As the saying goes, "In the mountains, there are no sun or moon, and the seasons do not pass by."
Since Jiang Tong'er refined the Golden Sovereign into two forms, more than sixteen years have passed unnoticed.
Jiang Yuan's cultivation has become increasingly arduous.
It is said that within the Lung Palace, there are two pearl-like orbs, forged by the fires of both civil and martial arts, glowing red throughout the furnace.
The progress of the two orbs is slow and torturous; without a heart of stone, one cannot succeed.
However, Jiang Tong'er's heart has settled, his primordial spirit is agile, and with the assistance of the Yu Ding, he is able to focus on the refining process.
Unless the Golden Sovereign emerges, he will not cease.
On this day, Jiang Yuan was inhaling and exhaling heavenly fire on the moss, ensuring the martial fire in the Lung Palace burned continuously, refining the two orbs.
Just as he was about to complete his work, he suddenly heard the voice of his master and did not dare to be negligent, returning to his cave dwelling.
Upon returning to the Xie Yue San Xing Cave, he bowed to his master, who sat high on the platform.
Jiang Yuan saluted and said, "Disciple pays respects to Master."
The master replied, "Tong'er, do not be overly polite. Have you encountered difficulties in your cultivation?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Master, the Golden Sovereign is difficult to refine. I have been using Yin Yang Fire for the refining process, and it cannot be completed in just a few decades."
The master nodded and smiled, saying, "It is difficult to invite five people. If I were to teach you to invite five people for several decades, why would it be called the Golden Elixir's true path? The reason is that the true path is difficult, and the true path is profound; do not treat the Golden Elixir as trivial!"
Jiang Yuan bowed his head and said, "Disciple understands and will diligently cultivate."
The master looked at the boy with appreciation, and after a long while, he descended from the platform to help the boy up, saying, "I have called you here today to see your cultivation, which is one matter, but there is another matter that requires you to take a trip."
Jiang Yuan said, "I will obey Master’s orders without question."
The master extended his hand from his sleeve and pointed outside the cave, saying, "Outside Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, thirty miles to the west, there is a mountain called 'Yu Zhu Mountain.' A cultivator has come there, and the demons have captured him. Tong'er, you must go and subdue the demons to rescue the cultivator."
Jiang Yuan replied, "Master, please wait a moment. Teach me how to capture the demons and rescue the cultivator."
Having said that, Jiang Tong'er walked outside the cave.
Once he exited, he leaped fifty zhang into the air, clenched his fists, and swiftly darted westward.
He leaped high and far, reaching for the clouds, moving much faster than one would expect.
……
Jiang Yuan flew for an unknown amount of time, only realizing that the sky was turning dark as he arrived at Yu Zhu Mountain.
He looked up at the mountain and saw it was like jade bamboo, with transparency and brilliance everywhere, truly a good place.
Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain is originally a place of the immortals, and as the saying goes, "Those who are close to vermilion become red, and those who are close to ink become black."
There are many good lands around Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.
Jiang Yuan stood at the foot of the mountain, channeling his qi into his eyes, causing the Mud Palace to tremble.
With the assistance of his primordial spirit, he looked up at the mountain and noticed a black mist swirling around it, indicating the presence of demonic energy.
He then began to ascend the mountain, leaping high and stepping lightly through the forest, heading into the mountain.
Upon reaching the summit, he saw a pavilion, and at the entrance hung a sign that read "Yu Zhu Mountain Mountain God’s Abode," from which demonic energy emanated, indicating that a demon resided there.
Jiang Yuan was both surprised and curious, secretly thinking, "How bold to impersonate the Mountain God! I wonder what kind of Mountain God this is."
He gathered his energy, stepped silently towards the pavilion, and as he approached the entrance, he noticed two wolf-headed demons whispering to each other.
Jiang Yuan intended to eavesdrop, using a spirit of grass and wood to conceal himself, ensuring the two demons could not see him.
The two demons, being of low cultivation and shallow in power, were unaware of the presence of a boy with six ears.
The larger, white-haired wolf-headed demon said, "Brother, recently, there have been many travelers passing by. The king has said to capture three people, each to serve as our food."
The smaller, gray-haired wolf-headed demon licked his lips and said, "Elder brother, I know more than you. Let me explain in detail. That person is from the Southern Zhanbu Continent. Due to the three disasters occurring in the continent, people are fleeing in all directions. The people from Southern Zhanbu Continent are delicious and agile, much better than those from the Western Niu He Continent!"
