Chapter 2: From Servant to Apprentice

He then placed the bowls back on the table, quietly waiting for the heat that Liu Gu mentioned to arrive

Watching the immortal elder, who was holding a jade pendant in each hand, lead two little children into the green mist, Xiang You bowed from a distance and turned to leave. The children entering the immortal gate does not mean that they are forever separated from the mortal realm. It is said that when they achieve success in their cultivation, there will be a day for reunion. He should also persuade his wife at home not to be too sorrowful about the parting.

At the foot of the mountains on the side of Juquze, there is a pervasive green mist. Once a mortal enters, there is no direction to follow, and after wandering around, they inevitably return to the original spot

Of course, the better one's physical condition, the more one can drink. Well, don't just stand there, drink up. Be careful, take a small sip and then stop, wait until your body can handle the heat before continuing. When you reach your limit, do not drink anymore

This is finished drinking, and then one goes about as if nothing happened

Once again, he took a sip, but as he did, he felt a slight warmth spreading through his body, accompanied by a hint of a burning sensation. He estimated that this was about his limit, so he prepared to sit quietly and wait for the heat to dissipate

Is this the land of the immortals

A celestial being does not merely rely on the essence of wind, rain, and the nourishment of heaven and earth for sustenance, does he? Yet, this particular immortal still spends his days hunting in the woods or fishing in the streams, consuming a meal that surpasses even the most renowned glutton in the village by several times

On the third day, Xiang stubbornly walked for half a day, and before noon, he collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath

Over the course of these thousands of years, although the sixth generation patriarch made some improvements to the cultivation methods after obtaining the celestial fate, and developed certain techniques to complement the use of celestial seedlings, and even left behind a jade slip of cultivation methods by a senior expert, the overall focus remains primarily on body training and self-cultivation. In other words, those with celestial seedlings can cultivate, while those without them can still manage, albeit at a slower pace.

Just as I set down the bowl, I suddenly noticed something strange: the breath that had been passing through my chest vanished for a moment, and when it reappeared, the burning sensation was gone, and the heat within my body had also cleared.

Is there something peculiar about this pig's blood? Otherwise, why would this immortal be so serious about it? Xiang Yang has always been cautious in his actions, and he was there, wrinkling his nose and sniffing carefully. Unlike ordinary pig's blood, this bowl before him had no trace of raw odor; instead, it exuded an indescribable fragrance that seemed to open all his pores, bringing him immense comfort.

After three people walked for another two days, they came across a high hill after crossing a deep valley. The hill was a thousand zhang high, with steep walls as smooth as a mirror, and strange rocks stood in clusters at the foot of the mountain. Liu Gu led the two children around the piles of strange stones and entered a cave beneath the cliff. After winding through several turns, the surroundings suddenly brightened. He placed Xiang down on the ground and pointed ahead, saying: "We have arrived!"

On the first day, Xiang Xian's feet were blistered, and he began to cry. After walking a few more miles, he squatted down on the ground, shouting for Xiang Yang to carry him. Although he was young, he was clever from a young age, and when he spoke, he sounded like an adult. According to him, a servant was merely a servant, and it was only natural for them to serve him. If Xiang Yang was unwilling, he would have his master send him back to find another one.

This is hardly a place for cultivation; it looks even worse than our small fishing village. At least in the fishing village, there are fishmongers coming and going, and a guesthouse and a small tavern have been built specifically at the eastern end of the village.

Xiang Xian, who was beside him, paid no mind to all that and gulped down a large mouthful, muttering to himself: "It's just a bit of fresh pig's blood... it's not some miraculous elixir."

Certainly, if one were to obtain this bowl of pig's blood in the mundane world, it would be considered a fine treasure. However, within the realm of immortals, it is merely the most inferior item. Even so, a typical strong man would only manage to drink a bowl at most, while Xiang Xian, being only nine years old, managed to consume nearly half a bowl in one go. It is only natural that excessive nourishment could lead to adverse effects. Nevertheless, the medicinal properties of the Eight Treasure Soup have been transformed through secret methods, making it relatively mild. Xiang Xian would only experience a bit of hardship, but it would still be greatly beneficial to his body.

