Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage-Chapter 35 - Wukong Battles Bodhidharma in Meditation

Wukong realized that this was a contest of wits, not a fight of Great Divine Power or Great Magical Power. They had simply spread ash in a circle, and the pair dueled inside it. If someone stepped out of the circle, they would admit defeat. Otherwise, the crowd wouldn’t have the chance to watch; a single powerful sword technique might blast hundreds of them away.

Bodhidharma responded, “Taoist Master Yuan is also quite remarkable!”

Their exchanges were swift, with white sword flowers and golden Buddha’s Light intertwining, creating a spectacular sight that Wukong found rather enjoyable to watch.

He looked up and saw a middle-aged Taoist in a green robe sitting cross-legged on the ground, motionless and intently watching the two combatants in the circle. This person was none other than Li Shimin, the former Emperor of Great Tang. Wukong had not expected that Li Shimin would have such determination to relinquish power and pursue the path of the Immortal Dao.

Ying Zheng, the first Emperor to unify the Four Seas, was so infatuated with mortal power that he sought eternal life, thus violating the rules. In the end, he disappeared without a trace, likely dealt with by some master of Great Divine Power. His son, Hu Hai, took over the reins of power but was quickly overthrown due to his inept and irrational rule.

Bodhidharma’s magical power was indeed profound, light in movement as if a piece of fluff floating in the wind. Even though Yuan Tiangang’s swordsmanship was unpredictable and his Sword Qi crisscrossed in all directions, Bodhidharma always seemed to be comfortably in control.

After a while, the two appeared evenly matched and were forced to stop the duel.

“A tie, but what’s the decision to be made?” Yuan Tiangang frowned and said.

“How about I fight the battle on behalf of Taoist Master Yuan?” Wukong suggested.

Li Shimin immediately turned and stood up, bowing to Wukong, and said, “Heaven-Defying Taoist Master.”

All the cultivators present turned their gaze toward Wukong; was this the person who had recently caused a stir and released the Witch Clan? Bodhidharma looked at Wukong with slight surprise, then smiled faintly, exuding an air of profound mystery.

When facing an enemy, one must appear inscrutable.

Wukong, however, was not intimidated and responded to Bodhidharma with a meaningful smile, making the latter feel a chill down his spine.

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Upon hearing that this man was the Heaven-Defying Taoist, Yuan Tiangang also felt relieved and said, “Then I’m in the care of Heaven-Defying Taoist Brother.”

Wukong stepped into the circle, and Bodhidharma clasped his hands together and slowly entered as well.

“What shall we compete in?” Wukong asked.

“We could test martial arts, meditation, or reason. Anything will do,” Bodhidharma replied.

“Then let’s test martial arts. It’s the simplest way to discern the depth of one’s cultivation,” Wukong suggested.

Bodhidharma quickly interjected, “That won’t do. I’ve just fought a match with Taoist Master Yuan and I’m somewhat fatigued. Let’s change it up!”

Wukong chuckled to himself, seeing that Bodhidharma feared him, and said, “Then you choose what to compete in!”

“Let’s compete in… meditation,” Bodhidharma thought swiftly. “I’ll use a spell to invite a sliver of a Demon God’s Primordial Spirit from the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region, and we’ll see who can’t stay seated the longest!”

Indeed, when magical power increased, Demon Gods from the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region would often come forth to cause trouble, bringing forth the inner demons of cultivators. These Demon Gods’ methods of seduction were extremely fierce, and a careless cultivator could either lose all their power or fall into madness, succumbing to the Doctor Abyss.

Wukong’s heart was as steadfast as iron. He had walked through the Ninefold Inquiry of Di Jun; what fear would he have for an inner demon? He readily agreed, “All right!”

Having severed his evil thoughts, he naturally had no fear. Smiling inwardly, Wukong thought that Bodhidharma was bound to lose.

Both erected a three-zhang-high platform using their mana, sustaining it with concentrated thought. Whoever first succumbed to the demonic god’s harassment would be the first to fall from the high platform. Wukong and Bodhidharma each sat cross-legged, their eyes slightly closed. Bodhidharma was chanting under his breath, summoning a thread of the demon god’s Primordial Spirit from the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region.

After a moment of calm, dark clouds suddenly rose on the horizon, and a low roar was heard.

In his heart, Wukong silently recited “Song of the Righteous Qi”, and a bright and noble aura rose from his body, naturally impervious to the hundred evils.

