Journey to the West: Starting with becoming an apprentice of the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Patriar

"An ordinary cultivator spends at least thirty to fifty years nurturing their cultivation from the time they reach the Core Formation stage until the impending Tribulation. You... you've burned through thirty to fifty years' worth of firewood in a single year!"

The old Taoist paced back and forth a few times, then suddenly stopped, his expression more solemn than ever before.

"Mountain Lord, listen to what this old man has to say."

"Now that the news has spread, the calamity will be within ten years, or at the earliest three to five years. In these few years, you can do anything, except one thing."

"The mind must not be disturbed."

"A flawed mindset before a calamity is more deadly than a flawed foundation."

Lu Shanjun bowed solemnly: "This junior understands."

……

Another year.

That year, Huang Fengling's reputation truly spread far and wide.

The saying, "After passing Huangfeng Ridge, you can sleep soundly until dawn," spread thousands of miles along the trade route.

As it was passed down, the story became distorted.

It is said that there is a demon mountain in Xiniu Hezhou, and the demons in the mountain do not eat people, but protect them.

It is said that the Tiger King on the mountain manifests his divine power in broad daylight, slaying evil with a single sword, and is more efficacious than many righteous gods.

Once his reputation spread, it wasn't just wandering demons who came to join him.

Refugees have arrived.

Those who had suffered from locust plagues or fled from war in the west, dragging their families along, inquired their way to the mountain boundary, where they knelt before the boundary marker and refused to leave.

Spirits and creatures that don't eat people, and spirits that have become plant spirits, are bullied and used as food by powerful demons from other places. They gather in groups and lie in ambush at the entrance of the Touming Temple.

The number of demons on the scroll rose from just over nine hundred to over two thousand.

Along with the three villages at the foot of the mountain, it has expanded into seven villages and one town.

With more people and more demons, one matter weighed heavily on Lu Shanjun's mind.

grain.

In Huangfengling, the soil is yellow and the wind is dry. Of the eight hundred miles of mountains, less than one-tenth can be cultivated into arable land.

In the past, with only a few hundred mouths to feed, we could manage by bartering mountain products for grain.

With thousands of mouths to feed, relying on buying goods means that if there's any disruption to the trade, the entire mountain will go hungry.

More important are the lesser demons under his command.

The patrol team has been training for two years, and while their formation is now complete, the young men's skills are improving too slowly.

Demon cultivators are different from human cultivators. Humans have cultivation techniques passed down through generations, while demons rely entirely on a single blood meal.

Now that the mountain rules prohibit blood offerings, it's like cutting off their fastest route.

We can't expect our young men to be loyal and righteous, go hungry, and not develop any skills.

Before going into seclusion to undergo tribulation, this predicament must be broken.

As the year drew to a close, Lu Shanjun took stock of his family's assets and then personally went down the mountain.

This time, it's not about bringing up wine.

The black-maned men carried six large chests and followed behind.

Inside the box were century-old He Shou Wu and old Poria cocos grown in the mountains, as well as cinnabar and refined iron selected from the mines. In the bottom box, three demon pills were wrapped in brocade.

It was left behind after the three iron-winged eagles were killed.

The blood essence of the vulture has not yet dissipated; if an ordinary person takes it, it will bring disaster.

In the hands of major sects, these materials are rare finds, whether for refining weapons or for making medicine.

Under the locust tree, Lu Shanjun got straight to the point.

"Master, this junior wishes to make a deal with your sect."

The old Taoist priest glanced at the six boxes, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Speak."

"Huangfeng Ridge is a barren land, where ordinary grains struggle to grow, and demon food is scarce. I have heard that the major sects of the Central Plains all possess spiritual plant lineages. I would like to use these mountain produce and demon cores as collateral to exchange for some spiritual seeds that can withstand the harsh conditions of this land."

"Let's be clear from the start."

Lu Shanjun said, word by word, "The price will be whatever the market price is. Huang Fengling wants to make a profit, not to take advantage of the Daoist sect for even a penny."

The old Taoist stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Other demons would avoid Taoist sects. But you, you're chasing after them to do business."

He got up and went into the hall, took out a small jade sword, made a hand seal, and the jade sword turned into a line of green light, soaring into the northeast.

"The sword letter has been sent. Whether it succeeds or not depends on the sect's decision."

……

Central Plains, Xuan Yue.

The senior disciple accepted the sword manual, listened to it, and his brows furrowed into a knot.

