At the foot of the mountain, a fierce battle raged.
Jiang Tong'er knew that the thief demon was difficult to contend with.
If he were to gamble on a fight, it would be as if the sun had set behind the western mountains, leaving no clear outcome.
Whether he could achieve victory was still uncertain; if he won, it would be well, but if he lost, would he not be risking his life?
He noticed that the red tassel spear in the thief demon's hand was no ordinary weapon and devised a plan.
He summoned the Heart Monkey Golden Public to assist him, and with a flick of his sleeve, two fish appeared, one black and one white.
The thief demon, unaware of the Heart Monkey's prowess, struck at the two fish as they approached, thrusting the red tassel spear with impressive skill.
The black fish was fierce and excelled in brutal combat, entangling with the thief demon.
The white fish spat out a black pearl, which spun and released a murky breath that adhered to the thief demon, causing him to lose his strength.
The thief demon, showing off his spirit, attacked the black fish, but suddenly the red tassel spear went limp, losing its potency.
He was greatly alarmed and dropped his spear, attempting to flee with the wind.
Jiang Yuan took out the Evil Wind Pearl and exhaled towards it.
The pearl unleashed a gust of foul wind that knocked the thief demon down, preventing him from rising.
He retrieved the Yu Ding and struck the thief demon's crown, ending his life.
As the thief demon fell, he revealed his true form, which was that of a robust black bear demon.
Jiang Yuan concealed the black and white fish and, upon closer inspection, saw that the thief demon had been subdued, allowing him to feel at ease.
He retrieved the red tassel spear, the murky breath dissipated, and he stepped onto the clouds, returning to the Immortal Cave.
...
Before long, Jiang Tong'er returned to the Three Stars Immortal Cave, where Zhen Jian intercepted him, looking around.
He asked, "Is there something wrong, Senior Brother?"
Jiang Yuan tossed the red tassel spear aside, as he did not know how to wield it.
He replied, "What could be wrong? This demon had some abilities, but I have subdued it. Junior Brother, you need not worry."
Zhen Jian was left speechless and said, "Senior Brother, in the past, we spoke of cultivating the Golden Elixir Path; this is the Upper True Path."
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "You are not wrong, but how can desires harm the body and lead to empty cultivation?"
After saying this, he bid farewell to Zhen Jian and walked towards the quiet room.
Zhen Jian watched Jiang Yuan leave in silence for a moment, performed a bow, and also sought a quiet room.
In the quiet room, Jiang Tong'er had just returned and deeply felt the harm of 'desire' in cultivation.
In the past, Zhen Jian still had some left-hand path cultivation, but now he saw it all as the harm of wine and lust, leaving him empty and weak, having not yet begun his cultivation.
Wood Mother, Wood Mother! Among the five, there were truly no idle names.
If he did not subdue Wood Mother, even if he achieved the Golden Elixir Path, sooner or later, desires would harm him.
Tong'er had gleaned Wood Mother's might from Zhen Jian and dared not be careless.
Jiang Yuan thought to himself: "Wood Mother must be taken seriously. I must quietly cultivate to guide Wood Mother back to the right path. Among these five, no one can achieve the Golden Elixir Path without the others. My Master does not deceive me. The Heart Monkey is adept in battle, the Dharma Protector is powerful, the Golden Public aids in enhancing momentum, the Intent Horse provides strength, and the Wood Mother must guard against desires, maintain tranquility, and the Yellow Granny harmonizes. Only then can the five unite!"
Tong'er had just begun to glimpse the right path, knowing its vastness and profundity.
He no longer pondered further, sitting cross-legged on the mat, calming his mind to cultivate and support Wood Mother in traversing the celestial circuits.
...
Time passed swiftly, and after sixteen years of cultivating Wood Mother, he was on the verge of completion.
Wood Mother finally traversed three hundred sixty-four acupoints, and the two gods blocking the way were of no consequence.
Just one more step, and Wood Mother would return to the right path.
As his mind entered a state of tranquility, Wood Mother reappeared.
This time, Wood Mother displayed less desire and more clarity, with nine precepts faintly visible atop her head, indicating that she was close to returning to her rightful place.
The eight desires were no longer beneficial, and Wood Mother's visage took on a human form.
Jiang Yuan said, "We are close to returning to the right path. According to the celestial circuit, there are three hundred sixty-five acupoints. Today we have traversed three hundred sixty-four. Wood Mother, I shall support you in walking this path."
Wood Mother bowed and said, "Thank you, thank you!"
Jiang Yuan manifested the Heart Monkey and Golden Public, and together they walked this path.
The road was murky and difficult to traverse; as they advanced, it felt like walking through a quagmire.
They had to tread lightly; if they stepped heavily, they would sink deeper and find it even harder to move.
