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

Chapter 178 Snake Coil Mountain, Eagle Sorrow Stream

Liu Xiulian had entered a state of perfect health, so Jiang Yi was happy to stay at home for a few more days.

Life was going at a leisurely pace, with a touch of the joy of newlywed life.

Back then, I would trace the characters with my hands, but now I'm teaching her the kneading techniques.

The painting doesn't depict facial features, but rather magical powers and supernatural abilities.

Jiang Yi had already mastered those three spells thoroughly, and he broke them down and fed them to his wife little by little.

Liu Xiulian was quite talented, and after her recent advancement, she was full of energy and learned quickly.

Occasionally, when encountering a few difficult points in the "Pot Heaven" method, one can't help but furrow one's brow, and the hand gestures at the fingertips will also become distorted.

Jiang Yi didn't urge her, but just watched with a smile, waiting for her to come out on her own.

Only when she truly couldn't get through it would he reach out and gently guide her with the yin and yang energies to straighten out the flow of her magical power.

"This method is all about 'following the flow'. If your mind is not at peace, your breath will not flow, and the universe within your sleeve will naturally fall into chaos."

He said slowly.

Liu Xiulian rolled her eyes at him, her charm even more captivating than in her youth: "You talk too much."

That being said, the next time I made the handprint, it was much more secure.

In his spare time, Jiang Yi would draw talismans in his study.

Cinnabar, animal blood, and gold powder filled the inkstone, and yellow talisman paper covered the entire desk.

With a flourish of his brush, one after another, talismans that could gather energy, move spirits, and protect the body took shape.

He drew more than ten of each, and gave a few to his wife, telling her to keep them close to her body.

The rest, with a flick of his sleeve, were all stored away in the celestial pot, in case of unforeseen circumstances.

More than a month of such peaceful days slipped by.

Until this day, the incense in the ancestral hall swayed without wind, and amidst the swirling smoke, Jiang Liang's figure slowly solidified.

He held a yellowed leather scroll in his hand, his expression carrying a hint of confidence after achieving success.

This was a new method he discovered after mastering the Heavenly Pot Technique.

While in Chang'an, I gather my belongings and put them into a pot.
When his spirit returned to the shrine, he was able to retrieve the objects from the heavenly pot in an instant.

There is such a method, even if it is separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

It was also possible to deliver fresh spiritual fruits and medicines from home to Li Wenya, who was far away in Luoyang, in an instant. How wonderful!

Jiang Yi was reading by lamplight when he saw him appear. He closed the book and put it down, his gaze falling on the map.

"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."

Jiang Liang nodded slightly and slowly spread the map on the table.

The animal hide, taken from some unknown beast, had a tough texture, with mountains and rivers clearly depicted.

From east to west, a winding red line begins at the ink dot of "Liangjie Village," traverses prefectures and counties, and reaches the precipitous canyon known as "Yingchoujian."

Along the route, a dozen or so small vermilion dots are scattered and faintly visible, quite eye-catching.

Jiang Yi's fingertips slowly traced across each of the small vermilion dots, as if playing a zither or commanding troops.

Jiang Liang stood to the side, his voice extremely low, and slowly said:

“Father, this Xiniu Hezhou is indeed not a safe place. Demons and monsters dwell there, and there is constant fighting. If ordinary people go there, it is like lambs entering a wolf's den.”

He paused, pointed to the cluster of red dots, then suddenly changed his mind:
"But Heaven never cuts off a way for people to live. These markings mark the places where the mountains, rivers, lands, and river gods reside from Liangjie Village to Yingchoujian."

"Although they are of low rank and little power, they are still gods officially registered in the Heavenly Court, each guarding their own territory. As long as one is in a place under their protection, one is still within their jurisdiction and will not completely lose one's sense of propriety."

Jiang Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked in a calm voice, "What do you mean by that?"

"The reason is simple."

Jiang Liang's tone carried a hint of the detached detachment of someone with experience:

"Either that mountain is clean and has never nurtured any powerful demon kings, allowing the gods to have some peace and quiet; or the gods and the great demons in the mountain have already reached some tacit understanding."

