Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

"I have three insights to share."

Laojun said, "Speak."

Li Yan said, "First, alchemy is like cultivating the Dao."

This principle is consistent with the evolution of grotto-heavens.

Within the grotto-heaven, the dome represents Qian (☰), the earth represents Kun (☷), the movement of the sun and moon represents Yin and Yang, and the five elements and their interactions represent all things.

Alchemy is the process of creating a miniature world.

Lao Jun nodded slightly.

Li Yan continued, "Secondly, the timing of the fire is the way of Heaven."

This principle is applicable to spiritual practice.

The path of spiritual cultivation also requires the right timing and intensity.

If it's not ready, you can't force it.

If the heat is too high, it will backfire.

Lao Jun nodded.

Li Yan said: "Third, the way of alchemy is the way of the mind."

When refining elixirs, one must be completely focused and not let one's mind wander.

If there is even the slightest distraction, the elixir will not be formed.

This principle is consistent with the nature of the mind.

Those who cultivate themselves must also be single-minded and not let their spirit wander.

"If the mind is filled with distracting thoughts, the Way cannot be attained."

After hearing this, Laozi's eyes showed even greater admiration.

"Good. You've managed to comprehend these three levels; it wasn't in vain that I had you train for this."

Li Yan bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Laozi."

Lao Jun raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"No need for formalities. Now that you've finished refining the pills, what are your plans next?"

Li Yan said, "This junior wishes to return to the mortal realm to visit the Monkey King of Flower Fruit Mountain."

Lao Jun nodded slightly.

"That's how it should be. You may go."

Li Yan stood up and bowed deeply to Laozi.

Laozi nodded slightly and closed his eyes.

Li Yan left the quiet room and closed the door.

Standing under the corridor, he exhaled a long breath of stale air.

The energy swirled three times in the void, then transformed into a five-colored auspicious cloud and slowly dissipated.

Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, 324 pills.

Forty-nine days were spent refining elixirs, meditating, and tempering one's character.

These days felt like a dream to him.

When you awaken from your dream, your spiritual practice has greatly progressed, and your character has become even stronger.

While pondering.

Li Yan continued his journey downwards.

When I reached the fourth floor, I paused slightly.

The purple-gold octagonal furnace still stands quietly in the center of the alchemy room.

The flames in the furnace had died down, but the furnace body remained warm and smooth, with a faint, shimmering light.

Forty-nine days ago, when he first entered this alchemy room and faced this divine furnace, he was still somewhat apprehensive.

Now, he can handle it with ease and has even gleaned some of the true essence of alchemy from it.

Looking at the alchemy furnace, Li Yan felt a surge of emotion.

Just then, footsteps came from downstairs.

Li Yan withdrew his gaze and continued his descent.

Upon reaching the third level, they encountered two young Taoist disciples.

One of them had a golden face, a wide mouth, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. He wore an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, a silk sash around his waist, and cloud-patterned shoes.

The other one had a silver mask, narrow eyes, red lips, and white teeth. He wore a moon-white Taoist robe and was dressed exactly like the golden-masked Taoist boy.

The two men, each holding a jade box, were chatting and laughing as they came upstairs.

Upon seeing Li Yan, the two were both taken aback.

The golden-faced Taoist boy looked him up and down before saying:

"Who are you? Why are you wandering around the Tushita Palace?"

The silver-masked Taoist boy tugged at his sleeve and whispered:

"Brother, please don't be rude. This must be the Taoist priest Li who has descended to the mortal realm."

Upon hearing this, the golden-masked Taoist boy glanced at Li Yan again, a look of realization flashing in his eyes.

"Oh! So you're Li Yan, the one who caused such a commotion in the underworld?"

Li Yan nodded slightly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"This humble Taoist priest, Li Yan, greets you two fellow Daoists. May I ask your names?"

The golden-faced Taoist boy grinned, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"My name is Golden Horn, and his name is Silver Horn. We are brothers, and we are responsible for gathering herbs and tending the furnace in the Tushita Palace."

The silver-masked Taoist boy returned the greeting with a bow and smiled:

"My brother and I have heard that Master Li has been refining elixirs upstairs these days."

It is said that the Taoist priest refined thirty-six batches of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, each one perfectly formed, with not a single wasted elixir.

Such skill is rarely seen even in the Tushita Heaven.

Li Yan shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. I merely followed the recipe and succeeded by sheer luck."

Golden Horn waved his hand and said, "Daoist Master, there's no need for you to be modest."

My brother and I have been in the Tushita Palace for many years and have seen many immortals who come to refine elixirs.

