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

Chapter 246 The Return of the Green Locust, the Mystery of the Black Locust

Before I knew it, another two months had passed.

The fallen leaves in the courtyard were swept away, and the first snow arrived again; the days passed quietly like this.

During these two months, Jiang Jin hardly ever went out.

When it reappeared, the white cloud beneath its feet was no longer as swaying as before, but rather more stable.

Through the collective study of that book on medicine, the family has begun to grasp the basics.

Having only undergone some rudimentary cultivation, Jiang Jin's brows now exuded a gentle and serene aura, clearly indicating that he had benefited greatly.

As for the rest, it's mostly related to medical techniques and methods, and these laymen in the family can't offer much more help.

Now that everything is ready, all that remains is to play this game step by step.

As arranged by her family, she was to first go to Laojun Mountain near Luoyang to study medicine diligently with her mother and lay a solid foundation.

Once I have mastered the art of medicine, I will return to Chang'an, a place where great changes are about to unfold, to practice medicine and help the world, accumulating good deeds and merits in secret.

When the time is right, Jiang Liang will be able to legitimately secure the divine position in the main street for her.

On the day of departure, the winter sun shone brightly.

Jiang Yi didn't give her many instructions, but carefully placed a newly drawn talisman into her bosom.

Jiang Jin responded, her eyes slightly red, but she still smiled and bowed deeply to her grandparents.

When she stood up again, clouds rose from beneath her feet, carrying her slender figure as she slowly ascended into the sky, heading towards Luoyang.

Jiang Yi stood in the courtyard, hands behind his back, gazing until the shadow of the cloud disappeared into the azure sky.

After Jiang Jin left, the courtyard became quiet again.

The wind blew through the eaves, and a few withered leaves swirled on the ground.

Jiang Yi stood there for a moment, until he felt a slight chill on his shoulders, before turning around and heading back inside.

Just as I took a step, my foot suddenly stopped.

A powerful aura suddenly arose beside him.

The aura arrived silently, yet without any malevolence, hovering gently in mid-air.

He felt a chill run down his spine, his aura shifted subtly, and his sleeves billowed slightly.

However, the aura did not approach; it simply descended slowly and landed on his shoulder.

Then, a strange yet familiar voice rang in my ears:

"Benefactor Jiang, how have you been?"

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and looked down.

Sometime during the day, a small, bright green insect, resembling a locust but with a jade-like texture, landed on my shoulder.

It was the same green locust that had been enlightened by Buddhism and left the village back then.

He focused his attention and examined it closely; the aura there was as deep and profound as an abyss, far stronger than it had been back then.

Upon closer examination, it turns out that he is already on par with himself.

Jiang Yi's thoughts shifted slightly, and a hint of a half-smile flashed between his brows.

I wonder how many of its kind's essence it devoured to reach this level of cultivation.

That trace of wariness dissipated with the wind, his expression returned to normal, and his tone remained indifferent.

He didn't reach out to brush it away, but merely turned his head slightly and nodded to the green worm on his shoulder:

"Master Locust".

His tone was calm, yet contained a hint of respect.

After a moment, he asked again in a low voice:
"Master, has your return meant that the grand plan to eradicate the locusts has been successfully completed?"

A green locust on its shoulder, its two thin antennae twitching slightly.

The voice rang out again, carrying a touch of Buddhist tranquility, yet unable to conceal its sharpness:

"The demonic calamities that reached the ground have all been resolved."

Jiang Yi, with his keen intellect, immediately discerned the implied meaning in the words.

"The demonic calamities on earth have ended..." he said slowly, then continued, "So that means the calamities underground are not yet settled?"

"Donor, please understand."

Bi Huang's voice was flat and emotionless.

“This humble monk has no ability to quell disasters. What I rely on is the power of the elixir bestowed upon me by the benefactor.”

"The medicinal properties are passed down from generation to generation in the locust swarm, eroding their vital energy and lifespan, causing them to age and die prematurely."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi nodded slightly.

He remembered that he had once observed from afar, through the eyes of a bird, how the overwhelming locust swarm went from being as blazing as flames to being reduced to ashes in just a few days.

The scene was incredibly eerie, and even now, thinking about it still fills me with a sense of unease.

Bihuang said again:

"Now, the effects of the medicine have spread throughout the community."

"Even the true form of Xuanhuangzi, which is sealed underground, will probably not be able to escape it."

At this point, his voice paused slightly, as if he were sighing but not quite:

"But... there are always a few locusts with special bloodlines and profound cultivation, whose lifespans are naturally long."

"Although the laws of time erode its foundation, it is difficult to sever its life force immediately."

"They can still hold on for a while longer."

After speaking, his breathing slowed, revealing a sense of calm and acceptance.

"These are no longer my duties. My wish for this journey has now been fulfilled."

After a brief pause, Bihuang's voice rang out again, its calm tone carrying a hint of otherworldly grace:
"This humble monk wishes to return to Mount Futu and follow the Zen master in seclusion for cultivation."