When he mentioned the word "tacit understanding," the corners of his lips curled up slightly, his tone carrying a hint of the irony of a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone from the martial arts world), and also a sense of "this is how things should be."

"We should keep to ourselves. As long as we don't break each other's rules, we can generally live in peace."

"Father, on this journey, you only need to follow these red dots, worship the mountain god when you encounter a mountain, and worship the river god when you encounter a river, just like traveling on an official road. Although I dare not say it will be 100% successful, it can avoid 99% of the trouble. Those who are truly unreasonable and domineering are ultimately a minority."

Jiang Yi listened quietly, his knuckles tapping lightly on the map, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

After Liu Xiulian left the seclusion, he had no worries at home, and his desire to go out gradually rekindled.

This journey to the west was by no means a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He had been planning this carefully for months.

He even instructed his family that, apart from Jiang Jun, no one else was allowed to go to the back forest to pick fruit.

Now that everything is ready, it's time to set off.

Jiang Yi put the scroll of maps into the pot-shaped space and strolled around to the orchard behind the house.

As dawn broke and the dew had not yet dried, a sweet, fruity fragrance filled the forest.

The branches were laden with ripe fruit, their skin glistening and shimmering, as if juice would burst forth if picked at will.

The accumulation of these two months has resulted in such a situation.

Jiang Yi wasn't in a hurry; he reached out and picked them off one by one.

With a flick of his sleeve, hundreds of spiritual fruits silently disappeared into the celestial pot, like birds returning to the forest, without even the slightest sway of his robes.

Within the universe of the pot, there exists a wondrous principle: time almost stands still, and spiritual energy is perfectly preserved.

Even if these fruits are left for a year or two, when they are taken out again, they will still retain the freshness and moisture of the fruit that just fell from the branch.

This is your luggage, and also the most reliable supplies for the journey.

After tidying up, he went to Liu Family Village.

Firstly, he instructed his daughter and son-in-law to take good care of the household while he was away.

Secondly, it was also to borrow that rainbow-colored silk.

Jiang Xi was intelligent and immediately saw through her father's thoughts. Without asking any questions, she simply took off the silk shawl and draped it over him herself.

"Father, your journey is long and arduous; please be careful in all things."

"know."

Jiang Yi responded softly, and casually straightened the hem of Jiaoxiao's clothes.

This item is as light as nothing and as thin as a cicada's wing. When draped over the body, one feels as if the light and shadow flicker slightly, and the whole person seems to fade away and blend into the surrounding scenery.

Everything that needed to be prepared had been taken care of, and all matters at home had already been arranged and taken care of, so he would not delay any longer.

He tucked his usual yin-yang copper cudgel behind his back, bid a brief farewell to his wife and daughter, and then left the courtyard.

That shortcut through the west is currently impassable.

Jiang Yi wasn't annoyed. He smiled, turned around, and plunged into the wider forest.

We'll just take a detour; it'll only take a little more walking.

With his current cultivation level, time is not a big deal.

Once we emerged from the forest, the sky and the weather had changed dramatically.

The gentle warmth of the Central Plains has faded, and the air is now filled with a sense of desolation and wildness.

The land beneath our feet is now part of the Western Niuhe Continent.

The birds and beasts here are quite different from those in Jambudvipa.

A wild rabbit darted out of the woods, its ears nimble and its eyes revealing a hint of cunning.

An ordinary wild boar, with a faint aura of menace emanating from its tusks; if one did not look closely, one might mistake it for a mountain demon.

Although they are not quite sentient beings, they each possess some level of cultivation and are far more ferocious than their counterparts in the south.

Jiang Yi had anticipated this and didn't take it to heart.

With a flick of his finger, a gray sparrow fluttered down from the branch, landed on his fingertip, pecked twice, and then spread its wings and flew forward to scout the way for him.

He then wrapped the rainbow silk around himself, concealed his aura, and with a sway, seemed to blend into the shadows of the forest, silently following behind.

Following the red line on the map, he traveled at a leisurely pace along the mountains and rivers.

