Chapter 4, Dry Pine Brook, Huoyun Immortal

  The power grid is being renovated, and the entire town has been without electricity for several days. Updates are uncertain, sorry about that!

  But Red Boy had been recuperating in the Emerald Cloud Mountain for more than four months, and his injuries were almost fully recovered. After learning that his precious son was recovering well, Bull Demon King didn't stay there any longer and returned to Accumulated Thunder Mountain half a month ago.

  It was the old child's true immortal who accompanied Hong Haier on outings and excursions after Niu Mo Wang left, occasionally strolling around the human settlements on the outskirts of Xiliang Women's Country, which somewhat displeased Princess Tie Shan. However, Princess Tie Shan loved her son dearly and seeing her own son's joyful expression did not stop him either.

  She didn't know that the Red Boy was a human in his previous life, so he naturally felt at ease when staying with humans. However, when he was with the Cow Clan demons in the Emerald Cloud Mountain, he always felt particularly awkward, although they were related by blood. Moreover, the ancient scenery was different from modern times, which made the Red Boy feel fresh and excited, so he would often sneak out to mingle with human scholars, officials, and nobles.

  Of course, this is all thanks to the Red Boy's uncle, Ruyi Zhenxian. Speaking of the Red Boy's uncle, in the Red Boy's opinion, his abilities are not that impressive. Alright, he has at least reached the seventh rank of Taiyi True Immortal. What is a Taiyi True Immortal? Hmm, first let's talk about the cultivation realm. In the current Three Realms, the cultivation realm is divided into thirteen levels, from the lowest Refining Qi stage to the highest Heavenly Dao Realm. From bottom to top, they are: Refining Qi, Golden Elixir, Yuan Ying, Heaven Immortal, Xuan Immortal, Golden Immortal, Taiyi True Immortal, Taiyi Mysterious Immortal, Taiyi Golden Immortal, Daluo Golden Immortal, Quasi-Saint, Saint, and Heavenly Dao. The first three levels are also known as Mortal Immortals. In the Three Realms, cultivators who have reached Refining Qi or higher but have not yet been recorded on the Divine List and do not hold a position in the immortal ranks are all called Earthly Immortals, under the jurisdiction of the Ancestor Town Yuan Daoren. Just like how the Red Boy was born as a fourth-rank Heaven Immortal cultivator, he can be considered a natural-born immortal, but since he has not signed the Divine List, he can only be counted as an Earthly Immortal.

  However, in his past life, the Red Boy had read many novels about the Primordial Chaos, Xuanhuan, and Cultivation. As the saying goes, "seeing much and knowing widely", well, the Red Boy's father, the Bull Demon King, was already a 9th-rank Taiyi Golden Immortal at his peak, with cultivation that was half a step into the Mahayana realm. In today's world where the Three Religions' Saints do not appear, and the strong of the Primordial Chaos have retreated, he is considered a powerful figure in his own right, and naturally looks down on his uncle's lowly cultivation and magical powers.

  Uh, got sidetracked, let's continue talking about the Immortal of Like Intent. The Red Boy frequently came and went from the human city-states, interacting with scholars and officials, and gradually gained a reputation, calling himself Fire Cloud Daoist, while the Red Boy referred to himself as the Fire Cloud Immortal of Dry Pine Gorge. As for why he called himself the Fire Cloud Immortal, it was because the Red Boy felt that both his nickname and his given name, Infant, sounded too childish. He thought about how his mother, Iron Fan Princess, was called the Iron Fan Immortal, and his uncle was called the Immortal of Like Intent, and then thought about his own cave abode, Dry Pine Gorge Fire Cloud Cave, so he referred to himself as the Fire Cloud Immortal.

  Why was Huoyun Xian able to create such a big stir among human officials, nobles, literati and poets in a short period of time? Apart from Hong Haier's uncle, Ruyi Zhenxian, having extensive social connections not only within the three realms of demons, gods and Buddhas but also with many high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants in the human world. Of course, this was also because Ruyi Zhenxian had always been fond of wealth and luxury, and was particularly interested in the pleasures of the mortal world.

  However, what's more important is that Huoyun Xian is a born beauty, about 17 or 18 years old in appearance, with a face as white as three parts of powder, and lips as red as if painted with cinnabar. His temples are like dark clouds, his eyebrows are like the new moon, sharp as a knife cut, his looks surpass Pan An's elegance, his talent surpasses Zi Jian's divine charm. He is indeed a handsome young man, dressed in white clothes like snow, superior to the flying immortals. Moreover, he has high and profound Taoist practice, boundless magical powers, able to predict past and future, guiding many merchants, nobles, infatuated men and lovesick women out of their confusion.

  It can be said that in less than two months, the name of Huo Yun Zhen Xian has already spread throughout the Western Regions, and many royal relatives, talented scholars, and beautiful women want to see him but cannot get an audience. Moreover, countless good Daoist practitioners have come to hear his teachings, hoping to become his disciples. Finally, even Hong Hai Er has grown tired of the constant music and dance performances, and after satisfying his craving for being a "big star", he avoids all those who seek to meet him. Only then can he escape, roam freely, and steal a leisurely half-day.

  It's really delightful to see Fire Cloud Immortal being admired by everyone, but it's unexpected that people in this world judge others by their appearance. With a beautiful face and eloquent words, those busybodies actually think more highly of Fire Cloud Immortal than his uncle. However, this won't make him jealous or envious of his own nephew, but rather very curious - his nephew seems different from before, though he can't quite put his finger on how; in short, he's just different.

  "Hey, I'm telling you, stinky little kid, leave some for me."

