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

Chapter 185 Working Together, Protected by the Divine Eagle

Under the astonished gazes of the Jiang family grandfather and grandson.

The thick black light seemed to take a breath as well, and leisurely circled the temple on its own.

Surprisingly, the place where the black light passed was not desolate or bloody, but rather resembled a spring breeze caressing the grass.

The bloodstains quietly faded, and a healthy rosy glow gradually returned to his sallow face.

That deathly stillness, like a dried-up spring warming up, came back to life in a way that was visible to the naked eye.

In just a few breaths, the dozens of Qiang people who were on the verge of death were now standing tall and full of energy.

It was as if the previous appearance of decay and near death was nothing more than a ridiculous dream performed by everyone.

The stone chamber was initially silent, then erupted in a thunderous roar.

The shouts and kowtows were like the surging tide of the Qiantang River, almost tearing the dome off.

Within that wave of pious devotion, something invisible seemed to quietly emerge, flowing from the worshipful thoughts of all beings and returning bit by bit to the body of the Great Black.

The raging evil was forcefully suppressed.

Its previously tense body slowly relaxed, and its breathing became calmer.

However, his eyes, which were usually straight and level, drooped unconsciously, losing their previous arrogant and self-assured demeanor.

It's like a well-rehearsed play about wealth and status, where the performance is at its most triumphant, only to have the stage overturned on the spot, revealing an undeniable sense of embarrassment and disarray beneath.

The Jiang family has a long line of descendants, many of whom are worshipped by the local people and live off their faith.

Seeing this scene before him, Jiang Yi's illusory figure only needed one glance to see most of the key points inside.

It turns out that they used the incense and prayers of the Qiang people to nourish their own souls and suppress the backlash from the evil bones within their bodies.

Incense and prayers are excellent for nourishing the soul, and using them to ward off evil spirits is a suitable remedy.

It really was a chicken that came out of our own yard.

Even when away from home, they always manage to figure out ways that others wouldn't think of.

Looking again at the large black eagle at the head of the group, which was now covered in a gloomy color, Jiang Yi's illusory figure suddenly sighed softly.

The spirit silently drifted a few steps closer, and the imposing aura of the deep pool and towering mountain dissipated without the sound of it, leaving only the gentleness of an elder looking at his junior.

"Over the years..." he began slowly, a barely audible sigh lingering in his voice, "you, too, have suffered."

This sigh, falling into the empty stone chamber, felt even heavier than a thousand-pound boulder.

Big Black's body, which he had been holding together, finally collapsed.

It no longer feigned majesty; a faint smile, indistinguishable between sorrow and self-mockery, appeared on its face covered in black feathers, and its lips twitched stiffly.

“Patriarch…you saw it too.”

The voice no longer possessed the majestic and awe-inspiring quality it had before; instead, it was hoarse and revealed a weariness that could not be washed away.

"In my current disheveled state, I can barely protect myself, let alone have the energy to meddle in other people's business."

Dahei's cultivation level is now quite high, and its intelligence has been developed early.

It is obvious that the younger generation of the Jiang family repeatedly invited him not just to catch up with old acquaintances from the same courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's illusory figure simply smiled.

That face, half-real and half-illusory, only gained a touch of warmth from that very illusion.

"I've come today not to ask you to meddle in anyone's business."

He paused, his gaze softening as he gently fell upon it.

"It is precisely to help you get rid of this troublesome problem."

As soon as these words were spoken, only the barely audible crackling of incense from the Boshan incense burner remained in the surrounding area.

Big Black suddenly looked up, its deep eyes fixed on him, as if trying to discern the truth from falsehood in his nonchalant expression.

Jiang Yi was in no hurry and let it examine him.

After a long pause, he continued slowly and deliberately:

"To know how to nourish the spirit with incense and faith in order to suppress the erosion of evil bones, this kind of thought is already commendable."

It started with a light, casual compliment, but then the tone suddenly shifted, becoming quite clear.

"It's just a pity that small tribes like the White Horse tribe, with their barren land and impoverished people, can only offer so much incense to you."

"This method is no different from adding more water to stop boiling water. It may seem to calm things down temporarily, but the fire under the pot will only burn more fiercely."

He smiled faintly and pointed out the key point in a measured way:
"The dozen or so evil bones inside you are becoming increasingly turbulent, while the incense and prayers you have are barely enough to grow. Given this imbalance, it's remarkable that you've managed to hold on until now."

His voice was calm, but it sounded as cold as a frost blade to my ears.

"If you just continue to eke out a living like this without seeking another way out, one day, the backlash from that evil bone will completely overwhelm your soul."

"At that time, there will be no redemption. Even if you want to become a muddle-headed evil creature, you will not be able to."