Those who can produce thirty-six batches of elixir without a single failure, like this Taoist master, are few and far between.

Silver Horn added, "Exactly. Daoist's skills are enough to awe all the immortals at the Peach Banquet."

Li Yan smiled slightly and said no more.

Just as he was about to take his leave, he suddenly heard Jinjiao say:

"By the way, is the Taoist priest going back to the mortal realm?"

Li Yan nodded: "Indeed. I have troubled you at the Tushita Palace for many days, it is time for me to return."

Golden Horn and Silver Horn exchanged a glance, a strange look flashing across their faces.

Silver Horn hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Daoist Master, there is something I'm not sure if I should say."

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

"Fellow Daoist, please speak."

Seeing his expression, Silver Horn knew that he understood.

"The Taoist priest spent forty-nine days refining elixirs in the Tushita Palace, and forty-nine years have passed since then in the mortal realm."

Golden Horn chimed in, "That Flower Fruit Mountain..."

He suddenly stopped speaking at this point, his expression somewhat complicated.

Li Yan's heart tightened.

"How about Flower and Fruit Mountain?"

Golden Horn and Silver Horn exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

Li Yan looked at them, his mind racing.

"Fellow Daoists, what exactly happened at Flower Fruit Mountain? Please tell us frankly."

Golden Horn scratched his head and looked at Silver Horn.

Silver Horn sighed and said:

"Alright, since the Taoist priest has asked, my brother will speak frankly."

"Not long after the Taoist priest left, some strange things happened in the mortal realm."

"First came some minor demons, who appeared out of nowhere and wandered around Flower Fruit Mountain."

"Those lesser demons didn't attack; they just kept watching from afar, day and night without rest."

At first, Immortal Sun didn't take it seriously, thinking they were just some ignorant little demons, and chased them away.

"But those little demons, once one batch is driven away, another batch comes, endlessly, without end."

As Li Yan listened, his gaze gradually hardened.

Silver Horn continued:

"Later, those lesser demons gradually grew bolder, and somehow, they began to tentatively venture into the mountains."

They can even bypass the great formation and harass those monkey bastards.

"Today we capture a baby monkey, tomorrow we'll kill an old one."

"Sun Shangxian was furious and personally took action, killing all those lesser demons without leaving a single one alive."

"We kill one batch, and another batch comes. Those lesser demons seem endless, impossible to kill or drive away."

Jin Jiao chimed in, "Then things got even stranger."

"Some of my monkey offspring have mysteriously disappeared."

They searched the entire mountain, but found neither the monkey alive nor its body.

"Some monkeys sleep soundly at night, but are lifeless the next morning."

There were no injuries or illnesses on his body, but he had lost his soul.

"And some of their monkey offspring suddenly went mad."

It bites anyone it sees, and doesn't even recognize its own brothers.

Sun Shangxian could only lock them up, but that didn't help; they died within a few days.

As Li Yan listened, his expression gradually became serious.

Every single thing they did was aimed at Sun Wukong.

Silver Horn added, "At first, Immortal Sun was able to handle it."

But as time went on, those things happened more and more, and they became increasingly strange.

"Sun Shangxian gradually became irritable and would get angry at the drop of a hat."

Those monkeys would be scolded if they made even the slightest mistake.

"In the end, even the four elite warriors dared not get close to him easily."

Golden Horn sighed and said:

"My brother and I were sent down to the mortal realm to gather herbs by order of Laozi a few days ago."

I glanced at Flower and Fruit Mountain from afar as I passed by.

"That mountain is still that mountain."

Seventy-two peaks, thirty-six caves, the Zhou Tian Star Array is still in operation.

But the weather in the mountains was completely different from before.

A hazy, gray mist hung over the mountains.

A restless energy emanated from within the mist, a feeling that could be sensed even from a hundred miles away.

Li Yan's heart sank.

That was the calamity of death.

Forty-nine years have passed, and the calamity has seeped out of Sun Wukong's body, spreading throughout the entire Flower Fruit Mountain.

Silver Horn added, "My brother and I dared not approach, but only watched from afar."

Suddenly, a golden light shot out from the mountain, soaring straight into the sky.

"Amidst the golden light, a figure stood on the clouds, holding a golden cudgel."

He looked around, as if searching for something.

Those golden eyes swept across the world, even glancing at my brother and me.

"With just that one glance, my brother felt his heart tremble and his whole body go cold."

He quickly activated the protective talisman bestowed by Laozi to conceal his aura, thus narrowly escaping danger.

Jin Jiao said, "That Immortal Sun is no longer the Immortal Sun he once was."

