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

Chapter 217 Unable to Slay Them All, Luring Them Out of Their Holes
That defensive line was on the verge of being worn down by the Black Tide.

Jiang Yi frowned slightly, but his mind suddenly stirred, and his gaze turned to the east entrance of the village.

There, a profound and earthy atmosphere is quietly emerging.

Not particularly powerful, but extremely pure.

The next instant, the earth, blackened by the insect's feet, suddenly began to throb, as if all things were awakening.

With a "bang," countless sharp earth spikes burst forth from the soil, like an upside-down stone forest, piercing through several powerful demonic insects in the blink of an eye.

Black slurry splattered everywhere.

Immediately afterwards, several old, withered, crooked trees by the roadside suddenly sprouted countless vines as if they had gone mad.

The vines, dark green like iron, twirled and rolled in mid-air, like a hundred whips dancing in unison, cracking the insect shells with a snapping sound.

In a short while, an open space was cleared.

This scene instantly rekindled the spirits of the crowd, whose morale had already waned.

Taking advantage of the lull, the men from the Ancient and Modern Gang swung their weapons faster and faster, and amidst the blood and dust, a stubborn vitality emerged.

At the village entrance, Jiang Jin and Liu Zi'an stood side by side.

The spell worked, and the two looked at each other, both feeling somewhat invigorated.

Liu Zian had already formed the second hand seal when Jiang Jin's fingertips flashed with a blue light, and spiritual energy almost burst forth from her hand.

But at that moment, a soft voice, neither loud nor soft, yet crystal clear, resonated in their hearts:

"return."

The two men's expressions changed slightly, and the spiritual light in their hands disappeared.

Without hesitation, a flash of blue light appeared beneath his feet, and his figure moved like a rainbow, silently landing behind the house in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back under the peach tree, not even lifting his eyelids.

Don't waste your energy.

His tone was extremely calm, yet it weighed heavily on both of their hearts.

"This swarm of insects, if we can't even kill half of it, we'll have to use up all of your true energy first."

Jiang Xi and Liu Zi'an felt a sudden tightness in their hearts.

Jiang Yi's gaze did not fall on any battlefield.

He simply gazed silently at the churning black tide, as if trying to see through the boundless curtain of insects to a deeper layer of shadow.

“Look at this,” he said, his voice low but clear, “is there anything strange about this swarm of insects?”

Just as the two were about to speak, Jiang Yi continued on his own.

"Ordinary insects naturally seek advantage and avoid harm. Chickens, on the other hand, are enemies of insects, and this fear is ingrained in their very bones."

"Just now, the cry of the spirit birds should have terrified ordinary demons and insects, causing them to scatter and flee."

His voice grew lower.

"But what about them?"

"With their natural enemies in front of them, they don't retreat but instead go berserk. They look more like a group of puppets on strings. There must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes."

The meaning is clear at this point.

“Underground,” Jiang Yi’s gaze slowly lowered, his eyes cold and piercing, as if they had penetrated the thick soil, “there must be a powerful ‘leader’ there.”

"It was with its demonic power that it suppressed the instincts of these millions of locusts, forcing them to charge forward fearlessly."

He sighed softly, his tone so indifferent it almost carried a hint of pity:

"To shoot a man, shoot his horse first; to capture a thief, capture his king first. If we don't find that beast, this fight will never end."

Jiang Xi and Liu Zi'an looked at each other, but did not say a word, only nodded in unison.

When she looked up again, Jiang Xi's clear eyes had subtly changed color.

Two points of blue flame flickered and shone in her eyes, shining even without wind.

The world instantly lost its original color; the swarms of insects, the mountains and forests, and the pulse of the air all became transparent.

This is the supernatural power she gained after refining all the impurities in the wood element: to dispel illusions and enlighten her eyes.

In Jiang Xi's eyes, the world had already changed color.

Soil, stones, grass and trees... all shed their physical forms, leaving only the flow of vital energy.

The scent of grass and trees is verdant and warm, while the scent of metal and stone is sharp as a thorn. But where the swarm of insects has passed, only a gray-black deathly aura remains, so cold it seems to seep into the bones.

Her gaze followed the filth, sinking inch by inch into the ground.

Liu Zian remained silent, but with a slight pause, he formed a hand seal, his body pausing slightly, like a drop of clear water seeping into the dust.

