Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 109 The Elephant Soul Appears for the First Time, Qi Arises with Thought

As Jiang Yi got closer, he could see clearly that the servant was carrying half a small beast on his shoulder.

It looks neither like a fox nor a sable.

Its tail was as bushy as a duster, but its expression was cunning and mischievous. Its limbs were long and nimble, and it was clear at a glance that it was not a common sight in the mountains.

Although his blood and qi are not particularly strong, he exudes a kind of vitality.

The moment the beast landed, the earth's energy remained undisturbed, yet people's hearts and minds were stirred.

Jiang Yi understood, so he wasn't surprised.

Ever since he casually mentioned that "his ancestors had passed down some divination skills," the Liu family has become increasingly friendly, sending gifts to the Jiang family every few days.

If an old medicinal herb is unearthed in the mountains, or a rare beast is hunted down, the best one must be carefully selected and sent over in a great hurry.

At first, Jiang Yi declined a few times, but he eventually got tired of it.

I would only occasionally pick a few spiritual fruits from behind the house as a return gift, considering it a visit between neighbors, and it wouldn't be considered impolite.

The servant gently put the beast down, but instead of leaving as usual, he did not.

He took out a prescription from his robes, presented it with both hands, and said respectfully:

"This beast is called the Wind Fox. It was obtained by the manor owner when he was patrolling the mountains. It is quite intelligent and is no ordinary creature."

He pointed to the small beast and continued:
"The master said that this beast has a pure and righteous aura. If it is used as a guide, along with several spiritual herbs in this prescription, and boiled into a soup, it will have the effect of calming the mind and benefiting the soul."

Before he finished speaking, he twisted his foot and slipped out of the courtyard gate, even faster than when he came.

Jiang Yi looked down at the prescription, and after a quick glance, he understood what was going on.

Most of the medicinal herbs listed on the paper were from their own herb garden, and the rest were common, so it was not difficult to prepare them.

He felt a slight sense of relief, but his brows furrowed involuntarily.

The Liu family's favor was too generous and too easy to bestow.

Such a favor cannot be repaid with mere words or a few pieces of fruit.

Though his heart was heavy, his face remained calm and composed, without the slightest change in expression.

Air thrusters are just being pretentious; they still need to be used when necessary.

A fox and a prescription are exactly what the family needs right now.

He nodded in acknowledgment, instructed the little girl and Liu Xiulian to clean up the mess, rolled up his sleeves, and turned to enter the herb garden.

The herbs and roots were carefully selected and weighed, washed thoroughly with warm water, and then each ingredient was added according to the prescription.

The fox spirit is agile and nimble, unlike the fierce beasts of the mountains. After just one stew in a pot, its bones are soft and its flesh is tender, and the soup is clear with a warm glow.

When you sniff it, it's clear and not overpowering, and it gives you a slight boost in energy.

A pot of delicious soup was just finished cooking when it got dark.

Jiang Ming returned from the back mountain, beads of sweat on his forehead and his sleeves rolled up high, as if he had just had a fight with someone.

Two months ago, Liu Xiulian quietly entered the state of perfect essence.

The aroma of soup wafted through the room, perfectly timed; this time, we had just arrived at the perfect moment.

The Jiang family members shared the pot of clear meat soup. The steaming broth filled the room with its aroma, and after drinking it, they all felt refreshed and invigorated.

After the meal, they went their separate ways in silence, returning to their rooms to chant scriptures, meditate, regulate their breathing, and meditate.

Jiang Yi sat cross-legged, gathered his sleeves and focused his mind, silently reciting the scriptures, each word clear and distinct, like nails.

The punctuation in the sutra is not like idle talk in the world, but rather like mountain spring dripping on stones, drop by drop, slowly rippling in the depths of the mind.

Following the guidance of the scriptures, slowly gather your thoughts and untangle the restless mind, guiding it inch by inch towards a more secluded and distant place.

Thoughts are like threads, gently gathering worldly thoughts, peeling away fleeting shadows, trying to explore that formless and imageless place.

That place seemed to be empty space, yet it was not entirely desolate.

