Journey to the West: Starting by becoming an apprentice of Emperor Donghua

"Brother Ji, your skills have improved again in just a few days. Have you already reached the level of a demon general?"

Xiniuhezhou, Jinji Mountain. Beside the mountain path, under an old pine tree, three people sat at a stone table.

Ji Sheng looked at Ling Xuzi, who had asked the question, and said modestly:

"We managed to break through by sheer luck a few days ago."

The scholar in white robes standing nearby couldn't help but sigh:

"My worthy brother is indeed exceptionally talented! In just a few decades, he has already become a Demon General, which truly makes us envious!"

Ling Xuzi said:

"That's true. When I became a Demon General, I had already cultivated for over a hundred years. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Ji Shengdao:

"You two need not be modest. Within this radius of hundreds of miles, who does not know your illustrious reputation? I owe my rapid progress to your instruction."

The white-robed scholar said:

"Don't be so polite. Whether it's the Yellow Sprout White Snow or the Qi-guiding exercises, it was all developed by the three of us together. If it weren't for you, my brother, our cultivation would have stagnated long ago!"

Ling Xuzi nodded in agreement, and the three of them began to exchange their cultivation experiences under the pine tree.

It wasn't until the sun set and the moon rose, the stars and moon disappeared, and the morning star shone brightly, that the three of them suddenly awoke.

Ling Xuzi suddenly burst into tears and said:

"Alas, what are these 'Yellow Sprouts and White Snow' practices, these 'guiding qi and absorbing energy'? They're ultimately just heretical paths! If one doesn't attain the Golden Elixir, one will be nothing more than a wild demon in the mountains!"

Upon hearing this, all three showed regret. The scholar in white advised:

"Although you and I are spirits, we have long lifespans, and we may have the opportunity to cultivate the Golden Elixir in this lifetime."

Ling Xuzi shook his head even more:

"To cultivate the Golden Core, one must be a disciple of a legitimate immortal. For people like you and me, becoming a disciple, let alone a mount, is utterly delusional!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Sheng was filled with emotion.

More than forty years have passed since he transmigrated to this world of Journey to the West. He has risen from a little rooster to become the renowned master of Golden Rooster Mountain in the vicinity.

The other two are a white-robed scholar named Bai Xiu, who is a white-flowered snake spirit, and a Taoist named Ling Xuzi, who is a blue wolf spirit.

These two have been cultivating for a long time and can be considered old demons.

Cultivation is extremely difficult for wild demons. There are many demons who, like the three of them, have independently explored methods of cultivation.

Although his cultivation progressed rapidly, there is always a limit to unorthodox methods.

As Ling Xuzi said, in the path of cultivation, regardless of whether one is human, demon, or ghost, the Golden Elixir is the only righteous path. It is also the only righteous path that can lead to becoming a Celestial Immortal. Furthermore, it is the only method that can grant immortality.

In this world, only celestial immortals in heaven can impart the Golden Elixir Technique.

Immortals are all high above, their status compared to wild demons is like heaven and earth. Why would they teach wild demons the art of alchemy?

You don't deserve it!

Ling Xuzi wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and said again:

"Gentlemen, I recently received a message from the Black Serpent King of Eagle Sorrow Valley, which is related to the Golden Elixir Method."

Upon hearing this, both of them were somewhat surprised. Ling Xuzi then said:

"Have you two heard of the name of the True Man Ziyang?"

Bai Xiu looked on in surprise:

"Could it be the Purple Sun Immortal from the Donghua Sect?"

Ling Xuzi nodded:

"Indeed, a few days ago, when the Black Serpent King was exhaling clouds, he suddenly saw a vast expanse of purple aura in the east. Immortals rode on clouds and landed in the territory of Tibet."

Bai Xiu asked:

"How can you tell that he is the True Man Ziyang?"

Ling Xuzi said:

"That purple aura, with a blue dragon encircling it, must belong to the Donghua lineage!"

Bai Xiu shook her head and said:

"Donghua Sect has many immortals under its tutelage, including Zhengyangzi, Chunyangzi, and Haichanzi, all of whom are its direct disciples. But who is the only one, Ziyang Zhenren?"

The two started arguing again. Ji Sheng sat to the side, but had a different thought in his mind.

The Donghua lineage refers to the lineage of the Donghua Emperor on Fangzhang Island. In this world, they are renowned as the orthodox lineage of the Golden Core cultivators, with countless immortals under their tutelage.

If the Master Ziyang were to arrive and gain his favor, wouldn't that be...

Ji Sheng felt a surge of excitement. Becoming a disciple of a deity was not as simple as receiving the Golden Elixir Technique.

In Journey to the West, monsters are also clearly divided into different ranks.

Those born from heaven are granted immunity from death; those raised in the wild, if talented, are taken in as dogs, if not, they are killed without mercy.

For example, these two in front of us, one was later casually torn into five or seven pieces by Sun Wukong, and the other was struck on the head with a club, his brains splattering out. Each of them died a more gruesome death than the other.

Why? Ultimately, it's because they lack a foothold, have no value, and have no backing!

