Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 160 Reward Settlement
Meanwhile, Ao Tu took his leave from the Dou Niu Palace and returned to the Flower Realm.

After instructing Jiangzhu not to be disturbed, Ao Tu entered the room to check the rewards.

[Rewards have been settled; a total of 292 days of interception.]

[Received a Three-Tier Golden Elixir as a reward.]

[Received Kunlun Immortal Tea as a reward.]

[After obtaining the reward, the Innate Spiritual Treasure - Dust Brush.]

[After obtaining the reward, the Innate Spiritual Treasure - Pill Furnace.]

[Received the reward: Breath of Earth.]

[Received as a reward: Ancient Buddha's Vow Power.]

The extra 112 days will automatically be carried over to the next side quest; the next side quest is: Crossing the Heavenly River in Peril.

-

[Entered the mission area]

[Current Side Quest: Crossing the Tongtian River]

[Task Requirements: Block the pilgrims in the Tongtian River area. Rewards will be calculated based on the time taken to block them.]

[Task Rewards: 3 days/Immortal Apricot, 7 days/Agarwood, 1/Half a month/Great Witch's Essence Blood, 1 month/Spiritual Root - Grade Three White Lotus, 1 season/Divine Power - Innate Eight Trigrams, 6 months/Fusang - Remnant, 1 year/Zhou Tian Star Array Flag, 3 years/Innate Spiritual Treasure - Hetu Luoshu, 12 years/Chaos Bell, 60 years...]

Current progress: 112 days

Ao Tu took out the reward.

The Three-Stage Golden Elixir needs no further explanation.

The Kunlun Immortal Tea is packaged in a small white jade jar, its aroma subtle and refined; the jar itself is a magical artifact.

The newly acquired spiritual treasure whisk looks quite impressive, exuding a strong Daoist aura; holding it in one's hand, Ao Tu, the Tai Xi Zhenren, truly lives up to his name.

The acquired spiritual treasure alchemy furnace is relatively precious. This furnace has three legs and two handles, and is made of some kind of copper. It has yin and yang on the outside and the eight trigrams on the inside. At its core, there are the two meanings of creation and transformation, which flow endlessly.

In terms of quality, this alchemy furnace and the Five Flames Divine Fan are spiritual treasures of the same level.

Unfortunately, Ao Tu's alchemy skills were relatively average, and his use of this alchemy furnace was somewhat clumsy and impractical.

Perhaps he should also study alchemy; after all, he acquired this medicinal herb field, and he can't just leave it idle.

The reward for a season is a small handful of divine soil, containing about a hundred grains. Legend has it that "the divine soil has endless life force and can stop floods." This kind of divine soil is extremely precious and is now very rare.

Ao Tu didn't have any flood to dam, but he could take out a few seeds and put them into the soil to plant spiritual roots, which would be of great benefit.

The final power of the ancient Buddha's vow, having no physical form, landed directly on Ao Tu and merged into his body.

This power made the various forces within Ao Tu's body more harmonious and balanced, resulting in a significant improvement in his strength.

Furthermore, Ao Tu's mind sank into it, and he vaguely saw a sacred place where Buddhist temples had collapsed, Buddha's blood was splattered all over the land, and countless monks stood upright, raised their hands, bowed, and then knelt down, calling out a certain name.

Ao Tu couldn't hear clearly, and when he tried to listen carefully, he suddenly realized that he had returned.

I won't overthink it.

Ao Tu checked the rewards for the next mission.

The previous rewards, apart from the third-grade white lotus, were nothing special.

The reward for the season is the Eight Trigrams of the Primordial Bagua, which is said to be able to predict all things. I wonder if he will be able to predict the Jade Emperor's actions after obtaining it.
For example, calculating tomorrow's rainfall.

Of course, besides calculating the number of raindrops, the more important ability of the Eight Trigrams is deduction, which is especially important for formations.

With this ability, both the Zhou Tian Star Array and the Nine Turns Yellow River Array can be enhanced to a certain extent.

A six-month reward, Fusang·Can.

Fusang is a legendary divine tree that supports the sun, but it is now incomplete.