At that moment, hearing him urge himself to drink that bowl of eight-treasure soup, he did not resist; instead, he turned around and picked it up, taking a delicate sip, almost just touching the tip of his tongue to it

He let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground, his body hunched over. In just a short while, his entire body turned as red as a boiled shrimp shell, and steam even began to rise from the top of his head

What is going on? Xiang Yang couldn't help but feel surprised. He picked up the small bowl in front of him and took another sip. After a few more sips, he realized he had already drunk more than Xiang Xian. Liu Gu frowned slightly beside him; this little fellow seemed a bit restless. It seems he needs to experience some hardships to temper himself.

However, what was unexpected was that Xiang Yang showed no signs of anything unusual. Instead, after a short while, he picked up the eight-treasure porridge in front of him and drank it all in one go. After finishing, he looked at him eagerly and said, "Master, it is really delicious. Is there any more?"

A burly man with a shiny, greasy face was dragging the fattest pig out of the pigpen. With one swift stroke, a valley that should have been tranquil and beautiful was turned into a slaughterhouse by the pig's dying screams.

The next morning, they set off early. After walking only a few dozen miles, Xiang Xian resorted to his old tricks again, and Xiang Yang had to carry him on his back. They continued walking until the afternoon, but eventually, Xiang Yang could no longer endure it. He tripped over a tree root and fell straight down.

Xiang Yang, however, held on without saying a word. After two days of interaction, he discovered that this immortal master was somewhat peculiar

Liu Gu originally led the way, but upon seeing two children fall, he returned. Frowning, he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from Xiang Yang's forehead. Then, he unfastened the gourd from his waist, poured out some bright red liquid, and applied it to Xiang Yang's forehead. Only then did he turn his stern gaze towards the still shouting Xiang Xian and scolded, "What are you making noise for! Walk on your own! If you can't endure hardship, just go back!"

Hearing Xiang Yang's question, Liu Gu, while stroking his beard, replied with a faint smile: "I have already said that this Eight Treasure Porridge should be savored slowly, sip by sip. If he gulps it down in one big mouthful, it would be a miracle if he doesn't suffer some consequences!"

The group of elderly people immediately became noisy: "Are the two little brats going to be separated as well? Aren't you afraid of making them burst?"

He is still quite young and cannot think too much, but in any case, he just feels it is very strange

Liu Gu smacked his lips and said in a daze: "There is still... still! You can drink as much as you want!"

In the era of the founding ancestor of the Floating Jade Sect, individuals like Xiang Yang were the true geniuses

Liu Gu glanced at the two of them without saying a word, while Xiang Yang gritted his teeth, squatted down, and let him lie on his back

The elderly individuals turned to look at him, and one of them weakly waved his hand, saying: "Master, there is no more Eight Treasure Porridge to drink, we are almost starving, we don't even have the strength to cultivate... Oh, this time you actually took on a disciple?"

An old man and two children walked for three days and three nights in that mountain range. This area is rarely visited by people, and there are no paths to follow. They traversed deep forests and crossed small streams, climbing countless mountain peaks, yet they still had not reached their destination

He was scolded by Liu Guxun yesterday, yet he did not dare to ask Xiang Yang to carry him again, merely looking at Liu Gu with a pitiful expression, as if to say he would rather die than leave.

Xiang Yang was taken aback, his hand, which was originally resting on the edge of the bowl, suddenly recoiled. Looking at Xiang Xian on the ground beside him, his mouth agape, he pointed at him and said: "Master... Master, what... what is going on..."

