Jiang Yuan sat in the quiet room, cross-legged on the mat, peering into his Heart Palace.
He saw two fish, one black and one white, swimming in a clear pool within the Heart Palace, living freely and at ease.
He could still sense that the Heart Monkey was just a step away from returning to its rightful place.
The Heart Monkey would eventually settle!
Jiang Yuan felt joy in his heart, his face calm, yet he knew this was a crucial moment; he could not afford to let the two spirits find an opening and disrupt his quiet cultivation.
He leaped from the mat, his body swift, the black and white fish appearing beneath him, lifting him into the air.
He jumped a hundred meters, feeling light as a feather, soaring over the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave and ascending higher.
Before long, Jiang Tong'er reached the top of a mountain, opened his mouth, and a gust of wind swept through, three parts entering his throat.
Borrowing the Wind Spirit, he sat down, allowing the spirit to enter the Heart Monkey, completing the final touches.
As the spirit entered with the wind, the black and white fish in the pool of the Heart Palace seemed to receive divine assistance, a spark of intelligence appearing in their dull eyes.
Jiang Yuan stood up, feeling a tremendous force manifest within him, which he could not control.
The power surged from his Heart Palace, and he saw a great golden light rise, shaking the sun and moon, turning the night into day.
The black and white fish, as if having attained their true form, leaped joyfully, swimming around him and forming a Tai Chi.
“Today, the Heart Monkey cultivates to attain its true form, and the Heart Palace settles. I must protect my Yuan Shen well, ensuring it does not suffer bullying. I will wait for Yi Ma, Jin Gong, Mu Mu, and Huang Po to return to their places, allowing the Consciousness Spirit and Desire Spirit to dissipate.”
Jiang Yuan extended his palm from beneath his robe, gently stroking the black and white fish.
The black and white fish rubbed against his palm, as if agreeing with his words.
Jiang Yuan brought the black and white fish into his Heart Palace; with the Heart Monkey subdued, he could also utilize its power.
The black and white fish represented the duality of black, which signified combativeness, and white, which signified tranquility.
The black fish taught him to be fierce and unyielding, while the white fish taught him to be as gentle as water, cultivating through stillness.
Jiang Yuan felt nothing but joy; today he entered the Dao, marking the beginning of his path to immortality.
He sensed the subtle changes within him, a hidden transformation occurring.
As he thought of this, he shook his body, clenched his fist, and leaped twenty zhang, stretching his form by one zhang with each pull.
In the blink of an eye, he stretched eighty zhang, reaching a hundred zhang before landing.
Jiang Yuan had finally entered the Dao.
Jiang Tong'er landed, eager to report the news to his Master.
Just as he turned, he saw his Master standing not far away, smiling and watching him.
Jiang Yuan quickly walked over, bowing in gratitude: “Master, your disciple has entered the Dao!”
His Master helped him up, joyfully saying, “Tong'er, well done! To enter the Dao in such a short time is commendable! Now that you have entered the Dao, I am also pleased to say, Tong'er, follow me back to the cave and I will explain everything to you in detail.”
Jiang Yuan responded with an “Yes,” following his Master back to the cave.
His Master observed him, feeling proud.
This child had settled his Heart Monkey, and compared to before, he showed a bit more joy, becoming more cautious and steady.
If he could achieve Golden Core in the future, he would surely cultivate great power.
His Master led Jiang Yuan down the mountain.
…
Before long, they returned to the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave.
His Master brought Jiang Tong'er to the Yao Platform within the cave.
Puti Patriarch ascended the platform and sat high, with only Jiang Yuan below listening.
The Master said, “Tong'er, now that you have entered the Dao, the principles of avoiding arrogance and impatience need no further explanation from me. You should understand that settling the Heart Monkey is the first step on the path to Golden Core. The wonders of the path to immortality are yet to be heard, and there are still four individuals you need to invite.”
Jiang Yuan listened attentively and nodded, saying, “Master, I understand. The four are Yi Ma, Jin Gong, Mu Mu, and Huang Po, corresponding to the kidneys, lungs, liver, and spleen.”
His Master smiled and said, “You are correct, Tong'er. The Heart Monkey is brave, and among the five, it possesses the greatest divine power. The Consciousness Spirit and Desire Spirit fear the Heart Monkey and do not dare to cause trouble. However, the Heart Monkey is most fond of wandering thoughts, and settling it is just so. Thus, it cannot keep the Consciousness Spirit and Desire Spirit in check. If the two spirits find an opportunity, they will conspire to harm your Yuan Shen, causing your hard work to come to naught.”
