Southern Jambudvipa Continent - a certain shore
After drifting at sea for several days and nights, the Stone Monkey finally reached land. Based on the daily star observations, the Stone Monkey determined that he had arrived in the Southern Jambudvipa Continent.
Finding a shallow spot, the Stone Monkey approached the shore, leaped off the Raft, and carefully surveyed its surroundings.
This place was unlike Flower-Fruit Mountain, which was filled with trees and surrounded by Spiritual Energy.
All that could be seen were sparse trees and a path along the shore, with wisps of smoke rising in the distance.
'This place doesn't look like it's inhabited by gods or immortals.'
The Stone Monkey scratched its head and looked around, feeling uneasy about the unfamiliar environment.
The knowledge in his mind told him that the God sites of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent were hidden in famous mountains and rivers, but places where humans gathered in large numbers would also be protected by righteous gods.
If you want to find traces of immortals, besides trying your luck in the mountains, the best way is to search in the various temples and Daoist temples in the major human cities.
Although humans are not born with supernatural powers, they are the most intelligent and quick-witted. If they can be guided by a destined person, they may be better off than to wander around blindly on their own.
We have to give it a try!
The Stone Monkey patted its fur, which was covered in salt stains, and straightened its back like the immortals in its memory, and walked towards the village.
As soon as he reached the village entrance, several children playing nearby spotted him.
"Monster! Monster!" The children screamed and scattered in all directions, and soon a group of fishermen wielding hoes and sticks arrived in the village.
These fishermen, born by the sea, have struggled against nature since childhood and have seen far more spirits and monsters than people from the inland, so they are not afraid of this monkey that walks upright.
"Where did this monkey come from? How dare he come to my Great Fishing Village!"
"It used to be shrimp spirits and fish monsters, but this monkey is from the sea too? Has a water monkey become a spirit?"
"Whatever kind of demon it is, now that we're ashore, let's fight it back!"
"Young man, follow me! Let's drive it away first. Tomorrow, prepare offerings and go to the City God to file a complaint!"
Several valiant sailors led the way and charged menacingly towards the Stone Monkey from a distance.
"Everyone... sigh!"
Just as the Stone Monkey was about to explain, a stone hit his feet, and people in the crowd continued to throw stones at him.
Seeing this, the Stone Monkey could only turn around and run away, his eyes full of confusion.
Why are the people of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent so similar to the hunters of the Aolai Kingdom in their hatred of monsters?
Didn't the immortal say that the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, as the ancestral land of humanity, is teeming with courteous and intelligent people? Why do they all look the same?
Seeing that the villagers were gathering in increasing numbers, the Stone Monkey had no choice but to turn around and flee into the mountains.
He leaped and bounded through the woods, quickly leaving the fishermen behind, and only stopped when he could no longer hear their voices.
"It seems the humans of this Southern Jambudvipa Continent are quite wary of spirits like myself!"
The Stone Monkey sat on a tree branch, watching the sun gradually set in the west, its stomach rumbling.
Aolai Kingdom also has human races, and groups of daring hunters often venture into Flower-Fruit Mountain to hunt monkey troop and sell them in town.
The Stone Monkey was no stranger to the evil of the human race; it was just that the common knowledge given to him by the immortals in his mind made him preconceived that this place was full of talents.
Little did they know that humanity is a complex and multifaceted species, with both good and bad aspects, and a strong tendency to reject other races.
In the days that followed, the Stone Monkey experienced the full spectrum of life and all sorts of things in the world.
For the next few months, the Stone Monkey wandered around the Southern Jambudvipa Continent.
He traversed most of the famous mountains, sneaked into Daoist temples to worship, and even risked infiltrating human cities.
But those "spiritual masters" he encountered were either charlatans pretending to be gods or simply treated him as a monster and drove him away.
The most dangerous time was when he was almost trapped by a group of cultivators using talismans, but he managed to escape thanks to his natural agility.
As the saying goes, ideals and reality are always different. The events of the past few months have made even the Stone Monkey wonder if coming to this Southern Jambudvipa Continent was a mistake.
One evening, the Stone Monkey was squatting by the stream drinking water when he suddenly heard a faint singing voice.
The sound grew closer and closer, slowly approaching the stream.
The Stone Monkey was about to get up and avoid the person who was approaching, but the person had already arrived first.
A middle-aged man carrying two loads of firewood came to a stream not far away and scooped up the water to drink.
Only after he had drunk two large mouthfuls of stream water did he look up at the Stone Monkey trying to escape.
"What a big monkey! Are you here to drink water too?"
With a smile on his face and speaking in a calm manner, he was one of the few people who was neither afraid of the Stone Monkey nor showed him any malice.
The Lingming Stone Monkey is born with supernatural abilities; perceiving good and evil is its basic capacity, and it is through this ability that it is able to wander around the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, avoiding danger.
"Yes, this water tastes good, but it's not as good as the water in my Water Curtain Cave."
Seeing that he meant no harm, the Stone Monkey chimed in with a comment.
"Oh? It seems you're a monkey who has cultivated yourself. I wonder what kind of immortal abode the Water Curtain Cave is?"
The woodcutter spoke with a look of genuine curiosity, his expression one of earnest curiosity.
"This... isn't some kind of celestial abode, it's just that the water is better than here." The monkey blushed at the question, but still forced a correction, "When I attain Immortal Ascension in the future, then naturally it will be a celestial abode."
"Oh! So you're still searching for immortals and seeking the Dao. No wonder we bumped into each other in these Yamanaka."
The man didn't laugh at the Stone Monkey; instead, he took the opportunity of resting to chat with Stone Monkey.
"However, you've come to the wrong place in these mountains. This is just an ordinary mountain area; apart from flowers and plants, there are no Daoist masters cultivating here."
"Hmm? Bro, do you know where I can find some?"
"I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance; the little monkey will be grateful for your kindness."
The Stone Monkey was also quite clever. Upon hearing the other person's words, he realized that this person was knowledgeable and immediately cupped his hands and asked questions.
"Haha, no problem, no problem."
The woodcutter smiled upon hearing this and sat down by the stream, with the Stone Monkey quickly gathering around him.
"You look tired and your hair is covered in dirt and debris; you must have been traveling in the mountains for quite some time."
The Stone Monkey nodded, somewhat ashamed. "We've been in the mountains since early summer, and now it's almost winter."
"Not bad, he's resilient, but unfortunately he's heading in the wrong direction."
The woodcutter nodded, then shook his head, a sigh on his face.
Seeing this, the Stone Monkey became even more sincere, and clasped his hands together in prayer.
"Please, brother, help this little monkey. Show it the right path. As long as it finds the true way, this little monkey can endure any hardship."
His tone was sincere; the Stone Monkey's devotion to the Tao was always unwavering.
Even though he spent his days in the mountains, enduring wind and rain, and being cursed and chased by others, the flame in his heart was never extinguished.
However, the Immortal Dao depends on fate. Even if you can endure hardship, you may not have the destiny to receive guidance. Many people may spend their whole lives striving for it, but they will not be destined to meet such a mentor.
The Stone Monkey had placed all its hopes on the woodcutter before it, quietly waiting for his guidance.