His aura was more than ten times stronger than before.

But that aura was filled with hostility, making people afraid to get close.

Li Yan remained silent.

He recalled that when he was leaving, the monkey stood on the highest rock, holding Little Drill in its arms.

Her golden eyes were filled with reluctance, yet she forced herself to remain calm.

He recalled that night when the two of them drank together and the words the monkey had spoken.

"If anything happens to you, I, Old Sun, will go to the eighteenth level of hell to bring you back."

Those words still echo in my ears.

But now, forty-nine years later, what has become of that monkey?

Seeing his silence, Silver Horn continued:

"Master, my brother said all this so that you can be prepared."

"That Immortal Sun has changed drastically. Even if he saw the Daoist Master, he might not recognize him."

"If you are going to Flower Fruit Mountain, you must be extremely careful."

Li Yan raised his head and looked at them.

"Thank you for telling me, fellow Daoists. I have noted it down."

Both the Golden Horn and Silver Horn bowed in greeting.

"You're too kind, Daoist Master. My brother and I are also here to wait for you on Laozi's orders."

Li Yan was taken aback.

"Laojun?"

Silver Horn nodded and said, "That's right."

Laozi said that after the Taoist priest finished refining the elixir, he would definitely ask about matters in the mortal realm.

Let my brother and I wait here and tell you the truth.

A warm feeling welled up in Li Yan's heart.

Laozi truly had good intentions.

He bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Laozi, and thank you both, fellow Daoists."

Golden Horn waved his hand and said, "Daoist Master, there's no need for such formalities. It's getting late, Daoist Master, you should set off quickly."

Silver Horn also said, "Take care on your journey, Daoist Master."

Li Yan nodded and turned to walk downstairs.

As we approached the entrance to the Tushita Palace, the blue ox was still lying there leisurely, swishing its tail.

Upon seeing Li Yan emerge, it raised its head, its large, bell-like eyes narrowing into slits.

"Kid, leaving already?"

Li Yan approached and bowed to it, saying:

"Senior, I'll take my leave now. Thank you for your care these past few days."

The blue ox shook its hooves.

"Don't mention it. I, Old Niu, enjoyed your kumquats, so of course I'll take care of you."

As he spoke, he took something out of his pocket and handed it to Li Yan.

It was a blue jade talisman, clear and transparent, with a faint phantom of a blue ox inside, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

"This is a small token of my appreciation."

Carry this talisman with you; if you encounter danger, crush it.

"I, Old Ox, sensed it and came to save you."

Li Yan took the jade talisman and felt a warm sensation enter his mind.

Its gentle warmth also exudes a vast and boundless aura.

He carefully put away the jade talisman and bowed deeply to the green ox.

"Thank you for your kind offer, senior."

The blue ox shook its hooves.

"Go on, go on. Don't keep that monkey waiting."

at the same time.

East of the Divine Continent, Flower and Fruit Mountain.

The mountain is still the same mountain, with seventy-two peaks and thirty-six caves, standing majestically.

In front of the Water Curtain Cave, the waterfall cascades like a ribbon, and water mist rises.

However, the weather in the mountains was completely different from that of 49 years ago.

A hazy mist hung over the mountains, appearing and disappearing intermittently, seemingly there and not there.

A sense of unease emanated from the mist, making one feel restless.

In the mountains, the monkeys are scattered here and there, no longer as lively as before.

Those monkey offspring all looked listless, had dull eyes, and moved slowly.

It was perched in the tree, motionless.

Huddled in the corner, shivering, he muttered to himself.

Some walked around and kept going in circles, as if they couldn't stop.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, all was silent.

The once joyful cave is now eerily silent.

Occasionally, some monkeys would come in and out, but they would keep their heads down, walk quickly, and not dare to make a sound.

Deep within the cave, in a stone chamber.

A golden figure sat cross-legged.

He wore a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, a golden chainmail armor, and lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes.

But the golden crown was crooked.

Golden armor, covered in dust.

The cloud-patterned shoes were covered in mud.

His hairy face was much thinner than before.

His eyes were sunken, his cheekbones were prominent, and his golden eyes were bloodshot.

His aura was vast and boundless, yet restless and uneasy.

The aura was sometimes strong and sometimes weak.

When strong, it is like a volcanic eruption; when weak, it is like a candle flickering in the wind.

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged in the stone chamber, his eyes closed, his breathing heavy.

From time to time, grayish-black mist would emerge from the mouth and nose and be inhaled.

Those mists were the very essence of calamity and defilement.

Forty-nine years have passed, and the calamity has seeped into the depths of the primordial spirit from outside the spiritual platform.

