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

Chapter 187 Ao Lie imparts his skills, Eagle's Sorrow Treasure Land

As the grandfather and grandson were tidying up, the Eagle's Sorrow Stream outside the temple suddenly became chaotic.

First came a few muffled thuds, as if a huge object was turning over underwater.

Then the entire stream began to boil like a pot of boiling water, with turbid waves crashing against the banks with a deafening roar, like ten thousand horses galloping wildly.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Qin, who was standing at the temple entrance, couldn't help but tense up.

Jiang Yi, who was inside the temple, had seen this kind of scene before, so he acted as if he hadn't heard anything about it.

He slowly and methodically wiped the dust off the side table, then found a rattan cane and mended the old fishing net with a hole in it.

After finishing this task, he led his grandson to drag the small ferry boat left by the former water god ashore.

After some hammering and banging, the loose planks were nailed in place one by one.

The commotion in the ravine lasted for a full half hour.

Once the stream had calmed down and the sound of the waves had subsided, Jiang Yi straightened up and clapped his hands.

Jiang Qin carried the bulging cloth bag on his back, and the grandfather and grandson walked slowly and steadily uphill along the rocky path.

When they reached a place with a wide expanse of water and steep cliffs, Jiang Yi stopped and looked at him with a familiar expression.

Without uttering a word, he simply sent a wisp of divine thought, like a stone thrown into a pool, gently guiding it into the depths of the stream.

Before long, a deep eddy suddenly rose from beneath the still relatively calm water surface, swirling silently.

The surrounding stream was pushed to both sides by an invisible force, creating a clearing of water.

"Splash!" Water splashed everywhere.

A huge, snow-white dragon head slowly emerged from the heart of the stream.

Its scales gleamed like jade, and its whiskers fluttered like fresh snow.

The moment his golden vertical pupils opened, an innate majesty swept over him, seemingly causing even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to freeze.

However, that majestic spirit was somehow given a touch of ferocity.

A deep, slanted scar ran across his forehead, almost grazing his eye socket.

Several large scales on the lower jaw, each the size of a washbasin, were completely overturned, revealing raw flesh and blood, which looked even more glaring against the backdrop of the clear stream water.

Compared to his mountain-like head, the two wounds were not particularly noticeable, but they were still quite real, and even more severe than what Jiang Yi had seen last time.

The enormous dragon head hung silently, without making a move, yet it already possessed an imposing aura that made one's chest tighten.

Jiang Qin stood on the shore, his heart still skipped a beat.

On the way here, my grandfather had already sketched it a thousand times, so he should have known it by now.

But what you see with your own eyes is ultimately different.

He knew that his sister-in-law was none other than the Dragon Girl of the West Sea.

Having grown accustomed to her gentle and docile nature in the village, the sight of her now, with her imposing, scaled, and majestic dragon form, left him somewhat bewildered.

A thought suddenly popped into my head.

If my sister-in-law were to reveal her true form, would she look like this?

While he was still wavering, Jiang Yi beside him remained calm, as if the person in front of him was not the real prince, but just a long-lost neighbor or old acquaintance.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said in a calm voice, "Third Prince, how have you been?"

Upon hearing the sound, the snow-white dragon head slowly turned its golden eyes and landed on him.

He let out a muffled groan as a response.

Jiang Yi didn't take it seriously and gently tugged at his grandson's arm.

Jiang Qin snapped out of her daze and quickly took off the heavy cloth bag from her back, placing it steadily at her feet.

Then, imitating his grandfather, he stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and said loudly:

"Jiang Qin from Liangjie Village greets Third Brother Ao!"

He and Jiang Feng were blood relatives, and Ao Yu was his sister-in-law, so calling him "Third Brother" was natural and comfortable, without the slightest bit of restraint.

Ao Lie's golden eyes lingered on him for a moment, a hint of assessment in his gaze.

Finally, the tightness in her jawline loosened slightly, which was a way of accepting the title.

Jiang Qin felt a secret sense of relief, and quickly bent down to open the cloth bag, saying:
"It's our first meeting, so I have nothing much to offer but some coarse food. Please don't mind, Third Brother."

After speaking, he presented a bright red, still-dry leopard head with both hands and respectfully placed it on a blue stone on the shore.

It was the leopard demon that Jiang Yi had casually killed back then.

Such a level of spiritual cultivation is naturally not worth a second glance in the eyes of a true dragon, but it is still more intelligent than ordinary pigs and sheep, and there is still some demonic power remaining in its flesh and blood.

This is precisely the kind of nourishment that Ao Lie needs most right now.

Sure enough, as soon as the leopard's head appeared, the deep golden light in his eyes suddenly brightened by half.

With a slight inhale through the nose, an invisible force surged forth.

Not only the leopard's head, but the entire cloth bag was also swept into the air and plunged straight into the open dragon's mouth.

With a "click," it swallowed everything whole, without even a splash.

After eating the blood food, Jiang Yi lightly raised his wrist and flicked his sleeve slightly.

