Chapter 808: Treading Qian Cang and Venturing into Jade Fox

Knowing he was in the right place and had learned the exact location of King Foyin, Ji Yuan wasted no time. He decided to head directly to the Hengsha mountain range. Although he didn't know what the mountains looked like, flying 1,600 li north would surely lead him to the correct area.

Of course, Ji Yuan didn't fly directly from the temple grounds. Instead, he walked out of the temple in the direction he had arrived, then ascended into the clouds. Along the way, he saw many pilgrims worshipping Buddha, including the old man from earlier, holding an incense stick and bowing sincerely before a Buddhist hall.

To Ji Yuan, 1,600 li was a very short distance. Even flying at a respectful pace rather than rushing through the sky, he arrived in the approximate area in less than half a day. Following the direction of the flourishing Buddha light, Ji Yuan naturally discovered the Hengsha mountain range.

Upon seeing the mountain range, Ji Yuan understood the origin of its name. The distant mountains undulated without any towering peaks. There was little greenery; instead, the landscape was a golden expanse, as if countless golden sands had converged to form dunes. Yet, these dunes were remarkably solid.

It was unclear whether the golden color was the natural hue of the sand or if it had been imbued by the pervasive Buddhist aura and light.

As he approached the Hengsha region, Ji Yuan descended from the sky. Within the mountains were numerous Buddhist ashrams, where many Buddhist practitioners chanted scriptures. Boundless Buddha light emanated from various parts of the mountains, and the number of monks coming and going was immeasurable. However, just like outside, there were almost no restrictions; ordinary people could enter the mountains if they could find them.

Of course, finding the Hengsha mountain range was not as simple as finding just any temple; one needed a truly devout Buddhist heart or a practitioner with a certain level of cultivation, like Ji Yuan.

'The tale in "Journey to the West" about the Rat Demon being able to sneak into the Buddha's realm to steal and eat lamp oil seems to have some basis in reality,' Ji Yuan thought.

With this thought, Ji Yuan directly followed a mountain path into the Hengsha mountain range, not bothering to figure out which direction was the main entrance, as there appeared to be no gates anyway.

Upon arriving, the air was filled with Buddhist chants. Though the chanting voices were not uniform, they didn't sound chaotic at all.

Listening to scripture recitations felt different from chanting alone, and explaining scriptures had distinct characteristics from discussing them. Through the Buddhist sounds, Ji Yuan's Dharma Eye could discern the Buddha light rising from each unique chant, and he could vaguely gauge the cultivation level of the Buddhist practitioners based on the sound and its origin.

Before him stood two towering dunes, and through the gap between them, novices could be seen walking nearby. Ji Yuan's feet trod on the golden Hengsha, which, surprisingly, didn't feel soft but rather firm. Yet, with a slight bend, he could easily scoop up a small handful of the golden sand with one hand.

Watching the golden sand slowly drift through his fingers, Ji Yuan developed a deeper interest in the Hengsha mountain range. What made it solid was not the sand itself, but the pervasive Buddha-nature throughout the mountains.

Just as Ji Yuan watched the shimmering sand fall from his hand, he sensed something. When all the sand had slipped away, he looked up and saw an old monk standing between the dunes. Upon seeing Ji Yuan, the monk put his palms together and bowed respectfully.

"Mr. Ji, you have come to the foot of Mount Hengsha and observed the drifting Hengsha, perceiving the myriad forms of sentient beings. What profound insight!"

Ji Yuan smiled, thinking the master was reading too much into it. He then returned the bow with solemn respect.

"Master Foyin, after so many years apart, your understanding of Buddhist Dharma has grown ever more profound!"

The one standing between the dunes was indeed King Foyin, who was supposed to be on the Buddha seat at the heart of the Hengsha mountain range. Hearing Ji Yuan's compliment, he replied with a smile.

"And it is also due to the blessings of our discussions on the Dao, sir!"

Ji Yuan had merely offered a polite remark, but he was surprised that King Foyin admitted it directly. It seemed he had indeed gained much, as a humble monastic would not speak this way otherwise. However, this was not unexpected. Ji Yuan reflected on his own progress over the years, which had brought about changes so vast they were like the difference between clouds and mud compared to his past self. It was unlikely that he was the only one in the world making such advancements.

"Mr. Ji, have you come all this way to Xiyu Lanzhou merely to visit this old monk and reminisce?"

Before King Foyin, Ji Yuan saw no need for concealment and spoke directly.

"Master Foyin, I have come this time to invite you to accompany me on a venture into the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven. I wonder if it would be convenient for you?"

Although he had vaguely guessed that Ji Yuan's visit to the Hengsha mountain range might have another purpose, the old monk Foyin had not expected Ji Yuan to state it so bluntly, using the word "venture" (闯 - break into), which clearly indicated a potentially hostile undertaking.

"Namo Mahakaya Buddhadharma! Since it is Mr. Ji's invitation, how could this old monk refuse? Would you like to rest for a while with me in the Hengsha mountain range, or shall we proceed directly to the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven?"

Straightforward indeed! Despite being a monastic, the old monk Foyin was not at all indecisive, and Ji Yuan certainly wouldn't feign modesty.

"In that case, there's no time to lose. Master Foyin, let us go find Mount Qiancang now."

"Excellent. Please, sir, let us ride the clouds."

