Chapter 15: Taoist Secret Scriptures

"So that's how it is! That old Mosquito has been hiding in the Boundless Blood Sea all these years, no wonder I couldn't find him!"

Sun Wukong briefly explained the situation but, of course, omitted the matter of the thirty-sixth grade Purified World Green Lotus's stalk. He wasn't foolish enough to divulge what even the Puti Patriarch hadn't deduced. It was clear that the Puti Patriarch didn't hate him as the Mosquito Daoist had anticipated, nor did he immediately take up his sword to come after him as Sun Wukong thought.

Scratching his head, Sun Wukong couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked, "Master, Brother Luo was afraid of you to death, fearing that you'd come looking for trouble with him. Why don't you seem to bear any grudge against him?"

"That old Mosquito really told you everything, huh? It seems that you have a good relationship with him!"

The Puti Patriarch looked at Sun Wukong with some surprise. Even as a Heavenly Dao Saint capable of communicating with the Heavenly Dao to make predictions, he could only infer the general situation and couldn't calculate every minute detail. Given the Mosquito Daoist's bloodthirsty nature back in the day, the fact that he could discuss these matters with Sun Wukong showed that their friendship was not ordinary!

Sun Wukong chuckled dryly. His relationship with the Mosquito Daoist was indeed good, but their initial confrontation had been earth-shattering. Had it not been for the aid of the thirty-sixth grade Purified World Green Lotus's stalk, he would have lost his life, let alone find mutual respect later on.

"Master, Brother Luo was scared to death you'd trouble him. But you don't seem to hate him at all!"

"Why should I hate him, just because he ingested the essence qi of the third grade from the twelve grades of the Merit Golden Lotus?"

The Puti Patriarch began to laugh. "That was his destined karmic opportunity, meant for him to receive those three grades of essence qi. Do I look like someone petty? Besides, I should thank him for absorbing that essence qi; otherwise..."

The Puti Patriarch paused there, but Sun Wukong sensed the implication and pursued, "Otherwise what?"

"It's nothing."

The Puti Patriarch obviously had his reasons for keeping silent and did not wish to elaborate. Sun Wukong could only helplessly purse his lips. However, in his heart, he had already formed a rough guess that seemed increasingly plausible.

Sun Wukong's understanding of this world, apart from what he learned from the ancient texts in the Scripture Pavilion of the Three-Star Cave Heaven, all came from the memories of Lin Yi from another time and space. He inferred that the Puti Patriarch was once the Zhun Ti Daoist based on this, and from what the Puti Patriarch had just said, this inference wasn't wrong.

What was more important was that the Puti Patriarch said he should thank the Mosquito Daoist for absorbing the essence qi from the three grades of the Merit Golden Lotus. Now, the Western Buddhist Nation was established by the Tathagata Buddha as Theravada Buddhism, but nowadays, the Western Buddhist Nation claims to be the orthodox Mahayana Buddhism and labels all other forms of Buddhism, including the previous true Mahayana, as Theravada. Connecting these dots, Sun Wukong guessed that the Tathagata Buddha must have used some method to usurp the Buddhism established by Zhun Ti Daoist and Guiding Daoist. Zhun Ti Daoist might have fled to this Spiritual Platform Mount and established the Three-Star Cave Heaven.

The Puti Patriarch did not wish to discuss further, and Sun Wukong could not press the issue, but in his heart, he was firmly resolved to uncover the truth eventually!

Time flies, and a hundred years passed in a blink. Since entering the Heavenly Immortal Realm, Sun Wukong deliberately suppressed the speed of his cultivation progression. Possessing a Heavenly Demon Body indeed provided extraordinary benefits, and cultivating Human Race Techniques would face no obstructions. However, advancing one's cultivation too swiftly was not necessarily good. In his past life, relying on his talent and intelligence, Sun Wukong had taken only a decade or so to advance into the Taiyi Scattered Immortal stage and subsequently passed three tribulations. Although he seemed to be a genius bestowed by heaven, his foundation wasn't solid, which led to his cultivation progress being extremely slow later on, even regressing at times.

Before acquiring enough formidable skills, Sun Wukong didn't want to prematurely step into the Taiyi Scattered Immortal stage, lest the Puti Patriarch forcibly sent him away like in his past life. Although in this life, the Puti Patriarch treated him much better than before, who could guarantee such things wouldn't happen?

"Frenzied Monkey Frenzied Demon Fist!"

"True Fire Heaven-Breaking Palm!"

In the back mountain of Three-Star Cave Heaven, Sun Wukong and his clone fiercely collided. During these hundred years, he hadn't been idle. Without a suitable Divine Weapon, he devoted himself to improving his bare-handed combat power, painstakingly reevaluating and absorbing the Law Fragments from the Heavenly Dao river, and conceiving various spells and moves.

Though this task sounded simple, grasping the Power of the Heavenly Dao Principles usually began only after reaching the Daluo Golden Immortal stage. Someone like Sun Wukong, who started understanding this power while still in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, was unprecedented from ancient times until now!

