Chapter 969 Seeking the True Dao in One's Mind, Displaying Divine Power and Becoming a Great Sa

My heart is imprinted with the heart of Heaven, my will is the will of Heaven. Heaven and Earth are the furnace, and all paths are the embers. Only with this heart can one attain the Way, and only with this will can one achieve the Way.

With a single-minded focus on opening the Heavenly Way, why seek Bodhi? Within the Three Star Cave of the Mountain, the only way to understand lies in the single point of the heart.

Luo Zu had an idea, so he practiced a form of meditation, putting all his mind and spirit into his thoughts, and his mind created a small world.

There is only one person in this world, and that person is Patriarch Luozu Bodhi.

A tall crown, a gray robe, a white face, a white beard, and a white whisk; the cave is deep, the water is shallow, and there are green vines, old tendrils, and peach tree roots.

The old Taoist priest remained silent, patiently waiting for his destined encounter. When the monkey arrived, he did not rush, but bowed and clasped his hands in sincere greeting.

One shout of "Greetings, Ancestor!" and another of "Good Monkey!" reveal the true nature of a person with three minds and two opinions. The Dao arises from affinity and the practice of the Dao grows; it turns out that the immortal magic resides in the heart.

The monkey studied the magic for three years. When the three years were up, Peach Mountain was in full bloom. He had all his skills to prove his abilities, including seventy-two transformations and thirty-six kinds of heavenly magic.

“The monkey has learned its lesson today; it is time to descend the mountain and attain Taiyi.” The Patriarch called the monkey to come closer.

The monkey nodded and then shook his head: "Three years is not enough, we need another three years. This method is not the right path, we need to start over."

"Footwork and footwork are nothing to fear, the might and will of Heaven are unpredictable. Be careful and cautious in your actions, lest the rules of Heaven become a shackle." The Patriarch said.

The monkey pondered for a while: "So the problem is still heaven. Without solving the root cause, it is difficult to ascend to immortality. Both the orthodox and unorthodox methods can be practiced. Do not restrain the mind like a monkey or the will like a horse."

"If the monkey has the heart to fight the Heavenly Palace, I will hide myself well. If one day he causes chaos and the Heavenly Palace is destroyed, don't let me be buried with you." The Patriarch said sadly.

The monkey scoffed, "Our ancestor was cowardly but his monkey heart prevailed. If he hadn't caused the Heavenly Palace to collapse, how could he be called the Great Sage? Others' ambitions cannot rise, but today, with my own ambition, I will surely make all living beings chant my name."

The patriarch had no choice but to wave his hand, and in an instant, the smoke and clouds vanished. The mountain, the tree, the flower, the grass, the rare treasures, the exotic fruit, the precipitous peaks, and the myriad beasts and birds all dispersed.

The monkey laughed heartily: "Great Sage, your mind is so straightforward, but if you're too timid, you'll never accomplish anything."

With his restless mind unchecked, Luo Zu truly allowed the inner demon to ascend to the throne of the true spirit, becoming the master of his mind.

Stone and grass debris fall away with a swish, golden light shines brightly, startling gods and ghosts in heaven and on earth, and even the Buddhas of the West stop chanting scriptures.

"Here they come, here they come! Fellow Daoist Luo is going to show off his power today!" The Great Immortal in Wuzhuang Temple spread his sleeves and chatted with the disciples listening to his teachings.

"Master, who is this Fellow Daoist Luo?" The disciples below, puzzled, came to ask one after another.

“He is a good friend of mine, and we are close friends,” the Great Immortal said with a smile.

"Why haven't we seen this fellow Daoist Luo come to our temple to discuss metaphysics and Daoism?" the disciple asked again.

The immortal laughed and said, "To be captivated by something is to communicate with one's mind and spirit; there is no need for you to come in person."

Upon hearing this, the disciples all prostrated themselves on the ground in submission.

Master associates with sages and virtuous people. Above him are the Three Pure Ones, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and even saints of the Human Teachings. This person who has spiritual communication with Master must also be a pure and noble person.

Little did they know that Luo Zu was already scratching his head and acting like a big monkey on Flower Fruit Mountain.

As for the countless gods surrounding Flower Fruit Mountain, he saw them all, but didn't take any of them to heart.

They're nothing more than tiny eggs, easily crushed with a pinch.

"Grandchildren, have you all seen enough?" Luo Zu shouted, his voice filled with dissatisfaction.

The gods were terrified, never expecting that this monkey would have such an ability, able to see through their movements with the naked eye.

"Father, I request permission to fight!"

