Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

As the dark clouds descended, Li Yan had already been standing on the clouds for a moment.

The method of "Golden Light Across the Earth" was personally passed down by the patriarch, and traveling a thousand miles in an instant is no problem.

He had only traveled a few breaths to get here from Qingcheng Mountain. But he didn't rush to make a move.

The reason was simple: as those dark figures landed, another presence was approaching from the far distance on the horizon.

The aura was pure yet not cold, upright yet not rigid, with a faint scent of sandalwood and the elegance of lotus.

A Buddhist.

Li Yan's heart stirred, and he descended from the clouds, concealing his figure behind an ancient pine tree.

The technique of transformation and rebirth was activated, and all the aura around his body was completely contained, like a stubborn rock in the mountains, merging into one with heaven and earth.

He wanted to take a look.

Tianpeng was banished to the mortal realm and reincarnated as a pig. Although he had deduced some of the intricacies of this situation, there were still a few key points he had not yet figured out.

It is no coincidence that Buddhist monks have arrived at this time.

This game of chess was far more intricate and complex than anything he had seen in Heaven.

Since you can observe the game, there's no rush to make your own move.

now.

Inside Zhu the butcher's pigsty.

The old sow, who had just given birth, lay on the haystack, grunting and licking one of her black-haired piglets.

Several dark figures landed outside the pigpen, and as the black mist dissipated, several figures were revealed.

The leader was seven feet tall, with a face as blue as indigo, protruding fangs, and holding a three-pronged steel fork. He exuded a demonic aura.

Three little demons followed behind him: one carrying a knife, one holding a rope, and one carrying a black cloth bundle.

The blue-faced demon king glanced into the pigsty, saw the black-haired piglet, and grinned:

"This is it. The king said that this beast was Marshal Tianpeng in the Heavenly Court in his previous life. He was reincarnated as a pig and his intelligence has not yet been developed. He is at his weakest."

"If we bind it and bring it back to the king, it will be a great achievement."

The three little demons responded in unison and were about to step forward.

Just then, Li Yan noticed that the black-haired piglet in the pigpen suddenly opened its eyes.

Even from a distance of several dozen feet, he could still clearly see those eyes.

Although they are pig eyes, the pupils are golden.

Within the golden light, there was a faint sense of resentment and anger.

It tried to stand up, but after a few attempts to support itself on its four legs, it fell back into the haystack.

All that came out of his mouth were indistinct humming sounds.

Upon seeing this, the blue-faced demon king laughed loudly: "Marshal Tianpeng? Bah! He's nothing but a newborn piglet! Men, tie him up!"

The little demon holding the rope unfurled it, about to put it over the piglet.

No sooner said than done.

Suddenly, a Buddhist chant came from the horizon.

"Amitabha."

The Buddhist chant sounded like the long tolling of an ancient bell, falling from the highest heavens, causing the demons to tremble and their ropes to fall to the ground.

Li Yan, standing behind the ancient pine tree, looked in the direction of the sound.

A wisp of auspicious cloud drifted in from the eastern horizon.

A person stood on the cloud, wearing a plain white kasaya and a jeweled crown, on which was embedded a relic that shone brightly.

Her face was like a full moon, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes were slightly closed, and her lips held a smile.

In his left hand he held a jade vase, inside which was a green willow branch.

The right hand forms the wish-granting mudra.

Behind him was a round halo, as bright as the moon.

Li Yan's gaze narrowed slightly.

When he was in Heaven, he had seen Guanyin a few times from afar.

At that time, I felt that this Bodhisattva had a solemn appearance and was full of compassion, which was completely different from the demeanor of the other immortals in the Heavenly Court.

But upon seeing him today, he felt a strange sensation.

Just as Tianpeng was reborn as a pig, demons came to kill him. No sooner had the demons arrived than Guanyin appeared.

What a coincidence!

It was as if they had been waiting there all along.

Li Yan suppressed his thoughts and continued reading.

Guanyin looked at the black-haired piglets in the pigpen, smiled slightly, and gently raised her right hand to take the willow branch out of the jade bottle.

On the willow branches, dewdrops condense, shimmering with seven colors under the morning light.

She flicked the willow branch, and three drops of sweet dew flew up from the branch, hanging in mid-air like three bright pearls slowly rotating.

Li Yan observed intently.

Each of those three drops of nectar contained the purest essence of water.

It faintly carries the charm of lotus flowers and the fragrance of sandalwood, clearly blessed by the power of Buddhist vows.

"These three drops of nectar are for three purposes: first, to cleanse the dust; second, to awaken the spirit; and third, to build the foundation. Tianpeng, you shall enjoy them."

As soon as the words were spoken, the first drop of nectar drifted toward the piglet and disappeared into the top of its head.

Li Yan saw that the piglet trembled, and a trace of clarity appeared in its originally cloudy eyes.

The second drop of nectar followed immediately, landing right between the eyebrows.

The piglet's golden eyes widened, its pupils contracted, and it trembled all over, two streams of turbid tears welling up.

He looked as if he had remembered something.