After creating new spells and moves, Sun Wukong used the Cloning Divine Powers to manifest clones to battle against himself, testing the power of his moves and spells. Those that didn't measure up were discarded, while he aimed to correct the flaws and deficiencies in others, all with practical combat in mind.

In this respect, Sun Wukong was indeed blessed.

"This youngster Wukong truly is full of surprises!"

The Puti Patriarch floated outside the top of the waterfall cliff, with the water spraying behind him automatically curving around him and falling downward without touching him at all. Watching the two figures leap and collide continuously in the valley below, he couldn't help but softly praise.

Being playful was in a monkey's nature, and Sun Wukong was no exception. However, over these years, he had been diligently restraining his playful spirit, spending nearly all his time comprehending the Heavenly Dao Principles and enhancing his combat power. The Puti Patriarch saw all this, and to be honest, out of his many disciples over the years, disregarding inherent talents, he had yet to see anyone more hardworking and diligent than Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, come here for a moment!"

Waiting quietly for Sun Wukong to finish his sparring practice with his clones, Puti Patriarch beckoned to Sun Wukong, calling him over, "Wukong, how many years have you been cultivating under my tutelage?"

"Two hundred and twenty-one years."

Sun Wukong answered, his brow furrowing as he suddenly felt something strange, "Master, why are you suddenly asking this? You're not thinking of sending me away, are you?"

"Your cleverness does indeed surpass others, you're right, it is indeed time for you to leave!"

Puti Patriarch nodded, he waved his hand to stop Sun Wukong's questions, and continued, "I can see that you are intentionally suppressing your cultivation progress, wanting to lay a solid foundation in the Heavenly Immortal Realm. This thought is good, but everything should be done in moderation. You have almost reached the limit of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and to gain further comprehension and improvement, you need to transcend the last calamity of the Three Calamities, the Dark Wind Disaster, to be recognized by the Heavenly Dao and gain access to its deeper laws."

"But Master, your disciple still wishes to listen to your teachings!"

"Wukong, I know what you are thinking. We practitioners of the Dao should take rise and fall as a norm, and not behave like children."

Puti Patriarch laughed, "Over the years, you have almost memorized all the ancient scriptures and secret manuals in the Scripture Pavilion. Even though you are not yet able to understand them due to your current Cultivation Realm, you will one day integrate and comprehend them. I have nothing left to teach you!"

"Master, you knew I was secretly memorizing the content of the ancient scriptures?"

No sooner had Sun Wukong asked this than he realized he had asked a foolish question. With Puti Patriarch's abilities, how could his little schemes possibly escape notice? It was just that Puti Patriarch had turned a blind eye and had not exposed him.

Scratching his head, Sun Wukong stealthily observed Puti Patriarch's expression. Seeing that he showed no sign of blame, he plucked up the courage to continue, "Master, there is a Taoist secret manual in the Scripture Pavilion, I only remembered less than one-fifth of its contents. The rest I simply cannot remember. It seemed like I did at the time, but then I forgot it all. Do you know why this is?"

"You truly remembered one-fifth of the Taoist secret manual?"

Surprise flashed through Puti Patriarch's eyes. His half-closed eyes suddenly opened wide, emitting an intense glow as he stared fixedly at Sun Wukong.

"Truly! Is there a problem?"

Sun Wukong blinked, puzzled by Puti Patriarch's strong reaction.

Puti Patriarch remained silent, staring at Sun Wukong for a while before suddenly breaking into a smile, "Good! Good! Good! I indeed made no mistake in choosing you! Wukong, your comprehension is rare through the ages!"

"Come with me!"

A cloud formed beneath his feet, and Puti Patriarch flew towards the Scripture Pavilion. Sun Wukong hurriedly followed, his instinct telling him that Puti Patriarch must be intending to give him something valuable. He couldn't miss such an opportunity.

Following Puti Patriarch to the Scripture Pavilion, the master stopped at the topmost floor where the Taoist secret manuals were kept. He looked up at the only ancient scripture floating there, the very Taoist secret manual Sun Wukong had been speaking of.

In the entire Three-Star Cave Heaven, very few could step into the highest floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Only Sun Wukong was an exception. Puti Patriarch did not restrict what books he read. Besides sparring with his clones to polish his combat technique and power, he practically lived in the Scripture Pavilion, going through its thousands of volumes. Only this Taoist secret manual was an exception.

"Wukong, this is the Taoist secret manual. Do you know why you can't fully remember the contents within?"

Puti Patriarch turned his head, looking at Sun Wukong with a light chuckle, "Because the contents of this book are recorded in Great Dao Runes. Without comprehending the corresponding Heavenly Dao Laws, it's impossible to remember!"

"A secret manual recorded in Great Dao Runes?!"

Sun Wukong was stunned, then quickly understood Puti Patriarch's meaning. The Taoist secret manual wasn't composed of text but was inscribed with Great Dao Runes. Unless one comprehended the corresponding Heavenly Dao Laws, it would be impossible to comprehend it, let alone memorize it. No wonder he had read it so many times before, with many parts seeming hazy like a fog-shrouded mountain, instantly forgotten after reading them.

But, bringing him here couldn't just be to tell him that, could it?