The Stone Monkey did not know where the Crescent and Three Stars Cave was, so he could only try his best to find it according to the directions in the book.
The Stone Monkey crossed the South Continent to the west, passed through the Great Wall, and visited a small county. He then made a bamboo raft and floated across the Western Ocean to the border of the Aparagodānīya Continent.
Two hundred years earlier, he naturally wouldn't be able to see the woodcutter guiding the way.
Without seeing the woodcutter, the Stone Monkey ate in the morning and slept at night. With books as his companion, he visited many famous mountains, wholeheartedly seeking Dao. He didn't waver at all.
Just like that, he searched for many years. One day, while the Stone Monkey was touring a tall mountain, he suddenly saw a stone tablet erected at the top of the cliff. There were ten large words written on it.
"Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Crescent Tristar Cave."
Seeing these words, the Stone Monkey was so touched that he wanted to cry.
He followed the stone tablet and crossed the hill. Sure enough, he saw a cave abode.
At the entrance of the Immortal Cave stood a fairy-like child.
Seeing the Stone Monkey walk over, the celestial child smiled. "Are you here to seek the Dao?"
His master was giving a sermon on the altar when he suddenly called him out to open the door, saying that a person seeking Dao had come.
The celestial child did not expect that the one seeking the Dao would be a monkey.
"Come with me."
The immortal child led the entire Stone Monkey into the cave.
The two of them walked past layers of deep pavilions and jade buildings and arrived at the bottom of the Jade Pavilion.
The Stone Monkey raised his head and saw the white-haired Patriarch Subhuti sitting on the platform. On both sides, there were thirty little immortals standing motionlessly.
The Stone Monkey didn't dare to be negligent. He bowed down and said, "Master, disciple pays respect to you with sincerity!"
Paying homage to Patriarch Subhuti with one's utmost sincerity meant that one would submit to Patriarch Subhuti.
This was an extremely sincere and unwavering wish.
The patriarch didn't expect a monkey to be able to say such things.
He stroked his beard and glanced at the Stone Monkey. With just a few glances, he knew that this monkey was raised by the heavens and the earth, and that there was a fate of master and disciple between them.
The strange thing was, this affinity shouldn't have appeared now. Why did he come so early?
The Patriarch remained calm and collected. "Where are you from?
It won't be too late to say your name and hometown first. "
The Stone Monkey hurriedly replied, "This disciple is from the Dong Sheng Divine Continent's Ao Lai Mountain of Flowers and Fruits Mountain."
The Patriarch pretended to be angry. "Nonsense, how did you get here from so far away?"
"I walked all the way here."
The Stone Monkey respectfully replied, "This disciple has walked for over two thousand days and nights. It wasn't easy for me to reach this place. I am not lying."
The Patriarch calculated with his fingers and was secretly delighted.
This monkey wasn't lying. He had roamed the world for seven years, yet he hadn't been tainted by any karma. It could be seen that he was wholeheartedly devoted to the dao.
Although he didn't understand why he came so early, fate was unpredictable. Even Buddha had times where he miscalculated, so it wasn't strange for things to change.
The Patriarch's mind spun and he quickly made a decision.
"Since that's the case, you can stay."
Patriarch Subhuti said to the Stone Monkey, "Stand up and walk a few steps. I'll give you a name."
The stone monkey then stood up and took a few steps forward. Just like what was written in the book, the founder had given him the name Sun Wukong.
After hearing the name, the Stone Monkey no longer had any doubts.
He was indeed the Monkey King from [Journey to the West].
After giving the name, Patriarch Subhuti looked at the Stone Monkey. The more he looked at him, the more satisfied he became.
This monkey was naive and romantic. His aptitude was excellent and was different from other disciples.
Although he couldn't see what this monkey would do in the future, the Patriarch could faintly feel that his future achievements would be great enough to shake the three realms.
The Patriarch looked at the stone monkey with a benevolent expression.
"Wukong, what do you want to learn from me?"
"I'll follow Master's teachings."
The Stone Monkey bowed and respectfully replied, "As long as I can beat up Rulai."
