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

Chapter 138 A Journey of Intertwined Fortune, The Path to Godhood Through the Physical Body

The old almanac on the wall was almost empty, its pages curled up, its pages thin and sparse, rustling in the wind.

Before I knew it, it was the New Year holiday season again.

Since the last letter, which was half-confidential, was sent from Liangzhou, there has been no further news, not even a sound.

But the New Year still has to be celebrated.

Three children in the yard, one big and two small, were chasing after an old hen with a red rope tied to its leg, causing quite a ruckus.

The chickens ran swiftly, the children laughed loudly, their footsteps crunching on the snow as they rushed straight to the corner of the woodshed.

The snow on the eaves, which was already loose, fell down even more heavily after the commotion, sometimes hitting people on the neck and eliciting a few screams, followed by another round of laughter.

Jiang Xi pulled out two strings of homemade firecrackers from somewhere, shouted "Light them!" and sparks flew everywhere, creating a loud crackling sound.

The old hen couldn't withstand the commotion; it flapped its wings and flew half a foot high, causing the hunting dog to scatter in all directions.

The courtyard was filled with a mix of white and red light, and the sounds of people and the smell of gunpowder created a lively and bustling atmosphere.

It was as if this year, from the very first firecracker, was no longer quiet.

Jiang Yi leaned against the eaves, holding a cup of hot tea in one hand. Steam rose from the cup, the aroma of tea wafting through the air, reflecting a warm glow on his face.

But his gaze had already quietly fallen on the girl in the courtyard who was distributing candy.

Before I knew it, that girl was almost twenty-one.

In today's world, she would already be considered an "old maid".

Even in his previous life, he would probably have reached the age where he should be asking for a marriage proposal and worrying about getting married.

But she herself was well-behaved, showing no sign of being anxious or flustered.

Jiang Yi had his own plans in mind, but his face remained as steady as an old bell. He simply raised his hand and gently blew on the foam on the teacup.

But at the end of the year, some unreasonable wind blew a rare guest back.

More than a year has passed since that Master Liu last parted ways, and there has been no news of him since.
Today, they've chosen an auspicious time on the first day of the Lunar New Year to come to our door with their whole family.

He was carrying two packets of pills and fruit, and following the old customs, he knocked on the door and offered his New Year's greetings in a proper and formal manner.

Long time no see, but he still looks as robust as ever.

His shoulders and back were straight, and his eyebrows and eyes were also normal, but his face was full of wrinkles.

In this day and age, those who guard the mountains and forests to ward off evil are not spared from the harsh winds and frosts. Naturally, they cannot escape the ravages of time.

But his eyes remained unchanged.

When those eyes were raised, it was still the same old look, like an old knife sheathed, the blade not exposed, but the chill was real.

Jiang Yi smiled and welcomed the person inside.

Their conversation was warm and friendly, the small talk was just right, and their manners were impeccable.

The aroma of tea wafted through the room, and the conversation began with the spirits and monsters of the mountains, then drifted to the heavy snowfall of this winter.

They spoke slowly and calmly, as if it were an old friend reminiscing.

Unexpectedly, the conversation took a turn and landed on that old, long-standing agreement.

Master Liu took a sip of tea, his eyes glancing at the young man out of the corner of his eye, a seemingly casual glance, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Zian, what are you standing there for? Bow to your Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang for the New Year."

Liu Zian stood up in response, his posture upright and his steps steady. He performed a grand salute with perfect manners, and there was not a single fault in his performance.

Jiang Yi's gaze fell on the boy, and his eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.

In just half a month, the weather has already changed quite a bit.

His energy flowed smoothly and his mind was slightly aroused; even the impetuousness that was typical of young people subsided by a third.

His mind was clear and his energy was steady. Even the impetuousness that was typical of a young man had been somewhat restrained in his demeanor.

Jiang Yi was no stranger to this appearance.

He was barely twenty years old, yet his divine will was beginning to manifest, and his divine soul was already vaguely taking shape.

This lineage of cultivation, this composure, truly seems to be a true seed passed down from the direct line of the Liu family.

