Great Demon Sun Wukong-Chapter 652 - 600: The Mysterious Golden Seal

"Don't rush, listen to me first. This is called Earth's Core Gold-Melting Flame. Although it's incomplete, it will be more than enough for you, Bajie. I told you not to be impatient—can't you show some ambition? After you take it, don't rush. Fuse with it bit by bit, and once you've successfully merged with the flame, your eldest brother will have another gift for you!" Sun Wukong had hardly finished speaking when Zhu Bajie eagerly took the flame, gazing at it with rapturous eyes that seemed even more infatuated than when he first laid eyes on Gao Cuilan of the Gao family estate.

Sun Wukong shook his head and reminded Bajie not to merge with it just yet before turning to the White Dragon and saying, "Well, eldest brother didn't prepare a special gift for you this time, but don't worry. Your third brother now has a Water Attribute treasure. When the time comes for you to cultivate, let him protect you, and it will be better than any Heaven and Earth Treasures!" After finishing his words, the White Dragon shook his head and said, "Eldest brother, there's something I haven't had the chance to tell you; now that it has come up, it is the perfect time. In fact, just a while ago, I discovered that my familiar attributes are undergoing a transformation!"

"A transformation?" Sun Wukong asked, puzzled. Then, his Heaven and Earth Fire Eyes opened wide, and he instantly saw the situation within the White Dragon's body with perfect clarity. The sight made Sun Wukong furrow his brows. "When did this happen?" The White Dragon glanced at Zhu Bajie and said, "It started right around the time you went back to Flower Fruit Mountain after your return. My body began to undergo this strange transformation, which, however, hasn't affected my strength!"

"This is truly odd. White Dragon, you are clearly of Water Attribute, and your lineage is all of the same attribute, so why did your own suddenly switch to the entirely unrelated Metal Attribute? This makes no sense at all. By the way, have you encountered any strange people or events lately?" Sun Wukong pressed, and the White Dragon pondered carefully, but nothing came to mind.

"I really can't recall anything unusual. If I had to mention something, it would be that time not long ago when I saw a golden seal at the bottom of a deep abyss in the South Sea." Saying this, the White Dragon took out a dark golden square seal the size of a palm from within his robes. The relief on the seal was not the usual dragons, phoenixes, kirins, or tortoises seen on most seals, but rather a vast stellar chart of the universe. And the four characters etched beneath it were 'Pangu Opens the Heavens and Earth!' It was the uniqueness of the seal that made the White Dragon pick it up and keep it with him. However, upon examining the seal with his Heaven and Earth Fire Eyes, Sun Wukong found nothing extraordinary about it; although it was no common object of the Mortal World, it had no particularly valuable aspects.

But looking at the seal, Sun Wukong felt there was something off, yet he could not pinpoint it. He then asked, "Are you sure there are no discomforts or special circumstances? A personal Attribute transformation should have a significant impact on oneself!" The White Dragon thought for a moment and replied, "If you are talking about effects, there is one. It's become increasingly difficult to use Water System Spells, and many of the spells I cast turn out to be of the Metal Series." With that, the White Dragon pointed a finger toward a large tree as thick as a human waist beside the road. Instantly, a streak of golden light shot from his fingertip, and the tree was severed at its midsection.

With a bit of helplessness, he said to Sun Wukong, "You see? This was supposed to be the Water Arrow Technique, but now it has turned into the Gold Arrow Technique, and its force is about three to five times that of the Water Arrows. The same goes for other spells!" Sun Wukong was utterly astounded. The Water Arrow Technique was among the most basic of the Water System Spells. The trees within Buddha's Pure Land were incredibly tougher than those in the Pangu Realm, yet the White Dragon destroyed this large tree with a single spell, indicating that this change in him must be a boon!

"White Dragon, how do you feel about this change?" The White Dragon immediately became excited and replied, "Of course, I wish to be as powerful as possible. The Metal Attribute allows me to possess more than triple my previous destructive power—I wouldn't ask for more. My only concern is whether this sudden, inexplicable change might cause a problem." Sun Wukong then stored the golden seal in his World Within the Artifact and said, "That's simple. I suspect the seal is the cause of this issue. I will keep the seal for a while, and let's see if the transformation of your attributes continues. If it does, then we'll have to look elsewhere, but if not, the root cause will be obvious!"

The White Dragon nodded, finding the solution straightforward. With that settled, Sun Wukong asked a few more questions. In the meantime, the young monk leading the way stopped and turned to bow to the four companions before speaking, "This is the Lotus Cloud Monastery of the Buddha-worshipping Sect. I will explain your circumstances to the responsible elder brother of our Sect, and with the abilities of the several masters here, you'll surely be offered positions as elders or entitled to reside in the privileged halls at once!" At this, Tang Sanzang gave Sun Wukong a meaningful glance, whereupon Sun Wukong stepped forward with a chuckle, taking the young monk by the hand and saying, "No need for such formality, young monk. Just treat us as the most ordinary novice disciples, with no special treatment required!"

