Volume 4: The End of Cosmic Secrets, Chapter 435: Be Cautious

Wukong was trapped by the spell of Bodhisattva Nili. The only pair of eyes on his body could move, and as he saw that everyone else had been freed—even those Yellow-Clothed Arhats whose cultivation was far weaker than his had returned to normal—himself remained motionless.
Since Bodhisattva Nili appeared, Wukong had felt unwell. Logically, in the Buddhist hell, aside from the forces of fate and their essence, there should be nothing else. Yet this feeling was as if he were constantly under the gaze of some eyes, and the “leaf of fate” within him grew restless. It seemed that Nili’s spell was specifically designed to trap him—was it a spell created to counter the Divine Ape of Fate?
The situation on the battlefield changed rapidly, leaving Wukong dazzled. However, it wasn’t too risky for the Three Pure Ones and others to hold back the Buddhas; the real focus was on Xuan Nu, Ran Deng, Ksitigarbha, and Bodhisattva Nili.
Nili transformed into a body of black mist, which Xuan Nu immediately recognized as being powered by the Great Sun Tathagata. Wukong examined the black mist carefully and sensed a trace of aura that filled him with fear. His first thought was that this aura could not possibly exist in this era, or even in this universe! Such a force had never been seen before. Xuan Nu said it was the aura of the Great Sun Tathagata—could it really be that the Great Sun Tathagata possessed such a power? Wukong didn’t know what to call this strange aura, but he could faintly tell it was a force opposite to that of fate. It was truly mysterious—how could the force of fate and its opposite coexist within Nili?
While Wukong was still pondering, Ran Deng used his ultimate move. Seeing a golden thread pierce into Nili’s body, Ran Deng’s entire body instantly lost its luster. Wukong had a badpremonition—his master wouldn’t…
At that moment, Ran Deng sacrificed himself and plunged into the black mist. Wukong’s heart sank even further. Since he couldn’t even speak, what could he do?
Ran Deng’s self-destruction happened in an instant. Wukong felt darkness before his eyes and suffered heartache as if torn apart by a thousand knives, then lost consciousness. He didn’t know how long passed before he slowly regained consciousness, only to find Dayu supporting him.
Wukong immediately cried out, “Master!”
Seeing Dayu’s gloomy eyes avoid his gaze, Wukong realized that what had happened was not a nightmare but reality! His master was truly gone.

Wukong suppressed his grief and looked around, realizing he was still in the Buddhist hell. At this moment, aside from the Three Pure Ones, everyone else was fighting fiercely around Ni Li. With Randeng dead, his disciples were acting wildly, yet none could touch Ni Li’s body. From time to time, figures in yellow would fall, seemingly trapped by Ni Li’s strange tactics.

The Three Pure Ones had now stabilized the situation. Yuan Shi had set up a large formation in this realm to trap the Buddhas inside. This formation could be operated solely by the Three Pure Ones, allowing them to spare forces to deal with Ni Li.

Seeing that the situation was difficult to resolve, Wukong knew that even Randeng couldn’t defeat Ni Li, so his own efforts would be futile. He was not reckless by nature. Although Randeng had died at Ni Li’s hands and he harbored deep hatred for Ni Li, he wouldn’t rashly charge in to risk his life.

He understood that killing Ni Li wouldn’t help—Buddha’s greatest secret still lay with his third incarnation, the Great Sun Buddha, who had yet to be born. As the leader of the Creative Divine Apes, he needed to keep himself alive to destroy Buddha’s plans from the root.

Thinking of Randeng, Wukong sighed deeply again. Randeng, born of heaven and earth, originating from Pangu, was originally unique. But because Buddha took a liking to him, he became a pawn. Though he later returned to the right path, he still committed many mistakes.

Randeng’s self-destruction seemed reckless, but to Wukong, it became clear what Randeng had intended. With his cultivation, he had long transcended concepts of right and wrong, karma, and Buddhist or Taoist techniques—none of which could hinder him, as evidenced by his ability to grow hair again. Therefore, his decision to sacrifice himself was not out of guilt for past actions of helping the evil. If he had still clung to such past mistakes, how could he still be Randeng?

Randeng’s death was still for Wukong’s sake!

When first entering the Buddhist hell, Wukong couldn’t decide whether to absorb the essence from the Creative Pool and sought advice from Randeng. Randeng snapped, “You are not the Stone Monkey of Flower-Fruit Mountain—you are the Intelligent Divine Ape! The leader of the Seven Divine Apes. If you seek help in every situation, heaven and earth will be lost!”

Recalling this now, Wukong was in tears. If it weren’t for his own incompetence and inability to shoulder responsibilities, why would Randeng have to pay such a high price to warn him?

Since entering this Journey to the West world, Wukong, thanks to his irreplaceable advantage of being able to travel through time, had become resourceful in many ways. Yet he also developed a habit of relying on others—seeking help from the Three Pure Ones, Xuan Nu, Ksitigarbha, Dayu, and Houtu… Upon reflection, he realized he had never truly developed a stubborn heart willing to take responsibility.

His journey had been full of hardships and obstacles, but because he was skillful at avoiding danger, he had never faced real peril. Was this a skill or a fatal weakness?

Whenever faced with a difficult problem, the first thing that comes to mind is—someone will surely hold up the sky if it falls! There’s Qilin Zhenwu, Dayu Houtu, the Three Pure Ones and Xuan Nu, and Master Randeng… Is it due to insufficient cultivation, or is it fear of difficulty?

