Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 40 Even the mighty Poet Immortal was led astray by Granny Gongsun! [Seeking monthly votes]

Seeing Li Bai's puzzled expression, Zhou Yi explained:
"There is a time difference between us. Once the item is in my hands, the missing time will be automatically made up... This is a normal phenomenon and there is no need to be surprised."

Is this normal?

Li Bai's doubts were not resolved; instead, he found it even more mysterious.

In the blink of an eye, thousands of years of time were made up, and Master actually said it was a normal phenomenon?
The ancient texts are right; those who attain immortality are extremely humble, while those mediocre outsiders are shallow, arrogant, and lack the virtues of a cultivator.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Gongsun Da Niang, who was practicing her sword, saw Li Bai, sheathed her sword, and came over to greet him.

"So you're the great poet Li Bai? I'm Gongsun Da Niang, also known as the Pomegranate Fairy. Historical records say you're skilled in swordsmanship, so how about we have a contest?"

Zhou Yi's eyelids twitched. With your swordsmanship that descended from the sky, wouldn't you have pierced the Poet Immortal's intestines?
He quickly stopped him, saying:

"We can talk about the sword fight later. You should first show Li Bai around and introduce him to all the household appliances... Li Bai, if you don't understand anything, just ask him. Don't be shy."

After saying that, Zhou Yi took the lion-patterned gold bottle and the manuscript back to his room.

The golden urn was placed on the table. He carefully opened the manuscript and saw that inside was a letter and a scroll of donation notices for the temple.

The content of the post is very simple:
[A merchant named Li from Changlong County, Mianzhou, Shu Commandery, paid homage to the headmaster of Hunyuan Palace, presenting a pair of golden vases from the Western Regions, praying for prosperity for his family and good health for his relatives.]

The Golden Bottle from the Western Regions?

No wonder the gilded pattern on this gold bottle is a lion; it must have been brought here by merchants from the Middle East.

Fortunately, it was a lion pattern; if it had been a dragon or phoenix, Li Bai's family would have overstepped their bounds.

Li Ke did not mention Zhou Yi's Daoist name, probably to avoid using the names and titles of immortals, and also because he was worried about being rejected. Therefore, he offered the two golden bottles to Hunyuan Palace instead of Zhou Yi himself.

However, with this offering letter that has survived for hundreds of years, the origin of the lion-patterned gold vase can be explained... If we add the gold knife and the stone tablet, Hunyuan Palace could hold a Han and Tang Dynasty cultural relics exhibition on its own.

These cultural relics can also be used to prove that Hunyuan Palace has a "long history" and is not a modern Taoist temple that is "99 years away from being a century-old establishment".

However, after the exhibition, these treasures are quickly "borrowed" by museums at all levels, and eventually transferred to the National Museum of China, which is known as a black hole for cultural relics, and never returned.

The Taoist Association will most likely send a few Taoist priests in purple or gold robes to Hunyuan Palace to guide its work... Forget it, let's just follow Laozi's philosophy of "quietude and non-action" and stop messing around.

If all this fuss goes on and on, what if we end up losing Hunyuan Palace to someone else? If Grandpa knew this in the afterlife, wouldn't he slap himself a few times?

After carefully putting away the offering letter, Zhou Yi then cautiously opened Li Ke's letter.

The letter contained much more information and was extremely polite. It's likely that Li Ke was quite astonished by the items his son brought and regarded the Book of Changes as a true deity.

After a few polite opening lines, Li Ke tentatively inquired in the letter whether he could present the items Li Bai brought back as auspicious omens to the Emperor.

When futuristic objects are transported to ancient times, they not only have an impact on the minds of the ancients, but also greatly affect their lives.

If word gets out, thieves from all over the country and officials from Shu County will probably come knocking to demand it back, and some might even forcibly take it away on the grounds that it is against etiquette.

Li Ke felt that rather than being forcibly taken from, it was better to offer it up voluntarily in exchange for some protection, so that his impoverished family could continue.

Of course, that's too modest. Although Li Bai's family were merchants, they weren't exactly small and insignificant. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given away 300,000 coins to help others during his travels.

Li Bai never worried about money throughout his life, especially in the first half, because his family was wealthy and powerful, so no matter how much he squandered, his family would always cover his expenses.

At the end of the letter, Li Ke, as an elderly father, asked Zhou Yi to teach Li Bai some skills to help him survive, and repeatedly expressed:
"My son is dull and ignorant; I beg the immortal master to guide and nurture him."

Upon seeing the word "dull-witted," Zhou Yi's lips twitched... If the Poet Immortal was dull-witted, then every one of us is an idiot!
After reading the letter, Zhou Yi carefully put it away, along with the gold bottle and the letter of offering, into a box, and then went to the kitchen to start making breakfast.

The apprentice has arrived, so breakfast should be plentiful.

Zhou Yi picked a tender pumpkin, grated it into shreds, cracked two eggs, mixed it with flour to make a paste, and then made some pumpkin pancakes in a frying pan.