The third drop of nectar fell on his heart, and the piglet's originally weak grunts suddenly became more powerful.

After the three drops of nectar entered his body, he managed to squeeze out human speech intermittently amidst his groans:

"Bodhi... Bodhisattva..."

Guanyin nodded slightly, reinserted the willow branch into the bottle, and slowly said:

"Tianpeng, although you are born as a pig, it is still a blessing."

The pig is an aquatic animal. Hai belongs to water, its direction is north, its color is black, and its number is six.

In your past life, you guarded the Milky Way and commanded 80,000 naval soldiers. Your mastery of water was unparalleled in the Three Realms.

In this life, I am reborn as a pig, a return to my watery nature, hidden in the Hai Palace, awaiting my time to unleash my power.

As he spoke, he looked towards the eastern horizon, where the rising sun cast its rays in countless rays.

Do you know the nature of water?

The piglet paused, then mumbled, "Water...the nature of water...to flow downwards...benefiting all things..."

Guanyin shook her head and said, "That is the nature of ordinary water."

The waters of the Milky Way connect the Milky Way above and the four seas below. They are formed from the primordial energy and are incomparable to ordinary water.

The nature of the Milky Way lies in its flow. The power of the celestial spheres all depends on the Milky Way for its transmission.

The circulation of spiritual energy in the Three Realms also relies on the celestial river's regulation.

"In your previous life, you guarded the Milky Way, only knowing how to subdue people with force and command troops with might, but you did not know the true wonders of the Milky Way's water."

This demotion to the mortal realm and reincarnation as a pig may seem like a misfortune, but it is actually a blessing.

You must comprehend the true meaning of water while you are in this animal realm before you can return to the heavenly realm.

Li Yan wrote down every word of these words after he was behind the ancient pine tree.

After Guanyin finished speaking, she turned around and looked at the blue-faced demon king.

The blue-faced demon king was already on the ground when Guanyin appeared.

Upon being looked at by Guanyin's wise eyes, they scrambled to their knees, their foreheads pounding the ground with a resounding thud.

"Bodhisattva... Bodhisattva, spare me! Bodhisattva, spare me!"

The three little demons were so frightened they couldn't speak.

Guanyin looked at them and said calmly, "Whose orders did you take to come here and harm him?"

The blue-faced demon king stammered, "Yes...yes, Your Majesty...I was...I was acting on Your Majesty's orders..."

Guanyin asked, "Who is your king?"

"Reporting to the Bodhisattva, my humble servant's king... is... is the Dragon King of the Blackwater River..."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's gaze sharpened slightly.

Li Yan noticed this subtle change in expression.

Blackwater River, alligator dragon.

When he was in Heaven, he had looked through the register of the Three Realms and remembered that this dragon was the son of the Jing River Dragon King and the nephew of the West Sea Dragon King, and his cultivation had reached the Golden Immortal realm.

Guanyin simply said, "Go back and tell that alligator dragon that I said Tianpeng is a person ordained by Heaven and should not be harmed. If there is a next time, I will personally go to the Blackwater River."

The blue-faced demon king kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I understand! I understand!"

Guanyin waved her hand: "Go."

The Blue-Faced Demon King felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and beckoned the three lesser demons to flee.

Just then, the black-haired piglet in the pigpen suddenly let out a low growl.

The roar had already gained some power.

Li Yan saw that the piglet actually struggled to stand up, took four steps, and walked out of the pigpen.

Its steps were still somewhat unsteady, but its golden eyes had already regained their clarity.

It walked up to the blue-faced demon king.

"You...you're going to kill me?"

The Blue-Faced Demon King opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The piglet grinned, took a deep breath, and opened its mouth.

A stream of black mist surged from his mouth, condensing in the air into the shape of an iron rake.

Although the iron rake was an illusion, it faintly gleamed with a cold light, exuding extraordinary power.

"When I, Old Pig, was a commander in Heaven, I killed more demons than you have ever seen."

As soon as he finished speaking, the phantom of the iron rake formed from black energy crashed down instantly.

A scream rang out. The Blue-Faced Demon King was struck on the top of his head, his brains splattered, and his soul was scattered.

The three little demons turned and fled. The piglet did not chase after them, but instead waved the illusory image of the iron rake, and three black beams shot out from the tip of the rake, striking the piglet in the back.

The three little demons fell to the ground, revealing their true forms: three black fish spirits.

The piglet absorbed the black energy, exhaled a long breath of turbid air, swayed, and almost fell over.

It struggled to stand firm, turned around and bowed to Guanyin: "Bodhisattva... I, Old Pig... have made a fool of myself."

Li Yan could see it clearly from a distance.

Although the attack was clean and decisive, the piglet's energy suddenly weakened after it was launched, clearly indicating that the attack had exhausted the little strength it had just recovered.

This pig's body is indeed pitifully weak.

Guanyin looked at it, nodded slightly, and said, "Tianpeng, was that the Supreme Treasure Golden Rake you just used?"

