"Where's the core?" Yi Tianxing pressed.
"No idea," the monkey replied. "But from what I've heard, the core will evolve into a kind of secret realm. If you can come out of that space alive, you can gather the Ancestral Vein True Spirit and earn a merit reward. But I've never done this before. This is my first time trying the Journey to the West path. We never even found the secret realm—Old Tang died before that."
When he said this, the monkey looked visibly depressed.
What was supposed to be a heaven-sent opportunity,Had turned into a disaster.
They had gathered a team of kindred spirits to start this journey—But in the end, Tang Buhui was sacrificed,And the whole plan fell apart.
Still, the monkey had come for the sake of merit,And now that he had discovered Yi Tianxing's identity,He naturally wanted to pull him into the journey.
"Interesting," Yi Tianxing mused. "But monkey, your obsession with this path—It's not just about merit, is it?"
He could tell the monkey's motivation ran deeper than mere gain.
"You're right," the monkey replied seriously. "Merit is just one part.What I really want… is an answer.
Who am I?"
He took a deep breath.
His gaze turned dark and violent, full of inner turmoil.
Who am I?
For many, that question was simple—I am me.
But for some, it was the most important question of all.
Am I truly myself?
Or am I someone else?
Have I been controlled all along?
Is there a past life awakening within me?
Or… am I just a projection, a clone, an avatar of someone else?
These were questions no outsider could understand.
Yi Tianxing's mind raced with possibilities.
"Why would he question his identity?Did he discover he's not truly himself?Has he been influenced or controlled by another?Or perhaps… he's awakening past-life memories—Or even a vessel of a powerful being?"
But he didn't voice these thoughts.After all, matters of true identity were deeply personal.
"Heh, no need to keep secrets," the monkey suddenly said."Back when I reached Yang God Realm, and tried to break through to the True Spirit Realm,I discovered… I couldn't find my Soul Fish in the River of Destiny."
Yi Tianxing's eyes sharpened.
The Soul Fish was the representation of one's true spirit in the River of Fate.
Without a Soul Fish—One could never become a true True Spirit Realm cultivator.
"I couldn't fish it out," the monkey continued. "Which means I'd always be fake.I'd never step into the real realm of truth."
At that moment, he had sensed an instinctive call from the void.
If he wanted to break through,He would have to walk the Journey to the West,And overcome at least one tribulation.
Only then could he break his shackles and reach the next level.
"But breaking through isn't what matters most," the monkey roared, slamming his iron staff into the ground."I just want to know—Who the hell am I?!"
His voice trembled with anger and defiance.
If anyone found out they might not be who they thought they were—That their very existence might be false—
The confusion… fear… rage…It could tear a weaker person apart.
Some might even collapse into madness,Rejecting their own existence.
But the monkey?
He wasn't going to give in.
He was going to find the truth—no matter the cost.
"You are who you are," Yi Tianxing said calmly."You are Yuan Gang. As long as your will belongs to you, then you are yourself.Digging too deeply… can become a mental trap."
If he kept going down this path, he risked falling into identity delusions (知见障)—Where the very act of questioning himself would erase him.
But the monkey's eyes cleared.
"Exactly. I am who I am.I exist because I live.But precisely because of that…I must find out my true face."
"You cultivators speak of Cultivating the Truth (修真).Refining the false into truth.Seeking the True Self (真我).If I don't even know who I really am—Then what is there to cultivate?"
His words were resolute.
The truth mattered to him more than his next breakthrough.
"Then I wish you luck," Yi Tianxing said with a faint smile."We can walk this Westward Journey together.It's just part of my travel anyway—And it does sound fascinating.I'm curious to see what kind of secret realm can be born from Calamity Qi and Ancestral True Spirits."
After a few more words, Yi Tianxing reminded the monkey to keep his identity secret—At least on the surface.
He didn't want his travels disrupted.
