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

Chapter 219 Refining Instead of Selling: Solving the Dilemma

Jiang Yi glanced down from mid-air and, seeing that the village was fairly well-organized, stopped looking.

With a twist of its body, it landed back in its own backyard.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the newly turned mud.

Jiang Xi had her back to him, and her palms were lightly pressed against the roots of the peach tree.

The green light flowed from his palm like a gentle hot spring, gradually gathering the scattered spiritual energy with his own wood energy and slowly nurturing it.

The tree is still a good tree, with its branches and leaves intact and its roots unharmed.

However, the harmonious and spiritual aura emanating from within was indeed less radiant than before.

Jiang Yi's gaze darkened.

Although there is a spiritual spring in my own courtyard, it is still a mortal place. It is fine to grow some spiritual plants, but it would be too shallow to offer such a divine object.

This upheaval has scattered the vital energy of the land, and its restoration will likely take more than a day or two.

Jiang Xi sensed movement behind her, withdrew her palm strike, and turned to the side.

Under the moonlight, her face looked somewhat weary, and her tone still carried lingering fear:

"Father, how is that demonic locust...?"

Jiang Yi stared intently at the peach tree, as if trying to recover every bit of what it had lost:
"He has been executed; there is no need to worry about him anymore."

Jiang Xi's shoulders relaxed slightly, and after a moment of silence, she asked in a low voice:
"Then...where is the body?"

Her eyes were still on that peach tree whose spirit had faded, and her voice carried a glimmer of hope:

“That beast has considerable cultivation and abundant vital energy. If we bury its corpse here and turn it into fertile soil, it might help this tree recover some of its vitality.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi finally shifted his gaze from the tree to his daughter.

He simply shook his head slowly.

"Your idea is not bad."

His voice was low and slow, carrying a hint of lingering breath, "It's just that although the spiritual energy in our backyard is thin, it has the advantage of being 'pure,' and has never been tainted by any impurity."

He paused, his gaze meeting Jiang Xi's clear eyes, his tone even softer:

"That demonic locust is filled with malevolent energy, and even in death it cannot be cleansed. Using it to fertilize trees is quick, but it also ruins the pure energy it has."

Finally, it sounded like a sigh or a murmur:

"It's not worth it to tarnish your own roots in the pursuit of speed."

Jiang Xi frowned slightly, seemingly understanding but not quite, and simply nodded gently.

Seeing that she was no longer speaking, Jiang Yi also stopped talking.

He examined the peach tree more closely; its roots were solid, but its vital energy was depleted.

Such injuries cannot be rushed.

He turned and went underground, taking many spiritual herbs and fruits from the herb garden and putting them in his pocket.

With a flick of his breath, he lightly leaped up and headed towards the noisy area outside the village.

Before we even arrived, we could hear the sound of wings flapping in the distance.

The chorus of millions of locusts, like a chaotic wave, surged into the ears.

Upon closer inspection, several dozen spirit chickens could be seen remaining in the formation.

Its wings were stained with blood, its feathers were dim, and its aura was weak, but its fierce spirit still lingered.

Each one raised its head, its eyes like hooks, staring intently at the churning swarm of insects within the circle.

The loud crowing of roosters rose and fell in waves, like an invisible net, firmly shrouding the chaos and madness under the sky.

The night wind carries the scent of blood, and the moonlight is like frost.

In those clear cries, even the heavens and earth seemed to take on a solemn air.

Jiang Yi flew around the circle once, taking out the spiritual herbs and fruits from his arms one by one and throwing them downwards.

Having received the reward, the spirit chickens merely lowered their heads to peck or let out a soft crow, their wings trembling slightly, yet their formation remained as steady as a mountain.

After the distribution was completed, Jiang Yi stopped in mid-air.

The night breeze rose from below, causing the hem of my clothes to flutter slightly.

Looking down, the black tide churned within the circle, the locust swarms densely packed, like a bottomless abyss.

That intense, pungent energy was almost nauseating.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

How to deal with all these monstrous creatures has become a rather troublesome problem.

As Jiang Yi was pondering, a slight gust of wind stirred behind him.

