Wukong wandered through the Eastern Divine Region and, over two days, had killed eight Buddhist disciples and destroyed three temples.
Each time he moved to a new place, he changed his appearance, so no one was able to capture him.
On this day, Yuan Tiangang was giving a lecture, and many experts from the Taoist Sects gathered at Yuan Tiangang's Qingyang Temple to listen, including some disciples from the Buddhist Sect who disguised themselves and attended. Originally from Taoism, Buddhism shares the same origin. Yuan Tiangang, a highly accomplished Superior Immortal, preferred not to ascend to Heaven as a deity and thus opened a Taoist Temple in the mortal world, where he would occasionally preach Taoist magic.
Wukong had long heard about the great reputation of Yuan Tiangang, but back in the days when he was confined to Water Curtain Cave, he now seized the chance to meet Yuan Tiangang.
In the Daoist platform of Qingyang Temple's Daoist Temple area, Yuan Tiangang sat high and preached the Taoist scriptures.
"From Pangu until Xi Yi, where tigers battled dragons, the events are truly strange. Understanding the truth of cycles, I shall discuss the origin of Yuan after the Tang dynasty."
Yuan Tiangang exuded an otherworldly presence, his flowing beard fluttering, and his Taoist robe billowed as if he was about to ascend to immortality.
"I once looked up at the sky and saw the sun, moon, and stars remain unchanged; I looked down at the earth and saw mountains, rivers, and plants remain unchanged. The Heaven and Earth I see, is it different from the Heaven and Earth I have not seen? Yet, it cannot be said that the unseen Heaven and Earth are the same as the seen Heaven and Earth. Heaven and Earth in themselves, and I am different. I am myself, making the two Heavens and Earths different. It is possible to know the Heaven and Earth before my birth, which can be quantified. The Heaven and Earth after my birth is unknowable, also quantifiable. There was a Heaven and Earth before I was born, then there came the Heaven and Earth after my birth. This is how the unknowables can be quantified. The Heaven and Earth after my birth, isn't it different from before my birth? This too, in the knowables, is also quantifiable. The significance of these numbers is immense."
All who listened held their breath in rapt attention, as if time and the world had paused, only Yuan Tiangang's voice on Daoism echoed.
Wukong also listened intently, and his spirits swayed slightly as he thought, "Although Yuan Tiangang has not yet achieved the status of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, his understanding of Tao is profound. It should not take him ten years to become a Taiyi Golden Immortal."
As Yuan Tiangang preached, everyone felt time passing swiftly, and the day soon setting in the west.
However, as the evening sky darkened, Yuan Tiangang did not stop, engrossed in his preaching without feeling thirsty or weary, and continued his explanation.
At precisely midnight, Yuan Tiangang suddenly stopped.
"Taoist Master, why have you stopped?" asked Li Chunfeng from aside.
"Three Pure Ones Revered Taoist!" Yuan Tiangang declared the name of the Three Pure Ones and then said, "A highly esteemed sage has arrived here; I dare not continue."
Glancing sideways, he saw a graceful woman with a child below the platform, watching him.
The listeners were so absorbed in their spiritual and primordial thoughts that they had not yet realized Yuan Tiangang had stopped speaking.
The graceful woman gestured to Yuan Tiangang and said, "The great Tao is vast, and each has their understanding. Taoist Master, just continue your sermon."
This person was none other than Bodhisattva Guanyin in disguise, and the child was Sudhana, known as Red Boy.
Wukong felt a surge of excitement, glanced at Guanyin and Red Boy, and was immediately startled, thinking, "It seems the Buddhist Sect can really no longer restrain itself and has sent Guanyin to capture me! Heh, but little does Guanyin know that the culprit who killed Golden Cicada is sitting just two zhang behind you."
Thinking this, Wukong felt a moment of triumph.
Suddenly, Guanyin frowned, turned her head back, and Wukong quickly closed his eyes.
People with profound mana can sense when others are thinking about them or speaking of them, and although Wukong had Hongmeng Purple Qi, he was only two zhang apart from Guanyin. While he thought about these matters, he vaguely alerted Guanyin. Hence, he quickly calmed his mind, ceased his wandering thoughts, and circulated his Hongmeng Purple Qi to shield his Primordial Spirit.
Guanyin, not understanding the cause, assumed it was just a passing thought and decided not to pursue it further.
Yuan Tiangang originally planned to lecture for three days, but due to Guanyin's arrival, it concluded the next morning.
After Yuan Tiangang ceased his lecture, many cultivators dispersed and returned to their residences to meditate deeply on his teachings.
After leaving Chang'an City, Wukong thought, "This time Guanyin has come with Red Boy, which means only that black bear demon and a few apprentices are likely left on Penglai Fairy Island. Heh heh, why not employ the 'drawing out the bottom-most log from under the cauldron' strategy from the thirty-six stratagems?"
Considering this, he entered deep mountains and forests, and seeing no one around, executed a somersault and headed towards the South Sea.
After having consumed the essence of Tripitaka, Wukong's mana had not only fully recovered but had also further improved, poised on the threshold of attaining Superior Immortality, yet he was unable to break through. Now with Guanyin away from Penglai Fairy Island, he felt capable of handling the black bear demon with his current power, and as for the few apprentices, they could be dispatched with just a few strikes of his staff.
In just a few somersaults, he arrived a hundred li outside the South Sea's Penglai Fairy Island.
Wukong used his far-seeing ability to scout for a while until he was sure that neither Guanyin nor Red Boy was on the island.
Overjoyed, he somersaulted onto the island.
"Hey! Taoist, where have you come from? State your name," the black bear demon emerged from his cave abode, wielding a black spear, his presence commanding, "I am the Mountain Guardian Deity of Penglai Fairy Island, Black Wind!"
