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

Chapter 233 The Azure Heaven is Dead, the Yellow Heaven Shall Rise (Bonus Chapter, Normal Update Tonight)
In the blink of an eye, several more days have passed.

The news of what happened in the heavens and on earth had already spread to all the various factions and schools of thought.

What I needed to know, I finally know.

The rise of the Way of Great Peace and the change of dynasties were personally approved by the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

With that, the fate of heaven and earth was set.

What remains are nothing more than opportunistic and sycophantic writings.

Some people thought of submitting and seeking peace;
Some people are considering surrendering early, hoping to get a share of this incredible opportunity.

The world may turn upside down, but to outsiders, it's just a change of the idol they offer incense to.

Incense smoke curled upwards inside the Jiang family ancestral hall.

Between the flickering firelight, Jiang Liang's ghostly figure appeared half-real and half-illusory.

He was telling his father about what he had seen and heard outside, his tone tinged with excitement and unease:
"...Since the Taiping Dao raised its army, it has been almost as if it had divine assistance. Wherever it went, as soon as its flag was unfurled, the weather became favorable and the land was unobstructed."

On his ethereal face, light and shadow shifted, making it impossible to discern whether it was reverence, fear, or sigh.

"As for the imperial army, it was extremely unlucky,"

"Wherever they went, either hail fell from the sky or flash floods broke out; it was as if even God himself was against them."

Jiang Yi listened without changing his expression, only gently lighting the incense stick.

Jiang Liang got more and more excited as he spoke: "A few days ago, a Yellow Turban army in Jizhou was facing off against the main force of the government army. Just as the two sides were about to clash, suddenly countless meteorites fell from the sky, hitting the government army's formation without missing a beat."

He paused, looked up at the swirling smoke, and lowered his voice, letting out a sigh.

"The government troops were thrown into chaos on the spot, and more than half of the tens of thousands of soldiers were killed or wounded. The situation was truly as if it were divine will, and it sent chills down one's spine."

Before Jiang Liang could finish speaking, Jiang Yi already understood.

If there were such a thing as "coincidence" in this world, that would be the biggest joke.

The strange phenomena that occurred in heaven and earth were merely the work of some quick-witted deities who sensed the changing winds and understood the Dao Ancestor's intentions, so they hurriedly switched sides and secretly provided assistance.

Going with the flow and calling it "the mandate of heaven" is just a nice-sounding way of putting it.

He held the incense stick between his fingers, a spark flew, and wisps of smoke rose.

After discussing the weather outside, Jiang Liang cautiously changed the subject.

"father……"

His voice was somewhat hesitant, "Old Gui from Yingchoujian asked me to pass on a message a few days ago."

"I would like to ask Rui'er to help make some introductions. The Gui family also has many people working in the underworld in the Southern Continent. I am thinking of taking advantage of this great opportunity to establish good relations with the Way of Peace as soon as possible."

This statement was not unexpected.

With dynasties changing and the world changing hands, everyone is afraid of making the wrong bet if they're not careful.

If it were anyone else, with the Gui family's powerful connections, why would they have to worry about not having a way to climb up to them?

This time, however, the three Zhang brothers did not travel through the Heavenly Gate or the Underworld, but only through the path of ordinary mortals, which explains why the Gui family had no way to establish connections.

Jiang Yi simply smiled faintly, his expression unchanged, without the slightest hesitation.

"There's no need to mention this matter."

His voice was calm, revealing no emotion, only a barely perceptible weariness hidden between the lines.

Jiang Rui, that kid, was finally rescued from this chaotic calamity and sent to Mount Futu.

How can we let him turn back into the world and jump back into this chaotic mortal realm?

Seeing that his father just shook his head, Jiang Liang was not surprised.

His illusory figure swayed slightly amidst the swirling smoke, seemingly hesitant, but finally spoke.

"There's one more thing..."

He lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing the incense burning in the burner.

"Feng'er also sent a message from the West Sea."

As Jiang Liang spoke, he carefully stole glances at his father's expression.

