Chapter 1: The Crown Prince Arrives!
In the vast land of China, under the Nine Immortals Mountain, there was a small village called Zhangjiacun. The village had several hundred households, most of whom shared the surname Zhang. Among them was a wealthy family, whose head was named Zhang Bainian. The Zhangs owned a thousand acres of fertile land and were known for their kindness and generosity, often helping those in need. They were renowned as great philanthropists far and wide. It is said that good deeds will be rewarded, but the Zhang family seemed to have been cursed. Zhang Bainian and his wife were approaching middle age, having given birth to seven children, all of whom were daughters, not a single son among them. Although the family was happy and content, they always felt like something was missing.
The Chinese people value filial piety, but there are three types of unfilial behavior, and having no descendants is the most serious. Although daughters can also be considered as heirs, without a son to carry on the family line, after a hundred years this branch of the Zhang family will lose its legacy, how can one not worry?
At this moment, Zhang Jia's master Zhang Bai was sweating profusely, pacing anxiously outside the door, while dozens of villagers were comforting him. It turned out that Zhang and his wife were approaching forty years old, and after more than a decade of infertility, Mrs. Zhang had become pregnant again, and now she was at the moment of giving birth.
Zhang Bainian's face was stern, no longer with the usual majestic and dignified demeanor. He listened to his wife's painful cries in the room with an uncertain expression. An old man with white hair kept advising: "Bainian, don't be anxious, Ya'er is a lucky person, she will definitely be safe and sound!"
"Father-in-law, you're not unaware that Yao'er is already thirty-six and has given birth seven times. Even the Taoist priest Guangchengzi from the mountain said that this pregnancy of Yao'er's will be difficult to carry to term!" Zhang Bainian looked at his father-in-law, Wang Bingxian, the village chief of Wangjia Village in the neighboring village, with worry and distress.
Wang Lao heard this and knew that his son-in-law was not exaggerating, so he sighed: "I said earlier that we should send someone to the mountain to invite a few Taoist priests, but you said there was still a month's time and didn't want to disturb the priests' quiet cultivation too early. Now that Yao'er has given birth prematurely, what can we do in this urgent situation?"
Zhang Bainian was ashamed of being scolded by his father-in-law, but he couldn't think of a way out and could only pray to heaven for protection.
Suddenly, golden light overflowed from the top of Jiuxian Mountain, a hundred phoenixes sang in unison, and waves of exotic fragrance spread out from the mountain top. In an instant, within a thousand miles around Mount Cangyan, hundreds of flowers bloomed together, competing in beauty and splendor.
The people in Zhang's mansion were also shocked by the strange phenomenon, and for a moment they were stunned.
Soon, a nine-clawed divine dragon's shadow flew in from the sky, surrounded by endless purple air, and it was precious beyond words. The divine dragon looked down at the sky, finally fixing its divine eyes on the Zhang residence, let out a dragon's roar, and then fell straight into the delivery room, followed by a loud cry. Zhang Bainian and Wang Lao Tou were overjoyed to tears.
A little maid stumbled out and said to the delighted crowd: "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! The lady has given birth to a young master."
The crowd waiting outside the gate heard this and burst into another round of cheers, the entire Zhang estate was filled with joy as if it were a holiday.
Zhang Bainian was so excited that he rushed into the delivery room in one step, and the maid behind him couldn't stop him, but could only call out to her master while following him into the house.
At this moment, everyone in the delivery room was busy cleaning up the messy room. A midwife held a clean baby and cooed softly to comfort him. On the bed, a beautiful woman looked exhausted, but the joy between her eyebrows could not be suppressed.
As she saw her husband approaching, the woman gave him a happy smile, and for a moment, the peony flowers bloomed, shining brightly.
The midwife brought her own son over, and even though Zhang Bainian had already been a father seven times, when he saw his son sleeping peacefully with his eyes closed, he was momentarily at a loss for what to do. The woman let out a faint smile, struggled to sit up, took the child from him, and looked at her husband's rough hands as they were about to touch their son. She scolded him, opening his large hands: "Go away, our son just gave birth, your big rough hands will hurt him."
