Jiang Yuan listened to his Master’s words, teaching him the 'Fei Ju' technique.
He clenched his fists, lifted his body, and leaped into the air, soaring ten zhang with each jump, pulling his body along, each pull measuring one zhang.
By the time of the meal, he had leaped over eighty zhang.
He was both astonished and delighted; how could he leap eighty zhang? One hundred zhang was the threshold for entering the Dao, and here he was, leaping over eighty zhang.
In this western journey along the Golden Road, he had not cultivated, yet his heart monkey had returned to submission here.
With just a bit more refinement, the heart monkey would be entirely under his control, and he was close to entering the Dao.
Jiang Yuan was overjoyed and landed back on the ground, seeing his Master calm and composed, knowing that his Master understood the matter of his heart monkey.
Jiang Yuan asked, “Master, why is the heart monkey behaving this way?”
The Master replied, “In this western journey, you must firmly guard your mind, preventing the two spirits from finding any openings. Travel a thousand miles, with your mind as the reins; over time, the heart monkey will naturally submit to you.”
Jiang Yuan joyfully said, “If that is the case, does it mean I am about to enter the Dao?”
The Master answered, “The heart monkey, the wild horse, the Golden Lord, the Wooden Mother, and the Yellow Granny—these five entities, if you can protect one, you may enter the Dao. This morning, with the heart monkey mostly subdued, you are indeed close. However, child, you must beware of impatience and haste; do not let your efforts be in vain at this moment.”
Jiang Yuan acknowledged, “Yes.”
How could he not know that the closer one was to success, the more one should not let their guard down?
He looked around and noticed a refreshing aura, saying, “Master, this place has spirit.”
The Master lightly tapped Jiang Yuan's forehead and scolded with a smile, “If there were no spirit here, why would I come?”
Jiang Yuan covered his head in pain, walking towards the Golden Road, unsure if it was real pain or feigned.
The Master smiled and walked ahead.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the foot of Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.
They saw the mountain towering majestically, truly a place where a thousand peaks stood like spears, and ten thousand cliffs opened like screens—a magnificent spiritual mountain.
The two entered the mountain.
Upon entering, they saw various rare flowers and auspicious herbs within the mountain, truly embodying the phrase ‘thin vines entwined around old trees, ancient ferries leading to secluded paths, the calls of distant birds nearby, and the sound of clear springs flowing.’ Indeed, it was a blessed land of the immortals.
Jiang Yuan felt his spirit refreshing and invigorating; this mountain was like a world apart from Shangjing Mountain.
The Master was also quite satisfied with this mountain.
Upon reaching the mountainside, he asked, “Child, do you feel this mountain has any shortcomings?”
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, “This mountain is marvelous!”
The Master smiled and nodded, saying, “In that case, let us use this mountain as a cave dwelling and a Daoist temple, providing a fixed place for you. In the future, when you travel, you can come and go, and there will be a place to return to.”
Jiang Yuan asked, “Master, are you planning to reopen a cave dwelling? Do you need my assistance? Please instruct me.”
Like the cave dwellings in Shangjing Mountain, they must have been opened by human hands.
The Master shook his head and refused, “No need. Child, you just need to find a tree and a place to settle down and cultivate. I will clear the mountain wall, establish a cave dwelling, and then call you back.”
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, could only agree.
He was close to entering the Dao, yet his abilities were still shallow, and his magical power was low.
If he rashly assisted the Master, it would only hinder him.
The Master went up the mountain to find a spiritually suitable place to open a cave dwelling.
Jiang Yuan also set off, searching for an old cypress grove in the mountain.
He stood tall and looked around; this place was a ‘half-cloudy, half-rainy green space,’ a good place for cultivation.
He chose this location for his practice.
Time flew swiftly, winter ended, and spring arrived, passing in a year.
Jiang Yuan, on Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, found an old cypress grove, just like before, drinking dew in the morning and dining on the wind in the evening.
The dew on Fang Cun Mountain was sweet, and the wind was fragrant.
He cultivated here, truly achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Today, Jiang Yuan leaped over eighty-three zhang.
He estimated that in ten years, he would surely have the heart monkey entirely under his control, focused solely on protecting his primordial spirit, without any distractions.