The piglet nodded: "Bodhisattva has good eyesight. That is indeed my old pig's signature weapon, the Supreme Treasure Golden Rake."

This rake was personally crafted by Laozi, using divine ice iron as its core, the Six Ding and Six Jia as its fire, and the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir as its catalyst, and was forged over forty-nine days.

Unfortunately, before I, Old Pig, was reincarnated, my destined divine weapon had already been taken away by Laozi.

Now it can only evolve a fraction of its former power.

Guanyin said, "Don't underestimate this pig's body; there is great fortune within..."

Suddenly, he said solemnly, "I have come here today for two reasons: first, to enlighten you, and second, to bestow upon you a Dharma name."

The piglet was taken aback: "A Buddhist name?"

Guanyin pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "In this life you are a pig. Pigs are stupid, clumsy, and foolish."

But in your previous life you were Marshal Tianpeng, commanding 80,000 naval soldiers. How could you be a stupid person?

After much thought, I've decided to give you the name "Wuneng".

Awaken your innate talents and understand your inherent abilities.

Do not belittle yourself just because you are a pig. Your abilities far surpass those of many immortals and Buddhas in the Three Realms.

The piglet murmured, "Wuneng...Wuneng...Thank you, Bodhisattva, for bestowing this name upon me." Then it bowed deeply to Guanyin.

Guanyin accepted his bow and said, "Wuneng, remember this: I am enlightening you today in accordance with the Buddha's decree."

But I am not your master; your master is someone else.

Wu Neng was taken aback: "The Bodhisattva isn't my master? Then who is my master?"

Guanyin said, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."

When the time is right, you will naturally know. I will only tell you one thing: your master is the one who went on the pilgrimage.

That person came from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East and went to Mount Ling in the West to seek the Tripitaka Sutra.

The day he passes by your place will be the day you are freed from your predicament.

You must take him as your master and protect him on his journey westward. With this merit, you can atone for your sins from your past life and erase the karma of this life.

Upon hearing this, Li Yan's heart stirred slightly.

Wu Neng bowed his head: "Bodhisattva, Wu Neng has remembered it."

Guanyin nodded slightly, holding the jade bottle in her palm, and with a gentle sway of a willow branch, sprinkled a few drops of sweet dew.

The dew fell to the ground and transformed into a pure mist, enveloping Wu Neng within it.

"I'm bestowing upon you another great fortune. These few drops of nectar will help you solidify your foundation, and in three days you will be able to move freely. As for the recovery of your cultivation, you will still need to cultivate diligently on your own."

Wu Neng felt a warm sensation all over his body, as the power of the sweet dew seeped into his skin, flesh, and bone marrow.

Judging from its graceful posture, Li Yan made this judgment.

"I will never forget the great kindness of the Bodhisattva."

Guanyin smiled slightly, turned around, and rose up on a cloud. The auspicious cloud carried her slowly into the sky, drifting towards the western heavens.

"Wuneng, take care of yourself."

As the sound faded, Guanyin's figure disappeared into the horizon, leaving only a wisp of sandalwood incense lingering in the air.

Wu Neng gazed at the departing auspicious clouds, stood for a moment, then turned back to the pigsty, lay down on the haystack, and closed his eyes.

Li Yan remained hidden behind the ancient pine tree, motionless.

Guanyin left, but the strange appearance of those demonic energies made him feel that there was still a trick up her sleeve.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a blue cloud drifted in from the sky.

The azure cloud was entirely blue-green, as if carved from jade, with faint golden light flowing around its edges.

Above the clouds stood a blue ox.

The blue ox was enormous, like a small mountain.

Its entire body is blue, and its fur is as glossy as satin.

Its four hooves trod on the blue sky, steadily and jingling.

The ox's horns are curved like the moon, and its eyes are as big as copper bells, with a faint golden light flowing in them.

A gold ring, covered with runes, adorns the bull's nose.

The blue ox slowly descended, landing in front of the pigsty.

It lowered its head and looked at the black-haired piglets on the haystack with its big, bell-like eyes.

Li Yan recognized the blue ox as the mount of Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao).

What concerned Li Yan even more was that the arrival of this blue ox was too coincidental.

It arrived as soon as Guanyin left.

The blue ox's voice was deep and resonant, like a bronze bell, causing even the branches and leaves of the ancient pine tree where Li Yan was hiding to tremble slightly.

"Tianpeng, how have you been?"

Wu Neng, who was in the pigsty, suddenly opened his eyes and quickly stood up to bow:

"So it's Laozi's mount. I, Old Pig... no, I, Wuneng, greet you."

The green ox nodded slightly and said, "You have changed your name to Wuneng, which is a good name."

"The one who understands ability is one who comprehends their potential and comprehends their innate abilities. This name carries profound meaning."

Wu Neng asked, "Brother Niu, has Laozi come here with some instructions?"

The blue ox tossed its head.

A flash of golden light appeared on the nose ring, and an object emerged from the void, slowly descending.

It was an iron rake.

It is entirely black, with two rows of rake teeth.

The rake handle was covered with runes, and a faint golden light shimmered around it.

