The plan was set, and Elder Stillwater had given his approval, but the Monkey King's mind remained a tangled mess.
Is this really the right thing to do?
If he truly found her, the Monkey King could never simply abandon her and wait for her lifespan to end before infusing her earth-soul. At that time, he would surely keep watch day and night. But if they lived side by side, would he truly be able to act when the moment came? That was the real question.
And what if, in this life, Birdie had also cultivated the immortal path and even achieved something? What then? Would he have to wait indefinitely?
The Birdie of this life, and the Birdie of the last—these two ideas kept circling in his mind, never yielding a clear answer.
At this point, he could only hope Birdie had been resurrected, not reincarnated. Otherwise, he truly had no idea what to do.
Taking a deep breath, the Monkey King clasped his hands and said, "Senior Brother, I have another request."
"Speak." Elder Stillwater took a sip of tea, then poured the Monkey King a fresh cup, replacing the one that had grown cold.
"The journey to Blossom Mountain is long, and I fear I will need your help, Senior Brother. Otherwise, we may be discovered by the Celestial Army along the way. Even if we reach Blossom Mountain, peace will be far from certain."
Elder Stillwater traced the pattern on his teacup with an impassive expression, gently smoothing it with his fingers. He said calmly, "For nearly a thousand demons to cross tens of thousands of miles without Heaven noticing is no easy feat. But you mentioned this to me before, and now the solution is settled. What truly matters is how you conduct yourself once you reach Blossom Mountain. You must think carefully about that."
"I've already thought it through."
"Alright then, come with me."
Elder Stillwater turned and soared into the air; the Monkey King quickly cast Cloud Vault and followed after him.
In the blink of an eye, the two arrived beside a massive boulder outside the valley.
"I've heard you've recently begun studying spell arts, choosing the Seventy-Two Transformations as your main discipline. In just two months, with your talent, you've entered the door. Now that you're here, do you sense anything unusual?"
The Monkey King glanced around, then closed his eyes and concentrated. After a long while, he opened them and slowly shook his head.
"Your spiritual perception is decent, but not yet enough to sense lingering spell-energy. The Traveler's Path doesn't emphasize this, but your chosen road is dangerous." Elder Stillwater sighed deeply. "Most of Heaven follows the Sage's Path; you must strengthen this aspect, or you'll miss crucial matters. Whether it's Heaven, terrestrial immortals, or even demons, relationships are tangled and complex. Before your wings are fully grown, you must endure hardship and avoid recklessness."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Elder Stillwater raised his hand, and with a flash of white light, the giant boulder instantly transformed into a massive warship!
At the top of its mast fluttered the Black Tortoise Division's banner.