"Listen to this letter from my martial uncle..."

He said to his fellow disciples who had gathered around him, "The demon king of Huangfeng Ridge wants to exchange our spiritual seeds for a hundred-year-old spiritual herb, refined iron cinnabar, and three Great Eagle Demon Pills. He also specified that they must be resistant to barren soil: spiritual wheat, jade bone bamboo, and blood-coagulating grass."

"A monster, farming?" One of the junior disciples stared wide-eyed.

"It's still farming with clearly marked prices, no debts owed." The eldest brother rubbed his temples.

He had cultivated Taoism for over a hundred years, and he asked himself what kind of demonic tricks he hadn't seen, but this was something he had never heard of before. He was completely baffled.

I'm completely baffled, yet I can't pinpoint any mistakes.

The price was fair, and the goods were top-notch, especially the three Vulture Pills, which were exactly what was needed for refining magical artifacts.

"That's enough."

The eldest brother put away the sword and letter, saying, "My uncle vouched for this in the letter. This mountain lord is more trustworthy than most people. Since it's an equal exchange, then let's do it."

He looked up at the southwest horizon, where the clouds were heavy.

"Besides, right now, we can't afford to worry about a tiger."

The beast tides outside Tongchuan Prefecture were suppressed three times, each time more ferocious than the last.

The demonic beast at the crest of the tide had golden-red eyes, clearly being driven by a secret technique. The clues, when traced to the end, vaguely pointed to several wandering monks coming from the west.

The eldest brother gripped his sword, his eyes darkening.

"The Buddhist sect has really gone too far this time."

……

As spring arrives, the blue light shines from the west.

Three storage bags were dropped into Huangfeng Ridge, and Lu Shanjun personally inspected the goods.

The seeds of spirit wheat are plump and resemble golden pearls. This plant is not picky about soil fertility and can even survive in yellow soil. The wheat that grows can satisfy the hunger of mortals and strengthen the bones and muscles of demons, providing them with half the benefits of blood food.

The Jade Bone Bamboo variety grows in March. Its bamboo is pure white and as hard as refined iron. It can be easily cut into long spear shafts.

Hemostatic grass prefers shade, and the back slope of Wushaoling is perfect for it. Its leaves, when crushed, make an excellent wound medicine.

The news spread, causing a sensation throughout the mountain.

The task of clearing the land fell to the head of Gongzui Slope.

Without saying a word, Black Mane revealed his true form in front of everyone.

What a magnificent boar, as big as a black mountain, with tusks like halberds, its four hooves pounding the ground, making the earth tremble. The blacksmiths worked through the night to forge a thousand-pound iron plow and put it on its back.

"Giddy up...no, Your Majesty, rise!"

With a muffled roar, the black-maned plow plunged three feet into the soil, and after it plowed, the yellow earth, which had been hardened for thousands of years, churned up two waves.

The pig demons nearby watched with envy and lined up to wait for the plow.

In one day, they managed to cultivate ten acres of spiritual land.

The water snake spirits of Wushao Ridge were tasked with drawing water.

Dozens of snakes, each as thick as a water bucket, meander between mountain streams and field ridges, forming natural irrigation channels wherever they go, with water gurgling into the new fields following the trails left by the snakes.

The little demons who have come to be spirits from plants and trees are the happiest.

Catching insects is a job that seems tailor-made for them.

A willow spirit stood at the edge of the field, its branches drooping down, and flying insects that caught on it could never escape. Several clumps of thorn spirits voluntarily transplanted themselves to the edge of the field to form hedges, conveniently keeping wild rabbits and badgers out.

Lu Shanjun stood on the hilltop, watching as new soil was turned over for the first time on the eight hundred miles of barren mountains.

Pigs are plowing, snakes are irrigating, trees are catching insects, and refugee children are following behind the iron plow, picking up grass roots, their laughter carried on the wind.

The sound of tides came from the Niwan Palace, growing closer and closer than it had been last month.

Lu Shanjun laughed.

When the wind wants to come, it will come.

The human warmth and life that fills this mountainside are his foundation.

[Annotation: With a pure heart, shepherd the ox; the golden elixir is refined; the first whispers of wind are heard. Demons can advance their cultivation without blood sacrifice, beginning at Yellow Wind Ridge. Mount Li is in sight, but the opportune moment has not yet arrived; continue cultivating and progressing.]