In the valley, the youth filled the gourd with stream water.

He capped the gourd and, with a face full of joy, ran towards the forest with it in hand.

"Master, Master!"

The youth brought the gourd into the forest, passed through the dense crowd, and handed it over to Sun Wukong, who was resting: "I've filled it with water."

"Thank you."

Sun Wukong picked up the water and began to drink.

The youth watched him with great delight.

This sage rarely asked for anything, and even when the Daoists prepared a carriage for him, he claimed it obstructed the view and preferred to travel in the open air with the Daoists, preaching along the way.

The Daoists tried every means to do something for him, but opportunities were scarce.

The youth was glad to have the chance to fetch water for him.

After quenching his thirst, Sun Wukong wiped his mouth, then with a shout, everyone immediately gathered around and sat down on the ground.

"Before we continue our preaching today,"

Sun Wukong spoke: "If you have any questions, you may ask me first."

"Master, I have one."

Immediately, a middle-aged man stood up.

"Speak,"

Sun Wukong nodded.

"When I heard the Master preach about the Wanling Immortal Path being learnable by all, what if evil men learn it? Would that not cast the mortal world into chaos?"

The middle-aged man asked.

It was the first time Sun Wukong heard such a question from a mortal.

"How dare you!"

A Daoist stood up.

"It's okay,"

Sun Wukong stopped him with a smile: "It's alright, this question is a difficult one to explain."

He thought for a moment about how to articulate his response and said: "As long as the Wanling Immortal Path is properly managed, it not only does no harm, but it is also greatly beneficial."

The middle-aged man frowned slightly: "How come?"

"In today's world, most evils arise from a lack of clothing and food."

Sun Wukong said: "If the Wanling Immortal Path is widely taught, everyone can have ample food and clothing."

The Daoists all nodded in agreement; had it been a month ago, they would definitely not believe this.

But now that they understood the Wanling Immortal Path, they believed that if it spread widely, it would greatly improve food production, and mortals would be able to eat well and stay warm.

"People who learn the Immortal Dao satisfy their basic desires and naturally become enlightened."

Sun Wukong continued: "Enlightened individuals, with proper education and management, will learn manners and understand rules. Everyone will be honest and dedicated; all nations will be equal and just, prosperous and thriving."

At this, everyone could not help but burst into amazement.

"Can it really be so?"

The Daoists asked hurriedly.

"It definitely can."

Sun Wukong nodded.

His heart yearned for the future described in the Heavenly Book, although the process would be tortuous and he did not know how long it would take.

But he believed that the increase in productivity, accompanied by a transformation of thought, would ultimately change everything.

"Without encountering a person of virtue, one should not convey the great Tao."

Sun Wukong shook his head: "In the present Three Realms, such persons of virtue are indeed quite rare."

"The essence of the Wanling Immortal Path is to transform all mortals into persons of virtue."

He paused, having said as much as he could, and in the most optimistic terms possible.

The advancement of both material and thought is a double-edged sword, but the progress cannot stop; it must be traversed step by step.

Only now, perhaps it is not yet time to alter the thoughts.

The audience seemed to understand and yet not understand.

However, the middle-aged man revealed a contemplative expression.

Sun Wukong's subsequent preaching didn't quite register with him anymore.

Several days later, the long procession walked through the rice fields.

"Master,"

The Daoists presented a severely injured demon before Sun Wukong: "He, like you, is from Wanling Country."

"Oh?"

Sun Wukong halted the procession and allowed the Daoists to treat the demon.

"I recognize you."

The demon, upon regaining consciousness, quickly recognized Sun Wukong.

"You…"

He looked at the surrounding Daoists: "Why are there so many people?"

"They are all here to learn the Wanling Immortal Path from me."

Sun Wukong answered.

The demon wore a look of disbelief: "Why haven't you been captured?"

"Captured?"

Sun Wukong looked surprised: "Who wants to capture me?"

"Immortal."

