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

Chapter 236 Remnant Spirit Refines Fire, Desiring a Long Journey (Last Day of October, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Jiang Yi stood under the eaves of the ancestral hall, watching quietly.

The severed body of the purple antelope was held in the palm of his own son, and the surrounding air seemed to become a thin sheet of paper scorched by fire, slightly wrinkled.

Before the dewdrops on the tips of the grass could roll off, they hissed and turned into white mist, gently dissipating.

Jiang Liang made no move, but simply pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly drew a line in the air in front of the herb field.

The soil, as if gently persuaded, silently parted to both sides, revealing a perfectly sized pit.

Not too deep, not too shallow; not too wide, not too narrow.

It was as if heaven and earth had long ago reserved this place for him to return to.

Jiang Liang bent down and gently inserted the severed body.

The soil quickly rolled back, layer upon layer, piling up a small mound, without even a speck of dust landing on his dark official robe.

After doing all this, Jiang Liang did not stop immediately.

He took something out of his sleeve and spread it in his palm; it was a brand new set of battle flags.

The pole was made of black iron, and the banner was made of red silk. The cinnabar runes on the banner surface flowed and faintly flickered with firelight.

The flags were spotless, clearly indicating that it had been planned in advance.

He walked steadily and slowly, circling the burial mound.

With each step, a battle flag silently disappeared into the ground, without the slightest deviation.

When the last battle flag was planted, the atmosphere between heaven and earth trembled slightly.

It was as if an invisible glass dome was slowly descending from the clouds, densely enveloping that area of ​​several feet in diameter.

Jiang Yi stood outside the formation and suddenly felt a clear view before his eyes.

The intense heat that could have scorched one's eyes vanished instantly, leaving a stillness so profound that not even a trace of fire could be found.

A breeze blew from the treetops, carrying a touch of coolness from the grass and trees.

The heat in front of the courtyard dissipated without a trace, and the morning light was as clear as water.

It was as if the raging flames that had been powerful enough to boil stones were just an illusion.

Within that invisible dome, the light seemed to have been thickened by three parts.

wisps of crimson essence floated in the air around the burial mound, visible to the naked eye, like small fish trapped in a net, swimming around slowly in circles.

Its color deepened and deepened, gradually forming a vibrant flame, as if it were breathing.

Jiang Yi glanced at his son's unhurried movements and raised his eyelids slightly.

This doesn't look like a burial at all.
It was clear that they were afraid that even the slightest bit of the mountain god's remaining power after his death would be lost.

Jiang Liang stood with his hands behind his back outside the light barrier, his expression calm, his eyes reflecting a crimson glow.

The small mound, enveloped in the light and shadow of the array, was filled with steam and shimmered with crimson light, resembling a well that nurtured rare and precious medicinal herbs.

He looked at it for a long time, nodded in satisfaction, and then turned around.

Jiang Yi, standing under the eaves, was leaning against a pillar, his expression a mixture of amusement and sarcasm.

Jiang Liang took a few steps closer, a sheepish smile on his face, like a junior who had done something clever.

"Thanks to my father's advice to always be careful," he said, his tone humble and affectionate.

“Last night, the earth’s veins on Camel Peak Mountain were disturbed, and I was the first to rush there. I also personally reported that matter to the City God.”

He paused as he spoke, a hint of unspoken self-deprecation appearing on his face:
"Within that mutilated body, there was still a warm inner core. The City God said to let me find a place to properly settle it."

"It's more like hush money for the child."

He looked up at Jiang Yi, his expression calm and resolute.

"This place has a lingering spiritual energy and a constant warm fire, making it perfect for my family to cultivate."

"It can be considered... making the best use of resources."

Jiang Yi already understood somewhat, but he didn't show it on his face.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression revealed genuine worry.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:
"You just said that the mountain god's tablet has been sent to the City God Temple and is being worshipped there?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze passed over Jiang Liang and landed on the small grave mound.

As the morning light slanted, the red glow on the grave mound, softened by the interplay of light and shadow, appeared all the more gentle.

"Then he..."

Jiang Yi paused, then said in a low voice,
"Could it be that through the power of incense and prayers, their souls can be reunited?"

Upon hearing this, even the wind in front of the house seemed to slow down.

After all, it was the remains of a righteous god who had been granted a title.

The dissipation of one's soul is one thing, but the power of incense and vows is the most mysterious and profound power of Tao.

Even if it were to bring the dead back to life or make flowers bloom from withered bones, it wouldn't be considered unusual.

Jiang Yi dared not be careless in using such a divine corpse to aid in cultivation.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang nodded without hesitation and answered decisively.

"That's natural."

His tone was calm and certain, as if he were stating something self-evident.

"With incense burning for decades or even centuries, not only can the soul be reunited, but even a stubborn stone can be made to come alive."

Jiang Yi's brows furrowed even more.

Jiang Liang saw this and smiled slightly.

"But don't worry, Father..."

He pointed to the burial mound, his tone slowing as if afraid of startling someone.

“The one that has gathered together is no longer the one buried in the ground.”

