey.

Li Yan felt a chill rise up his spine.

They were transferred to the human world?

Then, wouldn't the mortals and innocent creatures of the human world become scapegoats?

"Therefore, the human world is plagued by disasters, demons roam freely, and wars are frequent..."

The scholar nodded.

"Indeed, both Buddhism and Taoism use the human world as their furnace and all living beings as straw dogs."

He poured out all his own calamities and impurities upon the world.

"The world is becoming increasingly polluted, and disasters are frequent; this is the reason why."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan recalled the legends he had heard in his previous life.

Every single time, there has been devastation and rivers of bloodshed.

While pondering, Li Yan couldn't help but say:

"The Patriarch just said that the immortals and Buddhas transferred their own calamities to the human world."

But this transfer always needs a destination, a vehicle.

"Though the human world is vast and there are many living beings, if the calamities and turmoil are poured out at will, they will likely scatter and become difficult to control."

The scholar nodded slightly.

"Go on."

Li Yan said, "Therefore, I suspect they need to find a way..."

Gather these transferred calamities and impurities, direct them to one place, and then find a way to resolve them.

"The best way to gather them together is to let those demons tainted by the calamity wreak havoc everywhere and commit murderous acts."

The greater the sins of killing, the more concentrated and dense the calamity and defilement will become, eventually solidifying and refusing to dissipate.

"After they are gathered together, they still need to be resolved. The method to resolve this is..."

At this point, a thought suddenly flashed into my mind.

"The solution requires someone to subdue or kill these demons who have gathered up the chaos and turmoil."

The calamity and defilement emanating from those demons would then be transferred to that person during the process of subduing or slaying them.

"That person carried these impurities along his journey, and finally arrived at a holy place, where he used supreme Buddhist or Taoist methods to completely dissolve them."

"This back and forth constitutes a complete cleansing process."

The scholar listened, his eyes filled with even greater admiration.

"Good. The fact that you could think of this shows that you are very thoughtful."

But have you ever considered that this person carried Jie Zhuo all the way?

Will the calamities and defilements dissipate along the way?

Could it cause trouble again?

Li Yan was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"The patriarch meant that many obstacles and challenges needed to be set up along this path."

Let that person subdue or slay a group of demons at every pass.

In this way, the calamity and turbidity will not dissipate, but will be absorbed by that person little by little, step by step.

Only upon finally reaching the holy land will the matter be complete.

The scholar nodded.

"Therefore, this road needs to be carefully designed."

Every pass, every mountain peak, and every demon must be properly arranged.

Too early won't do; let reading always be one chapter ahead of others. Too late won't do either.

Too much is no good, and too little is no good either.

As Li Yan listened, a picture gradually emerged in his mind.

A long road begins in the human world, winds westward, and finally reaches the land of immortals and Buddhas.

Along the way, towering mountains and deep valleys lay ambushes everywhere, making each step fraught with danger.

The traveler, on his journey, subdued and absorbed as he went.

By the time he reached the end, the calamities and impurities on his body had accumulated to their maximum.

Then, in that instant, with supreme magical power, it was completely dissolved.

"Is this the path to cleansing?"

The scholar smiled slightly.

You're only half right.

Li Yan was taken aback.

"Please enlighten us, Master."

The scholar said, "Those who travel on the road are indeed tools for cleansing away the filth of calamity."

But the demons on that road are not merely vessels of calamity and depravity.

"They also have another function."

Li Yan asked, "What is its function?"

"To die in someone else's place."

Li Yan's heart trembled slightly.

"Those demons are inherently sinful beings."

Either he was captured for causing trouble in the mortal realm, or his mount violated heavenly rules, or his disciple went astray.

"They were released and descended to the mortal realm as demons, committing atrocities; their fate was sealed."

"But their deaths were not in vain."

They die at the hands of travelers, and their sins are wiped away with them.

"And those truly powerful beings can then use this as a pretext to say, 'This wicked creature has been punished, and the karma has been settled.'"

He then completely severed all ties with these demons.

Li Yan listened, his face darkening.

Well thought out.

That's quite a clever plan.

Seeing the change in his expression, the scholar continued:

"Do you know where this path of cleansing begins and where it ends?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and then slowly said:

"It begins in the human world and ends in the land of immortals and Buddhas."

