Volume 1: Unsayable – Chapter 16: The Thirty-Six Transformations of Tian Gang

Seeing that Wu Kong had such fate, Patriarch Subhuti devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching him these thirty-six transformations of Tian Gang.
“The Thirty-Six Transformations of Tian Gang are the supreme supernatural powers of our Daoist sect. No matter if you use your original spirit to leave your body, ride clouds and mist, fly through the sky or underground, or ascend to immortality, with these transformations as a foundation, you will far surpass others.”
“The Thirty-Six Transformations are divided into six major categories, six in each category. The first category is related to the heavens. These six immortal arts all possess the power to shake the universe. Wu Kong, remember—even if you manage to master them, use them with caution.”
Hearing that these arts held such great power, Wu Kong was filled with urgency, wishing to learn them immediately. He nodded repeatedly in agreement.
The patriarch then began to explain in detail the six arts: Manipulating Fate, Reversing Yin and Yang, Moving Stars and Changing Constellations, Turning Back the Sun, Summoning Rain and Wind, and Mending the Heavens and Bathing the Sun. He passed on the incantations for these arts to Wu Kong and said, “Let’s take ‘Turning Back the Sun’ as an example.” With that, he whispered an incantation. The red sun in the east, which was already rising, suddenly sank back as if it were sunset, and the sky reverted to its gray state before dawn. Wu Kong was shocked—this art had such immense power! Could it not reverse day and night and swap Yin and Yang?
The patriarch said, “You can’t apply these six arts of the heavens yet. Once you have sufficient spiritual power, you’ll understand their true strength.” Wu Kong immediately realized that these arts were too powerful, and it was only natural that he, lacking the patriarch’s cultivation, couldn’t use them.
“The second category is called the Arts of Wish Fulfillment. Once you’re attuned to fate, anything you desire can come true. The six arts in this category are Great and Small Wish Fulfillment, Instant Flower Blooming, Instant Shape Transformation, Turning Stones into Gold, Predicting the Future, and Reviving the Dead. These aren’t difficult. Try them one by one.” The patriarch passed on the incantations as well. Wu Kong recited them silently, focusing his mind on a bud outside the window. Sure enough, as the spell took effect, the bud trembled and bloomed. For the first time in his life, Wu Kong had used his immortal arts, and his joy was indescribable. Yet at the moment he cast the spell, he felt a faint, indescribable force leaving his body. Could this be the price of using immortal arts? Was this… fate?

The Patriarch taught Wukong to master the six techniques within this Art of Willpower with ease, then continued, “The third category is escape arts: Divine Qi Control, Golden Light for Levitation, Great Escape of the Five Elements, Body Transference, Cloud Riding, and Earth Shrinkage. I’ll pass on the mantras to you; find a spacious area to practice later.”

“The fourth category is the Great Translocation Arts, six powerful spells. They include Turbulent Seas, Mountain Lifting, Mountain Pushing to Fill Seas, Stone Moving with a Whip, Mountain Shaking to Earthquake, and River Diversion to Create Land. These spells are extremely impactful. Tomorrow, we’ll find a mountain where I’ll demonstrate each one to you.”

“The fifth category is strange arts: Six Jia Qi Men, Subduing Dragons and Tigers, Reverse Wind and Fire, Controlling the Five Thunder, Turning Beans into Soldiers, and Seven Arrows with Nail Heads. These spells are extremely sinister and may provoke widespread anger. I’ll teach you how to defend against them; never use them unless absolutely necessary, or I won’t spare you.” Wukong repeatedly promised to obey.

“The sixth category is miscellaneous arts: Flying Sand and Moving Stones, Seeing Through Walls, Turning Ground into Steel, Extracting the Original Spirit, Creating an Invisible Form, and Controlling Breath with Nine Exhalations. Though seemingly miscellaneous, they are the most useful.” The Patriarch passed on all the mantras for these immortal arts to Wukong, spending extra time explaining in detail the “Extracting the Original Spirit” technique from the miscellaneous category.

“For us, the original spirit is the foundation of life. Remember, ‘When inner thoughts do not arise and external distractions do not enter, one remains completely in control—that is the original spirit.’ This technique has many uses. You must draw analogies and apply it flexibly to understand its true power.”

Wukong silently memorized this, paying even more attention to this technique.

After completing the teaching that day, Wukong stayed awake all night. He carefully counted the thirty-six techniques—he could already use more than half of them, though he was still a bit unskilled in applying them. But that was fine; over time, he would surely master them effortlessly.

Wukong clearly remembered that in *Journey to the West*, when Wukong learned the seventy-two transformations, he simply “learned the mantras and practiced on his own until he mastered all seventy-two transformations.” Although he had come through time travel, his physical attributes were identical to Wukong’s, as determined by Zhi Zhi Qi—there was no doubt about it.

