Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong

Both the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations are Divine Transformation Skills. Only after mastering them could one successfully and effectively evade the damage caused by the three great disasters. The Doomsday Thunder Disaster awaited Sun Wukong just beyond the Three-Star Cave Heaven. The moment he stepped out, the Doomsday Thunder Disaster would descend immediately. The three great disasters tested not only the strength of the physical body but also the strength of the Soul's True Spirit. Without learning the skills to evade disaster, even those with great power could still be reduced to bones and ashes, with their souls scattered.

Sun Wukong had long mastered the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations to a profound level. Now, having received the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations from the Puti Patriarch, understanding one unlocked understanding in all others, it took him less than half a day to fully comprehend the Way of Transformation of both Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend.

The seventy-two and thirty-six transformations are symbolic numbers, not limited to only seventy-two or thirty-six transformations. Seventy-two represents the Earthly Fiends, and thirty-six represents the Heavenly Gang. The two Divine Transformation Skills merely focus on different aspects.

The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations focus on form. They are easy to learn but hard to master. Before mastering them profoundly, the transformed objects often have form without spirit. Although they are sufficient to confuse enemies, they do not retain one's original capabilities. For instance, if one turns into a bee, the body really becomes as fragile as a bee's. A slap could either kill or severely injure it, and transforming into a blade does not lend it the sharpness of a blade.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations prioritize essence. They are extremely difficult to initiate but, once truly mastered, progress can be made at a tremendous pace. The transformations are complete in both spirit and form, though the speed and success rate of transformation can be very low before mastering the essence.

Of course, different paths lead to the same destination. Ultimately, both transformation skills aim to master the Way of Changes between heaven and earth, allowing countless transformations at will, and crucially, without any flaws!

"Master, junior brother Wukong has left the Cave Heaven!"

"What? Nonsense!"

The Puti Patriarch, who had been preaching atop the Jade Terrace, drastically changed his expression upon hearing his disciple's report. He stood up abruptly, took a step forward, and his figure vanished, reappearing outside the Three-Star Cave Heaven. Wukong, who had only practiced the Divine Transformation Skills for half a day, had rushed out to face the Doomsday Thunder Disaster. This was simply risking his life foolishly!

The Puti Patriarch certainly did not want his most promising disciple to be destroyed by the Doomsday Thunder Disaster before he had even made his mark; that would be utterly humiliating!

However, the scene outside the Three-Star Cave Heaven caused the Puti Patriarch's eyes to widen suddenly, then narrow slightly, stopping at the entrance of the Three-Star Cave Heaven. He looked up at the figure standing against the vast thunder in the sky, a trace of astonishment crossing his face, followed by a hint of a smile creeping onto his lips.

In mid-air, Sun Wukong stood aloft as massive heavenly thunders roared out from the dark clouds above, slashing towards him.

This was a Doomsday Thunder Disaster formed by the power of the Heavenly Dao, not a thunderbolt sent by the thunder gods of the Heavenly Court. Its destructive power was not on the same level; such a disaster was something even a Daluo Golden Immortal would hesitate to engage with, requiring even a Saint to expend his own cultivation merit to intervene. The person undergoing tribulation could only rely on their own strength to face, or rather, to evade the disaster.

That was precisely what Sun Wukong was doing now. From his body emerged one image after another, each shattered by the heavenly thunder. These images took the form of a myriad of creatures, including flowers, birds, fish, insects, animals, and plants, bearing the burden of the Doomsday Thunder Disaster, helping him evade the first of the three great disasters.

Sun Wukong displayed the Way of Transformation very adeptly; not a trace of clumsiness could be detected, and even the humanoid shadows that emerged from him were perfectly formed without any flaws.

"Master, junior brother Wukong is…"

"Hmm…"

The Puti Patriarch signaled the disciples who had rushed to the entrance to keep quiet with his eyes. Evading disaster was a serious matter; this was not a time for disturbances.

"Strange, this little monkey, has he really just learned the Transformation Spells? How could he be more adept than others who have practiced for thousands of years? And the way he is handling it, it appears he has indeed mastered the essence of the Way of Transformation, it's inconceivable…"

Laypeople enjoy the show; experts understand the tricks. The disciples merely felt that Sun Wukong was proficient in using the Transformation Spells, even managing to evade such a formidable Doomsday Thunder Disaster. The Puti Patriarch, however, looked beyond mere appearances to the essence. Sun Wukong might be a prodigiously talented individual; having learned both the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations in just half a day was one thing, but to reach the level of mastery he displayed now required more than mere intelligence!

Compared to the Human Race, the Demon Clan lacks an essential conduit, hence they are never able to practice the Human Race's Cultivation Techniques and Subtle Formulas to perfection. However, both the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations are among the top Divine Transformation Skills of the Human Race, and Sun Wukong managed to integrate and master the essence of these two Divine Transformation Skills, which is utterly abnormal!

Unless, this little monkey is the legendary Heavenly Demon Body!

