Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

Chapter 66 Wugensheng recognizes the monkey as his "brother".

The moment I stepped into the valley.

Wugensheng felt as if the world before him had suddenly changed—

It was not light, nor scenery, but something more subtle and ineffable.

It was as if there was some invisible barrier that he crossed in one step.

Behind them lay the deathly forest, its atmosphere thick with tension.

Those distorted auras and those man-eating fluctuations were now completely blocked by this layer of mist and could no longer be sensed.

Before me lay this mysterious valley shrouded in mist.

Wugensheng stood inside the valley entrance and glanced back.

The way we came from is no longer visible.

The mist moved slowly like a living thing, completely engulfing the world behind them.

He stood there for a full three breaths, unable to see or hear anything—even the faint roars of beasts and the sound of the wind in the mountains and forests had vanished completely.

He withdrew his gaze, turned around, and continued forward.

Just three steps—

"Splash—!"

Suddenly, a sound of branches and leaves shaking violently came from above!

The sound came without warning, like a bolt from the blue, making Wu Gensheng's heart skip a beat and the hairs on his body stand on end!

He suddenly looked up!

On the branches of old trees jutting out from the top of the stone walls on both sides, small figures were leaping down from the heights!

Those figures moved with astonishing speed; they could swing across several feet by grabbing the vines; and leap several feet by using the elasticity of the branches.

Walking on the steep cliff face as if on flat ground, each step was precise, as if it were not a vertical cliff but a flat road.

In the blink of an eye, they had fallen to the ground!

"Bang bang bang—"

'

One figure after another landed around Wugensheng, stirring up a small cloud of dust.

Some landed in front of him, some behind him, and some on the rocks on either side, surrounding him completely.

Wugensheng subconsciously took a half step back, clenched his fists, and tensed all his muscles to the limit.

But when he saw the true faces of those figures, he was stunned.

It was a group of monkeys.

No, it's not an ordinary monkey.

They are slightly larger than ordinary monkeys, some of them almost half the height of a person.

Its body was covered in long, golden fur, the gold so pure it seemed unreal. In the dim light of the valley, it shimmered with a soft golden glow, as if it had been bathed in moonlight.

Her face was sky blue, her lips were red, and her eyes were big, round, and shiny black, like two black gems immersed in spring water.

Golden snub-nosed monkey.

Wugensheng recognized this kind of monkey.

Having traveled all over the country over the years, he has seen many rare and exotic animals, and naturally he has heard of the golden monkey.

It is said that this kind of monkey is extremely rare and can only be found in the deep mountains of Sichuan.

But he had never seen a golden monkey like this before.

Not because they are beautiful—although they are unbelievably beautiful.

It was because of the way they looked at him.

The dozen or so golden monkeys surrounded him in the center. Some squatted on the ground, some climbed on the stone wall, and some even stood just three feet in front of him, tilting their heads and looking him up and down.

Their eyes lacked the wariness, hostility, or aggression that wild animals should have when facing intruders.

There is only one—

curious.

Pure curiosity.

It's like a group of children seeing something interesting they've never seen before.

Some of the monkeys even came closer, sniffing his scent.

Its nose twitched as it sniffed intently, making soft "squeak" sounds as if it were exchanging some kind of opinion.

Wugensheng stood frozen in place, not daring to move an inch.

He knew how deadly a wild animal attack could be in such deep mountains.

Especially for social primates like these, once they go berserk, dozens of them can attack at once, and he'll lose his life here today.

But after he waited for a long time, the monkeys just kept staring at him.

There was no baring of teeth, no threatening growl, and no prelude to any attack.

They just watch.

Some of the monkeys even started whispering to each other—

They were truly whispering to each other, one close to the other's ear, its mouth opening and closing, making soft chirping sounds. After listening, the other turned to look at Wugensheng, its eyes carrying a hint of... scrutiny?

Wugensheng slowly relaxed.

He discovered that the monkeys indeed had no intention of attacking him.

Not only did they not attack, but their eyes even carried a kind of... he didn't know how to describe it—

A feeling of "You've finally arrived"?

No, that's ridiculous.

Wugensheng shook his head, dispelling the absurd thought.

But his interest in the monkeys only grew stronger.

He examined them carefully.

The golden monkeys were also sizing him up at that moment.