The moment these words came out, it was earth-shattering. Not a single disciple wasn't shocked.
"You —"
The Patriarch opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
"I've caused trouble —"
The Patriarch sighed in his heart. After the Stone Monkey said this, he suddenly understood why he couldn't see through the Stone Monkey.
This monkey was a huge variable in the world.
He was an anomaly born from the heavens and earth. That was why he came here in advance.
The Patriarch was regretful. If he knew this would happen, he wouldn't have accepted this disciple.
However, since he had said these words, he and the Stone Monkey had formed karma. If he didn't teach him, he would probably be punished by the heavens and earth.
The Patriarch stared at the Stone Monkey. After thinking about it, he couldn't kill him.
"Forget it, forget it. Let's see how far he can go."
The Patriarch thought like this and waved his horsetail whisk.
"It's too difficult to defeat Rulai. I can't do anything about it."
The Patriarch said to the Stone Monkey, "I can only give you a chance. Whether you can do it or not will depend on your comprehension and luck."
The Stone Monkey hurriedly knelt on the ground. "Master, please guide me!"
"I have a technique called Formless."
The Patriarch said, "This technique is formless and formless. It can turn you into an illusion. The moon is in the sky and there is a shadow in the water. Although you can see it, you can't touch it."
He looked at the Stone Monkey with a deep gaze. "After you master this technique, no one will be able to control you. You will be able to do as you please, and each and every action will contain the philosophy of the heavens and earth."
"I want to learn, I want to learn!"
The Stone Monkey was overjoyed.
"Don't be in a hurry to agree."
The Patriarch shook his head and continued, "This technique is called Formless. Formless is the true form. When one's nature is exposed, becoming a god or a devil is only a matter of a thought."
The Formless technique didn't restrict one's personality, but it was extremely difficult to cultivate. If one couldn't firm their Dao heart, the Stone Monkey would lose himself and become uncontrollable.
"Those without great wisdom and perseverance will die without a burial."
The Patriarch looked at the Stone Monkey and suddenly shouted, "Wukong, are you learning or not?"
The Stone Monkey kowtowed. "Disciple is willing to learn."
"Good."
The Patriarch nodded in satisfaction.
The Stone Monkey didn't hesitate. His Dao heart was firm. Without such a firm Dao heart, it was impossible to cultivate the Formless technique.
The Patriarch waved his horsetail whisk and let the other disciples lead the Stone Monkey out.
The Stone Monkey was puzzled. Didn't the Patriarch say he would teach him spells?
The Patriarch Subhuti wouldn't lie. Since he had already agreed, the Stone Monkey suppressed his curiosity and stayed in the Cave of Crescent Three Stars with peace of mind.
He paid his respects to his Senior Martial Brothers and arranged dormitories in the corridors.
From the second day onwards, the Stone Monkey learned from his Senior Martial Brothers the etiquette of sweeping, responding, advancing and retreating.
Every day, he would preach scriptures and discuss Dao, practice calligraphy, and burn incense. His days were quite fulfilling.
He was ranked last and was often asked by his Senior Martial Brothers to sweep the ground and hoe the garden, grow flowers and trees, carry water and carry pulp. The Stone Monkey didn't get angry and did his work steadily.
Unknowingly, he had spent a year in the cave.
One day, when he was listening to the Patriarch's sermon, the Stone Monkey suddenly understood.
It turned out that the Patriarch Subhuti's sermon contained the Formless technique. It was indeed formless and formless. If he hadn't kept this matter in mind, he wouldn't have discovered it at all.
The Stone Monkey's intelligence was greatly enhanced. He then noticed that the Patriarch's every movement seemed to have a deeper meaning.
The Stone Monkey began to follow behind the Patriarch and studied him deeply.
He followed the Patriarch like a shadow every day, causing the other disciples to laugh at him. However, they didn't know that the Stone Monkey had already gradually learned the Formless technique.
His comprehension increased day by day.
The Patriarch watched from the side, feeling surprised and happy.
"This monkey is really extraordinary!"