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

The wind whistled past his ears as Ji Sheng stood in mid-air, each step he took making him appear several feet away.

As a rooster, he was born with the ability to glide through the air. After transforming into human form, he further developed this into a natural supernatural power, enabling him to walk freely in the air.

Later, he mastered the skill of "shrinking the earth into an inch". After combining the two, it became his own unique method of traveling.

Mountains swept past beneath his feet. After flying for about two or three hours, a small town came into view.

This small town is a city in Tibet. Although the population is not large, it is quite prosperous due to the constant flow of merchants.

According to his intuition, that opportunity lay in this small town.

Landing on a hilltop outside the city, Ji Sheng swayed and transformed into a weathered, travel-worn merchant.

This is just a crude illusion, not a proper transformation technique. It's fine for fooling ordinary people though.

It was the dead of winter, and although it was midday, the weather was gloomy. Before anyone knew it, snow had begun to fall.

Ji Sheng blended into the city. There were few pedestrians on the road, and most of the shops were closed.

He didn't search intentionally. The immortals are like dragons, appearing and disappearing without a trace; since he was already here, he would just let things take their course.

If it exists, it exists; if it doesn't, you can't force it.

The greater the opportunity, the more you need to remain calm and composed.

The aroma of wine and food wafted from the entrance of a tavern, whetting the appetite in Ji Sheng's stomach.

Spirits don't adhere to any fasting practices. They can go ten days or half a month without eating now, but they can't escape their cravings.

Since that's the case, let's pretend we're out for a stroll today and have a hearty meal at a tavern first.

Ji Sheng found a seat by the window, ordered four small dishes and a pot of fine wine, and prepared to enjoy a drink by himself.

The warmed wine was poured into the glass, steaming hot. Just as I raised my glass, someone shouted:

"Excellent wine, truly excellent wine!"

Looking up, he saw a strangely dressed middle-aged Taoist priest looking at him through the window.

The Taoist priest had two small buns on his head, and wore a single, open garment that exposed his chest and breasts. As he gently waved his banana leaf fan, snowflakes fell softly from his shoulders.

The snow outside was falling heavier and heavier, pouring down from the sky.

The Taoist priest, however, had a rosy complexion, as if he felt no cold at all.

Master Ziyang? No, no, Master Ziyang is an old man, why would he dress like this?

Ji Sheng knew he had encountered a master, and without hesitation, he quickly stood up and cupped his hands in greeting:

"It's snowing heavily outside, why not come in for a drink and warm up?"

The man laughed:

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

After speaking, the other person shook off the remaining snow from their clothes, came to the table, and sat down.

Ji Shengdao:

"May I ask your esteemed name, sir?"

The other party laughed:

"I am just a layabout; you may call me Yun Fangzi."

The Cloud House? Ji Sheng was first taken aback, then both surprised and delighted. The Cloud House—wasn't that Zhongli Quan, one of the Eight Immortals?

Looking at his attire, who else could it be but Zhong Liquan?

Zhongli Quan, also known as Zhengyangzi, was a disciple of the Eastern Emperor, the master of Lü Dongbin, and one of the five patriarchs of the Northern School of Quanzhen in later generations.

In the realm of Golden Elixir, even if he can't be considered an ancestor, he's certainly a minor one.

Ji Sheng was overjoyed and quickly said:

"So it was Master Zhengyangzi in person! I have been presumptuous; please forgive me!"

A true person doesn't lie. Since it's Zhongli Quan, he probably already saw through his background, so there's no need for him to pretend to be confused.

If someone approaches you, it means they have ulterior motives. Trying to hide it only makes you look foolish.

Zhongli Quan stroked his long beard and chuckled:

"Young friend, there's no need to be so polite. Since you recognize me, it must be fate."

Ji Shengdao:

"I humbly request your guidance, sir!"

Zhongli Quan shook his head and said:

"No rush, no rush, let's drink this first..."

As he spoke, he pointed, and the wine spout rose out of thin air, forming a stream that fell into the cup in front of Ji Sheng.

Ji Sheng calmed himself down and raised his wine glass:

"Thank you, Master."

He downed the glass of wine in one gulp. Ji Sheng found it refreshingly delicious and exceptionally fragrant, far surpassing any ordinary wine.

Just as I was about to put down my glass, I saw the wine gushing out of the already empty glass and filling it up again in the blink of an eye.

Zhongli Quan looked at him with a smile. Ji Sheng could only finish the drink.

Just like last time, before I could even put the glass down, it was already full of wine again.

He drank three cups in a row and felt completely refreshed. A warm current rose from his abdomen and spread throughout his body.

Ji Sheng was curious, and after a closer inspection, he was shocked.

This heat was actually pure and yang magical power, which swept over his limbs and bones in an instant.