Tong'er guided his mind along the path, heading towards the acupoint.
The two gods dared not obstruct them, fearing Tong'er would recite the Daoist incantation and summon the Heart Monkey to fight.
After a long while, they finally reached the three hundred sixty-five acupoint.
Jiang Tong'er led the four to this location, and as Wood Mother arrived here, her expression became clear.
The nine precepts were indeed visible atop her head, and the eight desires were no longer in sight; she had truly returned to the right path.
Wood Mother bowed and said, "I understand, I understand!"
As the saying goes, "One morning of enlightenment," today Wood Mother cast aside her desires and attained clarity.
Jiang Yuan gently stroked Wood Mother and said, "Today, Wood Mother cultivates a righteous fruit. When the acupoints of the celestial circuit open, you must guard against desires, protect your primordial spirit, and not allow your primordial spirit to be bullied by the two gods. Together we shall cultivate the Golden Elixir Path and glimpse the mysteries of the path to immortality!"
Wood Mother bowed again, saying, "I will obey!"
Jiang Yuan felt joy and remained composed; indeed, Wood Mother had returned to the right path, allowing him to keep his mind steady and his spirit unperturbed.
The five had returned to four, and only the Yellow Granny remained.
He was on the verge of completion.
As Tong'er was contemplating, a voice suddenly arose.
"Tong'er, come."
This was the voice of the Patriarch, returning at last.
When Jiang Yuan heard this, he felt his spirit clear, and the mountain appeared renewed.
He thought to himself, "This is the great power of my Master! Since my Master left the mountain, the demons in the mountain have increased day by day. Now that my Master has returned, the mountain is renewed, and I fear no demon would dare enter, only those who bully the weak and fear the strong."
He rose and exited the room, only to see the door of the Patriarch's quiet room wide open.
Peering inside, he saw the Patriarch seated on the mat.
Jiang Yuan stepped forward to pay his respects, moving closer and saying, "Master has returned; why did you not inform your disciple? I would have welcomed you."
The Patriarch smiled, about to say something, but upon seeing Tong'er’s evident prowess, he looked closely and exclaimed, "Tong'er, has Wood Mother returned to her rightful place?"
Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "What a coincidence! Today I have just guided Wood Mother back to the right path, supporting her primordial spirit!"
The Patriarch was astonished upon hearing this, thinking, "In the past, when I was invited by the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva to a Dharma assembly, Tong'er had yet to seek Wood Mother. Now Tong'er has guided Wood Mother back to the right path! After the Intent Horse contended for the path, the five of us must be complete. I did not expect it to be so swift; it must be time for the elixir to be formed, the elixir to be formed!"
In the past, he had thought it difficult for Tong'er to cultivate the right path, as it was hard for mortals in the Southern Zhanbu Continent to walk the path.
Thus, he intended to pass on the teachings of the left-hand path to achieve the right fruit.
He did not expect Tong'er to possess such a strong will, only seeking the right path for cultivation.
Now that he was about to succeed, he was indeed not an ordinary life.
The Patriarch was delighted and said, "Good Tong'er, good Tong'er!"
Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "I still have the Yellow Granny to invite; the five will soon be complete!"
The Patriarch clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "If Tong'er brings the five together, I will surely pass on the secrets of the Dao to you, allowing you to achieve the elixir!"
Jiang Yuan thanked him and then asked how the Dharma assembly had gone.
The Patriarch shook his head and said, "The teachings of the Western Saint Lao Tzu were good at that time, but they will not be so in the future. Sooner or later, the Dharma will surely perish. I hastily listened and returned from the assembly; it was of no use to me. In the years to come, if you attain the Dao, it may be of some use to Tong'er."
Jiang Yuan, upon hearing this, asked, "Master, how does one attain the Dao?"
The Patriarch smiled and said, "One enters the Dao at a hundred zhang; when the elixir is formed, one attains the Dao."
Jiang Yuan leaned forward and asked, "Master, if I achieve the elixir, how do I ascend?"
The Patriarch did not know where to go, took out a ruler, and with a snap, rose from the mat, pretending to strike, saying, "Aiming too high, aiming too high! Only after forming the elixir should you speak!"
Jiang Yuan dodged repeatedly, having served the Patriarch for many years, knowing that he was not angry, and he laughed as he stepped back.
The Patriarch then asked, "Tong'er, that red tassel spear by the gate is yours? That spear is weak, weak! You should also craft a weapon. When the elixir is formed, it would be inconvenient to use the Yu Ding. What weapon do you desire?"
(New book period seeking subscriptions, monthly tickets, recommendation tickets~
If you don't understand, just ask.
Does anyone know what Sha Seng was called in the mundane world?)
(End of chapter)