Then she steamed a few sausages and stir-fried some mustard greens with dried chili peppers. With everything prepared, Granny Gongsun returned with Li Bai.
"Taoist Master, I just took my brother Li Bai to pay respects to all the statues of the gods. Aren't the gods angry that we were disturbed so early in the morning?"

The Book of Changes says:

"No, they don't have morning grumpiness... Wash your hands and eat, we have things to do after we eat."

Aunt Gongsun agreed and led Li Bai to the sink, where she also gave a detailed introduction to the jasmine-scented hand soap:
"This hand sanitizer smells so good. I heard that Princess Yuzhen is passionate about Taoism. If she respects Master Yiyuan, I'll give her a bottle. If she doesn't, then forget it."

Li Bai was fascinated by cultivating immortality from a young age and was no stranger to Princess Yuzhen:

"I heard that she never married in order to devote herself to Taoist cultivation. I wonder if it's true or not."

Lady Gongsun, who already knew a great deal about history, scoffed:
"She never married, but she had quite a few children. Historical records show that her second son was Zhang Ti, the Minister of Ceremonies, who married the youngest daughter of her sister, the Princess of Cai... She kept clamoring to become a Taoist nun while having a string of children, tsk tsk."

Zhou Yi raised his hand and flicked her forehead:
"Don't talk about others behind their backs, especially in front of children. Is it appropriate to talk about this? Besides, apart from the Quanzhen School, Taoist priests of other schools are allowed to marry and have children."

Li Bai, quick-witted as ever, immediately cupped his hands and said:

"I wonder which family's daughter will be favored by fate and become my teacher's wife."

The Book of Changes says:

"Taoist priests are allowed to marry and have children, but it's not mandatory. I don't plan to get out of being single for the time being. It's so much better to be free and independent. Only a fool would want someone to keep him in check."

The three sat down to eat, and Granny Gongsun was still gossiping about Princess Yuzhen giving birth:
"Her son's surname is Zhang, but she won't say who his biological father is. Could it be Zhang Guo, the one whose marriage was arranged by His Majesty?"

Zhang Guo is the prototype of Zhang Guolao, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. However, in official history, his reputation is mixed. Among the famous Taoists of the Tang Dynasty, he was not as good as Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Hu Ziyang, etc., and even less so than Sima Chengzhen, Li Bai's teacher, who was posthumously honored by four emperors.

Zhou Yi thought this girl was being quite nosy, and casually remarked:

"When you arrive in Chang'an, you can secretly investigate this matter and restore history to its rightful place."

"Very well, I will definitely investigate thoroughly!"

After the meal, Zhou Yi didn't move bricks. Instead, he asked Li Bai and Granny Gongsun to discuss how to contact each other in the Kaiyuan World. He himself took the "Peace and Safety Talisman" that he had been worshipping for three days, rode his motorcycle down the mountain, and arrived at the home of Zhao Wei, the number one excavator operator in Yunwu Town.

Zhao Wei had no work today and was chatting with someone at the door while holding his son.

Seeing Zhou Yi approach, he handed the child to his wife, excitedly led Zhou Yi to the open space across from his house, and pointed to a Sany 135 excavator, saying:

"This is the excavator that did the work in Huangniwa. Where should it be hung to ward off evil spirits for the best effect?"

Zhou Yi glanced at it, handed the peace charm wrapped in silk to Zhao Wei, and pointed to the driver's seat, saying:
"Just hang it somewhere that won't get in the way. There are no rules, and you can do whatever you want."

Zhao Wei posted the ad, took a picture, and shared it on his WeChat Moments, claiming that his excavator had been upgraded to a "holy excavator" blessed by the gods, and that introducing business would bring him merit, so he hoped everyone would share it.

To be fair, this guy earned two excavators at such a young age, so he does have a knack for marketing.

At Hunyuan Palace on the mountain, Li Bai looked at the Tang Dynasty map on his tablet for quite some time before finally finding Changlong County in Mianzhou, and then Yancheng in Yuzhou.

"The two places are thousands of miles apart. Sister Gongsun, you can write a letter and ask the governor of Yuzhou to send it to Changlong County by fast horse. I will also write a letter and send it to the post station in Chang'an. When you arrive at the post station, you can inquire about the whereabouts of the letters. If you receive them, it will prove that you and I are in the same time and space."

Gongsun Da Niang's eyes lit up:
"At that time, you can also go to Chang'an to cultivate under the guise of a Taoist priest. Once His Majesty has completed the construction of the Yiyuan Hall, you and I will be the stewards of the Yiyuan Hall... Hehe, if we encounter any scoundrels who bring disaster to the country, you and I will use the name of immortals to wield our swords and slay them!"

This girl's single sentence ignited the chivalrous spirit in Li Bai's bones:

"My master bestowed upon me the Daoist name Qinglian (Azure Lotus) so that I might cleanse the world of its filth. If given the chance, I would gladly wield my three-foot-long sword and carve out a bright and clear world!"

----------

Second update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)