Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Planting the Golden Lotus Without Producing a Dao Fruit Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Planting the Golden Lotus Without Producing a Dao Fruit [I’ve been too busy these past few days, and updates have been unstable. Please forgive me—things will get better after these two days.]

But to continue our tale, Wukong awoke from his dream and attained enlightenment of the Buddha-mind, completing his own mind in the process.

Xuan Ming smiled at him and said, “I shall go and obtain something for you.”

Wukong couldn’t help asking, “What is it?”

Xuan Ming did not speak further but said, “Wait a moment for me; I will head to the Thirty-Three Heavens.”

With that said, she had already employed an escape technique and left the Underworld, riding the clouds upward to the Thirty-Three Heavens. Passing through the Supreme Purity Heaven and the Jade Purity Heaven, she reached the Great Purity Heaven and arrived at the entrance of Tushita Palace. Golden Horn, the apprentice, saw Xuan Ming and couldn’t contain his shock, saying, “Please wait a moment, Lady, I will go and inform my master.”

Silver Horn stayed behind to entertain Xuan Ming, while Golden Horn went into Tushita Palace.

Silver Horn’s mana was not high, being merely a Taiyi Golden Immortal, but for an apprentice to possess such a cultivation level was quite terrifying indeed—a testament to being a disciple of a Saint, for even an apprentice was such an adept. Xuan Ming was extraordinarily beautiful and usually reserved, leaving Silver Horn unsure of how to properly receive her, thus he could only offer a nervous smile and dare not speak much to Xuan Ming for fear of provoking the Lady.

Soon after, Golden Horn came out with Laozi from Tushita Palace.

Laozi bowed with a smile and said, “The Great Purity Hall is not ascended for trifles. For what purpose does Lady Xuan Ming visit?”

Xuan Ming nodded and responded, “I have come to request the River Map and Luo Book from the Revered Taoist.”

Laozi asked further, “What do you need the River Map and Luo Book for?”

Having said this, his eyes briefly shifted, and he refrained from asking any further. He turned around and said, “My Lady, please come inside for some tea and a chat while I fetch the River Map and Luo Book for you.”

Having lived for tens of thousands of years, there is a saying that goes, “A thousand-year-old turtle, a ten thousand-year-old turtle”—another saying states, “Ginger gets spicier with age.” With age comes many benefits. He had obviously guessed the crux of the matter, hence his silence, opting instead to plainly state that he would fetch the River Map and Luo Book.

Xuan Ming followed Laozi into Tushita Palace, where they were seated in the hall. Golden Horn served them tea.

Laozi brought the River Map and Luo Book, chuckling, “Take it, take it! This thing eludes even our understanding.”

Xuan Ming nodded lightly and placed the River Map and Luo Book into her sleeve, saying, “Then I thank the Revered Taoist.”

Laozi waved his hand and said, “No thanks are necessary!”

Xuan Ming thus engaged in idle conversation with Laozi. Although she was in a hurry, she could not disregard the formality, needing to give Laozi enough respect. After some time, Xuan Ming took her leave. Laozi escorted her to the gate of Tushita Palace, and upon her departure, he returned to the palace.

Having obtained the River Map and Luo Book, Xuan Ming employed an escape technique and headed back to the Underworld.

At this moment, Wukong was meditating with his eyes closed, wrapped in the dual energies of Yin and Yang, in the process of transforming his Golden Core into a Primordial Dao Fruit.

Xuan Ming felt the River Map and Luo Book in her sleeve trembling lightly and decided not to constrain it any longer. Releasing it, the River Map and Luo Book swiftly entered Wukong’s lower abdomen. Xuan Ming cast a spell and saw the River Map and Luo Book positioning itself beneath Wukong’s Golden Core, supporting it, and then began to produce the dual energies of Yin and Yang. From these emerged the Qi of the Four Symbols, which in turn generated the Qi of the Eight Trigrams.

At that moment, within the Water Curtain Cave, Sun Wukong’s Green Lotus suddenly flew out of his hand.

With a cry of surprise, Sun Wukong reached out to catch it, but it was beyond his grasp. Clutching at air, he tumbled to the ground instead.

“So that’s how it is!” Sun Wukong calculated with his fingers and understood immediately, opting not to give chase.

The Green Lotus became a streak of green light, flying directly into the Reincarnation Netherworld, and then entered Wukong’s Dantian.

The Green Lotus settled directly into Wukong’s Dantian, pushing aside the Golden Core, which then began to melt slowly into a golden liquid under the touch of the Green Lotus’s light. This golden liquid flowed onto the Green Lotus, which immediately became gilded, transforming into a Golden Lotus.

Gradually, one by one, streaks of Dao marks appeared on the Golden Lotus. After three thousand marks had emerged, the process ceased.

The River Map and Luo Book also flew forward, positioning itself beneath the Golden Lotus. The Golden Lotus rooted itself upon the River Map and Luo Book, as the Qi of the Eight Trigrams transformed into a blazing fire. Yet the Golden Lotus remained unscathed, rather it seemed to solidify and smooth out under the fire’s tempering, appearing as if it were forged from pure gold.

“Planting a Golden Lotus in fire?” Xuan Ming couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Planting a Golden Lotus to create the world…”

Wukong sat for a month, and Xuan Ming was not idle during this month either, meditating and cultivating alongside.