Of course, what a great blessing it is to live adjacent to the immortals! Naturally, no one would be dissatisfied because of this. Moreover, since the arrival of the immortals, the region has not experienced flooding for thousands of years, nor have any strange creatures caused trouble. Now, being able to live and work in peace is all due to the blessings of the immortals

Alright, alright! If we are going to do it, then let's do it! This can be considered a celebration that our Golden Body Hall finally has new disciples! Wait a moment!" Liu Gu hurriedly ran towards a thatched hut, and in the blink of an eye, he brought out three large bowls and placed them at the end of the line, also waving to Xiang Xian and Xiang Yang: "You two come over as well, there is some for you too!"

Although he does not speak much on a daily basis, he is not lacking in intelligence, and can even be described as exceptionally clever. When he was around four or five years old, he enjoyed hiding under the platform of the tavern at the east end of the village to listen to storytellers, and surprisingly, he could understand some of it. Now, at over nine years old, he has encountered dozens of storytellers over the past few years and has heard quite a few stories.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, this mountain range could be freely accessed, but ever since the arrival of the immortal, a green mist has enveloped the area, making it impossible to enter the mountains. The villages near the marshes have transformed from hunting communities into fishing communities.

Xiang Yang, who grew up eating the food of many families, has developed exceptionally well. At the same age as Xiang Xian, he is half a head taller than him and significantly stronger.

Thinking of this, Liu Gu could not help but let out a sigh

He spoke while glancing at Xiang Yang, muttering to himself, forget it, considering this bowl of eight-treasure soup, let this little fellow not be treated as a mere servant, let's take him in as well

Xiang Yang held the bowl and smiled awkwardly, lowering his head to take another sip. This time, he drank a bit more, but it was still only about a wooden spoon's worth.

Liu Gufang had just spoken with Xiang Yang, and although his aptitude was lacking, he excelled in hard work and perseverance. Therefore, he made an exception and accepted him as a disciple rather than a servant, which was one of the reasons why Xiang Xian had always felt somewhat dissatisfied.

The next day, Liu Gu took two small children and was personally escorted by Xiang You, Xiang Xian's father, across the river to the opposite bank of Juquze.

Xiang Xian was taken aback. Although he did not understand why his master reprimanded him over a trivial servant, he was always adept at reading the room. Seeing that Liu Gu's expression did not seem to be joking, he immediately fell silent

Based on the thoughts he pondered throughout the night, it is evident that this immortal, who is willing to take him as a disciple, must be a genius as described by storytellers, destined to become a protagonist who will eventually attain immortality. How could his master truly bear to send him back? Yesterday's actions were merely a means to frighten him

Before me lies a narrow valley, with lush and verdant forests in the distance, the depth of which is unknown. Near the mouth of the cave, there are dozens of dilapidated thatched cottages, surrounded by rudimentary fences. Within the confines of the fence, several proud roosters strut with their necks held high, surveying their territory along with their harem, occasionally flapping their wings and engaging in a scuffle with a few sneaky local dogs.

Do all immortals not possess magical treasures and flying swords? With a single sword strike, even mountains can be cleaved apart. Yet, why does this immortal use a tool resembling a firewood cutting knife, and even personally clear the path by cutting through thorns while on the journey?

About ten elderly men with gaunt faces each held a large bowl the size of a washbasin, eagerly watching the burly man. They formed a line to pass their bowls forward, occasionally someone would remind, "Gangzi! Be careful, don't spill the eight-treasure soup! It won't be enough later!"

Xiang Yang turned his gaze to Liu Gu's face. Although there were many questions regarding the identity of this immortal elder, he still had a favorable impression of the old man. Having grown up eating the food of various families and accustomed to reading people's expressions, he had long possessed a talent for discerning character. Despite the old man's somewhat unattractive appearance, he was truly a good person

However, he is just a nine-year-old child. The mountain path is inherently difficult to traverse, and now he has someone on his back. Although Xiang is thin, the weight he carries is at least several dozen pounds. He gritted his teeth and walked for half a day until nightfall before he could rest, but now he lies on the ground, not wanting to move at all

Xiang Xian took a sip, yet felt nothing unusual, and couldn't help but glance at his master with a sense of pride. Just as he was about to reach for the small bowl in front of him for another sip, unexpectedly, before his fingers even touched the bowl, a sudden warmth enveloped him, followed by a wave of scorching heat, as if he were being boiled in hot water.

