Chapter 3: Becoming a Disciple at Three Star Cave
```html
The Stone Monkey didn't know where the Three Star Cave was, so he could only follow the route described in the book to search for it.
The Stone Monkey crossed the Southern Continent westward, traversing the Great Wall, wandering through small counties, and even crafted a bamboo raft to float across the Western Ocean, reaching the territory of the Western Continent.
Arriving two hundred years early, he naturally couldn't see the guide, the woodcutter.
Without seeing the woodcutter, the Stone Monkey ate in the morning and lodged at night, with the book as his companion. He visited famous mountains everywhere, single-mindedly seeking the Way, without any wavering.
For years he searched like this, until one day, while the Stone Monkey was exploring a high mountain, he suddenly saw a stone tablet standing on the cliff, inscribed with ten big characters.
"Mountain of Mind and Heart, Three Star Cave."
Upon seeing these ten characters, the Stone Monkey was moved to tears.
He walked along the stone stele, over the hill, and indeed saw a cave dwelling.
At the entrance of the cave stood an immortal child with a singular appearance.
Seeing the Stone Monkey approach, the immortal child smiled, "Are you here to seek the Way?"
His master's father was currently on the altar teaching the Way, and suddenly called him out to open the door, saying that a seeker of the Way had come.
The immortal child did not expect that the seeker of the Way would be a monkey.
"Follow me inside."
The immortal child led the Stone Monkey into the cave dwelling.
The two walked through layers of deep pavilions and jade towers, arriving beneath the celestial platform.
Looking up, the Stone Monkey saw Master Puti with all-white eyebrows and beard, seated upright on the platform, with thirty little immortals standing motionless on either side.
The Stone Monkey dared not neglect, he bowed deeply, "Master, disciple earnestly pays respects!"
Earnestly paying respects signified using a most sincere heart to show submission and faith to Master Puti. This was an extremely sincere, single-minded intention.
The Grandmaster didn't expect that a monkey could say such words.
He stroked his beard and looked at the Stone Monkey. Just with a few glances, he could tell that this monkey was born of heaven and earth and had a destined master-disciple relationship with himself.
Curiously, this fate was not supposed to reveal itself now; how did he come so early?
The Grandmaster remained expressionless, "Where are you from? Reveal your home and name first, then you may bow."
The Stone Monkey quickly replied, "Disciple hails from Huaguo Mountain Water Curtain Cave in the Kingdom of Aolai on the Eastern Continent."
The Grandmaster pretended to be angry, "Nonsense, how could you come from so far away?"
"Disciple walked all the way here."
The Stone Monkey answered respectfully, "Disciple walked for over two thousand days and nights, reaching here with great difficulty, without a word of lie."
The Grandmaster calculated with his fingers, secretly rejoicing in his heart.
This monkey was not lying; he had traversed the world for seven years, yet not entangled by karma, a testament to his single-minded pursuit of the Way.
Though puzzled by his early arrival, fate is inscrutable; even the Buddha makes miscalculations at times, so unexpected occurrences are not surprising.
The Grandmaster's thoughts wafted, quickly making a decision.
"Since that's the case, you shall stay here."
Master Puti said to the Stone Monkey, "Stand and walk a few steps, and I'll give you a name."
The Stone Monkey stood up and walked a few steps, just as the book said, the Grandmaster named him Sun Wukong.
With the naming, the Stone Monkey had no further questions in his heart.
He indeed was the Sun Wukong from "Journey to the West."
After naming him, Master Puti looked at the Stone Monkey with increasing satisfaction.
This monkey was innocent and romantic, with excellent aptitude, distinct from the average disciple.
*Even though he couldn't see what the monkey would accomplish in the future, the Grandmaster vaguely perceived that his future achievements would be enough to shake the Three Realms.*
With compassionate brows and kind eyes, the Grandmaster looked toward the Stone Monkey.
"Wukong, what do you wish to learn from me?"
"I submit to whatever teachings the Master imparts."
The Stone Monkey bent over, answering respectfully, "As long as it allows me to beat up the Tathāgata."
These words were earth-shattering, shocking all the disciples present.
