Buzzing!
Accompanied by a sound like the celestial melody of the Great Dao, deep within the Purple Heaven Palace, Ancestor Hongjun, who had already sensed Sun Kong, suddenly opened his eyes.
Those were eyes of the Heavenly Dao that could see through the myriad red dust without any divine powers or magic.
They were eyes that could not be described in words, only understood, capable of piercing the boundless void of chaos above and seeing through the immeasurable beings of the three realms below with compassion.
Myriad wisdom.
Life and death, prosperity and decay.
All within an instant!
Then, unprecedentedly, he smiled faintly at Sun Kong!
"Kong Kong!"
"Dao Ancestor?"
"Indeed, it is I. I know the predicament you face cannot be resolved by ordinary means. I have waited here in advance, and indeed, I see your progress has been swift since your fortuitous encounter."
"Thus, I am much relieved and no longer worried about whether you can handle this Journey to the West tribulation. However, there are still some words I hope you will heed."
"Since it is the Dao Ancestor's words, how would I dare not listen? Please, Dao Ancestor, speak."
Sun Kong did not expect this Ancestor Hongjun to be so much kinder and more amiable than depicted in the web novels of Blue Star. He didn't know if Hongjun could see through his origins, but being so polite to him was unique among the Sages.
If nothing else,
Just for this approachable demeanor and the kindness shown to his chess pieces, Sun Kong had a good impression of Ancestor Hongjun and felt a degree of affection.
He respectfully bowed and clasped his hands, awaiting instruction.
"I have already divined that the Heavenly Dao has undergone new changes, with 36.5 billion beings surrounding the new Flower-Fruit Mountain, causing the first tribulation of the Journey to the West to fall upon you and commence ahead of schedule."
"This matter is no small thing, but it is not necessarily all bad for you."
"The reasons behind it, you cannot fathom now. You will understand when you have completed the Journey to the West in the future."
"For now, I shall give you three pieces of advice, which I hope will be of assistance to you in the future."
"First, you must not doubt the Heavenly Dao, doubt me, or doubt whether the Six Sages are abiding by the rules due to this minor unexpected event."
"Although I am merely a spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, I can guarantee you that under the Heavenly Dao, no one is allowed to violate the rules."
"This Journey to the West, despite its many variables, is still the journey of you, your master and fellow disciples, and the horse. You must seize this opportunity and not let it slip away."
"Second, you believe the Journey to the West tribulation has begun early, but this is not so. Ever since the day you triggered your fortuitous encounter, new destinies have been generated, operating, arising, and perishing, cycling anew."
"Although you have concealed yourself well, preventing others from seeing that you have surpassed your predecessors and should naturally be guiding the direction of the Journey to the West tribulation, I am well aware of the great price and sacrifice you have paid."
"In the words of later generations, 'Others laugh at your madness, you laugh at their inability to see through; they don't understand the Great Dao and heavenly numbers, and even Saintly cultivation is wasted.'"
"With me upholding the Journey to the West tribulation, you need not worry too much. Just act boldly. All causes and effects, all retribution for good and evil, will become clear in due time."
Ancestor Hongjun had only spoken these two points, and Sun Kong was already so astonished that he almost wanted to flee.
The first point was acceptable.
It merely stated that although the Journey to the West tribulation had begun early, the original overall direction had not changed, and the Seven Sages dared not directly participate.
Sun Kong could rest assured.
But the second point was somewhat mystical.
What was this about surpassing predecessors and succeeding them?
This statement could generally be understood as Sun Kong surpassing the Tathagata and Jin Chanzi, with his Buddhist nature and comprehension earning even the admiration of Ancestor Hongjun.
It was a compliment.
However, from another perspective, it could also mean that Ancestor Hongjun might have seen through him, realizing he wasn't the original Monkey King, but did not mind and did not intend to pursue it.
But there was a condition: he must continue to act more daringly and shock others more intensely in the future to be considered "surpassing predecessors."
Otherwise,
No one could guarantee that this Dao Ancestor, who lacked joy or sorrow, emotions, right or wrong, black or white, or any such concepts, would not take action against him!
"Does this old Hongjun truly understand that I am a transmigator, or not... Or perhaps, he simply means nothing else, and I am overthinking it?"
"Good heavens, dealing with Sages is difficult, and dealing with this Sage among Sages, this Heavenly Dao Sage, is immensely more difficult."
"Currently, I truly have no good way to test if they have seen through my origins. For now, I can only take it one step at a time."
"At the very least, he promised in the first point that even he cannot directly interfere with the tribulation, and the second point is like a KPI for me."
"If I don't want him to pursue me and uncover every detail, I just need to keep leveling up, protect Jin Chanzi, and spread the teachings of Theravada Buddhism! This is what I'm best at!"
After these thoughts, Sun Kong temporarily confirmed his personal safety and stopped worrying about this and that over minor matters.
Seeing that Ancestor Hongjun showed no impatience, but had deliberately waited for him for a quarter of an hour to ponder and digest, he felt even more favorably towards him.
He did not stand on ceremony.
He immediately asked Ancestor Hongjun about the third matter he had mentioned.
"Heaven's secrets are not to be revealed. When the time is not right, even if I tell you in advance, it will be of no use. If you wish to know what will happen after the Journey to the West tribulation and how it will affect you, you must first complete the Journey to the West."
"I wish you a pleasant journey through tribulations."
"When you have completed these extraordinary eighty-one tribulations, our fated encounter will arrive. At that time, the Purple Heaven Palace will descend upon the Three Realms, and you will be at the forefront, ushering in an unprecedented era!"
"I have said all I need to say. From now on, the success or failure of the Journey to the West rests entirely on you."
"The Purple Heaven Palace must now close its doors to guests!"
After saying this, the Dao Ancestor, Ancestor Hongjun, whom Sun Kong had just recognized as one of the people to admire, left behind these riddles without regard for whether Sun Kong could figure them out.
And then, along with the Purple Heaven Palace, he vanished without a trace.
That's right.
It wasn't simply closing its doors.
Nor was it the usual act of asking him to leave.
But the entire person, the entire palace, completely disappeared.
Sun Kong's ordinary calculations could not find him.
He channeled his divine power and employed the "Wuhou Seven Stars Formation," yet he still couldn't find him.
Even when he pressed the system, the answer it repeatedly gave was only one!
[Ding! Host's unwavering courage has astonished Dao Ancestor Hongjun, earning his unprecedented appreciation. Thus, the host is rewarded with three words personally bestowed by Ancestor Hongjun.]
[Ding! Host has repeatedly inquired, but this system is unable to locate Ancestor Hongjun's whereabouts. Please, Host, calm your anger, return to your main task, and do not lose sight of the Journey to the West due to minor distractions.]
[Ding! This system vaguely senses that the Purple Heaven Palace and Ancestor Hongjun are gradually moving towards complete annihilation. Perhaps this Journey to the West tribulation has an extremely profound impact, to the point that even the Dao Ancestor cannot withstand it, or perhaps something else...]
Hearing the system's words, Sun Kong found it both amusing and exasperating.
He had astonished many people, but this Ancestor Hongjun's reward was the most peculiar!