The rake head is inscribed with two large ancient seal characters: "Shang Bao".

When Li Yan saw the iron rake in the distance, his heart skipped a beat.

The Supreme Treasure Golden Rake is Tianpeng's natal divine weapon.

He had seen a record of this item in the Heavenly Court's catalog of weapons.

This item should have been sealed in the Heavenly Armory, but it has been delivered by the Green Ox.

When Wu Neng saw the iron rake, he trembled: "Brother Niu...this...this is..."

The green ox said, "Laojun said that this Shangbao Qinjin Rake is your natal weapon, connected to your life and spirit."

In your hands, it is a divine weapon. In someone else's hands, it is nothing but a piece of scrap metal.

Laozi took it out of the Heavenly Armory and ordered me to deliver it to you.

Wuneng stretched out its front hoof to catch it, but the iron rake was suspended in mid-air, and it couldn't lift it at all.

Upon seeing this, the green ox opened its mouth and exhaled a breath of fresh air.

The pure energy landed on the iron rake, which gradually shrank and transformed into an iron needle, which fell in front of Wu Neng.

Wu Neng quickly put the iron needle in his mouth and bowed deeply to the green ox.

"Thank you, Brother Niu."

After accepting his bow, the Green Ox said, "Tianpeng, Laozi has one more thing to tell you."

Wu Neng quickly said, "Brother Niu, please speak."

"The waters of the Milky Way flow from the heavens, and when they reach the human world, they transform into boats. The boats travel ten thousand miles, but they must eventually return, for returning to their origin is the ultimate goal."

Having said that, without waiting for Wuneng's response, he stepped on the clouds and slowly rose into the sky, drifting away towards the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Li Yan stood behind the ancient pine tree, watching the blue ox ride away on the clouds, his heart churning like a turbulent river, unable to calm down for a long time.

No sooner had Guanyin left than Laozi arrived.

The delicate balance achieved here is truly exquisite.

"Buddhism needs those who go on pilgrimages, while Taoism needs those who protect the Dharma."

Tianpeng's incarnation as a pig is a tacitly understood pawn in the game between Buddhism and Taoism.

Li Yan murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the direction of Zhu Family Village.

Inside the pigsty, Wuneng lay on a pile of hay, holding the iron needle transformed from the Supreme Treasure Golden Rake in his mouth.

With eyes closed and mind focused, a subtle, refreshing energy circulates around the body.

He carefully sorted through what he had seen and heard over the past few days in his mind.

"Someone is playing a long game."

Li Yan thought to himself, "That chessboard is so vast that it spans the three realms and covers a thousand years."

Sun Wukong is a chess piece, Tianpeng is a chess piece, and the yet-to-be-born pilgrim is probably a chess piece as well.

Sun Wukong is a chess piece, Tianpeng is a chess piece, and the yet-to-be-born pilgrim is probably a chess piece as well.

He recalled what the patriarch had said when he was at Fangcun Mountain:

"Heaven and earth are the chessboard, and all living beings are the chess pieces."

Even the one playing the game, aren't they also just a piece on someone else's chessboard?

Buddhism aims to spread its teachings eastward, while Taoism seeks to solidify its foundation.

The Heavenly Court needs to maintain order, while demons and monsters vie for fortune.

All sides are vying for power, each with their own agenda.

The Buddha's suppression of Sun Wukong under the Five Elements Mountain, seemingly to relieve the Heavenly Court's siege, actually laid the groundwork for the journey to the West.

The monkey will be released sooner or later, and once released, it will be fitted with a golden headband to protect the pilgrim on his journey westward.

Guanyin enlightened Tianpeng, giving him the name Wuneng, saying it was on the Buddha's orders.

Yet, those three drops of nectar also contained traces of the Taoist essence of water.

Laozi sent a green ox to deliver the precious golden rake, seemingly out of consideration for past friendship.

In reality, the goal was to plant a pawn of the Daoist sect within the pilgrimage team.

Buddhism and Taoism may clash, but they are not entirely opposed.

You are in me, and I am in you; this is the true structure of the Three Realms.

Where is the Jade Emperor?

What role does the Jade Emperor play in all of this?

Li Yan recalled the Jade Emperor's casual remark in the Lingxiao Palace that day.

"Send troops to attack Flower Fruit Mountain, capture the demon monkey Sun Wukong and his accomplice Li Yan, and punish them according to the law."

The tone was as if he were just going through the motions.

Those important figures each had their own agendas and schemes; for a nobody like him to get involved was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Now, what he needs is time and the right conditions.

And the Marshal Tianpeng before us is an opportunity.

Li Yan looked towards the direction of Zhu Family Village, secretly making plans in his heart.

"It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade."

With a leap, he transformed into a gentle breeze and drifted towards Zhu Family Village.

He revealed himself outside the pigsty, but did not rush in.

The pigsty was extremely simple, with earthen walls on all four sides and a few wooden beams on the roof covered with straw.

Several sows were lying in the pen, grunting and sleeping soundly.

Wu Neng lay on the innermost haystack, a distance away from the other piglets.

