Time flies like an arrow, and before one realizes, seven years have passed.
Jiang Tong'er has been diligently refining the Wood Mother, nurturing his nature and cultivating his true self through the passage of days and months.
The Wood Mother exudes a sense of 'laziness' everywhere, able to steal moments of leisure.
Today, she teaches him to traverse one acupoint, but absolutely refuses to attempt a second.
Tomorrow, she will teach him to traverse another, all while wailing and lamenting her unwillingness.
After seven years of grinding, Jiang Yuan has three hundred sixty-five acupoints, having traversed most of them, with ninety-nine remaining.
The Wood Mother claims he should not attempt them, stating that the path ahead is fraught with perilous demonic obstacles, and if he were to proceed, he would surely encounter disaster.
One day, Tong'er realizes that the Wood Mother is not inclined to move forward.
After some contemplation, he understands what is obstructing her—namely, the two deities.
He anticipates that during the struggle with the steeds of his mind, the two deities will retreat and not dare to show themselves again.
Now, emboldened, they dare to reveal themselves and obstruct the Wood Mother from completing her circuit.
Jiang Yuan silently muses, "Two deities, in my weaker years, you taught me to blind my eyes and cloud my heart. This year, I am no longer a mere child."
Having thought this, he calms his mind and spirit, seeking the Wood Mother within one of his acupoints.
Upon seeing her, he finds the Wood Mother in a pig-like form, dozing off, indeed embodying laziness.
Jiang Yuan summons the Heart Monkey, Golden Public, and the Steed of Thought to approach the Wood Mother, remaining silent as he strikes.
The Wood Mother jumps up, tears streaming from her pained heart, and she begins to cry.
The Wood Mother exclaims, "You’re killing me! You’re killing me! Heart Monkey, blame Golden Public, and the Steed of Thought that was cooked—truly deserving of death!"
The Heart Monkey, embodying both black and white fish, becomes enraged, with the black fish’s eyes filled with malice, advancing to bite.
The Wood Mother pretends to flee.
Jiang Tong'er calls out, "Come here, come here! Stop playing around! Wood Mother, hold your tongue!"
The Wood Mother, with her eight desires, delights in all kinds of disputes, often provoking the Heart Monkey's fury, truly a 'battlefield of words, a sea of disputes.' The Heart Monkey, Steed of Thought, and Golden Public heed his command.
The Wood Mother, trembling, cautiously approaches, keeping her distance from the Heart Monkey.
Jiang Yuan instructs the Wood Mother, saying, "Wood Mother, you must uphold the Eight Precepts; how can you transgress?"
The Wood Mother replies, "I dare not, I dare not."
Jiang Yuan's mind settles, ignoring her, and decides to complete a full circuit before discussing further, gazing ahead at the long road.
He sees the path stretching endlessly, unsure when he will arrive.
He does not see the demonic obstacles, yet he knows well that the two deities and the Wood Mother are closely related, aware that the two deities are moving, which is a common occurrence.
Jiang Yuan asks, "Wood Mother, are there truly demonic obstacles ahead?"
The Wood Mother urgently replies, "Truly, truly! How could I deceive you! The demonic obstacles ahead are perilous and difficult to traverse!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan points to the path ahead and says, "In that case, I will have the Heart Monkey, Golden Public, and Steed of Thought accompany you. You lead the way, and I believe the demonic obstacles cannot harm you."
The Wood Mother, seeing the situation, cries out in despair, "Why not wait a bit longer? Let us rest for a few days."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, feigns a strike, scaring the Wood Mother into silence.
Under the urging of the Heart Monkey, Golden Public, and Steed of Thought, they all set out, traversing the remaining ninety-nine acupoints, preparing to complete the circuit.
...
In the quiet chamber, Jiang Yuan opens his eyes and exhales a breath of turbid air.
The two deities obstructing his path are not a concern.
The three of them return to their positions, and the Wood Mother also returns to her place.
As the ancestor said, the struggle of the Steed of Thought is a contest between him and the two deities.
If he wins, all five will surely return to their rightful state.
If the two deities win, his path will be in vain, and hundreds of years of hard cultivation will amount to nothing but a 'dream of yellow millet.'
Tong'er guides the Steed of Thought back to the right path, and if the two deities attempt to obstruct him again, it will be futile.
The five will be complete, and it is inevitable.
Jiang Yuan originally intended to meditate quietly, reciting Buddhist incantations, urging the four to move faster.
Suddenly, he hears a voice from outside the cave.
Jiang Yuan steps out of the quiet chamber and hears urgent knocking at the door.
He approaches and opens the door wide.
Outside stands a person, tattered clothes and shoes, disheveled hair, and barefoot, looking quite ragged.