Upon hearing this, Dahei's body, which had relaxed, tensed up again little by little.

It slowly shook its head, and a smile appeared on its face, which was covered by black feathers. However, there was no warmth in that smile; instead, there was a hint of self-mockery and a weary resignation.

"What the patriarch said, how could I not know?" it whispered. "But what good is knowing?"

"This evil bone devours me day and night, and my soul is often in a daze. If I can use even one or two tenths of my full cultivation, I'm lucky."

"Moreover, deep within this Qiang land lies a den of dragons and tigers. Which of those high priests who worship ancient gods and practice evil arts is easy to deal with? To think they can gain a foothold in this territory is nothing short of a pipe dream."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's illusory figure smiled even more broadly, as if he had heard something amusing that he had expected.

"Going it alone is naturally as difficult as climbing to the sky." His voice was gentle, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"But don't forget, you weren't alone on the battlefield back then."

His tone shifted abruptly, and he subtly gestured with his ethereal chin toward the young man below.

Big Black's gaze then fell upon it.

The young man remained standing in the same spot, his posture as straight as a spear, his eyes revealing a clarity and determination untouched by the trials of life.

The seemingly ordinary copper cudgel behind him added an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

His demeanor and aura bore a striking resemblance to the figure who had always protected him on the battlefield years ago.

Seeing that its expression softened, Jiang Yi stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point:

“Rui’er’s current cultivation level is no less than Jiang Liang’s back then. His skill in exorcising evil spirits is also a family tradition, which is specifically designed to counter such backlash from evil spirits.”

He paused for a moment, then threw out his heaviest chip.

"Most importantly, he is now highly valued by the court. With his abilities, coupled with the court's covert support, if the two of you could work side by side..."

Jiang Yi's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Da Hei, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he finished his sentence perfectly:
"...Although this Qiang land is vast, how many families can withstand you?"

Jiang Yi's words, spoken slowly and deliberately, struck at the most sensitive and painful points.

The thick layer of deathly stillness in Da Hei's eyes was finally pierced by a glint of light.

The light flashed briefly and then disappeared, quickly replaced by the usual calm and deliberation.

It raised its head, staring directly at the ethereal figure in green robes, its voice low and deep:

"What do you want me to do?"

Seeing that it was already tempted, Jiang Yi's smile became more genuine.

“It’s extremely simple,” he said. “You just need to maintain your prestige among these tribes, keep them in check, and prevent them from descending the mountains to harass the Central Plains. That alone will be a great achievement.” He glanced sideways at Jiang Rui, who remained silent to the side.
"In this way, Rui'er can report back to the court and leave behind a record of merit for pacifying the border and suppressing the rebellion."

The conversation then shifted back to Big Black:

"And you can take this opportunity to gather the faith of the Qiang people."

"As long as the incense burns on, it will be enough to suppress the evil spirit, and it may even go further and seek a greater opportunity."

The conversation was straightforward, laying out both the advantages and disadvantages.

The stone chamber fell silent for a moment, with only the lingering incense smoke and a tranquil stillness.

Dahei pondered for a long time, its deep eyes flashing with uncertain light, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment, it seemed to have made up its mind, but did not immediately agree. It only twitched the corner of its mouth, and said in a half-smile:
"The way the patriarch puts it makes it sound like I've gotten a huge advantage for nothing."

His voice carried a hint of the banter of江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world) discussing business.

"As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. How about this..."

It gently raised its wings and slowly said:

"If we manage to conquer this territory and establish a new Eagle God Temple, I will add a statue of a divine eagle to protect Young Master Jiang Rui within the temple. We can share the incense offerings together, shall we?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi understood perfectly.

These words sound polite, but in reality, they are meant to tightly bind the fortunes of both families together, so as to prevent them from being used and then discarded when they achieve success in the future.

However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

His illusory figure then smiled and nodded, readily agreeing.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke again:

"You are free to handle the matter in the Qiang region as you see fit. But there is one point..."

His gaze suddenly deepened.

"If a temple and statue of Rui'er are to be erected in the Central Plains in the future, Rui'er must occupy the main position, and you will be the protector. Do you agree to this?"

Jiang Yi's trip was quite elaborate, and it was certainly not just to seek some worldly merits for Jiang Rui.

If this matter can be accomplished, it will be a great and meritorious deed that will bring peace to the Qiang region and save countless lives.

It's not impossible to follow the example of Jiang Liang in the past and find an opportunity for Jiang Rui to transcend the cycle of reincarnation.

Dahei may not fully understand the deeper meaning behind this, but he can vaguely guess some of it.

It hesitated for only a moment, then simply nodded:

"It's a word."

Thus, the matter was preliminarily settled.