He wielded the earth element method with such fluidity and naturalness that it made almost no sound.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is neither long nor short.

The blue flames in Jiang Xi's eyes flickered uncertainly, making the corners of her eyes appear slightly red.

Deep underground, it still resembles a stagnant pool.

The air was heavy and the cold was chilling; apart from that gloomy, foul air, there was no sign of life.

Liu Zi'an also returned empty-handed.

He transformed into nothingness and explored the earth's veins several times, almost turning the entire underground of Liangjie Village upside down, but he couldn't find even the slightest sign of anything unusual.

The outer defenses have been gradually swallowed up by the swarm of insects.

Occasionally, a few locusts would splash into the village, causing women and children to scream in alarm, and the firelight to flicker.

Jiang Yi looked at the two returning, his expression still calm, but a hint of anxiety flashed deep in his eyes.

In terms of cultivation, he is now inferior to these two young men.

One possesses the "eyes that can see through illusions," enabling one to observe the flow of Qi (vital energy).

A person skilled in earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows one to travel along the earth's veins).

This kind of investigation method is already the best choice.

Even they couldn't find any trace of the "head worm," and Jiang Yi was at a loss for what to do.

Before the words were finished, a mournful cry suddenly came from outside the village.

The sound was sharp and piercing, like a long needle piercing the eardrum, making one's chest tremble.

Jiang Yi's eyelids twitched, his mind stirred, and his gaze fell upon a brightly colored red-feathered spirit chicken being pounced on by several demonic insects.

That splash of crimson flashed for only a moment in the black tide before being swallowed up by the layers of shadows.

As the shadows rose and fell, only a few scattered feathers remained on the ground, still stained with a bit of undried blood.

The collapse of this corner, though only momentary, is like an ant hole in a long dike.

Immediately, a burly man from the Ancient and Modern Gang had a chunk of flesh bitten off his shoulder by a demonic insect. He groaned and staggered back.

The defense line in the east of the village was thus breached.

The black, turbid current surged in from the breach, its hissing sound like a tidal wave.

Most of these creatures that have entered the village are ordinary insects, not very intelligent. They don't care about people or blood, and just bite randomly according to their instincts.

Wooden pillars, eaves, and vegetable garden.

The crackling sounds rose and fell, like rain pattering on withered branches, making one's heart tighten.

Fortunately, many villagers remained in the village. Hearing the commotion, they rushed over, grabbed hoes and carrying poles, and began to fight the insects.

Moreover, several years ago, Jiang Yi had already advised villagers to raise more chickens and ducks.

In recent years, spiritual energy has gradually increased. Those ordinary domestic fowl, nourished day and night, have become strong and vigorous, even though they have not yet entered the realm of spirits.

When it pecks at people, it hurts so much that they cry out for their mothers.

At this moment, even the free-range chickens and speckled chickens that usually only dig in the dirt by the field ridges were stirred by the buzzing all over the sky, awakening the wildness deep in their blood.

One by one, they raised their heads and stretched their necks, emerging from under the fence and behind the eaves.

Its feathers bristled, its eyes gleamed, as if it wanted to fight to the death with the swarm of insects.

In an instant, clucking sounds filled the village, chickens flew and dogs barked, and chaos ensued.

The swarm of insects that rushed into the village included several enormous demonic insects.

These beasts, unlike ordinary insects that gnaw and bite indiscriminately, all stopped their momentum, bypassed the vegetable gardens and houses along the way, ignored the villagers wielding hoes, and rushed straight towards the Jiang family's courtyard.

However, before they had run a few feet, more than a dozen half-grown figures suddenly appeared from the side.

Those were the village's restless lads, each with sharp eyes and quick legs.

The leader, Liu Chengming, was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, naturally full of energy, and his imposing presence was even greater than that of an adult man.

Before he even arrived, a stone axe, disproportionately large for his size, flew out of his hand with a whooshing sound.

With a "thud," it struck the carapace of a demonic insect squarely, causing the beast to stagger and nearly fall.

Before it could react, Liu Chengming pounced forward like a calf, clasped his arms together, and grabbed the insect's head with his large, fan-like hands, making a crisp "crack" sound.

The insect's neck was then twisted off.

Behind him, Jiang Chao arrived, panting heavily, carrying a short knife. He found four or five insect corpses lying haphazardly on the ground, with not a single survivor left.

