Chapter Four: The Grand Path of the Golden Core

Xiaoyu had never heard anyone speak to her in such a way before. Ever since her birth in the mortal world, she had lived in a haze, her consciousness yet to awaken, and so she had no friends around her. When she finally tasted the Fruit of Transformation and was brought to the Celestial Court by the Golden Spirit Lady, she spent nearly every day by her side. There was no one like the Long-Armed Ape Monkey to serve as a companion, someone so much like herself; in fact, one could say that the Long-Armed Ape Monkey was the first friend she had made in the Celestial Court.

Especially now, when the Long-Armed Ape Monkey spoke so plainly.

“You’re not as powerful as I am yet; in the future, it’ll be me protecting you,” Xiaoyu turned her face toward Yuan Wuji, locking eyes with him as she spoke.

“You’d better get some rest! We still have to see the Lady.” Unable to bear Yuan Wuji’s gaze lingering upon her, Xiaoyu turned her face away and closed her eyes, lost in thought.

...

“You can’t fly yet; we’d better go to see the Lady early, or it’d be bad if we were late,” Xiaoyu turned her head to Yuan Wuji beside her.

Children are, after all, children. Yesterday they had blushed, gazing at each other with deep emotion, and today it was as if nothing had happened. Whether the words spoken yesterday had truly found a place in their hearts, only they themselves would know.

Standing before the grand Palace of Doumu in the Palace of Kan, even though they’d seen it just the day before, it was still awe-inspiring. Truly magnificent!

“My Lady, I have brought the little monkey,” Xiaoyu led Yuan Wuji into the Hall, and softly addressed the Golden Spirit Lady, who was sitting in meditation before them.

“Since you’ve brought him, you may go and practice now,” the Golden Spirit Lady did not open her eyes, but spoke these words.

Once Xiaoyu had left, the Golden Spirit Lady slowly opened her eyes, studying Yuan Wuji carefully.

“How have you fared in your studies with Xiaoyu?” she asked.

“At Xiaoyu’s place, I realized I had no name, so I chose one for myself.”

“And what name is that?”

“I have not learned much yet, so I boldly chose the name Yuan Wuji for myself.”

“Yuan Wuji? You are, after all, of the ape kind. Shedding your beastly nature and taking Yuan as your surname is fitting enough. As for Wuji—meaning ‘without restraint’—it suits the temperament of your grandmaster very well! That you could choose this name for yourself is rare indeed.” The Golden Spirit Lady nodded her approval.

“Grandmaster? Where is my grandmaster now—may I greet him?” Yuan Wuji naturally knew who her master was, but could not say so directly. The Golden Spirit Lady was his master now, and since she mentioned his grandmaster, as the apprentice’s disciple, it was only proper to ask after him. It would not do to feign deafness.

“Your task now is to cultivate your Dao. You need not concern yourself with your grandmaster at this time,” the Golden Spirit Lady replied calmly.

“Understood, Master.”

“You are one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys of the World—the Long-Armed Ape Monkey. From birth you could speak, and draw in the essence of heaven and earth of your own accord. You are an extraordinary creature of the primordial world; even in your mother’s womb you absorbed the life force of the mountains and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, leaving the mountains barren and lifeless.” As the Golden Spirit Lady spoke, she could not help but marvel at the domineering nature of the Long-Armed Ape Monkey. Not yet born, yet already cultivating—one could even say he was ‘a scourge upon the land.’

“And so, at your birth, the Three Flowers Gathered Atop your head. With diligent cultivation and by forming an inner elixir, you can attain the power of an Immortal.”

Who would have thought I’d one day be the protagonist, able to level up so quickly right from the start?

“Master, is there a way you can help me?” Such a great opportunity before him, Yuan Wuji resolved to cherish it and not become complacent.

“If you had been born in the mortal realm and absorbed the spirit of heaven and earth on your own, when the Three Flowers Gathered, the elixir you formed within would be a demon core, not the orthodox Dao of our sect—more like those earthly monsters who devour humans,” the Golden Spirit Lady explained.

“I have no wish to become an earthly monster. I wish to cultivate the orthodox Dao,” Yuan Wuji replied, exasperated. Why did masters always like to keep their disciples in suspense?

“What I am to teach you is the Grand Way of the Golden Elixir. The Golden Elixir is famed throughout the ages; for thousands of years, those who pursue this path have been countless. Some have given up their fortunes, their families, high office and power, retreating into the mountains just to move the heavens and form a connection with the Golden Elixir. The Golden Elixir’s true transmission is rare to encounter but easy to attain Dao through, while other methods are easy to come by but difficult to complete. Throughout history, those who have received the true teaching of the Golden Elixir have almost all attained immortality.”

The Golden Spirit Lady’s words were simple and clear: even if others were to give up everything to learn, she would not teach them lightly. But those who truly received the Golden Elixir’s transmission would surely become immortal.

“The wondrous secret of perfect integration, cherish your cultivation—this is all there is to say. It all comes down to essence, energy, and spirit; guard them well and never let them leak. Do not let them leak; keep them within, and you shall flourish by my transmission. Remember these formulas—they will bring much benefit. Eliminate evil desires, and you will find clarity and coolness. With clarity, you will shine bright, and can admire the full moon upon the elixir platform. The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun the crow; the turtle and serpent intertwine as they wish. In their intertwining, your essence is firm, and you can cultivate the golden lotus amidst fire. Condense the five elements in reverse; when your work is complete, you may become an immortal or a Buddha at will. This is the general formula of the Golden Elixir Way; its foundation lies here. Remember it well—once you have formed the Golden Elixir, I can teach you the supreme arts of our sect,” the Golden Spirit Lady said earnestly, gazing at Yuan Wuji.

At first, as the Golden Spirit Lady began to speak of such profound principles, Yuan Wuji felt a little anxious—what if he could not understand? But as she spoke, what had seemed incomprehensible became perfectly natural to his ears. When the general formula of the Golden Elixir Way was recited, everything seemed to fall into place.

“Now listen carefully as I teach you the formula of the Great Way,” she said, noting Yuan Wuji’s rapid comprehension of the profound truths and raising her estimation of his talents yet again. She began to slowly transmit to him the secrets of the Golden Elixir Way.

The more advanced principles that followed were much more abstruse, and Yuan Wuji could only commit the teachings to memory by sheer force, understanding only a little as he listened.

The Golden Spirit Lady spoke for several hours on the Golden Elixir Way. Yuan Wuji was quite impressed with himself—when had his memory become so strong, able to remember almost everything after hearing it just once?

“Wuji, you may return now. Reflect well on what I have taught you today,” the Golden Spirit Lady instructed.

“Thank you, Master.”

“The Golden Elixir Way is no ordinary path. In the future, come as you did today to hear my teachings in my palace.”

Yuan Wuji bowed in thanks and left the Hall of Doumu in the Palace of Kan, returning directly to Xiaoyu’s residence.

To have received the true teaching of the Golden Elixir Way was the greatest gain of all—at least now he had a clear path for cultivation. (For ease of reference later, a single day in the heavens equals a year on earth.)