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

Chapter 244 Heading to Flame Mountain, Jiang Jin Attains Enlightenment

After playing around for a while, Jiang Chao twirled the two balls of yang fire between his fingertips a few times. The swirling firelight illuminated his eyes and brows.

Seeing the fire gradually subside, he finally calmed down, satisfied. He rushed over to Jiang Yi, his face beaming with pride, yet unable to hide his eagerness.

"Great-grandfather, when are we going back to the village? I want to show my little cousin what I'm capable of!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi immediately understood.

The two little ones grew up together, sparring every day, their fists and feet almost never stopping.

However, Liu Chengming was naturally strong and thick-skinned, so he didn't feel pain when fighting, and Jiang Chao was always beaten until he was covered in dust.

Now that his soul has awakened and his yang fire is at his command, how could he not want to take advantage of the moment and go back to show off his power?
Jiang Yi didn't expose him, but simply smiled, raised his hand to pat his great-grandson's head, and spoke gently:

"Your current achievements are due to the external force of the formation, not because you cultivated them step by step on your own."

"Even if you win by this method, it's not a glorious victory. Don't you agree?"

In short, it's like spring water flowing into a ravine.

Jiang Chao was stunned at first, and the smug look on his face gradually faded.

He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then raised his head again, his eyes clearer, and nodded emphatically.

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Jiang Yi went along with it and said:

"Now that we have this opportunity, let us go to the Flaming Mountain to cultivate, as previously agreed. When you can truly control and control this Yang Fire at will, and make it your own, then go back and openly compete with that little cousin. Only then will you truly win."

Jiang Chao listened intently, and the anger on his lips gradually subsided.

He paused for a moment, then finally nodded slightly.

Just then, Jiang Qin and Gui Ning walked over from either side and embraced the still excited little guy.

He muttered little instructions like "Don't catch a cold" and "Be careful on the road," but his hands never stopped moving.

She would straighten his clothes for a while, and then stuff things into his arms.

Wearing a newly made outfit, and with several packets of pastries and snacks wrapped in oil paper piled up like a small mountain in her arms.

In the midst of the commotion, a gust of wind suddenly arose outside the shrine.

The wind wasn't loud, but it carried a very subtle vibration.

Before anyone could react, a figure with a resemblance to Lao Gui in appearance descended with the wind and stood quietly in the courtyard.

Old Gui's eyes narrowed, and he quickly pulled Jiang Chao over, whispering:
"Quickly, call him Grandfather."

Jiang Chao wasn't intimidated at all, and he tilted his head back and shouted in a clear voice.

The great-uncle remained calm, his gaze as clear as water, and with a single, gentle sweep, he seemed to have seen right through the child.

After a moment, he finally uttered four words:

"They're fairly qualified."

Old Gui then turned his head and smiled:

"Chao'er, you should go with your great-uncle and cultivate yourself properly for a while."

As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on Jiang Chao's face faltered slightly.

He turned around blankly, glanced at his parents, and then looked at his great-grandfather and great-grandmother.

Several pairs of eyes held a sense of reluctance, yet no one uttered a sound; they simply nodded silently at him.

Grandfather seemed impatient with worldly affairs, and only nodded slightly to Old Gui as a sign of greeting.

He then raised his sleeve and flicked it, and a gentle breeze arose, causing light and shadow to swirl.

The small figure was swept away before it could even say goodbye, leaving only a courtyard of flowers and leaves swaying gently, and a few golden lights faintly visible in the wind.

The world is vast and boundless, and the road ahead is unknown.
Only that gust of wind seemed to still carry the scent of childhood, lingering in the air.

Now that the person is gone, only the clear sound of the mountain wind rustling through the leaves remains in the courtyard.

The forced smiles on Jiang Qin and Gui Ning's faces finally crumbled.

Their eyes met, each one reflecting the anxieties and emptiness of parents.

