In the days that followed, even when the Monkey King and Belle walked along the road, they often heard fellow disciples whispering and pointing at them. Several times, Belle was so indignant that she wanted to step forward and argue, but each time she was held back by the Monkey King.
As time went on, the hostile atmosphere within the monastery grew increasingly intense—even the food that originally belonged to the Monkey King was now being withheld.
In the end, he had no choice but to set aside his plans for staff training and resume his breathing cultivation.
On the night of the tenth day, unable to suppress his restlessness, the Monkey King once again snuck out. As he scaled the rocky cliffs, attempting to cut through the forest atop the mountain to reach the other side of the monastery, two figures suddenly appeared before him.
Without thinking, the Monkey King immediately dodged into the woods. He had barely run a few steps before a third figure slowly emerged from behind a tree trunk.
In the moonlight, Ethan stood with his arms crossed, holding a horsetail whisk, and cackled, "Uncle Sun, we've been waiting for you a long time. No, I should say we've been waiting for you for many days!"
His expression was clearly full of malice!
The Monkey King was about to retreat, only to realize that the two behind him had already closed in.
One of them was Ivan, while the other—a young Daoist—had an 'Ewan' character embroidered on his collar, apparently a disciple under Ewan, the fourth disciple of Master Sage Subhuti.
"Ethan, be careful! This Monkey King is incredibly agile," Ivan shouted.
Looking around, Simon Stone realized that aside from Belle and Master Sage Subhuti—whose intentions were as mysterious as medicine in a gourd—everyone else in the monastery was an enemy! Every last one of them!
"Hmph! Just an animal—do you really think you deserve to be called 'uncle'?" With that, Ethan rolled up his sleeves and twisted his horsetail whisk into a stick. "Trying to sneak into the Scripture Tower again, are you? Since you refuse to learn your lesson, even if we beat you to death here tonight, I doubt Master would have anything to say!"
The Monkey King turned his head and saw that the two behind him had also rolled up their sleeves.
"Oh? Is this at your master's command?" The Monkey King sneered.
"As if you’re worth my master’s attention! Don’t flatter yourself! Do you even realize you’ve angered everyone in the monastery? There are plenty who’d love to teach you a lesson!"
"I see." The Monkey King bared his teeth in a grin, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight. His nails flashed coldly. "Let’s see if you have what it takes!"
He looked every bit ready to fight to the death.
After half a year of training, he had already reached the late stage of the Spirit-Focusing and Gathering Realm—the first level of the Traveler's Path!
Every step, a careful calculation. Every move, a trap!
Although all three of them were in the Spirit-Focusing Realm, when it came to fighting, the Traveler's Path had an innate advantage over the Sage's Path.
Simon Stone had heard stories about Sun Wukong being manipulated and schemed against—now he finally understood what that felt like.
Not just the Buddha—even Master Sage Subhuti...
From the moment he entered the monastery, Simon Stone had never escaped Master Sage Subhuti’s grasp. Every step, every move—he was firmly under Subhuti’s calculation!
The three, having missed their target, quickly looked up to see the Monkey King crouched in the tree, making a face at them. "You three? Sages' Path cultivators trying to catch me? Where are your magical treasures? None? What a shame. You’d better go home and get some sleep!"
Before they could react, the Monkey King had already vanished among the branches!
"Let's go! To the Scripture Tower!" Ethan shouted. The three of them dashed madly toward the tower.
Along the way, they were joined by more than a dozen others, each from the various disciples of Master Sage Subhuti, all at the Spirit-Focusing Realm.
Most of those who usually stayed at Crescent Star Cave were disciples in the Spirit-Focusing Realm. Once they reached Spirit-Absorption, they would often travel with their uncles or seek a more suitable place for cultivation.
Of course, even within the Spirit-Focusing Realm, there were early and late stages. By the standards of ordinary Sage's Path cultivators, this period could last for decades—the newly initiated and the advanced were worlds apart.
Moreover, the Spirit-Focusing Realm in the Traveler's Path and Sage's Path were fundamentally different. The Traveler's Path emphasized absorbing as much spiritual energy as possible to temper the body, while the Sage's Path did the opposite—they sought to absorb as little spiritual energy as possible to reduce karmic burden, yet still refine the body.
With such vastly different approaches to absorption, the resulting physiques were worlds apart.
At this point, the Monkey King was already at the late stage of Spirit-Focusing. In a one-on-one fight, he feared none of them. But if it came to a group brawl, that was another matter.
After all, even ants can topple an elephant if they bite it long enough.
Soon, the crowd arrived at the entrance to the Scripture Tower.
The Daoist guarding the door was startled by the large group, and, looking ready for battle, immediately drew the flying sword bestowed upon him by Master Sage Subhuti.
Ethan stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Brother Eugene, that monkey has surely snuck into the Scripture Tower. I think..."
"The Scripture Tower is a restricted area. Without Master’s written order, no one may enter." Before Ethan could finish, Eugene, the guard, cut him off.
"Brother Eugene, the Monkey King is inside the Scripture Tower right now!"
"I don’t know anything about any monkey. I only know that the Scripture Tower is a restricted area. Without Master’s written order, no one may enter."
A rush of anger surged within Ethan, his face darkening, but he held it back.