As a demon, Ji Sheng had been unable to cultivate the true methods for decades and had become tainted with a lot of demonic energy.

These demonic energies are not apparent now, but over time, they will inevitably become an obstacle to his cultivation. They might even cause him to suffer a qi deviation at a crucial moment.

Now, swept away by this heat, the demonic energy vanished and transformed into pure magical power.

Although he is still in demon form, his body has undergone tremendous changes.

With this pure Yang power as a guide, not only will you not suffer from qi deviation in the future, but you will also achieve twice the result with half the effort in cultivating magic and supernatural powers, far exceeding the speed before.

"Excellent wine! Truly excellent wine!"

Ji Sheng knew this was an opportunity Zhongli Quan had given him, and laughed twice:

"Thank you for the wine, Immortal Master!"

Zhong Liquan nodded in satisfaction.

Ji Sheng thought it was just a stroke of luck, but little did he know that the wine actually held a hidden secret.

All man-eating monsters are filled with malevolent energy. If they drink this wine, their flesh and bones will instantly dissolve, turning into a pool of pus and blood. Their souls will be thrown into the oil cauldrons of the underworld, where they will be unable to escape for hundreds of years.

Since being reborn as a chicken, Ji Sheng has spent decades eating wild fruits in the forest and drinking from mountain springs. He possesses a demonic aura but no foul air, and certainly no man-eating ferocity.

Therefore, this fine wine can cleanse and transform one's very being, granting an opportunity that even mortal demons could never obtain in their entire lives.

Zhongli Quandao:

"Having drunk my wine, you are no longer a demon. Tell me, what do you want me to instruct you on?"

Ji Shengdao:

"Please, Immortal Master, grant me the Golden Elixir!"

Zhongli Quan replied:

"Why demand the Golden Elixir Path?"

Ji Sheng was taken aback, then replied:

"Of course, it's for immortality!"

"Why seek immortality?"

Ji Sheng felt a strange sensation:

"All living beings in this world desire longevity. The fear of death and the desire for life are inherent in human nature; such is its nature."

Zhongli Quan replied:

"If you were to be placed in hell, suffering the daily agony of being hacked and stabbed, having your tongue cut out and your heart pierced, in exchange for immortality, would you be willing?"

Ji Sheng immediately understood what the other party meant and smiled:

"Of course I wouldn't want that. What's the use of immortality if I can't live a carefree life and do whatever I want? If that's the case, I'd rather be a mortal and die sooner so I can be reborn!"

Zhongli Quan nodded and said:

"Indeed, people in the world seek immortality out of fear of death, thus losing sight of the true nature of immortality. They seek immortality for the sake of immortality, but do not know what immortality is all about."

Clinging to a single obsession, one squanders hundreds of years of lifespan, thinking oneself to have attained enlightenment, unaware that one has already fallen into demonic ways!

One thought can make you an immortal, another a demon! The difference between immortals and demons is but a single thought!

Ji Sheng was surprised by the other party's praise. After listening carefully to what the other party said, he suddenly seemed to understand.

Zhongli Quandao:

"Come, come, since you've said that, let's drink three more cups!"

As he spoke, Ji Sheng refilled his wine glass.

Ji Sheng had no choice but to raise his glass again, only to find that this wine was very different from the previous ones, with an extremely strong effect.

After three cups, I was already feeling quite drunk.

Looking across, he saw Zhongli Quan smiling at him. He stroked his beard without saying a word.

He felt a sudden dizziness and passed out drunk.

When he woke up again, Zheng Yangzi was nowhere to be seen. All he saw on the table was a mess of cups and plates, and all the food and wine was gone.

They hurriedly asked the waiter, who said that there had never been any Taoist priest; it was just that Ji Sheng had gotten drunk.

Ji Sheng felt a deep sense of regret. These immortals loved to put out trials, and it seemed he hadn't passed them; they were destined to be apart.

Left with no other choice, Ji Sheng had to return to the mountains to continue his cultivation.

Although he failed this time, he did not give up his pursuit of the Golden Elixir Path. He remained single-minded in his quest for the Dao.

Before we knew it, several hundred years had passed in a flash.

Even as his lifespan drew to a close and he lay dying, it was all just a mirage, a fleeting illusion.

The Great Way is hard to come by; Ji Sheng dedicated his life to seeking it, and died without regret.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in that tavern.

The tavern was drafty, and snowflakes swirled and landed on the tables, forming a thin layer of ice on the scattered cups and plates.

Was I... just having a dream?

Ji Sheng's heart skipped a beat. If that's the case, doesn't that mean what just happened was a test? To see if he had the perseverance to seek the Dao?

I don't know if I passed?

Ji Sheng quickly checked and found a scroll under the wine glass opposite him.