Master Liu put down his teacup, smoothed his sleeves, and spoke in a calm and unhurried manner, as if chatting casually:
“Brother Jiang Yi, my son is now quite settled and has almost reached the threshold of marriage. According to the marriage we made back then... my Liu family is ready to listen to your every word.”

His tone was flat, as if he were just mentioning it casually, without the slightest hint of coercion.

There was no joy or urging; he simply looked like he was turning to an old, forgotten page in an old ledger.

But out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but glance towards the other side of the yard.

In the courtyard, Jiang Xi was smiling and talking to a few children. The snow reflected the graying down at her temples, and her smile was hidden in her eyes, carrying a touch of girlish gentleness.

Master Liu's barely concealed hope was lurking in the corners of his eyes and brows, even more blatant than when he spoke aloud.

Unfortunately, the prospective daughter-in-law whom he had been waiting for for many years showed absolutely no signs of being "determined" or "confident."

Jiang Yi had naturally seen through it long ago, and too lazy to beat around the bush, he simply held his slightly cool teacup and replied in a low voice:
"Brother Liu, you may not know this, but Xi'er... she has never practiced the art of mental concentration."

Back then, he wanted to obtain that set of predestined techniques, but in reality, he was paving a way out for Liang'er.

That kid isn't very talented; he can't concentrate on his studies, and there's not a trace of inspiration in his writing.

If I don't use those unorthodox methods to get a clue, I'm afraid I won't even be able to secure a decent future.

However, the rest of the Jiang family, starting with the eldest son, exuded a scholarly air that filled the house, and each of them was stubborn and determined to find a way out.

We have always avoided mentioning or even touching upon this type of middle-level cultivation method.

If that weren't the case, with Xi'er's talent, how could she not even catch up with her second brother, and still not even have touched the threshold of "devotion"?

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall became slightly tense.

Master Liu's expression hardened slightly, and the teacup in his hand seemed to tap lightly against the edge of the table, making a very soft sound.

He didn't rush to reply, but stared at Jiang Yi for a long while before slowly speaking. His tone was still gentle, but with a hint of probing composure:

"Brother Jiang, what do you mean by that?"

Jiang Yi merely smiled, his expression composed, and without replying, he gestured towards the courtyard entrance and softly called out:
"Jiang Ming, come on, let me pour your Uncle Liu a cup of tea."

The eldest son, who rarely went to the back mountain during the holidays, answered the call and entered steadily, with a ray of warm afternoon sunlight following behind him.

Before he spoke, his breath was already calm and gentle, his demeanor was composed and serene. He first bowed to Master Liu, his hands clasped in a respectful manner.

With just this one entry and exit, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to ease.

Without any visible movement from him, the teapot on the table seemed to be gently lifted by the wind, silently floating an inch above the surface and landing steadily in front of Master Liu.

The spout is tilted slightly, and hot tea flows into the cup in thin streams, exactly seven-tenths full.

Every move he made was neither ostentatious nor showy; it seemed more like an unconscious, spontaneous action.

That invisible force, gentle yet steady, like water carrying the wind, is understated yet possesses a mature and dignified air.

Master Liu's eyelids twitched slightly, and his gaze fell on the teacup. The steam rising from the cup made him momentarily speechless.

Such controlled and controlled energy, such calm and composed demeanor—how could this be the work of someone who has just entered the Qi Realm?
Perhaps... they have already been given a different destiny.

The fact that the eldest son of the Jiang family had cultivated to such a level so quietly was far beyond his expectations.

Jiang Yi sat to the side, holding a teacup in his hand, slowly taking in his expression.

A slight smirk played on his lips, his tone flat, yet concealing a hint of certainty:

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Master. My son didn't follow any particular path of self-cultivation or preordained methods; he merely used some unorthodox approaches, which were barely passable."

He spoke modestly, but his tone betrayed a hint of undisguised pride.

Upon hearing this, Master Liu's gaze froze, and the look of surprise in his eyes seemed to linger like a lake being struck by a heavy object.

He considered himself quite knowledgeable in the path of cultivation, and his ancestors had spent half their lives searching for that "divine" realm.

At this moment, they were fully aware of what such methods meant.

Without even consciously intending to, one can guide the flow of qi with one's mind, control objects inch by inch, and control the flow of qi at will...