Eugene clearly had no intention of discussing anything—he wouldn’t even let them speak! It was truly outrageous!
After calming himself, Ethan spoke in a low voice, "Brother Eugene, if everyone goes in and searches the Scripture Tower right now, you'll see whether I'm telling the truth or not."
"Is the Scripture Tower yours to search?" Eugene raised his eyebrows and replied coldly.
"Fine, fine!" Ethan said through gritted teeth. "We won’t go in! You search, is that acceptable?"
Eugene sneered, "Since when has Master ever needed your advice on when to inspect the Scripture Tower? And now you presume to give orders?"
Ethan’s cheek twitched with frustration.
The crowd outside the Scripture Tower grew larger and larger, but Eugene stood his ground. Besides, Ethan and his group were all in the Spirit-Focusing Realm, while Eugene was in Spirit-Absorption and wielded the flying sword bestowed by Master Sage Subhuti—forcing their way in would only bring humiliation upon themselves.
Fearing the matter would escalate and reach his master’s ears, Ethan could only grit his teeth and glare at the Scripture Tower. "Monkey King, you got lucky today! Let’s go!"
A grudge had certainly been formed.
On the pitch-black third floor of the Scripture Tower, the Monkey King peered through a crack in the window, watching the crowd outside gradually disperse.
"The Scripture Tower is right there, unmoving. If you can enter, then enter; if you cannot, then say no more. Don't mention the written order again."
Subhuti’s last words still echoed in his ears.
"That old man knew this would happen all along! He knows everything!" The Monkey King slammed his fist against the window ledge.
That old man had been Elder Sky’s master for so many years—there’s no way he didn’t know Elder Sky’s style. He knew exactly what kind of person Elder Sky was, yet still let the Monkey King sneak into the Scripture Tower without granting a written order...
To offend Elder Sky was to offend all the Daoists in the monastery! Even if Elder Sky couldn’t bring himself to act against the Monkey King, someone else surely would!
"Looks like entering the Scripture Tower won’t be so easy from now on. Why must that old man always throw obstacles in my way?" The Monkey King gritted his teeth and rummaged through the pile of books. "Why have I never seen any external martial arts here? Even a staff technique would do. If I master it, I won’t have to run from them anymore!"
As he spoke, a bamboo scroll tumbled from the nearby bookshelf.
He opened it—Ninefold Cosmos Staff Manual!
"How did I never notice this before? Huh, the ink’s still wet?" The Monkey King stuffed the staff manual into his robe and glanced suspiciously toward Subhuti’s Hall of Silent Meditation. "Seems my luck’s turned today—I haven’t had a lucky break in ages."
He also grabbed a book on advancing from the Spirit-Focusing and Gathering Realm to the next stage—Spirit-Absorption Arts—then slipped out of the Scripture Tower.
The next day, Simon Stone asked Belle to help him request an official white waxwood staff from the monastery’s supply room. The answer was that weapons were forbidden in the monastery, so none were available.
Helpless, Simon Stone had to make one himself in the rear mountains. Unfortunately, ordinary firewood couldn’t produce a decent staff—one hard strike and it would break.
In the end, he had no choice but to set aside his plans to practice staff techniques and return to his breathing exercises.
That night, Simon Stone considered sneaking into the Scripture Tower again to find an external martial arts manual, but abandoned the idea—he could clearly sense at least twenty different presences around his cabin!
And that was only the inner ring—who knew how many more were lurking in places beyond Simon Stone’s perception!
"My situation couldn’t be worse! Old man, aren’t you going to do something?" Simon Stone roared.
Far across the monastery, Master Sage Subhuti’s eyebrows twitched, a mysterious smile appearing on his face. He didn’t even open his eyes—just continued his meditation.
After waiting a long time with no response, Simon Stone grew discouraged.
Didn’t hear him? In this monastery, nothing escaped that old man’s notice. That last shout had been meant for him.
So what now? Was Simon Stone just being left to fend for himself?
Looking around, Simon Stone realized that aside from Belle and Master Sage Subhuti—whose intentions were as mysterious as a gourd full of unknown medicine—everyone else in the monastery was an enemy! Every single one of them!
The incident with Elder Sky a few nights ago made it clear to everyone that Master Sage Subhuti was protecting Simon Stone.
So while anger simmered in their hearts, few dared to act!
But last night’s events? They showed everyone that Master Sage Subhuti would not intervene lightly!
Now the whole monastery was itching for a fight!
“The Sage’s Path... skilled in divination, understanding destiny...”
To offend Elder Sky and bring about such consequences—just how respected was that stubborn man among the Daoist disciples?
Simon Stone’s clenched fists crackled. This was the Sage’s Path—this was the Sage’s Path!
Every step, a calculated move. Every step, a trap!
No need to act directly—just a gentle push could yield the desired result!
He’d heard before that Sun Wukong had been manipulated by others—now he truly understood.
Not just the Buddha—even Master Sage Subhuti...
From the moment he entered the monastery, Simon Stone had never escaped Master Sage Subhuti’s grasp. Every step, every move—calculated to perfection!
What did he really want?
“No! I can’t go on like this!” Simon Stone’s eyes widened as he started rummaging through his pile of stolen books.
There must be a way to break this!