Indeed, it wasn't long before a warm sensation rose within, spreading throughout my entire body. That feeling was incredibly pleasant, as if I were soaking in warm water. Even the fatigue from the days of trekking through mountains and rivers seemed to lessen, and the pain in my feet was not as intense.

He could not help but feel overjoyed, looking up at Liu Gu. Seeing that he did not stop him, he took another sip. Before long, the feeling of comfort intensified even further, making him feel somewhat ethereal.

At this moment, Liu Gu also ignored them, pushed open the bamboo door on the fence that was about to fall off, and strode over, shouting from a distance: "Great! What day is it today? How dare you slaughter livestock without permission!"

That night, the dinner for Xiang Yang and another person consisted of half a bowl of pig's blood in a small bowl, which Liu Gu referred to as Eight Treasure Soup, and he specifically instructed them to savor it carefully, insisting that they must not drink it all in one gulp

Liu Gu furrowed his brows and glanced at him without saying a word, while Xiang Yang was taken aback, lowered his head, and walked over to Xiang Xian, squatting down.

Liu Gu could see that by then, the little fellow's soles were covered with blisters, having burst one after another. By the time they reached this point, there were hardly any intact patches of skin left. It was truly not easy to persevere through this.

In addition to that bowl of eight-treasure soup, this is also one of the reasons why he suddenly changed his mind and directly accepted Xiang Yang as his disciple. Furthermore, after observing along the way, it is evident that this young fellow's physical fitness far exceeds that of ordinary children his age. He is also half a head taller than his peers and has a very solid build.

Liu Gu looked at his actions and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing, deliberately straightening his face and coughing once: "What? You little rascal, are you afraid that I, as your master, would poison you?"

Looking up at Xiang Yang's terrified expression, I offered a few words of comfort: "It's nothing, just wait a moment and it will be fine. This Eight Treasure Soup is not ordinary pig's blood. Those pigs have been raised on heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and they are not much inferior to demon beasts. The Eight Treasure Soup contains a substantial amount of primordial energy; even an ordinary person can nourish their body with just a small sip. If one drinks too much without having time to digest, they will end up like him."

Xiang first glanced at Liu Gu, then slowly got up from the ground and leaned towards Xiang Yang's back. Before he could secure his position, he felt a blur in front of him as his body was lifted up, swaying unsteadily as he was carried forward. It was Liu Gu who had grabbed the belt around his waist and lifted him up.

... ...

Seeing the two children behind Liu Gu, the elderly man's tone while speaking seemed as if he had encountered something strange, but he quickly lost interest and turned back to watch the strong man slaughtering the pig, as if the pig's allure was far greater than that of Xiang Yang and the other child

His thoughts are quite similar to Xiang Xian's. Although the immortal master scolded Xiang Xian yesterday, he certainly does not want to truly drive him away. It is better for him to be more perceptive and not to put the kind-hearted immortal master in a difficult position.

However, when Liu Gu took out a jade pendant, the green mist in front of him rolled back and dissipated, and this doubt vanished without a trace.

He had long inquired about the ages of the two children and knew that they were both only nine years old, with Xiang Yang being even six months younger. However, this boy was extremely composed in nature and was also hardworking and resilient. Throughout this long journey, even if Xiang had played tricks and made him carry the load, he had not uttered a single word of complaint.

As he walked along the way, he felt that the master he was following seemed rather unreliable. Upon arriving at the destination, he discovered a scene that was far from the grand spectacle of the immortal sect he had envisioned, leaving him somewhat displeased and, at that moment, his words carried a hint of impatience.