As he spoke, Sun Wukong exerted a hint of his spiritual power to intimidate. Insignificantly weaker than Sun Wukong, the young monk dared not object and immediately nodded in agreement. The earlier performance of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie had already left a considerable impression on him. Tang Sanzang then nodded in approval and gestured for the young monk to lead the way. The monk bowed again and continued guiding Tang Sanzang and the others toward the Sect.

The sect entrance of the Buddha-worshipping Sect was halfway up a small mountain. From a distance, the haze of dust and smoke that surrounded it truly gave the impression of a world apart from the mundane. It was a young monk who led Tang Sanzang and his companions up the gentle slopes, ascending the mountain staircase. Along the way, Sun Wukong was surprised to notice Buddhist disciples in robes on both sides of the mountain path, but their cultivation was not as Wukong had imagined it to be—all possessed at least the cultivation of Unity Dao. The majority of them fell between the initial stage and the peak of the Saint Realm. It was only when they reached the mountain gate at the halfway point that Wukong saw two guards with primary grade Unity Dao cultivation keeping watch.

"How strange, why are there individuals of Saint Realm cultivation here? Isn't this supposed to be an intermediate world? Shouldn't there only be individuals of Unity Dao cultivation and above?" The young monk gave Sun Wukong a peculiar look before responding, "I'm not sure what Master is referring to with 'intermediate world'. However, in this world, all natives whose cultivation is below the primary grade Unity Dao level are original residents of this world. Only those outsiders who ascend to this world would possess a cultivation of Unity Dao and above. That's why you encountered many sects waiting at the gates of the Ascension Hall to compete for newcomers who had just ascended."

Sun Wukong uttered an "Oh" and then understood. This world was not entirely filled with those of Unity Dao cultivation as he had thought. Only the ascended were certain to be of Unity Dao cultivation, whereas those born in this world were at low cultivation at birth, needing to advance through their own cultivation. Of course, due to differences in aptitude, some people might never reach the realm of Unity Dao in their lifetime and would have to settle for inferior tasks. For instance, like those who were picking herbs or farming at the foot of the mountain!

At that moment, Zhu Bajie asked, "Little master, may I inquire what the cultivation level of newly born children in this place is? Are they also mortals?" The young monk nodded and said, "The plump master is correct, children here are born mortals, merely at the lowest realm of Saints. Everyone has to cultivate incessantly to advance!" As soon as the young monk finished speaking, Bajie was taken aback. Born at the realm of Saints? And the realm of Saints is considered mortal?

Immediately, Bajie turned to look down the mountain. "Does that mean the powerful individuals of the Saint Realm can only farm and gather herbs? Aiyo, lucky for me that I am at the peak of Unity Dao, or I'd have to go back to my old profession!" After Bajie finished speaking, the young monk staggered and almost fell. Tang Sanzang quickly held him, asking with concern if he felt alright. The young monk's face was somewhat pale as he shook his head and said it was nothing, but in his heart, he thought: Indeed, as expected, this chubby monk really has the cultivation of the peak of Unity Dao. Even our sect master of the Buddha-worshipping Sect is only at the peak of Unity Dao. Ah, I don't know if I have invited back several Bodhisattvas or a few calamities!

Despite his inward complaints, the young monk dared not show any negligence. After exchanging a few words with the gatekeepers, they nodded their heads and then let them pass. Following the young monk through the gate, the entirety of the sect was in plain sight. The Buddha-worshipping Sect was indeed a small one. Right behind the main entrance lay a rather broad stone bridge, beneath which was a clear, trickling stream. On the other side of the bridge stood a statue of the Golden Body of the Buddha, seated cross-legged and holding a scroll of sutras in its hand. In front of the statue of the Golden Body of the Buddha were three monks who were bowing in respect.

Behind the statue was a main hall, grander even than the Great Thunderclap Monastery of the Western Paradise Sacred Mountain, and beside the hall were about one hundred and sixty or seventy chambers. Behind the main hall unfolded a wide Martial Arts Field. That was all. Hence, it could be said that the entire sect was at a glance.

Seeing the surprise in Wukong and the others' eyes, the young monk explained somewhat embarrassedly, "Our Buddha-worshipping Sect might be small, but this is not the entirety of it; it is just where all the disciples reside and cultivate. All the elders and senior brothers with Unity Dao cultivation live at the top of the mountain in the Lotus Cloud Monastery. As all the masters have descended with Unity Dao cultivation, I will take you to the Lotus Cloud Monastery at the mountain's summit, where you will be personally received by the Sect Master!"

But just as the young monk finished speaking, the group heard a hearty laugh emanating from the main hall, followed by a procession of people emerging one after another.

"That person is our Sect Master, Bright Ritual Wisdom Light Buddha!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly pass at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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