Hermit in the Mountains

Zhang Yuanfu withdrew his mind from the virtual world of myriad paths and excitedly shouted towards the figure in the courtyard, "Old woman, call our son and daughter-in-law over here, there's good news."

Soon after, Zhang Dafu and his wife arrived in a hurry.

Inside the living room, Zhang Yuanfu couldn't help but smile. "The teacher has spoken, and our whole family can move to Changsheng Cave to live."

"Old woman, you'll be able to see your granddaughter more often from now on."

"Don't go anywhere before Fifth Senior Brother issues the token. Stay at home and wait for the relocation notice."

"In the meantime, pack your luggage and get it ready in advance."

"Keep this a secret, don't reveal it."

"I still need to go to Wandao City to deliver a message, I'll be going now."

As Zhang Yuanfu walked to the door, he turned back to remind him again, "Remember, don't tell anyone, and don't go anywhere."

"We know, you go ahead and get busy," the old woman waved her hand.

Both Yang Dashan's and Jin Yuanbao's homes were filled with a joyous atmosphere.

In a reception room of the City Lord's Mansion in Wandao City, a maid served tea, and Zhang Yuanfu gestured for her to leave.

Shen Qingxu, dressed in a Tai Chi Taoist robe, sat quietly on a pear wood chair, holding a whisk in his left hand and stroking his beard with his right.

His eyes were full of doubt as Zhang Yuanfu, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, summoned both him and the old monk at the same time.

Across from him stood Master Shi Yideng, dressed in a bright yellow kasaya, twirling prayer beads in his left hand. "Dean Zhang, what are your orders for summoning me and the old Taoist priest here today?"

Zhang Yuanfu took a sip of tea, put down the tea tray, smiled, and casually asked, "Can't I just have some tea with you if there's nothing wrong?"

Seeing that the two men's expressions became unnatural, Zhang Yuanfu stopped joking and said, "I have good news for you."

"The teacher has spoken. Do you two want to join the Mortal Academy and take charge of alchemy?"

Shen Qingxu and Shi Yideng exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

Their Dao Tree Realm cultivation is among the top tier outside, but it's nothing special within the Longevity Sect.

Don't be fooled by the fact that their cultivators are stronger than the disciples of the Longevity Sect; their status, position, and cultivation resources are incomparable.

The higher the level of cultivation, the more cultivation resources are required.

Without guidance, taking a wrong step could lead to demonic possession, death, and the loss of one's spiritual essence.

The Longevity Cult has a complete system of inheritance, and now there is an opportunity to curry favor with them.

Whoever refuses is a complete traitor.

They didn't have much ambition; they just wanted to find a safe place to cultivate themselves.

The safest place in the world is the Changsheng Sect.

The two of them, as if on the same wavelength, stood up and bowed to Zhang Yuanfu.

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble Taoist is willing to join the mortal academy."

"Amitabha Buddha, this old monk is also willing to join the mortal monastery."

Zhang Yuanfu put on a serious expression and said firmly, "I haven't finished speaking yet, so you don't need to rush to express your opinion."

He gestured for the two of them to sit down.

"The teacher didn't give you any identity; he only told you to refine pills for the Mortal Academy."

"However, you may move to the Longevity Cave Heaven to cultivate."

"Your disciples... may also go to the Longevity Cave Heaven to live."

Zhang Yuanfu spoke in a rhythmic, sometimes pausing, and only uttering a single sentence after a long pause, purely to test his mental state.

Shen Qingxu and Shi Yideng's emotions fluctuated with the frequency of Zhang Yuanfu's speech.

Neither of them cared that they didn't have identities.

Does having a social status matter?

unimportant.

The important thing is that you can enter the Longevity Cave to cultivate.

As long as one can enter the Longevity Cave to cultivate, what does it matter if one is a menial servant?

What is the Longevity Cave Heaven? It is the location of the Longevity Sect, and it is no exaggeration to call it a sacred place for cultivation on Blue Star.

Even the servants of the Longevity Sect held a much higher status than ordinary sect elders.

The teachers, traditions, techniques, skills, resources, and connections available to them are among the best on Earth.