Because the calamity originated from the immortals and Buddhas, it must ultimately return to their realm to be resolved.

"And along that journey, the places we passed through, the people we met, and the events we experienced were probably all meticulously planned."

The scholar nodded.

"I've calculated it out; they've been planning this path for who knows how many years."

The passes, the mountain peaks, the demons—all were carefully selected and repeatedly analyzed.

"We will wait until the time is right before letting the pilgrim embark on his journey."

"This cleansing path sounds too awful. If I were to name it, I'd call it 'Journey to the West'."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan couldn't help but tremble.

It turned out to be the case.

Everything makes sense!

The scholar watched this scene, a profound look flashing in his eyes.

Do you know why it's called the Journey to the West?

Li Yan hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Those who seek the scriptures seek the true scriptures. The true scriptures are the Buddha's teachings. Only by using the Buddha's teachings to dispel the defilements of this calamity can we find the right path."

"Buddhism teaches compassion and salvation, and the cycle of cause and effect. Using Buddhism to resolve the defilements of this era is perfectly justified and beyond reproach."

"And those demons who were slain could be dismissed with a simple statement: 'The evil deeds have been punished, and the cause and effect have been settled.'"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan couldn't help but ask, "Master, there is still one thing I don't understand."

The scholar said, "Speak."

Li Yan said, "The Patriarch just said that the Buddhist and Taoist sides have reached an agreement to transfer the calamity to the human world."

"Wouldn't humanity then suffer endless calamities?"

The scholar replied, "Indeed."

Li Yan said, "What crime have those mortals committed? Why must they suffer tribulations for the immortals and Buddhas?"

The scholar looked at him, a strange glint in his eyes.

"Are you speaking out for mortals?"

Li Yan said, "Before I began my cultivation, I was also a mortal, and I understand best that mortals fear death."

The scholar smiled.

"Your willingness to have this mindset shows your compassion."

"But has there ever been fairness in this world?"

"Immortals and Buddhas are high above, regarding mortals as mere ants. What is the life of an ant worth mentioning?"

As Li Yan listened, a nameless anger welled up inside him.

He was also a mortal in his previous life.

I have seen many people in high positions who treat the lower classes like dirt.

He thought that by coming to this world of Journey to the West, cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao, he could transcend worldly desires.

But now he realizes that the world of immortals and Buddhas is even more cruel than the human world.

There is still law in the world.

But who in heaven and on earth can restrain those immortals and Buddhas?

Li Yan suppressed his anger and asked:

"Master, what about Sun Wukong? He's both a pawn and a victim. How can I save him?"

A profound look flashed in the scholar's eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do this for him?"

Li Yan said, "Confirmed."

The scholar said, "Do you know that if you save him, you will be making enemies of both Buddhism and Taoism?"

Li Yan said, "I know."

The scholar asked, "Do you know who stands behind those immortals and Buddhas?"

Li Yan said, "I understand."

The scholar said, "Do you understand that if you get involved in this matter, you yourself will be in grave danger?"

Li Yan said, "Of course."

The scribe stared at him without blinking.

Li Yan also looked at him, her gaze firm.

After a long silence, the scholar sighed:

"You're a fool."

Li Yan said, "I just feel that the monkey is sincere to me, so I cannot betray him."

"Since he treated me like a brother, I will repay him as a brother. This is the duty of a human being."

The scholar listened, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Many immortals, who have cultivated to the Taiyi or Daluo levels, have completely neglected the basic human responsibilities."

"It's already commendable that you can uphold this basic human decency."

Li Yan said, "Grandmaster, you flatter me."

The scholar nodded slightly and then asked, "You just asked me if I had an answer regarding the solution?"

Li Yan said, "Please enlighten me, Master."

The scholar asked, "You have just deduced countless methods; have you found a way to break this?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No."

Li Yan shook his head and said, "No."

The scholar asked, "Why is that?"

Before Li Yan could answer, he said to himself, "The calamity is neither disease, nor poison, nor curse, nor magic."

It is a projection of the great calamity of heaven and earth, and its fate is intertwined with that of the monkey.

To resolve this, we must address the root cause.

Upon hearing this, Li Yan bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Master, your wisdom is as sharp as a torch, and you have seen through the secrets of heaven. This disciple has suddenly understood."