"I am merely passing through your esteemed place today to bid you farewell."

Jiang Yi listened to its impeccable words, his expression unchanged, and he only smiled faintly.

"I'll return to the mountains to cultivate in seclusion," he said, his gaze still fixed on the few bare, withered branches ahead.
"Should we go back...to seek refuge?"

His tone was flat, yet very direct, without any room for ambiguity.

The green locust on his shoulder remained silent for a moment.

After a long while, a soft sigh escaped from its throat:

"You have discerning eyes."

The voice was a few decrepiter than before, carrying an indescribable air of melancholy.

"Xuanhuangzi is a great demon with a fearsome reputation from ancient times, whose supernatural powers are unfathomable."

"Although it was sealed underground, its aura was still strong, and it had quite a few demonic insects under its command."

"This humble monk dares not say whether the locusts will trace the source of this locust extermination effort back to us."

Therefore... we must return to Mount Futu as soon as possible to avoid its sharp edge.

His voice trailed off, finally ending with a soft word of comfort:

"I have come here only to inform you, benefactor, to be careful in all things."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi felt a slight unease, but he did not show it on his face.

Sure enough.

But there was still a sense of composure in his eyes.

Even if the sky falls, there will always be someone taller.

After all, our family has the mountains behind us.

The one in the mountains had once again shared some of his energy with Jiang Jun.

If all else fails, retreating to the mountains will at least provide a place to go.

The thought only flashed through my mind for a moment.

He continued to gaze ahead, his tone calm, with a hint of lighthearted teasing:

“Since Master Huang is an old acquaintance, he must know quite a bit about that Xuanhuangzi.”

"Could you tell us about it? We might as well keep an eye on things."

The green locusts clearly came prepared.

Its wings fluttered lightly, thin as cicada wings; with a slight tremor, a sound resonated from the depths of its heart, its tone deep and resonant:
"The Black Locust is no ordinary monster; it is an ancient and exotic species."

"I once discussed profound teachings with a person, and we became very close friends."

"That person was none other than Jin Chanzi, whose name was constantly chanted by millions of locusts."

Jiang Yi's brow remained unchanged, but a ripple of emotion stirred within him. Bi Huang continued in a leisurely voice:

"Later, we met again on the opposite side of the road, but our paths diverged."

“Xuanhuangzi said, ‘Living beings are like grass and mustard; eating them can lead to the Great Dao.’”

"Jin Chanzi said, all living beings suffer, and only by helping them can one attain enlightenment."

"Thus, friends became enemies. After the battle, Xuanhuangzi and his followers were all sealed underground."

"Through this merit, Jin Chanzi was able to gain the opportunity to become a disciple of the Buddha."

At this point, the wind blew through the gaps in the eaves, and the courtyard was quiet and still.

Jiang Yi gazed into the distance for a long time before asking softly:
"If given the chance, will that Black Locust really come looking for revenge against us?"

Bi Huang hesitated for a moment, his voice tinged with bitterness:
"That Xuanhuangzi is a vengeful demon."

"After Jin Chanzi sealed him away, he made a great vow that if he was willing to repent, he could lay down his butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."

"But now, thousands of years have passed, and its heart remains unchanged, its hatred still burning."

"Recently, I heard that Jin Chanzi descended to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation, and actually sacrificed his own vital energy to forcibly break a corner of the seal."

"Release billions of locusts to roam the world, just to find that reincarnated body and avenge the sealing of the past."

The green locust's voice gradually faded, its tone as firm as iron:

"Given its temperament, if it knew that we had thwarted this calamity, it would certainly spare no effort to come and take revenge."

Only then did Jiang Yi understand why Bi Huang was in such a hurry to return to Futu Mountain.

A slight chill ran through him, but he remained outwardly calm, simply asking:

"Since Xuanhuangzi cannot leave, what kind of abilities do his generals possess?"

"Very strong."

For the first time, Bi Huang's tone carried a hint of genuine fear.

"If it were at its peak, neither you nor I, with our level of skill, could even come close to its level."

"But now, they too have been eroded by time, and their vitality has largely declined. As for the exact situation... it's hard to say."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's heartstrings tightened even more.

But once you get to this point, asking any more questions is pointless.

Asking too many questions will only add to your worries.

He then changed the subject, his tone returning to that of casual conversation:

"Speaking of which, I have a grandson named Jiang Rui. He is currently at Futu Mountain, under the care of the Zen Master."

"If we happen to meet again after you return to the mountain, I hope you will take good care of me."

"Rest assured, benefactor."

The green locust should be dealt with decisively.

Its jade-like, thin wings fluttered slightly, the wind whispering as fine as silk threads, leaving only one sentence:
"The mountains are high and the rivers are long, we will meet again."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already transformed into a wisp of blue light and suddenly disappeared into the sky.

Jiang Yi watched the light fade away, a breeze rose in the courtyard, and snow began to fall gently from the eaves.

He stood there for a moment longer.

