Chapter 4: Transmitting and Receiving the Dharma

Bodhi Patriarch sat on his couch, seemingly deep in thought.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong couldn't help but scratch himself, feeling a bit uneasy, wondering whether his master was angry with him.

No wonder the suggestion was rewarded with a sixth-tier treasure chest, it indeed posed some difficulty.

Then, Bodhi Patriarch suddenly said, "Wukong, since you desire to become stronger, do you know what is strong and what is weak?"

"Strong and weak?" Sun Wukong scratched his hand, "Disciple doesn't know, please enlighten me, Master."

"Take immortals for example, from weak to strong there are Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Golden Immortal, and Daluo Golden Immortal," Bodhi Patriarch said, "If you cultivate the Great Immortal Heavenly Decree, your teacher can assure you a Daluo fruition."

"Daluo fruition?" Sun Wukong's eyes moved around, then he asked, "But according to Master's meaning, Daluo Golden Immortal is not the strongest?"

"There are also Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal and Mixed Yuan Daluo Golden Immortal," Bodhi Patriarch said, "The former is a Quasi-Saint, able to reach the pinnacle of the three realms, and the latter is a Saint, indestructible through countless calamities."

"Indestructible through countless calamities?" Sun Wukong scratched his ears and cheeks, wishing he could become a saint right there and then.

"But is a Saint truly the strongest?" Bodhi Patriarch sighed again.

"Uhm..." Sun Wukong pondered, "Disciple has heard it said that beyond each person lies another, and beyond each sky another sky, so there is no strongest?"

"You've realized the best," Bodhi Patriarch nodded appreciatively, "In this world, there is no strongest, only stronger. I hope you will never be overly proud and always maintain a heart of reverence."

"Hehe, thank you, Master, thank you, Master; disciple has noted it," Sun Wukong bowed again, overjoyed, for he had certainly heard that his master was going to transmit to him the art of being the strongest!

No, the art of being stronger!

This indeed aligned with what a senior from the sixth-grade had told him, suggesting he learn a stronger cultivation technique.

"Before transmitting the technique, I have some words to make clear to you," Bodhi Patriarch solemnly said, "Do you remember the words about destiny I spoke of during the day?"

"Disciple remembers," Sun Wukong hurriedly said, "Master spoke of the Heavenly Dao for heaven, the Earthly Dao for earth, and the Human Dao for man, hence everything in the world has its destiny.

Those of us who cultivate, achieving immortality is part of this, to follow is to remain ordinary, to oppose is to become immortal, yet immortals and demons are but a thought apart."

"Exactly," Bodhi Patriarch nodded, "Becoming immortal is indeed an act against heaven, and if you wish to become stronger, you must defy even more, enduring greater hardships,

and when suffering and sorrow befall you in the future, I hope you will maintain your essence and not fall deeply into the demonic path."

"Disciple will bear it in mind!" Sun Wukong didn't think too much, for he was naive and did not understand the distinction between immortals and demons.

"In that case, I will transmit to you a part of the Eight Nine Mysterious Technique and a part of the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique," Bodhi Patriarch said with a smile.

"Both techniques?" Before Sun Wukong could ask further, he saw the Patriarch raise his hand and point, and a mysterious light entered his brow.

It was as though ink had fallen into clear water, the mysterious light rapidly dispersing, integrating into his mind and allowing him to comprehend its mysteries right away.

After a moment, Sun Wukong slowly woke up, yet somewhat puzzled he said, "Master, can cultivating both these techniques only lead to a Daluo fruition?"

"Correct," Bodhi Patriarch patiently explained, "The Daluo fruition itself varies in strength, the Eight Nine Mysterious Technique and the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique are the foremost Bodhi techniques for refining the body and spirit; cultivating both can achieve a superior Daluo fruition.

Moreover, achieving Daluo Golden Immortal is already the highest realm attainable via cultivation; the realms above, Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal and Mixed Yuan Daluo Golden Immortal, require understanding and fate, and cannot be reached simply by cultivation.

You must not aim too high. You need to diligently cultivate and enter the immortal way first.

Once your cultivation has progressed, I will transmit the Way of Divine Powers to you."

"Disciple has noted it down," Sun Wukong no longer harbored any doubts and was filled with anticipation as he kowtowed in respect.

Looking up to see the Patriarch had closed his eyes, no longer speaking, he quietly left, making sure to close the door behind him.

