Wukong, having eaten peaches for seven years in the Slanted-Moon Three-Star Cave, during his discussions of the Dao with Subhuti, penetrated the profound mysteries and deciphered the moral maxims of Taoism, impressing Patriarch Subhuti enough to decide to teach him the Taoist teachings.
After a moment of contemplation, Subhuti said, "Shall I teach you one of the techniques from the 'Shu' (technique) branch? What do you think?"
Wukong was calm and unhurried, for he knew that in the end, the Patriarch would surely impart the Gateway to Longevity to him, and besides, he already possessed the Longevity Method. What he sought was none other than the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations. The numerology of Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends, with the Earthly Fiends numbering seventy-two, is a left-hand path with limited grand accomplishments. However, Wukong felt that the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations practiced by Zhu Bajie were not even as good as the left-handed seventy-two. There was only one reason that could explain this—the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations held by Patriarch Subhuti were far more powerful than those that circulated outside!
The 'Shu' technique involved inviting immortals for spirit writing, divination, and geomancy, the principles of seeking good fortune and avoiding calamity, deriving from Celestial Emperor Fuxi.
"Can it grant immortality?" Wukong asked.
"It cannot," Subhuti anticipated this and promptly answered.
To teach a disciple the Gateway to Longevity, Subhuti was strict in evaluating character and origin. If one's character was too poor, they would absolutely not be taught. Origin was secondary and rarely scrutinized. The key was to assess character and comprehension ability. Wukong had only entered the sect seven years ago, and if the Patriarch were to teach him the Gateway to Longevity in front of all the other disciples, it would be unfair and might cause discomfort among them. That's why Subhuti went through each left-handed technique one by one before instructing Wukong to visit his room at the third watch of the night, and then he would impart the Gateway to Longevity methodology.
When Wukong heard it could not lead to immortality, he immediately replied he would not learn it. What he wanted now was to first obtain the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations from Patriarch Subhuti, then obtain some magical treasures and other methodologies. After all, anything from Subhuti was bound to be of the finest quality. Having one more self-defense skill would give him one more assurance in dealing with Tathagata.
"Then, I'll pass on the 'Liu' branch to you, how about that? This branch comes from the combined wisdom of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and all the Hundred Schools of Thought," Subhuti offered again.
"Can it grant immortality?" Wukong asked again.
"No, it cannot," Subhuti shook his head yet again.
Some disciples were now envious to the point of jealousy. Subhuti's scholarship was extraordinary; he was exceptionally knowledgeable in the wisdom of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Anyone who mastered a technique he taught could become a high-ranking official in the mortal world. Once, there was Jiang Ziya, Duke of Zhou, who had no connection with the path of immortality. Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch wanted to end a catastrophe, thus he sent Jiang Ziya down the mountain. After the catastrophe, Jiang Ziya became an eminent official, inaugurating the greatly prosperous and glorious era of the Western Zhou. Some of Subhuti's disciples were not people of the Immortal Path; some were mortals who had been chosen to be his disciples because of their fortuitous destiny. Subhuti taught them wisdom so that, when the time came, they could descend the mountain and enter the mortal world to become emperors and ministers.
There was also the branch of 'Jing' (stillness) for studying vegetarianism and meditation, the practice of nurturing the mysterious feminine; and the branch of 'Dong' (motion) for studying absorbing yin to replenish yang, and the alchemy of elixir preparation. However, none of these could grant immortality. Wukong asked after each one if it could lead to immortality and then rejected them. Annoyed, Subhuti took up the Disciplinary Ruler and knocked three times on Wukong's head, then, with his hands clasped behind him, he walked inside and closed the middle door. This was also a type of hint, which Wukong understood. He would then look for Subhuti at the third watch of the night to learn the Longevity Method.
The other senior brothers couldn't help but scold Wukong, saying, "You rowdy monkey, our master teaches you so many skills, yet you refuse to learn them and have upset him. What will we learn now?"
