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

Chapter 51 Reading and Chewing, with a Calm and Composed Demeanor

With his father occasionally offering guidance and his older brother willingly sparring with him, Jiang Liang's boxing and staff skills improved rapidly.

Every day, I train my muscles and bones, and my blood and qi flow so smoothly that I can almost hear the surging sound. My thoughts are also very clear, and I can rise and fall freely.

Jiang Yi himself, on the other hand, found it novel for the first few days and was quite adept at giving instructions.

But gradually, the comfort faded, and a sense of emptiness filled my heart.

Before going to bed at night, I always read a few pages of "The Treatise on Sitting in Oblivion".

As I read page by page, I felt my state of mind gradually change, and that sense of peace that "today is better than yesterday" was very reassuring.

Now my mind is truly at peace; I can fall asleep as soon as I lie down, without the slightest ripple.

But precisely because of this, the feeling of adding firewood every day and watching the flames gradually rise has vanished.

I feel empty inside, like something is missing.

Jiang Yi knew that this meant his mind was calm, but his will was not yet settled.

The theory of sitting in oblivion is a shortcut; it can help calm the mind, but it does not have the effect of achieving concentration.

The thought flashed through my mind, and when I looked at the corner of the table again, my gaze suddenly stopped.

There were a few old books lying there crookedly, their pages yellowed and their edges curled up.

It was brought back by my eldest son, Jiang Ming, from the school a few years ago, supposedly for his early education.

They said it might be helpful for self-cultivation, so I just left it there after bringing it back.

Thinking about it now, that kid probably already knew what it meant from that time onwards that "sitting in oblivion is the lower level, while focusing the mind is the higher level."

When Jiang Yi flipped through a few pages, his brain felt like it was filled with lead, throbbing violently.

I resigned myself to my fate, realizing I lacked the brains, the comprehension, and the energy, so I simply gave up and left it to gather dust.

But today is different from the past.

Once the mind is calmed, the inner turmoil ceases, and one's energy and spirit are several times greater than before.

With a slight thought, Jiang Yi took out the old book again, gently brushed off the dust, and flipped it open to the first page with his thumb.

The pages were still the same, the words still stiff and archaic, and the sight of it made my head ache.

But now my mind is as calm as still water, and my eyes are undisturbed, so I can read through each word without feeling bored or sleepy.

However, while a calm mind is valuable, it is not enlightenment, much less something that can be described as "self-taught".

Although Jiang Yi could read it, recognized the characters, and could punctuate the sentences, the true meaning remained elusive, indistinct, and he only vaguely understood it.

You have to ponder each sentence in your mind over and over again before you can vaguely sketch out its general meaning.

You also have to be careful that you don't just guess blindly and end up going down the wrong path without even realizing it.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yi understood.

Why did Master Liu have such a helpless and speechless expression on his face when he mentioned this "superior method of self-cultivation"?

Without guidance from a master, if one were to bury oneself in books and try to gain anything from this path, it would probably take decades or even centuries.

Moreover, even the slightest mistake could lead to a complete mishap.

Even if it's just a single word or meaning that's wrong, it might take months or even years of hard work to fix it.

Whether it can be made up for is still uncertain.

This road, though described as a broad and wide avenue, is actually a cliffside path, not something an ordinary person could traverse.

On the other hand, despite the bitterness and hardship, when Jiang Yihe submitted the letter, he felt that the emptiness in his heart had faded a little.

It seems that reading and studying, while not necessarily quenching thirst, can suppress restlessness and bring peace of mind.

Jiang Yi sat there, gazing at the yellowed book cover, when suddenly a slight smile appeared on his lips.

If that day ever comes, then the youngest son will also cross the threshold of "peace of mind".

I wonder if this will also help me get rid of my old habit of getting sleepy when I read?
The days flowed by quietly and steadily.

With a calm mind and clear spirit, Jiang Yi could even clearly hear the breathing of the people in the room.

