At dusk, Sun Wukong walked on the muddy mountain trail.

He stepped forward, his feet covered in mud, feeling a sense of freshness.

Sun Wukong looked around him, then, feeling playful like during his days of seeking the Immortal Dao, began to jump along the trail.

"Why does that human behave like a monkey?"

A leopard secretly observed Sun Wukong from within the dense forest.

Though it was odd, it was just an ordinary human, posing no threat.

Seizing the opportunity, the leopard pounced ferociously.

Sun Wukong, amused by his game, suddenly saw a yellow figure spring up from behind like a coil.

Instinctively dodging, the figure crashed into sharp rocks ahead, echoing loudly in pain.

After its pained cry, the leopard immediately arched its back, opening its gaping maw, "Human, why did you dodge?!"

"You were trying to kill me, of course I'd dodge."

Sun Wukong eyed the leopard, which could speak human language, clearly indicating it had turned into a demon.

But even as a demon, it was just a minor one.

Sun Wukong approached and examined its wound.

The leopard tried to bite several times yet missed, looking at him in disbelief.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

"I've seen many demons, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Sun Wukong's left hand emitted white light, healing the leopard.

He then got up, looking up at the sky.

Dark clouds rolled in, suggesting impending rain.

"Alright, I need to find a place to stay for the night."

He patted the leopard's head and continued down the mountain path, arriving at a Daoist Temple called Huang Niu Temple.

Sun Wukong knocked on the big door.

The door opened, revealing a Daoist who immediately showed a terrified expression and shut the door.

"Young fellow, I am just passing through here."

Sun Wukong said, "May I stay for the night?"

"You, you have a leopard behind you."

The Daoist's voice came from behind the door.

Sun Wukong turned his head, realizing that the leopard had followed him.

He then chuckled, "This leopard also wants to avoid the rain, what's so difficult about letting it stay for one night?"

"Absolutely not!"

The Daoist inside the door repeatedly refused.

Helpless, Sun Wukong was about to leave when a voice from deeper within the temple said, "Let them in!"

Suddenly, the frightened Daoist opened the big door.

But upon seeing the leopard, he dashed into the temple like a streak of smoke.

Sun Wukong entered with the leopard, soon greeted by an old Taoist with youthful features.

"Poor Taoist of the Huang Niu Temple."

The old Taoist bowed to Sun Wukong, noticing the leopard by his side, realizing he was no ordinary being.

"Sir, did you come from Wanling Country?"

The old Taoist inquired.

"How did you know?"

Sun Wukong was a bit surprised.

"It's evident from the clothes."

The old Taoist answered.

The garments from Wanling Country were extremely elegant; he had seen many Wanling traders wearing similar clothes in Chang'an.

The old Taoist invited Sun Wukong inside, instructing the Taoists to serve him hot tea.

After exchanging a few words, the old Taoist had someone bring rice.

"It's all simple tea and plain rice, please make do."

The old Taoist told Sun Wukong.

"No problem."

Sun Wukong felt that this Temple Master was very hospitable.

"This rice, the seed comes from Huaguo Mountain."

The old Taoist mentioned, "Fifty years ago, many surrounding villages sought seeds here, but now no one inquires."

This struck Sun Wukong as strange, "I passed several villages on my way here, why did I not see any people?"

"Sir is unaware."

The old Taoist shook his head, "They have been conscripted."

He informed Sun Wukong that the current Human King, upon ascending the throne, issued the Demon Clearing Order, drafting men from various regions to partake in a grand demon clearing war in the Southern Continent.

The demons of Southern Continent dispersed everywhere, with most fleeing to Western Continent and Eastern Divine Continent.

This was also one of the reasons why the population of Wanling Country exceeded ten million.

However, the war had lasted for decades, and humans had paid a heavy price.

Several villages around Huang Niu Temple are now uninhabited.

"This Demon Clearing Order sounds simple, but how can it truly rid us of demons?"

Sun Wukong couldn't help but voice out after hearing this.

"What you say is extremely true."

The old Taoist sighed: "Unfortunately, I didn't understand back then."

He had also participated in this war and only decades later realized it was all futile.

Unless humans exterminate all living beings, how can there possibly be no demons in this world?

The actions of the Human King, on the contrary, infuriated the demons and made Southern Continent even more unstable.

"I've heard that nowadays, alchemists and all kinds of devils gather in Chang'an, using sinister and fantastical arts of the crooked path to bewilder the masses, stopping at nothing."

The old Taoist said: "Your Majesty is profoundly talented, yet for some reason, he turns a blind eye."

Sun Wukong showed a thoughtful expression.

"Let's not dwell on idle talk."

The old Taoist then asked: "Why have you come here, sir?"

"To plant a tree."

Sun Wukong replied.

"To plant a tree?"

The old Taoist showed a puzzled face.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, the old Taoist and several disciples watched Sun Wukong walking around the courtyard.

"Are you sure it's here?"

The old Taoist asked: "There's nothing here, how can a tree possibly grow?"

Sun Wukong did not reply, his hands trailing radiance, slowly sinking into the ground.

In the time it takes to burn one incense stick, the Wanling Tree rose from the ground.

The Taoists were astounded.

"What kind of spell is this?"

The old Taoist quickly asked.

"Spirits Immortal Technique."

Sun Wukong answered.

The old Taoist's heart trembled: "This is the Immortal Technique that even mortals can use?"

Sun Wukong turned his head: "Have you heard of it?"

"Of course."

The old Taoist nodded: "I've heard that the Great Saint created the Wanling Immortal Path, but I was unaware of what it was."

Today, seeing it, it truly is magnificent.

"Sir, you possess not a tendril of mana, how can you conjure a tree out of thin air?"

The old Taoist inquired further.

Sun Wukong didn't conceal, explaining to him once again.

The old Taoist didn't understand, but felt admiration: "Could you teach me this Wanling Immortal Path?"

"Teach you?"

Sun Wukong frowned slightly, he had no plans to take disciples, nor time to stay here.

"I devoutly pursue the path, yet due to limited talent, I have yet to achieve great success."

The old Taoist bowed to Sun Wukong, saying: "Just a little would suffice, could you impart the Immortal Path to me?"

Sun Wukong thought for a moment, then glanced at the eager look in the old Taoist's eyes, making up his mind.

"I shouldn't stay long."

Sun Wukong said: "If you want to learn, you must follow me."

"What difficulty could there be in that."

The old Taoist was energized, immediately instructing his disciples to pack up.

"There's one more thing I must remind you of."

Sun Wukong said: "Following me, you will inevitably face great dangers."

"Don't worry, sir."

The old Taoist smiled: "We seekers of the path find it sufficient to hear the dao in the morning and die by evening."

Sun Wukong was stunned, he didn't expect such a remark.

Thus, a group of Taoists began spreading the Wanling Immortal Path with Sun Wukong, now joined by a leopard.

Along the way, Sun Wukong generously shared knowledge, and before he knew it, more and more people gathered around him.

The journey was no longer a covert operation, but instead became loud and clear.

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