Suddenly, a cluster of five-colored spiritual fruits appeared out of nowhere on the shore, emitting a refreshing fragrance. These were the rarest fruits that could only be found a handful of years ago on the old tree in the back garden.

The third prince accepted all comers. He opened his long mouth and, like a dragon sucking up the Yangtze River, rolled up the fruit clean and swallowed it into his stomach, treating it as a snack after the main course to relieve some of the greasiness.

Seeing that he was eating quite comfortably, Jiang Yi then smiled and spoke:
"This is probably the last time I will personally see him off. From now on, my good-for-nothing grandson will take over this task."

The dragon's head, which was about to sink back to the bottom of the water, paused upon hearing this.

Golden eyes turned to the boy on the shore again, the laziness that had arisen from the full meal completely gone, leaving only a visible look of doubt.

With that young man's weak cultivation, let alone the demon-infested Xiniu Hezhou, he might not even be able to guarantee his safety if he were to travel alone through the mountains and forests.

Moreover, there was no trace of any storage artifact on his body, so how could he have transported so many blood-eating fruits from afar?

Jiang Yi saw it clearly, smiled calmly, and explained slowly:

"Does the Third Prince still remember the long-abandoned water god temple downstream?"

Seeing the dragon's head nod slightly, he continued:

"From now on, Qin'er will stay in that temple temporarily as a minor temple keeper. In his spare time, he will escort travelers across the stream to accumulate some good karma."

At this point, her smile softened, adding a touch of warmth and consideration:

"In this way, the daily delivery of blood food and spiritual fruits will not have to be like what I do, where it takes many days to accumulate them before I can deliver them once."

Not only spiritual fruits, but also the blood food needed for daily meals.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Ao Lie's golden eyes.

He was no ordinary aquatic creature; with a slight thought, he silently probed the dilapidated temple downstream.

The newly enshrined memorial tablet, the small boat repaired by the ferry, the faint scent of incense emanating from the memorial tablet... all these details are on full display.

With a little bit of information, one can guess most of the family's plans.

He is now a true dragon burdened with sin, locked in this Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.

If someone brings food to their door, they naturally won't bother mortals and add to their sins.

Deep down, he was quite pleased with the Jiang family's meticulous arrangements.

But dragons are dragons after all, and their innate pride makes it impossible for him to swallow his pride and accept this favor for nothing.

Fortunately, this wasn't too difficult for him. His golden eyes flickered slightly, then glanced at Jiang Qin before he spoke in a deep, resonant voice:
“That’s a good thing. You can stay here for now. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions about your cultivation, feel free to come and find me.”

After a brief pause, he finally uttered:
"We're all family, no need to be so polite."

Upon hearing this, a genuine smile finally appeared in Jiang Yi's usually indifferent gaze.

He had this intention in mind when he sent his grandson to Yingchoujian.

A fully grown true dragon's cultivation and foundation go without saying; even a tiny bit of its knowledge and experience would be enough to benefit this kid immensely.

But this matter cannot be rushed. We must first settle down, send some blood food and fruit every day, get acquainted with the dragon prince, and cultivate a good relationship before finding a pretext to slowly make our move.

Unexpectedly, the Third Prince relented first, saving a lot of time and effort.

Jiang Yi could no longer hide his satisfaction and gently patted his grandson's shoulder.
"Hurry up and thank your Third Brother Ao."

Jiang Qin, being quick-witted, immediately bowed again, even deeper than before, and respectfully replied:

"Thank you, Third Brother Ao!"

With this, all matters have been settled.

Jiang Yi then took his grandson's hand, bowed to the dragon's head in the water, and left.

The snow-white dragon head gave them a deep look, and then said nothing more.

Its massive body sank gently into the center of the water, without even creating a ripple.

Only a faint scent lingered in the air, carrying a hint of ambergris and the aftertaste of blood, both fragrant and fresh, yet without a trace of foulness.

Watching the water surface completely return to calm, Jiang Yi then took his grandson and turned to head towards the dilapidated water god temple.

The grandfather and grandson got to work, tidying up the bed, cooking pot, and sweeping away cobwebs and dust.

The once desolate temple, after this renovation, now appears somewhat cleaner and more spacious enough to accommodate people.

Before departing, Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze lingering for a moment on the small temple that could only provide shelter from the wind and rain, before turning his head and solemnly instructing:
"From now on, you shall stay here and cultivate in peace, doing good deeds and accumulating merit. You may use any money or donations received for incense offerings to repair the temple; you shall not use any other money or donations."

With the Jiang family's current resources, coupled with Jiang Liang's ability to teleport items, rebuilding this temple into a magnificent and ornate structure would be a piece of cake.

But doing so would defeat the original purpose of Jiang Qin's coming here to cultivate.

It must be merchants and neighbors who, having received some favors from the temple keeper, willingly offer incense money to add a tile or replace a beam.

Only through this continuous cycle can one accumulate good karma and solidify one's foundation.

Jiang Qin listened carefully and nodded emphatically.

