Chapter Five Preparing to Descend the Mountain

  As the vital energy gradually emerged, Chen Jiu slowly entered a state of complete absorption, with countless heavenly principles and the sound of the Great Way surrounding him incessantly, as if he were communicating with heaven and earth or seeking the truth from them.

  What is the Way of Heaven?

  The Way of Heaven is the will of Heaven and Earth, supreme and unexcelled, governing the life and death of the universe, the prosperity and decline of all things, the birth and death of all beings, nurturing all living things.

  Ordinary people look up at the vast sky, without a clear understanding of the sun and moon's subtle movements. The four seasons replace each other, in the midst of darkness and brightness, all things follow their causal relationships. What is constant is called the 'Way of Heaven'. It suppresses what is high, lifts what is low, reduces what is excessive, and supplements what is insufficient. Heaven can cover but not carry, earth can carry but not cover, the Great Way can encompass but not distinguish. Knowing that all things have their possibilities and impossibilities.

  Chen Jiu's tightly closed eyes gradually had a thread of tears constantly seeping out, and the most mysterious and eternal aura between heaven and earth wrapped around him, slowly infiltrating his body and the origin of his spirit.

  With a gentle sigh, Chen Jiu opened his eyes: "To hear of it in the morning is to die by night, nothing more than that."

  Chen Jiu slowly got up, by this time the coal had already gone out, it seemed that a lot of time had passed, Chen Jiu was no longer sleepy.

  Walked to the window, gently pushed open the window, the moonlight was like water, and the distant mountains and rivers reflected the moonlight, a blurry landscape of mountains and rivers.

  Chen Jiudan did not dare to go out, now it's already deep in the night, if someone found out that he went out at midnight, who knows what would happen.

  Ran back to the house, rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find a jug of old wine that had been hidden for over 70 years, took out a jade cup, the wine was crystal clear, under the moonlight it looked like amber.

  "It's a pity that this fine moonlight is wasted, and there's no one to share it with me." A gust of cold wind blew over, but Chen Qi didn't feel the chill at this moment.

  Although he said that he didn't have any real cultivation, it was just that a slight sensation of qi had arisen, and the exchange of qi with heaven and earth had taken place. However, this faint thread of qi allowed Chen Qi to defy the cold and heat, which was absolutely not an ability that ordinary cultivators could possess.

  Even if an ordinary cultivator has achieved a certain level of internal energy, they are still no different from ordinary people. It is only when one truly embarks on the path of cultivation that they can become impervious to heat and cold. This shows just how extraordinary Chen Jiugong's method is.

  After drinking a pot of wine, Chen Jiuxiao's small body began to feel dizzy, looking at the high-flying Taiyin star in the sky, muttering to himself: "What is the Great Way after all".

  "The Great Way is simple, enlightenment is natural" Chen Jiu recalled a famous saying from his past life and involuntarily spoke it out.

  But soon Chen Jiou drunkenly said: "Huh, what did I just say?"

  "The Great Way is simple, directly pointing to the human heart. The Great Way has no form, the Great Way has no law, the Great Way is natural, returning to simplicity and truth." Chen Jiuzhai closed his eyes, and vague thoughts kept flashing in his mind.

  The sun rises and the moon sets, with the golden rooster hanging high in the sky. Chen Jiu had been awakened by Xiao Shan Zei early on, for today was a grand festive day for the entire mountain stronghold. Indeed, it was a grand festive day for the entire mountain stronghold, for today marked the beginning of distributing annual provisions, and the entire mountain stronghold would no longer have to worry about celebrating the new year.

  Looking at the three masters discussing on one side, Chen Jiu felt for the first time that the mountain stronghold really had no future. If he hadn't had no way to make a living, he would have thought of ways to leave this mountain stronghold long ago.

  But now that the opportunity has arrived, even the big shots have to flee, let alone Chen Jiu this small shrimp. The most important thing is that Chen Jiu now has a cultivation method, which is not like before. Now his future is limitless. If he were to settle down in this bandit den and live a life of uncertainty, then Chen Jiu would truly be a useless piece of mud that can't even be used to build a wall.

  Watching the mountain bandits happily receiving their rewards, Chen Jiu's face wore a smile, this smile was either one of mockery or relief, in any case it looked somewhat strange.

  Erdan stood in the distance and beckoned Chen Jiu, who was lazily sunbathing here. Chen Jiu walked over: "Second Master".

  The second master looked at Chen Jiu: "You little devil, why didn't you come to collect your things? Are you planning on drinking the northwest wind during Chinese New Year? Every year when it's time to hand out goods, you're always one of the happiest ones. What's wrong this year?"