The boy scratched his head anxiously, looked around, and kept muttering to himself:

"Gone? How could it just be gone?"

These few commotions are nothing more than a small ripple in a meat grinder.

Soon, the gap that had been torn open was tightly plugged again.

The sounds of fighting once again drowned out everything, like heavy waves crashing against the heart of the village.

This was originally just a trivial little incident.

But Jiang Yi's gaze never left him.

He gazed at the corpses of the demonic insects, his expression calm, but his brows furrowed slightly.

These beasts, possessing some intelligence, ignored the grain and livestock along the way, stubbornly insisting on heading towards this place with the strongest spiritual energy. Therefore…

The "head worm" hidden underground, capable of commanding billions of insect swarms, has a far greater thirst for spiritual essence than these vanguard worms.

A hundred times, a thousand times, that's not an exaggeration.

At this point, Jiang Yi's mind stirred slightly, his expression remaining unchanged, but he slowly glanced at the courtyard behind him that he had cultivated for many years.

The spiritual trees and fruits were all brimming with vitality.

Even the medicinal herbs in the corners were shimmering with a subtle glow.

The spiritual energy accumulated over the years seems to breathe even in the darkness of the night.

His gaze finally settled on the gurgling spring.

Beside the spring stood a peach tree, its branches and leaves as green and lustrous as jade.

It grows vigorously and has the strongest spiritual energy, like a condensed spiritual light.

Jiang Yi raised his hand, making a feigned gesture.

The black and white energies intertwined in his palm, like two swimming fish, and in a flash, they burrowed into the soil under the peach tree.

In an instant, the dark, glossy mud, moistened by the spring water, gently swelled up, as if it were alive.

The mud churned, yet no dust flew; it was strangely still.

In the blink of an eye, the peach tree was lifted up by an invisible force and uprooted.

The roots are clearly defined, still carrying the moist scent of the soil, and the soil clumps are round and full, floating slightly in mid-air.

This move, seemingly unintentional, was in fact a masterpiece of skill.

Jiang Xi and Liu Zi'an watched from the side, both showing a hint of surprise in their eyes.

They were not amazed by the sophistication of the magic, but rather by their father's decisiveness.

This peach tree of unknown origin has received Jiang Yi's utmost care since the day it was planted.

It neither blossoms nor bears fruit, yet it is nourished daily by the spiritual spring, occupying almost half of the spiritual energy in the courtyard.

This peach tree has always been Jiang Yi's most treasured possession.

Now, he has actually uprooted it himself.

Before the two could react, the peach tree covered in wet mud had already been lifted up by Jiang Yi and placed flat in front of Liu Zi'an.

Those eyes, which usually held a hint of leisure, were now as deep and cold as a still pool.

"Zian."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.

“You are most skilled in earth-based magic. Take this peach tree and go underground to see if you can escape.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Zian's expression changed.

He stiffened his neck and almost blurted out:

“Father-in-law, I’m not leaving! If I’m leaving, the whole family must go together; if I’m staying, we’ll all stay together! If Liu Zi’an abandons you all, he’s not even as good as an animal!”

He spoke bluntly and hastily, full of straightforwardness and righteous indignation.

Jiang Yi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and seemed to be slightly taken aback.

Jiang Xi, however, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She shook her head, extended a delicate finger, and gently tapped her husband's forehead, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of reproach:
"Fool, who told you to actually run away?"

Liu Zian scratched his head, still looking completely bewildered.

Jiang Xi then explained in a low voice:

"Father's intention is to use your earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows you to escape using earth) method, using the Immortal Peach Tree as a cover, to pretend you're about to flee with a magical treasure. If those beasts underground truly have any intelligence, how could they sit still when they see such a fat piece of meat about to slip away?"

Jiang Yi nodded slightly, a smile flashing in his eyes.

They are family, after all; they understand each other's subtle wit immediately.

He turned to look at Liu Zian, his expression becoming even more solemn.

“Remember,” he said very slowly, but his tone was sharp and forceful, “this trip is for fishing, not for fighting dragons. If that thing really shows itself, just run, don’t even think about being reckless.”

After saying that, he raised his hand, pointed to the sky above his head, and then gently pointed to the outside of the courtyard.

"The right approach is to lure it out of the open. Once it's out in the open, the whole family can work together to make it safe. Understand?"