In the celestial realm today, the sun's authority has been largely divided among the heavens.

The Moon God still wields some real power.

The position of Sun Star Lord is entirely nominal.

This is understandable.

After all, the position of Sun has too much power and responsibility, and too many people are wary of it, so it naturally needs to be restricted.

After reviewing the rewards, Ao Tu came out of the room and went to the medicinal field by the spiritual spring. He collected the original soil from the field and threw out three or four grains of Breath Soil. The Breath Soil then expanded and filled the medicinal field in a short while.

Ao Tu replanted the bitter bamboo on it.

Jiangzhu followed beside her, watching the scene with curiosity, but she didn't ask any questions.

After that, Ao Tu was fine.

Regarding the Tongtian River, the incarnations had already made complete arrangements.

With the progress made in Chechi Kingdom, there's a high probability that we can get a year's worth of rewards this time.

With the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array Flag obtained, the array is considered complete.

Of course, if one could obtain the Hetu Luoshu, its power would be increased to another level.

With nothing else to do, Ao Tu asked Jiang Zhu to brew a pot of Kunlun Immortal Tea for him to enjoy, while he took the Three-Turn Golden Elixir and began to study it.

Ao Tu had no teacher when it came to alchemy.

He only learned some rudimentary techniques by chance when he watched King Jinjiao refine elixirs during his time in Pingdingshan.

Although he doesn't know alchemy, Ao Tu has three-stage and six-stage golden pills in his possession.

At this moment, Ao Tu pondered whether he could reverse-engineer the corresponding alchemy technique through the Golden Core itself.
Ao Tu thought about it more and more and it seemed feasible.

Now that he has a pill furnace and a medicinal herb field, if he can learn the alchemy technique of refining the three-stage golden elixir, he can refine the golden elixir himself.

Whether you eat it yourself, reward your subordinates, or give it as a gift, it will be excellent.

At this moment, Jiangzhu also brewed some immortal tea.

Ao Tu took a sip of the immortal tea and felt refreshed and clear-headed.

Picking up the Three-Turn Golden Elixir, Ao Tu used his double pupils to observe and analyze the alchemy techniques within.

With his double pupils, he could see the past and the future. He saw that there were 8,400 steps in the three-stage golden elixir. Ao Tu deduced them one by one and memorized them all.

Perhaps it was due to his strength, or perhaps Ao Tu had some talent.

After watching for a while, Ao Tu felt like he had mastered it.

Ao Tu took out the alchemy furnace, put in more than a dozen immortal herbs and spiritual medicines, fanned the fire with the Five Fire Divine Flame, and immediately began refining.

The process is nothing more than using the Eight Trigrams to manipulate the alchemy furnace, Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui, to remove impurities from the medicinal materials, and then using Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to fuse them together to create the elixir.

It doesn't seem too difficult!

Soon, the medicinal power of more than a dozen immortal herbs and spiritual medicines fused together, and a golden pill appeared in the alchemy furnace.

It seems to have no flaws.

Ao Tu refined it again, using the same method to further refine the medicinal properties, turning the first-stage golden elixir into a second-stage golden elixir.

However, things became somewhat difficult at this point.

Sweat beaded on Ao Tu's forehead.

It was very easy to make the turn.

However, by the second stage, the pills no longer obeyed his commands, and their medicinal properties were difficult to integrate.

"Jiangzhu, brew some more celestial tea!"

Upon hearing this, Jiangzhu quickly brewed some celestial tea and brought it over.

Ao Tu was refining elixirs and dared not be distracted, so Jiang Zhu bent down and fed Ao Tu some tea.

Upon tasting the celestial tea, Ao Tu felt his mind clear and his spirit refreshed. He gained some insights and changed his Bagua technique, using the vigorous and smooth movement, the danger and clarity, to refine the pill once more, and the pill gradually took shape.

"Done?"

Ao Tu took out the second-stage Golden Elixir to examine it.

The golden pills were full and plump, exuding a fragrant aroma, and surrounded by clouds.

Ao Tu smiled, but the smile didn't last long. A crack appeared on the surface of the pill, splitting it in two.

It's ruined...

Ao Tu frowned. How did it break?

