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

Chapter 56 Spring's Arrival is Sufficient
As night deepened, Jiang Liang didn't think much of it and took out the pill from his pouch.

By the dim candlelight, I took a closer look.

The pill was no bigger than a thumb, with a smooth, jade-like color and a faint, shimmering light. A faint medicinal fragrance lingered around the tip of the nose.

Gently hold it under your tongue, and it melts in your mouth without any spicy or pungent sensation, transforming into a very slow and lingering warm current.

It seeps silently into the internal organs, along the meridians and bone marrow, slowly unfolding, as if you can hear the subtle nourishing sound.

The energy and blood that had been dissipated during the exercise seemed to be replenished instantly, with even more flowing slowly through the body.

My muscles and bones felt warm and comfortable, as if I were soaking in a good medicinal soup, and even my spirits were lifted.

The medicinal power was subtly nourishing his body, seemingly trying to dispel the lingering ailments accumulated over the years.

A thought stirred within me, and I recalled what Li Wenxuan had said.

Elixirs require the circulation of Qi and blood to be refined.

His gaze fell on the old stick beside him. The stick technique he practiced was characterized by its fierce and wide-open style, which was most effective in stimulating the blood and qi.

Without further hesitation, he grabbed a stick and began waving it around the room.

The wind howled, stirring up the air inside the room, and the warm current surged and churned, causing one's blood and energy to rise.

A low, resonant sound could be faintly heard emanating from deep within the bones, as if greedily absorbing the medicinal power.

This practice continued until the first light of dawn appeared in the east.

Despite not having slept a wink all night, Jiang Liang felt no fatigue whatsoever; on the contrary, he felt more refreshed than usual.

The body's Qi and blood surge like a tide, and energy is so abundant it has nowhere to go.

However, it is also known that things will turn into their opposites when they reach their extreme. If the medicinal effects are so strong and not controlled, they may damage the foundation and leave hidden illnesses.

She didn't get up, but simply turned around and returned to the bed.

With his hands folded and placed on his lower abdomen, his mind gradually calmed down. Following the "Sitting in Oblivion" method taught by his father, he silently observed and carefully analyzed the surging medicinal power within his body.

Before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

As his internal energy gradually calmed, the medicinal effect under his tongue also subsided, but it never completely stopped.

It remains like a long, warm current, quietly nourishing the body and vital energy, silently and continuously.

I slept very soundly, and when I woke up again, the sun was high in the sky.

Morning light streamed through the window paper, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Outside the courtyard, the martial arts training ground was already filled with shouts and noise, creating a great commotion.

He didn't go to roll call, and no one came to urge him at all.

He simply stood up and stretched, taking a look at his spirits. Not only had they not diminished, but they seemed even more full of energy.

The long, warm current in my body was still slowly flowing through me, warming my muscles and bones, as if I were soaking in a warm soup, feeling comfortable and at ease.

I couldn't help but marvel at how extraordinary this thing truly was.

Jiang Liang quickly got up and headed straight for the kitchen.

He devoured more than ten meat buns in a whirlwind, quickly replenishing the energy he had depleted overnight.

He picked up the mottled old stick and threw it straight into the training ground.

When fighting with others, the surge of qi and blood is even greater than when practicing alone, which also helps the medicinal properties under the tongue to dissolve more easily.

He glanced around the arena and found an opponent he usually sparred with.

Without saying much, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, nodded slightly, and stepped forward to stand still.

The opponent was a rising star among the younger generation of the county constable, wielding a long spear with steady and experienced moves.

In the past, he relied on his solid physique, while Jiang Liang relied on his long breath and varied staff techniques.

The two fought fiercely, with each gaining an advantage and losing a disadvantage, making it difficult to say who was superior.

But once I got my hands on it today, the situation had already subtly changed.

The spear, like a dragon, aimed straight for the face.

Jiang Liang turned his body slightly to the side, and held the long stick diagonally in his hand.

It was neither a direct block nor a parry, but rather a skillful deflection that cleverly led the spear's momentum astray.

The staff trembled slightly, transforming into an indistinct afterimage as it swiftly struck the opponent's wrist, a vital point.

The gunman reacted quickly, retracting the gun tip and tapping it on the ground, using the momentum to take a half-step back.

