Li Shi'an looked at He Xiaoyao and said, "Xiaoyao is the one with grand ambitions after all. Our ambitions were set on the vast earth, and we thought we were already quite something. Who would have thought Xiaoyao's ambition is up in the sky? There's simply no comparing. I am impressed, truly impressed, simply amazing."
He Xiaoyao said with astonishment, "Ah, how did you turn into this, Brother Shi'an? Everything you just said were lines I usually use. How did they become yours now? Don't you dare say I corrupted you; you're older than me, so if anyone corrupted anyone, it's you corrupting me."
Li Shi'an said, "Ah, let's skip all that. Now that you're leaving, I'll have one less person to argue with, and there will be one less source of joy. Looks like I'll have to ask Master to recruit another handyman—preferably a female handyman, and even better if she's a pretty female handyman. By the way, Xiaoyao, what are your plans? After you get to the Immortal Mountain, how do you plan to transform from a handyman into a cultivation master? I know you, kid—though you don't say much on the outside, you always have plenty of schemes and plans in your heart, even though I'd rather not describe you as full of craftiness."
Ye Tangshi said, "Xiaoyao is a thoughtful person. Calling him full of craftiness is a bit of an exaggeration. He simply thinks more than others, looks a step ahead, thinks deeper, and considers things more thoroughly. But he only ever schemes for his own sake. When it comes to others, he follows the rules and never uses his own schemes to plot against anyone."
Li Shi'an said, "He might not plot against others, but he is capable of scheming. That's just because people haven't offended him yet. Imagine if one day someone really offended him hard—how could someone as calculating as him not scheme against his enemy?"
He Xiaoyao said, "It seems you never offend me and are always so nice to me on the surface precisely because you're worried I'll scheme against you. When people treat me badly, I always endure it. I have an easy-going and low-profile personality. Of course, if I run into a massive scoundrel, isn't it only right to scheme against them a little? Don't you agree, Teacher?"
Ye Tangshi said, "Naturally. Our conduct is unconventional and unconstrained; as long as our actions rest easy with heaven, earth, and our own conscience, that is enough."
He Xiaoyao said, "Teacher, once I get up to the Immortal Mountain, if it doesn't break the rules, I'll secure a few immortal herbs and send them down for you all to eat. It will prolong your lives so you can all live for several hundred years."
Master's wife Chen Qingshuang said, "Good, good, good. We'll just wait for your immortal herbs."
Of course, they were just joking. Immortal herbs weren't something you could just have at will or easily bring back down, and whether He Xiaoyao would even be able to return was a question in itself.
Little did they know that one day, He Xiaoyao would indeed return holding immortal herbs. But that is a story for later and need not be told here.
They chatted far into the night.
After returning home, He Xiaoyao continued to draw well water, boil it, soak his body, and practice his cultivation. Today he had received another portion of spiritual qi from the Jade Talisman, and his power had grown just a little bit more.
Moreover, he had newly unblocked his third meridian and needed to get used to it as quickly as possible. However, there was no need to rush today; he only practiced with three buckets of water before going to rest.
He wasn't some kind of cultivation maniac; it was simply that his time had previously been limited, forcing him to push himself with all his might. Given the chance to rest, who wouldn't want to?
Waking up the next morning, He Xiaoyao simply packed his luggage. Actually, there wasn't much to bring; his own clothes probably couldn't be worn anymore once he reached the Immortal Mountain, and he didn't have many daily necessities anyway.
He went out to the clinic's vegetable patch and medicine garden to harvest some seeds, wondering if these vegetable and medicinal seeds could be grown once they reached the Immortal Mountain. Who knows, perhaps mortal medicinal herbs planted within the Immortal Mountain could absorb a certain amount of immortal qi and transform into immortal and spiritual medicines.
Around noon, Li Shi'an came over to call He Xiaoyao to the clinic.
