Everyone burst into loud laughter when they heard this and saw Skinny Monkey’s actions. A little loli even laughed so hard that tears came out of her eyes.

The Master said, “Since you recognize the wondrous sound, let me ask you, how long have you been in the cave?” George replied, “Disciple was originally ignorant and does not know how much time has passed. I only remember there was no fire under the stove, so I often went to the back of the mountain to gather firewood. I saw a fine peach tree there and ate my fill of peaches seven times.” The Master said, “That mountain is called Rotten Peach Mountain. Since you’ve eaten seven times, it must have been seven years.”

“Wow!”

Upon hearing this, some of the little ones cried out in surprise, and it seemed it wasn’t just the little ones.

William Carter understood their exclamations. In ""Journey to the West,"" this novel of gods and demons, time is hardly time at all—six or seven years is nothing; elsewhere, hundreds or even thousands of years pass in a blink. But for these listeners, hearing that six or seven years have passed so quickly was enough to amaze them.

The Master said, “What Dao do you wish to learn from me now?” George replied, “I will follow whatever the honored master teaches. As long as there is some Dao energy, I will learn it.”

Next, The Master spoke of various methods.

And every time William Carter explained a method, it would elicit exclamations and questions from the audience. However, the amazement and questions were mostly from the little ones, while for Owen Smith and the others, it was no longer just amazement—it had become shock!

When William Carter spoke about the “arts” section, a little one asked, “Is there really such a thing as ‘seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster’?”

When William Carter talked about the sections on “flow,” “stillness,” “movement,” and so on, with terms like “anchoring a pillar inside a wall,” “kiln-head adobe,” “fishing for the moon in water,” each one made them marvel and delight.

William Carter continued telling the story. But he didn’t notice that Owen Smith and the others’ attitudes had completely changed. Earlier, some had listened carelessly, laughing and joking, but now, almost everyone was filled with awe!

Many people thought to themselves, “Could immortality really exist?”

Only Little Ivy and the others could still listen as before, just happily enjoying the story, but perhaps they had believed from the start that everything William Carter said was true.

There really was an Eastern Continent, really a Kingdom of Aolai, really a Flower-Fruit Mountain, really a Water Curtain Cave, really a Handsome Monkey King...

Now, The Master listed several methods. George said, “I won’t learn, I won’t learn!”

When The Master heard this, he gave a sharp shout, jumped down from the high platform, held a ruler in his hand, and pointed at George, saying, “You monkey, you won’t learn this or that, so what do you want?” He walked up, struck George three times on the head, put his hands behind his back, walked inside, closed the main door, and left the crowd behind.

“Ah?”

Hearing this, Little Ivy and Little Dick all cried out in alarm, worrying about the Handsome Monkey King.

Owen Smith and some others, on the other hand, seemed thoughtful.

Then the Handsome Monkey King understood the Patriarch’s hint and went alone at night through the back door to see the Patriarch.

At this, the little ones were overjoyed.

George said, “There is no one else here, only your disciple. I beg Master to show great mercy and teach me the way to immortality. I will never forget your kindness!” The Master said, “You are fated today, and I am happy to teach. Since you have understood the hidden riddle, come closer and listen carefully. I will pass on to you the wondrous way of immortality.” George kowtowed in thanks, washed his ears and focused his mind, kneeling by the couch.

The Master recited:

The true and wondrous secret of perfect mastery,

Cherish cultivation of nature and life, speak no more.

All comes down to essence, energy, and spirit,

Guard and store them well, let none leak away.

Let none leak away, keep them within,

If you receive my teaching, you will flourish.

Remember the oral formula, it brings much benefit,

Eliminate evil desires to gain pure coolness.

Gain pure coolness, shining bright,

Go to the cinnabar platform to admire the bright moon.

The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun hides the crow,

Naturally, the turtle and snake entwine together.

Entwine together, nature and life become firm,

You can plant a golden lotus in fire.

Gather and use the five elements in reverse,

When your work is complete, you may become Buddha or immortal.

At this point, William Carter simply recited this passage aloud, of course, using the language of this world.

The little ones half understood, but all held their breath and listened intently. As for Owen Smith and the others, some trembled, some looked incredulous, but all desperately tried to memorize these words, though who knows how many could remember them.

Next, The Master asked about George’s progress and then told him about the “three disasters and their dangers.”

The Master said, “This is an extraordinary path, seizing the creation of heaven and earth, intruding on the mysteries of sun and moon. After the elixir is formed, ghosts and gods will not tolerate you. Though you may preserve your looks and prolong your life, after five hundred years, a thunder disaster will strike you from the heavens. You must realize your true nature and mind in advance to avoid it. If you can avoid it, your lifespan will match heaven; if not, you will perish. Another five hundred years later, a fire disaster will burn you. This fire is not heavenly fire, nor ordinary fire, but is called yin fire. It burns from the Yongquan point in your body, straight through to the Niwan Palace, turning your five organs to ash and your limbs to dust, making a thousand years of bitter cultivation all for nothing. Another five hundred years later, a wind disaster will blow you. This wind is not the east, south, west, or north wind, not the gentle or fierce wind, nor the wind of flowers, willows, pines, or bamboo, but is called the crow wind. It blows in through the fontanelle into the six organs, passes through the dantian, pierces the nine orifices, dissolves flesh and bone, and your body disintegrates. So you must avoid them all.” George heard this and was terrified, kowtowing and bowing, saying, “I beg you, Master, to have mercy and teach me the way to avoid the three disasters. I will never forget your kindness.”

Hearing all this, the little ones were in an uproar, while Owen Smith and the others were filled with awe.