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

He quickly picked up the book, flipped through it casually, and was overjoyed.

It contains a complete set of methods for cultivating the Golden Elixir, in great detail.

Ji Sheng was overjoyed and bowed three times to the sky to thank Zheng Yangzi. He then immediately returned to the mountains, where he secluded himself from worldly affairs and devoted himself to cultivation.

Several hundred years have passed, and Ji Sheng's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, making him a potential Celestial Immortal.

Just as he was at the crucial moment of breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm, a great demon wreaked havoc at the foot of the mountain, feeding on the people and slaughtering several cities. For a time, not a rooster crowed for miles around.

Unable to bear witnessing the devastation, Ji Sheng emerged from seclusion and fought fiercely with the great demon for several days, finally slaying it but sustaining serious injuries himself.

Even if one survives in the end, their lifespan will be greatly reduced, and their cultivation will stagnate, making no further progress.

Decades later, as his lifespan was coming to an end, he finally passed away peacefully in the mountains.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself still in that tavern. Zhongli Quan was sitting opposite him.

"Ji Sheng, you have sought immortality in two lifetimes, but you have failed to achieve the Great Dao in the end. It seems that we are destined to meet but not to be together."

Ji Sheng was slightly disappointed, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you, Immortal Master. Matters of fate cannot be forced, and I have nothing more to say."

Zhongli Quan asked:

"You don't regret it?"

"What is there to regret?"

Ji Sheng remained calm and unconcerned.

Zhongli Quan asked again:

"In your first life, you earnestly sought the Dao, which is why I bestowed upon you the Elixir Scripture; you should have cherished it. In your second life, you are only one step away from achieving the Golden Elixir; take that step and you will become a true immortal. From then on, you can do as you please, live forever, and have all your desires fulfilled. Why give up?"

Ji Sheng said solemnly:

"The people below the mountain are suffering terribly, and they are in dire straits. If we stand idly by, how are we any different from those demons who slaughter the people?"

A single thought can make you an immortal, another a demon; the difference between them is but a single thought. I seek immortality, not demonhood!

Zhongli Quan stroked his beard and laughed loudly, his laughter shaking the tavern so much it seemed about to collapse.

"What a fine 'seeking immortality over demons' approach! My so-called trial was just a whim, nothing more than a joke. But now it seems, besides you, who else is worthy to teach me the Golden Elixir Technique?"

As he spoke, Zhongli Quan's body, as light as a feather, was swept away by a gust of wind and disappeared into the snow.

Outside, a snowflake carrying a piece of white paper flew in through the window and landed in front of Ji Sheng.

The above contains a few lines of text:

I always carry a flask of wine with me, so that my eyes will not recognize the capital.

The universe is vast and nameless, yet he is a man among the common people.

He said his dwelling was connected to the vast sea, and that it was the first peak of Penglai.

I wander through the marketplace, yet no one recognizes me; I am the son of the Great Emperor Donghua!

As he watched, Ji Sheng unconsciously read it aloud.

Before I knew it, the surrounding scenery had changed again.

The harsh winter snow has all disappeared, and a wave of fragrance permeates the air, invigorating the spirit.

Looking around, I saw that I was on a hillside.

The surrounding area was covered with magical herbs and lingzhi mushrooms, colorful clouds flowed in the air, and black cranes and blue phoenixes shuttled among them, their cries reaching the ears like celestial music.

A towering building pierces the sky in the distance, with three large characters written on its plaque: Taiyuan Palace.

Taiyuan Palace? Is it the residence of Emperor Donghua?

Is this Fangzhang Mountain?

A path led straight into the distance. Ji Sheng followed the path and soon arrived in front of Taiyuan Palace.

A man was already standing in front of Taiyuan Palace. He was dressed in a Taoist robe, wearing a turban and straw sandals. Light and shadow swirled around him, making him clearly an extraordinary person.

Ji Sheng quickened his pace, approached the other person, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"My name is Ji Sheng. I pay my respects to the Immortal Master. May I ask your esteemed name?"

The other party laughed:

"Young friend, there's no need for such formalities. I am Dongfang Shuo."

Ji Sheng's heart skipped a beat. This was indeed the residence of the Eastern Emperor, Fangzhang Mountain of the Three Islands and Ten Continents!

The full name of Donghua Dijun is Donghua Zifu Shaoyang Dijun. He is born from the Shaoyang Qi and is in charge of the register of immortals.

Those who attain immortality must first pay homage to the Eastern Emperor before they can meet the Three Pure Ones and even the Heavenly Emperor, demonstrating their high status.

Both Zhongli Quan and Dongfang Shuo were disciples of the Eastern Emperor.

"So you are Immortal Master Dongfang. I pay my respects."

Dongfang Shuo said:

"No need to be so polite. Yun Fangzi brought you here, so you must have passed his test. In that case, come with me to meet the Emperor!"

