Traveling through countless heavens, an immortal being

The sky was high and the clouds were vast. In the blink of an eye, it was already morning. Li Er, who was in the City God Temple, woke up, washed up in the lotus pond, and then left the City God Temple with his dragon-headed cane and red gourd on his back, heading out of the city.

As the night passed, Lear keenly sensed that the air he was breathing was no longer so dry. After walking two miles along the main road from the city gate to a wooden bridge over the river, he looked down at the surging water flowing eastward and nodded before continuing on his way.

……

Meanwhile, the celestial official who met Lear yesterday had already submitted the memorial entitled "Heaven's mercy brings forth sweet springs" to the Grand Chancellor of the Heavenly Palace, the Left Immortal Elder. The old immortal elder read the memorial but said nothing, only instructing the messenger waiting in the corridor to deliver the memorial to the Grand Judge of the Heavenly Capital in the Nine Heavens.

The Heavenly Heart, residing in the highest heavens, should be the proper recipient of this memorial; sending it to His palace is the correct course of action.

…………

The scene inside the Grand Preceptor's residence in the capital of the Wei Kingdom was quite different...

A deep green flame burned beneath the alchemy furnace in the main hall, and even the clear sky outside could not suppress the cool and gloomy atmosphere inside.

The Imperial Preceptor, who was refining elixirs by performing hand seals, suddenly opened his eyes. His face remained expressionless, and he simply waved his jade whisk, sweeping the boy tending the fire from the ground into the elixir furnace.

The poor boy didn't even have time to beg for mercy before he was instantly dissolved into the alchemy furnace.

The Imperial Preceptor shook his golden robe with cloud and crane motifs, then turned and instructed the three boys kneeling outside the hall, "One of you go inside and continue watching the furnace fire."

The eldest of the three boys stood up shakily, but was stopped by the Imperial Preceptor, who called to the boy kneeling behind him, who was huddled up.

"No, it's the youngest one in the back, who's going into the hall to tend the furnace."

The boy, who had stood up, trembled, whether from sheer luck or fear, two clear tears streaming down his face. He returned to his original position and knelt down.

The Imperial Advisor scolded him, "What are you crying about?! It's a blessing for your brother to enter the Hall of Gathering Immortals!"

The youngest boy, who had been summoned by the Imperial Preceptor, knew he couldn't escape this ordeal. He could only stand up tremblingly, head bowed, and walk step by step into the main hall. He knelt on the still-warm futon three steps away from the alchemy furnace.

The Imperial Advisor watched him sit down, staring at his hair with his narrow eyes, and sneered, "This job of tending the furnace is something others would kill for. Little boy, your brother's time hasn't come yet."

After the Grand Preceptor finished speaking, he turned around and slowly walked out of the main hall, maintaining his air of authority. There had been a slight mishap in Heyang County, Jizhou, and they were short of "medicinal herbs." He had to go to the King to get some to refine elixirs.

Once the Imperial Preceptor's footsteps had faded, the boy kneeling outside the hall near the door could no longer hold back his tears. He looked up at the small, still trembling figure in front of the alchemy furnace inside the hall and felt utterly despondent.

His parents, other relatives, and servants were all ordered to be killed by the tyrannical emperor, leaving only the Chen brothers to depend on each other for survival. Unfortunately, the tyrannical emperor then bestowed them upon the imperial advisor.

They thought they would live here as slaves and servants, but the steward of the manor sent both of them to the Jixian Palace to serve as prospective furnace attendants.

Three days ago, there were a dozen or so boys outside the hall. He watched as the Grand Preceptor made a mistake in refining the pills and threw the furnace attendant into the furnace. He was in a bad mood and threw the furnace attendant into the furnace. Even if there was no problem, he would casually wave his jade whisk and throw the furnace attendant into the furnace.

It was only the fourth day, and only the two brothers and another boy were kneeling outside the hall.

Chen Ming realized that this imperial advisor, despite his seemingly extraordinary demeanor, was actually a hypocrite! He appeared to be an untainted immortal, but where was the slightest trace of divine aura? Calling himself an imperial advisor was nothing more than a ruthless demon in human skin!

He had originally intended to watch the stove for his younger brother Chen Zhi, but unexpectedly, the demon had chosen his brother to enter the hall.