Jiang Liang, however, gave him no chance to catch his breath and pressed on relentlessly.

The staff's movements were like a surging tide, one wave after another. Sometimes they were wide and sweeping, with power as heavy as a mountain; other times they were like a coiling dragon, specifically seeking out the gaps in the joints and muscles.

His movements were steady, yet his breathing was long and unimpeded.

Every move was ruthless, yet it concealed a calm and methodical approach.

All the force was used precisely where it was needed, without any waste, and the remaining momentum was swiftly and cleanly withdrawn.

The gunman tried his best, but found that the other side was impenetrable and had a terrifyingly long breathing pattern.

In just a few rounds, he was forced into a predicament, barely able to parry, with no room for further counterattack.

Upon returning home, Jiang Liang first nourished his muscles and bones with medicinal food and baths, and then the pill under his tongue continuously nurtured his vital energy and spirit.

In terms of physical strength and foundation, he has quietly caught up, and even shows signs of surpassing.

Now, not only is his foundation solid, but his breathing has also become more focused, and his stick techniques have become increasingly refined.

More importantly, the calmness and discipline with which he made his moves gave him a significant advantage.

As the battle raged, the pill under Zhengjue's tongue dissolved at an accelerated rate.

Unfortunately, his opponent couldn't withstand more than a few moves before being in dire straits. With the outcome already decided, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unfulfilled excitement.

Just as I was figuring out how to finish, or add a few more finishing touches, a voice of praise suddenly came from behind me:
“Well fought!”

It was none other than Instructor Lin.

Before the words were even finished, another sentence followed, carrying an undeniable force:
"Be careful!"

Jiang Liang felt a sudden gust of wind behind him, and a sharp, gust of wind rushed towards him.

Almost instinctively, he blocked with his stick at a tricky angle, using the force of the impact to pull himself aside.

Once he steadied himself and looked up, he saw that Instructor Lin had somehow appeared, holding a long staff and pointing it at him with a mocking smile on his face.

Jiang Liang's heart skipped a beat, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

This is completely different from the brief sparring we just had!

Without saying a word, he lowered the long staff in his hand, channeled all his strength, and charged straight at the attacker.

Instructor Lin was a seasoned master who had perfected his cultivation and possessed profound skills.

Although Jiang Liang gave it his all, he knew he was no match for him.

However, Coach Lin did not intend to defeat him this time.

He didn't offer much advice, but deliberately kept his speed and force low.

Each move was delivered smoothly and effortlessly, drawing him into making a move and forcing him to respond.

In this unprecedentedly fierce battle, Jiang Liang felt his blood and qi boiling and his bones being scorched by raging fire.

The medicinal power of the pill under his tongue seemed to have found a catalyst, instantly igniting and transforming into a violent warm current that frantically permeated his entire body.

Power surged forth endlessly, and the more he fought, the more energetic he became, his staff strikes grew increasingly fierce, carrying an unstoppable sharpness.

His mind was unusually clear, as if he could see through every move of Instructor Lin and predict what would happen next.

However, the body's reaction is always a beat slower than the thought of turning, failing to keep up completely.

After Coach Lin personally taught him a few moves that day, Jiang Liang's life on the training ground changed completely.

The opponents are no longer their peers who are still somewhat green.

Instead, they were replaced by several experienced and highly skilled veteran coaches from the company.

Coach Lin's stoicism, Coach Qian's speed, Coach Sun's cunning... these seasoned veterans took turns on the field.

Regardless of victory or defeat, they focused on suppressing his strength and forcing his techniques, as ruthless as if they were forging iron.

Under this intense and relentless tempering, Jiang Liang was refined layer by layer, his impetuousness and superficiality being shed.

The "essence-nourishing pill" under the tongue also quietly dissolved during this daily polishing process.

That long, warm current, forced by the force of the fists and the sticks, seeped into the bones and internal organs, penetrating very deeply.

The low hum between the muscles and bones gradually subsided, replaced by a deep, restrained yet powerful force that was poised to be unleashed.

Time flies when you're practicing hard.

The thin snow outside had melted sometime earlier, and new green shoots were quietly peeking out from under the eaves.

The scrutinizing look in the eyes of the instructors in the academy had transformed into a subtle expectation.

Before I knew it, spring had arrived, and it was time to get up and head to Liangzhou Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)