After summoning the demon god’s Primordial Spirit, Bodhidharma also began to recite the “Heart Sutra”: “Prajna Paramita, Prajna Paramita, Jidi Jidi, Prajna monk Jidi…” A golden Buddha’s Light also rose from his body. This Buddha’s Light shone like the sun, yet it was very gentle, not blinding at all.

“This thread of the demon god’s Primordial Spirit only appears when one achieves the rank of Daluo Golden Immortal. These two are indeed extraordinary to dare to summon a thread of Primordial Spirit to test their resolve. If they become obsessed, they’ll have been drawing cakes to satisfy their hunger,” Yuan Tiangang couldn’t help saying.

This meditation was far too dangerous; one misstep would be an irreversible disaster.

Indeed, if someone with a heavy inner demon ascended a realm, they would be harassed by the demon god. But Wukong’s will was firm, being the creation of Nuwa’s Sky-mending Stone and possessing Hongmeng Purple Qi; therefore, the demon god found it hard to locate him. Thus, when Wukong achieved the rank of Taiyi Golden Immortal, he was not disturbed by the demon god’s inner demons.

Since ancient times, countless people have fallen to these inner demons.

Before Wukong’s eyes flashed the memory of Tathagata pressing him down with his palm, restraining him, and then suppressing him for a full five hundred years.

In front of Bodhidharma flashed memories of childhood regrets that haunted him.

The pillars, supported by their concentrated thoughts, shook beneath them, but Wukong quickly calmed himself, silently thinking, “This demon god is truly formidable, triggering the most unforgettable and resentful memories from deep within one’s heart. Soon, Zixia will likely appear too; I must control myself!”

The events of the Journey to the West almost replayed before Wukong’s eyes: the torment of the Tightening-Crown Spell, being struck to death by Tathagata’s palm… but his heart was as firm as a rock, having already severed his evil thoughts himself. How could he compare to Bodhidharma?

Throughout the ages, there has never been one in the realm of Taiyi Golden Immortal who has severed their evil thoughts, Wukong was the first.

The thread of the demon god’s Primordial Spirit was triggering the most painful pasts in both of their hearts.

“It is all in the past. I have already forged my own path!” Wukong thought to himself.

Suddenly, the scene shifted to the Water Curtain Cave.

Next to the waterfall stood a giant boulder, by which snuggled a Ziwei flower.

Time flew by, the years passed like an arrow, and thousands of years, tens of thousands of years went by, yet they still nestled together—that flower had not withered at all.

Later, the rock transformed into a monkey, which then left, leaving the flower swaying in the wind, exceptionally lonely…

The flower, too, eventually turned into a person, ascended to the Celestial Realm, and gave herself a name, Zixia.

“So that’s what she looks like.” Wukong saw her clearly for the first time. He had never seen Zixia, nor had he ever thought that the Ziwei flower beside him would cultivate the Immortal Dao.

In the end, the girl named Zixia drew her sword to protect the Water Curtain Cave…

Before her death, she condensed all her Essence Blood into a seed and planted it in the Water Curtain Cave.

By now, Wukong’s face was covered in tears, yet he did not move at all, murmuring, “All are matters of the past… Zixia, wait for me. Even if I break the Six Paths of Reincarnation, I will surely find you!”

The two sat on their high platforms for a full hour.

Bodhidharma was drenched in sweat, while Wukong became ever more tranquil, having severed one of the three corpses and their evil thoughts, he was certainly extraordinary.

“This Heaven-Defying one is truly formidable. After sitting for an hour, there was only some initial unrest, but now he seems as immovable as a boulder, untouched by the eight winds!” Yuan Tiangang couldn’t help but praise.

“This Taoist Master is formidable; I have seen his means,” added Li Shimin, “Master, has the Heaven-Defying Taoist surely won?”

Yuan Tiangang, stroking his beard, smiled and said, “It seems so.”

Another half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Bodhidharma let out a faint shout, spewing blood from his mouth, his inner demon triggered, but quickly suppressed. This sudden lapse caused the high platform to collapse, and Bodhidharma fell down like a kite with its string cut. Wukong, seemingly unaware, kept his hands in a seal over his abdomen, his eyes shut.

“I’ve lost! I will dismantle my temple when I return,” said Bodhidharma after this, not lingering and leaving with a sweep of his sleeve.

Wukong opened his eyes, a new clarity and transparency in his gaze, as he watched Bodhidharma depart.

With Bodhidharma’s departure, the thread of the demon god’s Primordial Spirit also dissipated and returned to the Demon Abyss of the Northern Region.