There was a large monkey that looked like the leader of the troop, squatting on a blue stone directly in front of him.

The stone was worn smooth and shiny, clearly indicating that it had been used for sitting or lying down frequently.

Its two front paws rested on its knees, its back straight, and its posture was somewhat as composed as a human's—more composed than most humans.

Its bright black eyes were staring unblinkingly at Wugensheng's face.

Those eyes were so deep.

It was so deep it didn't resemble a wild beast.

When Wugensheng looked at it, he felt as if it had seen right through him.

There's something in those eyes.

It was not the fierce glint of a wild beast, nor the bewilderment of an animal.

It is a kind of wisdom.

It is the kind of wisdom that enables one to think, judge, and understand what is happening in front of them.

Wugensheng's heart stirred.

He then looked at the other monkeys.

Every single one of them has the same look in their eyes.

intelligent.

Spirituality.

A Qingming Festival far exceeding that of ordinary monkeys.

If it were just a monkey, it could perhaps be explained as a gift.

But it's impossible for it to be a coincidence that a whole group of monkeys are all like this.

These thoughts flashed through my mind.

Wu Gensheng subconsciously looked around.

Is it because of this valley?

Is it the mist in this valley, the atmosphere in this valley, something omnipresent in this valley, that makes the creatures that live here year after year so different?

Thinking about these things, Wugensheng's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He suddenly realized something.

Li Yuan Dao Zi brought him here perhaps not only to let him "find his roots".

It was also so that he could see it with his own eyes—

Just how magical can this world be?

It is possible to transform a group of ordinary monkeys into such intelligent beings.

It can make a person—

What will it become?

Wugensheng took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.

He looked at the leader monkey, tentatively cupped his hands in greeting, as if to a stranger: "Gentlemen... Brother Monkey, my name is Feng Yao. I'm just asking to use your esteemed space. I apologize for the intrusion."

The group of golden monkeys all stared at him.

Then-

The leader monkey suddenly squeaked.

There was no threat or warning in that cry.

It's more like they're saying: Okay, go in.

Hearing the shout, the other monkeys quickly made way for them.

They crouched on the stone walls and rocks on both sides, still watching Wugensheng with their bright black eyes, seeing him walk into the depths of the valley.

Wugensheng was taken aback.

Then he smiled.

He bowed again to the group of golden monkeys, then strode forward.

Behind me, I could faintly hear the soft calls of monkeys, as if they were saying goodbye or urging me on.

Wugensheng did not turn back.

But his steps were more determined than before.

Because he understood one more thing—

Every step, every challenge, and every test that Li Yuan Daozi brought him here had been meticulously planned.

Including this group of monkeys.

Including that they would let him in.

Including the way they would look at him.

The figure in the moon-white Taoist robe seemed to be standing right in front of him, quietly looking at him with those gentle eyes.

Watching him step by step walk towards that destiny.

Wugensheng clenched his fist.

He had no idea what awaited him ahead.

But he knew—

Just go.

Deep in the Qinling Mountains.

That tiny, almost invisible figure floated silently in the void.

It took in everything that had just happened.

It saw them as the group of golden monkeys leaped down from the tree.

As Wugensheng stood frozen in place, its body tense, it saw it.

It saw it when the monkeys looked at Wugensheng with those wise eyes.

The enlightenment that gradually emerged in Wugensheng's eyes—it had seen it.

Thousands of miles away.

Inside the upper room of the inn.

Li Yuan sat quietly by the window, his eyes slightly closed.

The images conveyed by that ray of sexual light appeared one by one in the lake of his heart.

He saw Wugensheng bow to the group of golden monkeys, saw the monkeys make way for him, and saw the increasingly determined light in Wugensheng's eyes as he strode into the depths of the valley.

Li Yuan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a very faint smile.

There was no surprise in that smile.

Only when you understand.

This group of golden monkeys is part of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley.

They have lived here for generations, breathing in the valley's pervasive atmosphere day after day, and inhaling the moonlight and starlight night after night. Year after year, generation after generation, they are no longer ordinary wild beasts.

They are intelligent.

They have spirits.

They know who should go in and who shouldn't.

They will let anyone who comes in the correct way through.

Who tried to force their way in?