Liu Zian finally understood. His previous stubbornness vanished, leaving only a hint of simple-minded shame.

He scratched his head and bowed down with unusual seriousness.

"Your son-in-law... will follow your father-in-law's teachings."

Having said that, he said no more.

He took a deep breath, supported the peach tree still covered in wet mud with one hand, and made a hand seal with the other.

As he lowered his body, the ground beneath his feet rippled gently.

The earth churned silently, and in the next instant, the figure and the peach tree disappeared into the ground, leaving only a ring of earthy energy swirling in the air.

As Liu Zian's aura subsided, the blue flames in Jiang Xi's eyes reignited.

She gazed down, and the layers of earth peeled away in her vision, revealing the ceaseless flow of energy beneath.

Liu Zian's soul was connected to the earth element, and then he refined all the turbid earth within his spleen.

Walking underground at this moment feels like a fish returning to the sea, even its breath becoming part of the soil.

He carried the immortal peach tree and continued to act as if nothing had happened.

The peach tree possessed a profound spiritual energy, which he now enveloped with his true essence, allowing only a wisp of it to peek out, like a beacon in the darkness.

In a short while, Liu Zian had emerged from underground several miles away and was about to escape the swarm of insects.

The mud and sand churned, and all I could hear was the deep pulse of the earth.

At that moment, the once lifeless deep soil suddenly stirred.

Something heavy seemed to have turned over in the farthest depths.

Immediately afterwards, a gloomy, damp, and fishy smell rose slowly from the depths of the earth.

At first, it was just a faint wisp, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed into an invisible giant net, silently enveloping him.

Liu Zian felt a chill run down his spine, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

What a beast!

He cursed inwardly, but kept a straight face.

He turned around and, without hesitation, hugged the peach tree and turned back.

The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

He moved so fast that he was like a fish swimming in the mud.

A single stream of air flows through it, carrying a string of fine bubbles.

However, the ominous aura behind him moved even faster.

Almost instantly, he caught up to him.

The surrounding soil suddenly softened, then abruptly solidified.

Like being kneaded into a paste by an invisible hand, and then turned into iron.

The heavy pulling almost snapped his hands and feet.

Before Liu Zian could use any other techniques, a wisp of solid earth energy emerged from under his ribs.

The cold, venomous airflow actually penetrated his protective true energy, causing his skin to ache.

Liu Zian grunted, his expression unchanged.

In the midst of the crisis, he pushed his true essence to its limit, and his entire body radiated a burst of spiritual light.

With his left hand firmly embracing the peach tree, he swiftly swept his right arm across, flipping the aura-filled immortal peach tree and using it as a shield in front of him.

The peach tree branches trembled slightly, their leaves shimmering with a spiritual light, resembling a warm, smooth jade shield.

The next instant, the burst of earth energy slammed into it with a "poof".

Liu Zian groaned, feeling as if his chest had been struck by a ferocious beast, and his internal organs were out of order.

My blood and qi surged, and my vision went black for a moment.

What a beast!

He cursed under his breath, his brow furrowing.

With a thought racing through his mind, he bit down with the tip of his tongue, and with a "plop," a mouthful of blood spurted out.

Before the blood mist could even merge with the soil, it had already been catalyzed by his true essence into a halo of earthy yellow light. With a sudden tremor, it forcefully pushed aside the sticky, muddy pressure.

It was in that fleeting moment that it happened.

Liu Zian lowered his body, the mud and sand beneath his feet swirling, and he shot straight upwards like an arrow released from its reins.

At this moment, he had no time to worry about returning to the Jiang family courtyard, fearing that if he was even a step too late, he would be dragged into the earth's core by that dark force.

"boom!"

Outside Liangjie Village, several miles away, a wasteland suddenly exploded.

As the soil churned, a figure burst forth from the earth, looking as disheveled as a dog, staggering a few steps before finally regaining his balance.

The peach tree in his arms was unharmed, its branches and leaves still gleaming with a faint spiritual light.

However, he himself was pale, with blood at the corner of his mouth and his robes were stained with dust, but there was a hint of ruthless relief in his expression.

As soon as he stood firm, a corner of the muddy ground he had pushed through collapsed again.

A thick, earthy-yellow energy burst forth from the ground, like a venomous dragon pouncing, aimed straight at its back.

(End of this chapter)