Although its eyes were closed, Li Yan knew it wasn't asleep.

The iron needle transformed from the Shangbaoqin Golden Rake was held in its mouth, and magical power flowed between the iron needle and its primordial spirit.

Li Yan coughed softly.

Wu Neng suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of fear flashing in his pig eyes.

It stood up, stood in front of the sow, and held an iron needle in its mouth.

Li Yan quickly took a step back, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and said gently, "Don't panic."

"This humble Taoist priest, while traveling, came here and saw a pure aura rising from this pigsty. I knew that a virtuous person had been reincarnated there, so I came to pay my respects."

Wu Neng stared at him for a moment, and the fear in his eyes gradually dissipated, turning into doubt.

It could sense that the Taoist priest possessed a pure aura, unlike ordinary mortals, and seemed more like someone who had achieved enlightenment through cultivation.

But this Taoist priest's aura was different from that of the celestial officials in the Heavenly Court.

He lacked the airs and pretension of an official, and instead possessed the carefree spirit of a hermit in the mountains.

"Who...who are you?"

Li Yan said, "My surname is Yan, and my given name is Li. I wander the world and have no fixed abode."

Wu Neng shook his head: "Yan Li? I, Old Pig... I've never heard of this name when I was in Heaven."

Li Yan smiled slightly: "This humble Taoist is merely a wandering immortal, an unknown nobody. Marshal Tianpeng has naturally never heard of me."

Upon hearing the words "Marshal Tianpeng," Wu Neng trembled, a flicker of pain crossing his eyes.

"Since you know I am Marshal Tianpeng, you should know that I am a sinner who was banished to the mortal world."

"You came to see me, aren't you afraid of getting implicated?"

Li Yan said, "I am but a wandering immortal, powerless and without influence. Even if I wanted to be implicated, I wouldn't be worthy of it."

Wu Neng was taken aback, then grinned and laughed: "Although I, Old Pig, was reincarnated as a pig, I am not a fool."

"You, a cultivator, have come to this remote and impoverished place; surely you didn't come just to see my old pig's black fur?"

Seeing Wu Neng's straightforwardness, Li Yan was not annoyed. He simply walked forward slowly and sat down on a stone stool outside the pigsty.

He took a gourd from his sleeve and uncorked it.

A fragrant aroma of wine wafted out.

The aroma of the wine was neither too strong nor too weak, clear and refreshing like water, yet with a subtle hint of grass and wood.

Wu Neng twitched his nose, and his pig eyes suddenly brightened a bit.

"Master, what kind of wine is this?"

Li Yan shook the gourd and laughed, "This wine has no name. It was made by me in Qingcheng Mountain by collecting the essence of a hundred flowers and spring water, using pine wood as firewood and earthenware jars as containers. I steamed it nine times and aged it for three years before I finally got this small gourd."

While it cannot compare to the heavenly nectar, it possesses a certain rustic charm.

Wu Neng's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

When he was in Heaven, what kind of celestial wine hadn't he drunk?

The fine wines and delicacies served at the Peach Banquet, Laozi's herbal brew, were actually the Star Lord's private stash of Star Intoxication, which he had shamelessly asked for a few cups of.

But now, I can't remember those drinks clearly.

The wine in this gourd is real.

The aroma of wine wafted into his nose, stirring up his inner wine cravings.

"Master Daoist,"

Wu Neng grinned and said, "Could I, Old Pig, have a taste of your wine?"

Li Yan feigned hesitation and said, "This wine was originally intended for my own consumption, but..."

He changed the subject, looking at Wuneng's pig body, and said, "Marshal, your current body probably can't withstand the effects of alcohol."

"Marshal, your meridians are not yet open, and your dantian is not yet stable. If you rashly drink alcohol, I'm afraid it will damage your foundation."

Upon hearing this, Wu Neng believed it to some extent.

If the Taoist priest tries to please him by offering him benefits as soon as they meet, he will suspect that the other party has ulterior motives.

But this Taoist priest first spoke of the advantages and disadvantages, and then mentioned the proper measure, which made him seem like someone who really had some ability.

"What does the Taoist priest mean?"

Li Yan placed the gourd on his lap and said seriously:

"I believe there is a pure energy circulating within the Marshal's body?"

Wu Neng nodded: "Daoist Master has a good eye. What kind of water elemental essence is that?"

Li Yan said, "That's it."

Water, by its very nature, flows downwards and benefits all things.

However, water is not rigid; if there is no metal to dike it or earth to hold it back, it will surely overflow and have no way to return.

Marshal's pig body is originally the image of Hai water, and with this water, the water energy is too excessive, resulting in dampness and distress.

If it is not warmed with fire, dried with earth, and solidified with metal, over time, dampness will accumulate internally and transform into phlegm.

"If the meridians are blocked, not only will it be difficult to restore one's cultivation, but even the ability to move freely will be difficult."

Wu Neng listened, completely bewildered.

When he was in Heaven, although he also cultivated, he mostly relied on his talent and elixirs. He had never heard of such intricate principles.