"Yes, yes, madam is absolutely right, I'm so sorry to trouble you, haha" Zhang Bainian smiled foolishly, guessing that as a middle-aged man who has just had a son, he now thinks whatever his wife says is the ultimate truth.
At this moment, the baby lying in the woman's arms was not calm at all. Listening to the conversation between the two people who seemed to be his father and mother, as well as his own tiny arms and legs, he knew very clearly that he had been reborn!
It turned out that this guy was an unemployed youth in the 21st century, named Zhang Xiaolong. He inadvertently obtained an ancient fan with a painting of three hundred and sixty-five stars on one side, and a single star surrounded by purple gas on the other. The vendor said that this ancient fan was the personal item of the Purple Emperor of the Heavenly Bed, and the star surrounded by purple gas was the core star of the countless stars in the sky - the Purple Microstar.
As for the merchant's words, Zhang Xiaolong would not believe them, but seeing that the fan was exquisitely crafted and had a pleasing style, Zhang Xiaolong impulsively took out his only 1,000 taels of silver and bought this "antique".
After returning home, he eagerly took it out to play with, but unexpectedly lost consciousness during this playtime. When he woke up again, he had transformed into a baby.
"Hey? Husband, look at our child, why is there a purple dragon-shaped mark between his eyebrows, surrounding a folding fan?" The beautiful woman was teasing her son when she suddenly discovered that on her child's forehead, a majestic nine-clawed purple dragon slowly emerged, with a delicate purple folding fan in the middle, adding an elegant touch to its majesty.
Zhang Bainian hesitated for a moment, then said: "Jade Pond, when the child was born just now, a strange phenomenon occurred in heaven, and a nine-clawed divine dragon's shadow fell into the delivery room. I'm afraid this child is destined for greatness!"
Just as the couple was guessing which great god had sent down their child, a loud and ethereal voice came over: "Boundless Heavenly Lord, I am Guang Chengzi of the Nine Immortals Mountain, paying my respects."
A maid rushed in hastily: "Master and mistress, a Taoist priest claiming to be Guang Chengzi of the Nine Immortals' Mountain is seeking an audience outside."
Zhang Bainian was startled by the words, "Yaochi, you rest first, I'll go out to welcome the noble guest." It turned out that Guang Chengzi had a good reputation in the Jiuxian Mountain area and was also a disciple of the Yuqing Original Heavenly Venerable of Kunlun Mountain. Zhang Bainian didn't dare to be slow, so he let his wife rest first and went out to welcome him after adjusting his clothes.
Waiting for Zhang Ba to go out, he saw a Taoist sitting on the back of a crane, with an extraordinary air. It was that: Thick eyebrows stood upright, words like frost, heard injustice and put down his cup, relied on his sword to go thousands of miles away from guests, one watch separated me and one watch returned, thick eyebrows fought against evil spirits, ten thousand miles soared into the sky in one leap, with a three-foot sword on his back, showing heaven's eyes to unjust people.
"I didn't know Master Guangchengzi was arriving, I, Zhang Bainian, pay my respects." He hastily bowed to Guangchengzi and invited him in.
Guang Chengzi smiled slightly, with an air of a celestial family that was naturally extraordinary.
"Master Zhang, no need to be too polite. I have come under the orders of my master, Yuanshi Tianzun, to take your son Lin'er to Mount Kunlun. Master Zhang, do not worry, when I came, my master said that your son Lin'er was born with an unusual aura, his talent is extraordinary, and he has a predestined relationship with my master."
Zhang Bainian was overjoyed when he heard this. Who is the Original Heavenly Venerable? He is one of the Three Pure Ones, the primordial god, Pangu's original spirit divided into three parts, and also a direct disciple of Hongjun, the ancestor of Taoism. He is one of the six saints of the Primordial Chaos. How noble is he! The Original Heavenly Venerable values loyalty when accepting disciples. Since the beginning of time, only a few ancestors of some ethnic groups and some pre-heavenly loyal followers have entered the Xuan teachings, namely those twelve Golden Immortals. His own son being favored by the Original Heavenly Venerable is what an honor!
