From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

When the heart fire and lung metal unite, and the kidney water and liver wood converge, with the spleen earth as the foundation, one can practice the unity of metal and wood, and harmonize one's temperament. Then one can cultivate the nine orifice seals, open up the two realms of body and mind, forge the golden elixir of body and mind, and the sacred embryo of qi, thus attaining longevity.

Gather the five elements and use them in reverse order; once the work is done, one can become a Buddha or an immortal.

Nothing could be more true!

"Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!"

The monkeys were overjoyed to have obtained the magic, but when they tried it, they all found it difficult. The Yin-Yang transformation and circulation of energy alone was extremely agonizing. It was much faster to practice martial arts, kill other lesser demons, and devour their flesh, demon cores, and spiritual essence.

It is even more difficult than absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and nurturing the elixir in the dantian.

If one wishes to cultivate oneself, who knows when or how long it will take?

Therefore.

In no time, most of the monkeys abandoned the Great Dao and only cultivated the demon core. Only those monkeys who planned to stay in Flower Fruit Mountain and marry more female monkeys were more settled in their minds. They knew the principle that "only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one become a monkey among monkeys" and planned to try the cycle of Yin descending and Yang ascending.

Seeing this, Jiang Liu simply smiled, understanding the principle that "without encountering a wise man to impart profound secrets, empty words will only lead to exhaustion and a dry tongue," for everyone has their own destiny.

Compared to the patriarch Subhuti in his heart, he himself wanted to save the world, but not to be a babysitter for all living beings.

opportunity.

He gave it to me.

Whether we can catch them or not...

It all depends on one's fate.

After that, Jiang Liu focused his attention on the Buddha head. Seeing that the monster had a ferocious face, like a demon, and had no trace of the Buddha's compassion, he didn't waste any words and threw a punch, turning it into dust, leaving only a bead that resembled an eyeball.

One of the Five Aggregates.

Consciousness.

"Tsk tsk."

As Jiang Liu played with the five aggregates in his hand, a mocking expression appeared on his face. This was because the essence of these five aggregates—form, perception, feeling, volition, and consciousness—was not the physical material used to refine external elixirs, but rather a cultivation system that combined theory and practice. Even the cultivation method he taught Zhao Yingkong, which was called "Five Aggregates to Form Elixir," was an internal alchemy practice, not this kind of external elixir.

The primordial chaos!

This plane, existing based on the "ring" of the multiverse, is indeed uniquely endowed, drawing upon the informational origins of all realms, where all laws coexist. It's just a pity—

The system is incomplete.

Hongjun preached, bestowed titles upon the Six Sages, and established a system, yet he could not obtain the word "immortality."

The existence of conspiracy theories such as the struggle over destiny and the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism requires a certain premise.

In other words, immortality is an illusion.

otherwise.

Immortals and Buddhas can attain immortality through inner cultivation, without needing to seek it externally, and they have no enemies beyond the heavens. What need is there to fight for destiny? What need is there to fight for Taoism or Buddhism?

Even if you just give up, you can still get everything you want in the endless years without having to get angry or fight with others.

If we get angry and fight, wouldn't we be no different from ordinary people?

Even true immortality is not necessary. As long as the lifespans of immortals and Buddhas are as long as that of a star, and they gather together, they can create a utopian world.

However, the immortals, Buddhas, and saints of this world have been constantly fighting each other openly and secretly... because they have not attained true immortality, but only achieved pseudo-immortality by relying on external elixirs and external objects.

The Consciousness Essence that Jiang Liu possesses, one of the materials for refining the Five Elements External Elixir, is a type of elixir created by the "Buddha" of the Primordial Spirit Mountain in this world.

ridiculous!

sad!

Sigh!

of course.

It is also because heaven and earth are flawed.

Nuwa Mending the Sky

In this primordial wilderness, it truly only filled the gap in the primordial space in a physical sense.

It really needs to be completed—

"You still have to look to [me]!"

Jiang Liu put away the knowledge he held and sighed inwardly.

For the next three days, Jiang Liu answered every question from the monkeys who were unwilling to go to sea but came to ask about the "Gathering the Five Elements" cultivation method.

three days later.

Jiang Liu, along with a monkey who aspired to become a mountain king and seek the innate talents of the Great Sage, boarded a raft and left Flower Fruit Mountain, heading towards the Southern Continent...

Chapter 1384 Five Hundred Years of Change

The journey at sea was peaceful, with calm winds and no waves. In less than half a month, the boat safely crossed the Eastern Ocean and arrived at the territory of Jambudvipa.

When the stone monkey set sail, it was safe and sound, which was thanks to divine help.

These monkeys from Flower Fruit Mountain can now safely cross the ocean thanks to the river's current.

We got ashore.

On a beach, many fishermen were digging for clams, collecting seashells, and catching crabs, which amazed the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain, who imitated them.

But when those people saw these "terrifying upright apes," they were so frightened that they cried out for their parents and fled in terror.

Jiang Liu had no choice but to remain in human form, maintaining his appearance as a divinely ordained ape. In this primordial world where humans and demons coexisted, concealing the true nature of this body would be to enter a heretical path and fail to attain enlightenment.

Thus, due to societal prejudice, the right path may become quite difficult from now on...

But since we are human, we should walk the right path!

If you take the path—

That's improper.

Thinking of this, Jiang Liu said to the monkeys around him, “Brothers, we come from Flower Fruit Mountain. Our appearance is different from that of humans. Most of the monsters in the world eat people to cultivate evil energy and prolong their lives. Therefore, they regard us as monsters.”

Although we are not human, we are not demons either, and we cannot do such heinous things.

