From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

Whether the Miao people's way of building houses was passed down from Lu Ban, or whether it was just locals "copying" each other's culture, Jiang Liu didn't care much. He just asked, "What's the name of this Beizhai? It's not just called Beizhai, is it?"

“Of course not, this village is called Golden Phoenix Village, also known as Golden Phoenix Village.” As Hong Guniang spoke, she walked along the gradually widening mountain path toward the village gate, and urged Jiang Liu and the others to hurry up and follow.

When the locals in the village saw outsiders, they were either curious or wary, but they became warm and welcoming when they learned that the outsiders were carpenters.

Red Girl comes from the Moon Gate. Although her skills are mainly in manipulation and illusion, she also knows some mechanical skills, so she can easily become a carpenter.

Therefore, in the eyes of the people of Jinfeng Village, Hong Guniang was a young and beautiful female carpenter, while Jiang Liu, Lu Jin, and Li Muxuan were carpentry apprentices who were brought out to broaden their horizons.

Because of the frequent wars outside, few people skilled in carpentry have come to the mountains in recent years. The local old carpenter has also passed away. Therefore, in Jin Feng Village, nine out of ten households need carpenters to help repair wooden beds, stairs, windows, and cupboards. So, a group of four people is quite popular.

Jiang Liu noticed that every household in Jin Feng Village had patterns resembling black birds under their eaves, which he assumed were part of Jin Feng Village's totem beliefs.

And so the four of them spent the afternoon doing carpentry work in Jinfeng Village, and finally stayed overnight at the home of an old man in the area.

Jin Feng Village has a history of thousands of years, with Han and Yi people living together. Although the old man was dressed in a dark blue Miao ethnic costume, he was a genuine Han Chinese and could speak Mandarin, so he was able to communicate with Jiang Liu and the others.

"These four aren't ordinary people, are they?"

The old man puffed on his pipe, exhaling smoke, and chuckled, "Their breathing is steady; they're definitely Qi cultivators, especially these two—"

He pointed at Lu Jin and Li Muxuan, "They must have come from a major sect. Their long breaths and cultivation levels suggest they are either Taoist or Buddhist."

"Only this one—"

Then, he pointed at the river with his pipe, pondering for a moment, "His breathing is natural, just like an ordinary person, but his mental state is something that no ordinary person can have. Either he has a special way of gathering his Qi, or he was born with innate Qi that is several times stronger than that of ordinary people."

"The old man's insight is brilliant."

Jiang Liu clasped his hands in a respectful bow and asked, "May I ask which school you belong to?"

"Jin Zhai Lei Tan".

The old man took a drag of his cigarette and said with a touch of melancholy, "However, it's mostly gone now. There aren't even many successors left. I estimate that in another ten years or so, the lineage of Jinzhai Leitan will be completely severed."

Jinzhai Leitan?

Jiang Liu had never heard of this sect.

Lu Jin and Li Muxuan were the same.

# Chapter 119 Inside Golden Phoenix Village, a Chicken Appears Angry

"It's normal that you haven't heard of it."

Seeing that the three were unaware, the old man was not annoyed, but just smiled and said, "Our lineage is also a Taoist sect. We are skilled in using Chenzhou talismans and do business transporting corpses, delivering water, and removing poisons. Most legitimate Taoists outside do not do this kind of thing."

After the old man's explanation, Jiang Liu suddenly understood.

Taoism has two major schools, Zhengyi and Quanzhen, and under these two schools there are many branches. The way Taoism grows stronger is by constantly establishing branches.

Obvious.

This Jinzhai Leitan is one such branch, established in the Xiangxi area of ​​Hunan Province. It has also adapted to local culture and cultivation principles.

Just looking at the current situation—

The Golden Residence Thunder Altar is gradually declining. Perhaps in a few years, just as the old man said, the Golden Residence Thunder Altar's lineage will be completely cut off.

"That's not true."

Jiang Liu then laughed and said, "I know a Taoist priest from Shangqing Maoshan named Lin Jiu, also known as Uncle Jiu, who also runs a charitable estate."

"Lin Jiu? I haven't left this place for many years, so I didn't know him. I guess it's because things are getting more and more chaotic outside, and he's trying to make a living." The old man sighed. "Although he runs a mortuary, he certainly doesn't transport corpses. If he still did that job, there would be countless dead people outside! Our Golden Phoenix Village wouldn't be as peaceful as it is now."

Jiang Liu nodded, about to respond, when he heard a loud rooster crow.

It was at this moment.

The red sun on the horizon completely set.

Turning his head, Jiang Liu saw a rooster with colorful feathers, a crimson crest, and a proud and spirited gait.

Poems as proof:

Its crown and embroidered neck resemble a round tassel; its claws are hard, its spurs are long, and its eyes are fierce.

Its vigorous and majestic presence embodies all five virtues; its magnificent and awe-inspiring power is admired by the three cries of the heavens.

It is truly a magnificent and extraordinary phoenix-bred chicken!

What surprised Jiang Liu even more was that this rooster was much larger than an ordinary domestic chicken, and its height, including its comb, was a staggering 1.2 meters!

Lu Jin and Li Muxuan are only about 1.5 and 1.6 meters tall, just one or two heads taller than this chicken.

"My goodness!"

Li Muxuan's mouth dropped open. "What a huge rooster! I've never seen such a big rooster before!"