"What does the Taoist priest mean...?" Wu Neng's voice became more respectful.

Li Yan took out three pills from his sleeve and held them in his palm.

The three pills were the size of longans and had different colors.

Crimson red like fire, earthy yellow like gold, silvery white like snow.

"These three pills were refined by this humble Taoist in his spare time. They are nothing special, but..."

Wu Neng stared at the three pills, his Adam's apple bobbing once more.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen elixirs before.

Back in Heaven, he had seen Laozi's elixir from afar a few times, but he was not qualified to eat it.

These three pills before me, in terms of quality, naturally cannot compare to Laozi's Golden Pill, which is filled with celestial energy and radiates golden light.

But the Taoist priest made it clear that this was not a treasure, but something he had refined in his spare time.

If this Taoist priest were to produce some kind of elixir or miraculous medicine, claiming it could restore his cultivation overnight, he would suspect that the other party was setting a trap.

These three pills, however, were of unassuming appearance, and their effects were clearly stated.

Gentle heat, invigorating the spleen, and consolidating metal are all aimed at addressing the current ailments in his pig-like body.

"Master," Wuneng said after a moment of silence, "I, Old Pig, have never met you before. Why are you helping me?"

Li Yan placed the three pills on the wooden fence of the pigsty, stood up, and stood with his hands behind his back.

The morning light shone from the east, casting a pale gold hue over his blue Taoist robe.

A mountain breeze swept by, causing her clothes to flutter slightly, and a subtle, refreshing aura emanated from her.

Yet it doesn't radiate the dazzling light of the celestial officials.

Its aura was pure, ethereal, and tranquil, blending seamlessly with the heavens and earth.

"Good question, Marshal."

Li Yan gazed at the distant, rolling mountains:

"Between heaven and earth, there is only one breath."

When qi gathers, life begins; when qi disperses, death ensues.

The human body has three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit. It is also the gathering, dispersing, manifestation, and concealment of this energy.

The marshal's previous life was Tianpeng, who guarded the Milky Way, which was a gathering of Qi.

To be reborn as a pig in this life, becoming an animal, is due to the dissipation of one's vital energy.

The gathering and scattering of things may seem like the will of Heaven, but in reality, it is merely the normal course of Qi circulation.

He turned around:

"At this moment, the moisture in the Marshal's body will surely become a disaster if no one guides it."

"As a practitioner of spiritual cultivation, if I see disordered Qi and do not take measures to regulate it, I would be going against the natural order of creation."

Wu Neng remained silent for a long time.

He served as an official in Heaven for many years and had witnessed more of the coldness and warmth of human relationships than the people of the mortal world had eaten rice.

Those celestial officials were polite to the surface, but they each had their own plans behind the scenes.

Today we drink and chat happily, tomorrow I can impeach you before the Jade Emperor.

His current predicament is undoubtedly due to his drunken outburst.

He doesn't believe that no one was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The Taoist priest in front of me spoke slowly and deliberately.

Hearing that explanation of the principles of gathering and dispersing Qi gradually calmed his restless heart.

"Master," Wuneng stretched out his front hoof and pushed the three pills in front of him, "I, Old Pig, believe you."

After saying that, he put the Fire-Warming Pill in his mouth and swallowed it.

When the pill entered my stomach, I initially felt a warm sensation rising from my stomach.

Like drinking a bowl of hot soup on a winter's day, the warmth spreads through the meridians to every part of the body.

Wherever that warm energy passed, the meridians that were originally trapped by dampness gradually became active.

Wu Neng was overjoyed, picked up the Earth Strengthening Spleen Pill again, and swallowed it.

The feeling after swallowing this pill was different from before.

The warmth no longer wandered around, but slowly sank into the middle of the body.

It felt like a warm piece of jade, firmly and gently settling in my stomach.

The damp, suffocating feeling dissipated considerably after being enveloped by this earthy aroma.

He took a deep breath and swallowed the last Gengjin Gubendan.

In an instant, I felt a cool sensation rise from my dantian, travel up the Chong meridian, pass through my chest and diaphragm, and enter my throat.

Finally, the energy converged on the iron needle in the mouth.

The iron needle trembled slightly and emitted a clear, melodious hum.

Wu Neng trembled, and a golden light burst forth from his pig eyes.

"This...this is..."

Li Yan nodded slightly and said, "The treasured golden rake that Marshal possesses is the epitome of gold essence."

Gold is a substance that is strong and vigorous in nature, and its virtue is stern and austere.

When the marshal was reincarnated, his golden energy dissipated completely, and thus the rake lost its sharpness.

My Gengjin Strengthening Pill was merely a guide for the Marshal, helping him to gather the remaining metal energy within his body.

"To truly restore this rake to its former glory, the Marshal himself must diligently cultivate it."

Wu Neng stood up and paced back and forth in the pigpen a few times.

The medicinal power of the three pills slowly dissolved within his body, and the four elements of water, fire, earth, and metal gradually formed a delicate balance under the harmonization of the sweet dew.