"It is said that his father-in-law, the Dragon King of the West Sea, was also trying to persuade him."

“Let him take this opportunity to leave the Celestial Masters Sect and join the Way of Great Peace.”

He paused for a moment before continuing:
"The Dragon King's intention is that, given Feng'er's current status as the son-in-law of the West Sea, coupled with his reputation for producing locust-eradicating pills and his illustrious deeds, as long as he makes a slight statement, there will surely be a large following."

"Although the Taiping Dao is currently gaining momentum, it has only risen hastily and its foundation is not yet stable. If we can seize this opportunity to enter the game, Feng'er may be able to secure a key position within it."

At this point, a hint of difficulty appeared on his translucent face.

"Feng'er himself is also hesitant and asked me... to ask for your opinion."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply watched the wisp of soul in silence.

After a long while, he finally let out a soft sigh.

It seems that not only the old ancestor of the Liu family, but also the Gui family and the West Sea Dragon Palace, these deeply rooted old forces, all believe that this "New Peace Dynasty" will surely ascend to the throne and is unshakeable.

It's no wonder that things have come to this point.

After all, those were the words spoken by the Supreme Dao Ancestor himself.

In the Three Realms and Six Paths, who dares to question it? Who can question it?

but……

Jiang Yi's clear eyes remained as deep and unfathomable as the sea.

The light and color are calm, yet they conceal a sliver of clarity that is difficult for others to perceive.

He always believed that the Supreme Dao Ancestor, who resided high above the thirty-three heavens and was free from desires and actions, was not truly omniscient and omnipotent.

He probably only made the decision in a hurry after hearing a few words from the Old Immortal of Nanhua, without ever personally descending to the mortal realm to take a look.

As for the three Zhang brothers, those few hotheads on the path of cultivation.

The Dao Ancestor had no idea how grand, or how... insane, the ambitions they harbored were.

Jiang Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly changed his tone, becoming extremely confident.

"You can relay this message back for me."

"No matter how the heavens may turn upside down, no matter which way the winds blow..."

“We, the descendants of the Jiang family, are not allowed to get involved in this matter, nor are we allowed to have any connection with the Taiping Dao.”

He paused for a moment, then emphasized his words again.

“If anyone disobeys this order… he/she shall be expelled from the family and shall no longer be a descendant of the Jiang family.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the cigarette trembled, and Jiang Liang's illusory figure swayed slightly as well.

He had always obeyed his father's words without question, but at this moment he couldn't help but show a hint of bewilderment.

The world's opinion had long been clear: the rise of the Way of Peace was almost an inevitable trend.

Faced with such an extraordinary opportunity, it's simply unimaginable to avoid it altogether.

He looked up, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

A hint of hesitation flashed within that wisp of light, as if there was confusion, or perhaps a faint sense of awe.

Jiang Yi took in his son's hesitant expression.

He simply shook his head silently, without saying a word.

Some things are better left unsaid.

This kind of truth can only be learned by time.

Inside the ancestral hall, incense smoke swirls and light and shadow dance.

After a long pause, Jiang Yi suddenly spoke again, his tone flat, as if asking casually:
"You and Wenya have been receiving offerings of incense in various prefectures and cities. Is there still room for expansion?"

The question was asked lightly, but it concealed another layer of calculation.

The Way of Peace is now in full swing, its voice resounding throughout the three realms.

But in Jiang Yi's view, that was a sign of danger.

A fire that burns too brightly will not last long; a flower that blooms too profusely will wither early.

Once that magnificent spectacle of blazing fire has burned out, all that will remain is scorched earth.

The vacuum left by the orthodox tradition, the emptiness of people's faith.

That is where the real opportunity lies.

If you can set up the offerings in advance and wait for the storm to pass, then with just a gentle push, the incense will naturally burn even brighter.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang maintained a respectful demeanor and answered honestly:

"Reporting to Father, I have been appointed by imperial decree as the Yin God of the City God Temple in Chang'an, in charge of the affairs of the underworld in this area. As is customary, the incense offerings cannot cross the border. At most, I may also serve as the mountain god or local earth god in a few cities. If I were to privately establish a temple in another prefecture, it would be a violation of the rules."