Xiang Yang did not hear this remark; how could he know that because of a bowl of pig's blood, his status inexplicably changed from a servant to a disciple

At the age of nine, Xiang Yang's thoughts were very simple; if you were good to me, then you were a good person

Now he truly cannot move anymore, and it is not as if he is deliberately being difficult. It will be interesting to see how this master will handle the situation; it can be considered a small test.

... ...

On one side of the valley, there is a large pigpen, where dozens of plump, white pigs are lazily lying around

This afternoon, he managed to get three large bowls all to himself, and he is eager to see where this little fellow's limits lie

Xiang Yang silently got up from the ground, and his forehead happened to hit a dry branch, leaving a cut about the length of a little finger, and soon his face was covered in blood

He is actually just talking nonsense. What heavenly materials and earthly treasures are there in this Golden Body Hall? What these pigs are eating are merely common herbs like astragalus and ginseng, only with a longer age and abundant vitality. Moreover, when raising those fat pigs, some secret methods were used to concentrate most of the efficacy of the herbs into their blood, which is how this Eight Treasure Soup came to be

If we do not consider the immortal seedlings, then this Yang is indeed more suitable for the Golden Body Hall

In the depths of the valley, there is a pond blooming with lotus flowers. In the pond, a group of white geese swims back and forth, occasionally bending their necks to peck at the water, and a silvery little fish is caught and swallowed. Sated from their meal, they occasionally raise their necks to sing a few notes.

With a startled cry, Xiang first flipped out from above his head, landing headfirst into the thick layer of fallen leaves. After a while, he finally pulled his head out of the mud beneath the leaves, wiped the black mud off his face, and began to curse in a fit of rage.

After all, this is no longer that era! Without a celestial seed, one cannot cultivate vital energy; without vital energy, one cannot utilize talismans, magical tools, or spells. Even if one possesses a top-tier gold-type celestial embryo and can cultivate the Golden Body Technique to its peak, what use is it?

Liu Gu did not stop him, merely squinting his eyes as he watched, hoping that after experiencing some hardship, he would learn a lesson

Liu Gu stood by, dumbfounded. Although this Eight Treasure Porridge could not be considered a delicacy, it was a substantial supplement for these ordinary youths. He estimated that it would be quite impressive if Xiang Yang could finish half a bowl within an hour, indicating that this young man had an exceptionally good constitution. In the future, when practicing the Golden Body Technique, he would achieve twice the result with half the effort. But how much time had passed? ... If calculated by the burning of an incense stick, only the tip of the stick had been consumed...

Aren't all immortals capable of flying? But why does this immortal master choose to lead them on foot?

After five days and five nights of travel, he has gained some understanding of the two children he brought back. Although Xiang Miao shows some potential, his frivolous behavior and lack of determination are likely to limit his future achievements. In contrast, it is Xiang Yang whose performance over the past few days has greatly astonished him

Xiang Yang looked gratefully at Liu Gu's back. The little Xiang, who was in front and behind, raised his head from Liu Gu's waist and made a face, with both thumbs pointing down, gesturing triumphantly.

Nevertheless, this immortal is a good person! First, he took me in as a servant, and when I injured myself, he applied something warm to my forehead, which alleviated the pain of the wound significantly, and he even scolded that person first.

Xiang Yang rubbed his eyes vigorously, wondering if he had come to the wrong place

Liu Gu, feeling quite pleased with himself, stroked his beard and said: "They cannot drink it, but isn't it because I, their master, am here? The rules of the hall clearly state, 'This hall's disciples shall not be treated differently, all shall be treated equally.' What the disciples obtain, their master may share!"

At first, Xiang was somewhat puzzled; how could this immortal be willing to sit in his small boat, which was filled with the smell of fish, instead of soaring away like the legends say, with a wave of his large sleeves, riding the clouds?

Could it be that this fellow is a freak