Seeing the black bear demon after so many years, still unchanged from before, Wukong couldn't help but laugh.
"I am here to see Bodhisattva Guanyin for an important matter. Is the Bodhisattva on the island?" Wukong asked.
"The Bodhisattva has matters to attend to and is not here; go back where you came from and don't disturb my nap!" the Black Bear Spirit shouted loudly.
Upon hearing this, Wukong did not reply, but drew his long spear and attacked the Black Bear Spirit!
"What demon dares to run wild on Penglai Fairy Island!" The Black Bear Spirit was furious, knowing full well the reputation of Guanyin. Yet, this Taoist was so bold as to strike directly at the island.
Taking advantage of the Black Bear Spirit's unpreparedness, Wukong struck first, gaining the upper hand. In less than the blink of an eye, he had delivered thirty-six rounds, taunting, "Once the great Black Wind King was so imposing, and now reduced to a mere gatekeeper—how pitiful!"
Hearing the Taoist mention his past, the Black Bear Spirit was startled, followed by a surge of bitter remorse. He had once commanded the Demon Tribe with such grandeur, and now he submitted to Guanyin, relegated to a gatekeeper.
"Sun Wukong has long forsaken Buddhism; why don't you follow his lead and head to the Demon Abyss in the Northern Region? I will deal with those apprentices on the island for you!" As Wukong spoke, he executed a total of one hundred and eight moves, quick as his words.
The Black Bear Spirit, seeing that the Taoist wielded a long spear but used staff techniques, couldn't catch on and kept losing ground. Shocked by these words, he lost focus and was sent tumbling heads over heels by a spear strike, dizzy and unable to stand.
"We once had a connection, and I know you are also pressured by Guanyin; I will not take your life. Today, I will destroy this island. Even if you do not leave, Guanyin will punish you. Hurry away and escape to the Demon Abyss in the Northern Region—don't come back! When the time is right, I will come to find you," Wukong said, and kicked the Black Bear Spirit into the sea, sending him flying tens of miles away.
Realizing the sense of Wukong's words, the Black Bear Spirit roared loudly, transformed into a huge black bear, and rose on the clouds, rushing straight north...
Wukong stormed into Guanyin's Daoist Temple, and with a few spear strikes, turned the apprentices to ash.
In the temple, a Jade Disk displayed three Ginseng Fruits, likely gifts from Yuan Tiangang to Guanyin; Wukong didn't stand on ceremony, tossing them directly into his Mustard Seed; he also saw a colorful Bodhi Tree beside the temple grounds, and without a word, uprooted it and threw it into the Mustard Seed; finally, spotting a "Tightening Ring Spell" among the Dharma Gates, he was overjoyed and threw it in as well—many treasures in Guanyin's Daoist Temple were collected by Wukong.
Then, rising into the air, Wukong pinched a Dharma Decree, activated the Taoist Magic, and released a stream of True Fire from his mouth.
What a great fire it was, reducing the trees on the island to ash, and the Spiritual Spring was evaporated dry.
Wukong sneered, feeling a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Suddenly, his spear grew immensely large in his hands, and with a fierce swing, he slammed it down!
"Boom!"
Half of the island shattered with the impact of his spear, and then another strike followed!
The once magnificent Penglai Fairy Island was destroyed in a moment, and since the island housed Guanyin's Daoist Temple, Bodhisattva Guanyin's reputation suffered greatly—what a loss of face! However, Wukong was not yet satisfied. He summoned several giant octopuses from the water, chopped off their tentacles, and threw them on the water surface, arranging them into the words—"Heaven-Defying Taoist was here!"
The Demon Tribe serving under Guanyin fled in terror, exclaiming, "This is terrible, Bodhisattva's Daoist Temple has been destroyed!"
"Hurry, hurry, go inform the Bodhisattva!"
"You go if you want; this Taoist is too powerful—I'm afraid he'll reduce me to ash the moment I show myself!"
"Let's wait for this Taoist to leave before we go; didn't you see how even the Mountain Guardian Deity was driven away by him?"
Having destroyed Penglai Fairy Island, Wukong felt utterly exhilarated, and laughed heartily. But then, he suddenly noticed a glint among the island's wreckage. Reaching out, he grabbed the shimmering light—it was a golden feather, gleaming brilliantly and scalding hot to the touch, like a red-hot iron.
"How many years has it been?" A Divine Sense emitted from the feather, as if talking to itself.
Startled, Wukong asked, "Who are you?"
The feather replied, "Me? Who am I..." after a long pause, "I am the Heavenly Emperor, Di Jun!"
It turned out this was one of the Golden Crow Di Jun's feathers, grown at the very front of his head, thus its Spiritual Power was profoundly strong. Wukong did not delay, fearing Guanyin's sudden return. Feeling the intense demon aura from the feather, he knew it could not be mistaken and tossed it into his Mustard Seed. Then, with a few somersaults, he vanished without a trace.
At that moment, Manjushri Bodhisattva's Green Lion mount, dispatched to find Guanyin, saw smoke rising high from the direction of Penglai Fairy Island! Alarmed, it hurried to the scene only to find the island in ruins, the area chaotic, shattered into countless pieces.
"This is terrible, Bodhisattva Guanyin's Daoist Temple has been flipped!"
The Green Lion roared repeatedly while running toward Mount Wutai.
After running thousands of miles, Manjushri Bodhisattva's Divine Voice scolded, "Fool, why yell about such an ugly incident!"
Startled, the Green Lion shut its mouth immediately and sped to Mount Wutai to report the situation to Manjushri Bodhisattva.