Standing atop the Heavenly Palace, among the celestial soldiers and generals before the South Heavenly Gate, a young general stepped forward and knelt on one knee before a majestic and imposing celestial deity.

“My son is kind-hearted, my son is ambitious, this is truly a great blessing. However, the Great Heavenly Venerable has not issued a decree, the heavenly soldiers cannot be moved lightly, and the heavenly generals cannot be dispatched lightly. My son, rest for a while, and I will ask the Great Heavenly Venerable for permission. Once I receive the decree, I will order you to subdue this demon monkey.” This heavenly deity stroked his beautiful beard, his presence majestic and imposing.

"Yes, Your Highness." The young general dared not disobey, so he could only frown, glare at the lower realm, and retreat back to the South Heavenly Gate.

The heavenly soldiers and generals of the Heavenly Palace had not yet set out, but the gods and immortals around Flower Fruit Mountain all revealed their true forms, ready to fight this demon monkey.

But the hairy, naked monkey chuckled: "You lot are quite bold, wanting to fight your grandfather Sun for a few rounds?"

"You wicked monkey, how dare you insult us! You deserve to die!"

"He deserves to die!"

The gods all rebuked them.

But then the monkey opened its mouth and blew out a breath of golden air.

It was like a breeze through the hall, or a shooting star, traveling three thousand three hundred miles in an instant, and then tens of millions of miles, finally arriving outside the Eastern Continent, in the deep abyss of the East Sea.

"Dragon King of the East Sea, Old Dragon King of the East Sea, I have come to pay a visit today out of nothingness, and I would like to ask for your courtesy. Your Sea-Stabilizing Iron Needle is of great affinity with me, so please let it belong to me." The voice echoed throughout the East Sea Dragon Palace, and golden energy swept around the entire palace before finally being taken from a stone pillar that had been neglected for many years.

"Who are you? Which deity? Which bodhisattva or Buddha? I, the Dragon King of the East Sea, have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me." The Dragon King of the East Sea dared not be negligent and hurriedly left the palace to welcome the immortal.

Rumble.

No sooner had he pleaded his case and requested an audience than a deafening roar was heard, followed by a violent earthquake. The once stable East Sea Dragon Palace trembled violently, as if a sea dragon had turned over.

"What happened?"

"Father, look!"

What are you looking at?

"Our Crystal Palace has been smashed with a huge hole."

"What? That was the Water Shield that I had painstakingly crafted for me by Laozi, and it's already been pierced with a hole."

The Dragon King of the East Sea burst into tears.

"Who is this thief?" the old Dragon King asked the group of children and sailors beside him.

"I don't know, I don't know." Everyone stammered, not daring to explain.

"Report, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, a divine decree has been issued!" Just then, more aquatic creatures rushed over.

"Can't you see I'm heartbroken? What do you want from me? Speak up, if you're not happy, I'll steam you up and eat you first," the Dragon King of the East Sea said resentfully.

“It is the decree of the Supreme God, Your Majesty, please see.”

The old Dragon King took the hastily cut bark and looked at it with disgust: "Good, good, the thief has been found! I'm going to the Heavenly Court to file a complaint!"

"Father, who are these thieves? What are their names? Should I send troops to punish them?" A filial son of the dragon race volunteered for battle.

“They say we are their neighbors, living in the blessed land of Flower and Fruit Mountain, blessed by Heaven and Earth. Now they are going to teach all things, and ask for our Ruyi Cudgel, to compete with the gods and immortals.”

"Disaster! Disaster!" After reading the book, the old Dragon King suddenly felt dizzy and his vision blurred, as if stars were swirling around him.

"Father, what calamity has befallen us? How has it happened?"

The old Dragon King, on his deathbed, sat up in shock and replied with a mournful cry, "That thief wants to take our family's Heavenly River Bottom-Stabilizing Divine Iron to fight against the Heavenly Court! If the Heavenly Court finds us guilty as accomplices, how can this not be a disaster? How can this not be a disaster?"

Meanwhile, as the old Dragon King was mourning, the golden energy exhaled by the monkey had already taken the reluctant golden cudgel and headed towards Flower Fruit Mountain.

Meanwhile, the celestial beings surrounding Flower Fruit Mountain revealed their majestic forms, each wielding divine weapons and treasures, chanting incantations and spells, ready to unleash their supernatural powers and teach this monkey demon a lesson.

The monkey demon chuckled, showing no fear, and with one hand, he grabbed the golden cudgel that was still flying through the air.

"Today, let us get to the point in one go. There's no need to gather a bunch of demons or invite the Seven Great Sages. I will simply call myself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven."