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

Chapter 154 Favorable Location, Favorable Human Factors, Favorable Timing
The phrase "the true god of the human world" floated lightly into the empty Listening Crane Hall, like raindrops hitting an ancient pool.

In the bronze incense burner at the corner of the hall, fine sandalwood burned, and wisps of blue smoke curled around the beams and pillars.

Jiang Ming nodded indifferently from behind the wisp of smoke, acknowledging this idea that seemed earth-shattering to others.

Xuan Yue Zhenren's clear eyes finally couldn't remain calm and still, and a few ripples appeared.

She remained silent for a moment, and when she spoke again, her expression had calmed down and she was more serious than before.

“Layman Jiang, I know you are eager, but this path is more difficult than climbing to heaven.”

She spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice neither hurried nor slow, yet she laid out the crux of the matter with crystal clarity:

“The imperial decree to confer the title of a true god is not a joke. First, there must be the willingness of the people to believe in him, and the incense offerings and the power of their vows will naturally surge forth. This is the ‘advantage’ and the foundation.”

"Furthermore, our Taoist community must discuss and examine their virtues and merits. Only if they truly benefit the region can we jointly submit a petition to the Emperor. This is called 'harmony among people,' which is a matter of recognition and legitimacy."

As she finished speaking, she paused slightly, her gaze falling on Jiang Ming's overly calm eyes, adding a touch of solemnity.

"Finally, and most difficult of the two, are: first, the current emperor himself must write the decree and issue it to the mortal world; second, the Jade Emperor must grant the decree from the heavens above, in the unseen realm, with the approval of Heaven. Only these two can be considered 'the opportune moment'."

"If any one of the four is missing, it is all just a mirage, a waste of effort."

After he finished speaking, the sandalwood incense in the hall seemed to freeze.

After listening, Jiang Ming remained expressionless, even casually raising his eyes to look at the unnamed old tree outside the hall.

"My younger brother, Jiang Liang, has some reputation in Longxi and is not a rootless duckweed. Before coming here, I had already made some arrangements in Chang'an. With the support of the people and the favorable conditions, I think there should be no major problems."

He withdrew his gaze, his tone calm: "I've come to your esteemed place today to ask if the Celestial Master's Mansion would be willing to lend me its 'human resources'?"

The words were spoken lightly, yet they caused the brows of the several Taoist priests behind Master Xuan Yue to twitch slightly.

Master Xuan Yue's gaze swept across the faces of his fellow disciples, silently probing before silently withdrawing it.

She lowered her eyes, looking at the cloud pattern on her cuffs, and pondered:
"It is the Celestial Master's Mansion's duty to recommend righteous gods on behalf of Heaven. It is also a heavy responsibility. If the wrong person is recommended, the mission will fail and the reputation of the Celestial Master's Mansion will be damaged. We cannot afford to be careless."

The conversation then softened slightly, like a spring breeze thawing the ice, adding a touch of human warmth:
“But Captain Jiang has saved our lives, and now he has sacrificed himself for the country. It is only right and proper that we jointly petition the Heavenly Master for a decision.”

"But... do you have a plan for those two extraordinary 'timings'? We would like to inform you of them so that the Celestial Master can make a decision."

These words have already opened a huge loophole.

Jiang Ming's usually ramrod straight back seemed to have loosened a little as a result.

He stood up, bowed deeply to the crowd, and said in a calm and unhurried voice, "Thank you all for your help."

As he straightened up, he suddenly smiled:

"To confer the title of a deity, nominally, requires an imperial edict from the Jade Emperor. But the Jade Emperor sits high in the heavens, his heart is set on the myriad realms, how could he have the leisure to bother with a minor deity in the mortal world?"

"In the end, it's just the Heavenly Court's Performance Evaluation Department following the rules and going through a paperwork process. As long as the paperwork is submitted and none of the fellow gods object, the matter is pretty much settled."

He paused, then added, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Before coming to Heming Mountain, I had already spoken with a few people at the City God Temple in Chang'an. I think they won't make things difficult for my younger brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, and even the wisp of smoke seemed to have died down.

Xuan Yue Zhenren clenched his fist slightly inside his sleeve.

Such celestial regulations are only mentioned briefly in the records of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

He spoke of it as if it were his own backyard, as if he knew it intimately.

As for the phrase "the message has been delivered," it was incredibly arrogant.

The City God of Chang'an was no ordinary person; he was the "General City God of Thirteen Provinces" appointed by imperial decree in the early dynasty. Among the Yin gods in the mortal realm, he was a figure of considerable stature, and even the Celestial Master's Mansion dared not neglect him.

In his mouth, it became something that could be used to "pass on messages" at will.

Xuan Yue Zhenren's heart was filled with turmoil, but his gaze subconsciously drifted to the long stick behind Jiang Ming, which was tightly wrapped in white cloth.

Thinking of the staff's extraordinary nature, and then looking at the man's unfathomable expression.

She suddenly felt that perhaps the other party really did have that confidence.

Master Xuan Yue withdrew his gaze from the long white cloth staff and asked:
"As for matters of the heavens, you have your own methods. But I wonder if there are any opportunities for you to serve in the courts of the mortal world?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming first nodded, then shook his head.

"What do you mean by that, Master?" he asked in return.

He could understand the intricacies of celestial documents, but he knew little about the affairs of the mortal court.

The last ripple in Xuan Yue Zhenren's eyes subsided, and his heart became clearer.

“Layman, you may not know this,” she sighed softly, her voice unchanged, “but in this matter, the current emperor is probably even more wary than my Celestial Master’s Mansion.”

"It is rarely recorded in classical texts, but it is a case passed down orally by our Taoist predecessors."

She spoke slowly and deliberately, as if she were recounting an old news story that had nothing to do with her.

"In the previous dynasty, an emperor, out of personal desire, wanted to bestow the title of City God upon a favored minister who had made no contribution whatsoever. The edict was issued, the temple was built, and the ceremony was so grand that all the officials came to pay their respects. It was quite a spectacle."

"The strange thing is that clay statue with gold leaf that was brought into the temple."

“Outside the temple gate, the statue of the god was magnificent and dazzling. But no matter how you lifted it or how you invited it, once it reached the threshold of the temple, it would inexplicably become as heavy as a mountain, and no matter how many people pushed or moved it, it would not budge an inch. Finally, under the watchful eyes of the people, the clay statue suddenly cracked without wind and shattered into a pile of rubble with a crash.”

At this point, the expressions of the Taoist priests in the hall all turned solemn.

Such a thing is a strange tale to ordinary people.

In the eyes of these practitioners, however, it was the most straightforward attitude of the divine way.

"This matter did not actually affect the divine way, but it had a great impact on the prestige of that emperor. At that time, the court and the public were shaken, and people were in turmoil, almost causing a great upheaval. Since then, emperors of all dynasties have been extremely cautious in bestowing titles upon the gods."

Xuan Yue Zhenren looked at Jiang Ming, his voice carrying a heavy tone:
"If our recommendations fail, we only lose face; but if the Emperor speaks, the matter falls flat, and the very foundation of the nation is shaken. His Majesty is unlikely to take such a risk lightly."

After he finished speaking, only the lingering fragrance of sandalwood remained in the hall.

Jiang Ming listened without saying a word, his eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he finally raised his head and simply nodded to Xuan Yue Zhenren.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

Just then, a faint sound came from outside the palace gate.

The young Taoist boy who had led Jiang Ming up the mountain earlier entered, his small steps shimmering on the eaves, bowing respectfully, his voice clear and bright:

"Reporting to all the True Immortals, Senior Brother Jiang Feng is already waiting outside the hall."

Xuan Yue Zhenren's tense brows seemed to relax a little after hearing those words.

She flicked her sleeve, causing a slight ripple of mist: "Bring him in." A short while later, a boy of about half a age, dressed in an ordinary Taoist robe, stepped in.

It was Jiang Feng.

Unaware of the upheaval that had occurred at home, he was summoned from the alchemy room to the Listening Crane Palace, his heart filled with unease.

Looking up, he first saw his uncle, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Upon another glance, the elders, including Master Xuan Yue, all wore solemn expressions, and their initial warmth was quietly suppressed.

They simply stepped forward respectfully and greeted each person politely.

After the ceremony, he moved closer to Jiang Ming and asked in a low voice, "Uncle, what brings you to Heming Mountain?"

Jiang Ming's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't been the one discussing those profound and earth-shattering matters just moments before.

He reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, saying with a smile:
"I'm here on your father's orders to bring you a few things."

After saying that, he took the long stick wrapped in white cloth off his back, then took out a palm-sized cloth bag from his bosom, slowly untied it, and spread it out in his palm.

Inside were five bronze rings of varying sizes, their ancient, somber hue gleaming in the dim light of the hall.

Jiang Feng recognized him at a glance, his eyes lit up instantly, and his mature-beyond-his-years demeanor vanished from his mind.

His own father had made a name for himself in Longxi with this very outfit; how could he not recognize him?

After the initial joy, I couldn't help but scratch my head and ask:

"The war is over? Why did Father suddenly give me this treasure?"

Jiang Ming patted his shoulder, his voice calm, as if he were talking about something trivial:
“Your father’s cultivation has improved even further, and he will have a brighter future. These mundane things are useless to him, so he will pass them on to you, his eldest son.”

As Jiang Feng listened, he felt there was something strange about the words, but his mind was already preoccupied with the treasure in his hand.

The long stick felt slightly heavy in the hand and had a warm, smooth texture.

The five copper rings tapped lightly between his fingers, producing a clear and crisp sound.

He examined it from all angles, admiring it so much that he forgot all his questions.

The young man, having obtained the treasure, was completely unaware of it.

Unexpectedly, the eyes of the several Celestial Masters' Mansion members standing nearby widened in astonishment.

They had personally witnessed and benefited from the miraculous power of that stick.

The Taoist priest, who had just been exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom, was the first to lose his composure. Stroking his beard, his eyes seemed fixed on Jiang Feng, and he declared loudly:

"Jiang Feng, I see that you have extraordinary talent and are the perfect material to cultivate the Thunder Sword Technique of my Celestial Master's Mansion! Why not become my disciple? I will definitely pass on all my skills in splitting mountains and shattering rocks to you."

Before the words were finished, the usually quiet and unassuming Master Xuanqing coughed lightly and said slowly:

“Senior Brother Xuantong, you are mistaken. It is merely a minor technique for self-protection. This child has a spiritual light within his brows. He should follow me to cultivate talismans and refine pills, and comprehend the mysteries of heaven. This is the right path.”

These usually aloof and detached individuals were now talking amongst themselves, leaving Jiang Feng completely bewildered.

He usually only thought about how to make the fire in the alchemy furnace more even, never thinking about becoming the first disciple of a true master.

He instinctively hugged the stick that still carried the warmth of his uncle, looking at the elder in front of him who was suddenly being overly enthusiastic, with a blank expression.

Although Master Xuan Yue was not as eager to speak as his two junior brothers, his clear eyes remained fixed on the long staff.

As a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, Jiang Feng's acquisition of this treasure is like adding wings to a tiger, representing a significant opportunity for the entire Celestial Master's Mansion.

A slight stirring ran through her heart, and she glanced back at Jiang Ming.

This stick and these copper rings are clearly the bargaining chips that the other party offered in exchange for "harmony".

Thoughts swirled within her, but her face remained impassive. She simply nodded slightly and said calmly:

“Xuantong, Xuanqing, do not disturb the child. We will go to the back mountain to ask the Celestial Master for help and submit a joint petition. We will surely come up with a plan as soon as possible.”

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and, along with his two junior brothers who were still eager to continue, and several other True Immortals, slowly withdrew from the Listening Crane Hall.

The palace doors slowly closed, leaving only the Jiang family uncle and nephew in the vast hall.

Seeing his nephew's silly, delighted expression as if he had found a priceless treasure, Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow and teased him:
"What? You've been up the mountain for so long, and I haven't seen your childhood sweetheart who you always talk about?"

Jiang Feng's face immediately turned red, like the sunset burning the mountaintop, and he stammered:
"Uncle, please don't make fun of us... It's not even close to being settled yet."

"Oh……"

Jiang Ming drew out his words, his smile deepening:

“That’s not what your father said in his letter. I think he’s already planning to prepare the betrothal gifts and go to propose marriage on your behalf.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the blush and joy on Jiang Feng's face slowly faded. He lowered his eyes, tightened his grip on the stick, but remained silent, as if a sense of unease was weighing on his heart.

Jiang Ming knew perfectly well what was going on, so there was no need to ask further. A young man's concerns were nothing more than fear of social status.

He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder, saying calmly:
"As long as you have a clear conscience, that's all that matters. As long as you both love each other, no matter which family's daughter it is, your uncle will personally come to your door to arrange the marriage."

These words were somewhat taboo; with a father in the family, how could the elder brother presume to take over?

But Jiang Feng's mind was in turmoil at the moment, and he didn't catch the hidden meaning in those words at all.

I took it as a consolation, forced a smile, and responded.

The young man was quick-witted; his earlier anxiety was soothed by his uncle's reassuring words, which emboldened him somewhat.

He chuckled and leaned closer to ask:

"Uncle, you're always criticizing me, but what about yourself? When are you going to find me a wife so my grandparents can have peace of mind?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming chuckled and shook his head, then tapped the man's forehead lightly with his knuckles.

"so rude."

The uncle and nephew smiled at each other, and the solemnity in the hall was softened by these few words of everyday conversation, leaving only a touch of warmth from an ordinary family.

Before he could finish speaking, the palace doors creaked open from the outside.

Master Xuan Yue returned, the hem of his Taoist robe brushing against the threshold without picking up a speck of dust.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Jiang Feng and the long stick in his arms, then turned to Jiang Ming:

"The Celestial Master has already agreed and will soon issue a jade slip, which will be jointly signed by several elders of our Daoist sect and formally sent to Luoyang, the capital."

She paused, her words carrying a meaning only Jiang Ming could understand.

"If you have any connections in the capital, you can start making those connections now."

(End of this chapter)