Jiang Tong'er asks, "Who is in such a hurry here?"
The person outside shouts, "Senior Brother! It’s me! Quickly, let Master save me; my life is in danger, my life is in danger!"
Jiang Tong'er takes a closer look and recognizes the person as a familiar face, a disciple from the Twelve Characters generation under the ancestor, named True Jian.
This junior brother practiced the 'Character Technique' in the past, focusing on talisman arts.
After many years without seeing him, what brings him back to the Immortal Cave seeking help today?
Jiang Yuan asks, "True Jian, why have you come like this?"
True Jian trembles and stammers, "Senior Brother, listen to me. Years ago, I went down the mountain to learn the arts, believing my abilities were high, filled with arrogance, defeating demons and subduing monsters without a second thought. I fought against tigers, leopards, and wolves, claiming my name was not inferior to that of the old Daoist immortals.
In recent years, I have indulged in wine, wealth, and lust, depleting my vital energy, and now, while battling thieves and monsters in the mountains, my talismans have failed, and my path has become unclear, nearly costing me my life. I have come to the mountain to seek Master’s help; Senior Brother, please do not block my way."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan understands the situation and replies, "Master went out many years ago and is not on the mountain now."
True Jian, with tears streaming down his face, laments, "My life is over! My life is over!"
Jiang Yuan asks, "Junior Brother, is there a thief or monster pursuing you?"
True Jian responds, "I do not wish to hide it from you, the thief is fierce and is pursuing me closely."
Jiang Yuan looks down the mountain, sensing a tremor in the earth, and calls upon his primordial spirit for assistance.
Indeed, there is dark energy outside the mountain.
Over the years, he has often patrolled the mountain, ensuring no demons or monsters dared to enter.
Now, with demonic energy present, it must be the vile creature pursuing True Jian.
He says, "Junior Brother, do not panic; first, enter the cave."
True Jian shakes his head and says, "If Master is not here, I cannot trouble you, Senior Brother."
Jiang Yuan replies, "I have my methods to protect you."
Upon hearing this, True Jian finally enters the Three Stars Immortal Cave.
Jiang Tong'er does not enter immediately; he gathers his energy and focuses his eyes, watching for the demonic energy to approach, remaining calm and composed.
True Jian anxiously asks, "Senior Brother, why do you not enter the cave?"
Jiang Yuan replies, "Junior Brother, you go inside; I will subdue this demon and ensure the mountain's spirit beasts are unharmed."
Having said this, he calls upon the Heart Monkey, Steed of Thought, and Golden Public for assistance, preparing to make a full circuit.
The Wood Mother wishes to help, but Jiang Tong'er calls her back, fearing she might complicate matters and incite the Heart Monkey and the others to abandon their tasks.
Jiang Yuan stomps his foot and rises, with the Steed of Thought assisting him, stepping onto the clouds and heading outside the mountain.
True Jian looks closely and sees his Senior Brother stepping on clouds; he is both astonished and bewildered, truly dumbfounded, not expecting his Senior Brother to be a true immortal.
He recalls past events and secretly regrets.
This part is not to be mentioned.
Meanwhile, Jiang Tong'er steps onto the clouds and reaches the foot of the mountain, spying a dangerous thief-monster attempting to ascend.
He then reveals himself to block the path.
This thief-monster resembles a kiln worker, entirely black, with a single eye shining like gold, not knowing whether it is a black bear or a black leopard.
The thief-monster wields a red tassel spear and, seeing Jiang Tong'er’s agile feet, becomes ravenous, saying, "This mountain is indeed a spiritual mountain, with a spiritual child here. Today, you shall serve as my feast."
Jiang Yuan responds, "This mountain is the Daoist site of the Bodhi Ancestor; how dare you trespass? Quickly retreat to avoid disaster to your life."
The thief-monster retorts fiercely, "What does the Bodhi Ancestor matter to you?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan's heart fills with anger; how can he allow his master to be slandered? He curses, "I suspect you possess some abilities, yet you are so audacious."
He raises the Yu Ding to smash down, but the thief-monster, seeing the impending strike, dodges to the side and swings the red tassel spear to attack, leading to a fierce battle.
The Yu Ding and the red tassel spear clash beneath Ling Tai Mountain.
The Yu Ding is heavy, while the spear is long and sharp; Jiang Tong'er’s powers are righteous, and the thief-monster’s techniques are formidable.
After ten exchanges, neither can gain the upper hand.
Jiang Tong'er secretly thinks it is troublesome; this monster's red tassel spear is made of an unknown material, able to withstand the smashing of the Yu Ding.
In such a situation, he must summon Golden Public for assistance.
Without hesitation, Tong'er gathers his spirit and manifests the black and white fish...
(End of Chapter)