For the thirty-six techniques, though he knew all the mantras, he could only use a dozen or so. Didn’t this imply, from another perspective, that the transformations of the Heavenly Gang were stronger than those of the Earthly Fiends? It seemed his choice was correct. If he had the chance, he should ask the Patriarch about the transformations of the Earthly Fiends as well.

On the second day, the Patriarch indeed led Wukong out of the cave. With a gesture of his hand, a auspicious cloud drifted down from the sky in an instant. The Patriarch and Wukong flew up on it. Standing on the cloud, Wukong saw that it resembled a turtle’s back, with a head at the front and a tail at the back. No wonder immortals often said “press down on the cloud’s head” — indeed, the cloud had a head.

Seeing Wukong’s confusion, the Patriarch explained, “Flying through clouds is not difficult. All clouds and mists created by heaven and earth can be controlled by us and can change shape as we wish, depending entirely on our will.” Wukong, who did not understand the art of flying through clouds, felt eager. Noticing his impatience, the Patriarch smiled and said, “These tricks of flying through clouds are mere trivialities. Why rush?”

After a while, the cloud dipped slightly and landed on a steep peak. What a magnificent mountain! “Rugged cliffs covered in moss, high cliffs with lush green lichens,” it was a sight like no other Wukong had seen since arriving in the Land of Journey to the West.

On this steep cliff, there were all kinds of strange rocks — shaped like eagle beaks, tiger heads, or camel humps — with countless uneven peaks that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“The place is here,” said the Patriarch.

Following the Patriarch’s instructions, Wukong skillfully applied spells such as moving mountains, pushing earth, and stirring up sand and stones, feeling their immense power — truly remarkable Taoist magic.

Seeing Wukong’s intelligence, the Patriarch led him to fly over more peaks. After passing another steep cliff, they found themselves above an endless ocean. Wukong practiced spells like turning rivers upside down and filling seas, memorizing them thoroughly. Such spells consumed a great deal of spiritual energy. Wukong felt a depletion in the mysterious energy within him, causing discomfort.

“This magic is powerful, but it requires profound spiritual energy to match it. You possess great potential within you, but your skills are still unrefined, wasting much energy. With diligent practice, you can make up for this,” said the Patriarch.

The Patriarch’s words were true. Ordinary Taoist immortals often spent thousands of years in meditation to cultivate their energy, yet achieved only mediocre results. The path to immortality relies heavily on opportunity. Wukong, born as a divine ape, had absorbed countless strands of natural energy from the mystical stones, and with the aid of Laozi’s Nine-Revolution Internal Alchemy Pill, he had fully unleashed his potential, transforming it into spiritual power. By now, his strength was already comparable to that of a Taiyi Golden Immortal — how could he be weaker than others?

Hearing the Patriarch’s truthful words, Wukong felt reassured. Throughout the entire Journey to the West, Wukong had never lost his spiritual energy in battle, so he believed he would be fine as well.

Seeing Wukong skillfully use the Thirty-Six Transformations, the Patriarch said seriously, “Wukong, I observe that you are naturally upright and pure-hearted, unable to bear deceit or evil. If you wish to accumulate merits and ascend to the ranks of immortals, I fear you may end up in disputes and fights. What will you do then?”
Wukong pondered for a while before saying, “As Master says, even if I have to fight, I must not back down or seek a cowardly escape.”
The Patriarch smiled and nodded, “What if you can’t win?”
Wukong replied, “If I can’t win, I’ll run away and settle accounts later. How about that?”
The Patriarch laughed heartily, “But how will you escape?”
Wukong pointed at a floating cloud in the sky and waved to summon it, saying, “Of course, by riding the mist and clouds.”
The Patriarch waved his hand to disperse the clouds and asked again, “What if there are no clouds?”
Wukong replied, “There’s still the Five Elements Escape, the Golden Light Soar, and the Earth Shrink—”
“Stop!” the Patriarch shouted. “These techniques are fine for traveling, but if your opponent can force you to flee, their skills must be far superior to yours. You likely won’t be able to escape that way.”
Wukong pretended to be panicked and said, “Do I even have to release my original spirit?”
“Nonsense! Once the original spirit is released, it’s as if you put yourself in mortal danger. Even if you survive, destroying your physical body will also cost you years of cultivation.”
Wukong knew the Patriarch was testing him, so he pretended to scratch his head anxiously and said, “Then what should I do? What should I do?”
The Patriarch said, “I notice that whenever you use your escape techniques, you always do a somersault. I’ll teach you the Cloud Somersault technique then.”
Wukong suppressed his joy and asked, “I wonder what’s the difference between this Cloud Somersault technique and the method of riding clouds?”