Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 305 - 290: Heart Ape Escapes from the Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 305: Chapter 290: Heart Ape Escapes from the Five Elements Mountain

The Earth Immortal Realm saw the demise of three Great Dao Sages, who were besieged and slain by four Demon Gods.

The fourth Demon God said indifferently, "Having destroyed the Earth Immortal Realm, the beings have met the Immeasurable Calamity, and it is time for us to slumber. It is a pity that Sun Wukong escaped. However, I have a premonition that one day, we will encounter him again! When that time comes, I must shatter his soul into pieces."

The first Demon God nodded and said, "The world that has been created this time indeed contains many formidable characters. Had you not awakened in time, I fear that unforeseen changes would have occurred."

The fourth Demon God said, "I already feel the call of the Great Dao Principles, and it is time to continue our slumber. Let’s conserve strength for the next Immeasurable Great Calamity."

The four Demon Gods flew into the depths of the Chaotic World and then began their long slumber. The Demonic Qi emanating from their bodies transformed into a colossal eggshell, enveloping them within. Endless Great Dao Principles swarmed in, penetrating the "eggshell," allowing their injuries to heal and their mana to gradually recover.

This time, they would sleep for who knows how long, only to awaken during the next Immeasurable Calamity.

"But speak of the great demon suppressed under the Five Fingers Mountain. This demon once ascended to the Celestial Palace; had the Tathagata Buddha not intervened, it would have been impossible to suppress him! Otherwise, by now, all living beings would be in dire straits," said a storytelling master, waving his elegant folding fan, sipping tea, and splattering saliva as he spoke of a legend.

"What is the name of this demon?" an audience member asked.

"This demon is named Sun Wukong. His mana is boundless, and he fought to make all the deities of the heavens flee in terror. Only the Tathagata Buddha could subdue him!" the storyteller said.

He pointed toward a grand mountain shaped like five fingers and said, "That is the place where the Buddha Ancestor suppressed the demon Sun Wukong. For five hundred years, not a single person has dared to approach. The reason is that this demon is extremely fierce. If you get too close, he will tear you apart and chew you up. He particularly enjoys consuming the raw flesh and blood of humans."

The listeners couldn’t help but shiver, yet at that moment, the Five Fingers Mountain began to shake.

The audience was terrified, but the storyteller, accustomed to this, simply laughed lightly and said, "Every year, the Five Fingers Mountain shakes a bit; it’s just that demon turning over. But you need not worry, for the Tathagata Buddha is compassionate, and his Buddhist Law is boundless. That demon will not escape his Five Fingers Mountain."

A scholar by the name of Heaven-Defying listened to the storyteller’s words and couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

The storyteller asked, "Why do you shake your head, sir? Do you think what I said is incorrect?"

Heaven-Defying smiled and said, "It’s not that I find your words incorrect, but rather, Heaven-Defying believes that everything has a cause and effect, and all matters have two sides. You tell stories that are somewhat exaggerated to please the audience and earn money. I, on the other hand, think that Sun Wukong is not truly evil. I would like to see for myself if he can really tear me apart and chew me up."

The storyteller said, "If you go, be careful of your life."

Heaven-Defying still smiled and replied, "Not to worry, not to worry! It’s just a stinking skin, if lost, then so be it."

The listeners couldn’t help but think to themselves, "This scholar truly is a madman!"

Mentally, Heaven-Defying chuckled, "What do you know! Rumor has it that Sun Wukong possesses vast Divine Skills. If I go and have a good conversation with him, and he imparts his mana to me, then won’t I be free to go anywhere under Heaven and Earth? I would live a carefree life while the perspectives of you mundane people seem rather shallow! Fortune favors the bold!"

Swaying slightly, Heaven-Defying stood up, and under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he walked towards the massive Five Fingers Mountain.

When he arrived at the base of the Five Fingers Mountain, he indeed saw a monkey suppressed underneath. The monkey’s body was covered in dazzling golden fur, and it looked incredibly majestic, signaling that it was no ordinary being.

"Oh! You scholar, dare to step into my territory? Are you not afraid I’ll tear you apart and chew you up?" Sun Wukong cackled menacingly, baring his teeth in an incredibly ferocious manner.

"Ha! I’ve heard a little about the Great Sage Equalling Heaven supporting the weak and wielding justice but fall victim to the calculations of the Heavenly Court, ending up in such a plight. I really didn’t know that the Great Sage enjoys feasting on human flesh and blood. Us humans are but bags of flesh; if the Great Sage finds me to your taste, then feel free to consume me!" Heaven-Defying said.

