In Dongsheng Immortal State there was a country called Ao Lai Kingdom, within which there was a blessed land known as Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Atop the highest peak of Flower-Fruit Mountain sat a crystal stone with nine holes and eight apertures, twenty-four inches wide. It was a remnant from the Middle Ancient Period, left behind by Goddess Nu Wa during her sky-mending efforts. These nine holes and eight apertures were naturally arranged in the formation of the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams, and the twenty-four inches represented the twenty-four solar terms. Even if this stone wasn't one of those that had mended the sky, its very form could have transformed it into a sprite.
On this day, the crystal stone trembled, and a monkey covered in golden hair leaped out of it. The crystal stone exploded, shaking the heavens and the earth.
Thousand-Mile Eyes and Ears that Reach Around the Corners, who were observing from the Southern Sky Gate, hurried to report to the Jade Emperor, who, upon becoming aware of the incident, nodded slightly.
The stone monkey that had leaped out was Wukong, reborn through the Rebirth Box.
Tang Sanzang was the reincarnation of Golden Cicada, having cultivated the virtues of a Nine Generations Good Man. Golden Cicada had inherently high Buddhist nature and was the most intelligent disciple under Tathagata. Having become the flesh embodiment of a Nine Generations Good Man, his flesh and blood were treasures. After being enlightened by Laozi, Tang Sanzang had concentrated all his vital essence into a single piece of flesh. With one cut, Wukong ate it and, with the aid of Laozi and others, managed to momentarily transcend the Heavenly Dao's control. The Rebirth Box was a divine artifact that reversed the Heavenly Dao, refined by Amitabha Buddha from his Nine-Rank Rebirth Blissful Lotus Platform over many years. Even saints whose Primordial Spirits were entrusted to the Heavenly Dao were affected by the Rebirth Box, losing all memories of the past five hundred years. Everything in the universe reverted to five hundred years earlier—the dead were alive again, and those who were alive had vanished, but Golden Cicada could not be revived. He had sacrificed his body and his three souls and seven spirits to activate the Rebirth Box.
"Master!" As soon as Wukong emerged from the stone, he couldn't help but hold his head and burst into tears.
Wukong, who had experienced life, death, and rebirth, knew that there is great wisdom between life and death. Having journeyed through life and death, Wukong's spiritual wisdom had abruptly awakened.
He still did not know what Tathagata's true purpose for arranging the journey to the West was, but he already had his own plans. Over the past few days, he had curled up inside the crystal stone, comprehending great wisdom, and understanding Tathagata's conspiracy. Mulling over the flaws and traces along the way, he had already formed a preliminary estimate in his heart.
Having transcended the Heavenly Dao with his Primordial Spirit, Wukong naturally saw everything Tang Sanzang had done for him and felt immense gratitude. He had not expected that the one who had driven him away had done it to save his life. Unfortunately, Tathagata's schemes were too profound, and because Guanyin and the Ksitigarbha King did not dare to confront Tathagata directly, they could only endure in silence. In the end, on the Spirit Mountain Great Hall, Tathagata called a stag a horse, damaged Wukong's physical body with the alms bowl, immobilized his Primordial Spirit, and allowed the Six-Eared Macaque to kill him with a single stick.
"Now the situation within Buddhism and Daoism is extremely delicate. And I have been nurtured by the crystal stone left by Goddess Nu Wa. Before I was even born, I was already the subject of many schemes! This time, however, I shall meticulously plot my moves to avoid falling into Tathagata's traps again. I have transcended the Heavenly Dao and gained enlightenment. The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Transformations are merely left-hand techniques, while the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations are a hundred times more powerful! In this life, with my knowledge of the previous and subsequent conspiracies of the journey to the West, Tathagata, how do you plan to manipulate me?" Wukong stood tall and looked towards the location of Mount Meru. There, too, a pair of eyes watched him.
Wukong thought to himself, "Now is certainly not the time to cultivate mana, lest it lead to complications. My only advantage over these divinities and Buddhas is knowing how things should develop! If I disturb this balance, it will no longer be within my control. I'll wait until I visit Three Stars Cave and meet Master Subhuti to cultivate mana. For now, I shall focus on understanding the principles."
Having experienced life and death and transcending the Heavenly Dao, Wukong looked down upon all, clear-eyed and absorbing knowledge. Endowed with innate talent and now enlightened with great wisdom, everything was under the Heavenly Dao, and transcending it? Such a tremendous opportunity is something even saints struggle to achieve.
After a moment's thought, Wukong looked at the remaining crystals and carried them to a tree, where he dug a large pit and buried them.
These crystal stones were treasures. He had neglected them after his birth and did not know who had taken them. Now, understanding many things, he would naturally not miss any opportunity to grow stronger. When he turned them into magical treasures, they might have unexpected effects.
When he reached the bottom of the mountain and saw a group of monkeys, Wukong couldn't help but feel moved. Gone were his former naivety and carefree attitude, replaced with heaviness.
The group of monkeys, seeing someone they did not recognize, surrounded him, asking all sorts of questions.
Wukong remained silent, walked to the edge of a cliff, and declared, "Whoever can jump behind this waterfall will be our king!"
The monkeys clapped their hands in excitement, for since the emergence of monkeys on Flower-Fruit Mountain, no one had ever managed to jump over.
With a dive, Wukong leaped high and crossed the waterfall. Born with agility and exceptional talent, he easily jumped beyond the waterfall and arrived at the "Blessed Land of Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water Curtain Cave Heaven." Then, he found the stone bridge, used it to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, and showed the other monkeys the way, so they too could play inside the Water Curtain Cave. He then went alone into the forest to find wood to make a raft.