A sense of urgency crept into my heart, but I could only sigh and move on.

Worrying about such things is useless.

If someone really comes knocking on your door, you can worry until you're old and gray, but you won't be able to escape it.

Ultimately, it all comes down to whether our own abilities are strong enough.

After that, Jiang Yi became even more devoted to his cultivation.

Every day, he sits cross-legged, breathing exercises, circulating his internal energy, and refining that wisp of turbid qi from the spleen.

Not a single slackening was allowed.

In addition, he also showed extra care for the three spirit chickens in the chicken coop behind the house.

He personally tended to that patch of dragon-transforming grass diligently.

He would often fetch some spiritual spring water, mix it with spiritual herbs, and personally feed the fledglings who were still growing their feathers.

After all, the previous battle to wipe out the locust swarm had already made him see things clearly.

As long as their cultivation levels aren't worlds apart, the Spirit Chicken clan is practically a natural nemesis to that horde of locust demons.

Instead of focusing on cultivating one's own strength, it would be better to raise more of these "soldiers," who might prove useful in the future.

He even went so far as to ask Jiang Liang to use his connections with the Protector of the Qiang to send another batch of high-quality spiritual fruits and medicinal herbs to Dahei in the Qiang region.

More importantly, a copy of the "Rising Sun Purple Qi Alchemy Method" that he had learned from the Azure Phoenix was also made and sent over.

Ever since Jiang Rui went to Mount Futu and severed the communication line through the memorial tablets, the family's contact with the Qiang region gradually decreased.

But to be honest, Big Black was the one with the highest cultivation level among his brood of spirit chickens.

That guy's territory expanded more and more, and with the abundant incense offerings, he was cured of the ailment of his yin bones from back then.

His cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, and his aura is now imposing.

If they were to fight bare-handed without using the copper cudgel, Jiang Yi figured he might not come out on top.

The world is in turmoil, and the locust demon's revenge could come at any time.

Whether we can use such strong allies or not, it's always a good thing to make more connections with them.

A few days later, Jiang Liang returned with a letter.

"Father, the things have all been delivered."

He sat down in the hall, casually poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then smiled:
"They are naturally extremely grateful, and will send back an old message: if the patriarch gives any orders, we will go through fire and water for him."

Jiang Yi hummed in agreement, his expression calm.

Jiang Liang then continued to talk about Dahei's current situation:
"That guy is doing quite well in the Qiang region."

“In the past, there was a great drought. It occupied several important water sources, and many tribes had no way to survive, so they all came to live under its control. Later, there was a locust plague, and many places in the Qiang region were eaten away and turned into barren hills and plains, but the land it protected was not disturbed in the slightest.”

"After going back and forth like this, the territory has grown even larger."

Jiang Yi listened and simply nodded slightly.

Locusts fear chickens; this is an innate conflict.

With its body tempered by malevolent energy to the point of being as hard as iron, even ordinary locust demons would only dare to keep their distance from Dahei.

Even if the demon general who commands billions of insect swarms were to arrive in person, he would probably have to think twice.

Jiang Liang laughed again, his tone tinged with pride:
"The Protector of the Qiang said that the tribes that now regard it as the 'Guardian Eagle of the Clan' have occupied more than 20% of the Qiang territory."

"Adding to that the tribes that, while not entirely loyal, are happy to follow its orders, it's estimated that Big Black now has influence in about 30% of the tribes in that region."

He paused slightly, twirling his teacup, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm:
"In the Qiang region today, he would probably be considered a powerful local force."

After hearing these words, a smile finally appeared on Jiang Yi's face.

The more territory Dahei occupied, the more "Zhenqiang Divine Eagle Temples" were erected.

With more temples, the incense offerings will naturally increase.

As for his grandson Jiang Rui, as the Divine Eagle Messenger, he naturally served as a deputy deity in various temples.

In addition, there were the several incense altars and temples that my family built for him in the Liangqiang border region after the collapse of the Taiping Dao.

Over time, the total amount can be quite substantial.

If we're really talking about the family's prosperity and fortune, then apart from the eldest brother who was already officially appointed as a guardian deity of Taoism, there's no one else in this family who can boast such a connection.

He was probably the one who was most powerful.

Even Jiang Hong, who is nominally affiliated with the Jinghe Water Palace and has the backing of the Dragon Palace, is probably slightly inferior in terms of incense offerings.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yi's smile deepened.

Incense offerings nourish the body, and vows protect the Way; these are all good things that have fallen from heaven.

Moreover, that kid is currently practicing under Zen Master Wuchao in the blessed land of Mount Futu.

The Zen master's origins were unknown, but his methods were far from ordinary.

It is based on the power of incense offerings and vows within, and guided by wise mentors without.

Anyone who hears of this double opportunity would feel a pang of envy.

Thinking about the next time I see this kid, I wonder how many surprises he will bring me.

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the hall, looking at an old plum tree outside the courtyard, and a slight warmth rose in his heart.

(End of this chapter)