Thanks to the Spirit Ape, I can move freely wherever I go. Everyone is patient, accommodating, respectful, and protective of me. I seem like a spoiled child—when have I ever done anything for others?

Since Randeng began teaching disciples on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, he has favored the Creation faction. Though his heart leans toward the Dao, he has endured in Buddhism for countless years just to lend a hand to the Creation faction at critical moments.

Because the Yin-Yang Spirit Ape Tang Seng was under Buddha’s control, Xuan Nu could no longer bear it and took action. Only then did Randeng break away from Buddha and fully side with the other side. When I forged the Tianji Stick, he devoted all the power of Ling Mountain to protect me. When I entered the Buddhist hell, he even fought in person…

How could Randeng not know Buddha’s power? If he had joined Buddha, he would likely have held a position second only to Buddha within Buddhism. But he never had such thoughts; from beginning to end, he always thought of Wukong. His death today further shows his deep dedication.

Recalling all that Randeng had done for me, I realize that I am the most selfish person in this world. What about “never lose your true heart, and never let others lose theirs”? Where has my true heart gone? Where is the vow I made back then at the Great Sage Zen Temple to uphold my true self? Most of those fighting in this battle have little to do with this matter, yet I, the one who should be at the center, can’t even move!

Master, I understand now. What this world needs is not the skillful but self-serving Sun Wukong, but a Spirit Ape who dares to take responsibility and puts the world first!

The world owes me favors, its cultivators are stronger than me, and everyone can help me—but the world is not me! I am the only existence in this world—the Spirit of Creation!

Dayu kept supporting Wukong. Seeing Wukong’s eyes blazing with anger, he reminded him, “Wukong, you still can’t move.” Overwhelmed by grief and anger, Wukong realized then that he still couldn’t move.

He looked afar at Ni Li, who also glanced his way amidst the chaos, followed by a sinister voice: “Spirit Ape, if I want to suppress you, you’ll never be able to rise again!”

Hearing this, a light suddenly ignited in Wukong’s heart. He suddenly remembered being trapped under the Five Elements Mountain back then.

Buddha had trapped him there, and Wukong had sensed that the Creation energy within him was becoming unstable. Then, threads of Creation energy began to flow outward through his meridians.

A long time had passed since this incident, and I had almost forgotten it. Today, Bodhisattva Nili awakened me as if from a dream. So that’s how it is!
It turned out that the Five Elements Mountain was not meant to suppress Sun Wukong but solely to contain the Divine Ape of Creation. The force that opposed creation already existed there on the Five Elements Mountain. It became clear that Buddha’s creation of his third body was indeed aimed at the Divine Ape of Creation!
At this thought, Wukong immediately came up with a solution. He silently recited the phrase “the second true form,” and indeed, his appearance changed instantly—he transformed into the likeness of Zhuanxu, with all restraining forces vanishing from his body.
Wukong drew out his Tianji Stick and rushed into the formation, shouting, “Arrogant!”
Nili was shocked beyond measure upon seeing Wukong free himself, but he also understood the whole situation, recalling that Zhuanxu had once been captured by Randeng. Connecting the dots, he immediately figured it out and shouted, “So you’ve cultivated the second true form! Hmph! Randeng died not in vain!”
Nili was referring to how Randeng had captured Wukong by trickery. Hearing Nili bring up this old wound, Wukong became furious and swung his Tianji Stick at Nili with all his might!
But Nili wasn’t afraid of Wukong. His cultivation level was more than ten times higher than Wukong’s. A mass of black mist surged forth and enveloped the Tianji Stick. As soon as the black mist touched the stick, Wukong felt a strange force seeping into it. The tip of the stick disappeared halfway in, but only five parts remained by the time it reached the middle.
Wukong was puzzled and investigated further before suddenly understanding. It turned out that earlier, in the Buddhist hell, the Tianji Stick had absorbed a great deal of light black essence of creation. This black mist actually counteracted much of the essence stored in the stick!
Realizing the power of this black mist, Wukong quickly stepped back. This was no trivial matter—he needed to think carefully. Buddha’s third body had been created using the force that opposed creation!
This force, born from creation itself, could counteract the essence of creation. What exactly did it aim to do? Whose essence of creation did it seek to counteract? What would the world become without such essence of creation?
Wukong withdrew from the battle formation, and Bodhisattva Nili naturally pursued him. Xuan Nu hurried to meet him. Every time she fought against Nili, she felt intense fluctuations in the essence of creation within her body, which was quite uncomfortable. Looking at Bodhisattva Nili in the faint mist, she also admired Randeng greatly. If it weren’t for Randeng’s willingness to sacrifice himself and destroy nearly half of Nili’s black mist, no one would be able to control Bodhisattva Nili at that moment.

Everyone rushed forward at once, sparing no magical powers or techniques as they unleashed them on Ni Li. Although Ni Li relied on the body of the Great Sun Tathagata, it had many flaws. Yet his power to reverse fate was astonishing; he thought he could easily capture the Spiritual Intelligent Monkey, never expecting that Ran Deng would ruin his plans.
Wukong’s second form was even more shocking than Ran Deng’s death. Now, it was even more difficult for him to break free from the encirclement and capture Wukong.