But with it came a pang of sorrow, although the son was valued by the Original Heavenly Lord, but once this child left, cultivators do not remember years, and perhaps in their lifetime they would never meet again.
Guang Chengzi saw Zhang Bai's initial joy, but then extreme bitterness. With a thought, he understood. "You don't have to worry, my master had already thought of this before I came. He has given you 100 Golden Jade Dew Immortal Pills, which can extend your and your family's lifespan by 10,000 years. There will be a time when you reunite with your child."
Zhang Bainian finally put his mind at ease, ordering someone to carry Zhang Zilong out. Zhang Zilong had already heard the conversation between the two clearly from inside the house, and in his heart he was shocked and amazed!
"Wipe, unexpectedly the young master has crossed over to the Desolate Era! That Primordial Heavenly Sovereign actually wants to take me as a disciple, what a huge profit! Although in mythology the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign was criticized for allying with outsiders to bully his own younger brother, so what? The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign is famous for being protective of his younger sibling, it can be said that among all the saints in the Desolate Era, being a disciple of the Yuan Shi Heavenly Sovereign is the most fortunate."
Guang Chengzi saw the Zhang family take Zhang Zilong out, constrained by his master's orders, he didn't dare to linger. Amidst the tears of Zhang Bainiu and his wife, he bid farewell to everyone, and with a flash of his body, he disappeared into the village of the Zhang family.
Although Zhang Xiaolong felt the attachment of his parents in this life, especially his mother, he had to bid farewell to his beautiful mother after only a few sips of her milk. He also heard that he had seven sisters he hadn't met yet, which made him feel sad. However, knowing that he was reborn in the Honghuang world, where fists were the truth, and without strength, happiness couldn't be protected, Zhang Xiaolong calmed his mind and secretly prayed for his parents and sisters to be safe and sound. He vowed to master his skills and protect his family completely once he had achieved it.
Guang Chengzi had already obtained the position of Golden Immortal, and with the protection of the Jade Clear Immortal Law, he was able to reach the Primordial Heavenly Lord's Dao field in no time. As for Kunlun Mountain, it was vast and boundless, with a circumference of unknown size, its misty peaks stretching endlessly into the distance. The main peak, Kunlun Xu, was surrounded by a halo of spiritual energy, with five-colored clouds and pre-heavenly spiritual objects visible everywhere, while various rare birds and exotic beasts flew about, making it a truly sacred place for immortals.
Embracing Zhang Xiaolong, Guang Chengzi quickly walked up to the main peak of Kunlun, where saints cultivate their Tao. However, he didn't dare to fly.
Zhang Xiaolong breathed in the spiritual energy of Mount Kunlun, his pores relaxing, feeling an unspeakable comfort and tranquility. When he came to again, he was no longer in Guang Chengzi's arms, but instead found himself looking up at a majestic middle-aged man wearing a cyan Daoist robe that seemed to move without wind. At first glance, there was nothing extraordinary about him, but as Zhang Xiaolong looked closer, he discovered that the middle-aged man seemed as vast and boundless as the sky and earth itself, and gazing at him for too long would even stir one's soul. The middle-aged Daoist sat on a wind-and-fire cushion, with a pair of golden boys and jade maidens standing on either side of him, one holding a three-treasured jade scepter, the other grasping a dust-sweeping broom.
I know this is the original Heavenly Venerable, wow, I'm actually being held by a saint! My eyes rolled around, remembering that I heard before that a predecessor who crossed over had grabbed the saint's beard, so shouldn't I try it too?