"According to Old Tang, the secret realm may be located near Falling Fetus Spring (落胎泉),Not far from the Nation of Women," the monkey explained.
Falling Fetus Spring was the opposite of the Zimu River:
Zimu River's water caused pregnancy.
Falling Fetus Spring's water caused abortion.
They had already scouted the Zimu River without finding anything.
Now, Falling Fetus Spring was the only other likely candidate.
"Bring that pig and river demon over," Yi Tianxing said."Let's all get acquainted and begin this collaboration."
Time was of the essence.With the husband selection event ruined—Most of the men in the city were either gone or had been sacrificed.
There was no reason to delay.
Soon, the pig demon and river demon arrived.
"I'm Zhu Wuya," said the pig demon cheerfully."Old friends with Brother Monkey. I joined the journey to earn some merit,And hopefully shed this mortal flesh and transform fully."
He was fully informed of the plan and eager to cooperate.
"I'm Turtle Monk, a Blackwater Mystic Turtle (黑水玄龟)," the river demon added."From now on, Mr. Yi is my master on this journey.Just tell me what to do—I'll handle it."
Despite his fearsome appearance, he seemed good-natured—Likely one of the more temperate members of the demon race.
"Good. Since we're cooperating, we're all one team now."
Yi Tianxing nodded.
"Though I'm human, I don't bear ill will toward demons.Just like people—demons can be good or evil.As long as they don't eat humans, I have no problem.All races belong to the Eternal World.Eventually, we'll fight side by side against the true enemies."
A towering figure flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind as he said this…
"Let's go to Falling Fetus Spring," the monkey urged eagerly.
Old Tang's death was unfortunate, but at this point,The secret realm took precedence.
They weren't truly master and disciples anyway—just collaborators.
Better to act fast before things changed.
Falling Fetus Spring was near the Nation of Women.
Its location was widely known.
In case anyone who drank Zimu River water regretted it—They could use the Falling Fetus Spring to reverse it.
Zimu River was powerful.Drink it, and pregnancy came instantly—Not ten months, but ten days.
A day passed like a month.
This was the true magic of the Zimu River.
If used deliberately, it could multiply the entire population in just a month.
A national population growth miracle.
"I've already asked around," said the pig."Falling Fetus Spring is in Jieyang Mountain (解阳山).I know the way—we can leave now."
"Alright, let's go," Yi Tianxing nodded.
Without hesitation, the party set off toward Jieyang Mountain.
Jieyang Mountain was an unusual place.
It looked just like a pair of kidneys from above.
The entire mountain radiated pure masculine Yang Qi—It was like a giant furnace of burning essence.
If one had Fate-Seeing Eyes, they'd see it clearly—A mountain overflowing with blazing Yang energy.
"There—Gathering Immortal Hermitage (聚仙庵)!!"
Atop the mountain stood a majestic immortal estate,Shaped like a Taoist temple.
Its aura was extraordinary.
"There's a restriction barrier," Zhu Wuya said as he approached.He could feel the immense threat within.
Clearly, someone powerful lived there.
"Knock."
Yi Tianxing ordered calmly.
BANG BANG BANG!
Zhu Wuya pounded on the door and shouted loudly.
"Who dares disturb this Immortal?"
The doors creaked open, revealing a figure.
He wore:
A celestial crown of stars
A gold-threaded red robe
Cloud-woven shoes
An ornate treasure belt
Socks like embroidered waves
A skirt fringed with fine silk
In his hand, a golden wish-fulfilling hook like a dragon's fang
His eyes were bright, brows sharp.His teeth glinted red.Fiery whiskers flowed under his chin.His sideburns were crimson and frizzed.
He resembled the fearsome Marshal Wen,Yet his dress was that of a Daoist immortal.
He had the appearance of a true immortal.
"Eh? That plague monkey… wait, no—It's not entirely him."
The True Immortal Ruyi (如意真仙) narrowed his eyes at the monkey,A flicker of recognition in his gaze.