Chapter 17: The Eight-Nine Profound Art and the Supreme Celestial Immortal Technique
Hearing Yu Qiye’s words, Patriarch Bodhi remained silent. Instead, he slowly turned around and gazed at the bright moon hanging in the night sky. Then, he stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“You are mature beyond your years, naturally intelligent, and it seems you understand cause and effect, and recognize the workings of fate.”
A simple statement, yet it shook Yu Qiye’s spirit profoundly.
Mature beyond his years?
Understanding cause and effect?
Recognizing fate?
Each phrase spoke directly to him.
Though young in age, among the demon clans he was but a mere child. Calling him a "youth" was no exaggeration. Yet, he had awakened memories from his previous life, possessing decades of life experience. Moreover, his former life was set in an era of information explosion, multiplying his experiences manifold. Thus, he truly was mature beyond his years.
As for understanding cause and effect, recognizing fate—there was no need for further explanation.
“I...” Yu Qiye wanted to say something, but Patriarch Bodhi shifted the conversation and asked instead, “Do you know why I have not taught the Immortality Method to Wukong?”
“Respectfully reporting, Master, Junior Brother Wukong was born a stone monkey, naturally unruly and impulsive, needing constant discipline,” Yu Qiye replied.
“Correct,” Patriarch Bodhi nodded slightly.
“Then do you know why I have yet to teach you the Immortality Method?”
“Your disciple does not know.”
As these words fell, Yu Qiye knelt down on both knees. This time, no external force stopped him. He pressed his knees firmly to the ground and bowed his head deeply. Such a kneeling was the true rite of a disciple.
Patriarch Bodhi did not forbid it, which meant he truly acknowledged Yu Qiye in that moment. This was the difference between an outer disciple and an inner disciple. No, perhaps even more—it might mean a direct personal disciple!
“Your Junior Brother Wukong has great destiny, great fortune, and great karma; even if he causes catastrophic trouble, he is not worthy of death. But you... are different.”
That simple phrase rendered Yu Qiye utterly silent.
His master was worried about him.
Worried that with divine powers guarding the path, he might cause irreparable calamity and be unable to contain it. Worried about him...
Countless thoughts surged in his heart, yet he did not know where to begin.
In the end, it distilled down to a single word.
“Master...”
Once again, Yu Qiye bowed repeatedly.
In this lifetime, he bowed neither to heaven nor earth.
He bowed only to this one master.
No matter who his true self was, no matter whose good or evil corpse he might be...
Yu Qiye did not care.
As long as Bodhi manifested in this world, he was Bodhi’s disciple!
“Rise.”
With a low, lingering sigh, Patriarch Bodhi raised his right hand and lifted Yu Qiye’s entire body.
“Immortality is an extraordinary path: seizing the creation of heaven and earth, invading the mysteries of sun and moon; it carries three calamities and nine hardships... Above, there are heavenly lightning disasters—one must achieve enlightenment of nature and mind beforehand to avoid them. If you can evade them, your life equals the heavens; if not, it ends there. Below, there is fire disaster. This fire is neither celestial nor mortal fire; it is called ‘Yin Fire’...”
Listening quietly, Yu Qiye arched his brow.
He knew something of the three calamities and nine hardships.
They were divided into avoidance and crossing.
Avoidance meant deceiving the heavenly mechanism, akin to smuggling through. Crossing meant facing the calamities head-on.
Though difficult, those who crossed could achieve true great freedom and liberation.
“Master, I wish to cross the tribulation, not avoid it,” Yu Qiye stated frankly.
“You... have quite an ambition,” Patriarch Bodhi shook his head helplessly, a smile curling the corner of his lips.
Most people only avoid tribulations.
Now, few even know the path of crossing.
This disciple of his had lofty aspirations, soaring ambitions.
“Since you have made your decision, is there any divine technique or art you desire?”
Unlike Wukong, who had limited understanding of techniques, he learned only when asked.
His disciple Yu Qiye was mature in temperament and likely had his own ideas.
“I have long heard of the Eight-Nine Profound Skill. Master, do you have it?” Yu Qiye’s eyes shone with intense passion.