A figure in a blue robe landed beside him, his clothes dusty and his expression calm. It was Liu Zi'an, who had just finished settling the village affairs.

Liu Zian followed his father-in-law's gaze and frowned at the first glance.

Black currents surged within the pit, life and filth intertwined, causing a feeling of suffocation in one's chest.

Looking at Jiang Yi again, he stood with his hands behind his back in the wind, his figure as heavy as a mountain.

His features were calm, yet there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Having followed him for many years, Liu Zian naturally understood this expression.

These worms, swarming everywhere, would pollute the land if killed, but leaving them alive might cause further trouble.

But this is precisely the kind of hot potato situation we're in.

He pondered for a moment, a flash of inspiration crossing his mind, and suddenly spoke:
"Father, do you still remember that page of 'The Art of Taming Birds'?"

Jiang Yi didn't lift his eyelids, but simply hummed softly in his nose as a response.

Liu Zian's gaze shifted and landed on the group of spirit chickens below that had not yet dispersed.

Their feathers were stained with blood, their divine light nearly fading, yet they still stubbornly held their ground in the formation.

His voice was soft and gentle, yet tinged with a hint of a smile:
"At the end of that page, weren't there a few recipes for elixir cultivation for birds?"

Jiang Yi then turned his head and slowly glanced at him.

A night breeze swept by, Liu Zian's temples were slightly disheveled, a smile played on his lips, and the glint in his eyes seemed more like a prepared answer than a question.

Jiang Yi said softly, "In that method... could there be a way to use locusts as medicine?"

His tone was flat, as if asking a question or sighing.

That volume, "The Method of Taming Birds," is called "Taming Birds," but it's actually quite miscellaneous.

It discusses the arrangement of birds in battle, as well as their feeding and breathing techniques, and even lists several medicinal prescriptions.

It's said to strengthen muscles and bones, dispel evil spirits, and enhance intelligence—it sounds incredibly miraculous.

However, Jiang Yi had never been familiar with alchemy, so after flipping through it a few times, he put it aside.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zian's smile deepened.

He shook his head slightly: "I've never seen a medicine that uses locusts as its main ingredient."

He paused for a moment, then his gaze fell upon the writhing black tide.

“However,” he continued slowly, “most of the prescriptions for strengthening the bones and replenishing the qi of spirit birds are inseparable from ‘flesh and blood’.”

A night breeze swept by, causing the hem of his clothes to flutter slightly.

He looked up and stared at Jiang Yi again.

"These locusts that fill the pit are, in the end, all flesh and blood."

"Moreover, there are many demonic insects among them, and their essence is probably no less than that of tigers and leopards in the mountains."

His voice was soft, yet every word carried weight.

"Since it is flesh and blood, it can be used as medicine. It is worth a try."

Jiang Yi remained silent.

But those deep eyes gazed at him quietly in the night for a while.

The wind was silent, and even the moonlight seemed to have been softened by the silence.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded and said in a low voice:

"This approach... might work."

Jiang Yi had already thought it through in his mind.

In recent years, the Gujin Gang has produced many promising talents with excellent potential and a stable mindset.

If this method really works, it will be perfect for letting them get a feel for the basics of alchemy.

The Celestial Masters sect often says that alchemy is also a form of self-cultivation.

Using heaven and earth as a furnace, gathering all things as medicine, one can nourish one's true qi.

If this path goes smoothly, it's more reliable than honing your physical strength and practicing breathing exercises.

There was less hostility and fewer injuries.

However, those who can take this path are usually either rich or noble.

What burns in the alchemical furnace is not firewood or charcoal, but real mountains of gold and silver.

The higher one's cultivation level, the rarer and more precious the elixir formula and medicinal materials.

Even if an ordinary family empties their savings, it's not enough to fill that bottomless pit.

Jiang Yi's gaze shifted and fell back on the writhing black tide.

What seemed like a difficult problem before now presents a completely different picture.

That wasn't some hot potato at all; it was clearly a treasure mountain made of flesh and blood.

Firstly, this will allow us to refine all these evil things. Secondly, it will give the younger members of the gang a chance to try their hand at alchemy.

