Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 393 The Return of the Azure Lotus
Four days later, Lü Yan and Fu Li disembarked and bid farewell to the old turtle standing on the shore.

"Immortal Lü, I must remain here at Tongtian River and cannot see you off. I will trouble Fellow Daoist Fuli to escort you to Daojun Mountain."

"Thank you for taking care of me on this trip, Senior Yuan. I will come to pay my respects to you again when I return home."

The old turtle nodded with a smile, and the fox spirit beside it also stepped forward and cupped its hands in greeting:

"Senior Yuan, I will now take Immortal Master Lü back to Daojun Mountain."

After Fu Li finished speaking, she gestured to Lü Yan beside her.

“Immortal Lü, this must be your first time visiting the Daojun Mountain area. The Daojun has not yet returned. If you are not in a hurry, I can show you around and let you see the local customs and culture.”

Lu Yan had originally planned to wander around the Tongtian River area on his own, but Fu Li's enthusiasm was too much for him to refuse, so he quickly returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute:

"Then I'll have to trouble Senior Fuli."

Seeing the two leave, the old turtle, leaning on his cane, walked towards a restaurant not far from the riverbank. Before long, several children ran out of the restaurant, enthusiastically surrounding the old turtle and welcoming him into the restaurant.

In the incense space of Daojun Mountain, Yuan Ze, who was sitting cross-legged on the third-level futon, guarding the alchemy furnace while meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Whoo~"

His gaze fell upon the jade cauldron before him, which brimmed with boundless vitality. Suddenly, the emerald flames within the cauldron surged and intensified, causing the entire cauldron to tremble slightly, as if it were about to explode.

Yuan Ze frowned slightly, about to use his magic power to stabilize the Hundred Herbs Cauldron, when suddenly a golden light flashed by the side of the cauldron, and a large hand immediately appeared on the Hundred Herbs Cauldron.

As the large hand pressed down on the lid of the cauldron, the tremors of the Hundred Herbs Cauldron instantly stopped, and even the flames inside calmed down once more.

"This Pure Yang Mushroom truly lives up to its reputation as my Fellow Daoist Lü's most prized possession. It has been cultivated on Fangzhang Immortal Mountain for 20,000 years, and the pure Yang energy it contains is something even I, a humble Daoist, must take notice of."

Yuan Ze looked at the figure before him, quickly stood up, and said respectfully:

"Daojun, you're back."

"Yes, these past seven years have been tough on you, Yuanze."

Daojun nodded with a smile, took out a golden fruit from his sleeve that faintly emitted the sound of a phoenix's cry, and used his magic to present it to Yuanze.

"This is a Phoenix Cry Fruit that I brought back from the Tushita Palace. Take it and quench your thirst. I will personally take care of this furnace of precious pills for the next period of time."

"Yes, Dao Lord." Upon hearing this, Yuan Ze took the Phoenix Cry Fruit and put it into the Pot Heaven Magic Treasure on his body.

Daojun said to let him take it to quench his thirst, but that was from Daojun's perspective. This treasure was taken from the Tushita Palace, so how could it be simple? It wouldn't be too late for him to eat it after he encountered obstacles in his cultivation.

After accepting the Phoenix Cry Fruit, Yuan Ze recalled the message he had received from Fu Li a few days ago and respectfully said:

"Daojun, the reincarnation of the Pure Yang Sword Immortal, Immortal Master Lü Yan, has now arrived in the territory of Daojun Mountain. He has crossed the Tongtian River and is heading towards Daojun Mountain accompanied by Fuli."

"Do you think I should send a message to Fu Li, asking him to bring Immortal Lü to Daojun Mountain immediately?"

Daojun sat down cross-legged and shook his head slightly.

"There's no need for that. Lu Yan's path of cultivation has not yet reached the most important stage, and this is his first time visiting Daojun Mountain in this life. Let him wander around."

"Even if he were reincarnated and reborn, his love for going out and seeing beautiful scenery wouldn't change much."

"Let Fuli take him around, there's no need to rush." ​​Yuan Ze heard the smile in Daojun's words and nodded in agreement.

Just then, Daojun's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the large white jade platform in the distance, which was engraved with complex array patterns.

"Oh? It's actually much faster than we expected."

On the once tranquil white jade platform, golden array patterns began to light up continuously, drawing in the divine power of incense offerings throughout the entire incense space and activating the teleportation array.

At the very center of the white jade platform, the slowly rotating golden vortex gradually expanded, and a golden passage quickly emerged from the center of the vortex.

A golden light flashed in Yuan Ze's eyes as he looked at the scene with some surprise.

He knew that the vortex connected to another world, but this was only the second time that teleportation array had been activated by that world since the return of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.

Before long, a scholar dressed in green robes slowly stepped out of the vortex passage in the great array, looking around at everything with a dazed and sentimental expression.

"Daojun, is this the legendary blue lotus left behind by Shennong?"

Daojun nodded with a smile and said:
"Yes, it is him."

"Now that he has come to the Three Realms, it seems that he has already refined that demonic sword."

“Yuanze, go and lure him here. I have something to discuss with him.”

"Yes, Lord Dao."

Half a month later, Fu Li led Lü Yan to the foot of Daojun Mountain, where they saw six men and women with different expressions and clothes, yet whose auras were closely connected, welcoming them at the foot of the mountain.

A young man dressed in a yellow robe, carrying a four-pointed shovel on his back, exuding an imposing aura, greeted the two men as they approached with a cupped-hand salute:

“Brother Fuli, Daojun returned to the mountain a few days ago and is currently waiting for Immortal Lü in the Xinglin Stone Pavilion. We still need to guard the mountain, so you can lead the way for Immortal Lü.”

Has the Daoist master already returned to the mountain?
Both Lü Yan and Fu Li were somewhat surprised to hear this news, especially Lü Yan, who had been prepared not to see Dao Jun on this trip after hearing that Dao Jun had gone to the Heavenly Court.

Fuli stepped forward and introduced:
"Immortal Lü, these are my other six brothers and sisters. We, the Seven Lions, are deeply indebted to the Dao Lord and are now guarding the mountain for him."

Lü Yan stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"Junior Lü Yan greets all seniors."

"You're too kind, Immortal Lü."

After the other six lions returned the greeting, Fuli said to them:
"I will take Immortal Master Lü to see Daojun first. We will discuss the matter mentioned in the letter a few days ago later."

"Of course, we cannot keep Daojun waiting for too long."

Fu Li nodded, greeted Lü Yan beside her, and then led Lü Yan straight toward the road leading to the apricot grove.

Lu Yan followed Fu Li and soon saw the tall apricot forest that covered Daojun Mountain. From a distance, the apricot forest looked lush and tall, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that some of the apricot trees seemed to have been planted recently.

"Each of these apricot trees represents a disciple of Daojun Mountain who emerged from Daojun Medical Clinic, a contemporary divine physician capable of saving people from illness and suffering."

Lu Yan was somewhat shaken. He had heard many legends about the disciples of Daojun Medical Hall since he was a child, and this endless sea of ​​apricot trees, each one of them represented a legend.

(End of this chapter)