His words were understated, yet every sentence was delivered with composure.

"The power of incense and prayers will only create a new god out of thin air, rather than restore the old soul. What the new god looks like and what his temperament is depends entirely on how believers worship and chant."

His gaze shifted slightly, glancing at his father's expression, before he added,

"And the image that believers can see depends entirely on... how the City God Temple promotes it."

He lowered his voice, as if afraid the walls would overhear.

"In other words, what kind of god sits on that tablet in the future depends entirely on what kind of subordinate the City God wants."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little.

Seeing his father's expression soften, Jiang Liang knew he had figured it out, so he took the opportunity to offer a word of comfort:
"Given the nature of the City God, the new god that will be sculpted in the future will surely be a 'good god' who is wholeheartedly devoted to the people and works tirelessly without complaint."

He said the words "good god" casually, but the ending of his voice carried an unspoken meaning.

"This case is now considered closed. All past grievances are wiped clean, Father, you can rest assured."

These words were spoken so tactfully, soothing both the gods in heaven and the worries of humankind.

After hearing this, Jiang Yi's lingering concerns vanished as if blown away by the morning breeze.

He nodded, shifting his gaze from the crimson light of the array to his son.

His expression finally softened a bit.

"If that's the case, then that's good."

As he spoke, he put his hands behind his back, paced slowly a couple of steps in the courtyard, and then, taking advantage of the moment of leisure, asked as if he had just remembered something:

"How's the temple being set up on Feng'er's side?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang smiled, a relaxed expression on his face.

"Thanks to Father's foresight and early preparations, everything went smoothly."

He paused slightly at this point, his tone becoming calmer.

"There were a few minor setbacks along the way, with a few ignorant sects trying to get their hands on me."

"However, they were all secretly stopped by the people of the Celestial Masters Sect."

At this point, Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, a slight smile in his eyes.

Jiang Liang remained calm and simply continued:

"Nowadays, the various sects in these eight states are vying for the incense offerings. If Feng'er can establish another temple and occupy another piece of land, it will enhance the prestige and prestige of the Celestial Masters Sect."

He raised his hand and brushed off his sleeve, his expression serene.
"They would naturally be happy to lend their full support to such a good thing." After settling the family affairs properly, Jiang Liang looked up and saw that it was already dawn.

The red sun was peeking half its face over the mountaintop, its rays like flowing gold, sprinkling onto the eaves.

He gave a slight bow, his tone gentle, yet it already carried the implication of parting.

"Father, there are many things to do outside, and I should go back now."

After saying this, his expression became more serious, and the solemnity of a court official was added to his brows.

“The city of Chang’an has indeed been quite unsettled lately. Even Hong’er and her husband, who is the Dragon King of the Jing River, have been caught up in the chaos.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the treetops outside the courtyard, and said in a low voice:
"The former leader of the eight rivers of Chang'an, the Dragon King of the Wei River, also openly and secretly helped the Taiping... Huang Nie when the Yellow Turban Rebellion was at its peak."

The words "Huang Ni" were pronounced very heavily, with a pause at the end of the sentence.

"With his foundation and cultivation, he certainly wouldn't have ended up like this Camelhump Mountain God, dying and disappearing from the world,"

He slowly shook his head, his tone so calm it was almost apathetic.
"But after this incident, his prestige has been halved. Now, several water palaces are all unable to hold back, sharpening their knives, waiting for the right opportunity to make trouble."

Jiang Yi listened without surprise, only slightly narrowing his eyes in the morning breeze.

The sliver of morning light shone on his face, seemingly reflecting a cold smile.

"Fine," he said softly, his tone flat.

The storms of this world ultimately follow the pattern of our memories.

He simply nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Seeing that his father understood, Jiang Liang didn't elaborate further.

He straightened his clothes, took a step back, and bowed respectfully.

"My child, please leave."

Before the words were finished, the figure formed from incense smoke began to fade away.

Wisps of smoke rose from beneath his feet, swirling around his dark official robes and gradually dissipating into the morning light.

Before long, only the soft rustling of grass and trees remained in the courtyard.

Even the scent of incense was swept away by the wind, turning into a faint, quiet stillness.

Jiang Yi stood under the eaves with his hands behind his back for a moment, his expression extremely calm, as if he was pondering something or lost in thought.

After a short while, he slowly stepped into the formation.

With each step, it felt as if one had stepped from the coolness of the morning into the scorching heat of midday in the height of summer.

A wave of heat hit us, and the air smelled faintly of burning food; even the hem of our clothes was slightly rolled up by the heat.

He didn't care, but simply sat cross-legged beside the small mound, his eyes slightly closed, and practiced his breathing according to his own method.

The purest fire element within the formation seemed to possess a spirit, flowing with each breath and seeping into the body in wisps.

The moment it entered the body, it went straight to the stagnant, unresolved fire in the heart and lungs.

The two touch, like boiling water poured onto snow.

The lingering, turbid fire was gradually refined and dissolved by the external essence, and the mind and spirit were also cleared.

