Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System
Chapter 162: Three-Life Stone

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Three-Life Stone

The matchmaker god carefully invited Sun Wukong into the Hall of Marriage Fates.

Sun Wukong wasn’t shy. He directly sat in the seat of honor and asked, "Why don’t you tell old Sun how you match people with red threads? Are all the marriages in this world really tied together by your red threads?"

The matchmaker god replied anxiously, "Your Excellency, you really flatter me. How could I have such ability?

"Marriage destiny is determined by Heaven itself. The red threads I tie are all according to the Marriage Destiny Book. It’s for those men and women whose fate is destined but must undergo trials, to help sustain the order of marriage bonds."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong commanded authoritatively, "The Marriage Destiny Book? Bring it here for old Sun to take a look."

The matchmaker god dared not delay and quickly fetched a book carved out of jade with complicated red patterns on its surface that shimmered mystically.

He explained, "If Your Excellency wishes to see marriage destinies, simply write your birthplace and name with your mana."

"What a fine treasure," remarked Sun Wukong as he took the book. With a wave of his hand, mana surged, and vertical characters reading "Fruit Mountain Monkey King, Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong" appeared on the jade book.

Next to the name, additional writing appeared: "Wife, Huashan Three Saints’ Mother, Yang Chan."

A flash of terrifying light briefly crossed Sun Wukong’s eyes as he maintained a clear and bright spiritual platform.

"Ah, this..." The matchmaker god was horrified.

"Why panic?" asked Sun Wukong.

"To report to Your Excellency," the matchmaker god hurriedly explained, "ever since the Emperor of Eternal Life established the heavenly law, and Your Excellency initiated it with the Heavenly Dao, the immortals of the Heavenly Court have lost their marriage destinies."

"Then why did Princess Yaoji, Princess Weaver Girl, and Princess Long Ji have marriage destinies in the past?" Sun Wukong’s voice was deep and stern.

"Your Excellency," the matchmaker god quickly replied, "although marriage destinies are determined by Heaven, affection is unpredictable and ever-changing. Therefore, there are always some exceptional variations in marriage destinies."

"Heh, what a variation!" Sun Wukong sneered, pushing the whole issue onto this concept of variations. He then asked, "What if these variations are deliberately engineered by someone?"

"Your Excellency, I dare not speculate," the matchmaker god became more anxious, "The Marriage Destiny Book was bestowed by Lady Nuwa, and when I was entrusted with this treasure, it was to connect some love-lorn men and women in the mortal realm who lacked fate,

but for the marriage destinies of several imperial ladies, and Your Excellency’s, how could I dare interfere!"

Sun Wukong scratched his face thoughtfully, convinced that the matchmaker god wouldn’t dare lie, for the matter was indeed too significant for a minor deity like him to handle.

So what was the deal with his and Yang Chan’s marriage fate? Could it really just be a variation in fate?

After pondering for a moment, Sun Wukong’s gaze sharp as arrows, he asked, "Apart from you, who else can alter the Marriage Destiny Book?"

"The Marriage Destiny Book records the marriage destinies of all beings, and only the god of marriage destinies can change it," the matchmaker god hurriedly replied. "But altering someone’s marriage destiny is an act against Heaven and can bring about karmic calamities.

Altering mortals’ fates is one thing, but changing the destinies of imperial ladies or Your Excellency’s would result in tremendous karmic consequences.

I would think... surely no one would dare take such risks?"

He didn’t answer directly, but Sun Wukong understood. There were only a few in the Heavenly Court with authority over marriage destinies,

and besides the matchmaker god, those who could have access to the Marriage Destiny Book included the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of Marriage Fates, Fu Yuan the Southern Extremity Longevity Star, the Vice Hall Master, Lord Tianxi, and the Red Luan Star, Princess Long Ji.

Others, like the Six Harmonies Star, Peach Blossom Star, and Red Beauty Star, while possessing some powers over marriage destinies, couldn’t access the Marriage Destiny Book and lacked the strength to endure karmic retribution.

So it could only be among those first three, who had the necessary power and status.

Of course, these were only his speculations; he still needed evidence.