The demon found it incredible that even with all his sneaking around, he was caught red-handed by an immortal, yet this fellow could swagger about without being captured.

This was just too unfair!

"Have you encountered an immortal?"

Sun Wukong became interested: "Tell me about it."

The demon, suppressing his envy and resentment, shared his experience.

It turned out that after arriving in the Southern Continent, he had been moving stealthily and cautiously, but was still captured by an immortal.

The immortal tried to persuade him to join the Three Thousand Immortal Paths, but the demon used a trick to deceive the immortal and narrowly escaped with his life.

"When I was captured, I also saw many of my kin."

The demon's expression darkened as he spoke: "I'm afraid they have already suffered misfortune."

The immortal hoped to convince them to join the Three Thousand Immortal Paths, but the demons from Wanling Country had their own pride, and many were unmoved.

After hearing the demon's experience, Sun Wukong couldn't help but sigh.

Ao Luan had miscalculated and revealed his actions.

"Have you planted the Wanling Tree yet?"

Sun Wukong continued to inquire.

The demon shook his head: "No."

"Then take me there."

Sun Wukong stood up and said: "I'll help you finish planting it."

The demon began to feel grateful towards him.

They traversed mountains and valleys, arriving at a valley.

Upon reaching this place, both Sun Wukong and the demon were taken aback.

There stood a Wanling Tree in front of the two of them.

"Didn't you say it wasn't planted here?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"This, this wasn't planted by me..."

The demon showed signs of wavering: "Certainly it was planted by someone after I was captured."

"…Perhaps you're right."

Sun Wukong touched the tree, finding that its level of completion was no less than his own.

This was not a Wanling Tree created by ordinary demons.

It was clear that Ao Luan still had other plans.

"Who could it be, to have such capability?"

Sun Wukong sighed.

The Inspector Spirit Official, who had been observing the team, couldn't help but furrow his brows upon hearing this.

"He doesn't know who it is either?"

The identity of that person was also what the Heavenly Palace wanted to know.

The Heavenly Palace aimed to capture all the agents Wanling Country had sent to the Southern Continent in one fell swoop, yet strangely enough, no matter how many they captured, the Wanling Tree would still appear.

Once the Wanling Tree took shape, even if they destroyed the tree, the Immortal Dao had already merged with the earth and could not be dispersed.

The Inspector Spirit Official was the eyes and ears of the Jade Emperor, able to observe all directions and listen to all sides, capable of investigating the truth of everything in the world, yet he was completely stumped on this matter.

Fortunately, although that person was formidable, they were not as powerful as Wu Xing.

The Inspector Spirit Official judged that he had observed enough, and he stood up during a lecture.

"Why doesn't the gentleman go to the Eastern Continent?"

The Inspector Spirit Official asked Sun Wukong: "There is the Heavenly Ladder there, where even mortals can be reborn."

"You should ask others."

Sun Wukong answered.

The Daoists all nodded; they too had not gone to the Eastern Continent.

The reason being that the Heavenly Ladder, just like Seeking Immortality, was out of reach.

The Heavenly Ladder opened once a year, capable of recreating Spirit Roots for mortals, but the number of people who could pass through each year was still minimal.

Thus, the Heavenly Ladder, though appearing fair on the surface, was still a game for the few.

For ordinary Daoists, the Wanling Immortal Path, which did not emphasize Spirit Roots, was the best choice.

"Sir, you are different from them."

The Inspector Spirit Official did not fear offending other Daoists and said: "If sir steps onto the Heavenly Ladder, he will surely be favored by the immortals."

Sun Wukong laughed.

He then shook his head and said: "I stand with Wanling."

The Inspector Spirit Official's expression changed.

"If that is the case..."

He bowed and said: "I will escort you to the Eastern Continent."

The Inspector Spirit Official was just about to make a move when a middle-aged man stepped in front of him.

"Stop."

The middle-aged man said a word, and all immortal power left the body of the Spirit Official.

He was startled and looked towards the person.

Who was this?

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.