The little fatty said helplessly, "Don't mention it, I went down the mountain to visit my relatives and got schemed against on my way back."
Zou Wenlong pushed open the main door and walked right in, ignoring Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu as if he had forgotten them.
The Daoist child looked at Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu: "What brings you two here?"
"I'm here to find my father!" Xu Erniu quickly said.
"Your father? Which one in the Daoist Temple is your father? I haven't heard of any senior brother marrying away from the mountain," the Daoist child said, stunned.
"My father's name is Xu Ze. My mother told me he was cultivating on Qingcheng Mountain," Xu Erniu said.
The little Daoist scratched his head upon hearing this and, seeing the dusty appearances of the two, told them, "You wait here. I'll inform someone."
The little Daoist turned and left to report to the Observatory Master. When the Master heard the name Xu Ze, his expression changed, and he told the little Daoist, "Invite them in."
Soon, the little Daoist opened the door and ushered the two in. Inside the Daoist Temple, it was all ancient charm, with faint mist swirling, giving the place a distinct immortal family look.
As they walked, there were disciples tending to flowers and plants and others reciting scriptures under the trees. The temple was bustling with people coming and going.
Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu followed them to a secluded house in the backyard. After the Daoist child reported, the two entered the house and found a young man with white hair but a rosy face meditating on a cushion.
"This is the Observatory Master of Five Villages Temple, Ancestral Master of Longevity," the Daoist child introduced.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu hurriedly knelt down, "Greetings, Master."
The Daoist gave them a glance and asked, "Which of you is Xu Ze's descendant?"
Xu Erniu respectfully said, "I am, Master."
The Daoist stroked his beard, looking Xu Erniu up and down, then gently gestured, "Come forward."
Xu Erniu quickly crawled over, and the Daoist placed his hand on Xu Erniu's head. After a moment, he said, "It seems correct."
Then he turned his gaze to Zhang Chen, "And who are you?"
"I heard there are immortals on Qingcheng Mountain, and I long for immortal techniques, so I came to apprentice," Zhang Chen bowed and said.
Golden light flowed in the Daoist's eyes as he scanned Zhang Chen, then nodded, "Since you could come here, it is fate. First be a Daoist child, and if you can enter the sect in the future, I'll promote you to an entry-level disciple."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen hurriedly bowed, "Thank you, Ancestral Master."
The Ancestral Master of Longevity nodded and instructed the Daoist child beside him, "Red Pill, take him to settle down."
Red Pill, the Daoist child, led Zhang Chen out of the temple and then asked him, "What is your name?"
"I am Zhang Chen," Zhang Chen quickly responded.
"You can call me Red Pill," Red Pill said with a smile, "You're just a Daoist child now and have no Daoist title. Wait until you comprehend the scriptures and enter the sect, then we'll be peers."
Zhang Chen was taken aback when he heard this. Red Pill led him to get robes and then to the dormitory. The dormitory was a large common sleeping area for dozens of people. After Zhang Chen tidied up his belongings, Red Pill said, "Since you've entered the mountain gate, the mountain gate doesn't keep idle people. You have to take on a task—to be a child in the medicine garden, responsible for growing herbs every day."
Zhang Chen agreed.
Red Pill said, "Each disciple of our Five Villages Temple has a duty before entering the sect, and they must not slack for a day. The Ancestral Master teaches at sunrise every day and stops at noon. In the afternoon, all disciples work, while in the evening, they study their lessons. By the way, can you read?"
"I can read," Zhang Chen responded swiftly.
Red Pill nodded, "There is a Library Pavilion in the temple. If you can read, you can freely study the books there..."
Red Pill left after giving a long list of instructions, then led Zhang Chen to familiarize himself with the medicine fields he was responsible for and the Scripture Pavilion and kitchen, where Zhang Chen settled in the temple.
As for the little fatty Zou Wenlong, he disappeared without a trace.
Zhang Chen sat in the dormitory, and in the evening, when other Daoist children returned, they started inquiring and introducing themselves upon seeing Zhang Chen. Thus, Zhang Chen began living in the mountain.
