Chapter Nine: The Heavenly Gang Golden Elixir Is Formed

Yuan Wuji, having obtained the Thirty-Six Transformations of Heavenly Gang, did not return to his own palace. Instead, under the arrangement of the Golden Spirit Lady, he stayed in Doumu Palace for cultivation. There, a special chamber existed where time flowed as it did in the heavens: one year within equaled a single day in the celestial realm.

To master divine arts, one did not require the densest spiritual energy, but rather, time to comprehend and grasp the profound mysteries of these powers.

Because Yuan Wuji had received the Thirty-Six Transformations of Heavenly Gang, the Golden Spirit Lady sent him straightaway to train, without notifying Xiaoyu. For a day or two, Xiaoyu assumed Yuan Wuji was with the Star Lord of the Nine Luminaries. Yet, when ten days had passed and he still had not come, she went to his palace, only to find it empty. She then sought out the Star Lord and learned that Yuan Wuji was with the Golden Spirit Lady, so she hurried to Doumu Palace, where the Lady informed her that Yuan Wuji was in seclusion.

Relieved to hear that Yuan Wuji was cultivating, Xiaoyu’s heart settled.

The Golden Spirit Lady, noticing how worried Xiaoyu was, teased her: “So concerned for your future husband? When the time comes, I’ll act as your matchmaker and have him marry you.”

Hearing such words, Xiaoyu’s cheeks turned beet-red, and she fled in embarrassment.

Watching her, the Golden Spirit Lady saw a reflection of her own younger self, though all had changed with time.

Meanwhile, Yuan Wuji, shut away in cultivation, was oblivious to all that transpired outside. Before his seclusion, the Golden Spirit Lady had expressly instructed: he must not break through his current level.

Yuan Wuji did not know the deeper meaning behind her words, but he trusted the Golden Spirit Lady would never harm him, so in this retreat, he focused solely on mastering the divine art.

Ordinary practitioners might spend centuries or even millennia on the Thirty-Six Transformations and still not achieve half of them. Yet as soon as Yuan Wuji began, he swiftly entered their essence, as though these arts had been crafted for him alone. Every incantation, every gesture, felt as natural as if he had always known them.

One year.

Ten years.

Twenty years.

Thirty years.

While Yuan Wuji was on the verge of achieving minor success with the Thirty-Six Transformations, a silent, powerful ripple emanated from the Devouring Demon Heart within him. Instantly, the Golden Spirit Lady in Doumu Palace suppressed it with her formidable magic. The forces within the Celestial Court were tangled and chaotic, including the Chan Sect, the Buddhist order, and others. Should word of this disturbance reach them, Yuan Wuji might well be discovered. The Golden Spirit Lady had already staked everything on Yuan Wuji in the coming Journey to the West.

“This must be the first awakening of the Devouring Demon Heart,” she murmured.

Yuan Wuji himself had not expected that, as he reached minor mastery of the Thirty-Six Transformations, he would condense a golden core right at the heart of the Devouring Demon Heart. Now, this rice-grain-sized Heavenly Gang Golden Core seemed to be the key to unlocking the Devouring Demon Heart, and so, at the moment of minor mastery, the heart underwent its first awakening.

Now, Yuan Wuji could sense the immense power latent within the Devouring Demon Heart. He even felt, briefly, as if he were invincible under heaven. But he soon shook off this feeling, certain nonetheless that, when his innate divine power reached perfection, it would have the might to devour all gods and Buddhas across the cosmos.

This first awakening gave Yuan Wuji a deeper understanding of the Thirty-Six Transformations.

Another twenty years passed, and that year Yuan Wuji emerged from seclusion. Though he had only reached minor attainment in the art, the gains he made surpassed what full mastery might have brought. Had the Devouring Demon Heart not awakened, he might have ended his retreat early, sensing no further progress. But its awakening led him to deeper insights, so he spent another twenty years in contemplation. Truly, this was a supreme art of offense—its dominance unmatched.

“You’re out! You must have gained much,” the Golden Spirit Lady greeted him with evident pleasure.

Yuan Wuji had thought that after fifty years in seclusion, with only minor success, the Lady would be disappointed. He planned to report his true gains, not wanting her to lose faith in him. But it seemed she already knew.