Although Ji Yuan and the old monk Foyin had not seen each other for many years, their relationship was not estranged. With the conversation reaching this point, Ji Yuan did not stand on ceremony. He waved his sleeve, raising a wisp of smoke and clouds, and ascended into the sky with the old monk Foyin on the outskirts of the Hengsha mountain range, transforming into streaks of light and departing at a speed far greater than his arrival.

Ji Yuan still remembered the old monk Foyin's words from years ago: Mount Qiancang was not a mountain in the conventional sense, but held special significance among the fox clan. "As autumn deepens and trees turn gray, leaves fall and the mountains lose their green; during early, mid, and late autumn on a particular peak of the three mountains — Changse, Qingchang, and Moyue — autumn transitions to winter, marking the beginning of the vast expanse. This is Qiancang."

Mount Qiancang was difficult to locate. While the three mountains — Changse, Qingchang, and Moyue — were well-known and named within normal parameters, there was still a small problem.

After spending six or seven days to find Mount Qingchang, King Foyin looked down at the lush, sprawling mountains and then turned to Ji Yuan, who was also standing on the clouds.

"Mr. Ji, although this old monk's ashram is also in the Lanzhou region, we have had little interaction with the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven. It is only spring now, still far from autumn, which does not align with the meaning of Qiancang. This old monk's eyes are dim; I do not perceive any grotto-heaven entrance on this mountain."

Seeing Ji Yuan gaze calmly at the mountains below without speaking for a moment, the old monk Foyin continued.

"How about this: This old monk knows that the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven also has a deep connection with our Buddhist sect. Although I have never been there, King Zuodi has visited the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven several times to give lectures. Perhaps we could seek guidance from King Zuodi? What do you think, sir?"

Ji Yuan slightly shook his head.

"Although the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven opens in autumn, its inhabitants don't necessarily wait until then to enter or exit. There must be a way to get in. In fact, there's a fox from the Grotto-Heaven outside right now."

"Hmm?"

The old monk Foyin was slightly surprised. Could Ji Yuan's Dharma Eye truly be so much superior to his own? Why hadn't he detected a fox from the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven outside?

"Haha, Master, don't overthink it. Just trust me this time."

As Ji Yuan spoke, his mind already willed the clouds, and he flew with the old monk Foyin towards the west. He certainly knew there was a fox outside, but he hadn't seen it directly with his Dharma Eye, nor had he smelled any demonic aura; he had sensed it in his heart.

Within his mental landscape of mountains and rivers, Ji Yuan's Dharma form was currently observing some indistinct stars. One star, in particular, was slightly brighter than the others and seemed closer to Ji Yuan, while the others gave off a sense of indeterminate distance.

These stars corresponded to foxes—a group of foxes connected by fate to Ji Yuan, the ones he had intentionally set free from the abandoned manor in Zu Yue Kingdom, who had then journeyed across countless mountains and rivers to actually find the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven.

At present, the location of one fox was clear, while the others remained indistinct. To Ji Yuan, there was only one conclusion: the other foxes were within the Grotto-Heaven, and there was no need to ponder their exact location further.

About half an hour later, Ji Yuan and King Foyin landed together in a small town outside the mountains. King Foyin could now also detect a faint demonic aura within the town, but how had Ji Yuan sensed it from such a great distance?

"Master, we shall wait for him here."

The old monk Foyin smiled but said nothing, deferring to Ji Yuan's plan. They stood at the corner of a secluded back alley, a relatively remote spot where few people passed by.

The small town was quiet. As dusk approached, dog barks echoed from distant streets and alleys, and pedestrians were heading home. Ji Yuan and the old monk Foyin were not in a hurry at all.

After they had stood for about fifteen minutes, a red blur leaped out from the back window of a tavern's woodshed and scurried along the back alley. Just as it rounded the corner, where there should have been nothing and no presence, four legs suddenly appeared.

"Thump..."

The fox crashed headfirst into King Foyin's left leg, its body tumbling backward twice, and a dark object flew from its grasp.

"Rumble, rumble, rumble..."

"Oh dear!"

Seeing the object roll away, the fox, disregarding its throbbing face, desperately regained its balance and then darted forward to embrace the dark object.

Ji Yuan clearly saw that the object in the fox's paws was a small black wine jar with a red label, named "Autumn Leaf Drunk."

The fox, relieved that the wine jar hadn't shattered, suddenly remembered why it had been sent flying. It looked up and indeed saw two figures standing there, watching it—a scholar and a monk. Panic surged in its heart, and its first instinct was to flee, but after a second glance, the fox froze.

After the previous encounter, the foxes had struggled to recall Ji Yuan's exact appearance, only vaguely remembering his stature, clothing, and the feeling he exuded. However, the moment it saw Ji Yuan again, the fox instantly recognized him as the gentleman who had imparted a bit of Dharma to them years ago.

Ji Yuan could clearly discern the fox's cultivation level and sensed a cultivation aura on it, somewhat similar to what he had perceived on Tu Siyan and Tu Yun. For a fox of this cultivation level to possess such an aura, it must have received a true inheritance, naturally confirming that his earlier speculation was correct.

However, this was not surprising. These foxes had, after all, brought with them a slightly modified version of Ji Yuan's "Dream Journey in the Clouds" when they sought the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven. Such a book would be a significant attraction even for nine-tailed foxes, so how could they not have been taken seriously?