Since he had no tools, it took a whole year to finally make a reasonably solid and stable raft. Wukong asked the other monkeys to help him push the raft into the water. He then jumped on top of it and let it drift downstream, floating into the Eastern Sea.
An important figure had already informed the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Kuang not to stir up waves for a few days and to create a southeast wind to carry Wukong to Southern Toad Continent.
Ao Kuang did not dare defy the order of this prominent figure. He kept the sea calm, and though the wind was strong, no waves arose. The southeast wind blew for quite some time before finally delivering Wukong to the coast of Southern Toad Continent. Wukong arrived much earlier than before, giving him more time to prepare before Golden Cicada's complete rebirth.
He borrowed a few clothes from a fisherman's house and set off in the direction of Mount Square Inch.
Just at that moment, a middle-aged Taoist practitioner in white robes with black hair descended upon auspicious clouds from the sky, alighting at the junction of the mountain range of the West Cow He State and the Southern Toad Continent. Then, with a flick of his fingers, a cave abode suddenly appeared on the mountainside with a stele erected beside it, inscribed with the words "Spiritual Platform Mount Square Inch, Slanted-Moon Three-Star Cave" in ten large characters.
Not long after the cave abode was established, numerous young Taoist practitioners descended from the heavens on auspicious clouds. Seeing the Taoist, they promptly knelt down and paid their respects.
The Taoist responded indifferently, "Dispense with the formalities. From today onward, this cave abode is established here. I will give lectures for ten years, awaiting the arrival of a predestined individual. Remember, my Taoist name is Subhuti. Do not call me by my original name, lest you incur severe punishment. Wusheng, you will oversee this matter."
The Taoist called Wusheng was a woman dressed in a blue garment that appeared extremely pure. With a beautiful and delicate countenance, she immediately bowed and said, "As your disciple, I shall heed the revered master's sacred decree."
This was Patriarch Subhuti, who would teach Wukong spells, but his origins remained a mystery.
Patriarch Subhuti's black hair turned white, his black eyebrows became white, and his black beard also turned white, with only his yin-yang shoes retaining some blackness.
All the Taoist practitioners also addressed him as Teacher Subhuti, not daring to call him by his original name. This satisfaction was evident in Subhuti, who slightly nodded in approval.
"Why take up a name from the Buddhist sect, Master?" inquired Wusheng.
"Hehe... you are unaware, I have recently been studying the Buddhist scriptures and found some truth within. I intend to forge a new path, blending the ways of Confucianism, the mysticism of the Taoist sect, and the philosophical insights of Buddhism, uniting the three major schools. I wonder if it will lead to the understanding of another kind of Way," Subhuti said with a light smile, not sparing any detail from unveiling the mystery to Wusheng.
Wusheng knew Subhuti's realm was unfathomable, and the idea that he was trying to find a new Way seemed inconceivable to her.
The term Subhuti in the context of the Buddhist sect can also be read as "Subuti," "Sufuti," or "Subhudi," representing surpassing wisdom, with a particular aptitude for understanding the principle of emptiness. Buddhism is also referred to as the Shamen, the Buddhist sect, or the Sect of Emptiness. "Emptiness" is the foundational theory of Buddhism, and to be skilled in understanding emptiness is, in essence, to grasp the true meanings of Buddha's teachings.
"Master, we are already quite close to West Cow He State. Might this not displease Tathagata?" Wusheng could not hold back her question.
"Indeed, that is why I have chosen the name 'Subhuti!' It's somewhat a sign of humbleness. Also, the decision to teach the Stone Monkey was a joint agreement between the Buddhist and Taoist sects, validated by a signed proclamation. As I'm spreading the way of the Tao here, Tathagata won't be so petty," replied Subhuti lightly, leading his disciples into the depth of the cave abode.
The interior of the Slanted-Moon Three-Star Cave was marvelously splendid, filled with resplendent jade buildings and luxurious palaces.
Subhuti allowed his disciples to choose their dwellings and then proceeded to the deepest part of the Three-Star Cave. There, he established a Jade Terrace, stepping onto it with cloud-borne feet. With a wave of his sleeve, hundreds of meditation cushions promptly appeared below the terrace.
Knowing that Subhuti was about to expound on the Dao, the disciples quickly took their places in front of the terrace to sit in meditation. Those who arrived late could only feel slightly annoyed at their own tardiness.
Subhuti closed his eyes slightly and began his lecture, causing flowers to rain down from heaven and Earth-Sprung Golden Lotuses to surface. In the sky, auspicious signs appeared with dragons and elephants racing and phoenixes crying.
It is said that in cultivation there is no concept of days and months, and it was unclear for how long Subhuti had lectured.
Suddenly, Subhuti opened his eyes and halted his discourse. The disciples below still had their eyes slightly closed, smiles on their lips, immersed in the wondrous lecturing and unable to awaken from their enlightenment.
Subhuti summoned a child attendant by his side, saying, "Child, a predestined person has arrived outside. Go and invite him in."
The child, having received detailed instructions from Subhuti, nodded repeatedly, then carefully stepped past his fellow senior brothers and sisters and left the Slanted-Moon Three-Star Cave.
Unbeknownst to them, nearly ten years had passed, and Wukong, after enduring hardships of braving the elements, finally reached the base of Mount Square Inch.
To find out what happens next, please tune in to the next chapter.