Time truly flies; before one realizes, a month has passed.
Jiang Yuan had practiced the One Hundred and Eight Great Methods, mastering the Earthly Fiend Numbers and the Seventy-Two Transformations.
The essence of this method was already clear to him.
This method encompassed all things, possessing the ability to command spirits and control demons, as well as the power to move stars and change constellations.
While it was easy to practice, refining it was difficult.
To achieve refinement would require many years.
However, the young one had no intention of mastering it thoroughly; he still had the Thirty-Six Celestial Numbers to learn, which he had not yet completed.
He planned to fully master the One Hundred and Eight Great Methods before refining this method.
On this day, Jiang Yuan had completed his study of the Earthly Fiend Technique and was about to learn the Celestial Numbers when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Jiang Yuan opened the door to find a clumsy monkey standing outside, looking around.
It was none other than Sun Wukong.
Not understanding his intention, Jiang Yuan asked, “Junior Brother, why have you come here instead of going ahead?”
Sun Wukong tiptoed, hiding something in his arms, and said, “Elder Brother, I’ve come to find you.”
Jiang Yuan inquired, “What do you want with me?”
He had never interacted much with this monkey; before the monkey arrived, his cultivation had remained unchanged, and it was the same after the monkey came.
Sun Wukong took a peach from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Yuan, smiling, “Elder Brother, thank you for your guidance and for bringing me into the fold. There’s a saying, ‘One should repay kindness with kindness.’ Now that you are a celestial being, I can only offer this peach as a token of gratitude, fulfilling a small part of my debt. In the future, when I achieve something, I will repay you fully.”
Jiang Yuan accepted the peach and asked, “Where did this peach come from?”
Sun Wukong replied, “Elder Brother, behind this mountain, there is another mountain, and that mountain has a peach grove. I saw the peach trees bearing fruit, so I picked some to fill my stomach.”
Jiang Yuan held the peach and asked, “Since it is your food, why do you give it to me? Did you pick all the peaches from the tree?”
Wukong shook his head and said, “That peach tree may or may not have guardians. The people in this mountain are simple, and I cannot harm them, so I only took one or two peaches to satisfy my hunger. I do not forget your kindness, so I repay a little of it.”
Jiang Yuan asked again, “Now that you have given me the peaches, what will you eat?”
Wukong said, “I don’t know, I don’t know!”
Seeing the monkey’s appearance, Jiang Yuan suddenly recalled the rebellious Sun Wukong from the Dream of the Yellow Millet, who was so unruly.
This monkey was so well-behaved; how could he resemble the one in his dreams? They were entirely different.
Jiang Yuan said, “Junior Brother, I remember there is a stove in the residence. Why can’t you fill your stomach?”
Wukong replied, “Elder Brother, you may not know, although I learned human etiquette in the Southern Zhanbu Continent, I have not learned how to make fire. Because many of the senior brothers dislike me, I could not learn to make fire. Recently, I have learned the technique and can now make fire.”
Jiang Yuan said, “I see. I accept this peach. You should go now and spend your days learning etiquette, discussing scriptures, nurturing flowers, cultivating trees, gathering firewood, and fetching water. Do not forget, you must do this every day.”
Sun Wukong responded, “Yes, Elder Brother.”
Jiang Yuan then dismissed Sun Wukong, and he placed the peach down to practice the Celestial Numbers.
…
Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Realm, at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
The Jade Emperor was seated here, listening to the celestial beings report.
The celestial beings said, “Your Majesty, we have delivered the imperial decree. Please summon the Broad Heart True Person to the heavens. It is because the Broad Heart True Person has no intention of ascending to the heavens, fearing that his Dao is shallow and thus has not been conferred a title or ascended.”
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor asked, “Can you all afford to be negligent?”
The celestial beings trembled and replied, “Your Majesty, we dare not be negligent towards the True Person. It is because the True Person is focused on quiet cultivation.”
The Jade Emperor said, “In past years, whether it be those who have achieved the Dao or those who are half-formed, they must be guided to ascend to the heavens. Like Marshal Tianpeng and General Juanshi, for instance. Now this True Person has not yet been conferred a title.”
The celestial beings bowed and said, “Your Majesty, that is indeed the case! This True Person is indeed a remarkable individual!”
