The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 25 - 0 Creating the Third Primordial Spirit

He practiced Eighty-Nine Mystical Techniques as well as the Seventy-Two Transformations; his body was incredibly robust, virtually like steel and iron. Back during the Ancient Era of Deification, when battling Deng Jiugong’s daughter Deng Chanyu, even a handful of rocks thrown at his face merely sparked and he continued his ferocious assault, showcasing his impressive prowess.

People often equate the Eighty-Nine Mystical Techniques with the Seventy-Two Transformations, but in fact, the former specifically refines the physical body, while the latter cultivates Divine Skills and Mana.

The Seventy-Two Transformations are rumoured to be passed down by Celestial Emperor Fuxi, whereas the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations are attributed to Goddess Nu Wa. Although Fuxi was also highly powerful in Mana and unparalleled in his predictive abilities, in terms of creating techniques, how could he compare to a Saint who had reached the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao? Learning the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations is difficult, requiring great fortune to succeed. Thus, individuals like General Tianpeng who practiced the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations merely followed fringe methods not legitimately passed down by Goddess Nu Wa.

Wukong focused on optimizing the musculature and blood vessels of Yuan Hong’s body, spending a full day to finally succeed.

Then, the infant-sized Tongbei Monkey leaped onto Wukong’s shoulder and sat down, its eyes blinking like flames.

Wukong also slowly stood up, slightly bowed to Yang Jian, and said, “Thank you, Brother Yang, for your protection. The great task is accomplished!”

Yang Jian also said, “Such Divine Skills truly seize the creation of heaven and earth, completely discarding the drawbacks of Body-Snatching.”

However, Wukong said, “There are also weaknesses.”

Yang Jian asked, “What weaknesses?”

Wukong smiled and said, “This Method of Fetal Transformation and Easy Shape-Shifting takes seven days to fully mature, whereas a body obtained through Body-Snatching can be used immediately. The Divine Power of this incarnation is weak now; it will only reach my current level after seven days. That period is the weakness.”

“Haha, with your protection, there’s no need to worry. Seven days will pass in the blink of an eye,” Yang Jian responded after a moment, feeling that this weakness wasn’t much of one at all. In seven days, the body would grow to be just like the original form, meaning that in future battles, it would be like two against one with Wukong.

Wukong pondered for a moment and said, “This incarnation has already used up one of my Primordial Spirits and is no different from my original self. If there is another ordeal like the five hundred years of tribulation in the future, I could use this incarnation for external plans.”

Yuan Hong’s body was not weak; returning to its innate state to regrow would only make it stronger. Moreover, the innate Divine Skills were still present—Tongbei Monkey’s Shrink and Grab Thousands of Mountains, Play with Heaven and Earth, Picking Stars and Catching the Moon, all Divine Skills resided in a pair of arms, hence the name “Tongbei.” Seven days later when the body had grown, Wukong could be deemed invincible among Taiyi Golden Immortals, possibly even competing with Daluo Golden Immortals.

“You and I are both among the Four Great Divine Monkeys; I should grant you one more chance for creation!” Yuan Hong’s voice echoed in Wukong’s mind, “I have always retained a trace of my Primordial Spirit as a precaution against those who previously snatched my body. If you had been defeated, I would naturally have intervened, but this created opportunity we prearranged would then be lost. Fortunately, your powerful senior sister managed to slay him, and this chance of creation rightly belongs to you now!”

Wukong asked, “What creation?”

Yuan Hong then said, “I gift you another Primordial Spirit. In the future, Cutting the Three Corpses to attest to the Mixed Yuan will also be much easier.”

Upon Wukong’s shoulder, the Tongbei Monkey displayed three flowers atop its head, with its Primordial Spirit seated on the middle lotus. Within moments, a golden light began to converge on the lotus to the left, with True Qi spiraling around it, leaving both Wukong and Yang Jian astonished.

Yang Jian, having seen much and known broad, had never witnessed such a bizarre phenomenon. To cultivate a second Primordial Spirit was indeed a favor from the heavens, but now it seemed a third one was forming? Even the composed Yang Jian couldn’t help but envy, his eyes twitching.

The last remnant of Yuan Hong’s Primordial Spirit had lost its own essence, transforming into that of Wukong’s. Though still fragile, given time, it was certain to grow strong.

“Huh?”

Yang Jian, dumbfounded, asked, “Is this…a third Primordial Spirit? How did you cultivate it? Teach me!”

The usually desireless True Lord Erlang’s eyes seemed ablaze with envy.

Wukong replied, “It was Yuan Hong who left behind a wisp of his Primordial Spirit within me, prepared to counter the one who would try to body-snatch his flesh. But it also turned into a boon for me. That scoundrel was slain by my older martial sister, and his Primordial Spirit went unused, thus benefiting me. I have no method for cultivating a third Primordial Spirit; even the second one was formed by a fortuitous encounter.”

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Upon hearing this, Yang Jian could only feel disappointed. So that was the case. He could only exclaim that Wukong was indeed blessed by immense luck.

He suddenly asked, “Just now, I heard you mention something about a calamity of five hundred years; what is that?”

Wukong knew he had accidentally spoken too much. Although they too had undergone reincarnation through the Rebirth Box for over five hundred years, their memories were not preserved, only he had gained Tang Sanzang’s help to transcend the Heavenly Dao and reverse time. Going against the harmony of heaven was a challenging task, and only by transcending could one preserve memories. Even saints found it difficult to leave behind any recourse.

“Oh… that’s a catastrophe my master said I can’t avoid,” Wukong said.

“Who is your respected master?” Yang Jian inquired.

“Forgive me, but I cannot reveal that. My master despises it most when we disciples mention his name outside,” Wukong explained.

Yang Jian pondered in his heart about who Wukong’s master could be, capable of providing him with such potent, though replicated, Magical Treasures. And who was this older martial sister Wukong called Wusheng? Despite his extensive travels through the Three Realms, Yang Jian had never come across her. Surely, Wukong’s master must be an incredibly powerful being, at least on the level of a creator.

The so-called “creator” was the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal of the Third Heaven Creation Boundary, powerful enough to establish a secret realm.

Wukong said, “This second embodiment of mine still lacks a name; I need to think it over well.”

Yang Jian chuckled, “Then it most certainly needs to be something commanding.”

Wukong felt that spending these days with Yang Jian was not at all displeasing. Although Yang Jian was a bit arrogant, he treated those he respected quite well. How many in and beyond the Three Realms could warrant Yang Jian lowering himself to help as a protector? Yang Jian valued both strength and character in others. Finding Wukong’s company agreeable and recognizing his significant abilities, he felt that befriending him was indeed a good choice.

Cultivation was a perilous path. Without a few fellow Daoists to lend support, it was difficult to progress. Recall the formidable Shen Bao of the ancient Divine Enthronement era, who befriended many and involved the entire Sect of Interception in the fray, aiding the disciples of Yuan Shi Celestial Venerable in fulfilling their calamitous destinies.

After contemplating for a moment, Wukong said, “Let’s call him Daoist Equal to Heaven, which suits my nickname.”

“Is he not surnamed Sun?” Yang Jian wondered.

“Hmm, let’s just call him Equal to Heaven,” Wukong said, shaking his head.

Both Yang Jian and Wukong couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter, and the Equal to Heaven on his shoulder joined in.

Who could have imagined that two who were like mortal enemies in their past lives could get along so well now?

Can fate be reversed?

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the next installment.