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

Chapter 222 The Locusts Have Spirits, Their Merit Finally Rewarded

Another half year has passed; time flies.

The giant pit outside Liangjie Village, known as "Locust Valley," has finally been mostly cleared, and its true nature is about to be revealed.

In fact, by the end, the insects in the pit had devoured each other, and there were hardly any left.

Those that have survived to this point are no longer ordinary insects.

Each one had an iron-like carapace, its blood was solidified, its eyes gleamed with a cold light, and even the wind carried a fishy smell.

The Blood Bird Pill, refined from such demonic insects, is extremely potent.

The ordinary chickens and ducks in the village, if touched even a little, would be blown apart by that bloody aura, their bones and flesh shattered, and even their souls scattered.

If you are too weak to absorb nutrients, you won't even get a trace of them.

Thus, all these elixirs naturally ended up in the Jiang family's backyard.

Those three spirit chicken ancestors devoured demonic insects and consumed blood pills every day, and have since undergone a complete transformation.

The feathers were no longer soft; each feather seemed to be cast from gold and iron, gleaming with a cold, bright light.

The rooster's comb has also faded from crimson to a deep blood-jade color, its warmth revealing a sharp edge.

In terms of skill, he's probably no less skilled than Jin Xiuer.

If one were to take another step forward and shed one's mortal form, one might very well earn the title of "Free and Unfettered Bird Immortal."

Jiang Yi saw this and gradually began to understand.

There are only two ways for a person to transcend worldly concerns.

One way is to read books to enlighten the mind, to savor the classics of the three religions word by word, and to understand the principles and truths in order to break through illusions and see the truth.

Another approach is to follow the path of the Celestial Masters, using symbols to explain principles.

The yellow paper and cinnabar ink depict not ghosts or gods, but the numbers of heaven and earth.

With prolonged practice, one's brushstrokes become fluid and dynamic, conveying profound meaning, and the underlying principles are imprinted into one's very being.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the skill of "understanding the divine and comprehending the principles".

Jiang Yi had absolutely no clue how this chicken could be freed from its mortal form.

That book, "The Method of Taming Birds," is full of methods for feeding and controlling birds, but it doesn't mention what to do after birds have gained sentience and attained spiritual power.

Standing beside the "Locust Valley," Jiang Yi looked at the three old birds whose auras were as deep as an abyss, and a few absurd thoughts suddenly arose in his mind.

Once all the filth in this valley has been cleared away, shouldn't we let them go to the lecture hall to listen to lectures and read the "Three Teachings and Their Meanings"?
I wonder if these three idiots can understand "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao," or even "The Great Learning teaches us to manifest our bright virtue"...

As Jiang Yi's mind wandered, he extended his divine sense, slowly traversing every shadow at the bottom of the pit. Wherever he passed, all was as still as dead stone.

After confirming that there was nothing else amiss, he calmed down and turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, a green shadow darted out from behind the rocks, rushing straight towards them with a sharp, blade-like sound of wind being cut.

Not far away, the old blue-feathered bird, which looked like it had been cast in iron, suddenly moved.

Those eyes, which were usually half-closed, suddenly flashed with a cold glint.

With just one peck, it could shatter that emerald shadow to pieces, leaving not even its soul behind.

But that peck never landed.

Jiang Yi simply raised his hand and made a downward pressing gesture in a casual manner.

The old bird, as if sensing something, immediately concealed its sharpness, and its aura vanished in an instant.

The emerald shadow stopped just three feet in front of Jiang Yi.

It was a locust the size of a palm, its entire body emerald green and translucent like jade.

The wings were still vibrating at a high frequency, making a buzzing sound, like a drum but not quite.

But there was no longer any murderous intent in that voice, only a trace of fear that was being suppressed.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

However, this demonic insect lacked that familiar ferocity.

Instead, a very thin wisp of divine thought gently peeked out from its body, trembling with fear, pleading, and a hint of wanting to "talk".

The insect was about the size of a palm, its entire body a lustrous green, like a piece of fine jade.

Its wings trembled slightly, gleaming with a cold light, giving it a more spiritual aura than ordinary demonic insects.

Jiang Yi's divine sense circled around it, examining it closely.

It had no earth-shattering aura, its bloodlust was nothing compared to the ordinary armored worms in the valley.

That fleeting thought, though concise and agile, carried a hint of "knowledge."

It seems that these monstrous creatures, having devoured each other to the extreme, were forced to develop a certain "spirituality".

Such anomalies, though rare, are not entirely without reason.

With a slight shift in his thoughts, Jiang Yi released a gentler wisp of divine consciousness, which slowly covered the green locust.

His tone was flat, yet carried a hint of nonchalance:

"What's the matter?"

The green locust's divine sense trembled, and like a startled fish, it instantly shrank back.

Clearly, he had not yet truly spoken and transformed into a spirit, and could only answer with the most primal emotions.

Jiang Yi quietly observed, only to find that the thought was intermittent.