Ao Tu used his double pupils again to observe the third-stage golden elixir, peering into the past and seeing the future, analyzing it layer by layer, and then comparing it with his own first-and-a-half-stage golden elixir, trying to find the reason for his failure.

However, it cannot be found...

This alchemy technique is indeed quite complex! Ao Tu sighed, thinking about whether he should go to the Tushita Palace to ask for advice, but then he dismissed the idea.

The Supreme Dao Ancestor entrusted him with managing this medicinal herb field, but he first gave the field to the Queen Mother of the West before entrusting him with its management, thus taking a detour in the process.

This move may seem simple, but in name, he is not affiliated with the Tushita Palace, but with the Jade Pool.

Although many people know who owns this medicinal field, at least on the surface, he has no connection with the Tushita Palace.

If the Supreme Being wanted to teach him, there were countless ways to make him learn.

But if you don't want to teach him, he can't very well ask for it.

Ao Tu said, "Open your mouth."

Jiangzhu was stunned for a moment, then realized that Zhenjun was calling her, so she obediently opened her mouth.

Her lips were thin and red, and Ao Tu placed the cinnabar on them as if touching a piece of soft jade.

Jiangzhu, her eyes gleaming, stared blankly at Ao Tu.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Although it wasn't successfully refined, it's not poisonous either, so eat it without worry."

With the elixir in her mouth, Jiangzhu mumbled, "This elixir is too precious."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Eat up. Who knows how many more will be ruined in the future? I'll just have you as the test subject for the medicine."

Jiangzhu ate the pill, and Aotu told her to make the bed and prepare to rest.

At that moment, the talisman reacted, indicating that someone outside was requesting an audience.

Ao Tu checked and saw that it was King Golden Horn, so he opened the talisman and let him in.

When Jinjiao saw Aotu, he bowed and said, "Brother, may I trouble you to let me pass by for a moment?"

Ao Tu looked at Jin Jiao and saw that he was carrying two scrolls in his hands and a basket on his back. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother, where are you going?"

Jinjiao held up two scrolls and said:

“Elder brother, our grandmaster suddenly sent a message asking to see the ‘Classic of Alchemy’ and the ‘Classic of Instruments’. I’m going to deliver the books to him. He’s at the medicine field number 6212. Because it’s far away, I’ll borrow them from you.”

Ao Tu exclaimed in surprise, "Number 6212? What number is mine?"

Jin Jiao said, "This is number 6. From here, you can go directly to number 60, then to number 600, then to number 600, and then slowly to number 60212."

Ao Tu nodded and said, "I see."

Ao Tu looked at the two scrolls in the hands of the Golden Horn King: the "Classic of Alchemy" and the "Classic of Weapons"...

King Golden Horn asked, "Brother, what can I do for you?"

Ao Tu said, "It's alright, please let me through."

Jinjiao nodded and prepared to leave.

After taking two steps, King Golden Horn stopped, turned around and said to Ao Tu, "Brother, I'm leaving!"

Ao Tu said, "You may leave."

Jinjiao was about to leave, but after taking a step, he turned back and said:
"Brother, what were you doing just now?"

Ao Tu said, "I didn't do anything. If you hadn't come, I was going to rest. Jiangzhu, are the bedding made?"

Jiangzhu said, "True Lord, it's all laid out."

Upon hearing this, King Golden Horn said with some envy, "Brother, you have such a leisurely life, unlike me who is so tired."

Ao Tu asked, "Brother, how have you been working so hard?"

Jin Jiao said, "I have to oversee the large and small alchemy furnaces to prevent any mistakes; I also need to go to the Milky Way to cut some fine cattle grass for future use; now I also have to travel a long way to deliver the 'Alchemy Classic' and the 'Utensils Classic,' it's really hard work."

Ao Tu said, "In that case, my brother has really gone to a lot of trouble."

Jinjiao said, "Sigh..."

Suddenly, Jinjiao thought of something and said, "Brother, since you have nothing to do, could you please make a trip for me and deliver these 'Alchemy Classic' and 'Weapon Classic'?"

Ao Tu looked at the two scriptures and said, "Is this...is this appropriate?"