In alchemy, the greatest taboo is greed and haste, and it tests one's temperament the most.

Given the village's current resources, no one would be willing to use precious medicinal herbs for practice.

With this endless swarm of locusts torment them, even if they were fried ten or eight times, it wouldn't hurt them.

As for the third one.

The refined pills can also be used to feed the flock of spirit birds.

Although they won this time, they also suffered a blow to their foundation.

If there are elixirs to nourish and strengthen the spirit birds in the village, making them more ferocious and giving them more confidence when they encounter calamities in the future.

Three birds with one stone.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, the moonlight shimmering in his eyes.

This deal looks like a sure thing no matter how you look at it.

Having made up his mind, Jiang Yi said no more.

He paused briefly in mid-air and gave a wink to the three spirit chicken ancestors whose auras were the longest.

Their thoughts separated instantly upon contact, as if by unspoken agreement.

The three ancestors cried out in unison, their high-pitched cries overlapping, revealing a lingering arrogance, which could be considered a response.

Having explained the matter, Jiang Yi withdrew his gaze.

They exchanged a glance with Liu Zian, then each flicked their sleeves, their figures transforming into two faint shadows as they sped towards Liangjie Village.

The village was brightly lit and bustling with voices, yet it was chaotic but not panicked.

Jiang Jin stood under the big locust tree at the village entrance, dressed in a blue robe. Against the backdrop of the night, his brows appeared even more heroic.

She was assigning tasks to the elderly and infirm, and taking stock of the losses.

Although his fatigue was undeniable, his spirit remained undiminished, radiating warmth.

Jiang Yi and Liu Zi'an silently appeared behind her.

Before Jiang Jin could turn around, the gang members who were about to bow were stopped by a look from Jiang Yi.

The others understood and quietly dispersed, leaving only three people standing under the shade of the locust tree.

The night wind, carrying the stench of blood and earth, brushed against the hem of their clothes.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm, but a hint of solemnity appeared between his brows and eyes.

"Jin'er."

When he spoke, his voice was like the wind in the pines and the snow.

"From today onwards, open a separate branch from the pharmacy, named 'Dan Tang'."

He paused, his gaze sharp, but his tone remained slow.

“You personally select people, without considering their cultivation level, only choosing young men who are calm, clean-handed, and have good comprehension.”

At this point, he slightly raised his eyes, as if seeing through the night and gazing into the depths of the endless chirping of insects:
"Let them learn alchemy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin's clear eyes showed genuine doubt.

She is always prudent in her actions and dislikes anything that is unrealistic or impractical.

Hearing her grandfather's instructions, she couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly.

“Grandpa, it’s not difficult to choose someone,” she said cautiously. “There are always some calm and collected young men in the village.”

He hesitated for a moment, then finally laid bare his concerns:

"But in the art of alchemy, having people alone is not enough. Where can we find the formulas and medicinal herbs?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi not only did not feel embarrassed, but instead showed a smile.

"The prescription," he said flatly, "is something we have at home."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted slightly, landing on the hustle and bustle deep in the night outside the village.

"As for the main medicinal ingredient, aren't those monstrous beasts that fill the valley outside the village a perfect source?"

"The other auxiliary materials will be temporarily taken from the family's storehouse. Once the pill is refined, they will be repaid at a discounted price from the finished pill."

"If any young man is lucky and quick-witted, and manages to refine a piece of high quality and with excellent appearance, then he can not only practice for free, but may also make a fortune."

Having said that, Jiang Jin could only nod.

"Yes," she replied readily.

However, beneath those relaxed brows, a hint of uncertainty and worry still lingered.

Although she had some knowledge of pharmacology, she knew that the art of alchemy was ever-changing and could not be easily mastered with just a few words like "it's readily available at home".

Jiang Yi saw all of this, but said nothing.

He simply reached out and gently patted his granddaughter's shoulder, with just the right amount of force.

There is no need to worry.

His tone softened, as if he were smoothing out the wrinkles in her heart.

"I'll have your uncle assist you with this matter. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him."