They complement each other, and they are beginning to resemble the basic form of the Five Elements.

Wu Neng felt completely refreshed, and his originally heavy and clumsy pig body became lighter.

Walking on four legs, it no longer staggers as before.

"Master!" Wu Neng's voice was choked with emotion, "I, Old Pig..."

Should I say thank you?

It's too light.

Speaking of repaying a debt of gratitude?

He's nothing but a pig demon now, what can he possibly use to repay the debt?

Li Yan seemed to see through his thoughts, waved his hand, and said, "Marshal, there's no need for that."

As I have said, this is following the natural course of things, not an act of bestowing favors or seeking repayment.

If the Marshal feels bad about it, then please allow me to have a sip of water.

Wu Neng was taken aback, then grinned and said, "Daoist Master is joking."

Although I, Old Pig, am poor, I'm not so poor that I can't even afford a sip of water.

Li Yan followed him to the corner of the pigsty, where there was an old well.

Moss grew on the well rim, and the well water was clear and cold.

Li Yan walked to the well, bent down, and drew a bucket of water from it.

The water was crystal clear and had a slightly cool feel to it.

Li Yan sat down properly.

He took out a rough porcelain teacup from his sleeve, scooped half a cup from the bucket, held the cup with both hands, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wu Neng watched this scene, and his throat tightened.

When he was in Heaven, what kind of fine wines and elixirs didn't he drink?

The celestial officials toasted him because he was Marshal Tianpeng, in charge of 80,000 naval soldiers.

Now he's nothing but a pig, and even to offer someone a drink of clean water, he has to draw it fresh from this well.

But the Taoist priest not only did not find it offensive, but sat upright, took the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

The way he drank the water was neither humble nor arrogant, but calm and composed.

It was as if they were drinking not ordinary well water, but the nectar of the Jade Pool.

A feeling that was hard to describe welled up in Wu Neng's heart.

The sensation was warmer than those three pills, and clearer than the sweet dew, rushing straight to the top of one's head, making one's eyes sting.

"Master..." Wu Neng's voice was hoarse, "I, Old Pig, have remembered it."

Li Yan put down his teacup, smiled slightly, but remained silent.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the pigsty.

A burly man carrying a wooden bucket walked over, cursing and swearing.

The man was burly and broad-shouldered, with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot, a thick beard, and eyes as wide as copper bells.

It was that butcher Zhu.

When he woke up, he remembered the piglet standing upright with its tusks sticking out, and he felt both fear and anger.

He picked up his knife to take a look. If the piglet was really a monster, he would kill it to avoid bringing disaster upon himself.

When they arrived at the pigpen, they saw a Taoist priest in a green robe sitting on a stone stool, talking to a piglet.

Zhu the butcher was taken aback, then angrily retorted, "Where did you come from, you Taoist priest? What are you doing sitting in front of my pigsty?"

Li Yan stood up, bowed to Butcher Zhu, and said:

"I, a humble Taoist, have been traveling around and have come here to see this auspicious place, as I have noticed it."

Butcher Zhu slammed the wooden bucket on the ground, put his hands on his hips, and said:

"What auspicious aura?"

My sow just gave birth to a litter of piglets, one of which was a freak. It had a pig's head and body, but it could walk standing up and squeal. It was terrifying!

I was just about to kill it to avoid bringing trouble!

Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Wu Neng's eyes.

In his previous life, he was Marshal Tianpeng, and even the celestial officials who saw him would have to give him some respect.

Although he has now been reborn as a pig, he has already developed intelligence. How could he allow a mortal butcher to kill him whenever he wants?

He was about to lash out when he saw Li Yan shake his head slightly, signaling him to calm down.

Li Yan turned to Zhu the butcher and said gently, "Benefactor, you are unaware of something."

Between heaven and earth, all things possess a spirit. The unusual appearance of the pig is not an evil spirit, but a sign of good fortune.

Butcher Zhu was skeptical: "An auspicious omen? What auspicious omen?"

Li Yan said: "Observe the heavens to understand the changes of the times; observe human affairs to transform the world."

This piglet was born with unusual features, able to stand and speak, born with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, unlike ordinary pigs.

If you kill it, you will offend the heavens and shorten your own lifespan.

When Butcher Zhu heard him spouting off his erudition, he felt a little intimidated.

Seeing that the Taoist priest was surrounded by a pure aura, unlike ordinary swindlers, he said:

"The Taoist priest said, what should be done with this piglet?"

Li Yan said, "If you trust me, please sell this piglet to me."

This humble Taoist priest is willing to contribute ten taels of silver, as compensation for the benefactor's loss.

When Butcher Zhu heard that it was ten taels of silver, his eyes lit up immediately.

He only earns a few hundred coins for killing a pig.

Ten taels of silver would be enough for his whole family to live on for a year.

"Is the Taoist priest really serious?"

Li Yan took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and held it in his palm.

The silver was gleaming white, of excellent quality.

Zhu the butcher took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and then bit it to confirm that it was indeed genuine silver.