Ye Tangshi took out two books and a small box, handed them to He Xiaoyao, and said, "Xiaoyao, I don't have anything good to give you, and I reckon those clothes of yours won't be of much use once you reach the Immortal Mountain. I'll give you a copy of *Compendium of Meridians* and a copy of *Zhu You Techniques*. Also, this box of small silver needles is easy and convenient to carry around, ready to be taken out and used at any time. Your acupuncture skills are exceptional, and I hope that even when you reach the Immortal Mountain, in situations where they can be useful, you will try not to forget what you've learned over the years and put your knowledge to practical use. Of course, since it's full of immortals up there, you might not necessarily need these anymore—perhaps a single wave of spellcasting can bring the dead back to life, making mortal medicine unnecessary."
He Xiaoyao received the three items with both hands and expressed his thanks. Turning back to Li Shi'an, he said, "Brother Shi'an, I leave Teacher and Master's wife in your care."
Li Shi'an nodded in agreement and said nothing more.
Not long after the four of them finished their meal, people from the Zhudi Mountain Sect flew over on spiritual birds and landed in the open space in front of the village to pick them up.
Zhang Tianming helped He Xiaoyao up onto a white spiritual crane. Qin Yueling brought He Xiaochuan along and also boarded another white spiritual crane. Meng Daoran rode a Vermilion Bird and led the two white cranes as they flew toward Zhudi Mountain. He Xiaoyao turned back and waved.
In less than a quarter of an hour, they had arrived at the sacred rock of the Zhudi Mountain Sect.
He Xiaoyao had been to this large flat rock before when he went up the mountain to gather herbs with Ye Tangshi, but back then there were no immortals and no entrance to be found. There was only a wide boulder surrounded by swirling mists.
At this moment, Meng Daoran produced a golden bell and gave it a soft shake, making a *ying-ying-ying* sound. He called out, "Fort Master Zhao, apologies for the trouble, please open the mountain gate."
In an instant, a grand gate materialized upon the rock face. The group and the spiritual birds entered, and Meng Daoran cupped his fists toward the side in thanks before entering the mountain gate as well.
Inside the mountain gate, a whole other world unfolded.
Immortal qi drifted through the air, greenery flourished, and ancient rocks gleamed. The scenery was carved with divine artistry and crafted by nature, completely different from the mortal realm.
The spiritual birds flew at lightning speed, and the scenery on both sides flashed backward like a blur. Before long, they arrived at a large valley filled with numerous houses.
He Xiaoyao thought to himself, *I've finally arrived! My exciting and majestic life is about to begin!* A wave of excitement surged through him. Everything felt fresh, and he craned his neck to look around everywhere, just like a country bumpkin entering a bustling metropolis.
After disembarking from the spiritual birds, the group proceeded on foot.
He Xiaochuan followed Zhang Tianming to the Public Academy, while Qin Yueling took He Xiaoyao to the Mingyue Pavilion.
The name Mingyue Pavilion sounded quite pleasant, but it was actually the administrative office for handymen. And Qin Yueling, serving as the director of the Mingyue Pavilion, was essentially the grand housekeeper for the logistical handymen.
Qin Yueling led He Xiaoyao before a middle-aged man—at least, he appeared to be middle-aged. Later, He Xiaoyao learned that this person named Yu Dongxi was already a hundred years old; however, calculated against a lifespan of two hundred years, calling him middle-aged was fair enough. By that same logic, fifteen-year-old He Xiaoyao was mere child, equivalent to a seven- or eight-year-old.
Qin Yueling said to He Xiaoyao, "From now on, you will take your instructions from Little Yu."
Yu Dongxi led He Xiaoyao to a dwelling, took out two sets of light grey clothes, and said, "These are your clothes. Take them for now, and later I'll take you to your living quarters. For now, I'll lead you to the cafeteria to get something to eat."
The cafeteria was enormous, filled with densely packed tables and chairs.
Yu Dongxi brought back a tray of rice and a large plate of dishes. The dish actually contained venison!
He Xiaoyao asked, "Uncle Yu, do you guys have meals this good every day? You even have venison!"
Yu Dongxi said, "Haha, this is just ordinary fare. Although we can't eat dishes like this every day, we do get them often. This meal doesn't cost anything; it's provided to you for free. Normally, our Immortal Mountain also provides free room and board. It's just that if you want to eat venison, you'll have to pay out of your own pocket to order extra dishes."
