The human body's twelve primary meridians paired the interior with the exterior and yin with yang, each complementing the other.
Normally, all these meridians were clear and unobstructed. Any blockage was most often caused by injury or illness.
Chen Jin's current condition, however, could truly be called one in ten thousand.
He had borrowed a corpse to return to life, housing a living person's soul within a zombie's body and creating a unique state.
To transform into a human, he had to cultivate, connecting and opening the meridians and acupoints throughout his body to restore vitality, harmonize yin and yang, and regenerate Qi and Blood.
Since zombies were innately imbued with yin and baleful intent, his current condition was one of "flourishing yin and declining yang." Thus, he began with "Yin Qi," drawing in moonlight essence Qi.
If he kept harvesting yin and followed that single path all the way into the dark, he would be taking the route of zombie evolution;
but Chen Jin possessed the orthodox profound teaching, the Dragon-Tiger Inner Treasury Mysterious Scripture, which could "harvest yin to replenish yang." His path was to defy heaven and return the dead to life.
The "harvesting yin to replenish yang" mentioned here was by no means some harmful evil technique of an unorthodox path. It was a radiant, righteous way, gathering the essence of sun and moon to nourish the human body and ultimately attain the perfected realm of unity between heaven and humanity.
He would harvest moonlight, open the yang meridians, and clear them. Once his body gradually recovered, he could begin gathering solar essence Qi.
This was an exceptionally crucial step.
Thus, Chen Jin began by opening the three yang meridians of the hand.
These comprised the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, the Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian, and the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. Numerous acupoints lay along them, which needed no further elaboration.
So far, progress had been steady and orderly.
This was really a matter of patient grinding, requiring little technique-only sufficient moonlight essence Qi and sufficient time.
Chen Jin had plenty of time. As for moonlight, the bright moon hung above, and he could draw on it through visualization.
What concerned him was having a stable environment for cultivation.
Banyan Tree Slope enjoyed exceptional natural advantages and was quite a good place. After he subdued the monkey troop and dealt with the external threat of the weasel, it entered a rare period of peace-the golden window for cultivation.
He had to seize it.
As his cultivation advanced, one night, while Chen Jin circulated his cultivation method, he abruptly sensed an opening, as though a breach had finally appeared in some blockage. All kinds of sounds came flooding in:
first the wind sweeping past his ears, then the soft rustle of leaves stirring, followed by the chirping of insects all around and the roars of unknown beasts in the distance...
His ear apertures had opened and begun regaining vitality.
From that moment on, the entire world came alive.
For several days in succession, the monkey king did not return to Banyan Tree Slope without being summoned.
Nor did he lead his troop out to hunt or gather fruit, or dally with the females. Instead, he chose another old pine, climbed it, and sat cross-legged in its crown, settling into meditation.
He looked rather like he had withdrawn from the troop to live alone.
Ever since inhaling that mouthful of moonlight essence Qi, he had felt an enormous change in his world.
Things were different. So many things were different.
He even felt that he was no longer an ape. The gaze with which he regarded the other monkeys slowly grew unfamiliar, and a strange sense of estrangement arose.
It was as though they were not of the same kind.
Suddenly, he felt an indescribable loneliness.
Unused to this feeling, he grew restless and agitated and wanted somewhere quiet.
Unconsciously, he imitated Chen Jin and went to sit alone in a treetop.
Having tasted the marrow of moonlight, the monkey king craved more. But without Chen Jin's help, no matter how hard he tried, the moon in the sky was like the moon in water: visible, yet beyond reach.
This only frustrated him further. He wanted someone to ask for advice, or someone to confide in.
Unfortunately, the immortal master was cultivating and permitted no disturbance, while he had nothing to discuss with the troop.
Right...
The monkey king suddenly remembered the mutant toad occupying Savage Ford. Last time, he had dismantled so many ruined houses and broken boats without saying a word to the fellow. That had been terribly rude.
With that thought, he swiftly descended the tree, picked up his refined copper staff, and raced away.
Savage Ford remained a scene of decline, ruin, and decay, deathly still and devoid of vitality.
Only the mighty river surged on without cease.
Upon arriving, the monkey king first called out, "Ho, ho," by way of knocking and greeting his host.
But there was no response. He searched all around without finding any sign of the toad.
Strange. Had that fellow gone visiting and stayed away all these days?
The monkey king was puzzled. This did not seem normal.
When beasts gained intelligence and became Demon Beasts, different Demon Beasts had different habits, and around those habits, they would occupy a place as their territory.
The first great principle: territory could not be violated.
Any outsider, beast or human, who rashly trespassed would be regarded as a provocation, inevitably leading to conflict or even a fight.
That was why the toad had immediately attacked the bewildered Chen Jin when he came ashore, and why the monkeys had pelted and struck him when he reached Banyan Tree Slope.
Of course, Chen Jin himself had been quite innocent.
The monkey king had not seen the toad on his last visit, and now, after so many days, he still found no sign of him. The likeliest possibility was that the toad had moved away and abandoned this place.
That would explain it.
At this thought, the monkey king surveyed his surroundings. His first thought was to see whether this place would be suitable for his troop to move in and occupy.
But after looking around, he quickly discarded the idea.
This place was dilapidated, dark, and damp, steeped in death, without wildflowers or wild fruit. It was utterly unsuitable for the troop.
Forget it, then.
The monkey king suddenly lost interest and was about to leave.
Slap!
Something leaped from the river and landed on the muddy ground. Was that not a mutant toad the size of a large basket?
His large eyes bulged, bloodshot and looking quite angry.
The monkey king's eyes lit up at the sight. So you're here! With winter coming, were you getting ready to hide in the water and sleep through it?
That possibility had not occurred to him.
He was just about to wave an arm in greeting.
Bang!
The toad thrust with his hind legs and hurtled toward him, menacing and fierce.
The monkey king hurriedly dodged, calling, "Ho, ho," to indicate that there had been a misunderstanding.
But why would the toad listen? He already considered the monkey king an accomplice of the red-haired corpse monster. Coming to the ford tonight, he surely meant no good. The toad turned and charged again.
After several such charges, the monkey king was nearly struck. Angered, he brought his staff down on the toad's head.
Clang!
It struck the toad squarely on the head, as though hitting iron or stone.
"Croak!"
The toad cried out, opened his mouth, and spat out his long tongue.
Caught off guard, the monkey king was struck beneath his left ribs, the tongue piercing into him and bringing unbearable pain. He dared not linger in battle. Sweeping his copper staff across, he turned and fled.
Victorious in a single encounter, the toad was immensely pleased with himself. He had intended to press his advantage and storm Banyan Tree Slope in one rush, but on second thought, his injuries from the lightning strike had yet to heal. Besides, his battle with the monkey king had taken a toll, and another fight would be unwise.
Most importantly, whenever he thought of that mysterious corpse monster, the toad felt somewhat apprehensive. He could not fathom him.
Fine, then. I'll recuperate a while longer, then go kill that red-haired corpse monster and avenge this humiliation!
In any case, after taking that blow, the monkey king was already a defeated opponent and no cause for concern.
His mind made up, the toad turned, leaped, and plunged back into the river with a splash.