The Wandering Immortal

Chapter 1 A Day Trip to Heaven
Jiang Yuan transmigrated to Tianlong Star in the Southern Continent, cultivated for a thousand years, and finally achieved perfect merit. He is about to ascend!
The heavenly lightning tribulation lasted for three days and three nights, tearing Jiang Yuan's robes to shreds and leaving his entire body charred black.

The Heavenly Guide descended to the mortal realm on the Ascension Platform. Jiang Yuan quickly cast a spell to shake off the ashes of his calamity, changed into a clean Taoist robe, and stepped forward to bow and pay his respects.

Jiang Yuan originally wanted to say a few words to the fellow disciples who were protecting the sect, firstly to express his gratitude, and secondly to encourage them, since it was not easy for the sect to produce an ascension expert.

Just as he was about to speak, the guide coldly said, "Are you leaving or not?"

Jiang Yuan stood there, looking embarrassed.

The thousands of disciples on the mountain could not see the Ascension Platform or the Guiding Child at all; they only felt that Patriarch Jiangyuan's behavior was strange.

Seeing the displeasure on the face of the guiding boy, Jiang Yuan had no choice but to hastily step onto the ascension platform.

They remained silent the entire way; the boy was unusually indifferent.

Jiang Yuan felt upset. He had cultivated for a thousand years and accumulated countless merits. He was supposed to ascend to the upper realm according to the procedure. Why did you, a mere guide boy, have the right to treat him with such disrespect?
Upon ascending to the Heavenly Court and descending from the Ascension Platform, Jiang Yuan had no time to admire the beautiful scenery of the celestial realm before he saw many immortals queuing up in front of him, and the guiding boy silently followed behind the queue.

Jiang Yuan assumed these were all newly ascended immortals, queuing up to report for duty, so he naturally followed behind the welcoming attendant. However, he noticed that all the immortals in line looked worried, which seemed a bit off.

The guide glanced back at Jiang Yuan and couldn't help but say, "Don't follow me anymore. Once I get you to the Heavenly Court, my mission will be complete!"

Jiang Yuan cupped his hands in greeting, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

The guide sighed, "Bringing you up here is my last mission. I'm going to the Fallen Immortal Platform to reincarnate and start anew."

Jiang Yuan was startled and quickly stepped aside, thus leaving the group. However, he didn't dare to leave, as he had never been to the Heavenly Court before and had no idea what the next steps would be.

The guide boy was also puzzled: "You are the Heavenly River Water Lord, returning to the Heavenly Court is like going home for you, so you don't need me to guide you, right?"

Jiang Yuan was even more confused. "I'm Tianhe Shuijun? How come I don't know that?"
The guide boy said, "Hey, perhaps your true spirit hasn't returned yet... Just keep walking along the jade steps of the Ascension Platform and you'll reach the South Heavenly Gate. Go there to report, and a great immortal will naturally guide you."

"Thank you for the guidance!"

Jiang Yuan then turned and walked towards the South Heavenly Gate.

Behind the guiding boy were some immortals heading to the Fallen Immortal Platform, and Jiang Yuan overheard whispers among themselves.

"How can there still be ascensions? Isn't the Heavenly Court undergoing a major downsizing?"

"Haven't you heard he's the Heavenly River Water Lord? He's a deity!"

"That's true. Those divine positions are all filled, and even if they descend to the mortal realm to undergo tribulations, they will always return to their original positions. Unlike us wandering immortals with no established foundation, a single decree can destroy a thousand years of cultivation and force us to reincarnate and start all over again. Sigh!"

Jiang Yuan paid little attention to the gossip, as he was currently lost in a great deal of doubt. The Heavenly Court was not as carefree as he had imagined.

The South Heavenly Gate stands abruptly above a sea of ​​clouds; only by stepping through that gate can one truly be considered divine and spiritual.

Two golden-armored warriors stood on either side of the gate. As Jiang Yuan walked straight towards them, one of the warriors shouted, "Who goes there?"