He paused and then said:
"As for Wenya, her Buddhist name 'Lingsu Daoren' was originally used to gain fame by leveraging the influence of the Laozi Temple. Now, her incense offerings are tied to the Laozi Temple. If mortals wish to offer incense to her, they must first build a Laozi Temple, and then they can add a Lingsu image of her within it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply shook his head slowly.

Lao Jun Temple... When the Taiping Dao's fate is exhausted, even someone of Lao Jun's status will likely suffer some backlash.

If we go against the trend at this time and go to various places to build Laozi temples in a big way, wouldn't that be like walking into a knife's edge?
The ancestral hall fell silent again.

Jiang Liang's illusory figure swayed slightly in the cigarette smoke, as if hesitating or pondering.

After a long pause, he cautiously began to speak:
“Father… if we really need to find someone else to deal with this situation, Rui’er might be a solution.”

"Over the years, he has provided disaster relief and rescue to countless people in Liangzhou, and has accumulated a great deal of goodwill among the people."

"If we can use this reputation to open a temple and gather believers, it would be a logical step."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Jiang Yi's eyes, which had been as calm as still water.

He paced back and forth a couple of steps, the cigarette smoke curling and swirling around his feet.
After a long pause, he stopped and nodded slowly.

"That's fine."

His voice was not loud, but it was as steady as a rock.

"You can make preparations for this in secret first."

"Firstly, in the Liangzhou region, a temple named after Rui'er was erected to protect the Qiang people."

"He has both the official title of Protector of the Qiang and the real merit of saving lives. Therefore, it is justified to build this temple for him without attracting attention."

"Second..."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the ghostly figure deep within the cigarette smoke, his tone indifferent.

"Outside of Liangzhou, make more preparations, and when the time is right... establish a temple for Feng'er and give him a proper name."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang was stunned.

"For Feng'er?"

His soul shadow flickered slightly, his expression filled with astonishment and confusion.

“Father, although Feng’er has made great contributions in refining elixirs to save the world, this matter has never been publicized. People only know that the locust plague has been quelled, but they do not know that he is a hero. Besides, he is still a disciple of the Celestial Masters Sect and does not have the status or qualifications to establish a temple and receive offerings.”

"If we were to actually do that, wouldn't we be committing a grave taboo within our sect?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi simply waved his hand dismissively.

"I know what I'm doing in these matters."

His tone was flat, and his expression remained unchanged.

All the taboos in the world become mere paper barriers in his mouth.

"Besides, I didn't ask you to do it immediately."

"It's just preliminary preparation."

As he spoke, he paused for a moment, his eyes shimmering like the gentle ripples of an ancient well.

"As for the location..."

"Go back and investigate thoroughly where the Taiping Dao is currently at its strongest, and where the Yellow Turban Army has the deepest foothold."

"The temple is located in that area."

As soon as he finished speaking, the candlelight in the ancestral hall flickered, and the incense smoke drifted slightly.

Jiang Liang stared blankly at his father, feeling that this arrangement was truly bizarre.

To build a temple in that place where the Yellow Turban Rebellion was rampant and the sound of peace was resounding.

Isn't this going against fate?
Feng'er, an unknown Taoist priest, what merit or ability does he have to compete with the Taiping Dao, which has received the personal permission of the Taoist Ancestor, for incense offerings?
Over the years, my almost instinctive faith in my father has become ingrained in my bones.

Despite his doubts, Jiang Liang swallowed his words and simply nodded and responded in a low voice.

Seeing that he agreed, Jiang Yi remained expressionless and then calmly gave the following instructions:
"besides."

"During this period, unless it's something urgent, don't wander around outside."

"Stay in Chang'an and keep your eyes wide open, look carefully."