In fact, if it weren't for the extreme danger of this place, Eagle Sorrow Gorge wouldn't be that far from Two Realms Village.

In my past life, the elder was just riding an ordinary horse, and it took him from the beginning of winter to the twelfth month to reach his destination.

That translates to a journey of only one or two months. With Jiang Yi's current cultivation level, if he were to directly pursue the Great Dao without regard for obstacles, he could probably arrive in three to five days.

However, we are currently on the proper route with the mountain gods and local deities in charge, which involves many twists and turns and will take much longer.

It will take about ten days to arrive.

So be it, let it be slower.

In the world of martial arts, stability is worse than speed.

When they arrived at Shenshi (3-5 PM), the sky was still bright.

Following the map, Jiang Yi found the first red dot.

A local temple.

The temple is very small.

Three low houses, with dusty blue tiles and peeling red paint, and moss-covered stone steps in front of the door, showing no trace of any mystical atmosphere.

If it weren't for the four characters "Fude Zhengshen" barely legible on the lintel, anyone who saw it would probably just think it was an old, dilapidated house belonging to a family in the mountains.

Jiang Yi stood in front of the temple gate, without knocking, but simply sent his divine thoughts out like ripples on water.

A moment later, the wooden door creaked open from the inside.

What emerged was a small old man dressed in homespun clothes, his back slightly hunched, with a kind face.

Judging from its somewhat ethereal form, one could tell that it was not a mortal body, but rather the local earth god who received incense offerings.

"I am sorry for not welcoming you properly."

The Earth God bowed deeply, his posture humble, before cautiously raising his eyes to inquire, "May I ask which immortal you are from, passing through this place?"

Jiang Yi already knew what was going on.

I had heard from my son Jiang Liang when I arrived that most of the land in these barren mountains was given to mortals who had accumulated some good deeds in their lives and were posthumously granted titles.

His Taoist skills are not profound; relying only on a little incense, he can perform minor rituals such as praying for sunshine and rain, and exorcising evil spirits and curing diseases.

To mortals, they are gods.

However, one cannot put on airs in front of orthodox practitioners.

Judging from his respectful manner, one can tell that he knows the rules.

"I make my home wherever I go, and only occasionally pass through this precious place."

Jiang Yi's expression was indifferent, revealing no clues about his true nature, making him difficult to understand.

He glanced around and casually remarked, "Is this place, within a hundred li radius, considered peaceful?"

Upon hearing this, the Earth God bent down even further, his face beaming with smiles:

"Replying to the Immortal Master, it is peaceful, very peaceful. Our place is a poor and desolate place, with not a drop of oil or water. Those powerful demons who have become powerful don't even look at us. Usually, it's just a few clueless little spirits causing trouble, which is nothing."

Jiang Yi nodded and wrote down what he had said.

I didn't feel physically tired, but I did manage to scout the way with sparrows. It seemed effortless, but it actually took a lot of mental effort.

"In that case, sir, would it be convenient for me to rest my feet for a while?"

"Convenient, convenient! Please do as you please, Immortal Master!"

The Earth God readily agreed, afraid of being disrespectful.

Jiang Yi didn't stand on ceremony. With a gentle turn of his sleeve, he held up two glistening, rosy jujubes in his palm.

"A few wild fruits, nothing more."

As soon as the dates appeared, the Earth God's eyes lit up, his expression like that of a poor man who hadn't eaten for three days seeing steaming white steamed buns.

His meager divine power relied entirely on incense offerings to sustain his life; he had never seen such pure spiritual energy before.
"This...this is unacceptable! Thank you, Immortal Master, thank you, Immortal Master!"

He accepted it with trembling hands, holding it as if it were a priceless treasure, and thanked him repeatedly. His respectful manner was tinged with genuine affection.

Jiang Yi nodded slightly, then sat down on the stone steps in front of the temple, flicked his sleeves, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The Earth God, holding the sacred dates, swayed and quickly retreated back into the temple, afraid of disturbing them.

After an incense stick had burned, dusk settled over the area outside the temple.