It is intertwined with his destiny, inseparable.

suddenly.

Sun Wukong opened his eyes.

Those golden eyes were now bloodshot, revealing a sense of madness.

He suddenly stood up and kicked the stone table in front of him away.

"Here we go again! Here we go again!"

With a low growl, the monkey paced back and forth in the stone chamber.

"Those scumbags are here again!"

"I, Old Sun, sensed it! They're at the foot of the mountain, on the mountain, in the forest, by the stream!"

"They're spying! They're plotting! They're waiting for me, Old Sun, to slip up!"

"I, Old Sun, am going out! I'm going to kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

Before he could finish speaking, he swayed and was about to rush out of the stone chamber.

Just then, a figure blocked his way at the entrance of the stone chamber.

It was an old monkey, leaning on a cane, trembling.

It was General Beng.

Forty-nine years have passed, and he has grown old.

His once glossy hair is now sparse and gray.

Straightening their backs, they became hunched and crooked.

He stood blocking the entrance to the stone chamber, looking at Sun Wukong with a complex expression in his eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

Sun Wukong stopped and looked down at him.

Those golden eyes were bloodshot and brimming with malevolence.

"Old Beng, get out of the way."

General Beng shook his head.

"Your Majesty, we cannot go out."

Sun Wukong frowned.

"Why not?"

General Beng said, "Has Your Majesty forgotten? Last time we went out, we killed those little demons."

But after the killing, the king regretted it.

"Those little demons are nothing but beasts that have not yet gained sentience."

They were driven here; they had no choice.

"King killing them will only increase the bloodshed and will not benefit you."

As Sun Wukong listened, the fierceness in his golden eyes subsided slightly.

But in just a moment, that malevolent aura surged up again.

"I, Old Sun, don't care! They dare to run wild in my Flower Fruit Mountain; they deserve to die!"

General Beng sighed.

"Your Majesty, you weren't like this before."

"The king of the past, though decisive in killing, never indiscriminately killed the innocent."

"In the past, Your Majesty treated us like family and never lost your temper without reason..."

"That's enough!"

Sun Wukong let out a loud shout, which shook the entire stone chamber.

General Beng swayed and nearly fell.

Sun Wukong stared at him, his golden eyes filled with a mixture of ferocity and struggle.

"Old Beng, it's me, Old Sun... it's me, Old Sun..."

As he spoke, he covered his head and squatted down.

"I, Old Sun, can't control myself... I can't control myself..."

"Those thoughts, those voices, kept drilling into my head..."

"They said that someone wanted to harm me, Old Sun, and the children..."

"Only by killing them all can we protect Flower Fruit Mountain..."

"I, Old Sun, don't want to listen, but they keep talking and talking..."

General Beng looked at him, his eyes filled with heartache.

He slowly stepped forward, extended his trembling hand, and patted Sun Wukong on the shoulder.

"Your Majesty, I understand."

"Your Majesty did not do it on purpose."

"Your Majesty is just... just ill."

Sun Wukong raised his head and looked at him.

Those golden eyes were bloodshot.

"Your Majesty is simply... simply bewitched by those wicked things."

"When Master Li returns, he will surely have a way to cure the king."

As Sun Wukong listened, a glimmer of hope flashed in his golden eyes.

"Brother... will my brother come back?"

General Beng nodded.

"Yes, he will. Master Li said he would definitely come back."

"He said he would make the king wait for him."

"Has Your Majesty forgotten?"

Sun Wukong stared at him blankly for a long time before slowly nodding.

"I, Old Sun... I, Old Sun, haven't forgotten."

"My brother said to tell me, Old Sun, to wait for him."

"I, Old Sun, will be waiting."

General Beng smiled slightly, his wrinkled face revealing a hint of kindness.

"Your Majesty, please wait here. I will go and get you some food."

With that, he turned and walked away unsteadily.

As he reached the door, he glanced back.

General Beng felt a pang of sadness, quickly turned around, and hurried away.

Only Sun Wukong remained in the stone chamber.

He squatted down, holding his head in his hands, muttering to himself.

"I, Old Sun... I, Old Sun, can't hold on much longer..."

"Those sounds...those sounds are getting louder and louder..."

"They said...they said you were lying to me, Old Sun..."

"You're not coming back..."

"You're just... just using me, Old Sun..."

"No! That's not it!"

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his head, and golden light burst forth from his golden eyes.

"My brother wouldn't lie to me! My brother truly cares for me!"

"You bunch of bastards, don't even think about fooling me!"

"I, Old Sun, don't believe it! I don't believe it!"