On the first day in the morning,
The Ancestral Master of Longevity taught personally. In the temple, disciples sat in rows on either side of the courtyard, with the Master who was teaching sitting in the middle, speaking of the Dao of the cycles of Heaven and Earth. Zhang Chen listened intently.
The cultivation at Five Villages Temple was different from that in novels, and all disciples came to listen under the Master's tutelage.
After lunch, Zhang Chen went to the medicine fields to manage the herbs, then went to the Library Pavilion in the evening to search for books.
He did not forget that his main purpose for coming to the Five Villages Temple was to find techniques about the fusion of Innate Yin and Yang and Innate Five Elements.
On the second day of lecturing, Zhang Chen saw Xu Erniu. She was now dressed as a female Daoist child, sitting next to the Ancestral Master of Longevity, having been personally taught by the Master.
As for the little fatty Zou Wenlong, he was also sitting among the crowd, listening seriously.
After the lecture, they dispersed. Once Zhang Chen managed his medicine plot, he went to the Library Pavilion to absorb all kinds of knowledge. To understand Five Villages Temple and the world, he decided books were the starting point.
At this time, holding a book called "Ancestral Master's Praise," Zhang Chen was deeply engrossed, and after reading for a long time, he put the book down, pondering aloud, "Eighty thousand years ago, the immortal path opened, and the Ancestral Master of Longevity obtained a Celestial Book, which discussed the Earth Immortal Dao. He then settled on Qingcheng Mountain, establishing the Five Villages Temple's lineage. Thus, Five Villages Temple grew, spreading the teachings across the land."
This was the origin of Five Villages Temple, but the source of the Celestial Book was said to be due to the opening of the Immortal Path.
As Zhang Chen studied the texts, various thoughts flickered within his mind: "I wonder about the unique qualities of the Earth Immortal Dao at Five Villages Temple? Could it be related to the Ancestor of Earth Immortal I've heard of before?"
However, Zhang Chen felt that the Five Villages Temple on Qingcheng Mountain, and the one in Journey to the West, likely only shared the same name, for there were neither Qingfeng and Mingyue, the two Daoist children, nor had any senior brother mentioned the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
"Zhang Chen, I've finally found you," said Xu Erniu, as she approached with a face full of joy.
"You really have good fortune, being beside the Master and receiving personal guidance," Zhang Chen said with a smile.
"Mr. Zhang, you also have good fortune, joining the Immortal Sect and becoming an immortal," Xu Erniu teased Zhang Chen with a grin.
The two chatted for a while, recounting their experiences upon arriving at the temple. Then Xu Erniu complained, "When do you think I'll be able to see my father? The Master said my father is in seclusion and that I'll have to wait until he emerges to meet him."
"Don't worry. Since you're here at the temple, there's no fear of never meeting him," Zhang Chen assured.
Xu Erniu smiled at this reasoning and felt it made sense.
They then parted, each returning to rest in their rooms.
Next, came the repetitive daily routine, planting herbs, listening to teachings, and reading books.
Time slowly passed, and after a month, Zhang Chen had read many books in the Scripture Pavilion, but none contained cultivation techniques, only obscure and profound philosophies.
He wished to trace the Princess but had not heard any of the disciples discussing it.
"I wonder where the Great Freedom Celestial Demon has gone. Since we separated, he has vanished," Zhang Chen thought. "If the Great Freedom Celestial Demon could assist me, I might quickly read through all the books and find a solution."
On this day, the Master was lecturing again, speaking of cultivation methods and the validation of cultivation realms.
Zhang Chen listened to the cultivation techniques and pondered deeply, "These techniques are indeed quite peculiar."
The cultivation techniques of Five Villages Temple required finding an Earth Vein, using it as a foundation to construct a Grotto World, which would not perish, thus granting the cultivator immortality.
"I wonder how these cultivation techniques compare to those of the Five Villages Temple of the Primordial World. But these techniques are not suitable for me!" Zhang Chen mused after the lecture, "I wonder if there are any other techniques at Five Villages Temple."