The three backup attendants kneeling outside the hall had clearly seen how the Imperial Preceptor had treated the furnace-guarding boys over the past three days. Entering this Hall of Gathering Immortals was like stepping into the gates of hell; it was a dead end with no chance of survival.

But today, it was his six-year-old brother who went into the palace to watch the fire. He was the little brother that the whole family doted on! Chen Ming hated the tyrannical emperor who harmed loyal officials and hated the national advisor who treated human life like dirt.

But where in the world could anyone save them from their misery? Tears were salty, and the blood flowing from his bitten lips was even saltier. Chen Ming's vision was blurred by tears.

Witnessing his younger brother step into this hell on earth, he could do nothing. He remembered how his parents used to take them to Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries to offer incense and pray for blessings when they were still alive, and began to kowtow heavily, one kowtow after another.

"Gods and Buddhas, our parents say you are compassionate and merciful, saving us from suffering. If you truly have divine power, please have mercy and save us..."

........................

Having already left Heyang County and entered Baiqi County, Li Er seemed to sense something, paused for a moment in the direction of the capital, and then continued on his way.

Lear had been traveling for a day, but he didn't feel hungry. With the sun about to set, he had to hurry on his way and try to reach Baiqi County before sunset. He wondered if there was anyone in the county.

As Lear was thinking, he heard a cow moo. Lear looked around but could not see any animal.

Then there was another "moo".

He left the main road and followed the sound to the stream. Looking down, he saw that the ox was tied to a cart with a rope. It must have been thirsty when it saw water in the stream and rushed into it without a care.

Looking at the still somewhat thin body of the blue ox, Lear couldn't help but think, "How can I ignore a creature in distress? Let's save it; it won't delay anything."

Lear, leaning on his dragon-headed staff, walked up to the blue ox lying in the water, looked into its dark, bright eyes, and said, "Ox, this poor roadman was passing by and heard your bellowing, so I came to rescue you. When I untie the rope, don't repay kindness with enmity and butt this poor roadman!"

Upon hearing this, the blue ox raised its head and let out a long "moo---" before lowering its head and nodding three times. Seeing how intelligent the blue ox was, Lear felt relieved and went around to the back of the ox to untie its ropes.

Lear untied the rope but the blue ox didn't get up. He went back to it, looked at it, and asked, "Ox, did you hurt yourself while pulling the cart down this ditch?"

The blue ox twitched its ears and nodded three times. Lear took out a gourd from behind his back and opened the lid. "Ox, this gourd of mine has a spirit. Look up and open your mouth to drink some of this spiritual drink to heal your wounds."

Upon hearing this, the blue ox nodded several times, raised its head and opened its mouth. Lear tilted the gourd and poured water into the ox's mouth. He held the gourd up and poured water into the ox's mouth three times. After watching the ox gulp down the water, he put the lid on and carried it on his back.

After drinking the water from the gourd, the green ox stood up, its legs trembling.

Before Lear could speak, the blue ox said, "Thank you for saving me, Immortal Master. I'd like to volunteer to be your porter from now on, how about that?"

Lear clicked his tongue in amazement, "You ox, you speak quite politely."

Qingniu lowered his head as if embarrassed and said, "I used to work for an old scholar. Later, when it stopped raining and the rivers and wells dried up, the old scholar taught me to pull a cart to escape the disaster. But just as we were about to reach the prefecture, the old scholar and the fleeing people were robbed and killed by a group of men in black..."

At this point, Qingniu's voice was tinged with sorrow, "I dragged my cart out and ran over a few villains, killing them all, which avenged my old master. Then I turned and ran back to Baiqi County, thinking... thinking of returning to my roots..."

"For the first two days, I was in a daze, dragging the cart along the surrounding roads. Today, I suddenly discovered that there was water flowing down into this creek. So, I didn't care about the cart behind me and rushed into the creek to drink my fill. Then I met the immortal. Immortal, would you allow me, a lowly beast, to accompany you as your porter?"

Li Er smiled at the cautious look in Qingniu's eyes. "Since your master has unfortunately perished, then follow me and be my mount. Let's go ashore and take a look at Baiqi County."

The man and the ox found a gentle slope and climbed ashore one after another, slowly making their way along the road in the gradually dimming sunset...