Hearing Wang Yang's words, Sun Wukong couldn't help but get excited, momentarily lost in a flurry of anticipation and longing.
What he didn't know was that even several Saints hadn't reached that realm, let alone himself. So, before that happens he had better keep a steady grip and steadily change his destiny.
"Old Sun understands, thank you for the guidance, elder brother. Your junior will surely catch up to your footsteps, and must reach that realm in his lifetime!"
Sun Wukong spoke excitedly.
But Wang Yang felt somewhat jealous.
If anyone else had said these words, he would never have believed them, but the person who spoke them was Sun Wukong.
Perhaps others couldn't do it, but Sun Wukong truly might have a chance.
If Sun Wukong's cultivation technique hadn't aligned with his own, Wang Yang might have died of envy. But now, it was much better.
"Junior brother, don't think too much. During these days, focus on practicing the cultivation techniques and divine skills I taught you. Try to reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal level. Of course, it's enough for you to reveal a Human Immortal cultivation level!"
Wang Yang advised earnestly.
Having Sun Wukong stay in the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave was also a transformation.
"Yes, elder brother. May I practice here with you? Once I have succeeded in my cultivation one day, I will not let down the great kindness of my elder brother!"
Sun Wukong, with a twinkle in his eye, proposed.
"Good, of course you can!"
Wang Yang naturally had no objections.
Years passed in the blink of an eye, for cultivators, time flew without a trace, leaving no mark as it slipped by.
Only the breath of the cultivator grew stronger within.
Every time Wang Yang saw the changes in Sun Wukong's cultivation, he was filled with immense envy. Sun Wukong's cultivation level improved greatly after every absence, unlike Wang Yang's own progress, which advanced only slightly with each session.
After syncing with Sun Wukong's cultivation gains, he would make huge leaps, sometimes even achieving breakthroughs.
If it weren't for Sun Wukong, the peak of his life would probably have been as a Heavenly Immortal.
As for becoming a Golden Immortal, that was nearly out of the question.
This was also the forecast Patriarch Bodhi once gave him.
And now, Sun Wukong had reached the early stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal.
The Space-Time Chaos Technique, Nine-Turn Profound Art, and Hongmeng Yin Yang Transformation Technique were cultivated to an extremely high level of strength.
Though it took Sun Wukong several more years to reach Taiyi Golden Immortal, it was only because these cultivation techniques were incredibly powerful; ordinary people might spend their entire lives and achieve nothing from them, yet Sun Wukong could use them to reach such a high level of cultivation.
This was already an extraordinary achievement.
The more Sun Wukong cultivated, the more he realized the power of these techniques. If not for Wang Yang, he probably wouldn't have been able to comprehend such profound techniques and divine skills.
At the same time, he could sense Wang Yang's aura swirling around him, seeming ordinary, but it was clearly a case of simplifying complexity—his elder brother was truly a superior figure.
He needed to work even harder.
As for the Thirty-Six Transformations, though he practiced them, he didn't delve deep, as they seemed less formidable than the Hongmeng Yin Yang Transformation Technique.
…
At this time, deep within the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave,
Patriarch Bodhi sat on his meditation cushion, puzzled.
"What's going on? Why hasn't Sun Wukong come to seek me yet?"
Four years had passed since he was to impart the Thirty-Six Transformations of Celestial Gang to Sun Wukong. Logically, that monkey should have come to find him by now so he could bestow the Flying Nimbus and let Sun Wukong leave the mountain.
But now, Sun Wukong still hadn't come to find him. He should have mastered it by now.
And with the monkey's eagerness to learn the Longevity Dao Teaching, once he mastered it, it was impossible for him not to come looking for him.
"Could it be that I've overestimated Sun Wukong? Has he not grasped it at all, so he's too ashamed to come to me?"
Patriarch Bodhi couldn't help but speculate, but he felt his speculation was somewhat shaky.
After all, Sun Wukong is nurtured by nature and is an innate deity with astonishing comprehension; otherwise, he wouldn't be limited in his progress by a cultivation technique that's common as muck.
However, Sun Wukong indeed hadn't come to seek him out, which really puzzled him.
"Could something unexpected have happened?"
Patriarch Bodhi frowned. He bore the responsibility of teaching Wukong and couldn't allow any changes to occur.
"It seems I must preach again and see how this monkey is doing. If there really is a problem, I could well explain things!"
Patriarch Bodhi murmured to himself.
After all, Sun Wukong is the one who will instigate the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West; everything was about to start, and Wukong had not yet left. How could this be allowed?
Although the two from the Western direction had not said anything yet, as an embodiment of Saint Zhunti, even if Zhunti and Amitabha Buddha were silent, he was aware of certain things.
Everything must be expedited without delay so as not to affect the subsequent events of the Journey to the West's Calamity of Measurement.
Thinking this, Patriarch Bodhi didn't want to procrastinate any longer and decided to start his sermons.
Although he took on the appearance of a Taoist, it was all for the sake of Buddhism's prosperity.
The Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West is crucial to the rise of Buddhism. Naturally, for whatever reason, no mishap should occur.
If Wukong is unable to comprehend even this simplified version of the Thirty-Six Transformations, then I'll have to offer some guidance to ensure he can handle the various changes during the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West.
…
"Great Elder Brother, I've cultivated to the early stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal. Should I still reveal the cultivation of a Human Immortal?"
Sun Wukong looked at Wang Yang with curiosity.
As Wang Yang gazed at Sun Wukong, he couldn't help but feel emotional. What others needed countless years to achieve, Wukong did with the ease of eating and drinking.
"Reveal the cultivation of an Earth Immortal!"
Wang Yang was silent for a moment. According to the original story, Wukong should be revealing the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal when he left the mountain. Although his cultivation had not yet reached that level, and it shouldn't be necessary to leave the mountain, it was still best not to overdo it.
It's better to keep things standard.
After all, if Wukong had only just become immortal now, it would seem rather unbelievable.
Patriarch Bodhi would likely not believe it either and it might even cause some trouble.
"Yes!"
Sun Wukong then revealed his cultivation at the realm of an Earth Immortal.
Seeing Wukong's cultivation, Wang Yang felt helpless. He had been there for hundreds of years and had only reached the Earth Immortal cultivation, while Wukong had only arrived not long ago and had already achieved the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, even with such a challenging technique.
If it were him, he feared he would not be able to improve much in this lifetime.
Just as Wang Yang was feeling a mix of envy and admiration,
the sound of bells rang out.
Dong, dong, dong!
The melodious sound of bells slowly spread.
"Today I shall impart teachings. All disciples, hasten here!"
The voice of Patriarch Bodhi spread far and wide.
Then it reached Wang Yang's ears.
He couldn't help but grow curious as to why Patriarch Bodhi was convening a teaching session now.
Could it be that Patriarch Bodhi couldn't wait any longer?
Regardless, Wang Yang called out to Sun Wukong and then they both headed towards the Daoist Temple square together.