With the important business settled, the stagnant atmosphere in the stone chamber eased somewhat, and the mood naturally became more harmonious.

Big Black has brought back the musicians and dancers.

The sound of the Qiang flute rose again, less desolate than before, and instead more indescribably light and cheerful.

As it listened to the music, its gaze occasionally swept over the fluttering colorful sleeves, while it chatted idly with Jiang Yi's illusory figure, asking about mundane matters:
"Master, are all the brothers and sisters in the family still safe and sound?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's expression softened slightly, and he replied simply:

"They're all doing well. Having learned the breathing techniques of my bird-taming method, they've now officially embarked on the path of cultivation, practicing breathing exercises in the mountains every day, and they're all very energetic."

Big Black listened, paused for a moment, and subconsciously asked:

"Poultry training method?"

Jiang Yi was also taken aback for a moment, and asked in return:

"That's right. I asked Rui'er to give you a copy, but he didn't."

Upon hearing this, Dahei's expression immediately became somewhat strange.

It remained silent for a moment, then carefully took out a roll of paper from a hidden compartment beside it and spread it on the table.

“Young Master Rui’er… only gave me this one copy of the ‘Ten Thousand Feathers Phoenix Transformation Technique’.”

Pointing to the large, elegant characters at the beginning of the book, his tone carried a hint of sincere confusion:
"It's just that I'm too dull-witted and haven't even scratched the surface of it yet."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, but he didn't expose his children's and grandchildren's little schemes to their faces. He simply said:
"It's not exactly wrong. This method is derived from the method of taming birds, and it is indeed very beneficial to bird cultivators like you."

At this point, he shifted his gaze to Dahei, who was listening intently, and his tone became more serious:
"However, while this technique is excellent, it complements the Bird Taming Method. After practicing it, one will inevitably be restrained by its fundamental method. If one's cultivation is shallow, one may even be directly manipulated by the practitioner."

His expression was calm, and he clearly laid out the pros and cons, saying softly:
"Whether you learn or not is entirely up to you."

Seeing that it hadn't been repaired yet, Jiang Yi assumed that it had already figured out the reason.

Since we're going to be working together for the long term, it's best to make things clear beforehand.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise and doubt flashed in Dahei's eyes, but it quickly turned into a knowing smile.

"If the patriarch really wanted to take action against a demon like me, who is based on evil and wickedness, why would he go through such a roundabout way?"

As it spoke, its gaze subtly swept over the silent copper cudgel behind Jiang Rui, its expression already understanding, needing no further explanation.

Once the initial probing thought had faded, it sheepishly revealed the real reason:

"It's not that I'm unwilling to learn, it's just... I really don't recognize the characters used in Central China."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi suddenly realized what was happening.

Dahei fled to the Qiang region and reattached his evil bones before he finally gained full intelligence.

Having received no proper education and confined to such a remote Qiang village, it would be difficult to find even a literate person.

It's not hard to understand why someone who has obtained such a superior method still doesn't know where to begin.

Upon understanding this, Jiang Yi couldn't help but chuckle.

“That was my oversight,” he said. “I have some understanding of this method. This divided spirit can still hold out for a while, so I can explain it to you in detail.”

Upon hearing this, Dahei's eyes lit up, and he immediately bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Patriarch!"

Having said that, he swept away the cups and plates on the table, straightened his body, and stood respectfully before the phantom, completely shedding his divine majesty and leaving only the piety of a junior.

His appearance was almost identical to how he looked when he received instruction in the courtyard of Liangjie Village back then.

The music and dance had long since ended, and the stone chamber returned to its quietude.

Jiang Yi had already honed his teaching skills in the village, and he spoke with ease, breaking down the difficult key points of the breathing techniques into simple and easy-to-understand language.

Dahei sometimes frowned, sometimes seemed to be in a daze, and his expression shifted so much that he resembled a diligent student in a private school.

After the technique was explained, the radiance of the illusory figure dimmed, clearly indicating that it had reached its limit.

Jiang Yi, however, seemed to feel that he hadn't said enough, and casually added a few more words of advice:
"Although you control several tribes, your foundation is ultimately unstable. If you intend to expand in the future, you must remember one thing."

His ethereal finger touched lightly, as if it were touching an invisible sand table.

"Don't let them get too harmonious, and don't let any faction become too powerful. Keep them constantly vigilant and appease them, so that they can check and balance each other, yet they can't do without you, their deity."

What he was talking about were just old tricks from books, nothing particularly profound.

He smiled to himself, his tone indifferent:

"These methods are no longer sufficient in the courts of the Central Plains. But they are still barely enough to deal with these Qiang people who only know how to herd sheep and draw their swords."

(End of this chapter)