Wukong simply bowed and apologized to each of them, his heart clear as a mirror. He would go seek Patriarch Subhuti at the third watch of the night, and from then on, he could openly cultivate mana.
Now seated with crossed legs atop Peach Mountain, he settled into meditation, his mind calm. Having been helped by Tang Sanzang and several saints to evade the Heavenly Dao for over a decade, it was as if he were viewing the world through the eyes of the Heavenly Dao itself. Having reversed time by five hundred years with the Rebirth Box, he alone retained the memories of his past life, and thus he was far from his previous self. In the past, asking him to sit quietly and meditate like this was ten times more torturous than taking his life!
In a short while, his senior sister Wusheng came to Peach Mountain. Upon seeing Wukong, she couldn't help but ask, "Wukong, why did you not learn any of the various methods our master taught you today?"
Wukong responded with a smile, "Senior sister, if one cannot attain immortality, in the end it all comes down to just a handful of earth, what's the use? If I am to learn spells, then I must learn the method of immortality. The master's three knocks were a hint that tonight, at the third watch, I should enter through the back door to find him, at which point he will give me the methodology."
Wusheng had thought Wukong incapable of understanding Subhuti's cryptic hint, but to her surprise, he had already grasped it. Astonished, she asked, "That's very good. Where did you learn such skills to argue the Tao Te Ching and so many moral maxims with our master today?"
Wukong replied, "Senior sister, my understanding is thanks to your meticulous teaching. Perhaps it's because I'm naturally smart and easily understand the Dao, coupled with your guidance, I inevitably comprehended many principles."
Wukong knew that if he hadn't understood Patriarch Subhuti's cryptic hint, Wusheng would certainly have hinted at it. This senior sister truly cared for him, strict yet protective. In his past life, Wukong was very naughty and often made Wusheng angry, leading him to think she was a cold-hearted cultivator. But now, he had seen another side of his senior sister.
Wusheng nodded and said, "Well then, let's test your knowledge once more."
Saying it was a test, in fact, Wusheng had many questions she couldn't understand herself and was too embarrassed to ask. Thus, she used this excuse. Wukong saw through her intentions but didn't voice it, answering all her questions one by one, which greatly benefited Wusheng. Understanding is the essence of cultivation, and the more one grasps, the more likely a sudden enlightenment may come. At worst, one might become a Great Confucian like Confucius, revered as a "Saint" by later generations.
Finally, the moon rose, and Wukong sent Wusheng away. When the third watch came, he left Peach Mountain and entered through the back door into Subhuti's room.
Subhuti was lying on his bed pretending to sleep. Upon hearing Wukong's arrival, he couldn't help but smile slightly, but he did not speak, allowing him to kneel by his bedside for half an hour before suddenly stretching and chanting, "Difficult! Difficult! Difficult! The Dao is most profound; do not take the Golden Core lightly. Without encountering a supreme being to pass on the wonderful principles, it's all but idle chatter, exhausting the mouth and drying the tongue!"
In the past, Wukong would not have understood these words, but now he knew. Patriarch Subhuti was lamenting that the Mysterious Taoist Techniques and especially the Path of Longevity were difficult to learn. If one did not encounter an intelligent and quick-witted person to whom to teach the Method of Longevity, it was merely playing a lute to a cow, ending up with a weary mouth and a dry tongue.
Wukong replied, "Master, your disciple has been kneeling here for a long time!"
Patriarch Subhuti got up and put on his clothes, and asked, "You Macaca, why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing in my room?"
Wukong grinned and said, "Early this morning, Master, you tapped my head three times, instructing your disciple to come in through the back door at the third watch of the night to receive further instruction on the principles of longevity."
Patriarch Subhuti nodded with a smile, "Indeed, you creature born of heaven and earth, have managed to comprehend my teachings."
However, the phrase "my teachings" echoed in Wukong's ears and made him ponder further, wondering if his Master was in fact the Grand Supreme Lord. The teachings of the day were mostly from the "Tao Te Ching," many of which were Laojun's theories.
Wukong pleaded, "I earnestly request Master to impart the Secret Method of Longevity to your disciple!"
