Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 135 The Battle of Wits in Chechi Kingdom (Part 5)
Meanwhile, Ao Tu was searching for medicine with Jin Jiao in the Realm of the Heavenly Flower of Separation and Hatred.

Jin Jiao parted the flowers to search for herbs.

Ao Tu followed up to help.

Beneath those flowers, many celestial herbs grow; these were planted here by Laozi.

Jinjiao and Aotu said, "One day in heaven is one year on earth; one day on earth is one year here. Therefore, one can easily obtain ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs here, and the immortal herbs can be made to mature in seven or eight days."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu thought that it would be a lucrative position to hand over this place to him in the future.

That flower realm is not large; it is a square earth with a round sky, and its length and width are seven thousand nine hundred li.

In the very center of the Flower Realm stands a palace with twenty-four halls and countless rooms, serving as a resting place connecting it to the outside world, unaffected by the Flower Realm's time. All entry and exit to the outside world originates from this place.

In addition, there is a fairy spring that divides into twelve streams, which intertwine and flow throughout this area.

Because no one is managing them, these places have fallen into disrepair.

Jinjiao said, "There are few people in the Tushita Palace, and our master has too many medicinal fields. Even if all the disciples who tend the fire were to take care of them, they still wouldn't be able to look after them all. Some of them haven't been looked at for several years. This place is only visited once a year because the Queen Mother of the West often sends some withered flowers and leaves over to use as fertilizer."

As they were talking, Golden Horn stepped on a magical herb, a ginseng.

The ginseng, which had grown like a grass dragon for countless years, was stepped on by Golden Horn and burrowed into the ground.

With a gentle hoe stroke, Jin Jiao turned over the soil, reached out and grabbed the ginseng.

The ginseng swam in the air, its broken tendrils oozing golden sap, radiating a divine glow and releasing a strange fragrance.

Jin Jiao said, "This ginseng is quite good; it already has some medicinal properties."

The ginseng cried out in terror and struggled incessantly, but it couldn't escape Golden Horn's large hand. It was put into the basket and could never escape again.

Ao Tu remained calm. The ginseng was indeed excellent; in the lower realm, it would be considered a treasure. However, compared to his three-thousand-year-old peaches, it paled in comparison.

However, if there are enough of them, the effect of refining them into a three-stage golden elixir is almost the same as that of a three-thousand-year-old peach.

Ao Tu and Jin Jiao traversed the entire Flower Realm, collecting a total of 102 immortal herbs and over 3,000 spiritual herbs.

Ao Tu estimated that these only accounted for about 60% of the total, because the two of them only went through the area once, and many of the immortal medicines could be hidden deep enough that Jin Jiao would not see them.

These elixirs will naturally end up in his hands.

The two were fully aware of this, but kept it to themselves.

To be honest, Laozi has cultivated countless medicinal fields like this.

The elixir inside is so bitter that even cows find it unpalatable.

If it weren't for Ao Tu, Jin Jiao would never have come.

After gathering the herbs, before leaving, Jinjiao gave Aotu a Taiji talisman, which was a means of passage through this place.

Ao Tu took the talisman and instantly returned to his original spot.

The three immortals beside him, Tiger Power Immortal, Deer Power Immortal, and Sheep Power Immortal, were overjoyed and said, "Master, did you hear that? Grandfather Sanqing just responded!"

Ao Tu asked, "What response did you give?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Grandpa Sanqing said the word 'allow'!"

Deer Power Immortal said, "This word 'can' is not simple. When I heard Grandpa Sanqing say it, he was very satisfied with us!"

The Great Immortal Yangli said, "This is all thanks to the True Man!"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Yes! Yes!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Since the Three Pure Ones have agreed, let's release those monks as soon as possible!"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Alright, I will go to the palace to request the imperial decree immediately."

Deer Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal said, "Let's go together."

Ao Tu followed along.

The four rushed to the palace and requested an audience with the king.