Who slept soundly last night, who has been lacking energy these past few days—the subtle fluctuations in their vital energy are like a gentle spring breeze whispering in their ear. The family's health is quietly being strengthened; their spirits and energy are noticeably more vibrant than before the New Year.

The eldest son, Jiang Ming, was the most obvious example. His body contained an uncontainable strength, like a spring that was about to overflow its banks.

Until the early morning of this day, before it was fully light, the family, as usual, went out for their morning exercise despite the chill in the air.

Jiang Yi stood aside, watching his eldest son practice boxing in the field.

Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he sensed that the child's aura had abruptly changed, becoming as still as water and as deep as a well.

There were no more distinct pauses or irregularities in his breathing, nor any unusual sounds.

Like a stream flowing continuously from beginning to end, it meanders through the body, gentle yet uninterrupted.

"The energy is sufficient."

Jiang Yi recalled the few words that Master Liu Zhuang casually mentioned when he was lecturing on the "Three Aspects of Life Cultivation".

It sounded mysterious and unbelievable at first, but now that I've seen it with my own eyes and experienced it firsthand, I know what it's like.

My eldest son started early and was the first to practice that breathing method. Over the years, he has never missed a day and has mastered it very well.

Not to mention the one on the back mountain, who might even be able to offer some pointers.

Such an achievement is quite natural.

This kid is naturally full of energy. If he hadn't buried himself in books in recent years, he probably would have broken through this state of being full of energy long ago.

However, the three aspects of life cultivation are "essence," "vital energy," and "spirit," with each level deeper than the last, and each step closely following the previous one.

The two characters “神旺” are the most mysterious.

Even when Master Liu first spoke about it, he was somewhat hesitant and evasive.

It is said that if one can understand the method of cultivating one's nature, it may be easier to gain something.

Unfortunately, the eldest son of the Jiang family chose the slowest, most arduous, and least advantageous path.

Even with meticulous word choice and painstaking crafting, it would take years and months to truly achieve any real quality.

As soon as I finished my morning exercise, the heat still lingered on my body, but I had already stepped into the house and into the dining hall.

Bowls of porridge and side dishes were already laid out on the table, steaming hot vapor rising up, carrying a unique aroma of medicinal cuisine, warm and comforting.

The family sat down, the sound of chopsticks clinking against bowls was soft, and they didn't talk much.

At this moment, Jiang Ming put down his chopsticks and spoke up:

"Father, about what I talked about with Master Liu a while ago, about planting some rare medicinal herbs... has there been any news since then?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi paused slightly in the bowl of porridge he was holding, almost imperceptibly.

That day at the foot of the mountain, Master Liu did mention it.

It is said that most precious medicinal herbs possess a spiritual quality, which ordinary mortals cannot sustain.

One must cultivate to the point of fullness of essence and energy before even attempting it; otherwise, one will only waste the creation of heaven and earth and will not even be able to survive.

Jiang Ming didn't interrupt; he stood quietly to the side and listened.

Looking back now, it seems that I had kept it in my heart since then.

The child's breathing is now steady and his vital energy is concentrated; he is not far from being "full of vital energy".

Perhaps they felt the time was right and wanted to share the burden with their families.

A warm feeling welled up in Jiang Yi's heart, and he felt that this son was indeed worth raising.

He immediately smiled and replied:
“I’ll remember. When I come back to Liu Family Village to collect the Illusionary Yin Grass next time, I’ll ask carefully to see which rare seedlings require the balance of essence and energy to cultivate.”

Jiang Ming responded softly, with a hint of the earnest expectation that only a young man would have.

She paused, then added, her voice low, but her eyes sparkling:

"Father, ask carefully... among those rare medicinal herbs, are there any fruit trees that grow into edible ones, the kind that taste good? If they can be planted, then plant more of them."

Thank you to 随遇而安91 and yuxian for the donations.

May all my dear readers live forever and enjoy endless revelry!
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(End of this chapter)