Jiang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, his hair standing on end.
Now that he had cultivated a small amount of power, the Heart Monkey was in use, and his Yuan Shen was agile, the situation was favorable, just like a “tiger descending the mountain,” unstoppable, ready to gather the five and sweep away the two spirits.
Hearing his Master’s words, he realized the need for vigilance against the two spirits.
He recalled the tale from the great dream, the book “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” where Guan Yu’s might shook the land, shining brightly.
Yet, at the peak of his glory, he was most susceptible to oversight, leading to his demise.
There is a saying: “Arrogant soldiers are bound to fail.”
This was just like him; at the beginning of entering the Dao, it was easy to overlook, and he must remain alert to be steady.
Jiang Yuan said, “Master, I understand. I do not know which one I should invite next.”
Initially, his Master had said that the Heart Monkey was brave, so he first invited the Heart Monkey.
Now, for this invitation, he was unsure whom to invite among the remaining four.
His Master said, “Among the five, the Heart Monkey is the bravest. For the next invitation, you should choose between Yi Ma and Jin Gong. The Heart Monkey can control Yi Ma, acting as the reins for Yi Ma. If the Yuan Shen has Yi Ma, it can travel a thousand miles in a day! The Heart Monkey and Jin Gong, Jin Gong represents weapons. If the Heart Monkey can obtain weapons, its might will greatly increase.”
His Master elaborated on the uses of the two; Yi Ma is for the Yuan Shen, aiding it to travel a thousand miles in a day, while Jin Gong is for the Heart Monkey, serving as its weapons, enhancing the Heart Monkey’s might.
The uses of the two are entirely different from that of the Heart Monkey.
Indeed, each of the five has its own wonders.
Jiang Yuan pondered for a long time, unable to find a way, so he asked his Master, “Master, I do not know how to choose.”
His Master lowered his gaze to observe the child, pondering for a moment, then said, “Tong'er, invite Jin Gong.”
Jiang Yuan replied, “Yes!”
Jin Gong is for the Heart Monkey, serving as its weapons, enhancing the Heart Monkey’s might.
Just like in “Journey to the West,” where Sun Wukong wields the Ruyi Jingu Bang, Sun Wukong’s might greatly increases with the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
His Heart Monkey is represented by the black and white fish; he did not know what Jin Gong was, but if he could obtain Jin Gong’s assistance, the Heart Monkey would surely become even more formidable.
Jiang Yuan originally wanted to ask his Master to teach him more about the Dao.
Suddenly, his Master sensed something unusual and looked outside the cave, saying, “Tong'er, someone has come to settle down at the foot of the mountain. You may go and receive them. If they wish, they can reside in the mountain, ensuring that the tigers, leopards, snakes, and insects do not disturb the tranquility and do not harm lives.”
Jiang Yuan stood up and bowed, saying, “Yes!”
After speaking, he walked out of the cave, unsure of whom his Master referred to, but trusting his Master’s words; since it was said so, there must indeed be someone at the foot of the mountain.
…
Jiang Yuan stepped out of the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, his body light and agile, leaping one or two zhang down the mountain.
The Spirit Platform Square Inch Mountain had no path; to descend, he had to pass through grass, trees, and bamboo groves, crossing a mountain spring.
After walking three or four zhang, he saw a white deer coming from afar, leaping in front of him and bowing down, inviting him to mount.
Jiang Yuan smiled without speaking, gently stroking the white deer, and leaped onto its back.
Now that he had entered the Dao, he possessed spiritual energy, attracting the spirits of the mountain.
“Let’s head down the mountain.”
Jiang Yuan patted the white deer.
The white deer cried out and moved swiftly, bounding down the mountain like a rabbit.
As Jiang Tong'er descended, celestial cranes circled above him, mysterious apes swung through the trees, and golden lions hid among the grass, seemingly protecting his path.
Before long, Jiang Yuan, surrounded by the spiritual beasts of the mountain, arrived at the foot of the Spirit Platform Square Inch Mountain.
He rode the white deer, looking around, but did not see anything unusual at the foot of the mountain.
His heart was as calm as water, making no move, sitting quietly on the deer’s back, waiting patiently…
(End of Chapter)