The pent-up emotions in my chest dissipated, and my energy flowed freely throughout my body. Even my joints felt as if they had been gently brushed, giving me a sense of lightness.

This level of refinement cannot compare to the miraculous opportunity bestowed by the immortal peach tree behind the house when I was refining the Wood Impurity.

However, it is far superior to the dead practice of sitting in seclusion and practicing alone.

After completing half a day's training, Jiang Yi slowly withdrew from his stance.

He exhaled a long breath, which turned into a wisp of white smoke that rose gently before being dispersed by the heat current in the array.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated, with a sense of well-being throughout the body.

However, when his gaze fell on the burial mound in front of him, he couldn't help but pause slightly.

Deep down, a sense of unease stirred within me.

Early in the morning, I sat cross-legged in front of a new grave, practicing breathing exercises, amidst the rising smoke of fire...

If others saw this, they might think it was some evil cultivator trying to capture souls and refine spirits.

Furthermore, the one buried under that grave is ultimately a mountain god who has attained enlightenment.

Regardless of his stance during his lifetime, whether he surrendered voluntarily or was forced into it, we have now taken advantage of him.

Borrowing someone else's residual Qi to nourish one's spirit and seizing their remaining soul to refine fire—this "heaven-sent" fortune, when it settles in one's heart, always seems to lack a certain respect.

Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, then gently turned his fingertip, and a wisp of divine thought flew out from his heart.

The thought, like the wind and water, bypassed the courtyard wall and quietly crept into the back of the house.

A moment later, the sound of flapping wings came from afar.

As it approached from afar, a flurry of sound, like spring rain pattering on the eaves, created a lively wave of noise.

In the blink of an eye, the shadow of a chicken fluttered about, its feathers gleaming.

Over the years, the three clans of spirit chickens in our family have fought countless battles and been nourished by the Blood Bird Elixir, making them far more than ordinary domestic animals they once were.

Nowadays, there are no fewer than forty or fifty people who can communicate with spirits and guide qi into their bodies.

They swept in all at once, exuding an aura of imposing military might.

They were arranged in three neat rows according to their feather color, and landed outside the formation.

Each one held its head high, looking around with great spirits, showing none of the clumsy or simple-mindedness of ordinary birds.

Leading them were the three "ancestors" who had long since developed intelligence.

Golden feathers are like gilded leaves, red feathers are like flowing flames, and blue feathers are like shadows in the wind.

The three chickens standing side by side exude a certain grandeur, resembling three guardian generals in front of a temple.

Jiang Yi did not rise, but merely raised his eyes slightly within the formation, and through the invisible light barrier, calmly gave the order:

"You three, go and get things done."

“Each of you should take your own tribe and go to the village to find some wood and stones.”

“Using this formation as a boundary, build a house around the grave in the middle. It should be stable and rounded.”

After saying this, they all let out a low gurgling sound a moment later, as if in agreement.

The Golden Feather Ancestor took the lead, flapping his wings and letting out a clear cry. His feathers shimmered with golden light, and he led a group of golden-clad clansmen away.

Chi Yu and Qing Yu followed closely behind, a red cloud and a green shadow, swooping down the mountain through the air.

In an instant, feathery light filled the sky and earth, and colorful shadows intertwined, as if even the morning glow had been brightened.

Having experienced the locust plague that blotted out the sky, the villagers of Liangjie Village knew that the flock of spirit birds raised by the Jiang family were no ordinary creatures.

In retrospect, these divine roosters did save the entire village's lives, and as a reward for their merits, they should be called "meritorious subjects."

Therefore, when the large flock of spirit chickens flew into the village and landed on the warehouse where the ancient and modern hamlets piled up wood and stones, the villagers just watched from afar, laughing and pointing, and no one went forward to disturb them.

The divine roosters, each with its own unique plumage, were seen carrying wood in their beaks and stones in their claws, forming three distinct lines and fluttering away along the mountain path.

It left behind a trail of shimmering feathers and billowing dust.

The clever rooster, having found a convenient way to move the wood and stones, worked with great enthusiasm.

Jiang Yi went home early.

It was still early, and no smoke had risen from the stove.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw his eldest daughter-in-law, Jin Xiuer, sitting next to Liu Xiulian on a stone bench, looking very serious.

Kim Soo-ah spoke softly, as if she were talking about something on her mind;
Liu Xiulian listened carefully, her expression shifting between sighs and dazed looks, with a slight redness in the corners of her eyes.

Jiang Yi has indeed seen his daughter-in-law less these days.

Since she achieved the state of perfect health and longevity several months ago, truly stepping out of the mortal world, she has been like a completely different person ever since.

He disliked gossip, didn't care about housework, and spent his days in seclusion, practicing cultivation, copying talismans, and deducing magic. He even needed to be urged to eat.

It's quite rare to see someone willing to come out and sit for a while now.

He slowed his pace and strolled over.

When Liu Xiulian saw him, she quickly stood up. The emotion in her expression had not faded, but she also seemed a little awkward, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"My husband," she called softly, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
"Xiuer... just told me that she wants to go on a long trip."

(End of this chapter)