Only Lao Gui seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his expression showing more ease and relaxation.

Now that this matter is settled, it is inconvenient for Jiang Yi and his wife to stay any longer.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two left the courtyard.

A wisp of light appeared beneath their feet, and a white cloud rose from the void, gently lifting the two of them up and carrying them away into the distance, without leaving a trace of dust.

As the clouds drifted halfway through the sky, Liu Xiulian finally couldn't help but sigh softly.

The lingering reluctance in her eyes seemed to fade with the twilight.

Jiang Yi simply reached out and gently covered her palm without saying a word.

That warmth, however, speaks louder than a thousand words.

Looking back, that small village shrine had long since become a speck of ink in the mountains, disappearing with the wind.

The journey home was silent.

Clouds drifted down beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance, the sun was setting in the west, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys; everything remained as it had been when I left.

It just... became a little quieter.

At this time of day in the past, there would always be two small figures in the open space in front of the courtyard, their fists flying in a chaotic flurry.

Now only Liu Chengming remains, practicing his boxing with meticulous precision.

Without that loud little opponent, even the force of his punches seemed lonely.

The old hens in the corner of the yard seemed to sense the loneliness, pecking at their food lazily, no longer showing the panic they used to feel when being chased.

Jiang Yi stood at the doorway, his hands behind his back.

My gaze swept over that familiar courtyard, where the smoke from the chimneys, the shadows of the locust trees, and the children's voices were all silent.

A slight sigh escaped my lips.

The liveliness of the village has finally faded somewhat.

……

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

The autumn atmosphere in the courtyard is so strong that it cannot be dispelled.

The maple leaves had fallen early, and a thin layer of frost covered the stone steps, making them slightly brittle underfoot.

The biggest change in the family in the past six months has been Jiang Jin.

The wooden house in the orchard, perched on an old tree, has now become almost her second home.

She couldn't even take care of the "Ancient and Modern Gang" that she had single-handedly built up.

Except for coming down to get food at mealtimes, he stays indoors for most of the day.

Occasionally, a breeze would pass by, and through the half-closed window of the wooden house, one could vaguely see her sitting cross-legged, as still as a stone and as thin as bamboo.

Whether it was due to meditative absorption or simply a reluctance to speak, it is unclear.

Jiang Yi saw it all.

He understood in his heart, but didn't point it out. He would only occasionally flip through the old almanac on the shelf and lightly trace the red characters with his fingertip.

In a few days, this usually quiet granddaughter will turn thirty.

Thirty is a hurdle.

This applies to ordinary people as well as those who cultivate themselves.

The Jiang family's heritage has now reached a level that is halfway to immortality. All the members of the family are youthful and ageless, and the mundane rules of "it's time to get married" and "it's time to start a family" can no longer bind anyone.

The age of a spiritual practitioner is never calculated according to the Chinese almanac.

There are countless examples of contracts that have lasted for decades, centuries, or even millennia.

Just like his granddaughter-in-law Gui Ning, Jiang Yi still doesn't know exactly how old she is.

Logically speaking, this ghost immortal's age is probably longer than his two lifetimes combined.

But once you meet him, you still have to respectfully call him "Grandpa" and serve him tea.

In the world of cultivation, such trivial matters are insignificant.

What's truly important is that path of spiritual practice.

One step at a time, one step at a time.

A mortal body is ultimately just flesh and bones.

The longer the years drag on, the deeper the turbidity generated in the five internal organs becomes. That turbidity is like a lock, locked in the bones of the cultivator. If a new ring is added today, the path tomorrow will be ten times more difficult.

Later, even the fire in his heart was welded shut by this turbid air, and in the end, he could only look towards the gate of immortality but could not enter.

To be honest, Jiang Jin's natural talent isn't among the top tier of the Jiang family's generation. But the refined and elegant air she possesses is something that others can't imitate.

What's even more remarkable is that she received the blessings and prayers of the Lingsu Temple in the village.

