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| - Assuming that Minekura uses this part of the original Journey to the West, and assuming that this appearance isn't just Rule of Cool, art such as this depicting the Seiten Taisei could be really far in advance foreshadowing of what Goku/Seiten Taisei will become upon the end of the journey (see the last listing on The Other Wiki for details on Sun Wukong's becoming a Buddha). My reasons are thus:
* Whenever shown in this form, Goku always appears nearly fully grown (or at least, not as a child) and thus he must take this form sometime after meeting Sanzo, Gojyo, and Hakkai. So far, he hasn't.
* Seiten Taisei is always shown in this form with the nyoi-bo, despite the fact that the Burial Extra shows us how Goku got the nyoi-bo when horsing around with Gojyo. Unlike the original Journey, he did not have it since his time in Heaven. In addition to this, at all points in the main series in which he has broken his limiter, he has not once summoned the staff to fight- possibly simply because he doesn't need it, but perhaps because in that berserk state, he can't summon it (similar to how Kougaiji states in the Saiyuki Saiyuubito that one cannot summon a fiend when the contract holder is not themselves, as he could not summon Engokuki while being mind controlled). Upon enlightenment, in which the consciousness of Goku and Seiten Taisei merge, perhaps he can summon it.
* Seiten Taisei is almost always shown in this form with extra markings around his eyes, which have never been present at any other time he has been released. This might be some symbol of his enlightenment, similar to a chakra on the forehead of a god or Sanzo priest. In the cases where they're forgotten, it's likely early versions or Minekura forgetting them (it wouldn't be the first time; she forgot his normal inverted Ohm youkai mark on his stomach in at least one artbook picture, and even pointed this fact out).
* The Seiten Taisei is wearing some form of scrollwork diadem but clearly not the limiter that Goku has now, suggesting he's gone beyond needing the limiter.
* This picture from the Salty Dog V artbook, which arguably shows him in the very state of nirvana.
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