Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 220 The Barefoot Immortal Visits
In the boundless sky, a lucky cloud was rapidly passing over the mountains and rivers, and stopped not far from a sacred mountain.

Niu Feng, embracing the bull-shaped ornament, stood on auspicious clouds, looking down and scanning the mountains below. Finally, his gaze settled on the picturesque, verdant fairy mountain with pavilions and towers in front of him.

"This should be Qianyuan Mountain."

Niu Feng grinned and flew towards the foot of Qianyuan Mountain. In no time, he landed on the ground and saw his leader and a Taoist priest in a Taoist robe standing on the mountain path, smiling at him.

"leader!"

Niu Feng quickly stepped forward, took out the small cloth bag from his arms, and handed it to his leader.

Niu Yi reached out and took the cloth bag. A quick scan with his mind revealed the Fire Jujube Spirit Seed was inside. He casually tossed the two fruits to Niu Feng, smiling and nodding.

"Okay, you must have had a hard journey."

"Hey~ It's just a seed, Chief. Now that the gift has been delivered, I'll be leaving. Niu Ping is waiting for me to take his place."

"go Go."

Seeing the leader nod, Niu Feng put away the two fruits the leader had given him, bowed to Niu Yi and Taiyi Zhenren, and then rode the clouds and flew towards the Daojun Temple.

Taiyi Zhenren watched Niu Feng depart on a cloud and nodded, saying:

“This little calf in your family has a pure and tranquil nature, which is quite suitable for my Taoist practice.”

"Haha~ Fellow Daoist Taiyi, you flatter me. Now that this Fire Date Spirit Seed has arrived, please help me see if it is suitable to be planted in my Chaos Green Gourd."

"Very good, very good. Fellow Daoist, your gourd is truly wondrous. It is my great fortune to have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a world's prototype."

The two chatted and laughed as they turned and headed up Qianyuan Mountain.

Daojun Mountain, in the space of incense offerings.

With a flash of light in front of the Divine Physician Daojun, a Fire Jujube Spirit Seed shimmering with fiery red spiritual energy appeared before him.

The hand seal held by Daojun dissipated, and at the same time, the golden light that had been gathering behind him stopped, revealing a golden body of merit that was not much different from Daojun's own.

According to his plan, if he had enough merit, he could cultivate one of these merit golden bodies as a divine avatar and the other as his main body. The more he cultivated this merit golden body, the more he discovered that it was indeed extraordinary and extremely mysterious.

However, judging from the current situation, with the merits he has accumulated over hundreds of years, it is already quite difficult for him to condense a golden body. If he wants to cultivate another merit golden body in his physical body, it will probably take hundreds of years.

Fortunately, he doesn't lack time now.

Daojun reached out and took the Fire Jujube Spirit Seed, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Then, he stretched out his palm and condensed two golden talismans, which he threw into the sky.

These talismans were issued to Qiming Hall and Da Chunyang Wanshou Palace respectively.

Even if he were to seek out the Fire God, he was not familiar with him. Instead of rushing off, he should send a message to his two old friends to see if they had any way to contact the Fire God and sound him out.

Daojun slowly rose, and in a flash, he returned to the Heavenly Court's Divine Physician Daojun Palace.

Daojun walked out of his dark green palace and went straight to the flower garden in his palace. He picked out the many fire-elemental natural treasures he had collected over the past period, planning to find a day soon to refine them into precious incense to increase his bargaining power.

As Daojun plucked a bright red lotus flower, a look of surprise flashed across his face as he glanced at the gate of Daojun Palace not far away.

Just then, a somewhat familiar, loud voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Is the Divine Physician Daoist Lord in the palace? The Barefoot Immortal has come to visit."

Barefoot Immortal? How did this guy suddenly end up here, and by such a coincidence?

Daojun strode toward the gate. Guo Yun, who was sweeping the backyard, heard the sound and hurriedly ran to the front yard, where he saw Daojun about to open the gate.

Daojun turned around and waved to Guo Yun, who understood and bowed respectfully before turning and leaving to go to the backyard to do what he needed to do.

Daojun stepped forward and opened the gate of Daojun Palace, where he saw a person standing outside.

The man was barefoot, dressed in a simple cloth robe, his chest and breasts exposed, his belly protruding, his head full of silver hair, and he was gently waving a banana leaf fan in his hand, smiling as he looked at the Divine Physician Daojun.

"This humble Taoist has met the Barefoot Immortal before. I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly. Please come inside for a chat."

The Divine Physician Daojun stepped aside and led the way into Daojun Palace.

"Haha~ Daojun, you are too kind. I am sorry to have disturbed you by visiting so abruptly."

