Chapter 34: Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi

"Ah, is this Wanshou Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple?"

Wang Liang was taken aback, never expecting he had almost missed his destination.

"Indeed, this is Wanshou Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple. May I ask your esteemed name, Daoist brother?"

"I am the versatile Wan Jilong, sent here by... by Xiaoqing."

The name "the versatile Wan Jilong" failed to draw any particular attention from Qingfeng and Mingyue, but the name Xiaoqing struck them as rather eccentric.

"Xiaoqing?"

"What kind of name is that?"

"No help for it, that's just how my master is. He has two boy attendants, one called Xiaojin and the other Xiaoyin." Wang Liang smiled with a helpless shrug.

At this, Mingyue turned his head to look at Qingfeng. "Qingfeng, I suddenly feel our names aren't so bad after all."

"Right, much better than Xiaofeng and Xiaoyue."

"Or perhaps Xiaoqing and Xiaoming."

Crying face~!

Wang Liang hardly knew what to make of their sudden concern.

However, for Qingfeng and Mingyue, the situation was quite straightforward. Wang Liang had been introduced by an acquaintance, so there was no problem at all. Besides, the ginseng fruit belonged to their master; whether he chose to give it away was entirely his own affair.

With that settled, the two disciples resumed eating with complete peace of mind.

Seeing this, Wang Liang said nothing more. He continued roasting his rabbit meat and ate alongside them.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qingfeng and Mingyue, chatting and laughing, led Wang Liang back to the main path they had strayed from earlier.

Following the mountain trail upward, Mingyue chattered all the way, introducing the background of the Great Immortal Zhenyuan to Wang Liang.

"Our master is the Patriarch of Earth Immortals. The Three Pure Ones are his friends, the Four Emperors are his old acquaintances, the Nine Luminaries are his juniors, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions are his guests. Consequently, no one dares to act presumptuously around here."

Wang Liang merely listened to Mingyue's tall tales without the slightest change in expression.

Having recovered a portion of his memories, he knew his own origins were by no means ordinary. In particular, what Xiaoqing had told him made him realize he still had a formidable backing, so there was no need for him to lower his head over such matters.

Consequently, Wang Liang's expression grew increasingly composed.

This placid expression, however, produced a completely different impression on Qingfeng and Mingyue.

Having lived together for over a thousand years, the two of them were practically of one mind. Without uttering a word, each knew precisely what the other was thinking.

*Looks like someone with a massive background!*

*Not only is he crowned with purple Qi, but he also cultivates the path of the Taiqing. He must be someone close to the Lord of Taiqing.*

*Watch your tongue later, don't overdo the boasting.*

*Understood!*

Wang Liang naturally noticed their furtive glances, though he could not guess what they were imagining.

Just then, they arrived at the grand entrance of Wuzhuang Temple.

Upon reaching the spot, Wang Liang paused in surprise. Viewed from the foot of the mountain, the Daoist temple had appeared somewhat obscure, nestled among dense foliage, making it hard to tell whether it was a Buddhist monastery or a Daoist sanctuary.

Only upon drawing closer did Wang Liang realize how extraordinary the temple gate truly was.

The gate was towering and majestic, exuding an imposing aura. Before it wound a path through pine-covered slopes and bamboo groves, where immortal cranes and white gibbons roamed freely. Looking upward along the stone steps, tier upon tier of pavilions and palaces emerged through shifting mists; as the mountain breeze swept past, the scenery transformed instantaneously.

To the left of the mountain gate stood a stone tablet inscribed with ten large characters: "Blessed Land of Wanshou Mountain, Grotto Heaven of Wuzhuang Temple."

Only now was Wang Liang certain he had found the right place.

Following Qingfeng and Mingyue inward for about two li, they reached the second gate.

This second gate differed somewhat from the outer entrance. By now, they were deep within the mountains, where the surrounding sunlight was filtered entirely by the tree canopy, and the gentle mountain breeze brought a refreshing chill.

Inscribed upon the second gate were the couplet: 'Immortal dwelling of longevity, abode of those who share the age of heaven.'

Reading these antithetical couplets, Wang Liang gained an even deeper appreciation of Great Immortal Zhenyuan's formidable power.

Beyond the second gate lay the main hall, a five-bay structure facing south. Its doors featured carved panels, intricate at the top and solid at the bottom. As he pushed the doors open, Wang Liang involuntarily let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

Inside the grand hall, the altar was dedicated solely to two characters: 'Heaven and Earth'.

At that moment, Mingyue chimed in proudly, "Our master worships only Heaven and Earth. That is because if he worshipped peers, he would have to return the gesture, and if he worshipped juniors, they could not bear the weight of it."

Wang Liang paid no heed to Mingyue's smug demeanor; his exclamation was entirely due to the fact that he recognized those two characters.

Indeed, the characters 'Heaven and Earth' inscribed on the currency within the game were identical to the ones before him.

This realization left Wang Liang somewhat speechless. Could it be that all the currency in the entire game originated from this very place?

Was this not a Daoist temple at all, but the minting grounds for the entire game world?

Before Wang Liang could sort his thoughts, a voice echoed in his ear.

"I wondered who it might be, and so it turns out to be this matter. Young man, come over and take a seat."

Following the direction of the voice, Wang Liang saw a Daoist priest materialize beneath the Heaven and Earth banner.

The priest wore a purple-gold crown on his head, a carefree crane-feather cloak over his shoulders, straw sandals on his feet, and a silken sash around his waist. Though he possessed the youthful countenance of a child, three long wisps of beard graced his chin, giving him an air of transcendent grace and otherworldly refinement.

He looked toward Wang Liang with a smile, clearly having seen right through every detail of his existence.

"I am already aware of your purpose here. Originally, for the sake of our Daoist brother, I ought to have handed the ginseng fruit directly to you. However, you snuck in improperly and have stirred up considerable trouble; my Wuzhuang Temple is scarcely able to shield you from the fallout. Therefore, I shall grant you ten days. If you can complete three tasks for me within these ten days, I will reward you with a ginseng fruit. If you fail, I must express my regrets. I will still award you the ginseng fruit, but rather than handing it to you directly, I will deliver it to our Daoist brother. Once you have attained immortality and entered the Dao, he will pass it on to you, fulfilling our destined affinity. What say you?"

Hearing Great Immortal Zhenyuan put it this way, Wang Liang finally understood.

Because he had stirred up so much chaos within the game, he had likely triggered unforeseen complications. Consequently, the ginseng fruit that should have been easily obtained was no longer readily accessible; he was now required to complete three tasks within ten days.

If he succeeded, the fruit was his; if he failed, the fruit would be sent to the Grand Supreme Elder, waiting until he reached level sixty to claim it.

Wang Liang had no objections to this condition, well aware that his previous actions had been somewhat reckless.

He nodded earnestly and replied, "Please give your instructions, Immortal."

"Very well, I shall not set tasks overly difficult for you. Since you desire a ginseng fruit, let us begin with the ginseng fruit tree itself. The ground around my tree has long gone un-tilled and is choked with weeds. Go and help me clear the weeds. Be warned that the soil beneath my tree is exceptionally hard, so you need not rely on any hoes or magical treasures. Pull them up honestly with your bare hands, and whenever you finish clearing away the weeds, come find me again."