The roar echoed in the stone chamber, shaking the walls and causing dust to fall.

But after the roar, there was only deathly silence again.

now.

Outside the Water Curtain Cave, the waterfall cascades like a ribbon, and water mist rises from it.

General Beng, leaning on his cane, walked unsteadily out of the cave.

Outside the cave, General Ba was squatting on a rock, gazing into the distance.

Upon seeing him emerge, General Ba hurriedly went to greet him.

"Old Beng, how is the King?"

General Beng sighed and shook his head.

"Still the same old story. It's getting harder and harder to control."

General Ba frowned.

"What should we do? If this continues, the king will surely go mad."

General Beng said, "We can only wait for Master Li to return."

General Ba gave a wry smile.

"Master Li has been in Heaven for forty-nine years, and there hasn't been a single word from him. Who knows if he'll ever return?"

General Beng shook his head.

"Master Li isn't that kind of person. He said he would come back, and he definitely will."

General Ba sighed.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly headed towards the noisy area.

Not far along, they saw a group of monkeys gathered in a circle, chattering and arguing about something.

General Beng parted the monkeys and squeezed into the circle.

In the circle, a small monkey was lying.

The little monkey was about thirty or forty years old, which, according to the lifespan of a monkey, meant it was in its prime.

But at this moment, it lay on the ground, convulsing, foaming at the mouth, and its eyes rolled back.

General Beng's heart sank, and he quickly squatted down to check its breath.

There was still some breath, but it was extremely weak.

He flipped its eyelids over again and saw that its pupils had mostly dilated.

General Ba also squatted down, looked at it for a moment, and said in a deep voice:

"It's the same again. Exactly the same as before."

General Beng nodded, his expression solemn.

"Carry him inside and lock him up."

Several strong young monkeys stepped forward, carefully lifted the little monkey, and carried it into the inner cave.

General Beng stood up, looked at his monkey offspring, and said in a deep voice:

"From this day forward, no one is allowed to leave the cave."

"Anyone who disobeys this order will be expelled from Flower Fruit Mountain and never to be taken back!"

The monkeys looked at each other, but none of them dared to utter a sound.

General Beng waved his hand.

"Everyone, you can leave now."

The monkeys dispersed and went their separate ways.

General Beng and General Ba stood there, looking at the sparse monkey offspring, their hearts heavy.

General Ba said in a low voice, "Old Beng, this can't go on."

"Those lesser demons are still wandering outside the mountains. Although they dare not come in, they spy on us day and night."

"Those monkey bastards, one after another, got into trouble."

Some have disappeared, some have gone insane, and others have died inexplicably.

"The king has turned into that same old thing again..."

General Beng was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"How many of the elixirs left by Master Li are there?"

General Ba said, "There aren't many left."

There are about thirty Qingning Pills left, only a dozen Dingxin Pills, and only three Huling Pills...

General Beng frowned deeply.

"Qingning Pill, one pill a day, only lasts for one month."

"The Tranquilizing Pill will be needed whenever the King gets angry, but it won't last long. The Spirit-Protecting Pill..."

General Ba said, "How about we send someone to the Heavenly Court to find Master Li?"

General Beng shook his head.

"We can't go. We little demons can't even get into the Southern Heavenly Gate, how are we supposed to search?"

General Ba sighed and said no more.

The two stood silently, gazing at the hazy mist, their hearts filled with sorrow.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance.

The commotion was even louder than before.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly headed towards the source of the commotion.

Not far along, they saw a group of monkeys surrounding a figure.

The figure stood on a rock, gesturing wildly and muttering incantations.

It was Marshal Liu.

Forty-nine years have passed, and he has grown old.

He stood on the rock, gesturing wildly and muttering incantations.

"Here it comes!"

"I saw him!"

"He's here to pick me up! He's here to pick me up!"

The monkeys stared at him, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

General Beng and General Ba squeezed into the circle, and when they saw his appearance, their hearts sank.

General Beng stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"Old Liu, wake up!"

Marshal Liu turned his head and looked at him.

A flicker of confusion crossed those cloudy eyes, which then transformed into ecstasy.

"Old Beng! You saw it too? You saw it too?"

"He's here! He's really here!"

"Quick! Come with me! Let's go get him!"

With that, he jumped off the rock and started to run out of the mountain.

General Beng grabbed him.

"Old Liu! Wake up! Nobody's coming! It's an illusion!"

Marshal Liu struggled, shouting:

"It's not a hallucination! It's not a hallucination! I really saw it!"

"He's in the clouds!"

"It's him! He's back!"