If Wugensheng had shown even the slightest hostility or made any improper move just now, he would probably have been torn to pieces by those seemingly docile monkeys by now.

Li Yuan watched as Wu Gensheng's figure gradually receded into the distance within that ray of light.

That figure disappeared deeper and deeper into the darkness of the valley.

But an even bigger secret awaits him ahead.

They hadn't walked far.

Wugensheng stopped in his tracks.

It's not because I'm tired.

It's because of the scene before my eyes.

A canyon lay before him.

That's no ordinary canyon.

The towering stone walls on both sides stretch almost vertically upwards, cutting the sky into a thin blue line.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the blue line, casting dappled shadows across the valley.

The canyon is extremely deep.

It is so deep that you can't see the end of it.

Moreover, it's not horizontal; it's tilted.

The entire canyon extends upwards at an extremely steep angle, like a slope leading to the sky, disappearing into the darkness.

A narrow sliver of sky.

These three words came to Wugensheng's mind.

He had seen many narrow gorges, but never one like this.

So long, so steep, so—

Full of oppression.

Standing here, looking up, the stone walls on both sides seem ready to close at any moment, completely sealing off this gap.

That narrow strip of sky was like a ray of light that could never be reached.

Wugensheng's gaze was soon drawn to something else.

There is something on the stone wall.

He walked quickly closer and looked at it carefully.

It was a stripe.

Densely packed, layer upon layer, stretching from the ground to the highest point in sight, covering every inch of the stone walls on both sides.

In some places the patterns are sparse, while in others they are so dense that they overlap almost flat, giving the impression of patches of mottled moss at first glance.

But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be not moss.

Those are engravings.

Some of those patterns resemble flowing water, some resemble swirling clouds and mist, some resemble thunder and lightning, and some resemble undulating mountains and rivers.

Some lines are bold and unrestrained, with a single cut reaching several feet in length; others are delicate and intricate, requiring close inspection to see clearly.

They vary in thickness and depth, yet all possess a peculiar sense of rhythm.

It looks as if it wasn't carved by someone.

It grew on its own.

Wugensheng looked down at his feet again.

The same pattern also covered the bottom of the valley.

On those bluestone slabs, in the cracks between those pebbles, there are densely packed patterns.

Some have been blurred by the passage of time, while others remain as clear as ever.

He crouched down and reached out to touch it.

It has a smooth texture and no traces of carving.

Those patterns seem to be an integral part of the stone wall, existing there since time immemorial.

Wugensheng stood up and looked around.

The entire canyon, from top to bottom and from left to right, is covered with these patterns.

They intertwine and entwine, forming a pattern so vast it's unimaginable.

Wu Gensheng couldn't understand it.

He couldn't understand what these patterns meant at all.

But he could sense that these things were not simple.

That's not simple at all.

Standing here, surrounded by these patterns, the innate Qi within his body seemed to be more active than before.

That subtle restlessness has now turned into a gentle surge.

It was as if something was guiding him in a certain direction.

Wugensheng took a deep breath and continued forward.

He had only taken a few steps into the valley when he suddenly realized something.

He closed his eyes.

Then open your eyes.

Then it closed again.

Then it opened its eyes again.

After several attempts, he finally confirmed one thing: these patterns were everywhere.

As long as he opens his eyes, no matter which direction he looks, no matter where his peripheral vision sweeps, no matter whether he looks up at the sky or down at the ground.

You can clearly see the dense patterns on the stone wall.

They were like branding marks, etched into his field of vision.

What's even stranger is that no matter which section of the pattern he looks at, no matter how tiny the part he observes, no matter how thick or thin, sparse or dense the patterns are, the information they convey to him is always the same.

It's as if each line is a microcosm of the entire pattern.

Every stroke, every line, contains all the secrets.

As Wugensheng walked, he felt what those patterns conveyed to him.

That thing is hard to describe.

It is not text, not pictures, not even any information that can be "understood".

But it really exists.

Just like when you see a fallen leaf, you don't need anyone to tell you that it fell from a tree.

That kind of "knowing" is not the result of thinking, nor the product of reasoning, but a direct, instinctive perception.

Just like when you see a wisp of smoke, you know without anyone explaining that someone is cooking.

That kind of "knowing" requires no language, no concepts, and no human intermediary.