Though he heard he would have to pay out of pocket for extra dishes, eating venison, rabbit meat, and other delicious game dishes from the Immortal Mountain sounded wonderful—his mouth was practically watering onto the ground. If he kept eating like this, He Xiaoyao's slightly chubby little physique might turn into a big, pot-bellied, round-bellied fatso. By then, he wouldn't be called He Xiaoyao anymore, but He Round Ball.
He Xiaoyao couldn't help but be filled with longing and yearning for his upcoming life. The Immortal Mountain certainly lived up to its name; even a handyman had such great meals! If he had to pay for extra dishes out of his pocket, then so be it—anyway, the money he earned could only be spent inside the Immortal Mountain. Once he spent it, he'd collect more, and once he collected it, he'd spend it all over again, since keeping it was useless anyway.
After the meal, Yu Dongxi led He Xiaoyao to a rather remote location. They walked for a full quarter of an hour, crossed a lake, and headed northwest.
The Zhudi Mountain Sect was vast and sprawling, hundreds of miles across.
Although the total number of disciples approached a thousand, the place was simply too enormous. Even a newly arrived handyman like He Xiaoyao was assigned an independent, large estate. The estate contained two rooms, a kitchen, and a latrine, and all around the courtyard was a large plot of land measuring fully three mu, which could be used freely.
Yu Dongxi said, "This courtyard is quite large, and it's rather remote here. Walking from here to the Mingyue Pavilion might take about five miles. The courtyard I live in is half the size of yours, but mine is closer—I only have to walk two miles to reach the Mingyue Pavilion. I hope you don't mind. In the future, if a closer place opens up, you can request a transfer."
He Xiaoyao hurriedly said, "Alright, alright. Thank you, thank you."
Inside the house, there was a bed, a wardrobe, a bucket, and a table. All necessary items were fully provided. Even though it was located in a remote area, He Xiaoyao's heart was still bursting with joy. Living in a detached villa all by himself—how could he not be happy? Before coming here, he had expected to live in a collective dormitory with eight or ten people. This truly caught him unawares, exceeding his expectations and filling him with boundless joy.
Yu Dongxi handed He Xiaoyao a large bag containing rice, meat, vegetables, and steamed buns.
Yu Dongxi said, "There is some food here. For the next few days, you can cook for yourself here. Since you've just arrived, you don't need to do any labor for the first three days. Stay at home first and get used to the environment. Once you're adjusted, you can come to the Mingyue Pavilion to find me on the fourth day."
He Xiaoyao happily acknowledged, "Understood."
Yu Dongxi said, "Don't forget the direction and take a wrong turn. This place is quite large; just head southeast and you'll be fine. In the morning, look at the sun to get your bearings."
He Xiaoyao nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
After Yu Dongxi left, He Xiaoyao flopped straight onto the bed. Though it was a hard wooden plank bed, it was quite spacious and comfortable enough to sleep on. This was his foothold in the Immortal Mountain.
He Xiaoyao was completely immersed in joy, but when he woke up from his nap, his whole body felt uncomfortable. It felt as though his chest was stuffy and he couldn't catch his breath, like a fish cast ashore lacking air.
What was going on? He was perfectly fine last night! Despite studying medicine for many years, he couldn't figure out the cause at all. Was it altitude sickness or homesickness?
He Xiaoyao struggled to get up.
Pushing the door open with great effort, he saw that the entire valley was shrouded in a hazy mist of immortal qi.
wisps of clouds drifted right past his head.
He scooped some water from the bucket, drank a few gulps, and lay back on the bed to catch his breath.
After easing up slightly, He Xiaoyao took out a silver needle and gently pricked the Feishu acupoint on his back.
A quarter of an hour later, He Xiaoyao gradually recovered. The uncomfortable feeling vanished by half. It was fortunate that he knew medicine; otherwise, how would he have survived today?