“Look inside and outside the city, see which gods and ghosts have openly or secretly joined the Way of Peace; and which ones have secretly lent a helping hand to the Yellow Turban Army.”

Jiang Liang paused, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Father, why is that?"

Jiang Yi didn't answer, only glanced at him, and said in a flat tone:

"Firstly, it will make you aware of who to be close to and who to avoid."

"Secondly..."

He paused abruptly at this point.

The candlelight flickered gently in the wind, casting his face in half-light and half-shadow.

"Heavenly secrets must not be revealed."

"Just remember this and keep an eye on things. The truth will come in time."

Having said that, he said no more.

Seeing this, Jiang Liang knew that asking any further questions would be pointless, so he could only bow deeply and suppress all his doubts.

The soul shadow then swayed slightly, turning into a wisp of green smoke, which hovered in the air for a few breaths before gradually dissipating.

Jiang Yi stared as the smoke dissipated, his eyes darkening slightly.

Ultimately, those deities who seized the opportunity, joined the Way of Peace, and secretly aided the Yellow Turbans can't really be said to have done anything wrong.

Even the Supreme Taoist Ancestor, who is pure and inactive, has personally agreed. It is understandable that these minor gods and demons in heaven and earth would follow suit.

Just a pity.

The "fairness" of this world can never be measured by the words "right" and "wrong".

Today, by taking advantage of the situation, I've gained some benefits and seem to be doing well.

If the situation reverses tomorrow, and the tide turns, I'm afraid I'll have to pay back everything, with interest.

This is the order of Heaven, which has remained unchanged since time immemorial.

It has nothing to do with good or evil, and nothing to do with right or wrong.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi only sighed softly.

He stopped thinking and slowly sat cross-legged, placed his hands on his knees, closed his eyes, and began to refine the inner fire within his body.

Outside the ancestral hall, the wind howled and the sky seemed to shift.

Sometimes the raindrops fall gently, and sometimes they are scattered by the sunlight.

The old locust tree in the courtyard has sprouted new green leaves again, and the cicadas on the branches sing one wave after another, making it sound as if summer is in full swing.

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Whether it was the messages Jiang Liang occasionally sent back from the incense offerings, or the snippets of conversation brought by peddlers who traveled all over the country, they all revolved around one topic.

The Way of Peace truly lived up to the opportune time.

The army, clad in yellow turbans, swept across the land like wildfire, unstoppable.

In just a few months, eight states were brought under its control, and it continues to expand at an astonishing rate.

Although several counties and major cities still put up a last stand, it would not be an exaggeration to say that most of the land had fallen into the hands of the Yellow Turbans.

Even Liangjie Village, which is slow to get the news, has gradually become a bit noisy.

Outside the Lingsu Temple, in the cool shade under the old locust tree, passersby and woodcutters often chatted animatedly.

"When the Yellow Turban Army crossed the mountains, the fruits and delicacies in the mountains would ripen and fall down to reward the army!"

"To cross the river, the carp, crucian carp, shrimp, and crabs in the river will all crowd together to form a bridge, allowing the army to step across!"

His words were cryptic and his story was told in such a vivid and detailed way that all who heard it believed it.

All signs seemed to be proclaiming this.

The Way of Peace is the mandate of Heaven.

The world is in chaos yet prosperous, and the atmosphere seems to be thriving.

The "great teacher" who was in the eye of the storm seemed to think so too.

Perhaps in his eyes, the game of chess in this world has already been set in stone;
Or perhaps, the sliver of opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Thus, the flag that had been planned but never raised was finally hoisted high.

On that day, Jiang Liang's spirit reappeared in the ancestral hall, his expression more solemn than ever before.

He kept his breathing extremely low, not daring to speak rashly.

First, divine power was used to seal off both the inside and outside of the hall, causing the incense smoke to stop and the lamp flames to condense slightly.

When all was quiet, he used his divine sense to send those eight words, one word at a time, into his father's heart.

"The sky is dead, and the sky is dead."

(End of this chapter)