Jiang Yi lowered his voice again, speaking more like he was teaching someone how to make a living:

"Old Gui at the ancestral hall on the mountain is no ordinary person. When you deal with him in the future, it's always good to be respectful. But there's one thing you must remember."

He extended a finger and gently tapped it in the air:
"This Eagle Sorrow Gorge, whether your Third Brother Ao is here or not, must be firmly held in our own hands, and no one else is allowed to touch it."

These words were spoken with such seriousness that a hint of confusion appeared on Jiang Qin's face, and he couldn't help but ask:

“Grandpa, this Eagle Sorrow Gorge… is clearly a treacherous place, devoid of any spiritual veins or precious materials. It’s hard to even find a few fish or shrimp in the water. Is it really… worth valuing so much?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi was not annoyed. He simply smiled faintly and asked in return:
"Do you still remember the treehouse behind our house? Why was the spiritual energy inside even purer than that spiritual spring pool?"

Jiang Qin subconsciously replied, "Naturally, it's because of my sister-in-law..."

He paused suddenly halfway through his sentence.

That youthful ignorance instantly transformed into sudden realization.

Jiang Yi's smile deepened, and he reached out to pat his grandson's head, as if praising his intelligence.

"That's right. It's because your sister-in-law stayed in that treehouse for a few months that she left behind a wisp of dragon energy. Day and night, it has been nurtured, making it our family's most important cultivation site."

After speaking, he looked up at the seemingly ordinary stream, his expression distant:
"Your Third Brother Ao's cultivation is far superior to your sister-in-law's. He was trapped at the bottom of the ravine day and night, suffering the cruel punishments of the Heavenly Law, his muscles and flesh constantly tormented. No one can say for sure how much dragon blood and broken dragon scales he has accumulated."

"Just imagine, over time, what kind of scene will the bottom of that ravine hold?"

Jiang Qin could no longer hide the sudden realization on his face.

Only then did he truly understand.

Grandpa didn't send him to this desolate, godforsaken place to suffer; he was clearly preparing a tremendous opportunity for him.

This is hardly a chore; it's clearly an untapped treasure trove.

A thought suddenly occurred to me, and my heart began to burn.

The boy's naiveté immediately transformed into perseverance and determination.

He nodded emphatically to his grandfather, his eyes clear and unambiguous, needing no further explanation.

He absolutely could not let his grandfather down.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi smiled and softly praised, "You are a promising young man."

His tone softened immediately, as if he were calmly spreading an invisible net behind his grandson:

"From now on, if you encounter anything you can't figure out here, don't try to handle it alone. Discuss it with your father more often."

As he spoke, he pointed to the newly erected memorial tablet in the temple:
"With your father's extraordinary abilities, our family can be considered as one even if we are thousands of miles apart. If you encounter any difficulties, everyone can help you find a solution."

Jiang Qin's eyes lit up.

The loneliness and trepidation of leaving home for the first time have been somewhat lessened.

The boy's passion burned ever brighter, and he nodded vigorously once more.

Jiang Yi walked around the temple again.

Seeing that everything that needed to be explained had been explained and everything that needed to be settled had been settled.

Moreover, with Jiang Liang's spirit watching over things, any mistakes or oversights can be communicated at any time.

He said no more, simply raised his hand to wave to his grandson, and turned to leave.

Jiang Qin saw him off at the temple gate, stood on the stone steps, and watched his grandfather's not-so-tall figure slowly walk across the mountain path and gradually disappear into the distance.

Only after disappearing into the end of the ridge did they turn away, return to the temple, and begin preparing their future home.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yixing reached the halfway point of the mountain.

Thinking that since I was already here, I should take the opportunity to visit the Lishe Temple and meet Brother Gui again to fulfill my proper etiquette.

He strolled in, only to find that the scene in the courtyard was different from usual.

Old Gui didn't bother with the saddle that even the deputy general manager couldn't fit into.

Instead, several new beams and pillars were erected on one side of the courtyard, and they were being hammered on, as if a new house was being built.

Jiang Yi stepped forward, first bowing respectfully, and then casually asked with a smile:
"Brother Gui, what grand gesture are you making?"

Hearing this, Lao Gui stopped what he was doing and turned to look at him.

That face, which was perpetually half-asleep, now revealed a rare hint of warmth and humanity:
"Hey, my good-for-nothing granddaughter said she wanted to stay in this desolate mountain for a while. I had no choice but to tidy up a room for her first, so she wouldn't have nowhere to stay when she arrived."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi remained calm and composed, showing no sign of surprise, but a thought secretly crossed his mind.

Why not come earlier or later?

His grandson had only been in Eagle Sorrow Gorge for less than half a day when his precious granddaughter wanted to come and settle in this desolate mountain.

This is too much of a coincidence.

But asking about such thoughts now would be pointless.

A thought flashed through his mind, but he suppressed it, only smiling and exchanging a few casual words with Lao Gui. Then he solemnly entrusted his grandson Jiang Qin with the task, asking him to take good care of him in the future.

After saying this, he bid farewell and slowly descended the mountain along the path he had come from.

(End of this chapter)