Those wisps of subtle spiritual energy, though not comparable to any rare or precious treasures, are the most gentle and soothing.

It lingered around her day after day, subtly nurturing her soul, like spring rain nourishing all things, silently and without a sound.

Furthermore, the spiritual form she conjured was a figure dressed in plain clothes, holding a blade of grass, with serene eyes and a vibrant life force.

With each breath, it seems to breathe in unison with all the plants and trees in the world.

Therefore, like that aunt who attained enlightenment early in life, she was naturally in harmony with the spirit of plants and trees.

The wooden house was built against an old tree, its branches and leaves forming a canopy.

She sat there quietly, and was half a spirit of the forest.

With each breath, the vitality of the entire orchard trembled slightly, as if obeying a command.

Practicing here is a perfect combination of favorable timing and location.

These past few days, Jiang Yi has been cultivating and absorbing qi by the spiritual spring behind the house.

Occasionally, I would scoop up a ladle of spring water and water that peach tree.
Or watch a few old hens strolling among the dragon grass.

But half of his thoughts were always on the wooden house under that old tree.

The spring gurgled, the mountain breeze was gentle, and even the daylight seemed quiet.

Just one day before Jiang Jin's thirtieth birthday, as the sun was about to set, a low sound suddenly came from the wooden house.

It didn't sound like a wooden beam breaking; it sounded more like bamboo shoots breaking through the soil.

With a subtle vitality, it had been gathering strength for a long time and finally broke out of its shell.

Immediately afterwards, an intensely rich aroma of herbs and plants slowly wafted out from the gaps in the window lattice, its verdant fragrance carrying a hint of sweetness that was truly refreshing.

The fragrance carried a subtle, almost ethereal quality, as if gently caressing the mountain breeze.

It was as if the entire orchard came alive with her breath.

Jiang Yi slowly stood up.

A few rays of soft light streamed through the cracks in the wooden house, its green hue like new moss and its gentle warmth like spring water.

The old tree seemed to be moved as well, its branches and leaves trembling slightly, making a rustling sound, which carried a hint of joy.

It was as if it knew that someone had broken out of the confinement of this room.

It became.

Jiang Yi's lips curved slightly, his smile carrying a hint of relief.

He turned his head and called out towards the main house, his tone unusually light and cheerful:
"Xiulian, add two more good dishes to dinner, and warm up a pot of wine!"

Immediately from inside the room came Liu Xiulian's smiling reply, gentle as ripples on water.

Jiang Yi then fell silent and stood with his hands behind his back.

The setting sun bathed the courtyard in its glow, casting a long shadow of the aging figure. Yet, a radiant light seemed to emanate from his eyes, making him appear even younger.

A short while later, the wooden house creaked softly.

Jiang Jin pushed open the door and went out.

Dressed in coarse cloth and without makeup, his aura was different from that of ordinary people.

Her eyes and brows were clear and bright, her demeanor was refined and gentle, and her steps carried a touch of the natural beauty of plants and trees.

That was the vitality that overflowed from within after a long period of seclusion and deep cultivation.

The smile on her lips faded as soon as she saw Jiang Yi under the tree.

The aura of cultivation dissipated somewhat, revealing a long-lost girlish expression.

"Grandpa."

She quickened her pace, her voice gentle as she bowed, yet she couldn't hide her joy.

There was joy and relief in the smile.

At this moment, she finally let go of the stubbornness that had been hidden in her heart for many years.

No matter how radiant her brothers' glory may be, it could not illuminate the clarity in her mind at this moment.

"Okay, okay." Jiang Yi smiled and stepped forward, offering a helping hand. The smile in his eyes was so gentle it almost overflowed.

He pointed and gestured for his granddaughter to sit down under the peach tree.

"Sit down and concentrate."

Jiang Jin sat cross-legged as instructed.

