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

Chapter 49 The Gods Must Not Be Disturbed
The fight lasted until the moon was high in the sky.

Fists and sticks swirled and rose under the cold moonlight, slapping the ground and sending ripples of gray light spreading outwards.

The young man's blood and bones were fresh, and he became more and more energetic as he fought, his steps were swift and his blows were deafening.

Even from a great distance, you could hear the series of "bang" sounds, like muffled thunder in the night.

Jiang Yi was initially standing under the eaves.

Thinking that after his youngest son finished his wild behavior, he would take out the book "Sitting in Oblivion" and test his meditation skills to see if they had improved.

But with the current situation, let alone ending it, it seems that even one round wouldn't be enough to satisfy our anger; we'd need another match to feel truly at ease.

He smiled and shook his head.

Without urging him, he turned around and went back into his room to rest.

Nothing was said that night.

The next day, before dawn, a thin wisp of white appeared on the top of the eastern mountain, faintly covering half the sky.

The Jiang family courtyard then became lively, with the sounds of pots and pans, well water, and someone yawning and coughing lightly, creating a sense of human presence.

Jiang Liang slept soundly and woke up feeling relaxed all over.

He turned over, put on his clothes, and was about to assume a starting stance in the courtyard when his body suddenly stopped before he could raise his hands.

The parents, holding their younger sister's hand, followed by their older brother, moved quietly and calmly, slipping out of the courtyard gate.

Jiang Liang was stunned for a moment, but didn't ask. Then, on a whim, he quickly followed.

Turning past the courtyard wall and stepping into that area, he paused, and the scene before him almost made him not recognize it.

This hillside was originally where my family grew vegetables and melons, such as scallions, chives, eggplants, and radishes.

But look at it now.

The entire plot of land was turned over cleanly and neatly, even the soil felt cold, but it was planted with a field of stark white plants, straight as spears and neat as halberds.

The thing was about a foot tall, with a sickly grayish-white color between its stems and leaves, and it even made a faint rustling sound when the wind blew.

A thick wooden fence surrounded the area, nailed so tightly that not a single gap could be found, as if to prevent something from escaping from inside.

Jiang Liang paused, staring at the dark white plants in the field, a strange feeling welling up in his heart.

But seeing her parents leading her younger sister and her older brother walking behind, all of them seemed to know the way well, without even a hint of hesitation in their eyes.

He put aside his doubts, steeled his resolve, and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered that area, the cold wind blew up like water, penetrating straight into his bones, making his whole body stiffen and his back straighten.

Jiang Liang shuddered, his hair standing on end.

But he had practiced martial arts for many years, and his bones and muscles were full of strength. He stopped breathing, took a step, and his body became steady.

The medicinal food that had been replenishing the body's energy in the lower abdomen the night before seemed to have been awakened.

It transformed into a warm current that slowly rose up, flowing through the chest and abdomen, suppressing the chill that had entered the body.

He had just recovered and before he could even ask a question, his vision suddenly blurred.

It was as if the edges of heaven and earth had been pinched and gently twisted.

The light and shadows all around swayed slightly, and the pale white plants in the ground seemed to suddenly come alive, their branches and leaves rustling.

It was as if a hundred hands were stretched out at once, intertwining and dancing in the air.

A sound came from beside me, not like the wind, not like words, but like someone whispering in my ear.

The whispers, though indistinct, were nonetheless unsettling.

From the moment Jiang Yi stepped into this frigid land, his gaze never left his youngest son.

At this moment, I saw him standing there, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused, his expression changing in waves, and his lips twitching a few times.

Then it became clear that the illusion was at work.

He wasn't in a hurry to go forward, but simply took a few steps with his hands behind his back and stood at a distance, looking relaxed.

Last night I originally planned to test how far this kid had cultivated his character, but we got so caught up in a martial arts competition that I forgot about the important matter.

This saves us a lot of trouble; the illusions in the ground save us a lot of talking. This Illusionary Shadow Grass becomes more vigorous in winter, and the cold and gloomy energy growing from its roots carries an unclear and ambiguous illusory power that specifically targets people's hearts.