No wonder Yu Dongxi said the first three days were for adaptation and no work was required. In such a physical state, what kind of work could anyone do? He could faint at any moment.
He Xiaoyao sat down again, crossed his legs in meditation, and began circulating his True Qi according to the Zhenxia Mountain One-Yang Technique. After practicing for just half an hour, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth surged toward him in torrents, extremely dense. When he finished practicing, his body felt quite comfortable.
Not bad, not bad—fortunately, he had practiced a bit of kung fu. In an instant, his body recovered to near normal.
He Xiaoyao cooked a meal, and after eating, he began to feel bored. After browsing the *Compendium of Meridians* for a while, his curiosity about the outside grew, so he slowly walked out of the courtyard.
Looking far off to the southeast, there was a large expanse of buildings and dwellings. He didn't dare wander around randomly either, because Yu Dongxi had specifically instructed him not to walk about carelessly. He merely walked in circles around the courtyard perimeter a few times, whereupon his body felt a bit uncomfortable again and he started panting lightly—though not as severely as when he had just woken up in the morning.
He Xiaoyao thought it over, slowed down his physical movements, breathed shallowly and slowly, and secretly circulated the True Qi within his body to flow gently. Gradually, his breathing returned to normal.
This location was situated even further uphill after entering the mountain gate of the Zhudi Mountain Sect. Moreover, seeing the clouds right above his head, he estimated he was currently halfway up in the sky, far from the ground and close to the heavens. This resulted in thin air and obstructed breathing, which was why ordinary people felt unwell during their first three days here. Some even fell seriously ill, and a few simply fainted, feeling as weak and listless as if they had a bad cold, unable to move a muscle.
The reason the Immortal Mountain required handymen to have three unblocked meridians was because only after unblocking three meridians could one possibly support the body, survive, and work long-term within the mountain gate.
However, why didn't they want people with four unblocked meridians?
This was truly puzzling. People with four unblocked meridians couldn't serve as cultivators, nor could they serve as handymen; it was truly awkward. He didn't know why the Immortal Mountain had such a rule.
The speed of cultivation here was lightning-fast, presumably due to the dense spiritual qi of heaven and earth. These few days were clearly suitable for practicing cultivation, rather than doing physical labor like planting medicinal herbs.
Because the moment he moved around, his body felt uncomfortable and his breathing became unsmooth. Conversely, practicing cultivation yielded twice the result with half the effort, and his progress was flying forward.
Having figured this out, He Xiaoyao began practicing like a madman. After two hours of cultivation, he would come out to walk around gently for half an hour, and even while walking, he would silently circulate his inner kung fu with a slow flow of breath.
After all, not walking was out of the question; he needed to adapt to this environment as quickly as possible. He had to avoid failing to adapt when work started three days later—fainting would be troublesome, utterly embarrassing, and a laughingstock to others.
Waking up on the second day, there was still a slight dizziness and heaviness in his head. After practicing cultivation for two hours, he went out for a stroll again. As he strolled, he spotted a small deer standing three zhang ahead, watching him. He Xiaoyao looked back at the deer with interest, feeling as though he were looking at a fragrant piece of roasted meat.
He Xiaoyao suddenly burst into a sprint and chased forward. However, small deer though it was, it ran with extreme agility and could change direction at any moment.
After chasing it for a few rounds, He Xiaoyao tripped with a loud *thud* and ate dirt, his mouth and face covered in mud. When he looked up, the deer was already nowhere to be seen.
As expected, his speed was still a bit lacking.
Back at the foot of the mountain, He Xiaoyao used to go hunting in the hills, and catching wild hares was effortless; he had even caught a small deer once, though that required tools and weapons.
The small deer inside the Zhudi Mountain Sect now breathed immortal qi for long periods, making them even more nimble and lively, and exceedingly difficult to catch.
Having just come up the mountain, He Xiaoyao's breathing was obstructed, and his speed was less than half of what it used to be. By now he was panting heavily, and he quickly circulated his inner energy a little to gradually restore his calm.
Speed was still essential—wondered if the Immortal Mountain had any lightness skills or techniques for soaring through the air?