His face immediately lit up with a smile, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "Master, you are merciful! Master, you are merciful! This piglet is yours!"

After saying that, he opened the wooden door of the pigsty, carried Wu Neng out, and handed him to Li Yan.

Li Yan took Wu Neng and held him in his arms.

Wu Neng's pig body was only about a foot long and covered in black hair.

Lying limply in Li Yan's arms, it looked somewhat like a black dog.

Butcher Zhu then pointed to the sows and piglets in the pen and asked, "Taoist priest, do you still want these pigs?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "This humble Taoist only needs this one. As for the rest of the pigs, please take good care of them."

Zhu the butcher nodded repeatedly, pocketed the silver, and left happily.

Wu Neng lay in Li Yan's arms, looking up at him, and whispered:

"Master, aren't you afraid of losing money by spending ten taels of silver to buy me?"

Li Yan laughed, "Ten taels of silver for a Marshal Tianpeng? Where else in the Three Realms can you find such a deal?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Neng couldn't help but smile.

Li Yan, carrying Wu Neng, left Zhu Family Village, took off on a cloud, and flew towards Qingcheng Mountain.

On the cloud path, Wu Neng lay in his arms, gazing at the villages, mountains, and rivers receding into the distance below, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Three days ago, he was still a commander in the Heavenly Court, guarding the Milky Way, and was very powerful.

Three days later, he turned into a pig and was bought by a Taoist priest for ten taels of silver.

The world is ever-changing, more unpredictable than the waters of the Milky Way.

"Master Daoist,"

Wu Neng suddenly spoke up, "I, Old Pig, just now heard you and that butcher say that I am some kind of auspicious creature born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

Was he just teasing the butcher, or was he really telling the truth?

Li Yan walked slowly and steadily, and the outline of Mount Qingcheng was already appearing on the horizon.

He glanced down at Wu Neng and said slowly, "Half a lie, half the truth."

"What do you mean?"

Li Yan said, "Saying it's an auspicious omen is just to coax him."

As the saying goes, when everyone knows what is beautiful, ugliness is already there; when everyone knows what is good, evil is already there.

Auspicious omens and evil spirits are two sides of the same coin.

People regard what they like as auspicious omens and what they dislike as evil spirits.

This is merely a difference in human nature, not a reflection of the true nature of Heaven.

"It is true that they were born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

Wu Neng was taken aback: "I, Old Pig, am nothing more than a pig now, where would I get the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?"

Li Yan said: "The Pig (亥) is the last of the twelve Earthly Branches, its trigram is Kan (坎), and its symbol is water."

The virtue of the Kan hexagram is that it is outwardly yin and inwardly yang, it is able to remain unperturbed in danger and flow without overflowing.

The marshal's previous life was guarding the Milky Way, which was a manifestation of water.

If you are reborn as a pig in this life, that is the realm of water.

Between appearance and concealment, it is merely the constant flow of water; how can there be distinction between noble and lowly?

Wu Neng remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Does the Daoist mean that my pig body is not a curse, but rather a blessing?"

Li Yan said, "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing does not depend on the person, but on the mind."

He further stated, "The Inner Canon of Medicine says: 'The kidneys govern water, receiving and storing the essence of the five viscera and six bowels.'"

The marshal's pig-like body, representing the element of water (亥水), is a sign that the kidney water has returned to its proper place.

When kidney water is sufficient, essence and vital energy can be stored.

When vital energy is stored properly, the primordial spirit is nourished.

If the primordial spirit is nourished, then becoming an immortal is within reach.

If the marshal can use this pig's body as a foundation to cultivate his water skills to the extreme, he might very well be able to return to the heavens, or even advance further.

Upon hearing the words "further progress," a golden light flashed in Wuneng's eyes.

When he was in the Heavenly Court, his cultivation had reached the peak of Taiyi Golden Immortal, just one step away from becoming a Daluo Golden Immortal.

But that step, he couldn't take, no matter how many years he tried.

That threshold, like an insurmountable chasm, stood before him, seemingly within reach but unattainable.

Hearing Li Yan say this, the fire that had long been extinguished in his heart was rekindled.

"Master, what should I, Old Pig, do?"

Li Yan said, "No rush. The most important thing for the Marshal right now is to transform into human form."

Wu Neng was taken aback: "Transformation?"

Li Yan said, "Marshal, although your current pig body is a return to its natural state, it is still ultimately the body of an animal."

If the meridians are blocked and the acupoints are not open, even if one wants to cultivate oneself, there is no way to begin.

One must first pass the test of transformation, shedding this animal form and manifesting human form, before one can truly begin cultivation.

Wu Neng asked, "When will I, Old Pig, be able to transform into human form?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Yan said, "The foundation of the five elements within the Marshal's body has begun to take shape."

Normally, it would take three to five years, or at most, for the creature to take human form.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Wu Neng's eyes: "Three or five years... that's too long."

"That's the general rule. But if the Marshal is willing to take a gamble, I have a method that could greatly shorten this time."

Wu Neng quickly asked, "What method?"

Li Yan said, "Leverage the momentum."