Why did the monkey king wish to learn this 4 disciplines? (chapter 1)

He wanted immortality. The Monkey King’s kingdom attracted monkeys from across the world. He ruled fairly, and, reading scrolls, he learned Kung-Fu and mastered the four major heavenly disciplines, which were prerequisites to immortality: fist-like-lightning, thunderous foot, heavenly senses, and cloud-as-steed (i.e. horse).