A moment later, a eunuch came to deliver an imperial edict: "Three Imperial Preceptors, His Majesty's old illness has flared up and he is unable to receive the emperor. An imperial edict has been issued stating that the matter concerning the monks shall be decided by the three Imperial Preceptors themselves."

Tiger Power Immortal asked, "How is His Majesty's condition?" The eunuch replied, "It's still the same old illness, and medicine is not curing it. It's very distressing."

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Please inform Your Majesty that a Taoist immortal, the Great Western True Man, has arrived in our country. Please invite the True Man to the palace for a visit, and remember to remind Your Majesty that this opportunity must not be missed."

Huangmen said, "Yes, Grand Preceptor, I will go and inform His Majesty immediately."

Huangmen returned to the palace and met the King of Chechi Kingdom.

The old king was emaciated and lay on his sickbed. Although he was not exactly on his deathbed, he was plagued by old age and illness, and his hands and feet ached and were weak.

He was clearly out of breath as he spoke.

The old king asked, "What did the royal advisor say?"

The eunuch said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor says that a Taoist immortal has arrived outside and requests that Your Majesty summon the immortal to the palace to examine the patient's condition."

Upon hearing this, the old king coughed a few times and said:

"What do immortals look like?"

Huangmen said, "He is not of ordinary appearance; he wears a purple Taoist robe and seems to transcend worldly affairs. The three national teachers treat him with utmost respect. They even asked me to remind His Majesty that this opportunity should not be missed!"

The old king said, "Quickly, summon the immortal!"

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Ao Tu, Tiger Power Immortal, and the other two entered the palace together.

When the old king saw Ao Tu, he said:
"It is indeed a celestial being descending, his demeanor is extraordinary, but I am afflicted with illness and cannot receive him in person."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Your Majesty need not do this. I am not an immortal, but merely a wandering Taoist, known as the True Man of the Western Paradise. Your Majesty may address me by that name. I have come here at the invitation of the Grand Preceptor to treat Your Majesty's illness."

Upon hearing this, the old king repeatedly expressed his gratitude and said, "Please, Master, sit down and take my pulse."

Ao Tu said, "I am not a physician, so there is no need to take a pulse; I can simply observe with my eyes."

The old king said, "Please, Master, observe this."

Ao Tuyun looked over and checked the old king's physical condition.

The old king asked, "Sir, is there any hope for me?"

Ao Tu said, "Your Majesty's illness is due to your advanced age, gradual depletion of vital energy, and weakened internal organs."

The old king sighed, "Alas, what the physician said is largely true. I wonder if a true healer has a way to cure him."

Ao Tu said, "Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the predetermined fate of Heaven, and there is no medicine in the mortal world that can cure them. However, I can refine pills that Your Majesty can take to dispel illness and prevent Your Majesty from being troubled by disease."

The old king was overjoyed and said:

"I dare not ask for longevity; I would be most grateful if you could help me get rid of my sickbed!"

Ao Tu said, "In that case, Your Majesty, please prepare the alchemy room, the alchemy furnace, and the herbs. Once everything is ready, I will begin refining the elixir immediately."

The old king asked, "How many days will it take to refine the elixir?"

Ao Tu said, "It will be completed in forty-nine days."

The old king said, "I will send people to make preparations immediately. May I ask, Master, where would be the best place to build the alchemy room?"

Ao Tu said, "Take the Qian position as the key location and set up the elixir fire in the Li position."

The old king asked, "How should we prepare the alchemy furnace?"

Ao Tu said, "Prepare a thousand catties of copper, a hundred catties of silver, and ten catties of gold, and I will forge them with divine fire."

The old king said, "What herbs do you need? I will send someone to find them."

Ao Tu said, "No need to search, they are all common herbs."

The old king said, "Then it is all in accordance with the True Man. I wish to bestow upon the True Man the title of 'Great True Man, Master of the Nation' of Chechi Kingdom. I wonder what the True Man thinks?"

Ao Tu said, "I dare not accept rewards without merit. It is not too late for Your Majesty to discuss this matter when the elixir is completed."

Upon hearing this, the old king trusted Ao Tu even more.

(End of this chapter)