The Eight-Nine Profound Skill was a divine technique appearing during the Great Sealing Calamity, the foremost among the three protective teachings. The number eight was the greatest of the bright arts, nine the greatest of the yang numbers; their product was the greatest number in Taoism, hence the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams of heaven and earth, and the seventy-two phases. The Eight-Nine Profound Skill embodied this principle.
It was said that those who cultivated this art drew upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refined the essence of sun and moon, and gained infinite transformative power. Everything in the realm of flying beasts, mountains, stones, grasses, and trees, as well as the yin and yang and five elements—all transformed through this art, governed by the unity of mind.
Mastering its intricacies allowed one to roam freely across the three realms.
If perfected beyond nine cycles, the primordial spirit in the mud pellet palace would never perish, granting physical immortality. The spirit could escape unharmed, allowing infinite rebirth of the body. Coupled with its ability to adapt to the wind, it was truly indestructible.
Only treasures like the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife could kill such a practitioner utterly.
In ancient times, two masters excelled in this art: Yang Jian and Yuan Hong.
Though it appeared merely as a transformational art, its true essence was body refinement. Reaching the highest realms rendered one immune to all divine techniques, thus sanctifying the flesh.
“The Eight-Nine Profound Skill...” Patriarch Bodhi stared at Yu Qiye in amazement.
This youngster even knew this art.
“Do you know this skill is difficult to learn and even harder to master? Since ancient times, those who have truly succeeded number but a handful,” he said.
“I do not know, but if others can master it, I believe I can too,” Yu Qiye replied.
A trace of excitement appeared on Yu Qiye’s face.
Judging by his master’s words, this Eight-Nine Profound Skill was within his reach.
No wonder he was suspected to be a great being combining the three teachings—abundant in all things.
As for whether he could master it... it was not a big problem.
He could gather various perception tokens.
If his perception was extraordinary, the Eight-Nine Profound Skill would surely be accessible.
“Very well, then I shall teach you the Eight-Nine Profound Skill.”
“But you must remember, the law forbids transmission to six ears, and you must never reveal my name.”
As the words fell, Patriarch Bodhi chanted softly.
Though no sound was audible, it was as if thunderclaps exploded in Yu Qiye’s mind.
Boom!
His brain shook violently as countless ancient and intricate characters flooded his heart.
They intertwined and chased one another...
Transforming into...
【Secretly bestowed the transcendent immortal’s true subtle art, I and the Dao part ways distinctly;】
【Sometimes mountain, sometimes water, sometimes madness, sometimes gold, sometimes treasure, sometimes copper and iron.】
【Sometimes phoenix, sometimes bird, sometimes dragon, tiger, or lion;】
【With the wind, shadows appear and vanish...】
...
Unknowingly, Yu Qiye had already seated himself cross-legged.
Unknowingly, Patriarch Bodhi had already departed.
The cycles of sun and moon, the inversion of black and white...
Yu Qiye seemed to have become a statue.
And on this very day,
“Look at old Sun Wukong, one strike!”
A sudden roar came from afar.
Following the sound, a monkey dressed in Taoist robes descended from the sky, wielding a wooden staff, striking down fiercely.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, a mountaintop shattered.
“It seems you have mastered the Great Grade Celestial Immortal Art.”
Yu Qiye, seated upon the stone platform, slowly opened his eyes. His blood-red, moon-like pupils seemed to encompass all things, flickering with the cycles of life and death.
The Great Grade Celestial Immortal Art—just by its name, it was clear this was the path of the celestial immortal.
A supreme cultivation method.
It harmonized the law’s nature, attained the root source, infused the divine body, and excelled at concealment and transformation. One could summon and control the law, find paths to heaven and doors to earth, move without shadow under sun and moon, pass through metal and stone unhindered, be impervious to drowning in water, and unburnable by fire...
Yet, this Great Grade Celestial Immortal Art was ultimately but an introduction.
It drew forth the immense magical power accumulated within the Monkey King’s body over countless years.
Ordinary practitioners cultivated methods to extract and accumulate magical power continuously.
But the Monkey King did the opposite.
He already possessed boundless magical power.
Now, as he practiced the Great Grade Celestial Immortal Art, the magical power surged inexhaustibly from within, and his demonic aura soared to the heavens, piercing the clouds.