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

Chapter 70 Refining the Heart with Powerful Medicine
Jiang Liang's inner drive was also brought to life by his physical movements.

People dart between the eaves and treetops, their bodies leaping and contracting, their clothes fluttering, like fish playing in the water or swallows flitting through the forest.

His steps were light and his landings were steady, displaying a youthful spirit that truly resembled the charm of a martial arts painting.

Jiang Xi's eyes lit up, and with a wave of her little hand, she shouted at the top of her lungs:

"Second brother! Second brother! Teach me! I want to fly too!"

That swift and agile movement was already captivating.

Let alone a little girl, her nimble and graceful movements, even to adults, resembled the magical powers of a fairy in a storyteller's tale.

Who could resist that carefree, light-footed feeling?

Even Liu Xiulian, who usually only cared about cooking and firewood and always kept her distance from these fistfights, was now staring wide-eyed.

She lowered her head, smiled, and rolled up the hem of her skirt, a hint of eagerness flashing in her eyes.

Even if it's not for any righteous path, it's worth it just for its good looks and ease of use.

Seeing that he had stirred up the whole family's interest, Jiang Liang couldn't hide his pride and laughed heartily.

"Come on, come on!"

He kept calling out to her as he landed lightly, and then gently lifted the girl's arms and legs to straighten her out of the stance.

He turned back to his mother and smiled, saying:
"If Mother wants to learn, she must start by shrugging her shoulders and closing her hips... Only when the body is relaxed can the breath be drawn up, and only then can one feel light."

As he spoke, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped back onto the roof.

His dashing demeanor seemed to have carved out a space for himself amidst the tiles and trees.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, Liangjie Village is bustling with activity.

Lanterns and decorations were everywhere, chickens flew and dogs barked, children chased after firecrackers, adults were busy pickling vegetables and chopping firewood, the air was bustling with noise, and every household was a scene of prosperity.

But the Jiang family seemed to have taken a wrong turn.

There were no door gods pasted up, no lanterns hung, and not a single firecracker was set off.

Inside and outside the house, everyone was completely absorbed in their practice. Although there was no noise, the atmosphere was still very lively.

The art of light footwork is not about brute force, but about mastering the art of breathing.

When you can breathe freely, your body will feel light and your feet will feel like the wind.

Jiang Yi and Jiang Ming had a solid foundation and deep breathing, so they learned the movement technique with surprising speed.

In just three to five days, he was already able to firmly step onto the rooftops, which were several feet high.

It landed without making a sound, as if it were stepping on a layer of cotton wool, and the ground didn't even dare to creak.

Even in everyday walking, she appears light and agile, with a slight lift and drop in her shoulders and hips, as if carrying a subtle breeze.

At first, Jiang Liang relied on his experience to act as the leader of the family.

But this kind of lightness skill doesn't rely on external techniques, but rather on the inner breath.

His initial arrogance only lasted a few days before his elder brother and father firmly suppressed it.

So he stopped arguing, took a step back, and honestly taught his mother and younger sister to adjust their steps and practice breathing exercises, and to shrink their shoulders and close their hips.

Two days later, Jiang Ming went out before dawn as usual.

When he returned with the water, his clothes were still damp with the dew from the forest. He turned around and pulled his younger brother into the courtyard, where he gave him a thorough demonstration of his short-sleeved martial arts techniques.

However, these grappling techniques are not as interesting as light-body skills.

With each twist and lock of the move, the muscles and bones cracked and popped incessantly.

Of the family, only these two brothers were still willing to seriously spar a few times, practice their strength, and test their skills.

He taught Jiang Liang the basics of light-body skills, and he also learned to execute Jiang Liang's grappling techniques quite well.

So without a sound, they disappeared into that chilling, gloomy meadow.

Under his father's watchful eye, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivating his character.

This is his biggest weakness right now.

He can learn martial arts and martial arts skills in the prefecture, where there are skilled practitioners. But the secret to cultivating one's character is something that, once he leaves home, he may never find such a place or such people willing to accompany him through this difficult time.

Jiang Liang wasn't a fool; he understood the situation perfectly.

With his father generously providing him with calming pills, he was truly able to bring himself to be so ruthless.

I plunged headfirst into the grass, wishing I could peel off my skin and dismantle my bones, so that I could take root and sprout in the ground and grow into a different version of myself.

In just over ten days, it had moved from that cool corner to a deep place where the grass was knee-high.

A gust of wind rustled the grass, and a chilling aura seeped into your bones, causing a sharp pain.

Illusions abound, sometimes filled with worldly troubles, sometimes with the burning of thunder and fire, blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, making even dreams restless.

Jiang Yi stood by the grass, looking at it calmly, but a hint of reluctance was still hidden in his eyes.

He knew in his heart that although this method was fast, it was ultimately a crooked and unorthodox approach.

I'm afraid that taking the medicine too much might damage my health.

When the heart is under too much pressure, it is easy to break one's resilience.

It may seem like progress is rapid now, but it will be difficult to improve sexual function in the future. Nine times out of ten, one will have to pay the price for the troubles caused at that time.

There are countless paths to success, but the steady and reliable ones are reserved for those with natural talent and intelligence.

Like the eldest son and daughter, that's their innate nature.

He casually flipped through a few pages of the Treatise on Sitting in Oblivion, his mind already in a state of deep concentration. He never urged him to speak, and he wouldn't even let anyone touch the pills.

Unfortunately, the second son lacked a certain resolve in his personality.

No matter how eloquently you speak, he may listen, but his mind is elsewhere and he can't settle down.

If I didn't rely on this calming pill to suppress my emotions, I'm afraid I would never be able to cross the threshold of "a heart as still as water" in my entire life.

How far we can go in the future depends on this tenacious spirit.

Seeing that Jiang Liang was able to grit his teeth and stand still deep in that cold land, his body was thin and his face was so pale that it was almost transparent, as if he were rooted in the mud and did not move at all.

Jiang Yi then turned around and went back into the house, where he found a small porcelain bottle under the old box.

The bottle was jet black with a dull luster. It felt cold and heavy in my hand, and at first glance, it looked like an inkwell left over from some dynasty.

Uncork the bottle, and a shiny black pill rolled out.

The size of a fingernail, sweet with a hint of astringency, like the deep roots of grass and trees, exuding an indescribable, mysterious aura.

This is no ordinary item; it is a potent elixir for cultivating one's nature, made from the Illusionary Yin Grass.

After taking it, one's mind seems to fall into a fog, with dazzling lights and shadows, and a flood of illusions.

A light heart gains some insight, and in a dream, it seems to reveal a heavenly secret;

He was plagued by nightmares for three days and three nights, to the point that he even forgot his own name.

Without the protection of a calming and tranquil mind, the soul would likely be torn to pieces.

When the Liu family sent this item, they said that it should be taken together with the white calming pill, one in the light and one in the dark, in order to suppress the backlash.

But the Jiang family had their own cold land with similar medicinal effects, so the bottle remained untouched and covered in dust.

Now that they've made up their minds to take that shortcut, they'll have to go all out and bet big.

Jiang Yi, carrying a bottle, stood on the threshold and called to Jiang Liang.

Ask him how he felt in the cold, and ask him what he thought of the word "cultivating one's nature".

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang didn't rush to answer, but stood there with his head down for a long time.

When he opened his mouth, he didn't say much, but every word he uttered was like a rock settling down:

"It may be tough... but if you're going to cultivate yourself, then cultivate yourself clearly and thoroughly."

In that instant, two sparks ignited in his eyes, calm and stubborn, burning with exceptional clarity.

(End of this chapter)