The Jade Emperor said, “Let us observe this individual who has achieved the Dao, how many years he has cultivated, and the state of his Dao heart, and present it before me.”
A strongman was immediately dispatched to carry out the order.
After a short while, a powerful being recorded Jiang Yuan’s cultivation over the past several hundred years and presented it for the Jade Emperor’s review.
Upon seeing it, the Jade Emperor said, “His Dao heart is unwavering. He has endured nearly a thousand years of hardship in the mortal realm, living in seclusion and rarely appearing, mostly subduing demons and refining monsters. Furthermore… he has contributed to protecting the Old Lord and ensuring that the Wuzhuang Temple remains intact.
His merits and deeds have reached perfection, thus he has achieved the Golden Elixir of the Dao and can be called a True Person. He is indeed a True Person with an unwavering Dao heart, dedicated to cultivation. Let it be so; confer him the title of ‘True Monarch’ and seal it.
When the True Person wishes to return to the heavens, he shall return to his position.”
All the celestial beings bowed in submission, praising the Jade Emperor.
…
How could Jiang Zhenren know of the affairs in the Heavenly Realm? He was wholeheartedly focused on mastering the One Hundred and Eight Great Methods.
As summer passed into autumn, a year had unknowingly gone by.
Jiang Yuan had fully mastered the One Hundred and Eight Great Methods.
Although he had not refined them, he was capable of using them.
One day, Jiang Yuan arrived outside the Three Stars Celestial Cave, his feet generating clouds and mist as he stepped into the air, soaring a thousand miles.
He sought a secluded place, intending to test his abilities.
He saw Jiang Yuan stepping on the clouds and mist, taking something from his sleeve, pointing at a high mountain, and chanting a spell.
With a single word, “Rise,” that high mountain lifted from the ground, suddenly moving from in front of him to behind him, causing the earth to shake and the mountains to tremble.
It was truly a remarkable ability to “move mountains.”
Then, Jiang Yuan uttered the word “Wind,” and the wind arose.
He said “Rain,” and the rain poured down.
He called out “Cloud,” and the clouds gathered, then said “Clear,” and the wind, rain, and clouds dispersed, revealing a sunny day with a gentle breeze.
Indeed, he had cultivated great abilities, capable of summoning wind and rain, moving mountains, and stealing the heavens without a doubt.
At this moment, Jiang Yuan felt delighted; this One Hundred and Eight Great Methods were indeed superior techniques.
He had intended to test his abilities, and now that he had completed his cultivation, he was ready to leave.
Just as he was about to ride the clouds back to the Three Stars Celestial Cave, he suddenly heard a shout.
“Is that the Celestial Being from this direction?”
Jiang Yuan focused his qi and looked to see a short old man waiting beneath a tree; it was the local land deity.
He landed on the ground beneath the tree and said, “Land Deity, do not be offended. I am a cultivator from Mount Fangcun. I have learned some abilities and came here to play, with no intention of showing off. I did not mean to disturb you; please do not take offense!”
The land deity hurriedly bowed and said, “I dare not! I dare not! The Celestial Being is here demonstrating divine powers; I have no intention of stopping you! It is just that my home has encountered a calamity. That demon is formidable and has some connection to this place, leaving me nowhere to go. Now that I see the Celestial Being’s divine powers, I am filled with fear. I humbly ask you to use your great powers to subdue that demon and restore peace.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan returned the greeting and said, “I see. You are the land deity of this area?”
The land deity replied, “Indeed, I am the land deity of the land a hundred miles ahead.”
Jiang Yuan said, “I have already memorized the roads here. I cannot intervene in this matter without cause. I will report this to my master and inform the Heavenly Realm. At that time, the Heavenly Realm will certainly handle this matter.”
Having said that, Jiang Yuan began to chant a spell and prepared to leave.
The land deity blocked his path and said, “Celestial Being, please wait! If you say you come from Mount Fangcun, that demon has some connection to Mount Fangcun. You have a way to subdue it!”
Jiang Yuan listened and asked, “Please tell me the details.”
He dispersed the clouds beneath his feet, ready to listen.
The land deity spoke of the demon’s connection to Mount Fangcun and what it entailed…
(End of Chapter)