With a slight movement of her clothes, wisps of spiritual energy gathered from all directions, gently wrapping around her.

Jiang Yi extended two fingers and pressed them on the Lingtai acupoint on her back.

A warm, jade-like aura then entered.

The aura was neither too strong nor too weak, but balanced in yin and yang. It flowed slowly along her meridians, gradually smoothing out the slightly disordered true essence within her body caused by the breakthrough, making it peaceful and harmonious.

With a slight shift in his thoughts, Jiang Yi's thoroughly familiar "Old Farmer's Kung Fu" mental technique flowed forth from his consciousness.

Like an old farmer tending his fields, he cultivates them meticulously, guiding the five elements' energy to generate and transform each other, with earth generating metal, metal generating water, in an endless cycle.

The secret to refining the turbid qi of the five internal organs is something that others may not be able to grasp even after a lifetime of searching.

But in Jiang Yi's hands, it was as simple as raising a hand.

Rather than letting her search in the fog, it's better to clear away some of the confusion for her.

On this path of spiritual practice, being able to avoid taking a single detour is a blessing.

Guided in this way, before you know it, the sun is already setting.

The sunset glow on the horizon was intoxicating, and the evening light painted half of the courtyard red.

The aroma of food wafted from the front yard, the smoke from the firewood mingling with the steam from the spring, creating a warm and calming atmosphere.

On the stone path behind the mountain, the sound of steady, slow footsteps could be heard, each sound carried on the wind.

Jiang Yi slowly finished his practice.

The spiritual energy in the palm of the hand receded like a tide and then slowly dissipated.

Jiang Jin opened her eyes, her features clear and bright, her aura smooth and refined like jade.

The initial excitement following the breakthrough has long since vanished.

She exhaled softly, her expression serene, as if her entire being had been cleansed.

Before he could finish speaking, the shadows of the trees in the forest stirred.

Jiang Jun walked along the winding path, his clothes fluttering in the wind, his expression still clear and bright.

He spotted the two people in the courtyard from afar, and his eyes lit up with joy at first. As he got closer, his smile became warm and sincere.

"Sister Jin," he bowed respectfully, his voice unusually light, "Congratulations. I sensed the commotion here while I was on the mountain."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something, reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a moment, and pulled out two fruits.

The fruit was rather unremarkable in appearance, neither perfectly round nor perfectly flat, with a dark yellow skin and a few fine lines, looking more like a wilted persimmon.

Jiang Jun himself felt a little embarrassed, and smiled slightly, his expression somewhat shy:
"It was picked casually from the mountains, nothing special, but I'll just consider it a congratulatory gift for my sister."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin laughed instead.

She knew her cousin's personality; he never liked to show off, and most of the "ordinary things" he casually mentioned were not ordinary things at all.

Without being polite, she smiled and thanked him, then took the fruit and ate it on the spot.

The fruit pulp enters the mouth, initially sweet and mild, then refreshingly sweet, and finally, the woody spirit dissipates at the back of the tongue, transforming into a steady, mountain-like aura that slowly rises from the dantian.

In a short while, the true essence that had become slightly frivolous due to the breakthrough was steadily stabilized by this warm and profound spiritual intent, and its foundation became even more solid.

Jiang Yi watched from the side, his brows twitching slightly, a hint of deep thought flashing in his eyes.

The granddaughter's aura was clear and serene, her expression calm. The sharpness she had gained from breaking through to a higher realm had not yet dissipated, and her spiritual vitality was at its peak.

However, Jiang Jun, who stood beside her, though not yet dead, exuded an even clearer aura.

Calm and clean, as if all the sharp edges are hidden in their sheaths, leaving only a sliver of warm light.

In fact, he had already sensed this when Kim Soo-ah broke through to the next level.

There was an indescribable sense of propriety about that young man.

It can advance to break through barriers, and retreat to conceal its strength.

Over the years, it has only grown deeper.

(End of this chapter)