After a while, Jiang Yi opened his eyes. His pupils were clear and bright, and his mental energy, which had been depleted along the way, had been fully restored.

He stood up, dusted off the corners of his clothes, bowed to the temple, and silently turned to continue on his way.

They traveled day and night, sometimes staying at mountain temples, sometimes resting at earth shrines, for seven days.

Along the way, he encountered ten local deities, some respectful, some taciturn, but all knew how to behave appropriately. Upon seeing the spiritual fruit, they couldn't help but show more politeness.

Although the route was long and winding, it was still peaceful.

Until the afternoon of the eighth day, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

The air was damp and cold, carrying a salty, fishy smell that hit you in the face.

The sparrow that had led the way fluttered its wings and flew back, circling anxiously, refusing to go any further.

Looking up, the world suddenly opens up before me.

Suddenly, the earth ahead seemed to split open, revealing a deep, unfathomable ravine that stretched out like a scar.

At the bottom of the valley, black water surged, mist billowed, and the sound of the water roared like thunder.
The two banks are sheer cliffs, barren of any vegetation, with only some jagged, iron-black rocks, shaped like dragons and snakes, exuding an indescribable ferocity.

Eagle Sorrow Gorge.

Even birds that fly here worry about the poisonous miasma and fierce winds, and dare not cross lightly.

The red line on that animal skin map abruptly ends right here.

Jiang Yifang was about to step forward to explore the depth of the poisonous miasma in the ravine when suddenly a figure blocked his way.

The newcomer was an old man with white hair and beard, but his figure was as solid as a physical object.

Wearing a faded blue cloth long gown and a smooth bamboo cane tucked across his waist, he looked like an ordinary herb farmer in the mountains.

However, his demeanor was completely different from that of the ten mountain gods and local deities he had encountered before.

His eyes were gentle, yet his inner strength was as profound as mountains and rivers.

Jiang Yi's heart stirred slightly, realizing that the main character had appeared.

He reduced the concealment effect of the Rainbow Silk Sash to some extent, revealed himself, stepped forward, and respectfully bowed.

"May I ask, sir, are you the mountain god of this place, or the god of the land and the state?"

Upon hearing this, the old man chuckled, stroked his beard, and glanced at him, his gaze subtly sweeping over him before he spoke slowly:

"I am here not only to manage the mountains, but also the land."

Upon hearing those words, Jiang Yi felt a slight chill run down his spine.

This Snake Coil Mountain stretches for hundreds of miles, with rugged and majestic peaks, far from being a small hill.

To be able to hold two positions simultaneously, one must have an extraordinary background and profound knowledge.

Immediately, his bow deepened, and his words became even more respectful:
"So it was a deity in person; I was disrespectful just now. I wonder if the deity, having stopped me, has offered any guidance?"

The old man casually waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities, then pointed to the deep ravine ahead, his voice as steady as a rock:

"The road ahead is Eagle's Sorrow Gorge, extremely dangerous. I see you have some skill, but this place... is impassable. Let's turn back."

The tone of voice did not sound like admonition, but rather like a statement of destiny.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply smiled faintly:
"I am grateful for your kindness, Your Excellency. However, my purpose in coming here is specifically for Eagle's Sorrow Gorge."

The old man raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised by the reply, and a hint of scrutiny finally appeared in his gentle eyes:

"Oh? May I ask where you are from?"

"My surname is Jiang."

This surname clearly stirred something up.

The old man's eyes sharpened, and he immediately asked, "Could it be the Jiang family, who are related to the Dragon Palace of the West Sea by marriage?"

Hearing him reveal the truth about the Western Sea, Jiang Yi became even more certain of his thoughts, and his smile deepened.

A composed demeanor is the best answer.

"I dare not accept such praise. That prince consort of the Western Sea is nothing but my good-for-nothing grandson."

Upon hearing this, the old man's scrutinizing gaze vanished, replaced by a look of sudden understanding.

He scrutinized Jiang Yi again, then slowly nodded, his words becoming more respectful:
"I see... My apologies, my apologies."

(End of this chapter)