But where could he find such proof?

Sun Wukong scratched his face again. The Marriage Destiny Book didn’t seem to show any sign of who might be responsible.

While he was contemplating, a middle-aged man reeking of alcohol, with his chest bared and hair in disarray—a completely slovenly appearance—stumbled into the hall from outside.

He took a blurry look at the two individuals insider the hall, then burst into a drunken slur, "Another lovesick man inquiring about marriage destiny? Little does he know that the matchmaker god’s red thread only governs one life, but the Three-Life Stone determines the fates of three lifetimes."

"Three-Life Stone?" Sun Wukong focused his gaze, "You there, explain yourself clearly!"

But the drunk merely collapsed in a corner by the entrance of the Hall of Marriage Fates and began snoring loudly.

"Hey!" Sun Wukong rose to go wake him up.

"Your Excellency, please don’t disturb him," the matchmaker god hurriedly intervened.

"What’s the matter? Is he the king of Heaven himself?" asked Sun Wukong.

"Your Excellency, this is indeed another Vice Hall Master of my Hall of Marriage Fates, Lord Tianxi," the matchmaker god introduced.

"Oh?" Sun Wukong’s eyes sparkled, immediately realizing that the scene just now was probably Di Xin pretending to drunkenly spill truths. Thus, he didn’t go to wake him but asked the matchmaker god instead, "Then you tell me, what’s the deal with the Three-Life Stone?"

"To report to Your Excellency, the Three-Life Stone records the past, present, and future lives of all beings," the matchmaker god said. "It indeed contains information related to marriage destinies."

"Where is this Three-Life Stone?" Sun Wukong pressed on.

"It’s located by the Naihe Bridge, on the River of Forgetfulness Bank," stated the matchmaker god.

Hearing this, Sun Wukong remembered seeing a stone standing there when he previously visited the Netherworld to see Meng Po.

With that in mind, it was time for another visit to the Netherworld!

He nodded at the drunken Di Xin and left the Hall of Marriage Fates directly.

Meanwhile, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Congratulations on completing the suggestion—talk to the matchmaker god for answers, rewarded with a tier-four treasure chest]

[Congratulations on completing the suggestion—seek help from Lord Tianxi or Princess Long Ji, rewarded with a tier-four treasure chest]

...

It was not until after Sun Wukong had left for a while that Di Xin opened his eyes, which showed no trace of drunkenness,

He looked at the Matchmaker with an expressionless face, then tucked his hands into his sleeves and walked toward the depths of the Hall of Marriage Fates.

The Matchmaker could only bend his waist, his face filled with a forced smile.

At that moment, Yang Chan, Yang Jian, and Lord Tai Bai arrived at the Hall of Marriage Fates.

Yang Jian and Lord Tai Bai were surprised to see that familiar figure. How long had it been since Lord Tianxi had shown himself? Could this time be because of Sun Wukong?

Yang Chan had not met Di Xin and hurriedly asked the Matchmaker, "Has the Celestial Venerable of the North Pole arrived?"

Seeing these three, the Matchmaker already knew their intentions and quickly relayed Sun Wukong’s inquiry about marriage destiny.

When Yang Chan heard that "Huashan’s Third Saint Mother Yang Chan" was listed as Sun Wukong’s wife in the Marriage Destiny Book, her eyes lit up, unable to hide her surprise and delight.

Yang Jian, on the other hand, had a dark expression and clenched his fists. Any previous admiration he had for Sun Wukong was now gone.

"Second brother, let’s go to the netherworld quickly!" Yang Chan urged.

"I’m not going. Follow me to the mouth of the Yangtze River," Yang Jian said in a deep voice.

"Then I’ll go find mother," Yang Chan turned to leave.

"Go, go, I’ll go," Yang Jian conceded to her.

Lord Tai Bai watched with a smile, maintaining his silence. Before leaving, he nodded to the Matchmaker and followed the siblings to the netherworld.

After everyone had left, the Matchmaker finally sighed helplessly, "Why go to such lengths!"

...

Palace of the Emperor of Eternal Life.

Southern Extremity Longevity Star sat at the head, while Ziwei Great Emperor sat at the foot.

