Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 612 - 611: Tian Peng’s Dilemma

Tian Peng withdrew his hand, now clear about his own level of cultivation.

Although "Refining Void and Merging Tao" was not a high rank, it was considered top-notch in the mortal world and even qualified one for an elder’s status in many sects.

Tian Peng had no desire to step into the Cultivators’ Realm; he simply wished to use his current cultivation level to become an Immortal.

"Your current cultivation is ’Refining Void and Merging Tao’, which is sufficient for the mortal world," Chen Nuo said, "But don’t think that having two paths to choose from makes it an easy decision—on the contrary, it is the act of choosing that is the most difficult."

Tian Peng nodded, understanding what Chen Nuo meant.

One could not obtain cultivation and opportunity to become an Immortal simultaneously. If he chose the path of Cultivation to Immortality, then he would have to dedicate most of his time to cultivating.

Moreover, cultivation depends on both talent and breakthrough opportunities. In essence, it’s a collision of strength and luck with destiny—there’s a chance for achieving neither, or reaching the pinnacle right from the start.

To choose an opportunity and good fortune to become an Immortal, or to follow the original plan he had already laid out.

Conducting himself dutifully, handling whatever comes his way, who’s to say he might not encounter an opportunity to become an Immortal tomorrow, or perhaps he wouldn’t achieve it until old age.

Watching Tian Peng deep in thought, Chen Nuo didn’t give him much time to decide, asking directly, "Make your own choice. Which of these two paths do you intend to follow?"

"I..." For a moment, Tian Peng didn’t know how to choose.

To follow the old path, but the opportunity that came from his meal had granted him the cultivation level of "Refining Void and Merging Tao". That must be destiny.

But if talking about cultivation, he might have to give up many opportunities, and he didn’t want to let go of them so easily.

"It’s true that this isn’t an easy decision to make," Chen Nuo said, understanding the conflict within Tian Peng’s heart.

The most difficult thing in the world is to make a choice. You might have just made one when the option you abandoned encounters a great opportunity.

But without making a choice, it’s very possible that both opportunities will slip away.

"Shopkeeper, can I choose not to choose?"

Chen Nuo and Sun Wukong didn’t rush him; they couldn’t choose for Tian Peng—it was up to him to decide.

Neither of them spoke, waiting for Tian Peng to make his choice, but unexpectedly, after such a long time, Tian Peng still hadn’t made a decision.

"You’re not choosing?" Sun Wukong asked first, "I and Master have waited for you for so long, and now you’re telling me you won’t choose?"

Tian Peng nodded seriously; he didn’t want to choose, "I won’t choose."

"Can you bear the consequences if you don’t choose?" Sun Wukong retorted, "Do you know what the consequences are? Isn’t it better to choose one and forsake the other? If not, you might waste your entire life, and after a hundred years, Black and White Impermanence will come to take you away. Then who can help hide your identity?"

"I now have the cultivation of ’Refining Void and Merging Tao’; I should be able to live a rather long time," Tian Peng said, "I actually am aware of the consequences. You can call me greedy, or whatever, but faced with such a choice, I really don’t know which to choose."

Chen Nuo wasn’t as agitated as Sun Wukong. He listened quietly as Tian Peng explained, then asked after Tian Peng had finished speaking, "What do you plan to do after that?"

"Considering my cultivation is ’Refining Void and Merging Tao’, I think I’ll cultivate while looking for opportunities."

Tian Peng shared his thoughts, "The Emperor of the mortal world has appointed me to be the General who Guards the Northwest. I haven’t taken up the post yet; I’m thinking of assuming it first."

"Moreover, the Northwest often experiences wars, but they’re minor skirmishes that never amount to much. I’ve decided to take a post in the Northwest and cultivate while I serve," he said.

"But you know, the Cultivation world has its rules," Chen Nuo reminded him.

Although Cultivators are mortals too, they never interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm unless it is a major disaster.

They would intervene in events such as plagues, demons, ghosts, and catastrophic floods, but it is strictly prohibited for them to get involved in the wars of the human world.

Not only is such interference strictly forbidden, but if a Cultivator, relying on their own cultivation, participates in a normal human war, they will be ostracized by the entire Cultivation community, and a Cultivator’s status after being ostracized is even lower than that of the Demon Clan.

Tian Peng might not have had such cultivation in the past, but now that he does, it’s difficult to guarantee he won’t use his Spiritual Power in war.

If he does, even leaving behind the slightest clue, the Cultivation world will find out.

Once ostracized by the Cultivation world, even if one has truly become an Immortal, they will quickly fall due to the lack of believers.

Chen Nuo couldn’t be certain that Tian Peng would refrain from using his Spiritual Power in the mortal realm, and could only hurriedly remind him before he made his choice, hoping he would back away from the precipice in time.

Tian Peng, of course, knew these rules.

"Shopkeeper, I am aware of the Cultivation world’s rules. I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself when the time comes, but at least I’m clear-headed now. I think I should be able to restrain myself," he responded.

Sun Wukong glanced at him irritably, "Are you sure you can control yourself?"

Tian Peng couldn’t be certain and answered truthfully, "Right now, I can’t be sure, but I..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, yet Chen Nuo understood his meaning.

Tian Peng had changed a lot from before, and the things that resided in his heart had also become more numerous. It seemed his long stay among humans had not been in vain.

Chen Nuo was pleased to see such growth and interrupted Tian Peng’s explanation.

"Enough, you don’t have to explain. I know what you want to say," Chen Nuo spoke, then turned to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, you don’t need to worry either. Tian Peng has his own thoughts. Ultimately, he must walk his own path, and we cannot stop him."

"But Master, I really can’t rest easy. Tian Peng has been my brother for so long. If he ends up using Spiritual Power on mortals, he will be pursued by the Cultivation world, and even Becoming an Immortal could be jeopardized. I don’t want to see him end up like that," he said.

Sun Wukong’s concerns were not without basis, but after all, he wasn’t Tian Peng himself and couldn’t deal with his matters for him.

Words were ultimately feeble. Seeing that he couldn’t sway Tian Peng, Sun Wukong looked at him with exasperation born of an affectionate frustration.

"You fool, I was so good to you before, all for nothing. In the end, you just do as you please, not listening to any of my advice."

Tian Peng tugged at the corner of his mouth and then apologized to Sun Wukong, "Mr. Monkey, I’m sorry, I know I’ve disappointed you. I also know that I’m being too greedy right now, but I’m not willing to just give up."

Sun Wukong wasn’t truly angry, just waved his hand dismissively, "Whatever, Master is right. This is your matter, and it’s up to you to decide. Just make sure once you’ve made your decision, you stick to it. Don’t regret it later."

Tian Peng nodded, "I understand, thank you Mr. Monkey and Shopkeeper for your concern. I will definitely not let you down in the future."

Sun Wukong snorted, "Whether I’m disappointed is inconsequential. Just remember, don’t let yourself down in the future."

Tian Peng smiled and nodded again, appreciating the care shown by Sun Wukong and the Shopkeeper.