On this day, Wukong had finished refining the Golden Lotus, and the Qi of the Eight Trigrams had completely merged into the Golden Lotus, with the River Map and Luo Book serving as the soil, and the Golden Lotus taking root upon them.

Earth generates metal, which seems to confirm the principle of the Five Elements Generation.

“You’re awake,” said Xuan Ming indifferently, his tone neutral, neither cold nor warm.

Wukong then realized that he had occupied Xuan Ming’s cushion for cultivation for several months, feeling somewhat embarrassed about it. After all, this cushion had a remarkable origin; sitting on it for meditation had very beneficial effects. Xuan Ming, as a newly ascended Saint, needed this cushion the most, yet Wukong had unwittingly used it for several months, truly making him blush with shame.

Wukong said, “Mm!”

He got up and returned the cushion to Xuan Ming.

Xuan Ming did not decline, knowing the importance of the cushion to herself. She sat down cross-legged on the cushion and immediately felt a wave of refreshing clarity.

Xuan Ming asked, “Your cultivation level should be that of a Primordial Golden Immortal now, but why haven’t you produced a Primordial Dao Fruit?”

Taiyi Golden Immortals condense a Golden Core, and after achieving Perfection of the Golden Core and gaining insight into the laws of void, probing a trace of the changes of the Heavenly Dao, they can step into the realm of Daluo Golden Immortals. At that realm, one needs to understand the yin and yang energies fully, penetrate the connections of causality, perfect one’s true nature to transform the Golden Core into a Primordial Dao Fruit, and achieve the status of a Primordial Golden Immortal, also known as a Sect Founder.

Wukong’s current cultivation level was indeed that of a Primordial Golden Immortal, but there was no Primordial Dao Fruit within him. What replaced the Primordial Dao Fruit was a piece of the River Map and Luo Book, and a Golden Lotus. This River Map and Luo Book were Fuxi’s, and this Golden Lotus was transformed from the Green Emperor’s Green Lotus.

“I don’t know either, but there is something wondrous about this, which seems to relate to Fuxi’s calculations,” Wukong said with a frown.

“The River Map and Luo Book states, ‘Plant the Golden Lotus to create the world’. Could it be referring to this Golden Lotus of yours?” Xuan Ming asked.

Since the creation of this world, Hong Jun established the Mysterious Gate and declared that after an Immeasurable Calamity, which is one hundred twenty thousand nine thousand six hundred years, totaling one Yuan meeting, this world would face catastrophe. Those fated to meet their tribulations would face them, those destined to be destroyed would perish, and those meant to endure would continue to do so… Fuxi’s River Map and Luo Book contained his calculations of this event, but they were comprised of mysterious symbols, which even Saints could not understand. It might be something Fuxi used to baffle people. This River Map and Luo Book was perhaps only meant to provide a space for Wukong’s Golden Lotus to exist.

After contemplating for a while, Wukong said, “This world was opened by Pangu, who was nurtured within the Chaos Green Lotus and enlightened by the Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch. Then, using the Great Dao Divine Artifact, the Heaven-Opening Axe, he created this world. It is said that the divine artifact was transformed from this Chaos Green Lotus.”

Xuan Ming remained silent, listening to him continue.

Wukong gave a wry smile and said, “When the Immeasurable Calamity arrives and this world is destroyed, will I have to nurture another Pangu with this Golden Lotus to repeat the creation?”

Pangu was one of the top experts among the Heavenly Dao Saints, even stronger than Di Jun at his peak. If it came to physical combat, Di Jun was definitely no match for Pangu. Following Hong Jun’s decree to split heaven and earth open, he also sought to prove the Great Dao with strength and wielded the Great Dao Divine Artifact, the Heaven-Opening Axe. But ultimately, he failed, and after the creation of the world, he died in the Earth Immortal Realm, his body transforming into mountains, rivers, and the like…

After hearing this, Xuan Ming felt slightly stirred, but she did not join the conversation.

Wukong said, “However… from Fuxi’s calculations, it seems that this Golden Lotus within me might truly be related to the creation of the world.”

Xuan Ming said, “That should be the case.”

After pondering for a moment, Wukong said, “I’m not sure whether not having the Primordial Dao Fruit is a good or bad thing.”

Xuan Ming smiled and said, “Everyone has their own fortunes. You did not form a Primordial Dao Fruit, but a Golden Lotus. Perhaps that’s a good thing. Maybe after you attain sainthood, you will be stronger than all of us Saints! Maybe even Di Jun from the past would not be your match.”

Wukong slowly nodded. If it was a blessing, it would not be a curse; if it was a curse, there was no avoiding it.

The Golden Lotus had already taken root in his Dantian, so he would let it be. Moreover, all three thousand Dao patterns had been engraved upon it, and his Golden Core had become one with it. It seemed like it might not be a bad thing after all. Perhaps, this was because he had taken a path that no one before or after him had ever taken.

Xuan Ming speculated in her heart that perhaps Fuxi really had that intention. Wukong had a Great Revolution Seal at hand, which was extremely powerful. Should he fulfill his grand ambition and become a Heavenly Dao Saint, that seal would undoubtedly become even more formidable! By then, the axe on the seal might just serve a purpose similar to the Heaven-Opening Axe.

However, speculation was useless; one could only wait and see. The Immeasurable Calamity of the Yuan meeting was nearing, and even Saints had to tread carefully.

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