Jiang Yuan cupped his hands, about to speak, when Wang Lingguan suddenly appeared, slamming his golden whip into the ground.

"How dare you be rude! The Heavenly River Water Lord has returned to his position today."

Having said that, Wang Lingguan held the golden whip upright with both hands, bowed slightly to the side, and invited Jiang Yuan to enter.

Jiang Yuan returned the greeting and stepped into the South Heavenly Gate. In that instant, it felt as if a spiritual light entered his body, bringing him indescribable comfort.

"Wait a minute!"

Before Jiang Yuan could take his third step, Wang Lingguan suddenly shouted to stop him: "You are not the Heavenly River Water Lord, so who are you, daring to trespass into the Southern Heavenly Gate?"

Jiang Yuan paused for a moment, then turned around and said, "This humble immortal, Jiang Yuan, has just ascended to the Immortal Realm from the Southern Continent."

Two golden-armored guards approached with spears. Wang Lingguan took out a score and flipped through it, while carefully examining Jiang Yuan.

"Jiang Yuan is indeed the Water Lord's alias in the mortal realm. Today, having returned to his position and entered the Southern Heavenly Gate, he should have revealed his true form. However, you are not him. Where is the Water Lord?"

Jiang Yuan had been suspicious when the guide told him that he was the Heavenly River Water Lord, and now he was even more terrified.

"I have cultivated for a thousand years on Tianlong Star in the Southern Continent, and have ascended to heaven after achieving perfect merit. I am not the Heavenly River Water Lord. I think you have mistaken me for someone else."

"Don't talk nonsense. Jiang Yuan's name is clearly recorded in the Ascension Records, and your water magic powers are undeniable. How could you mistake him? But you are not the Water Lord after all..."

Jiang Yuan felt uneasy. A thousand years ago, he was just an ordinary person on Earth who drowned in the Yangtze River. He didn't know how he had transmigrated to Tianlong Star. Moreover, this body was extremely compatible with water, and his cultivation was smooth sailing. After a thousand years, he ascended to the Immortal Realm. Could it be that he was really an imposter?

No, that's not impersonation. How could a mortal like me possibly impersonate the Heavenly River Water Lord? It must be that the Water Lord used me to fill the hole and then ran away on his own.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that he was in deep trouble and wondering how the Heavenly Court would deal with him. Wang Lingguan was also pacing back and forth, clearly aware of the seriousness of the problem. As a gatekeeper, he couldn't control a powerful immortal like the Heavenly River Water Lord, but he also couldn't let an imposter into the South Heavenly Gate.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Lingguan picked up the jade tablet and called out to Taibai Jinxing, thinking that the old fellow was in charge of guiding the gods in the mortal world and had a lot of influence in the Heavenly Court, so it would be best to let him handle it.

Yu Ban called several times but was hung up each time. Wang Lingguan persisted, and Taibai Jinxing finally answered when he had no other choice, saying in a low voice, "I'm in a meeting right now. We can talk later."

Wang Lingguan hurriedly said, "The Heavenly River Water Lord should have returned to his position today, but a fake has come. This matter is of great importance. You should come to the South Heavenly Gate!"

From the moment Wang Lingguan called upon Venus, he cast a spell to block out sound, so Jiang Yuan couldn't hear who he was contacting. The two golden-armored gatekeepers beside him, carrying long spears, looked rather hostile, making Jiang Yuan even more anxious.

A moment later, Venus appeared at the South Heavenly Gate, and Wang Lingguan quickly explained the situation to him.

Venus occasionally glanced at Jiang Yuan, making him feel a chill run down his spine.

After Wang Lingguan finished muttering and removed the magical barrier, Taibai Jinxing flicked his whisk and walked forward with a friendly expression.

Jiang Yuan ascended to the Heavenly Court and finally saw the first smiling face, which was no easy feat.

Venus raised his hand in a salute: "I am Li Changgeng, fellow Daoist, may I speak with you in private."