Jiang Liang stood there, his posture quite upright, much more robust than ordinary people who had never practiced cultivation.

But the illusion came suddenly and violently, and his foundation in meditation was clearly still immature; he hadn't reached the required level yet.

In just a moment, his face turned bright red, his eyes were tightly closed, but his mouth began to mutter involuntarily.

Judging from his appearance, after entering the county command, he probably read the Treatise on Sitting in Oblivion, but he probably didn't read it very often.

Seeing that he had struggled for a while, Jiang Yi knew that if he dragged it out any longer, the yin energy might really take his soul.

Without further ado, he took a step, reached out and lifted his son onto his shoulder as if gathering firewood, and turned to leave the cold ground.

Jiang Liang was still young, and his inner fire was still burning bright. He had only stood there for a short while and had not yet truly fallen for it.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he slowly woke up. His eyelids twitched, and when he opened his eyes, he was met with his father's face, which he knew all too well.

Jiang Yi maintained the same expression, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if nothing had happened.

Looking further into the distance, the people were still there in that cold, desolate place.

The eldest brother, mother, and younger sister all stood at attention, some practicing horse stances, some concentrating their energy, and others stealing glances in their direction while practicing.

The younger sister, being the most unserious, looked around while giggling, clearly having witnessed his earlier lapse in composure.

Jiang Liang is naturally thin-skinned, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

A blush suddenly spread across her face, reaching all the way to the roots of her neck, and she felt incredibly awkward.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yi didn't expose him, but simply remarked casually from the side:

"Don't be shy. In our family, who didn't go through this? When your brother first went in, he was even more flamboyant than you, screaming like a cat scratching him."

These words reassured Jiang Liang somewhat, and the embarrassment on his face dissipated considerably. He scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.

Jiang Yi, however, did not stop and continued speaking slowly.

It is said that having a calm mind like still water and a focused spirit like a mirror is of great benefit to martial arts training. If one wants to make further progress in the future, this kind of mental cultivation should not be neglected.

Jiang Liang listened attentively, nodding vigorously, and patted his chest in agreement:
"Father, don't worry! From today onwards, I will read that booklet every day, think about it all the time, and even recite a couple of chapters in my dreams every night!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi nodded without saying much, and simply took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket.

As soon as the stopper was removed, a delicate fragrance wafted out.

A pill was poured out; it was as white as snow, round and smooth, and faintly exuded a spiritual aura.

Without saying much, he handed it to the child, indicating that he should take it.

Jiang Liang always wrote to his father, and at times like this, he didn't ask many questions, just took the letter and swallowed it whole.

The pill melted instantly in the mouth, first with a hint of sweetness, then a refreshing coolness, and quickly sank down the throat into the lower abdomen.

"Let's try going in again."

Jiang Yidao spoke calmly, pointing to the cold ground:
"If you can hold fast to God this time, you will see a different result."

Although Jiang Liang was still a little nervous, he was a trained fighter after all, and with his father's instructions, his courage grew a bit stronger.

He tried to step onto the edge of the frigid land, and as soon as he stepped in, that familiar chill enveloped him.

Immediately afterwards, he felt a wave of dizziness, as if something unseen was trying to pull him into a dream.

Before the illusion could unfold, the coolness in his dantian suddenly changed, transforming into a light and ethereal energy, like a mountain spring flowing into a ravine, surging towards the top of his head.

My mind cleared instantly, and the distorted light and shadows faded considerably. Though still hazy, they could no longer disturb my senses.

Jiang Liang was shocked and immediately realized that the pill was no ordinary medicine.

At this moment, he dared not delay any longer. Before the gods had dispersed, he immediately assumed a horse stance, punching and striking the ground at the edge of the cold ground. His movements were steady and his breath was long and deep.

Thank you to FishboneTuyu and Suiyueran91 for the donations.

May all my dear readers live forever and enjoy endless revelry!
P.S. Because my younger daughter's name was criticized so much, I've tentatively changed it to Jiang Xi.

Revising too many chapters at once will trigger review, so I can only revise a few chapters each day. Please understand...

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(End of this chapter)