This is not the initial formation of Qi, but a sign of a calm mind and the initial opening of spiritual consciousness.

He had heard Zi'an mention it a few times before, saying that this eldest brother of the Jiang family disliked martial arts and did not practice magic, but preferred reading. In his spare time, he would also pull them together to recite scriptures and explain verses.

At that time, he was just a bookish scholar who didn't do his job properly, at most he was calm and composed.

Unexpectedly... what was read was actually the flow of energy, divine will, and another deeply hidden path of cultivation.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the Jiang family's literary cultivation could actually achieve such a level of prowess.

He stared at the teapot, at the teacup that sat steadily on the table, as if he were staring at an old dragon emerging from the water, and remained silent for a long time.

Only then did Jiang Yi speak with a smile, his voice low but his tone extremely gentle:
"In my opinion, it would be better for both of our families to wait until the two children are both alive and their hearts are settled before discussing marriage."

His words were tactful yet unvarnished, and his intentions were crystal clear.

This marriage should be postponed for a while.

Although he spoke clearly, he dared not be certain what his longtime friend was planning.

After all, the path to "both life and health" has always been a ladder built upon the passage of time.

He then said that his eldest son had been cultivated since childhood. He learned to read and write at the age of eight, studied the Six Classics during the day, and pondered divine texts at night.

Now at twenty-six, he has only just begun to grasp the basics, barely managing to gather his energy and focus his mind, and begin to observe his own divine image.

There are still several mountains and rivers separating us from the legendary realm of "the gods are with me," and the road beneath our feet is still far away.

Xi'er and Zi'an are not mediocre at all; at such a young age, their eyes already reveal a certain intelligence.

Furthermore, through constant exposure, one might suddenly have a flash of inspiration and enter the field unexpectedly.

According to Jiang Yi's assessment, he was truly gifted and able to achieve "both physical and mental well-being" before the age of thirty. It was a gift from heaven and a great blessing.

As he pondered this, he turned the teacup lid and gently blew away the foam.

He was also weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

This Master Liu, a single heir of his family, is he really able to wait for this slow and arduous path of cultivation?

Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, a glint of shrewdness shone in the weathered old eyes of Master Liu.

He changed the subject, and a barely suppressed excitement crept in.

"Brother Jiang, is what you say... truly true?"

He leaned forward unconsciously, his voice low but steady, revealing a long-held yearning and solemnity.

"Such extraordinary and profound techniques can actually be... passed on to my son, Zi'an?"

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yi remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he felt somewhat reassured.

He calmly set down his teacup and said slowly and deliberately:

"You flatter me, Master. Xi'er and Zi'an are destined to be together forever. As family, they should support each other."

"Good! Good!"

Upon hearing this, Master Liu slapped his knee heavily and repeatedly said "good" twice, his expression even more enthusiastic than when he first heard it.

He grabbed his son, who was still standing there in a daze, and pushed him towards the center of the hall, pressing down on his shoulder.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and kowtow to your Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang!"

Judging from this situation, if the marriage wasn't still one step away from being finalized, they probably would have even asked someone to call out their "parents" on the spot.

Although Liu Zian didn't quite understand what was going on, he didn't ask any more questions because he saw his father's unusually solemn expression.

He obediently knelt down in front of the hall and kowtowed three times with great speed and efficiency.

Although Jiang Yi had prepared a few points in his mind, he did not expect that Master Liu would be so agitated that he almost lost his composure.

After all, even setting aside the "life and death" approach, the Liu family has its own steady and promising path.

Ancestors accumulated virtue and performed good deeds, and generations of people cultivated themselves in good ways. They have deep blessings and a stable and long life.

If you continue down this path, as long as you can guard your mind and maintain your composure, you will eventually achieve a perfect enlightenment.

As for the method of "achieving both physical and mental well-being," to put it bluntly, it is nothing more than using the essence of heaven and earth as a foundation, harmonizing yin and yang, and refining the spirit into oneness.

It sounds amazing, but in reality, it's just stepping into the threshold of refining essence into qi. There are still many mountains and rivers and many destinies between it and becoming a god or immortal and shedding one's skin to ascend to true immortality.