Fear, subservience, the will to survive, and an obsessive determination to live.

Like a drowning person who knows that what is being offered is just a straw, but still clings to it desperately.

Jiang Yi withdrew his divine sense and lowered his eyes in contemplation.

This locust plague came about in a very strange way.

How could a calamity that even the gods in heaven are helpless against be just a plague of insects on earth?
The root cause of this is probably no longer within the scope of the word "natural disaster".

Now, I've encountered a strange creature that can barely "communicate," and even if I only manage to glean some superficial information, it's still a stroke of luck.

He made up his mind after a moment's thought.

With a thought, a silent command was transmitted to the bottom of the valley.

"Take good care of this little one."

"If a fight breaks out again in the valley in the future, and you see that it is losing, you should lend a hand."

The three old birds, who were half asleep, opened their eyes at the same time upon hearing this, their eyes flashing with a cold light like knives.

They looked at each other, both with puzzlement in their eyes.

In their eyes, the valley full of demonic insects was nothing more than food for the flesh.

Those who are destined to die will die, and those who are destined to live will live; each has their own fate.

It was rather strange that the head of the family would order them to protect the weakest of the green locusts.

Over the years, however, Jiang Yi's words have become law.

The three birds all let out a low cry, as if in response.

Jiang Yi then stopped the divine circuit.

When we returned to Liangjie Village, it was still early.

The mountain breeze carries the sweet scent of earth after the rain, mixed with the aroma of firewood and cooking, the most common and comforting smell in the village.

As I walked slowly along the stone path, I noticed an unusual commotion in the air.

Following the sound, one could see that three layers of people had already gathered under the old banyan tree outside the Lingsu Temple.

The banyan trees provided ample shade, and the air was filled with the sounds of people.

He strolled closer, peeked through the crowd, and immediately understood what was going on.

In the center of the circle of people, a stranger dressed in a homespun Taoist robe was speaking eloquently.

In front of him was a small wooden table with a bowl of water and a few sheets of yellow paper on it.

The man made hand seals and chanted incantations with a solemn expression. He lit a red talisman and scattered the ashes into the bowl.

He stirred it with his fingers and then loudly proclaimed.

"This is the Peaceful Talisman Water, which can cure all diseases and ward off disasters!"

Everyone was astonished and marveled at the sight.

This approach is exactly what the Taiping Dao (Way of Great Peace) lineage is doing.

Jiang Yi stood outside the crowd, his gaze slightly lowered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

In just a few years, the tentacles of the Taiping Dao have already reached even remote corners like Liangjie Village.

The Taoist priest in the center of the arena was spitting as he spoke, his sleeves flailing like the wind, chanting in a cacophony of words. The villagers watched with great interest, but they were merely there for the spectacle.

They craned their necks, but their feet seemed rooted to the spot, and no one moved forward even half a step, nor did anyone actually ask for the bowl of talisman water.

This is not difficult to understand.

In recent years, the incense in Liangjie Village has been very popular, and the temple of Lingsu Niangniang has been bustling with worshippers year-round.

People added incense smoke to the incense burner of the Supreme Taoist Ancestor every day.

In addition, with the secret support of the Jiang family and the Gujin Gang, there was a good harvest in the fields, meat in the family, and fewer illnesses.

In such circumstances, who would still care about those mystical "talisman water and elixirs" outside?
Jiang Yi looked at the Taoist priest with a calm expression, but he had some other thoughts in his heart.

Taiping Road... Lao Jun Temple...

Going back further, they can be considered to have the same lineage.

Unfortunately, in this world, the branches and leaves are in disarray, and the roots have long been mixed up.

It's likely that even the three Zhang brothers, who have stirred up the world, don't know where their "immortal magic" originated, let alone the believers below.

Jiang Yi withdrew his gaze and stopped looking.

After passing through the Spirit Fruit Forest and returning to my own backyard, the noise outside is separated by layers of greenery, leaving only the sounds of insects and birds.

Jiang Yi sat down on the blue stone beside the Spirit Spring Pool as usual.

The pool water is crystal clear, reflecting the sunlight and cloud shadows, creating a tranquil atmosphere reminiscent of another world.

After two years of recuperation, that peach tree has finally taken root again.

Its branches and leaves are lush, and its aura is restrained, unlike its former superficiality.

However, the lost spirituality cannot be replenished overnight.

Jiang Yi knew perfectly well what was going on.

With our current resources, it would be a stretch to support such a divine root.

If it weren't for that lucky drop of willow branch dew that year, this immortal peach might not have survived.

Fortunately, things have stabilized for now.

Jiang Yi closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, focusing his mind on his dantian.

He felt that wisps of pure air from the peach tree, like spring water just beginning to melt, were slowly seeping into his body.

As it flows along the meridians, the accumulated toxins in the internal organs are gently washed away wherever it passes.

Over the years, he has used this pure energy to remove nearly 30% of the stagnant and turbid substance in his kidneys.

Sitting by the spiritual spring pool again, I felt the water essence arise with each breath, and the energy within my body secretly harmonized with the spiritual water in the pool.

