Becoming a god starting from the weasel

Chen Yang wasn't annoyed by this.

Of the past six months of quiet cultivation in the temple, if we disregard the fact that his spiritual energy has now surged to one strand of spiritual power and fifty-four strands, Chen Yang believes that the greatest improvement he has made is in his mental cultivation.

It's the same reason why so many rich people in their past lives insisted on vying to go deep into the mountains and forests and those farmhouses that claimed to be close to nature.

It is true that if you go to a quieter place and stay there for a while, your mind will calm down.

Not to mention that this year is Chinese New Year, Chen Yang still remembers what the old director told them when he was a child in the orphanage.

"No matter what happens on Chinese New Year, you can't swear."

Chen Yang washed his hands and went out of the kitchen to see what it was.

It wasn't until he entered the courtyard, where the sound of wind and snow had lessened, that Chen Yang could hear it clearly.

It turned out that nothing had fallen; rather, someone was knocking on the temple gate, and the sound was quite rhythmic, not the work of some mountain spirit.

Chen Yang glanced at the swirling snow and a strange thought suddenly popped into his mind: Could it be Niu Mountain?

Chen Yang hurriedly went over and opened the door, only to see a tall snowman standing at the entrance, covered in thick snow and carrying something in his hand.

Upon seeing the temple gate open, Niu Shan put down his things, wiped his face with his hand, revealing his face red from the cold.

"Niu Shan pays homage to the Great Immortal, wishing you a prosperous New Year!"

  

As she spoke, she used her two hands, which were wrapped in thick coats, to give Chen Yang a blessing gesture just like in her previous life.

Then, without waiting for Chen Yang to say anything, she began to show off the things she had brought.

"The Great Immortal has just emerged from his monastic life, and there is no incense or paper money in the temple yet. This is something I bought from the market to offer to the Great Immortal."

"However, this stuff is indeed a bit expensive. Although there was a surplus this year, we had a big, healthy baby boy."

As he spoke, Niu Shan pulled open the jacket on his chest, revealing a chubby boy fast asleep inside.

At this moment, the chubby boy was still sucking on his finger, with only a small patch of hair on his head, making him look quite adorable.

Even Chen Yang, who was initially somewhat surprised, couldn't help but smile.

"Blessed, truly blessed."

Chen Yang smiled and praised repeatedly. Many villagers in Huangni'ao had said similar things, but none of them were as good as what the immortal had said.

"Great Immortal, there's no need to praise this lad; he probably eats a lot."

Chen Yang simply smiled without saying a word, and cupped his hands to let the father and son in.

At this moment, in Chen Yang's eyes, there was a white life force radiating light in Niu Shan's arms.

This fate is several times better than that of Niu Shan, who is his father. So what Chen Yang just said was not flattery, but a statement of fact.

However, Chen Yang did not explain.

This time, instead of going to the Sanqing Hall, we went to the Taoist temple.

Chen Yang's Taoist temple was always warm, as charcoal was burned every day.

Once inside Chenyang Daoshe, Niu Shan finally caught his breath.

Just as he put his son down, Chen Yang pushed open the wooden door, holding two cups of hot tea with two slices of ginger in them.

Niu Shan quickly took the hot tea and drank it: "Great Immortal, the wind and snow are quite heavy today, I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Niu Shan drank the hot tea in one gulp, then awkwardly held the cup and said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang didn't say anything, but simply took a sip of hot tea and then spoke.

"That's too harsh. It's the New Year, and you're in this remote mountain forest. It's already a blessing that you brought this boy to see me."

"There's no need to say those things again."

"By the way, has this kid been given a name yet?"

Seeing Niu Shan's timid and cowering appearance, Chen Yang finally spoke first.

Niu Shan, who was still pondering how to choose a name for his child, suddenly beamed with joy and exclaimed excitedly.

"It hasn't been named yet; we're waiting for the fortune teller!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang smiled and nodded, "In that case, I shall accept your offer without hesitation."

Chen Yang then began to calculate: His son's fate was exceptionally fortunate, with a lifespan of only two inches. If he studied, he could have a chance to become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, but there probably wouldn't be many opportunities in the mountains.

However, even in the winter New Year, his father carrying his son up the mountain showed his unwavering determination.