“I never expected to gain so much,” Yuan Wuji replied.

“This art seems almost as if it were tailored for you,” she said.

“Master, what do you mean?” Although Yuan Wuji considered his innate talent as a Handsome-Arm Gibbon to be strong, there were other prodigies with extraordinary gifts—why then did she praise him so?

“With your talent, thirty years is enough to reach minor mastery. But I did not expect your innate power—the Devouring Demon Heart—to catalyze the formation of the Heavenly Gang Golden Core. Since ancient times, how many who practiced the Thirty-Six Transformations have managed to produce such a core?” she explained.

Yuan Wuji had not realized the significance of this golden core, but he had another gain he wished to share, though the Golden Spirit Lady cut him off.

“I know—you’ve grasped the principle of ‘four nines’ in the Thirty-Six Transformations. When combined, its thirty-six arts fall into four categories, which can be further merged into nine great offensive powers. If you manage to blend the nine categories, they form the Four Supreme Heavenly Gang Arts. But with your current cultivation, you cannot wield those yet, nor can you continuously deploy the nine great offensive powers.”

“Master, how do you know so much?” Yuan Wuji could not help but admire her; she was indeed the leader of all the stars.

“In all the ages, only a handful have formed the Heavenly Gang Golden Core. Only those who have can cultivate the Four Supreme Arts and the Nine Great Powers, and only then can one unleash the true might of the Thirty-Six Transformations.”

“I started with only a tentative hope, never imagining your innate gift would be so extraordinary, even to the point of forming the Heavenly Gang Golden Core,” she said, her tone full of praise.

“Master, what about the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations?” Yuan Wuji thought of Sun Wukong and asked.

“Of course they exist, but they are not suited to you. You cannot form the Earthly Fiend Golden Core, so don’t be greedy,” she admonished, warning him not to covet what was not his.

“So, Sun Wukong never formed the Earthly Fiend Golden Core. Otherwise, in his havoc at the Celestial Palace, or when subdued by the Tathagata, we would have seen him use his innate powers, but we never did, not even in Journey to the West. The Six-Eared Macaque, however, might have managed to form a minor core—how else could it know of the rift between Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong? During the ‘Real and Fake Monkey King’ episode, no one in heaven or earth could tell the impostor was the Six-Eared Macaque, but perhaps his core was only at a minor stage, which is why Di Ting and the Tathagata could see through him. When Journey to the West begins, I must muddy the waters well,” Yuan Wuji mused inwardly.

“Yes, I will heed your teachings, Master. Now that I have minor mastery, what should I do next?” he asked.

“The Thirty-Six Transformations are an art of offense, not something to be practiced in seclusion alone. Only through constant combat can you reach perfection, and only in the crucible of life and death can you comprehend its true power.”

“Then, Master, where should I go to train?” Yuan Wuji did not wish to cause trouble in the Celestial Court; if he were caught and thrown into the celestial prison, that was not something he wished to endure, even if no one would dare harm him.

“This place is not suitable for your training. Go to the mortal world, but remember—do not harm innocent people. Should you do so, karma will bind you, and you will never attain the true path.” The Golden Spirit Lady explained the situation in the human realm.

“Yes, Master, I will remember.” The chance to roam the world was exactly to Yuan Wuji’s liking; after all, he was a monkey—how could he be expected to sit and meditate forever?

“When you arrive, seek out the Bull Demon King of Mount Jilei in Xiniu Hezhou. Mention my name, and he will receive you as a brother. But do not spread my name carelessly, or you may invite disaster upon yourself.” And then she added, “Now, hurry back and spend some time with Xiaoyu. The girl was beside herself with worry, thinking you had disappeared.”

“Haha!” Yuan Wuji gave an awkward laugh to ease the tension—he had indeed forgotten to tell Xiaoyu beforehand. He would certainly cherish her well when he returned. Just thinking of her made his heart burn with warmth. Moreover, it seemed the Golden Spirit Lady approved of their union. In any case, he was eager to go and see Xiaoyu!

Watching Yuan Wuji dash off in haste, the Golden Spirit Lady recalled the anxious look on Xiaoyu’s face when she thought he had vanished. With a sigh, she murmured, “Once upon a time, I too was so moved by matters of the heart.”