Consequently, the dragon scale staff became increasingly easy to handle.

The initial restraint has faded, replaced by a more relaxed attitude.

With a stretch of its muscles and bones, the water's momentum naturally arises.

This is the skill of water milling.

It can't be rushed, and it can't be skipped.

Cultivation knows no bounds; before I knew it, it was already midnight by the pond.

The moon was high in the sky, its clear light shining brightly, illuminating the entire courtyard in white.

The air by the spring was so still you could almost hear the dew dripping onto the leaves.

As Jiang Yichen breathed in and out, his mind and spirit were subtly connected with the energy of the plants, trees, water, and stones, and suddenly a thought struck him.

A familiar aura of divine spirit quietly drifted in from outside the courtyard and landed beside him.

It's Jiang Liang.

He slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.

He initially thought something troublesome had happened outside, but before he could speak, his gaze faltered slightly.

That usually composed face now carried a hint of an undisguised smile.

His brows relaxed, and his eyes brightened.

Since the earth dragon turned over and the locust plague raged, Jiang Yi had not seen his son show such a relaxed expression for a long time.

The tension in my heart eased a little.

"What good news?" Jiang Yi asked with a smile, his tone warm. "Is it worth it for you to make a special trip back in the middle of the night?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's smile deepened on his previously composed face, his eyes brimming with undisguised joy.

"Nothing can be hidden from Dad."

He bowed slightly, his tone light and cheerful, carrying a hint of relief at the long-awaited rain.

"A message came from Rui'er's side, saying that the imperial court summoned him to Luoyang to receive his merits and rewards."

"Receiving credit and rewards?"

Jiang Yi's smile faded slightly, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"The court is in such a state now, with everyone in a state of confusion and corruption, and the buying and selling of official positions is rampant."

"Isn't it said that without money and connections, even the greatest achievements will just gather dust in the archives?"

If others heard this, they would probably sigh, "The emperor is wise," and expect him to work hard to govern the country.

But Jiang Yi had memories of his past life and knew in his heart that there was no such thing as "brilliance" in this world anymore.

Jiang Liang's smile faded slightly, and his expression became serious.

“Father is right. Normally, this reward would probably be delayed for several years. But this time, we’ve stumbled upon a lucky coincidence.”

He paused briefly before slowly recounting the whole story.

"A while ago, the imperial concubine in the palace contracted a strange illness. The Imperial Hospital went through a series of doctors, but they were all helpless. Later, the Li family used their connections to invite Wenya from Laojun Mountain to take a look."

"Wenya has now entered the path of cultivation, and her Taoist arts are quite profound. After a few doses of medicine, the concubine's illness was indeed cured. After the treatment, she returned to the mountains to cultivate in seclusion, not wanting to get involved in the mundane affairs of the palace."

"But the Li family saw this as a golden opportunity. Seeing that the imperial concubine was grateful, they took the opportunity to praise Rui'er's achievements, saying that he had pacified the Qiang region and brought peace to the people, and was a rare capable minister in the present day."

At this point, Jiang Liang couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

"After the imperial concubine returned to the palace, she must have said a few good words to the emperor."

"Just today, Rui'er received an official notice, saying that he was summoned to Luoyang to be rewarded for his merits, including his contributions to the relief efforts in the Qiang region in previous years."

After hearing the whole story, Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time.

The main room was extremely quiet, with only the intermittent chirping of insects outside the window, seemingly both near and far.

The lamplight flickered in the wind, casting an inconspicuous glow on half of his face.

Jiang Yi couldn't tell whether the feeling in his heart was joy or sorrow.

The joy comes from the fact that his grandson has achieved great success and fame, and has finally seen the light of day.

What worries me is that this "blue sky" may not be entirely clean.

"Go and inform the Li family."

Jiang Yi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his tone somewhat serious.

"When Rui'er arrives in Luoyang, ask them to take good care of him. Ideally, find a respected elder from the clan who is also familiar with Rui'er to accompany him to the palace to receive his official title."

Jiang Liang's soul shadow was slightly taken aback, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

"Father, why is that? Rui'er has been in officialdom for so many years and knows his place. He won't make any mistakes."

Jiang Yi smiled, but he didn't seem relaxed at all.

“He knows the rules, but you know his personality better than I do.”

"If he were to go to Luoyang alone and see the state of the palace now, who knows what kind of trouble he would cause."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang's expression grew increasingly somber.

The new emperor had only been on the throne for a few years, yet rumors of his extravagance, debauchery, and lack of self-discipline had already spread throughout the land.

He had heard it before when he was in Chang'an.

Then Jiang Yi continued slowly:
"It would be better to have someone who can keep the situation in check and control his temper accompany him."

When he finished speaking, there was no more sound in the hall.

The ghostly figure finally bowed its head and solemnly replied, "Yes."

It then gradually faded away in the light, like a wisp of smoke, quietly blending into the night.

(End of this chapter)