What about those demons with powerful backers? Whether it's Golden Horn and Silver Horn, or the Green Ox Demon, or even the three monsters of Lion Camel Ridge, they caused far more trouble than these two.

Which of these people didn't have to drink three cups of wine as punishment? In the end, they happily followed their master back to Heaven to continue their carefree lives.

Therefore, even becoming a disciple of an ordinary deity is no different from being reincarnated. One goes directly from a wild demon to one of the celestial court's Buddhist followers.

If only I could become a disciple of Donghua School...

Ling Xuzi and the white-robed scholar noticed Ji Sheng's expression and exchanged a glance. The white-robed scholar smiled and said:

"Brother, let's not talk about us; we're of average talent and lack ability. But you're different. You can try your luck; if you succeed..."

Ling Xuzi nodded repeatedly:

"If you become a true immortal in the future, you may be able to give us some pointers."

How could Ji Sheng not hear the teasing in their words? He laughed and said:

"Thank you both for your kind words. Rest assured, if that day ever comes, I will never forget you."

The two were somewhat taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.

Will that day ever come?

When they were young, didn't they both dream of becoming disciples of a great master, learning extraordinary skills, ascending to heaven as immortals, and becoming ancestral immortals?

To this end, he traveled almost all over Xiniuhezhou in search of the legendary Wuzhuang Temple and Xieyue Sanxing Cave, returning empty-handed countless times.

Young people are still young. When they come back dejected, they will know how difficult it is!

Ling Xuzi changed the subject:

"Brother, I heard you recently acquired a treasure. Could you show it to us? Let us broaden our horizons."

Ji Sheng was helpless:

"The Taoist priest's information network is truly impressive, though it's not exactly a treasure."

With a flick of his sleeve, Ji Sheng produced a round, egg-sized bead in his hand.

The bead was completely transparent, like crystal. A faint flame seemed to flow within it, emitting a gentle red glow in the darkness.

"This is... the Earth Fire Pearl?"

Bai Xiu exclaimed in surprise.

Ji Sheng nodded:

"Brother Bai truly knows his stuff; it is indeed the Earth Fire Pearl, genuine and authentic."

In Ji Sheng's eyes, however, several lines of small characters appeared on the Earth Fire Pearl.

[Earthfire Bead (Blue): A crystal of fire veins. Using this bead during cultivation can enhance one's affinity for fire and accelerate the learning speed of fire-based spells.]

Ji Sheng was already used to these kinds of words. Since transmigrating, he had seen similar words on almost every rare treasure.

The grades, from lowest to highest, are white, green, blue, purple, gold, and red.

Each grade is further divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower.

"Blue below" refers to something of inferior quality, like blue.

"These Earth Fire Pearls only appear on fire veins. Could they be related to that Sheep Lord of Crimson Fire Ridge?"

The scholar in white played with the Earth Fire Pearl and asked a question seemingly casually.

Redfire Ridge is a famous mountain in the vicinity, barren of vegetation and covered in sulfur. This is because a natural fire vein runs beneath its surface.

The one who occupies this fiery vein is the mountain god of Crimson Fire Ridge. This mountain god is a ram who has become a spirit, and is therefore also known as the Ram Lord.

Lord Yang loved to win people over with virtue, and all the demons within a radius of hundreds of miles respected him.

Ji Sheng neither denied nor confirmed, but simply laughed and put the Earth Fire Pearl away.

The two naturally understood Ji Sheng's meaning. Ling Xuzi changed the subject again:

"I've recently refined a new elixir and would like to invite you both to taste it. A banquet will be held at Canglang Ridge in a month; I sincerely hope you will grace us with your presence!"

"Yellow Sprouts and White Snow" refers to the art of alchemy, and among the three, Ling Xuzi is the most knowledgeable about it.

Ling Xuzi enjoys developing new pills. So when he gets a new pill, he immediately invites the two of them to taste it together.

Of course, when they say "appreciation," they mostly just look at it and smell it. After all, no one would dare to put something with unknown medicinal effects in their mouth.

The two naturally agreed, asked about the time, and then accepted.

At this moment, the east was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The three bid each other farewell and returned to their respective mountain peaks.

Back on Jinji Mountain, Ji Sheng had just washed his face when he felt a stirring in his heart and looked up at the red sun.

He had a vague feeling that some kind of opportunity awaited him hundreds of miles to the east.

This was another skill he acquired after transmigrating—an extremely special sixth sense. Every time he had this feeling, it meant that some kind of opportunity was about to appear.

As long as you follow the direction this feeling guides you, you will reap some unexpected rewards.

His ability to grow from a rooster into a powerful demon is truly remarkable.

Even that Earth Fire Pearl was obtained through this intuition. It has nothing to do with that so-called Sheep King.

The stronger this feeling, the greater the opportunity. And today, this feeling far surpasses that of the past.

Hundreds of miles to the east lies the territory of Tibet. Could it be...?

Ji Sheng suppressed his excitement and didn't bother to make any more preparations. With a whoosh of wind beneath his feet, he was suddenly soaring into the air and flying eastward towards Tibet.