Both were silent, especially the Southern Extremity Longevity Star, who was frowning deeply. He still couldn’t understand how Sun Wukong had discovered their scheme this time?

The marriage scheme was meant to be the most secretive. Supposedly, Sun Wukong would never notice and would quietly fall into the net of marriage destiny.

"Could it be Di Xin?" Ziwei Great Emperor asked.

"It’s hard to say," the Southern Extremity Longevity Star shook his head lightly. "But we will have to be more cautious in the future. This Mortal Emperor, though he seems to live in a drunken dream, has probably never been content in his heart."

Ziwei Great Emperor remained calm and then suddenly said, "Sun Wukong has gone to the netherworld."

"You go and engage him first," ordered the Southern Extremity Longevity Star, frowning.

"I can’t stall for long," Ziwei Great Emperor stated. His incarnation was the Yin Emperor sitting in the netherworld’s Fengdu City, but in Sun Wukong’s eyes, he probably wouldn’t count for much.

"Stall as long as you can," the Southern Extremity Longevity Star said solemnly.

Ziwei Great Emperor nodded and said no more.

...

On Sun Wukong’s way to the lower realm, he directly opened two treasure chests.

[You have opened a fourth-tier treasure chest, congratulations on obtaining Dao of Artifacts insight (Triple Layer), Dao of Formations insight (Triple Layer), Matchmaker’s Thread-Pulling Mastery.]

[You have opened a fourth-tier treasure chest, congratulations on obtaining Staff Dao insight (Sixfold Layer), Bow Dao insight (Sixfold Layer), Di Xin’s Resentment.]

"Hmm, not bad at all."

As the mysterious insights of the laws merged into his Primordial Spirit, Sun Wukong felt a surge of joy in his heart.

Ever since he had taken Ao Lie as a disciple ten days ago in heaven, which was a decade in the lower realm, he had been following two daily suggestions – to cultivate the Nine-Turn Mystical Art with Dynamic Cultivation Technique and the Nine-Turn Primordial Art with Static Cultivation Technique, earning two first-tier treasure chests daily.

Though the tiers of the treasure chests were not high and the chances of obtaining supreme rewards were slim, the sheer quantity meant there was always a chance for good rewards.

After a decade, all four of his major laws had improved, his cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough to complete Daluo, and his strength had grown much stronger than it was ten years ago.

If he encountered someone like the Quasi-Saint of Merit-Scaring Sun again, he wouldn’t need to resort to cunning methods to win. He would be able to suppress the opponent easily with his true strength!

Then, he checked Di Xin’s Resentment to learn more about this Mortal Emperor.

Traveling down from the Nine Heavens, he didn’t stop in the mortal world but went straight to the netherworld.

Sun Wukong still remembered his last visit when Nether King Qin Guang, to plot against his rival the King of Hell, Yanluo, had brought him, a Daluo Golden Immortal not yet crossed out from the Book of Life and Death, to the netherworld.

In the end, Qin Guang lost his position as Lord of the Netherworld and was cast into the cycle of reincarnation for a hundred lifetimes before his return.

Returning to the netherworld this time, he was no longer the obscure Monkey King.

Now, he was the celebrated Celestial Venerable of the North Pole, Great Sage Equalling Heaven Sun Wukong.

No sooner had he arrived at the netherworld than patrolling specters and emissaries spotted him, their souls nearly scattering in terror, and they hurriedly ran to report everywhere.

Sun Wukong knew this was the infamy left by his Six-Eared Macaque back in the day.

Although the Six-Eared had been poisoned to death by him with a drop of Luo Tian soul elixir during the suppression of demons in the North Sea, the bad reputation that followed didn’t dissipate so easily.

"Today, old Sun might also have to make some trouble in the netherworld," a fierce light flashed in Sun Wukong’s eyes.

If there was indeed evidence recorded on the Three-Life Stone, without guessing, he could tell that those who messed with his marriage destiny would definitely not let him go to investigate.

After all, the Chan Teaching had their people in the netherworld too.

Without delay, he turned into a golden light and headed straight for the River of Forgetfulness.