Having been friends for many years, Zhang Yuanfu revealed his guess: "Perhaps it's a test from the teacher."

"You just need to focus on doing a good job of alchemy."

"You should deal with your external businesses as soon as possible, and pack up your belongings in advance."

"Upon receiving the message from our fifth senior brother, we must immediately enter the Longevity Cave Heaven."

"If there's nothing else going on, we should try to go out as little as possible."

Shen Qingxu looked troubled, but finally asked, "Brother Yuanfu, do you know that the old monk and I both have a disciple?"

"Can those two also come with us to the Longevity Cave to cultivate?"

Zhang Yuanfu immediately understood what Shen Qingxu was worried about, "Brother Qingxu, but they have many entanglements with the outside world."

Shen Qingxu nodded. "They all have families and a group of friends."

"You know their previous identities, Brother Yuanfu."

"Most of their friends are from the entertainment industry."

Zhang Yuanfu asked earnestly, "Those friends, were they specially maintained by the two of them, or were they cultivated by others?"

"Although they rarely meet and it's not a gathering they specifically organized, they have maintained their relationship."

"Most of those people were the same group who recorded that program together in Xiahe Village back then."

Zhang Yuanfu was lost in memories. There really was such a program, and it was a scheme set up by the National Spirit Bureau for the teacher.

Later, he became the head of the Longevity Pavilion and transferred to the Mortal Courtyard, but did not follow up on the subsequent events.

The teacher mentioned that he would not remove Meng Tianmei and Deng Jiu'er from the list.

However, the situation involving these two people involves quite a few outsiders.

It's unlikely that the two could sever ties, since their sect, Changsheng, doesn't practice the path of ruthlessness; otherwise, their families wouldn't be able to enter the Changsheng Cave Heaven to live.

His concern was whether anyone among those who entered the Longevity Cave Heaven might accidentally leak information about it on the Spirit Network.

Zhang Yuanfu was also worried about his family, fearing that they might inadvertently leak information about the Longevity Cave.

I need to discuss this matter with my close associates when I get back, and how to establish proper rules and confidentiality to avoid major problems in the future.

"Brother Qingxu, Brother Yideng, please call them over here now."

Shen Qingxu and Shi Yideng used the Spirit Network to notify Deng Jiu'er and Meng Tianmei to come to the City Lord's Mansion immediately.

The three were talking when, without them noticing, a notification came from outside the door.

"Lord Zhang, the guests have arrived."

Inside the reception room, Zhang Yuanfu and the other two stopped talking and responded.

"Enter-"

Upon hearing the commotion, the city lord's staff at the entrance greeted, "Gentlemen, please come in!"

After saying that, the city lord's staff turned and left.

Deng Jiu'er and Meng Tianmei entered the room and bowed respectfully.

"Disciple greets Pavilion Master Zhang... +2"

"This disciple greets the Abbot."

"This disciple greets the abbot."

Without any preamble, Zhang Yuanfu asked directly, "If you two had the opportunity to go up the mountain to cultivate?"

"Are you willing to slowly sever the blood ties with people from the foot of the mountain?"

The serious topic at the outset caused Deng Jiu'er and Meng Tianmei's minds to freeze instantly, rendering them unable to think straight.

The two stood there, stunned, unable to answer for a long time.

Four years after the spiritual energy revival, Earth transitioned from the technological age to the cultivation age, but the vast majority of people are still unable to sever ties with family and friends, and cultivate alone without desires or thoughts.

Seeing that the two had not answered for a long time, Zhang Yuanfu had his answer.

"Brother Qingxu, Brother Yideng, let's call it a day."

"We'll have plenty of time to meet in the future."

"Go back and prepare, and wait for further instructions."

"Brother Yuanfu, see you later." Shen Qingxu and Shi Yideng stood up and bowed in farewell.

Zhang Yuanfu met with Yang Qingshan, the city lord of Wandao City, again to inform him that the "Chang Sheng Tong Bao" currency plan was about to be implemented.

I mentioned that the "God of Wealth's Mansion" is in charge of currency issuance, so that the other party could be prepared.