Then Chen Yang got up and looked at the view reflected in the window of the Taoist temple.

"Born in the winter mountains, raised among the mountains, one should remain steadfast in one's heart throughout one's life, unafraid of the obstacles of the mountains, and thus be named Guardian of the Mountains."

"His nickname is Stone Pier, because he stands firm like a stubborn rock, unmoving year after year. So, let's call him Ox Guarding the Mountain. What do you think?"

Chen Yang then lowered the window of the Taoist temple and looked at Niu Shan, saying this.

Upon hearing this, Niu Shan silently began to mutter, "Niu Shouyue, Niu Shouyue..."

Recalling the continuous Black Wind Mountain Range and the scenery he saw when he carried his silly son up the mountain today, Niu Shan smiled and nodded repeatedly.

"The name is excellent, excellent. Thank you, Master, thank you, Master."

Niu Shan immediately wanted to kneel down and kowtow to Chen Yang again, but Chen Yang raised his hand to support him. With the help of spiritual power, Niu Shan could no longer kneel down.

Niu Shan, a burly man, was supported by the hand of the immortal who was only as tall as his thigh.

Niu Shan's expression changed drastically! But he quickly understood; after all, this was a powerful immortal, so this was to be expected...

Then Chen Yang said, "It is already a great courtesy for you to come and see me today, especially since you brought those things."

Chen Yang pointed to the yellow paper and pork placed on the bed in the Taoist temple... Then he looked at the sky outside. It was already late, and since the naming was already done, it was not convenient to linger in the temple.

"How about this?"

Chen Yang then went out again, and when he returned, he had a piece of bright green amaranth in his hand.

Niu Shan was also puzzled when he saw the amaranth in Chen Yang's hand. He was naturally familiar with the amaranth, which had helped his whole family get through the famine. But what use was the amaranth besides filling their stomachs?

Niu Shan scratched his head, wondering what the immortal was trying to do.

Chen Yang didn't speak, but tore the green amaranth with bronze patterns into two pieces, then infused his spiritual energy into his palm and crushed it. Soon, two pieces of vegetable paste appeared in his hand.

Chen Yang then handed the larger piece to Niu Shan, while feeding the smaller one directly to Niu Shouyue.

Niu Shan swallowed the vegetable paste and immediately felt full of energy, as if he had inexhaustible strength, and his chest felt warm.

Niu Shan was both surprised and delighted, staring at Chen Yang with disbelief.

Then Chen Yang said, "With these two vegetable pills, you can safely take Shouyue down the mountain."

Upon hearing Chen Yang's words, Niu Shan, who had been worrying about how to get down the mountain, immediately showed joy and quickly clasped his hands in thanks.

"In that case, thank you very much, Master."

Chen Yang then waved his hand, "No need for that, you may go down the mountain."

Then, Niu Shan carried Niu Shouyue down the mountain just as he had done before going up.

However, unlike when he was climbing the mountain, Niushan now moved with agility and vigor.

Even on a slope frozen solid, he could still leave a footprint by smashing it, so there was no need to worry about slipping when going downhill.

After watching Niu Shan's figure disappear completely, Chen Yang returned to the temple to continue preparing food.

Late at night, in the Sanqing Temple, fruits, rabbit meat, and a plate of fragrant stir-fried cured pork were placed on the altar.

Below, three sticks of incense were inserted, and yellow paper was burning in the basin.

Only after the yellow paper had burned completely did Chen Yang serve himself rice and eat it in the Sanqing Temple. He also drank some juice that he had squeezed out himself. This year was indeed quite enjoyable.

As Chen Yang ate his food, he thought to himself: It's the New Year, and it's time to set some other goals.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Yang patted his stomach and thought to himself, "Next year, perhaps I can first renovate the temple and then look for some incense-making materials."

Looking at the fragrant smoke rising slowly from the statue of the Three Pure Ones, Chen Yang thought to himself.

After all, there should be a faint fragrance in the Taoist temple. It's just the right time to find some peach gum and rosin next spring, which I can make myself.

That's settled then. It's the New Year, so I'll take a break.

Chen Yang did not plan to cultivate tonight. He believed that a balance between work and rest was the most important thing, as cultivation was a long-term endeavor and a path to immortality could be long and fruitful.