But I know everyone has their own ambitions, and I won't force you. I only hope that if any of you brothers are driven to desperation, you can rediscover the methods I've taught you, and perhaps then you can take control of your own lives.

The monkeys chattered away, but they also remembered what they had said goodbye to each other and went their separate ways.

Jiang Liu stayed where he was, watching them leave until they disappeared from sight, before stepping onto the soft sand and heading towards the town.

Compared to other apes, Jiang Liu's appearance can be described as "delicate and handsome." When he walks on the street, people are not afraid of him like a tiger, but they just dare not get close to him.

Jiang Liu did not linger in this Southern Continent. After purchasing some clothes, he headed west, and before he knew it, he arrived at the former Liangjie Mountain. There he saw:

The mountain is divided in two, and there is a path between them.

Merchants and travelers came and went in an endless stream.

As Jiang Liu looked at the historical site, he recalled the book "Journey to the West". He smiled slightly, stepped forward, and passed through Liangjie Mountain in an instant. There he saw a bowl of yellow millet rice at the mountain pass, with a golden incense stick inserted on it, and a wisp of white smoke slowly rising.

He then heard a traveling merchant beside him say that the village ahead was eerie, and that anyone who passed by would fall seriously ill... Jiang Liu couldn't help but sigh, regain his composure, and stepped out of the Liangjie Mountain Path. Suddenly, he saw a village with about a hundred households. The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, and people were farming and raising mulberry trees. It was a prosperous village.

Arriving at the edge of the field, Jiang Liu grabbed a man and bowed, saying, "I am a traveler on a journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I wish to follow the example of Nuwa, travel west, and attain enlightenment."

Passing through your village, I see it's getting dark and I'm very hungry. Could you possibly lead me to a wealthy family in the village for the night?

Jiang Liu is a man ordained by Heaven, with the body of a monkey. He can survive by eating flowers and fruits and chewing pine branches, but this is the way of wild beasts in the forest, not the way of humans.

To achieve results, one must first be a good person.

The man was bold enough not to be afraid of Jiang Liu's current appearance, but he was slightly curious: "Are you crazy? Nuwa has already patched up the sky, what kind of sky are you going to patch up now?"

"Brother, have you ever heard of the five-colored stubborn stone that Nuwa left over after mending the sky?" Jiang Liu asked with a smile.

"I heard from the storyteller that the five-colored stone transformed into a spirit monkey, which once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. Later, it was suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha, but was rescued by the pilgrims. It traveled westward and was eventually named the Victorious Fighting Buddha by the Buddha, where it enjoys the incense offerings of all living beings on Mount Ling."

When talking about Sun Wukong, the man spoke eloquently and with great interest. He then glanced at Jiang Liu and pondered, "Your appearance does resemble that of the Great Sage who became a Buddha."

"Hehe, I am his descendant, and I wish to embark on a journey to the West." Jiang Liu did not hide anything.

"Don't talk big!"

Upon hearing this, the man's smile vanished, replaced by anger. "You must be some wild monkey spirit from the mountains, spouting nonsense and trying to use the name of the Great Sage to swindle and deceive people."

“My friend, I’m telling you the truth, but you don’t believe me. Fine, I won’t argue with you. Take me to a wealthy family in the village to rest for the night, and I’ll set off tomorrow morning.”

The man's eyes seemed to see through everything as he said smugly, "I was just about to ask you, why do you live in a wealthy family's house? You still say you're not trying to swindle money? Besides, Grandpa Great Sage has already become a Buddha and is a monk, so how could he have a wife and children? Where would any descendants come from?"

"Don't be impatient, sir, I will explain it to you one by one."

Jiang Liu laughed and said, "Living in a wealthy family will allow me to eat my fill, and it will also avoid troubling poor families. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

My Monkey King is not pure of heart. When he was the king of Flower Fruit Mountain, although he did not marry or have children, he did have a female immortal by his side.

As for what later generations said, the countless monkeys in Flower Fruit Mountain were all descendants of the Great Sage Monkey King.

How could I not be his descendant?

The farmer was speechless. He pursed his lips and could only say, "What a sharp-tongued monkey! Come with me to confront my ancestor. He recognizes the Great Sage. If you are truly his descendant, he will definitely recognize you."

"Your ancestors?"

Jiang Liu asked in confusion, "The westward journey has been over five hundred years ago. Your ancestors lived for over five hundred years?"

"nature!"

The man laughed loudly, “My ancestor once gave peaches to Sun Wukong, who was imprisoned under the mountain, when he was young. He received a breath of immortal energy and lived to be 130 years old. Just then, Sun Wukong broke through the Five Finger Mountain and came to our house to stay. He gave us a hair that only my ancestor could use. He could call out ‘Great Sage Equal to Heaven’ and be protected. He was invulnerable to swords and spears, and could not be harmed by water or fire. Demons in the mountains dared not approach him, and the impermanence of the underworld could not take his soul. He is now over 660 years old.”

Jiang Liu laughed: "No wonder you're so bold, daring to talk so much with a cultivator who looks like a monster."

"That's natural."

The man, feeling triumphant, led Jiang Liu towards the village. Along the way, apart from the traveling merchants resting by the roadside, there were few other pedestrians.

However, Jiang Liu also learned the village's name from the man who led the way.

This village is called Chenjia Village, and most of the villagers are surnamed Chen.

The wealthiest family was undoubtedly the Chen family, who had lived for over six hundred years. They owned a manor with white walls and black tiles, an elegant courtyard, and many descendants, most of whom were pillars of society. Few were dependent on the family; they were either merchants or farmers. Friends and relatives frequently visited, and every household was prosperous and happy.

Just like a dream!