When Jiang Yuan heard that it was Venus who had come, he felt a little relieved. He had heard that this old immortal was kind and gentle, and it was indeed true. Just as he was about to clasp his hands in greeting, Venus pulled him out of the South Heavenly Gate.

Venus pulled Jiang Yuan to the banks of the Milky Way. Seeing that no one was around, he asked, "Where is the Water Lord now?"

Jiang Yuan looked completely bewildered: "This humble fairy truly has no idea."

Venus also understood that this guy probably really didn't know, otherwise how could he dare to break into the South Heavenly Gate alone?

"Please allow this old man to cast a divination."

Venus never let go of Jiang Yuan's hand, fearing he might run away. He simply tucked the whisk under his arm and used his right hand to perform calculations with his fingers.

Jiang Yuan was no longer afraid. In the end, this matter could not be hidden from the gods of the upper realm. Whether he stuck his neck out or not, he would still be in trouble. He simply enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Milky Way.

Venus calculated for a long time and could see the origins of the ascended immortal in front of him clearly, but he was unable to find out the whereabouts of the Heavenly River Water Lord.

If one devotes all one's efforts to divination, there are no secrets in the world in the eyes of a Golden Immortal. If no cause and effect can be found, there must be a Great Luo Golden Immortal, who is of a higher level than a Golden Immortal, covering up the matter. It seems that this matter needs to be considered carefully.

Venus then released Jiang Yuan and said solemnly, "I know that you were originally a mortal from the Southern Continent, but after your death, your soul traveled to the Heavenly Dragon Star and occupied the reincarnation of the Heavenly River Water Lord."

Jiang Yuan had nothing to say.

Venus pondered for a while before saying, "Now that you've ascended the Ascension Platform, you must have seen the immortals heading to the Fallen Immortal Platform."

"I definitely saw it!"

"To be honest, in recent years, there have been many immortals like you who have transmigrated, occupied other people's bodies, and ascended to the immortal realm, causing the immortal realm to be overcrowded. The Heavenly Court is thoroughly investigating this matter."

Jiang Yuan understood a little. Most of the immortals queuing up were ascended after time travel, and he had just run into the line of fire.

“In the past, most of them were low-level wandering immortals, but you are different. The Heavenly River Water Lord is a great immortal with divine office. The Heavenly Court will definitely investigate where his true spirit is now.”

Jiang Yuan clasped his hands in a respectful greeting: "Please, venerable immortal, show me the way."

Venus stroked his long beard: "Originally, I should have handed this matter over to the Three Officials Hall for the Water Official Emperor to personally oversee. However, if we were to go through the proper procedures, you would inevitably suffer the punishment of heavenly lightning, enduring unbearable pain, and possibly even having your soul scattered."

Jiang Yuan pondered, and realized that made sense. Venus was indeed understanding and considerate, and he felt a warmth in his heart.

"In any case, you cannot be kept in the Heavenly Court at this critical juncture. However, if I let you go, I will definitely need you to testify when I investigate the whereabouts of the Water Lord in the future."

Jiang Yuan was at a loss and could only wait for Venus to finish speaking.

"There are some things I cannot reveal for now; heavenly secrets cannot be disclosed. In short, your attainment of immortality and ascension is undeniable, your supernatural powers are genuine, and your merits are complete; it's just that fate was unkind..."

According to Venus, Jiang Yuan could only go to the mortal realm to avoid trouble for the time being, and wait for the Heavenly Court to finish its rectification and investigate the true spirit of the Heavenly River Water Lord before coming back to find Jiang Yuan to testify.

Venus also implied that if anyone was at fault, it was Tianhe Shuijun who slipped away, and it had little to do with Jiangyuan.

Out of compassion for the people, the old immortal specially arranged a secluded little blessed land for Jiang Yuan, waiting only for the Heavenly Court to summon him.

Although Jiang Yuan was unwilling, there was nothing he could do. He followed the procession from the Falling Immortal Platform to the mortal realm in a daze.

　New book, please recommend!
　　

(End of this chapter)