Chapter 135: Chechi Kingdom Dharma Battle
However, Ao Tu was in the Flower Realm of Li Hen Heaven searching for herbs with Golden Horn.
Golden Horn parted the flowers, searching for herbs.
Ao Tu followed and helped.
Beneath those flowers grew many immortal medicines, which were immortal medicines planted here by Lao Jun.
Golden Horn said to Ao Tu: “One day in Heaven, one year underground; one day underground, one year here. Thus, in this place, one can casually obtain ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines, and in seven or eight days, immortal medicines can grow to maturity.”
Hearing this, Ao Tu thought that being put in charge of this place in the future would indeed be a cushy job.
The Flower Realm was not large, with a round sky and square earth, spanning seven thousand nine hundred li in both length and width.
In the center of the Flower Realm stood a palace with twenty-four halls and countless rooms and buildings; it was the resting place connecting to the outer world, unaffected by the Flower Realm’s time flow. Entry and exit to the outer world were all through here.
In addition, there was an immortal spring that divided into twelve streams, crisscrossing and flowing throughout the realm.
Because no one managed them, these were all somewhat neglected at this time.
Golden Horn said: “There are few people in Dou Shuai Palace, and Grand Master’s medicine fields are too many. Even if all the disciples stoking the fire were sent to tend them, they couldn’t manage it all. Some that have been around a long time haven’t been checked in years. This place is looked after once a year only because Queen Mother often sends over some wilted flowers and broken leaves as fertilizer.”
As he spoke, Golden Horn stepped on an immortal medicine; it was a ginseng immortal root.
That root had grown like a grass dragon, and no one knew how many years it had been there. When Golden Horn stepped on it, it immediately burrowed into the ground.
Golden Horn lightly hoed with the hoe, turned over the soil, reached in, and grabbed, pulling the root out.
The root wriggled in the air; its broken rootlets flowed with golden juice, emitting divine light and a burst of exotic fragrance.
Golden Horn said: “This root is good; it has some medicinal properties.”
The root cried out in fear, constantly struggling, but unfortunately it could not escape Golden Horn’s big hand. It was put into the back basket and could no longer escape.
Ao Tu’s expression remained unchanged. That root was indeed good; in the mortal realm, it would count as a treasure. But compared to his three-thousand-year immortal peach, it was far inferior.
However, if there were enough in quantity, refining them into three-revolving golden elixirs would have effects not much different from the three-thousand-year immortal peach.
Ao Tu and Golden Horn walked through the entire Flower Realm and harvested a total of one hundred and two immortal medicines and over three thousand spiritual medicines.
Ao Tu estimated these accounted for only about sixty percent of the total, because the two only went through once, and many immortal medicines that hid a bit deeper went unnoticed by Golden Horn.
These immortal medicines would naturally all end up in his hands in the end.
The two were fully aware of this and tacitly understood each other without saying it.
To be honest, for medicine fields like this, Lao Jun had no idea how many he had opened.
The immortal medicines inside were so bitter even cows wouldn’t eat them.
If not for Ao Tu, Golden Horn would never have come here at all.
After gathering the medicines, as Golden Horn was leaving, he handed Ao Tu a Taiji talisman seal; this was the pass for this place.
Ao Tu took the talisman seal and in an instant returned to the original spot.
Great Immortal Hu Li, Great Immortal Lu Li, and Great Immortal Yang Li at his side all happily said: “True Person, did you hear? Three Pure Ones Grandpa just responded!”
Ao Tu said: “Responded to what?”
Great Immortal Hu Li said: “Three Pure Ones Grandpa said the word ‘alright’!”
Great Immortal Lu Li said: “This ‘alright’ is not simple. When I heard Three Pure Ones Grandpa say it, he was very satisfied with us!”
Great Immortal Yang Li said: “This is all thanks to True Person!”
Great Immortal Hu Li said: “Yes! Yes!”
Ao Tu smiled and said: “Since Three Pure Ones has agreed, then let’s quickly release that group of monks!”
Great Immortal Hu Li said: “Good, I’ll go into the palace right now to request the decree.”
Great Immortal Lu Li and Great Immortal Yang Li said: “We’ll go with you.”
Ao Tu followed along too.
The four hurried to the imperial palace and requested to see the King.