Sun Wukong laughed peculiarly, "Oh! You do have insight, not blinded by the nonsense of the mundane world."

Heaven-Defying asked, "How can I set you free?"

Sun Wukong replied, "That Tathagata has affixed a Talisman on this Five Fingers Mountain, claiming it waits for someone with destiny to unveil it! If you are not afraid of offending the Buddha Bodhisattva, you could try to climb up the Five Fingers Mountain and peel off this Talisman for me. If I am freed, I guarantee you wealth and glory."

Heaven-Defying nodded; the Five Fingers Mountain towered into the clouds, its height immeasurable, possibly tens of thousands of feet. At the base of the mountain, he gathered an abundance of wild fruits.

He climbed Five Fingers Mountain, a challenge marked by its treacherous steepness, but fortunately, his martial arts training made the climb less perilous.

In one day, Heaven-Defying eventually reached the mountain’s midsection. Yet the summit still lay some distance away. He could vaguely make out a huge golden talisman fluttering in the wind at the peak.

After a day’s rest, Heaven-Defying continued his ascent. Blisters had formed on his hands from the rough rocks, causing piercing pain with every effort, but he remained undeterred and kept climbing toward the summit.

It took him three whole days, but Heaven-Defying finally reached the mountaintop. The talisman radiated a golden glow. Heaven-Defying grabbed it and plucked it off.

Sun Wukong laughed heartily from below and shouted, "Just jump down from the summit, and I’ll catch you! Without that talisman, my divine skills can finally be unleashed!"

Heaven-Defying hesitated and glanced at the massive void below him, his heart trembling with apprehension.

Sun Wukong yelled, "If you don’t even have this much courage, then that’s all nonsense! If I say I’ll catch you, I definitely will!"

With no further hesitation, Heaven-Defying closed his eyes, leaped, and jumped down into the vast emptiness.

In that instant, as the wind blew past him, his skin turned ice-cold, and his eyes could barely open. Yet, there was a peculiar sensation; with that jump, it was as if he had transcended, rising above worldly restraints, which made his heart seem broader and more lucid.

"Boom!"

The moment he leaped from Five Fingers Mountain, the mountain crumbled apart. A golden staff shattered the mountain to dust.

Then, a monkey leaped out, stretched its hand, and firmly caught Heaven-Defying.

Touched down, Heaven-Defying’s complexion was deathly pale, but he felt an incomparable comfort in his heart—an unparalleled liberation.

Sun Wukong snickered, "Do you feel comfortable? I went through a similar trial back in the day. Subhuti made me jump down from the Cave of the Three Stars to temper my mind."

Heaven-Defying said, "That jump felt like I transcended the mundane shackles of mortals, a sensation of liberation."

Sun Wukong responded, "Not bad, not bad, you do possess some ability! In that case, I’ll bestow upon you nine generations of wealth and glory, allowing you nine lifetimes of reincarnation to cultivate a soul of great virtue and kindness, then follow me to Western Heaven for the scriptures. I want to see what schemes that old Tathagata is playing at!"

Heaven-Defying said, "Isn’t a quest for the scriptures in Western Heaven an act of achieving full merit?"

Sun Wukong cursed, "To hell with full merit! I don’t buy into Tathagata’s nonsense; the old geezer is a plotter. On the surface, he’s all kindness and compassion, but deep down, he’s extremely calculating! First, I will ensure you become a person of great virtue and kindness, with a strong connection to the Buddhist Family. Then we head to Western Heaven for the scriptures. This way, you’ll have some protection and prevent Tathagata from finding someone to trick me."

Upon hearing this, Heaven-Defying nodded, "What is a person of great virtue and kindness?"

Sun Wukong explained, "That’s a person of goodness for nine generations, key to the scripture mission. If I don’t help you cultivate such a being, Tathagata will surely find someone else, and inevitably, you’d end up under his control. You have an excellent spirit root; you should come with me for the scriptures."

Heaven-Defying did not hesitate. The opportunity to learn from this extraordinary saint was the greatest there could be, beyond any compare. What’s nine lifetimes of reincarnation as a good person, a being of great virtue and kindness? He was ready to take the plunge.

Heaven-Defying said, "Then I’ll leave it to the Great Saint to arrange it!"

Sun Wukong declared, "Alright, alright, excellent! In this life, I’ll make you an emperor for a change! Lion Camel Kingdom is a perfect place; it’s under the control of my brothers."

Heaven-Defying nodded, "Good!"

Sun Wukong then grasped Heaven-Defying and set off for Lion Camel Kingdom.

To discover what happens next, please wait for the following installment. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)