Sun Wukong's 72 transformations are not actually forms but 72 magical powers, but Bodhi offered him either 72 earthly transformations or 36 heavenly transformations, being a monkey, thinking the bigger number is better, he didn't realize that the latter 36 was more potent, but he was looking for immortality, which was in neither, but he didn't learn this lesson until much later, much like all life lessons