Patriarch Subhuti smiled and nodded, placing his hand on Wukong's head, he whispered gently, "Our fate as master and disciple is destined, and since you understand so much, it is only right to pass it on to you. I will now give you an Oral Spell of the Heart Method. Go back and ponder on it. If you understand it, you can become an immortal; if not, you can only wait for your life span to exhaust and turn into a handful of yellow earth."
It goes:
The True and Wondrous Secret of Manifestation and Esoteric Penetration, there is no other discourse on cherishing and cultivating life.
All come from Essence, Energy, and Spirit; carefully guard and store them without leakage.
Without leakage, stored within the body, you shall flourish with the teachings I have passed on.
Remembering this Oral Spell brings many benefits; resist evil desires and obtain coolness.
Having obtained coolness, bright and pure, go to the Elixir Platform and enjoy the Bright Moon.
Within the Moon hides the jade rabbit and within the Sun, the crow; naturally, Tortoise and Snake entwine and form.
Entwined in formation, life becomes resilient, thus able to grow Golden Lotus amidst fire.
Converging the Five Elements for inverted use, perfect the practice and thus become Buddha or immortal.
This is the root source of Cultivation, not confined like ordinary cultivation techniques; this method can break the roots of the Dao, talking about the Great Dao of the Golden Core, the Secret Method of Longevity. The terms "Manifestation, Esoteric, Penetration, and Integration" are gates of Buddhist practice, but the latter principles are of the Taoist Sect. Buddhism and Daoism combined, also containing the essence of Confucianism--truly what Patriarch Subhuti said, "Unity of the Three Teachings," combining the essence of all three to create a new and distinguished Great Dao.
This Oral Spell includes the Visualization Method Gate of Buddhism, "Enjoying the Bright Moon at the Elixir Platform," visualizing a bright moon in the sky, shining thoroughly upon oneself, leaving no speck of dust, as a way to cleanse and refine; then by Taoist means "Entwined Formation" and "Converging the Five Elements," condensing Yin and Yang, and gathering the Five Elements, seeking vitality amidst deadly energy; finally, with the concept of "harmony and balance" from Confucianism, harmonizing Yin and Yang, taking advantage of the interaction between water and fire, controlling life and death, akin to Growing Golden Lotus in Fire.
When Patriarch Subhuti recited this spell this time, he employed a wondrous tone, like the Buddhist Lion's Roar, the True Words of Daoism, and as if a Great Confucian teaching. Wukong experienced it intimately, feeling as if every pore of his body opened up and his spirit wandered beyond the heavens; it was an experience he had never had before. This Oral Spell was newly created by Subhuti but was extremely profound, which is why he had observed Wukong for so long.
"What perishes is form; what never perishes is nature, spirit. Anything with form ultimately disintegrates, and even heaven and earth are but ephemeral bodies, coming to an end when the Great Meeting concludes. Only a single ray of sunlight transcends the cycles of destruction, dwelling in the sea of nature within oneself, that is the Primordial Spirit." Only after Wukong returned to his senses did Patriarch Subhuti begin to explain, "On this path of cultivation, one must gather the Three Flowers within the sea of consciousness, and store the Five Qi between chest and abdomen. When the Three Flowers and Five Qi converge, this is called Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Five Qi Towards the Origin. After that, with the Innate True Qi, condense the Primordial Spirit, and you may achieve the Path of Becoming an Immortal."
"Go now!"
Wukong staggered back to his room as if in a trance and then sat down cross-legged, as though sleepwalking.
He sat there for a day and a night, and only then did his soul return to his body, yet he still appeared dazed.
He had eaten forty-nine Peaches of Immortality from the Mother Peach Tree, and now, as he practiced his Mana, five white Qi emerged from his chest, arrayed in the colors yellow, white, black, green, and red, representing the generative cycle of the Five Elements, which were then slowly drawn back in.
After all, the Great Dao is difficult to cultivate; whether Wukong can achieve immortality remains to be seen in the next chapter.