If we're really talking about future potential, the Liu family's path of accumulating merit and cultivating virtue is stable, safe, and doesn't involve fighting against fate, so they might not necessarily lose.

Master Liu was no ordinary person; he saw through Jiang Yi's hidden suspicions with just a glance.

He immediately slapped his thigh, his laughter ringing out like a bell:

"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, perhaps you still don't understand. This marriage between our two families is not just an ordinary union between relatives, but a destiny ordained by heaven and a blessing from heaven!"

"These two kids will probably walk a path that even we can't imagine in the future!"

Jiang Yi naturally knew that this marriage alliance was beneficial; otherwise, he wouldn't have betrothed his precious daughter to such a person.

But at this moment, he remained silent, quietly holding his tea and waiting for what was to come.

At this moment, Master Liu was in high spirits, his face flushed, but his voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels:

"Brother Jiang, do you know that even the gods in this world are ranked? Their backgrounds vary in depth and their future prospects differ. If they walk the right path, they will ascend to heaven like dragons; if they stray from the right path, even if they become gods, they will be nothing more than clay sculptures with golden bodies."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi gently shook his head.

He only fantasized about becoming a god or immortal in the dead of night.

As for sitting down properly like today and having a detailed discussion with someone, this is truly the first time.

Seeing his serious expression, Master Liu felt even more pleased with him, lowering his voice slightly but becoming increasingly solemn:
"Most of the gods in this world are posthumously appointed."

"In other words, it is just that after a person dies, a wisp of their soul is left behind, which is worshipped by later generations, and with the power of their vows, it barely manages to form a golden body to manifest supernatural powers."

He paused, a serious glint in his eyes, and lowered his voice:
"But there is another path, and that is... to become a god in the flesh."

"This path is difficult to enter and traverse, but once traversed, the golden body will be indestructible, and the foundation of the Dao will endure forever. How can the thickness of the foundation and the weight of the destiny be compared to that of a deified god?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi paused slightly, his hand, which had been resting on the tea lid, seemed to pause for a moment.

Although he did not speak, his heart was already churning.

All the legends I had heard and the words I had seen in my past life suddenly came to mind.

Upon closer reflection, those truly great deities all ascended to godhood in their physical bodies while still alive.

Even if one encounters misfortune along the way, one must find a lotus root to rebuild one's true form.

He had already guessed most of it in his heart, but he just didn't say it out loud.

Master Liu became more and more excited as he spoke, and compared to his previous subtle hints, he spoke freely and without any restraint.

"To be honest, Brother Jiang."

He leaned forward, his voice lowered, but the joy in his eyes was undeniable:

"The meager fortune of my Liu family is an old opportunity passed down from our ancestors."

"As long as descendants keep to their duties, keep order in this land and forest, and accumulate good deeds without compromise, they can probably earn a minor position, transcend the cycle of reincarnation, and enjoy lasting peace."

"I don't crave great wealth or high status. I'm already grateful if my family members don't fall into the six realms of existence or become animals or hungry ghosts."

Master Liu was in high spirits and revealed all his family's secrets in just a few words.

He paused here, his eyes brightening slightly, but his tone suddenly changed:
"But now that I have your method, Brother Jiang... my future will be completely different!"

"Just imagine, if Ruoxi'er and Zi'an can truly achieve that path of perfect health and longevity, even if they only step into the threshold of 'refining essence into qi,' their lifespan could be extended by three to five hundred years out of thin air!"

He extended three fingers and tapped them lightly on the table three times, each word as firm as a hammer blow:

"Three hundred years, five hundred years! In just a few hundred years, if you do good deeds every day, protect the mountain people, and suppress evil spirits and plagues, tell me, how much merit would you accumulate?"

"That blessing is probably far greater than all the blessings bestowed upon my Liu family ancestors combined!"

His eyes burned with barely concealed intensity; he chuckled softly, his voice lowered even further.

"If they have some good fortune in the next three to five hundred years, and go even further... who knows, they might actually have a sliver of opportunity to achieve... physical godhood!"

He pronounced the last four words almost one by one.

The sound, though soft, struck like a heavy hammer in the small main room, and also struck Jiang Yi's heart.

(End of this chapter)