However, this disciple is foolish and dull-witted, and dares to humbly beg the Patriarch for mercy to point out the specific method to break the cycle of calamity and save the Monkey King.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged scholar's eyes flashed with a deep, enigmatic light as he looked at Li Yan with a half-smile.

"Foolish child, do you really want to save him?"

"This disciple truly has this intention," he replied firmly.

Seeing the flicker in Li Yan's eyes, the patriarch knew that Li Yan already had a plan in mind, but he did not reveal it. He simply said slowly:

"Just now, I used my profound skills to deduce that your body is entangled with cause and effect, like silk threads."

You have always been cautious in your actions, proceeding step by step, and unwilling to take risks easily.

This is the duty of those who cultivate the Tao, and it is also the way to achieve longevity and immortality.

Why are you so fixated on this monkey?

As Li Yan pondered, he recalled a line from Mencius that he had read in his previous life.

Although a lifetime has passed, the words are still clear.

Meeting the gaze of the patriarch, he said:

"Our ancestor has wisely observed this."

The disciple has heard the Confucian school say:

"Life is what I desire; righteousness is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will give up life for righteousness."

Disciples cultivate the Tao, seeking longevity, freedom, and freedom from karmic consequences; this is the desire for life.

But that monkey treated me with sincerity, even risking his life for me; this is where righteousness lies.

"Although I wish to preserve my integrity, I also do not wish to lose my true self. If I cannot have both..."

Speaking of this, I recall the monkey standing on the rock, its golden eyes filled with reluctance yet trying to appear calm.

"Then he is one who would give up his life for righteousness."

These words, once uttered, exuded a chilling aura.

Upon hearing this, the patriarch's lips curled into a slight smile.

He didn't stop there; instead, he changed the subject and started talking about Zen principles.

"I'll ask you again."

You said that the monkey treated you with sincerity and even risked his life for you.

How does Taoism interpret the word "sincerity"?

How does Buddhism interpret this?

How does Confucianism interpret this?

Upon hearing this, Li Yan knew that the patriarch was testing him and also enlightening him.

If one cannot even answer this, how can one discuss such a fundamental matter as breaking the cycle of calamity, which involves the three religions?

He calmed his mind and focused his thoughts, drawing upon what he had learned and thought over the years.

After a short while, he slowly opened his mouth:

"Taoism speaks of sincerity, which is about truth."

The Zhuangzi, in the chapter "The Fisherman," states: "Sincerity is the utmost in earnestness. Without earnestness and sincerity, one cannot move others."

That monkey was born of nature, without father or mother, free and unrestrained, and every word and action came from its heart, without any pretense.

This is the true essence of Taoism, and this is his sincerity towards his disciples.

"The Buddhist teaching of sincerity lies in faith."

The Avatamsaka Sutra says: Faith is the source of the Way and the mother of merit, nurturing all good dharmas.

The monkey trusts me, trusts that I won't harm him, and trusts that I will come back.

Even amidst the chaos and confusion of calamities, and the proliferation of countless illusions, a sliver of clarity in his heart still held onto his belief in me.

This also shows his sincerity towards his disciples.

"Confucianism speaks of sincerity, which is related to reality."

The Doctrine of the Mean states: Sincerity is the beginning and end of all things; without sincerity, nothing exists.

That monkey single-handedly ventured into the Netherworld for me, and fought the Demon King with his staff. Every single thing he did was true and real, without the slightest falsehood..."

"The three religions discuss sincerity, and although their names differ, their principles are the same."

All of these are expressions of one's true nature and natural instincts.

The monkey treated the disciple with such sincerity, and the disciple reciprocated with the same sincerity.

Even if the road ahead is fraught with peril, this disciple will not regret it.

After saying this, Li Yan felt his mind was clear and his thoughts were at peace.

As the patriarch listened, the light in his eyes grew even deeper.

He held the bamboo slips in his hand and tapped them in his palm.

"Snapped!"

This soft sound, however, sounded like a great bell to Li Yan, shaking his mind and spirit.

He looked up and saw the chaotic energy surging around him, the light of the five elements flowing, and the image of the eight trigrams appearing.

There was a faint hint of the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth.

"That's good, that's good."

The patriarch's voice became ethereal.

"If you can understand your own heart with the sincerity of the three religions, then you have entered the gate."

The method to break free from the turbidity of this calamity lies within your own heart.

