Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Changing Sun Wukong's Destiny
After Sun Wukong expressed his doubts, Patriarch Bodhi nodded his head.
"So, that's how it is!"
The problem raised by Sun Wukong did indeed correspond to the aptitude he was currently exhibiting. Although Wukong's aptitude fell somewhat short of what the two saints had anticipated, the Patriarch did not see it as a significant issue.
Having understood the current situation, Patriarch Bodhi also extended a hand and pointed, releasing an abstruse aura which then instantly merged into Sun Wukong's mind.
This information was the complete Thirty-Six Transformations of celestial Gang.
He hoped that, by doing this, he would resolve the doubts in Sun Wukong's heart, allowing Wukong's cultivation speed to increase so that he could embark on the Journey to the West sooner.
Of course, it still included limitations on Sun Wukong's understanding. For cultivators, understanding is the most crucial. If Sun Wukong's understanding was not constrained, it could likely lead to bigger problems.
Certainly, the alterations were not significant; hence, in his opinion, with Sun Wukong's current level of understanding, it was impossible for him to sense them.
"Do you understand now?"
After Patriarch Bodhi imparted the Thirty-Six Transformations of celestial Gang into Sun Wukong's mind, he spoke calmly.
At that moment, Sun Wukong quickly reviewed the Thirty-Six Transformations of celestial Gang.
After all, the cultivation techniques he practiced were much more complicated, and his understanding had undergone significant change due to the Nine-Turn Profound Art.
Having now experienced the Thirty-Six Transformations of celestial Gang, he somewhat felt that the initial transformations given to him had some flaws, which would restrict his cultivation and drain his potential.
This thought emerged in Sun Wukong's mind, and Wukong couldn't help but feel an immense complexity of emotions.
"It seems that my elder brother already knew that our Honorable Master planned to deceive me. Fearing my dissatisfaction upon knowing this, he taught me to always consider my own safety!"
At this moment, Sun Wukong understood everything.
Ever since his time with Wang Yang, Wang had already understood his predicament and thus taught him step by step, hoping he would not act rashly. Wang advocated prudent action in a dangerous world, for his own sake as well as the sake of his fellow monkeys and offspring—caution was essential.
Everything else was for him to comprehend on his own.
With such actions, Sun Wukong couldn't believe Wang Yang wasn't a sage.
Had Wang Yang told him from the start that Patriarch Bodhi was plotting against him, he probably wouldn't have believed it. After all, why would someone as powerful as Patriarch Bodhi need to scheme against him? What necessity was there to deceive him? That would be nothing short of a fantasy.
Sun Wukong was merely a Stone Monkey sprung from a rock on Mount Huaguo; there was no need for Patriarch Bodhi to plot against him.
But now, the subtly different teachings made Sun Wukong realize something at that moment.
Perhaps, Patriarch Bodhi had taken him as a disciple because there was some ulterior motive.
"Brother, you've taught me so many cultivation techniques and so much wisdom discreetly. You are truly a benefactor to Old Sun!"
Sun Wukong came to admire Wang Yang even more at that moment.
They had no prior connections, yet Brother Wang had done so much for him; how could he not be grateful?
Having understood everything, a thought flickered through Sun Wukong's mind, and his face assumed an innocent expression. He scratched his head and cheek before saying, "Honorable Master, your disciple still doesn't quite understand!"
With those words, Sun Wukong bowed his head, seemingly afraid that Patriarch Bodhi might be displeased.
It didn't seem pretentious at all, rather utterly genuine.
"You still don't understand?"
Hearing Sun Wukong's words, Patriarch Bodhi's brow also slightly furrowed.
Could Sun Wukong really be so obtuse? Impossible.
After all, Sun Wukong is an Innate Deity like the ancient beings of the Primordial Continent, and much more powerful than most of them. Furthermore, having absorbed so much of nature's spiritual energy and the essence of the Sun and Moon for so many years, he should, in theory, be incredibly strong.
But how could he still not understand now?
Could it be that Sun Wukong was no longer able to improve his cultivation level?
Or was it that the recent modification of the Thirty-Six Transformations of Celestial Gang had somehow robbed Sun Wukong of his natural talent?
Such thoughts could not help but wander through Patriarch Bodhi's mind.
And no matter what, now that the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West was about to commence, wouldn't there be great trouble if Sun Wukong was not prepared?
How could Buddhism prosper then?
After a short period of contemplation, Patriarch Bodhi finally said, "Since that's the case, let me impart to you another divine skill, and I hope you'll cultivate it well!"
His lips moved slightly, and obscure sounds of the Great Dao emanated from his mouth.
"This is the Five Elements Daoist Law!"
One begets two, two beget three, three beget all things.
All things carry yin and embrace yang, which constitutes yin and yang; from yin and yang, the Five Elements are born.
The Five Elements Daoist Law is derived from countless Daoist techniques and holds considerable power, its variability scarcely inferior to the Thirty-Six Transformations of Celestial Gang!
Every creature that flies or walks, every blade of grass and tree in the world, exists within the Five Elements. Everything in the world is thus.
Once you cultivate the Five Elements Daoist Law, you can also transform into all things, and although this technique is slightly less powerful than the Thirty-Six Transformations of Celestial Gang, it is easier to cultivate.
The reason cultivation is becoming harder and harder now is also that the cultivation techniques available today pale in comparison to those from the times of the Primordial Continent.
It's also true that many of these restrictions are intentionally set by powerful beings.
Just like they are suppressing Sun Wukong.
This technique can also limit Sun Wukong's comprehension, but not wanting his strength to be too weak, that's why they finally chose to focus on the Thirty-Six Transformations of Celestial Gang and the Seventy-Two Transformations of Earthly Fiends.
But now that a problem has arisen with Sun Wukong, Patriarch Bodhi had no choice but to offer a secondary method, hoping it would put Sun Wukong back on his original path.
There's no other option; the Calamity is approaching.
Sun Wukong needs to face the Calamity, but he can't be forced, otherwise, there would be no need for such elaborate schemes for the Journey to the West.
More crucially, Sun Wukong holds other more important purposes for Buddhism, so they must make him willing.
If it weren't so, with the power of a Saint, controlling an Innate Deity who hadn't yet begun cultivation would be nothing but an easy task.
Sun Wukong began to grasp the essence of the Five Elements Daoist Law little by little.
Although he knew Patriarch Bodhi was scheming against him, he naturally couldn't show it just yet, only continue to comprehend.
And this time, he discovered elements within the Five Elements Daoist Law that suppressed his comprehension and aspired to extract his latent potential, further confirming his suspicions.
A chill settled in his heart as he realized that even this not-so-familiar Honorable Master was plotting against him.
Luckily, he had an elder fellow disciple who was willing to impart to him countless powerful cultiavtion techniques.
Meanwhile, Wang Yang, waiting outside, couldn't hear the conversation between Sun Wukong and Patriarch Bodhi in the meditation room, and couldn't help feeling a bit nervous.
"Ding, congratulations Host for altering Sun Wukong's destiny by having him cultivate the Five Elements Daoist Law!"
"Congratulations Host for obtaining the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Technique!"
Suddenly, Wang Yang heard the system notification, and after clearly hearing the prompt, his face lit up with surprise.