Journey to the West: Deer Power Immortal, Starting from Becoming a Disciple of the Supreme Lord Tais

Lu Qingxuan left the main hall, where Qingfeng and Mingyue were already waiting outside.

Mingyue said with a grin, "Master Lu, would my master like you to stay a few more days?"

Lu Qingxuan nodded and said, "Great Immortal, your hospitality is too kind. I, Lu, will humbly accept your offer."

Qingfeng said, "In that case, please follow me. Guest rooms have been arranged."

Lu Qingxuan followed Qingfeng and Mingyue to the side hall, where Tiger Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal were sitting and drinking tea.

Upon seeing him enter, Tiger Power Immortal quickly stood up and asked, "Third Brother, what did Zhenyuan Immortal say?"

Lu Qingxuan told them about Zhen Yuanzi's offer to let them stay and his gift of ginseng fruit.

Tiger Power Immortal's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together, exclaiming, "Ginseng Fruit! Is this real?"

Even the Great Immortal Yang Li showed a rare expression of joy, stroking his beard as he said, "Great Immortal Zhenyuan is treating us so kindly; we are truly unworthy of such treatment."

Lu Qingxuan smiled and said, "We appreciate your kindness, Great Immortal, and we can repay you when we have the opportunity in the future."

That evening, a gentle breeze and a bright moon brought three ginseng fruits, which were placed on a jade plate and covered with a brocade handkerchief.

Qingfeng placed the jade plate on the table and said solemnly, "Gentlemen, this is a ginseng fruit given to me by my master. It takes three thousand years to bloom, three thousand years to bear fruit, and another three thousand years to ripen."

The aroma of this plant can extend a person's lifespan by 360 years, and consuming one plant can grant a lifespan of 47,000 years.

The master said, "The three of you can focus on refining the essence; no one in Wuzhuang Temple will disturb you."

Mingyue added from the side, "However, there's something I have to say first: you can't take this ginseng fruit with you. You can only eat it in the temple, refine it, and then leave. Don't even think about hiding one back as a family heirloom."

Lu Qingxuan laughed and said, "We wouldn't dare. We are already deeply grateful for the great immortal's generous gift, how could we possibly have any other thoughts?"

Mingyue rolled her eyes, then suddenly leaned closer and lowered her voice, saying, "To be honest, my brother and I have served at Wuzhuang Temple for so many years, and we've hardly ever eaten ginseng fruit."

Every time the fruit ripened, the master would give it away to all sorts of gods, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas, while the rest would be kept for the temple's expenses.

"We only get to eat it once or twice."

He sighed, his tone full of envy, "You guys are lucky, you got three at once. The master really treats you exceptionally well."

Qingfeng glared at him and said, "Say less, don't be impolite."

"The three of you may proceed with the refining; we shall take our leave now." With that, Qingfeng and Mingyue left the room and closed the door behind them.

Only the three demons remained in the room, staring at each other at the three ginseng fruits that were as white as jade.

Tiger Power Immortal swallowed hard and said, "Third Brother, how... how do we divide this?"

Lu Qingxuan said, "Each person should have one, and each person should refine it."

Tiger Power Immortal didn't stand on ceremony. He reached out and took one, holding it in his palm. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and the fruity aroma was intoxicating. Just one whiff of it made him feel refreshed.

He smacked his lips and said, "This treasure, if I, a tiger, can eat it even once in my life, it'll be worth dying for."

The three demons each took a ginseng fruit and returned to their rooms to cultivate in seclusion.

Lu Qingxuan returned to his quiet room, closed the door, and sat cross-legged on the futon.

He held the ginseng fruit in his palm. The fruit was shaped like an infant, pure white, with all five senses, as if it might open its eyes at any moment.

It is exactly as described in the legend.

Lu Qingxuan then put the ginseng fruit into his mouth.

The fruit melts in your mouth, and a warm spiritual energy slides down your throat into your stomach, like a warm current flowing through your meridians.

