Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System

Sun Wukong felt for the first time that time was passing so slowly.

He waited at his dwelling for nightfall, but night never came, his heart was anxious, yet he dared not make it known.

"Hmm, might as well take advantage of this idle time to open those two treasure chests and see what treasures lie within," his eyes twinkled as he pretended to close them and focused his mind in meditation.

In his mind, there were already two ancient treasure chests, adorned with mysterious patterns, rewards for completing suggestions during the day, one of the first rank and one of the third.

According to the advice-following system's explanation, the higher the rank of the treasure chest, the greater the chance of obtaining high-grade rewards when opened.

"Open, open!" Sun Wukong couldn't wait and directly opened them both.

[You have opened the First-Rank Treasure Box, congratulations on obtaining the Minor Locking Yang Technique]

[You have opened the Third-Rank Treasure Box, congratulations on obtaining the Insights on Absorbing Yin and Supplementing Yang]

Immediately, two sets of memories and insights flooded into his mind.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Sun Wukong was overjoyed, truly, the advice-following system was a precious treasure.

Both the Minor Locking Yang Technique and the Insights on Absorbing Yin and Supplement Yang were types of active Daoist magic, not the rewards he was looking for, learning them was pointless.

The reason for his joy was that he didn't need to comprehend these cultivation techniques and insights; he understood them completely as if he had always known them.

Meditation and chanting were terribly dull, he had no desire to become one of those old monks or Daoists.

After opening the treasure chests, Sun Wukong peeked outside again and discovered it was only dusk.

"When will midnight come?" he scratched his ears and cheeks in impatience.

With nothing else to do, he connected his consciousness to Zhihu and found that there were some new replies to his question post, but they were all either mockery or lectures, with no new suggestions.

For example, a netizen replied: "A bunch of lunatics, both asking and answering."

Another said: "So young and not studying properly, are you deceiving people here?"

Yet another commented: "Monkey bro, if you learn the path to immortality, don't forget to share it with us all, it's better to have fun together, haha..."

"Interesting, very interesting," Sun Wukong read each reply carefully, feeling neither anger nor annoyance, but rather found it novel.

The ideas of these immortal seniors were truly unique and elusive.

As for sharing, even the advice-following system didn't take it as a suggestion, so he naturally had no thoughts on it, treating it as a mere joke.

How could the path to immortality be so easily obtained?

He had gone through a thousand hardships to find Magic Square Mountain and the Three Stars Cave, was fortunate enough to be admitted to the ancestral master's tutelage, and after seven years of menial chores, finally awaited the day when the master would teach him the path to immortality.

Just wishing for immortality with a simple share?

Way too naive!

At this thought, Sun Wukong remembered something and went back to find the replies from that foolish netizen and the sixth-grade netizen.

He replied with the same message to both netizens: "Thank you, seniors, for the reminder. Please leave the location of your immortal mountains and caves, your disciple will surely repay you in the future."

"As I own nothing of value and possess no powerful Daoist magic or Divine Skills, I presume the seniors wouldn't care for Minor Locking Yang Technique and Insights on Absorbing Yin and Supplement Yang," he thought to himself.

Soon enough, the sixth-grade netizen replied: "What talk of repaying? As long as you don't bring me up when you cause trouble in the future, that's all, haha!"

"The sixth-grade senior Gao Yi is indeed noble," Sun Wukong felt grateful.

This person had predicted his experience listening to Daoist teachings and reminded him to create havoc in class and seek the master at midnight.

Even though he would have done the same without the sixth-grade netizen's advice, the other party reminded him without seeking any return, which was truly virtuous.

"In a while, at the dead of night, I will go seek a master to learn the path, I wonder if you have any advice for me?" Sun Wukong asked once again.

"Haha, brother Monkey, you could be a bit more courageous. Bodhi Patriarch is a hermit of extraordinary ability, you must learn stronger cultivation techniques from him, lest you be bullied by others in the future," replied the sixth-grade netizen.

"That makes sense, how did I not think of that?" Sun Wukong scratched his face, deep in thought.

He did as he pleased, and though he'd pursued immortality for years, he had never thought about becoming stronger.

[You have received a new suggestion: Learn stronger cultivation techniques from Bodhi Patriarch, completion of this suggestion will reward you with a Third-Rank Treasure Box]

"Truly a good suggestion!" Sun Wukong took this to heart.

At this moment, the sixth-grade netizen sent another reply: "That's all for now, I'm off to school, it was really fun chatting with you, bye."

"Bye?" Sun Wukong bowed in farewell.

Going back to view the fool's reply, he had only answered with one word: "Scram!"

Sun Wukong understood and sighed in his heart, "Although the fool says little, his noble character that seeks no return is evident."

Then, he looked at the sky for a while, and at other times, waited for new replies from netizens on Zhihu.

And so, he waited until the middle of the night.

"Hmm, the master suggests so, it must be so as not to disturb my fellow apprentices' rest," Sun Wukong thought and quietly stepped out, following the familiar path towards the back door of the daoist temple under cover of night.

Now, with the moon shining brightly and cold, he arrived at the back door of the daoist temple, which was half-open.

"As expected, my master indeed wants to pass on knowledge to me, leaving the door open for this reason!" Sun Wukong was overjoyed and completely put his mind at ease.

He reached the door in a few steps and then stealthily slipped inside, walking straight to where Bodhi Patriarch was resting.

Seeing the patriarch lying on his side facing away, he dared not disturb him and knelt before his bedstead.

The wait is always the most torturous, especially when one is on the verge of learning the path to immortality.

Sun Wukong scratched his hand, then his face, and rocked back and forth but dared not make a sound, barely stirring in fear of disturbing his master's rest.

Not knowing how long he waited, as the candle was about to burn out, Bodhi Patriarch finally awoke and stretched himself, chanting, "Difficult, difficult, difficult, the path is most profound; Do not treat the Golden Core as a mere trifle; Without a true person to pass on secret techniques; Idle talk will find you and leave your tongue dry and bound!"

On hearing these words, Sun Wukong promptly called out, "Master, your disciple has been kneeling here for a long time."

Bodhi Patriarch sat up and scolded, "You rascal, why aren't you sleeping at night, coming to my place for what?"

Still kneeling there, Sun Wukong quickly said, "Master, you hit me three times during the day and left with your hands behind your back through the middle door; it was clear that you wanted me to come through the back door at the third watch of the night to learn the path."

At this point, Sun Wukong could no longer contain his eagerness and pleaded repeatedly, "Master, oh Master, please teach me some true skills!"

Bodhi Patriarch heard this and was very pleased, thinking to himself, "This creature truly is a natural born enlightened being, with truly exceptional comprehension, even able to understand such cryptic hints."

He then laughed and said, "Seeing your sincerity and eagerness to learn, I will indeed pass on to you the marvelous path to immortality, come closer."

"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master!" Sun Wukong bowed in gratitude and crawled on his knees closer to him.

"Listen well," Bodhi Patriarch said. "The marvelous technique I am going to pass to you today is the Great Immortal Heavenly Decree, it will assist you in becoming an immortal and achieving the path, granting you immortality."

"To become an immortal, and achieve immortality?" Sun Wukong beamed with joy but didn't forget the suggestion from the sixth-grader, and added, "Master, your disciple does not wish to become an immortal in confusion, may I ask for clarity, is the Great Immortal Heavenly Decree the most powerful technique?"

"The most powerful?" Bodhi Patriarch was very surprised.

He had always been concerned about Sun Wukong's growth, of course knowing that this naturally formed stone monkey sought only immortality and had never aspired to become stronger.

What had changed his mind today?