Li Yan was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on and bowed down.

"Please enlighten us, Master!"

There was a hint of mystery in the patriarch's smile.

"Do you know that monkey, too, is connected to me by fate?"

Li Yan was slightly startled and looked up.

The patriarch slowly said, "I accepted you as my disciple at Fangcun Mountain and taught you the Daoist arts."

That monkey, though we are now nominally master and disciple, has not actually taught me any magic.

Do you know why?

Li Yan shook his head.

The Patriarch said, "Because the time is not yet ripe. What I have left here is merely an incarnation."

"That monkey was born of nature and nurtured by the earth; it was a spiritual stone monkey."

The peculiarity of his destiny and the breadth and depth of its implications were something I could not fully comprehend even at the height of my power.

I can only vaguely sense that at some point in the future, in some place, my master-disciple relationship with that monkey remains unbroken.

"However, the future is as numerous as the sands of the Ganges and changes in an instant."

Even a sage cannot know everything.

What I can see from this wisp of my past self is even more blurred.

At this point, the patriarch looked at Li Yan, his eyes full of profound meaning.

"But I can tell you that the monkey is also my future disciple."

Although I do not yet know what the future holds, or how I will meet him again.

But now, seeing you going to such lengths to plead for him…”

At this point, the voice became firm:

"How could I, a wisp of my past self, sit idly by and do nothing?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan felt an indescribable surge of emotion.

The patriarch then said, "Just now, you used the sincerity of the three teachings to enlighten your mind and realized that the solution lies within your own mind. This is the cultivation of your nature."

Life refers to the body and vital energy.

Neither should be neglected.

"The monkey's current state is due to the defilement of its mind and the clouding of its spirit; this is a sexual disease."

However, the root cause lies in fate.

He was born from a stone monkey, endowed with the innate metal element, possessing a powerful and indestructible physique.

But precisely because of this, his fate became the perfect vessel for the great calamity of heaven and earth.

"Why did those immortals and Buddhas choose the human realm and those demons when they transferred their own calamities and impurities elsewhere?"

Ultimately, it all comes down to that monkey?

It is because of his innate metal body that he can contain the turbid energy that ordinary people cannot withstand.

Just like the ocean, which can accept the filth of a hundred rivers.

"Therefore, to save that monkey, we must start by cultivating both body and mind."

In terms of sexuality, we should help him to guard his true nature and not be invaded by external demons.

In terms of fate, the solution lies in resolving the accumulated negative energy within him, addressing the root cause.

Li Yan listened intently, nodding frequently, but new doubts arose within him.

"Master, if what you say is true, the calamity within the monkey's body was transferred from the immortals and Buddhas of the Three Realms."

Its quantity and its turbidity are simply unimaginable.

"This disciple is merely at the sixth level of the Cave Heaven Realm, not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how could I possibly resolve this?"

The patriarch smiled and said, "If you insist on resolving it by your own strength, even if you cultivate to the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, you may not be able to."

But you forgot one thing.

"What is it?"

Why did the monkey choose that westward journey?

Li Yan was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

"Does the Patriarch mean that the journey to the West is inherently a cleansing path to dispel the calamities of time?!"

The patriarch nodded: "The Buddhist and Taoist sides have been planning for countless years to devise this path."

Its brilliance lies precisely in this.

Li Yan felt a sudden sense of clarity, but then even greater doubts arose within him.

"So, what this disciple needs to do now is to go along with this path and let that monkey continue on?"

The patriarch shook his head slightly.

"You're half right."

Because that road was designed for them, not for that monkey.

"In their design, the monkey was just a tool."

He will have to go through eighty-one tribulations and suffer endless torment.

Ultimately, during the cleansing of defilements at Mount Ling, he was also converted and became a protector of Buddhism.

"This is the 'fruit of enlightenment' they arranged for that monkey."

"If you truly care for him, you must guide him onto another path."

A path that can both resolve calamities and preserve oneself, ultimately leading to true freedom.

Li Yan suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and bowed, saying:

"Please, Master, guide me on this path; which way should I go?"

The patriarch held a blank bamboo slip and waved it.

In an instant, within the realm of deduction, chaos surged, the five elements flowed, and the eight trigrams manifested.

Countless mysterious and profound images appeared before Li Yan's eyes.

"Just watch and see."

The patriarch's voice became grand and solemn.

"The calamity of the monkey originated from the great calamity of heaven and earth."

The great calamity of heaven and earth arose from the imbalance of yin and yang and the mutual destruction of the five elements.

Therefore, to resolve the calamity and turbidity, one must take the balance of Yin and Yang as the foundation and utilize the mutual generation of the Five Elements.

"You just used the Seven Arrows with Nailheads technique to immobilize his mind for seven days."

This is the [fixed] method, which can temporarily delay the invasion and contamination by the defilements of calamity.

However, fixed methods can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

To address the root cause, a transformative approach is needed.

"The one who transforms the Dharma uses himself as a cauldron, heaven and earth as a catalyst, and the turbidity of calamity as medicinal ingredients to refine a furnace of the [Pure Elixir]."

Li Yan was deeply moved by what he heard.

This theory of transformation shares many similarities with his cultivation of alchemy and the Dao of the Grotto Heaven, yet they are also different.

"You cultivate the Dao of the Cave Heaven, creating a small world within your body. This is your cauldron."

Within your celestial realm, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, grasses, trees, the five elements, yin and yang, and life flow continuously.

This is your medicinal ingredient.

"If you can draw the turbid energy from that monkey's body into your cave, you can slowly refine it using the power of the five elements and the yin and yang energies within your cave."

This is the method of transformation.

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat, and countless thoughts surged through his mind.

"That calamity is a projection of the great calamity of heaven and earth. Its quantity is immense, and its quality is turbid. How can my small grotto-heaven possibly withstand it?"

The patriarch smiled and said, "This is the essence of the transformation method—to proceed slowly and gradually, dividing and transforming it."

"You just said that the journey to the west was for the monkey to absorb the calamity step by step."

Now, you can also let that monkey guide the calamity into your celestial realm step by step.

He walks along the way, and you transform along the way.

He endures a tribulation, you refine a elixir.

"When he reaches Mount Ling, the calamity will be completely dispelled, and your cave heaven will also have refined this immeasurable calamity."

And thus, it underwent an unprecedented tempering and sublimation.

Li Yan was stunned, but his mind was clear as a mirror, reflecting the path ahead.

This method is brilliant! Extremely risky! And it perfectly aligns with his cunning and opportunistic ways!

The beauty of it is that he doesn't have to confront those immortals and Buddhas head-on.

Simply operate in secret, using the cave as a furnace and the calamity as medicinal ingredients, to slowly refine it.

The danger lies in the fact that the calamity is a projection of the great calamity of heaven and earth; if one is not careful, one will be devoured by it.

At best, it damages the mind and spirit; at worst, it causes the collapse of one's spiritual realm, resulting in the destruction of both body and soul.

He agrees with his so-called "secret way" because this method requires no fanfare or exposure.

All you need to do is secretly set up an operation near the monkey and carry it out slowly.

It can both save the monkey and allow one to temper the cave and improve one's cultivation, killing two birds with one stone.

Li Yan thought about it more and more and felt that this method was feasible, but new questions arose.

"Master, if I want to bring that calamity into the cave, I need a medium, a passage."

Otherwise, how can we cross over?

The patriarch gave him an approving look and said, "A good question. That's the key."

"You need to cultivate a supernatural power called the [Two Realms and Ten Directions Vajra Garbhadhatu Mandala]."

This supernatural power originated from the esoteric Buddhist sect, but it also incorporates the Taoist methods of creating grotto-heavens.

Once completed, you can build a bridge between yourself and the monkey.

"The calamity can then be overcome by crossing this bridge, passing through the monkey's body, and entering your celestial realm."

"The essence of this supernatural power lies in the two words 'fetal storage'."

The fetus is an embryo, symbolizing pregnancy and growth.

The word "藏" means to contain or encapsulate, and thus to encompass and transform.

Your grotto is the womb; when the turbidity of calamity enters it, it is like a seed entering the soil, where it can be nurtured and transformed.

And you yourself are that treasure, requiring boundless power and immeasurable compassion to contain the turbidity of this world.

Li Yan was filled with longing.

This supernatural power is extraordinary, as can be discerned from its name alone.

"Master, where should this disciple begin to cultivate this supernatural power?"

The patriarch said, "You need to comprehend the essence of the three teachings and integrate them before you can enter the gate."