The Barefoot Immortal nodded with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and walked into the Daoist Palace with the Divine Physician Daoist Lord.

Daojun led the Barefoot Immortal into Daojun Palace. The two sat facing each other at the jade table. Then, Daojun took out his own apricot wine, filled the Barefoot Immortal's cup, and summoned plates of spirit peaches, spirit oranges, and ginkgo leaves from a jade box not far away.

Daojun raised his wine cup and gestured for the Barefoot Immortal to proceed, saying:
“Great Immortal, you have come to visit. All I have in my palace is the fruit I have grown and the wine I have brewed myself to offer you. I hope you will not take offense.”

The immortal shook his head heartily, picked up the wine glass in front of him, and said in a loud voice:

"Hahaha, Daoist Lord, what are you saying? It is I who have been presumptuous in coming to visit and disturbing you. I am already very grateful that you have treated me to your homemade spiritual wine and fruits. Daoist Lord, please!"

"Please, Great Immortal."

The two drank the wine in one gulp, put down their glasses, looked at each other and smiled. The atmosphere warmed up a bit, unlike the awkwardness they felt when they first met.

Although the two had met once at the Heavenly Peace Assembly, the Heavenly Peace Assembly was a gathering of all the celestial officials, both high and low, and the number of people was enormous. Moreover, it only lasted for one day, so they were unable to exchange a single word.

"I have yet to ask the great immortal, what brings you to my Daoist Palace?"

Upon hearing the Daoist Master inquire about this matter, the Barefoot Immortal's expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"I was just about to ask Daoist Lord to help me refine a stick of precious incense. I wonder if you have ever heard of the Danxia Caiyun Incense?"

Daojun looked at the Barefoot Immortal and nodded. "I have heard of it. This humble Daoist can also refine this incense."

It's not surprising at all that Daojun knew about his own incense-making skills.

Don't think that all the exotic flowers and plants in his garden were obtained for free or given to him by others. He earned them by using his own skills in the art of incense.

His skill in the art of incense is now among the best in the Heavenly Court. If those big shots are excluded, Daojun is even more confident that he can rank in the top five.

His skill in the art of incense was honed over hundreds of years by his master and senior brother. He was introduced to this art when he first became a disciple, so how could he not be proficient in it?

He has been an immortal in heaven for so long, and his skills in incense and medicine have long been known. Besides the Barefoot Immortal, recently, people have also come to him asking for his help in making incense.

As for the Danxia Caiyun Incense that the Barefoot Immortal wanted, this incense is used to assist in enlightenment. When it is lit, the sky is covered with colorful clouds, hence the name Danxia Caiyun Incense. It is not troublesome for him to refine and is not a particularly rare or precious incense.

Upon hearing this, the Barefoot Immortal's smile deepened, and he nodded, saying:
"I am well aware of Daojun's abilities, which is why I came here. Qiu Hongji, True Man Qiu, you have been praising Daojun's incense-making skills."

Afterwards, Daojun had a conversation with the Barefoot Immortal and learned that the man had recently taken in a disciple in the mortal realm who was both talented and virtuous. In recent days, he had also happened to obtain a piece of Five-Colored Danxia Cloud, which gave him the idea of ​​refining a stick of Danxia Cloud Incense.

The immortal's disciple seems to have a rather unruly personality, and the immortal intends to use this rather noisy incense to tame his disciple, which may also be a way of showing off in front of his disciple.
Daojun listened, speechless. This person was straightforward, saying whatever he thought and never doubting others.

Just like back then, when he went to the banquet at Yaochi, he was tricked by Sun Wukong into going to Tongming Palace with just a few words.
Finally, the Barefoot Immortal took out the colorful Danxia cloud and many spiritual materials and handed them to the Dao Lord, along with several Jiaoli Fire Dates as payment for this incense refining.

Daojun readily agreed, showing no disregard for the value of the Jiaoli Fire Date despite already possessing the Fire Date Spirit Seed.

The Barefoot Immortal and the Daoist Master chatted for a day in the Daoist Master's Palace, finalized the matter, and agreed to return in three days to retrieve the spiritual incense. Afterward, the Immortal left with a smile and a satisfied expression.

Daojun warmly escorted the immortal to the door. Seeing that the immortal seemed to quite like his apricot wine, he insisted on giving him two jars and watched him leave.

Not long after the Barefoot Immortal left, a golden talisman rushed towards Daojun Palace and stopped in front of Daojun.

This was the very one he used to transmit his voice.

The familiar voice of Venus could be heard coming from the golden talisman.