  Chen Jiuzhao smiled wryly: "The second master really misunderstood me, I'm doing this to show my trust in the second master, even if I didn't come, the master would probably still leave my share for me."

  The second master nodded: "Right, why didn't big brother come out today?"

  Chen Jiu glanced at the other few masters and didn't notice anything unusual: "I heard that the great master seems to be about to break through a bottleneck, preparing to retreat and make a breakthrough. Presumably he is at a critical moment of breaking through, or has gone up the mountain to pick herbs."

  Chen Jiuzhen said that going up the mountain to pick herbs is because some gongfa can borrow the help of medicinal materials to increase the probability of breaking through.

  The Second Master seemed to have acknowledged Chen Jiu's words, and the Great Master did not come out. Several masters in their hearts were eager for this, and now after dividing things up, the prestige of several masters among the mountain bandits has greatly increased.

  Chen Jiu looked at Er Dangjia and said: "Master, is my treasure ready?"

  Very naturally shifted the topic over, without a hint of gunpowder smell.

  The second master burst out laughing: "You little rascal, hurry up and come over to choose, everything is here."

  He rubbed his hands together, and Chen Jiu's face was filled with joy: "The master of the house, this treasure is being sent out at just the right time! I was planning to go down the mountain tomorrow for a stroll, and I was feeling like the silver on me wasn't enough. Who would have thought that today would be the day it's sent? The master of the house is truly a timely rain!"

  "Oh, you little scamp, what are you doing going down the mountain? Can't you see that Chinese New Year is approaching, and you're not staying on the mountain to celebrate?" San Dangjia spoke up.

  The three-generation-old man's body was emaciated, and you could vaguely see the bones, veins, and blood vessels that resembled earthworms.

  If you underestimate him because of his thin figure, then you will surely die a miserable death. The guy who can stand out among countless bandits and occupy a place is not so simple, but the most ruthless among the ruthless, the most evil among the evil people.

  Chen Jiuhaha laughed: "Isn't the year-end approaching? I haven't changed this set of clothes for three years, and I'm not young this year either. I was just about to go buy a new one, it's not going to work if we keep going like this."

  Several masters did not find any flaws, and the second master joked: "Chen Jiu, can this small body of yours be used even if you marry a wife?"

  As soon as the words came out, the surrounding bandits couldn't help but burst into laughter, but seeing Chen Jiu's flustered and exasperated expression, they swallowed their laughter again.

  However, judging from everyone's red face and thick neck, it is clear that everyone has great doubts about whether Chen Ji can use his wife.

  Feeling the suspicious gaze of the crowd, Chen Jiu kicked a bandit beside him: "I'm telling you to laugh, I'm telling you to laugh. I'm a man, and you actually said that I couldn't use my wife after marrying her. You're really asking for death."

  This bandit suffered a disaster and was implicated, Chen Jiu's anger all fell on him.

  The bandits didn't dare to hide and could only repeatedly beg for mercy.

  After kicking a few times, Chen Jiu withdrew his flying legs and gnashed his teeth: "Master, I'll go back and prepare".

  After finishing speaking, he picked up his own treasure and ran back like escaping.

  Several masters smiled and watched Chen Jiu disappear from view, waiting until Chen Jiu's back disappeared before recalling their smiles: "Old Three, did you notice anything?"

  The three masters shook their heads: "Nothing was seen, it seems we were overthinking, perhaps the eldest is really preparing to break through".

  The second master nodded upon hearing this: "This Chen Jiu is the eldest's confidant, it's a good thing that this kid can't practice martial arts, otherwise he would have been eliminated".

  Third brother chuckled: "Second brother worries too much, this kid even if he's clever and resourceful, without martial arts skills, can't stir up any waves. This time my prestige has greatly increased, just right to go have a drink to celebrate."

  What San said is true. No matter where it is, force is the most important thing. Otherwise, Chen Jiu would not be just a small leader, but the boss of the mountain stronghold.

  The second master got up and looked into the distance after sending away the last financial support: "The old master is going to break through again, this is not good news for us."

  The third master shook his head: "Nothing, as long as you and I are temporarily safe and sound, and we stick to our duties, the big boss can't find any fault with us. He can't pick bones from eggs, or he'll lose people's hearts and this mountain stronghold will be finished."

  After finishing speaking, several people felt quite reasonable, and after a burst of laughter, they walked towards the cafeteria not far away.

  "PS: Please collect and recommend it to the passing gods."