After saying that, he glanced at Liu Zian beside him with a half-smile.

“Your uncle’s family is a legitimate family of alchemists.”

His voice was calm, yet tinged with a hint of amusement, “His ancestor ascended to the heavens and became an immortal back then, all thanks to his alchemy skills.”

"With him overseeing things, this Dantang will surely be able to establish itself quickly."

Liu Zian's previously composed smile froze upon hearing this.

Although our ancestor was indeed famous for alchemy, he had refined countless pills throughout his life. If a pill could be ingested without dying, it would be considered a top-quality pill.

Until the moment of his death, he probably never refined any proper elixirs.

But he couldn't bring himself to say those words at that moment.

Out of the corner of his eye, he met Jiang Jin's clear eyes.

The doubt in her eyes had transformed into sparkling trust and a hint of joy.

Liu Zian sighed inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face.

We can't afford to diminish the ancestor's divine power at this crucial moment, nor can we dampen the child's enthusiasm.

He immediately straightened his chest, nodded with a smile, and spoke in a steady and firm tone:
"Don't worry, Jin'er. With your uncle here, nothing will go wrong."

With the matter settled, Jiang Yi said no more.

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned past the moon's shadow and slowly walked towards the ancestral hall.

Pushing open the door, a soft creak of wood filled the air, and the scent of sandalwood wafted towards me.

He walked straight to the offering table, casually picked up two sticks of incense, and lit them by the flame of the ever-burning lamp.

The smoke rose gently, like a thread, swirling in the air.

Before the memorial tablet even reached them, it first coalesced into a phantom image in mid-air, which was none other than Jiang Liang.

Today's events happened so suddenly that he was completely unaware of the catastrophe that had befallen the village.

Without beating around the bush, Jiang Yi recounted the whole story of the locust plague that had occurred during the day, from the emergence of the demonic locusts to the bloody battle with the spirit chickens, in a calm and unhurried manner.

Every time a dangerous scene was mentioned, the swirling smoke would tremble slightly, and Jiang Liang's soul would also flicker, as if the fear was transmitted through the incense.

After Jiang Yi finished speaking, the hall fell into complete silence.

After a long while, Jiang Liang let out a long sigh in his ethereal voice.

"Luckily, Father, you still have that stick inlaid with dragon scales... otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, his soul trembled slightly.

A few wisps of smoke dissipated, and half a word of fear was uttered in silence.

Jiang Yi listened to his son's lingering fear, but his expression remained calm.

Without saying another word, he simply flipped his wrist.

With a muffled thud, a lamb-sized corpse suddenly tumbled out and landed on the cold bluestone slab of the ancestral hall.

The locust's corpse had long since lost its life, its body stiff, and its muddy brown carapace was covered with a layer of fine white frost and ice crystals.

Jiang Yi lowered his eyes to look at the corpse, his tone calm:
"We keep this thing at home, it's not of any use to us."

"Take this to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge and send it to that Third Prince Ao, just as a... treat."

"In the end, if it weren't for the divine power of his dragon scale, it's hard to say whether this village could have been saved."

In the past, this third prince of the West Sea Dragon Palace probably wouldn't have bothered to even glance at such insects and blood.

But now that the tiger has fallen into the plains, even a few livestock in the mortal world are fighting over its food...

This demonic locust has some cultivation, and its body is full of essence, blood, and flesh. It should be able to give him a few more breaths and withstand a few more divine punishments.

Upon hearing this, the illusory figure lit up and responded, then stepped forward to collect the frozen, solidified corpse of the locust.

He was busy working while grinning from ear to ear.

"Father, since these dragon scales are so useful, and we've given such a generous gift, shouldn't that Third Prince reciprocate in kind? Next time... ask him to pluck a couple more for himself, or perhaps, for the sake of this blood offering, give Qin'er a few pointers."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, his plans clearly unfolding.

Jiang Yi didn't respond to his comment. The ancestral hall was quiet for a moment, with only wisps of smoke rising from it.

After a long pause, he suddenly spoke again, his voice not loud.

"Have you ever heard of the name 'Black Locust'?"

(End of this chapter)