The white-haired wolf-headed demon exclaimed, "No wonder, no wonder! It turns out to be a person from Southern Zhanbu Continent! Someone was captured yesterday and is being held inside. The king has not yet eaten; I wonder if my brother and I can share a bit."
Using the spirit of grass and wood to listen, Jiang Tong'er was shocked and thought, "So that’s how it is! I didn’t expect there to be many people from Southern Zhanbu Continent in the Western Niu He Continent, all fleeing from the three disasters. The three disasters are war, plague, and famine; the people from Southern Zhanbu Continent should flee! However, unexpectedly, they fled to the Western Niu He Continent, and instead of being harmed by the sea waves, they were eaten by these demons."
Jiang Yuan could not contain his anger.
He did not know how many people had been devoured by these mountain demons in recent days.
He thought of this and decided not to dwell on it any longer, leaping out.
The two wolf-headed demons were startled to see Jiang Yuan, not expecting a six-eared boy to be present.
The white-haired wolf-headed demon shouted, "Who is that?"
Jiang Yuan replied, "I am Jiang Yuan, the eldest disciple of the Bodhi Patriarch from Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain, Xie Yue San Xing Cave. I have received my master's orders to eradicate the demons of Yu Zhu Mountain and rescue a cultivator!"
The two wolf-headed demons exchanged glances, secretly thinking that the newcomer was not friendly.
However, upon seeing Jiang Yuan's agile aura, they realized he possessed power and turned to flee.
Jiang Yuan would not allow the two demons to escape.
With a flick of his sleeve, two fish, one black and one white, appeared and struck at the two demons’ heavenly spirits.
The black fish, fierce and aggressive, chased after them, striking true at the two demons’ heavenly spirits.
With a single blow, the two demons fell to the ground, lifeless, transforming into two large wolves, one white and one gray.
Jiang Yuan waved his sleeve, sending the black and white fish towards the pavilion door, causing chaos within.
"Who dares to disturb my cave dwelling!"
A voice of anger came from within the pavilion.
Before long, a figure emerged, dressed in armor and wielding a steel whip, resembling a thunder god, with a gaping mouth that looked extremely ferocious.
Jiang Yuan called out his name again and asked, "Have you captured a cultivator?"
The creature arrogantly replied, "I have captured many people. How would I know if they are cultivators? As long as they enter my belly to help me cultivate, they will serve to warm my longevity."
Jiang Yuan shouted angrily, "Arrogant! I thought you possessed some kind of power, but why are you so boastful? Watch as I subdue you!"
Having said that, Jiang Tong'er leaped into action, and the black and white fish appeared, swirling like twin pythons.
With his heart settled and strength gathered, he was determined to subdue the demon.
The demon, seeing Jiang Yuan's agility, was greatly alarmed.
It swung its steel whip to block the twin pythons and attempted to capture Jiang Yuan to warm its longevity.
The two engaged in a fierce battle within the pavilion.
Jiang Yuan practiced the righteous path, his power was small, and he was just beginning his journey.
He had the advantage of righteousness, while the demon, who consumed people for longevity, was powerful but ultimately ineffective, and was exceedingly vicious, losing out due to its wickedness.
After fighting for seven or eight exchanges, Jiang Yuan found he could not subdue the demon.
He commanded the black fish to fight fiercely, and he pulled back his form, retreating five or six zhang to retrieve the Yu Ding.
Seeing an opening, he hurled it at the demon.
The demon, entangled with the black fish and unable to gain the upper hand, was caught off guard by the sudden drop of the Yu Ding, striking its heavenly spirit, causing the demon to collapse instantly.
Jiang Yuan retrieved the Yu Ding, using the black and white fish to protect himself, and moved closer.
He saw the demon reveal its true form; it was not a mountain god but a fierce old wolf, over a zhang in size.
Jiang Tong'er secretly rejoiced, saying, "Fortunately, I had the Yu Ding; otherwise, capturing an old wolf would have taken who knows how long."
After defeating the old wolf, he headed into the pavilion to rescue the cultivator.
Entering the pavilion, he saw the walls lined with countless white bones, not knowing how many people the old wolf had devoured, its evil deeds abundant.
Jiang Yuan continued deeper, determined to rescue the person…
(End of Chapter)