Meeting the Emperor? Ji Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he was overjoyed.

To have gained Zhongli Quan's favor was already an immense blessing. Entering Fangzhang Island was all I could ask for. And now, to even behold the holy countenance of the Eastern Emperor?

Led by Dongfang Shuo, Ji Sheng entered Taiyuan Palace.

The magnificent palaces and pavilions on both sides stretched as far as the eye could see. We arrived at a palace gate, which opened by itself without any wind.

Inside the palace, atop a nine-tiered pavilion, the Emperor sat regally on the Seven Treasures Platform.

He was seen:

Wearing a purple-gold crown adorned with flying morning jewels, and a red jade ornament on her forehead reflecting the three luminaries.

She wore a robe embroidered with the Tai Zhen Xiao pattern and a dragon emblem hidden in the sleeves.

The Emperor lowered his eyes and looked at Ji Sheng, his eyes seemingly containing the sun and moon, rising and falling in cycles.

A sense of reverence and piety welled up within Ji Sheng's heart. He stepped into the palace and prostrated himself in reverence.

"With sincere reverence, I pay homage! Ji Sheng greets the Emperor!"

Emperor Donghua nodded slightly:

"Young man, no need for such formalities, please rise!"

As the ethereal music entered his ears, Ji Sheng unconsciously stood up.

"Since Yunfang has brought you here, it proves that you and I share some kind of destiny. Would you be willing to enter my Taiyuan Palace and become an Immaculate Immortal?"

Ji Sheng was overjoyed and was about to agree, but then he thought of something and asked:

"May I ask Your Majesty, is it possible to attain immortality?"

The Emperor said:

"Since one is an immortal without flaws, one can naturally attain immortality."

Ji Sheng asked again:

"Will I be free?"

The Emperor said:

"Once inside the Taiyuan Palace, you will be at my beck and call. Every day you will be sweeping the floor, hoeing the garden, tending the flowers and pruning the trees, gathering firewood, fetching water and carrying slurry. You will have no freedom."

Ji Sheng shook his head:

"In that case, please forgive me for not wishing to enter Taiyuan Palace."

The Emperor asked:

Why?

Ji Shengdao:

"If I am not free, I am like a tormented ghost in hell. What use is immortality to me?"

The Emperor was furious upon hearing this:

"You dare to compare a Pure Immortal to a demon from hell! It seems you're not an honest seeker of the Dao. Get out, get out!"

Ji Sheng steeled his heart and decided to stay put, kowtowing again:

"I beg Your Majesty to grant me the true path to immortality!"

The Emperor roared:

"Very well, tell me, what is the true path to immortality?"

Ji Shengdao:

"To live authentically under Heaven and Earth, to be true to oneself, and to roam freely in the mortal world—that is the true path to immortality!"

The Emperor sneered:

"It seems you aspire to become a mortal immortal. While such immortality may grant freedom, the trials and tribulations are like the winding Yellow River, fraught with peril. One misstep, and both body and soul perish. Forget immortality; even a remnant of one's remains is hard to find!"

Ji Sheng kowtowed repeatedly, crying out:

"Please, Your Majesty, bestow upon me the Golden Elixir Path! Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will have no regrets!"

In the Emperor's eyes, the sun and moon revolved endlessly, growing ever more piercing:

"Are you truly not regretting it?"

Ji Shengdao:

"I will never regret it, even if it means death!"

"good!"

The Emperor suddenly clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his laughter as gentle as a spring breeze and rain, nodding repeatedly.

"Indeed, you have the perseverance to seek the Dao. If I don't let you become an immortal in the mortal world, it would be my fault."

The Emperor pointed his finger, and three streams of light flew out and entered Ji Sheng's brow.

"These are the three treasures of my Donghua lineage: the Golden Core Path you've longed for, the Azure Dragon Sword Technique, and the Merit Scroll. You shall comprehend their mysteries yourself!"

Ji Sheng was overjoyed, and the Emperor then took out three more red dates from his sleeve:

"I visited a friend on Penglai Island the other day, and the birthday celebrant gave me several pounds of tea dates. Now I only have these three left. I'll give them to you as a small gift!"

Before Ji Sheng could even express his gratitude, a dazzling light flashed before his eyes. The next moment, he vanished from the main hall.

"The Emperor is so stingy; he only gave his newly accepted disciple three tea dates?"

After seeing Ji Sheng disappear, Dongfang Shuo bowed to the Emperor before speaking.

The Emperor laughed and scolded:

"Well, Dongfang Shuo, you're picking on me now? These three tea dates may look ordinary, but they hold three opportunities. As for how much he gets, that's up to him."

When Ji Sheng opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the tavern.

"Is this... still a dream?"

This time, the table was neatly arranged with cups and plates, and the side dishes remained untouched.

The wine glasses on the table were still steaming. Ji Sheng touched them and found the wine inside was still warm.