Shortly after, an eunuch came to relay the decree: “Three National Preceptors, His Majesty has had a relapse of his old ailment and cannot receive you. He has issued a verbal edict that all matters regarding the monks are to be decided by the three National Preceptors themselves.”
Great Immortal Hu Li said: “How is His Majesty’s condition?”
The eunuch said: “It’s the old ailment; soups and medicines are hard to cure it, very tormenting.”
Great Immortal Hu Li said: “Please report to His Majesty that a Daoist Sect immortal, True Person Tai Xi, has arrived in our country. Ask His Majesty to invite True Person into the palace for examination. Be sure to remind His Majesty that opportunities must not be missed.”
The eunuch said: “Yes, Great National Preceptor. I’ll go report to His Majesty right away.”
The eunuch returned to the palace interior and saw the King of Che Chi Kingdom.
That old King was emaciated, lying on his sickbed. Though not quite on the verge of death, he was plagued by chronic illness, with aching and powerless limbs.
When he spoke, his breath was clearly insufficient.
The old King said: “What did the National Preceptor say?”
The eunuch said: “Your Majesty, the National Preceptor says a Daoist Sect immortal has arrived outside and asks Your Majesty to summon the immortal into the palace to examine the illness.”
Hearing this, the old King coughed a few times and said:
“Immortal—what does he look like?”
The eunuch said: “Not of mortal appearance, wearing a purple-sash Daoist robe, seeming to transcend the mundane. The three National Preceptors are all extremely respectful to him. He also told me to remind Your Majesty that opportunities must not be missed!”
The old King said: “Quickly invite the immortal!”
The decree was issued, and Ao Tu entered the palace with the three Great Immortals Hu Li, Lu Li, and Yang Li.
Seeing Ao Tu, the old King said:
“Indeed an immortal has arrived, with extraordinary bearing. It’s just that this king is plagued by illness and cannot personally receive you.”
Ao Tu smiled and said: “Your Majesty need not be so formal. This poor Daoist is not an immortal, merely a rogue cultivator known as True Person Tai Xi. Your Majesty may address me as such. I have come this time at the invitation of the Great National Preceptor, specifically to treat Your Majesty’s illness.”
Hearing this, the old King thanked him repeatedly and said: “Please, True Person, sit and take my pulse.”
Ao Tu said: “This poor Daoist is not a physician and does not need to take the pulse; observing with the eyes will suffice.”
The old King said: “Please, True Person, observe.”
Ao Tu focused his eyes and examined the old King’s physical condition.
The old King said: “True Person, can this king still be saved?”
Ao Tu said: “Your Majesty’s illness is due to advanced age, declining vital energy, and weakening organs.”
The old King sighed: “Alas, the physicians have said roughly the same. I wonder if True Person has a way to cure it.”
Ao Tu said: “Birth, old age, sickness, and death are fated by Heaven; no mortal medicine can cure it. However, this poor Daoist can refine elixir pills. Your Majesty taking them will dispel the pathogenic qi and keep Your Majesty free from illness.”
The old King was overjoyed and said:
“This king dares not hope for extended life. As long as True Person can get this king off the sickbed, I will be immensely grateful!”
Ao Tu said: “In that case, please have Your Majesty prepare an alchemy room, alchemy furnace, and herbs. Once preparations are complete, I will start the furnace and refine the elixirs that very day.”
The old King said: “How many days will it take to refine the immortal elixirs?”
Ao Tu said: “Forty-nine days will suffice to complete them.”
The old King said: “This king will send people to prepare right away. May I ask True Person, where should the alchemy room be built?”
Ao Tu said: “The Qian position as the key site, with the Li position for the elixir fire.”
The old King said: “Then how should the alchemy furnace be prepared?”
Ao Tu said: “Prepare one thousand jin of copper, one hundred jin of silver, ten jin of gold; I will temper them with divine fire.”
The old King said: “What herbs are needed? This king will send people to find them.”
Ao Tu said: “No need to search; they are all common herbs.”
The old King said: “All as True Person says. This king wishes to appoint True Person as the ‘Teaching Lord Great True Person’ of Che Chi Kingdom. What does True Person think?”
Ao Tu said: “Without merit, I dare not accept reward. When the elixirs are complete, Your Majesty may speak of this then.”
Hearing this, the old King held Ao Tu in even greater esteem.