"You—"
The Grandmaster widened his eyes in disbelief.
*"I've caused trouble—"*
The Grandmaster sighed inwardly. After the Stone Monkey spoke these words, he unexpectedly realized why he couldn't fathom the Stone Monkey.
*This monkey was indeed a great anomaly in the world.*
*He was an aberration born from heaven and earth, which is why he arrived here prematurely.*
The Grandmaster felt quite regretful; if he had known beforehand, he wouldn't have accepted this disciple.
However, the words were spoken, and a bond of karma was thus formed between him and the Stone Monkey. Failing to teach him might invite punishment from heaven and earth.
The Grandmaster stared at the Stone Monkey, pondering over and over, but could not bring himself to harm him.
"Forget it, forget it, let's see how far he can go."
The Grandmaster thought as he waved his horsetail whisk.
"Defeating the Tathāgata is too difficult, there's nothing I can do either."
The Grandmaster said to the Stone Monkey, "I can only give you a sliver of a chance, whether or not it can be achieved depends on your understanding and creation."
The Stone Monkey immediately knelt to the ground, "Please guide me, Master!"
"I have a skill, called Formless,"
The Grandmaster said, "This skill is formless and shapeless, it allows you to become like a mirage or reflection, the moon hanging high in the sky, a shadow in the water, visible but untouchable."
He gazed at the Stone Monkey with deep eyes, "Once mastered, no one can control you, you can act as you wish, every move embodying the philosophy of heaven and earth."
"I want to learn, I want to learn!"
The Stone Monkey was overjoyed.
"Don't be too hasty in agreeing."
The Grandmaster shook his head, continuing, "This skill is named Formless, formlessness is its essence, the true nature revealed, becoming a god or demon is but a thought away."
The Formless Skill did not constrain one's individuality, yet it was extremely difficult to cultivate, and without steadfast determination to the Way, the Stone Monkey might lose himself, becoming uncontrollable.
"Without great wisdom and great perseverance, one could find nowhere to bury their corpses."
The Grandmaster looked at the Stone Monkey and suddenly shouted loudly, "Wukong, will you learn or not?"
The Stone Monkey kowtowed loudly, "Disciple is willing to learn."
"Good."
The Grandmaster nodded with satisfaction.
The Stone Monkey showed no hesitation, his determination to the Way was unwavering. Without such steadfastness, it would be impossible to cultivate the Formless Skill.
The Grandmaster waved his horsetail whisk, instructing other disciples to lead the Stone Monkey out.
The Stone Monkey was a bit puzzled; wasn't the Grandmaster going to teach him the spell?
Master Puti would not lie. Since he had already agreed, the Stone Monkey suppressed his curiosity and calmly stayed on at the Three Star Cave.
He paid respects to his senior brothers and arranged for a dormitory between the porch and hallways.
From the next day on, the Stone Monkey began learning the etiquettes of sweeping and engaging, advancing, and retreating with his senior brothers. Every day he would listen to teachings and discuss the Way, practice calligraphy, and burn incense, living fulfilling days.
Being ranked last, he was often asked by his senior brothers to sweep the floor, tend the garden, nurture flowers, prune trees, fetch water, and carry burdens. Yet, the Stone Monkey remained unperturbed, working steadily.
Unwittingly, he spent a year in the cave.
One day, while listening to the Grandmaster's teaching, the Stone Monkey suddenly realized something.
Originally, Master Puti's teachings contained the hidden Formless Skill. Indeed, it was formless and shapeless. Had he not constantly remembered this matter, he wouldn't have discovered it at all.
The Stone Monkey's intelligence blossomed, and he soon noticed that even the Grandmaster's occasional gestures seemed to carry profound hints.
He began to follow the Grandmaster closely, delving into studying him deeply.
Every day, he tagged along behind the Grandmaster like a shadow, drawing laughter from the other disciples, yet they were unaware that the Stone Monkey was gradually mastering the Formless Skill.
His understanding grew with each passing day.
The Grandmaster, observing from the sidelines, was both surprised and delighted.
"This monkey is truly extraordinary!"
Among all the disciples he had taught, there was none as clever as this monkey.
```