Here is the translation:
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaolong couldn't help but stretch out his chubby little hand and grab the Original Heavenly Venerable's chest-length blue beard. The Original Heavenly Venerable was taken aback at first, then burst into loud laughter. In countless years, no one had ever dared to touch his beard like that. A warm current flowed through the saint's heart, and his originally calm heart was moved by this little boy. The Original Heavenly Venerable had only wanted to take Zhang Xiaolong as a disciple because of his extraordinary natural talent and good character, just like the other twelve Golden Immortals. But now he couldn't contain his joy, and the more he looked at Zhang Xiaolong, the more he liked him.
"Haha, good disciple, wait for me to take a look at your qualifications and pass on my Yuqing robe!" The Primordial Heavenly Lord was arrogant and strict in accepting disciples. He looked down on the demonic tribes born from eggs and moisture, but the pre-heavenly gods were all extraordinary and mostly guests of the Purple Mansion. Except for the thick-skinned Fu Dengzi, no one had entered his Yuqing Gate. Humans inherited the heavenly and earthly aura to give birth, which was the pre-heavenly Dao body, and they were the most favored by the Primordial Heavenly Lord. His own disciples, although their qualifications were extraordinary and they were also pre-heavenly Dao bodies, ultimately did not have enough time to cultivate and were not as talented as Laozi's disciple, Xuandu. As a result, among the Three Purities, Laozi had Xuandu inherit his mantle, while Tongtian sat below with many disciples who were demonic tribes, but also included some excellent talents like Duobao and Zhao Gongming, who had cultivated for a long time. Only he, the Primordial Heavenly Lord, did not have any outstanding figures under him, which made it unbearable for this proud and arrogant person?
Yuansheng Tianzun was constantly groping on Zhang Xiaolong's small body board, his face first gradually delighted, but slowly also revealed a hint of solemnity and doubt. Zhang Xiaolong stared at Yuansheng Tianzun with a shocking heart, wondering if his identity as an outsider had been discovered? Wouldn't he be doomed to death under the eyes of the Holy One?
Actually, Zhang Xiaolong was overthinking, at this moment the heaven and earth had opened, Hong Jun merged with the Tao, the heavenly way was perfect, since he was allowed to be born, his identity was recognized, even the saints couldn't detect that he was a black household, the Primitive Heavenly Venerable's concern was actually another matter, silently speechless for half a moment, the Primitive Heavenly Venerable's eyes kept flashing with the fate of the Long River.
After a long time, the Heavenly Emperor seemed to have discovered something, with a hint of understanding and joy in his eyes. "Haha, I didn't expect it! The Master actually had such plans. Alas, Huang Tian and Yao Chi served the Master for countless years, but they also deserved the position of Heavenly Emperor. However, the Master let them reincarnate through the ages, perfecting their virtues. If not for the aura of the primordial jade stone in this child's body, even we saints would have found it hard to detect!" Moreover, this disciple's body was accompanied by a congenital spiritual treasure, a purple starry fan, with an extraordinary noble fate, secretly matching the current demon clan's control over the Zhou Tian Star Emperor, Zi Wei Xing. Furthermore, there was also a divine dragon aura covering him, making his future achievements immeasurable.
Zhang Xiaolong was stunned as he listened to his master's muttering, and when he combined it with what he had seen and heard at home, plus the legends of later generations, he exclaimed: "Heavens! My old man is actually the future Emperor of Heaven, and my mother is the Golden Mother of the Jade Pool! And my seven sisters are none other than the Seven Fairy Sisters who will be embroiled in scandals in later generations!! This is too much to handle! Doesn't that make me the crown prince of the future?! More legitimate than those Dragon Princes of the East Sea, or Nezha's Three Princes!"
Yuanshu Tianzun didn't know what kind of thoughts were in the mind of the little boy in his arms, but he had already begun to make another plan and looked more important to this little apprentice.
"From now on, I confer upon you the name Zhang Zilong, with the Daoist title Yulóngzǐ, as my personally transmitted disciple." The voice of Yuánshì Tiānzhūn resounded through the void, yet it did not feel harsh to anyone. At this moment, all the disciples of Xuānjiao knew that their leader had another personally transmitted disciple!