Lu Jin was speechless for a moment, but then said, "I heard that there is a grassland in Africa, and there is a bird there called the ostrich. It walks on the ground with its head held high and cannot fly. It is nearly eight feet tall. I suppose this chicken is that ostrich."

The girl nodded repeatedly as she listened.

Jiang Liu: "..."

Can ostriches and chickens be the same species?

But to be honest, based solely on Lu Jin's description of the ostrich, people who have never seen an ostrich in person are very likely to imagine it as a "chicken" that can be over two meters tall.

"Grandpa, this chicken—"

Jiang Liu sensed that this chicken was extraordinary, full of spirituality, and faintly exuded a burning aura. He couldn't help but wonder, "Has it reached its full potential?"

"As for cultivation, I can't see that."

Although the old man was a Taoist priest of the Golden House Thunder Altar, he had not engaged in the business of transporting corpses and delivering water for many years. In addition, his aptitude for refining Qi was insufficient, and he had long neglected his cultivation. He could not see what progress the chicken had made in its cultivation, but he knew that the chicken could not be kept any longer.

Nothing more!

The fact that this chicken has grown to such a large size is already unusual.

Furthermore, he had already raised this chicken for six years. As the saying goes in the Book of Evil, "Dogs do not live for eight years, and chickens do not live for six."

"Yi Yao" is said to be a book from the Three Kingdoms and Jin Dynasties, which records many rumors about "demons".

The saying goes that dogs don't live past eight years and chickens don't live past six. These are animals kept by humans who live with them year after year. They gradually learn to behave like humans, acquire human nature, and develop intelligence. If they don't die of old age, they will inevitably become demons, bringing disaster upon their homes.

"The 'Yi Yao'? Grandpa, you still believe in this?"

Jiang Liu had heard of this ancient book that described "demons," but none of the Taoists believed it.

Those who practice orthodox Taoism refer to beings that have attained Qi as spirits.

Moreover, there are families in the Northeast region that specifically communicate with elves.

And these disciples of the Golden House Thunder Altar actually thought of killing this rooster that was almost a spirit... How innocent was this rooster? When Taoists subdue demons, they seek out monsters that have truly committed heinous crimes, not wild spirits that have gained Qi but still wholeheartedly cultivate.

"It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."

The old man spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Jiang Liu was speechless, but one thing was certain in his heart:

No wonder the Jin Zhai Lei Tan forum has gradually declined!

This is because they believe in such supernatural tales and ghost stories! They have strayed from the "Tao" and fallen into heterodox paths!

But these are words that are difficult to say aloud.

Putting aside all the social niceties and worldly wisdom, the old man himself had already left the Taoist sect and stopped cultivating; he only still possessed the ability to recognize extraordinary people.

then.

Jiang Liu then said, "Old man, I think this chicken is extraordinary and not an ordinary breed. Your Golden Phoenix Village also worships the Black Bird, which is also known as the Phoenix. I think it is a Phoenix breed. It would be a great pity to kill it. Why don't you sell it to me?"

"Do not sell!"

The old man shook his head. "If you buy it and can't tame it, what if it becomes a demon and takes revenge on me? It's better to kill it!"

To support his claim, the old man also revealed the origin of the chicken.

Six years ago, all the eggs laid by the chickens in the entire village were empty shells, with no yolk or egg white. Only one egg laid by the old man's hen hatched into a chick.

At that time, the old man knew that this chicken was born from the divine beauty of heaven and earth, and he loved it very much, feeding it fine grains every day.

This chicken is indeed extraordinary. There are many poisonous insects in the mountains, which is a problem even for the locals. But with this angry-looking chicken, the old man took it into the mountains to collect herbs. Snakes, insects, rats and ants dared not approach, protecting him and ensuring his safety.

However, because he believed in the "Yi Yao" (易妖), I had always been reluctant to kill him. But now that the six-year period has passed, I'm thinking of killing him.

But deep down, I felt a little reluctant to part with it.

Now that he sees Jiang Liu has taken a fancy to the chicken, he is also planning to send it away, but he is worried that Jiang Liu will not be able to tame it and that the chicken will escape and take revenge on him. He is now in a dilemma.

Otherwise, why would he bother explaining so much?

Simply say that it's your own chicken and you killed it yourself, and then no one else will have any reason to interfere.

Jiang Liu understood the old man's hesitation, but he wasn't sure what the old man was thinking, so he wanted to test him and asked, "Old man, you have raised this chicken for six years. You have the grace of raising it. Even if it has become spiritual and wants to become a monster, it will learn from you in every word and action. How could it harm your life?"

It must be a kind spirit.

We cultivators have never indiscriminately killed innocent people, let alone a phoenix! It has not done anything to harm heaven or reason!

If you raise it only to eat it at the end, it does prove the principle of following nature and the cycle of all things; but it also protects you when you go in and out of the mountains and forests. Why is it that you don't reward it for its service, but instead want to slaughter it?

That's what you owe it.

The old man was speechless. After all, he had once been a Taoist priest and understood the principles of natural cycles.

In retrospect, it really was my fault.

But he was unwilling to just sell it like that, so he made a bet with Jiang Liu, saying, "Then let it choose for itself. Since it has become sentient, it should understand human speech!"

# Chapter 120 Taming the Angry Sun Chicken

The old man had an idea and led Jiang Liu and the others to the giant rooster that was 1.2 meters tall.

This rooster had a pair of angry eyes. It was not afraid of strangers approaching and held its head high. The comb on its head trembled and faintly emitted a faint red aura, like a burning flame.