A flicker of unprecedented brilliance passed through the eyes of the Puti Patriarch; his heart, long still as an ancient well, once again stirred with waves. If Sun Wukong truly was a Heavenly Demon Body, then the opportunity he had been lying in wait for all these years might have truly arrived!

Sun Wukong was unaware of the Puti Patriarch's thoughts. At this moment, all his focus was on dealing with the Doomsday Thunder Disaster. Despite not being his first experience, facing it again still filled him with genuine awe for the immense power of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao is formidable, pressing down on all beings, beyond the reach of human strength!

The entire Doomsday Thunder Disaster last

A turbid qi was expelled from his chest, and Sun Wukong let out a long howl, his voice piercing stones and splitting clouds, spreading far in all directions. It had been ten years since he had entered the world, yet he had already reached the Earth Immortal Realm, a stark contrast to his previous life. In his last life, he was still the carefree Beautiful Monkey King in Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"Swish!"

Suddenly, a figure flashed in front of him, and Puti Patriarch appeared beside Sun Wukong, grabbing his arm. In the blink of an eye, they had entered the Three-Star Cave Heaven, arriving at the deeper mountain area behind it. Looking around, aside from Sun Wukong himself, only Puti Patriarch was present.

The howling was interrupted, and he had only released half of the turbid qi, leaving Sun Wukong feeling extremely stifled. With a face full of grievance, he looked at Puti Patriarch, thinking, What kind of mood has Master caught to interrupt him like this? Couldn't he have waited for him to finish venting?

"Someone is calculating and spying; we must not be discovered!"

Puti Patriarch saw the confusion and frustration in Sun Wukong and explained. Then he patted Sun Wukong's back, sending a surge of strength into him and forcing out the turbid qi that was stuck in his chest, "Continue!"

The howling resumed, but Sun Wukong felt rather speechless inside, "Damn, so this is possible? To interrupt a howl midway and then continue—it feels like swallowing half a fly." Also, Puti Patriarch mentioned someone was calculating and spying; who could that be?

Spiritual Mountain, within the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

Seated on a lotus platform, Tathagata Buddha suddenly paused his calculating fingers and furrowed his brows.

"Strange, there's a new Earth Immortal in the western realms, why can't I calculate it?"

Just now, there had been a fluctuation in the Heavenly Dao, and a Doomsday Thunder Disaster had struck the Western Cattle Gift State. Tathagata Buddha, sensing it, tried to connect with the Heavenly Dao to calculate after the disaster had calmed, but he could find nothing. It was unusual to avoid the detection of the Heavenly Dao!

"Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, is everything stable in the Sukhavati Realm?"

After meditating for a while, Tathagata Buddha opened his eyes and looked towards Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, who was seated to his right, and asked.

"The Sukhavati Realm?"

The expression of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva changed. Why would the Buddha suddenly ask about this? He quickly closed his eyes and used his Divine Sense to communicate with the Sukhavati Realm, then returned a Buddhist salute to Tathagata Buddha and respectfully said, "Ancestral Buddha, everything in the Sukhavati Realm is as usual."

"Everything as usual?" A peculiar light flashed in Tathagata Buddha's eyes. It seemed that he was still trapped in the Sukhavati Realm and had not caused any trouble, "Keep a close watch on the Sukhavati Realm!"

"As per your decree!"

Heavenly Court, Department of Heavenly Secrets.

"Celestial Honored One, there's an anomaly in the Heavenly Secrets Instrument; it shows a new Earth Immortal in Western Cattle Gift State."

Officials in charge of overseeing the Heavenly Secrets Instrument reported to the Celestial Honored One, Zi Ji Xian Zun. The Department of Heavenly Secrets was a special institution of the Heavenly Court, managing the trajectories of all things under heaven, and the life paths of all beings were manifested in the Heavenly Secrets Instrument, making it the real eyes and ears of the Heavenly Court. Zi Ji Xian Zun, a trusted subordinate of the North Polaris Emperor and appointed by the Jade Emperor as the chief officer of the Department.

"It's just a newly promoted Earth Immortal, why make a fuss about it? Record the information, and when there is a vacancy in the Heavenly Court, summon him to fill the position." Zi Ji Xian Zun said without looking up, continuing to play with a piece of fine jade in his hand.

"However, Celestial Honored One, the information of the new Earth Immortal doesn't show in the Heavenly Secrets Instrument..."

"Impossible!"

Zi Ji Xian Zun reacted now, with a frown raising his head, "The paths of all things under heaven are manifested in the Heavenly Secrets Instrument; how could there be no information? Are you sure you haven't missed it?"

"Absolutely certain, indeed there is none! The Heavenly Secrets Instrument only shows a new Earth Immortal in Western Cattle Gift State, but who they are, where they're from, it doesn't show..."

Before the official could finish, Zi Ji Xian Zun had already jumped up and rushed towards the palace where the Heavenly Secrets Instrument was located. Upon arriving and closely examining, it really was just as the official had said: It only showed a Doomsday Thunder Disaster occurring in Western Cattle Gift State and a new Earth Immortal being promoted, but everything else was left blank.

"This matter is odd; report to His Majesty at once, requesting a divine judgment!"