The spiritual energy was not as domineering as that of the Rejuvenating Pill, but rather gentle and continuous, like spring rain nourishing all things, seeping into the limbs, bones, and internal organs bit by bit.

Lu Qingxuan closed his eyes and focused inward, guiding the spiritual energy to circulate within his body.

Wherever the spiritual energy passed, the meridians were widened and strengthened, the bones were tempered and made more refined, and a faint golden light emanated from the flesh and blood.

Within his dantian, the golden core sensed this pure spiritual energy and began to spin rapidly, radiating brilliant golden light.

Time passed second by second. Lu Qingxuan was so immersed in the refining process that he forgot about time and where he was. His mind and spirit became one with the golden core.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Qingxuan's realm had become completely stable, and he was only one thin membrane away from becoming a Golden Immortal. That membrane was as thin as a cicada's wing, but as strong as steel, and could not be broken through by pills.

Lu Qingxuan opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

The turbid air condensed in the air and did not dissipate until it slowly dissipated after a while.

He stretched his limbs and felt an immense power coursing through his body, with the faint sounds of wind and thunder emanating from his every move.

Outside the window, it was already bright daylight.

He sat there for the entire night.

Lu Qingxuan got up, pushed open the door, and went out into the courtyard.

Tiger Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal were already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing him come out, Tiger Power Immortal grinned and said, "Third Brother, you're out! Last night, I, Tiger, refined that ginseng fruit, and my demon core has grown larger. I feel like I'm just one step away from becoming a Xuanxian!"

The Great Immortal Yangli also said, "I am the same."

Lu Qingxuan nodded and smiled, "It's good that both of you senior brothers have gained something. We've troubled Wuzhuang Temple for many days, so it's time for us to take our leave."

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Third Brother, shall we go straight back to Zhongnan Mountain?"

Lu Qingxuan shook his head and said, "My two senior brothers, please go back first. I need to go somewhere."

Tiger Power Immortal asked curiously, "Where are we going?"

Lu Qingxuan said, "I'm going to Five Elements Mountain to see an old friend."

Tiger Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal exchanged a glance, puzzled but did not ask any further questions.

They knew that their third brother knew how to act appropriately.

The three demons went to bid farewell to Zhen Yuanzi, who did not try to stop them. He only instructed Lu Qingxuan, "That monkey is imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain and is very irritable. When you go to see him, do not mention the Journey to the West, lest he feel resentful. Just say you were passing by and wanted to see him."

Lu Qingxuan bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Great Immortal."

After bidding farewell to Zhen Yuanzi, the three demons left Wuzhuang Temple.

Tiger Power and Sheep Power rode the clouds northward, while Deer Green Mystery turned the clouds around and headed west.

Wuxing Mountain is located on the border of the Tang Dynasty, no less than ten thousand miles away.

As Lu Qingxuan traveled westward, the mountains and rivers beneath his feet unfolded like a scroll painting.

After flying for about a day and a night, a majestic mountain suddenly appeared on the horizon ahead; the Five Elements Mountain was now in sight.

Looking into the distance, Lu Qingxuan saw the Five Elements Mountain towering into the clouds, its steep slopes as if cleaved by a knife and axe. On the mountaintop was a yellow paper talisman with six golden characters written on it: Om Mani Padme Hum, with a faint Buddhist light flowing around it.

The entire mountain was shrouded by an invisible force, which pressed down on the land below, causing it to sink and form a huge crater.

At the foot of the mountain, a furry monkey head emerged. Although its eyes had been suppressed for hundreds of years, they were still bright and piercing, shining with an indomitable light.

It is none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!

Lu Qingxuan descended from the clouds and landed at the foot of the mountain.

Hearing the noise, Sun Wukong raised his eyelids to glance at him, then closed them again, muttering, "Another Taoist priest has come. Go away, go away. I'm not in the mood to talk to you. If you want to chant scriptures, go somewhere else. I've heard this for hundreds of years, my ears are calloused."