"Daojun, I have sent someone to Tonghua Palace to meet with Huode Xingjun and sound him out. Fortunately, he was indeed somewhat interested when he heard that Daojun has the Fire Jujube Spirit Seed. However, he is currently busy with official duties and cannot spare the time. He invited Daojun to Tonghua Palace in seven days to meet and discuss this matter."

"If Daoist Lord has nothing else to attend to, I will accompany you to Tonghua Palace in seven days and do my best to help you make this happen."

Upon hearing Taibai Jinxing's words, Daojun's smile deepened, and he thought to himself, "This old star lord is as reliable as ever."

He was about to respond and thank Venus for his help when he heard Venus's voice, tinged with laughter, come from the golden talisman again.

"If Daoist Lord has nothing else to do, you may stay in the Heavenly Palace for a day tomorrow. There is an old friend of yours in my Qiming Hall who is about to visit you. Perhaps you could entertain him."

"My old friend?"

The Divine Physician Daojun looked surprised. He activated his supernatural powers of cause and effect divination and the Great Dao of Cause and Effect, and began to calculate with his hands. Before long, a look of joy appeared in the Daojun's eyes.

"So it's Senior Brother Guangshan. Now that Senior Brother Guangshan has also obtained the Immortal Scroll and is working in the Qiming Hall, that's really good."

Although his relationship with his senior brother Guangshan was brief back then, it was one of the few that had a good relationship among his many fellow disciples. He was equally happy to hear this news today.

Daojun looked at the many leftover orange peels and seeds in front of him, and with a wave of his sleeve, he sent these things flying out of Daojun Palace, scattering into spiritual light on the flower garden and falling into the soil.

"It's been so many years since we last met. Tomorrow, I'll have to treat my senior brother to a proper meal."

Qianyuan Mountain, Jinguan Cave.

A gourd radiating azure light was slowly rotating in the Golden Light Cave Garden, surrounded by wisps of chaotic energy. This was Niu Yi's Chaotic Azure Gourd.

Inside the gourd-shaped space, Niu Yi and Taiyi Zhenren stood together on the verdant earth, sitting cross-legged and deducing the various key points for creating a prototype world based on the Five Elements.

This boundless land was created by Niu Yi using the Earth Path.

Despite the patches of green grass and wildflowers on the side of the ground where Niu Yi sat, these grasses and wildflowers, rooted in the earth, inexplicably gave one the feeling of being rootless.
This place was, after all, a manifestation of the Great Dao that Niu Yi comprehended. If Niu Yi were here, things would be better. But if Niu Yi leaves, this land will return to its desolate state, the water will continue to flow until it dries up, and the lush green plants will quickly wither and die.

Only by establishing the foundation of this world with the Five Elements can this land truly nurture life. Even without Niu Yi overseeing and studying evolution, it can still operate on its own for at least several thousand years.

After a long while, Niu Yi slowly opened his eyes, a look of reminiscence in them.

After all, he was a senior brother from his own sect, and he still felt a little nostalgic. Back then on Rotten Peach Mountain, besides the eldest senior brother and senior brother Guangwu, it was this senior brother Guangshan and Xiao Hexi who spent the most time on his mountain.

Niu Yi slowly recalled the image of his senior brother Guang Shan, a kind and aged man, and He Xi, a young man with a smiling face.

Before he knew it, besides his senior brother Guangshan, he had also not seen He Xi for a long time.

When He Xi left, he possessed the cultivation of a Celestial Immortal and was destined for a lifespan of ten thousand years. Moreover, with that kid's talent, reaching the Taiyi realm would have been no problem at all. I wonder how he is now.
As Niu Yi pondered this, he began to calculate with his hands, and lines of cause and effect appeared in his eyes, weaving a scene into his vision.

In a bustling village nestled in the mountains, inside a fenced-off house, a middle-aged man in his thirties, dressed in coarse cloth, looked at the three children before him with eyes full of helplessness.

"Didn't I tell you long ago, you lot aren't allowed to use magic to toy with the villagers! When your mother gets back, I bet you're all in for a good beating!"

"Dad! You have to help us! Erhu and his mother are really bullying us!"

"That's right! If that guy hadn't bullied my little sister, we wouldn't have bothered playing pranks on his family!"

The young man rubbed his forehead slightly, looked at his three troublemakers, and was about to say something when his expression suddenly froze. He looked at the door that had been opened at some point and chuckled dryly:
"My lady, you're back."

"Fellow Daoist, fellow Daoist?"

Hearing the voice beside him, the causal lines in Niu Yi's eyes quickly faded. He looked at Taiyi Zhenren opposite him with an apologetic smile, but still felt a little strange.

This kid actually married and had children in the mortal realm?!
(End of this chapter)