  A shrill cry came from the third floor of Baimon Pavilion, the best wine house in the capital of Bhikkhu Kingdom, causing the patrons to frown.

  "Hey, you stinky little brat! That's the Jade Spring Liquor I won from the Antarctic Immortal thirty years ago in a game of chess!" A Taoist priest wearing a green robe and with an unkempt appearance shouted loudly at a young man dressed in a white cloud-patterned robe.

  That handsome young gentleman, however, paid no attention to him and kept pouring wine into his white jade cup. Next to him, a clever-looking little book boy raised his head, took a glance at the old Taoist priest, and then buried his head in devouring the mountain-like delicacies in his bowl.

  These three people are naturally the traveling companions of Ru Yi Zhen Xian, Hong Hai Er and Xiao Tong Xiao Niu Er from Ba Jiao Dong.

  "Little calf, come and have a drink. This stuff may not be particularly rare, but it's also not easy to get." Hong Hai'er had another cup, only feeling the refreshing air seeping out from his 48,000 pores, smiling with narrowed eyes, poured a cup of Liquefied Spring water in front of Little Calf, and for this silly little younger brother, Hong Hai'er took good care of him.

  "Big, big king..." The little cow raised its head, looking at Hong Haier with some trepidation, then looked again at Ruyi Zhenxian's fiery gaze, sniffed slightly, and revealed a thirsty expression in his eyes towards the wine cup in front of him.

  "Don't be afraid." Hong Haier smiled slightly at him, then turned his head to look at Ruyi Zhenxian on the side, revealing a playful expression. He played with the wine jug in his hand and smiled slightly: "You said you won it from Nanji Xianweng by playing chess?" He poured another cup of wine and placed it in front of his uncle.

  "Hmm." Ru Yi Zhen Xian heard the words, but his face turned black with anger. He glanced at the little cow beside him, who was savoring a cup of white jade wine with a look of intoxication. Then he looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to himself, knowing that Hong Hai Er had just made a move, but he looked at Hong Hai Er with some hesitation and said: "Hmm, probably, yeah."

  "Hah!" The Red Boy was delighted upon hearing this.

  "I said can't we give Uncle some face outside?" Ru Yi Zhen Xian whispered.

  "Alright, I've confiscated them. Anyway, I see you still have a few bottles at home, so I'll take five of them. Another day, I'll give one to my aunt and uncle as a token of your concern for me." Hong Haier said softly.

  "Pffft! ~" The depressed Ruyi Zhenxian, who was drinking a mouthful of wine, almost fainted upon hearing these words.

  "Good nephew, we can't do it like this?" However, Ruyi Zhenxian showed a flattering expression and smiled. After all, there were only six bottles of wine, which was obtained after much thought and many twists and turns, but five bottles were gone in an instant.

  "Oh? Didn't the Southern Immortal send it? Uncle's chess skills are unmatched, I'll go to Yingzhou Island another day and win back ten or eight bottles." Hong Haier glanced at Ruyi Zhenxian with a teasing tone.

  "This, uh." Ru Yi Zhen Xian heard the words and thought he was going to die, all because of his own big mouth, liking to boast. Who is this Nan Ji Xian Weng? He is a high-ranking official of the Tianyi Sect who has experienced the war of sealing gods. Although he looks like a gentle old man, an old longevity star, don't forget his other identity as the Southern Pole Longevity Great Emperor of the Heavenly Court, one of the Four Yuans, with a status second only to the Haotian Jade Emperor. Would he have the leisure to reason with you, a small demon from the Jie Teaching?

  However, the liquor spring in Ruyi Zhenxian's hand was indeed from Nanji Xianweng's hand, and it was Nanji Xianweng's mount, Bai Lu Jing privately brought to the mortal world when he stole it. Bai Lu Jing is a selfish person who likes to do some despicable things, but he knows how to be smooth-talking. Although his master is one of the four envoys of the heavenly court, and his Taoist practice is getting deeper and more profound day by day, there are many powerful gods and demons in the Western world, and there are not a few fierce and evil ones. If he accidentally offended some evil star, where would a small fifth-grade demon like him be enough to look at? It's likely that those great demons and giant monsters just lacked a dish to go with their wine, and the spirit deer on this Xingzhou Island who ate wild ginseng and became immortal was not a bad choice.

  So, the newcomer had to find a backer, and the best candidate was Pingtian Dasheng, who was as famous as the sun in the demon world. Others might not understand Niutou's background, but this white deer was clear about it. However, because of his dissatisfaction with the human and Tianyi sects after the war of sealing gods, although he was loyal to the Taoist school, he wouldn't necessarily lend a hand. So, this white deer came up with such a roundabout tactic. He visited Niutou's brother, Ruyi Zhenxian, pretending to be bad at chess and losing some liquor to him. When the time comes, if Ruyi Zhenxian can help out, wouldn't Xiniuhezhou be able to walk sideways?

  "Oh, so just a few bottles of wine can buy you off?" Hong Haier looked at his uncle with disdain, and even the little cow beside him was also looking at Ruyi Xian with contempt.

  "Hmm, heh heh." Ruyi Zhenxian saw this and dryly laughed a couple of times, saying: "Shengying ah, my..."

  "Don't worry, I left three bottles for you. I took three bottles, one for my mother, and one for Uncle Niu to bring to our father, saying it's your filial piety."

  "Ah..." Ruyi Zhenxian let out a sigh of relief, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead and smiling at Hong Haier.

  "The three of you are indeed enthusiastic, I am Hu Qiuyue, at your service!" Just then, a pleasant female voice rang out...