A moment later, Bodhi Patriarch opened his eyes again, his gaze penetrating the barrier, fixating on that slender figure making its joyful way under the moonlight.

"Destiny, variables, who knows what is right and what is wrong," he murmured, shaking his head lightly.

Whatever Sun Wukong wanted to learn, he would teach him, just like that.

Over there, Sun Wukong returned to his residence in high spirits, with a voice already ringing in his mind.

[Congratulations on completing the suggestion — Midnight Search for a Mentor, and obtaining a second-tier treasure chest]

[Congratulations on completing the suggestion — Learning a stronger Cultivation Technique from the Bodhi Patriarch, and obtaining a sixth-tier treasure chest]

"Open, open!" Sun Wukong immediately opened the chests.

Although he was not entirely satisfied with the previous rewards, he was still filled with anticipation for opening chests.

[You have opened the second-tier treasure chest, congratulations on obtaining the Essence of Seeking Immortals and Divination]

[You have opened the sixth-tier treasure chest, congratulations on obtaining the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique]

Just like last time, two segments of memories and realizations surged into his mind.

The difference was, one of the segments was exceptionally tumultuous, like a mighty, surging river suddenly flowing into the sea, stirring up thousands of waves in his mind.

"Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique?" Sun Wukong scratched his face.

The newly added memories in his mind told him that the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique was divided into Nine Transformations Mystery Technique and Nine Transformations Primordial Technique, which were almost identical to the two techniques the Patriarch had just imparted.

"Hmm, the Eight-Nine Mystery Technique imparted by Master is somewhat inferior to the Nine Transformations Mystery Technique, so the mysterious and the primordial do not merge, and body refinement and spirit refinement are only superficially connected." Sun Wukong quickly made the comparison.

The Nine Transformations Mystery Technique and the Nine Transformations Primordial Technique could truly integrate, and the cultivation practiced was the highest merit of the Daluo Heavenly Fruit.

"Just as Master said, there is no strongest, only stronger." Sun Wukong gained a deeper understanding of this statement.

What Master imparted was already the foremost in the Taoist discipline, but now he had obtained an even stronger technique from opening the chest!

He then began to practice, trying the Mystery Technique for a while and the Primordial Technique for another, hoping to achieve immortality and become stronger sooner.

However, after a night, he had not mastered either technique.

Sun Wukong became anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks, unable to sit still.

Suddenly, he had a flash of insight, thinking of something.

"That's right!"

Since there was an advising system in place, why not seek advice from others on how to cultivate, thus obtaining both suggestions and various rewards?

Thinking it, he did it—the eyes of Sun Wukong whirling around as he connected to Zhihu.

Others, of course, referred to the senior netizens on Zhihu.

He quickly posted a new query.

"I am Sun Wukong, currently cultivating the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique. May I ask for advice from the seniors?"

Responses were slower this time; he waited quite a while before someone commented, "Isn't that wrong? Isn't Sun Wukong supposed to be cultivating the Great Immortal Heavenly Decree?"

"Old Sun followed the advice of a sixth-grade senior earlier, learning a stronger technique from the Patriarch," Sun Wukong replied, also concealing the fact that the Nine Transformations Mystery Technique was obtained from opening a chest.

"Haha, interesting. Are you playing a simulation of Sun Wukong's life?" the person responded.

"Simulation of life?" Sun Wukong scratched his face, not comprehending.

At that moment, a netizen senior known as All-Knowing of the Primordial Chaos replied, "Not bad, not bad. This Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique sounds very impressive, a fusion of the Nine Transformations Mystery Technique and Nine Transformations Primordial Technique. The Mystery Technique refines the body, and the Primordial Technique refines the spirit, perfectly aligning with the dual cultivation of essence and spirit!"

After reading the comment, Sun Wukong was amazed. All-Knowing of the Primordial Chaos had indeed revealed the essence of the Nine Transformations Mysterious Primordial Technique with a single statement.

Unsure of how high All-Knowing of the Primordial Chaos's level of cultivation was, or how it compared to his master's, he eagerly asked, "Senior, do you know how to cultivate the Nine Transformations Mystery Technique? Old Sun has been practicing all night without mastering it."

All-Knowing of the Primordial Chaos replied, "Eh, you're quite the eager learner for a monkey. Let me find some information for you."