As if lost in a fog, I was completely disoriented, with nowhere to step and nowhere to hold on.

When one probes with one's mind, it is as if a stone has fallen into a deep pool, leaving no echo or ripple.

Unable to discern the depth or distance, one feels utterly bewildered.

Ordinary cultivators, upon arriving here, would most likely be shaken and dissipate of their energy, waking up in shock. But Jiang Yi's years of diligent cultivation had not been in vain.

At this moment, my mind is as clear as a mirror, my breath is as soft as silk, and my consciousness remains calm and undisturbed.

In that quiet stillness, a faint image of "existence" was captured.

Extremely faint, extremely subtle, like the lingering fragrance after a breeze, or like fine snow in the night, floating and sinking, seemingly close yet distant.

In the past, it was mostly something that couldn't be grasped or seen clearly.

Today, however, it felt as if a clear spring had quietly seeped into my consciousness from nothingness.

Silent and still, the water flows gently, following the subtle threads of divine consciousness.

The previously unstable "existence" was gently lifted up and stabilized, as if a corner of its outline was being revealed in the mist.

The utterly chaotic void finally began to have some direction.

It's as if you're looking into the distance at night, and you can vaguely see the shadows of the mountains lying across the landscape. Although the details are hard to discern, they are clearly real and tangible.

Jiang Yi focused his mind and concentrated, his thoughts like silk threads, winding and exploring into the invisible realm.

Finally, in that deep void, two extremely faint points of light slowly emerged.

It hung there faintly, half-lit, like a flickering fire in the wind, swaying but not going out.

His heart tightened, and he was about to hold his breath and examine the figure in the light more closely.

Suddenly, I heard, "Oh...! Cluck cluck cluck!"

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over my face; my thoughts suddenly collapsed, and the fire in my heart was extinguished.

Jiang Yi suddenly opened his eyes, his breathing slightly disordered.

At the window, the morning light was already turning white, the fresh snow had just cleared, and water dripped from the eaves, creating a chilly atmosphere.

Jiang Yi sat on the couch, his expression calm, without a trace of annoyance.

Several thoughts raced through my mind, but ultimately, I felt more joy than confusion.

To my delight, after years of silently reciting Buddhist scriptures and diligently contemplating, tonight I finally glimpsed the essence of the soul for the first time.

Although their true form was not seen, those two faint lights were unmistakable and not illusions.

The perplexing thing is that although the light appears, it does not form an image; its shape is unclear, and its origin is incomprehensible.

According to the eldest son, Jiang Ming, the appearance of that spirit is closely related to temperament, constitution, and the smoothness or roughness of one's Qi.

If one can recognize its form early on and cultivate accordingly, it is like sailing with the current, covering a hundred miles in a day.

Now, there are only two halos of light, their origin and destination unknown. They have only peeked through the crack in the door and have not yet entered the hall.

However, the path of cultivation is not something that can be accomplished in three or five days. If I succeed, I am fortunate; if I do not, I will not complain.

Jiang Yi, who was always calm and composed, did not feel any regret.

Let's take it one step at a time and see what happens; we won't force anything.

Just as he was thinking about how to savor the feeling that flowed into his mind like a clear spring, he suddenly heard a noise.

Someone rolled over, someone sat up, and a soft yawn drifted over from afar.

Like willow catkins brushing his face, it was so light, yet it landed perfectly in his heart.

As soon as the surrounding energy stirs, it enters the senses, like ripples spreading across the surface of water, layer upon layer, all within the perception.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking that this was the aftereffect of the visualization.

As the spirit and soul begin to solidify and consciousness expands outward, an additional sense of "awareness" emerges beyond the five senses.

Let's probe deeper inside.

His bones and muscles remained strong, and his breathing was normal. Starting from his dantian, it flowed slowly through his meridians, steady and without any abnormality.

Just as dawn broke and the morning air began to stir, Jiang Yi's thoughts drifted, and a soft rumble came from his stomach, giving him the urge to defecate.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, the breath that had been flowing peacefully beneath his abdomen suddenly stopped and then began to ripple.

(End of this chapter)