During this day, while Jiang Yuan was cultivating, he felt a great tremor in the mountain, with hidden golden light soaring, like an earth dragon turning over, and stones rolling down.
He stood up from the old cypress grove, gazing towards the mountain peak, discerning that it was his Master’s doing.
This must be the Master opening the cave dwelling.
Jiang Yuan sighed, “Master is indeed a celestial being, possessing great magical power; opening a cave dwelling can cause the mountains to shake.”
His own abilities were not yet sufficient, and he knew how difficult this was.
If he were to cultivate a side path, he might also gain such immense power, but that was not the path he sought.
He had not yet collected his heart and continued to cultivate.
Suddenly, he saw boundless light coming from the west, causing the old cypress trees to bow low, fearing this boundless light.
Who could this be?
Such a commotion.
Jiang Yuan stood up, revealing a pair of black and white fish in his sleeves.
He gazed at the boundless light.
He saw the boundless light descend upon Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, pausing above his head for a moment before heading towards the mountain peak.
This was someone coming to seek his Master.
Uncertain of the matter, Jiang Yuan did not think much of it.
Suddenly, a gust of wind arose in the mountain, and the wind carried a voice.
“Child, hurry up the mountain.”
It was the Master’s voice.
Jiang Yuan did not hesitate, using the momentum of the black and white fish, moving like a startled rabbit, swiftly traversing the mountain.
In no time, he had reached the mountain peak.
Upon reaching the peak, he saw a cave dwelling with its door tightly shut, as if it were not yet completed.
In front of the cave dwelling was a table, and on both sides of the cushions sat two people.
The Master was on the right, and on the left was a figure dressed as a Bodhisattva, truly divine, radiating boundless light from within.
Jiang Yuan approached, dispersing the black and white fish, performing a grand salute, saying, “Master, I have arrived.”
The Master nodded and said, “This is the Great Compassionate and Great Merciful Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, who is currently cultivating on Mount Pu Tuo in the South Sea. You should not fail to pay your respects.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan immediately understood who this Bodhisattva was; it was indeed Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.
No wonder there was such boundless light.
He promptly performed the greeting, saying, “Guangxin pays respects to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.”
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva looked at Jiang Yuan, a bit surprised, knowing he was close to entering the Dao, and said, “Guangxin is a person from the Southern Zhanbu continent?”
Jiang Yuan nodded, “Yes, returning to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, that is correct.”
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva half sighed and half praised, “The Southern Zhanbu continent has long been depleted of its spirit, yet it can still produce such an extraordinary talent. Truly incomparable to the Western Niu He continent. Bodhi Dao brother, you have great abilities!”
The Master smiled and clasped his hands, saying, “It is not my ability, but the child’s spiritual nature. The spiritual nature of the Southern Zhanbu continent has yet to inquire why the Bodhisattva has come.”
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva shook his head and said, “I have come to inquire on behalf of the World Honored One, wanting to know what Bodhi Dao brother is doing in the Western Niu He continent. Now I know that Bodhi Dao brother is establishing a Daoist temple cave dwelling on Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain. I can report back to the World Honored One, allowing him to rest assured.”
The Master said, “Just tell the World Honored One that I have entered the Western Niu He continent, not seeking to compete or grab, but this territory belongs to me. The various matters of the Buddhist sect shall not enter this place.”
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva nodded, seemingly in agreement with the Master’s words.
Jiang Yuan, upon seeing this, felt a bit startled and then realized that the Western Niu He continent belonged to the Buddhist sect.
His Master had brought him to this place to establish a Daoist temple cave dwelling, and the Buddha in the Buddhist sect would indeed be unable to sit still, coming to inquire about the reason.
The World Honored One must be the Tathagata.
The Master was indeed a person of great magical power; merely by establishing a Daoist temple, he had caused the Buddhist sect to come and inquire.
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva did not speak further with the Master, smiled at Jiang Yuan, and stepped onto the clouds, heading westward, truly swift.
The Master saw Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva leave and turned to say, “Child, you have come at the right time; the cave dwelling has been completed. Come, come!”
The Master walked towards the cave dwelling.
Jiang Yuan saw that the cave dwelling was indeed completed and was slightly surprised, realizing that the Master had intentionally not invited Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva into the cave dwelling.
The Master seemed somewhat averse to the Buddhist sect…
(End of Chapter)