Jinjiao said, "It's appropriate. What's wrong with helping to deliver the scriptures? I still need to cut grass, so please help me out, elder brother!"

Ao Tu took the scroll and said, "Then I'll go and deliver it."

Jinjiao said, "Brother, go ahead. I'll give you the talismans you'll need along the way."

Jinjiao took the basket off his back and dumped it on the ground, revealing several mountain-shaped talismans. He searched through them: Number 60, Number 600, Number 6001, ... Number 60212.

Ao Tu picked up a piece from inside and saw that it was marked with the words "One Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty".

Ao Tu was secretly astonished. He had thought that Lao Jun's medicinal fields would be a bit numerous, but he hadn't expected them to be this many.

Jinjiao searched around and found all the corresponding talismans, then handed them over to Ao Tu.

Jinjiao said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, elder brother. These talismans are all unrefined, so they cannot be used for direct teleportation. You will have to walk there yourself."

Ao Tu said, "It's alright, don't worry, I will definitely deliver the scriptures."

Golden Horn thanked him again, then picked up the basket and put all the talisman mountains inside before taking his leave.

Ao Tu took the talismans and went from number six to number sixty, then to number six hundred, and then to number six thousand.

After reaching number 6,000, he could only proceed step by step to the next number. He had to get to number 6,212 and walk through more than 200 medicinal fields.

As he walked, Ao Tu couldn't help but look at the two scrolls of scriptures in his hands.

Should he take a look...?

If he takes a look, his problem with alchemy should be solved.

But after thinking for a moment, Ao Tu gave up on peeking.

Only by refraining from doing anything wrong in secret can one have a clear conscience.

Ao Tu made up his mind not to go and watch.

However, as he walked to the next medicinal field, suddenly, for some reason, he was tripped and fell to the ground.

The two scriptures, one titled "The Classic of Alchemy" and the other "The Classic of Vessels," both fell to the ground and opened, their contents visible to Ao Tu.

Ao Tu sighed softly.

After reading the scriptures, Ao Tu continued walking forward. After some time, he finally arrived at number 6212.

Upon entering the medicinal herb field, one sees Laozi sitting in the field with two wooden buckets beside him.

Ao Tu stepped forward to pay his respects, but Lao Jun stood up and stopped him, saying, "Why is it you who has come?"

Ao Tu relayed the message Jin Jiao had entrusted to him.

Lao Jun laughed and said, "I asked him to send two scrolls of scriptures for my amusement, but I didn't expect him to be so lazy and instead ask you to send them."

Ao Tu looked at the two buckets on the ground and asked, "What are you doing?"

Lao Jun said, “These medicinal herb fields of mine have been neglected for a long time and are somewhat abandoned. I wanted to fetch some water to irrigate the fields and some manure to fertilize them, but I didn’t bring a carrying pole with me. So I can only leave them here and wait for someone with a good destiny to come and irrigate them for me.”

Ao Tu said, "I'll do it!"

Laojun asked, "Did you bring a carrying pole?"

Ao Tu said, "I'll carry it by hand."

Lao Jun said, "No, if you lift it by hand, you won't be able to hold it steadily and will damage my herbs instead."

Ao Tu said, "Then I'll find something to replace it."

Lao Jun asked, "What do you have to offer in place of me?"

Ao Tu took out the Xuanjin Iron Rod Spear and said, "What do you think of this?"

Lao Jun said, "No good! No good! This thing is uneven at both ends and cannot be used as a carrying pole. We should choose one that is even at both ends."

Ao Tu took out the peach wood staff and said, "How about this?"

Lao Jun said, "No! No! This stick is uneven and not straight. We need to choose a straight and smooth one."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu took out a piece of iron, rubbed it in his hand until it became a straight iron rod, and said, "Will this work?"

Laojun said, "This won't do either, it's too light! Too light!"

Ao Tu asked, "How heavy should it be?"

Lao Jun laughed and said, "I want one that weighs 13,500 catties. It must be able to change size and have hoops at both ends."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu smiled and said, "I don't have that."

Lao Jun said, "It's alright. I just cast a divination. Before long, the destined person will come."

(End of this chapter)