There was still some time before Bai Tu returned to visit his family, so he was not in a hurry to release Chang Zai.
After staying for a month or so, he was finally ready to set off. Only then did he instruct his subordinates to bring Chang Zai out.
In the cave manor, Chang Zai sat cross-legged. Even though he was only a little over ten years old, he looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth.
At this moment, he was doing breathing exercises every day, but recently, he felt that his aura was filling up, as if he had reached a bottleneck that he could not break through.
Staying here for six years, isolated from the world, had honed his patience. Now that he encountered a difficulty, he was not distressed, but rather eager to try. Based on his previous experience, once he broke through, there would be a huge improvement in his cultivation.
Just as he was about to think of a way to overcome this obstacle, a figure flashed in front of him, and Shen Dong appeared before him again.
Chang Zai immediately stood up and said happily, "Taoist, you're here. I have a question here to ask."
Shen Dong said, "You don't have to cultivate these few days."
Chang Zai was shocked and said, "Taoist, why is that?"
Shen Dong said, "Your cultivation is filling up, and you can open your meridians. In a few days, you can go out."
Under his push, Han Zuocheng was already on a different path, but how he would continue was up to him.
"Open my meridians?" Chang Zai was confused at first, then he said with surprise, "I can go out?"
Shen Dong first explained what opening meridians was, then said, "The person who will pick you up will be here in a while. Just wait."
Hearing his confirmation, Chang Zai could not help but jump on the spot. In these six years, Shen Dong had come many times, mainly to give him pointers on the difficult problems he faced in cultivation. He had also given him many books that increased his knowledge, but he had never mentioned rescuing him. Now that he heard this, he almost could not help but cheer. After all, no one wanted to stay in a place where there was no daylight.
Shen Dong handed over a hair band and said, "Take this. Everything you can use after you go out is in here. When you need to use it, just take it off and inject inner Qi into it."
Chang Zai took it and tugged at it, then grabbed the hair and tied it up casually.
Shen Tong said, "Your vital energy is complete now. If you go out, you'll definitely be noticed by others. I'll help you conceal it." As he spoke, he started to chant a technique.
Chang Zai listened attentively at first, but after a while, he felt abnormally sleepy and drowsy. In the end, he couldn't hold on any longer and laid down to sleep.
When he woke up, he found that the light was a little dazzling and his lower body was a little bumpy. However, there seemed to be something cool and comfortable on his eyelids. It was very comfortable. After blinking a little, he got used to it. He touched the back of his head and saw that the ribbon was still there. He relaxed.
He sat up and looked around. He realized that he was lying in a spacious carriage. Not far from him, there was a maid who was dozing off. She raised her head and saw that he had woken up. She said happily, "Langjun, you're awake?"
Before Chang Zai could say anything, the maid went out again. After a while, she came back with a bowl of fragrant hot porridge.
Before a cultivator has opened his meridians, the acquired essence of the grains was still very important. When Chang Zai was imprisoned, King Bai did not tell him how to deal with him, and his subordinates did not want to starve him to death. However, he did not expect to eat anything good either. Most of the food was coarse grains that were difficult to swallow. Apart from that, there was also the bitter pill that Shen Dong often gave him. Now, looking at the thick yellow rice porridge mixed with finely minced meat, the fragrance of the meat went straight to his nose, and he could not help swallowing his saliva.
The maidservant chuckled and said, "Langjun has been imprisoned in the stone room for six years, and his body is weak. Please eat some meat porridge to nourish your body." She then put down the bowl and said, "Langjun, please enjoy." She bowed and left.
The moment Chang Zai saw her go out, he couldn't wait to pick up the bowl and gulp down the food with a porcelain spoon. After finishing the bowl, he became even hungrier. He had wanted to add a few more bowls, but when he called the maidservant in, she adamantly refused, saying that his body was still weak and he couldn't eat too much.
He was helpless as well. Fortunately, he'd been imprisoned for six years, and his endurance had become much stronger. He forcefully suppressed his hunger and asked, "Where are we going?"
"Let me answer this question, Langjun Chang." With this voice, a young man with a beard lifted the curtain and walked in. He said, "Langjun Chang, do you still recognize me?"
Chang Zai looked at him and said, "Master Bai?"
Bai Tu laughed and said, "It's me."
He waved his hand and ordered the maid to leave. He then rolled up his sleeves and sat in front of Chang Zai. "You disobeyed His Majesty's will and let the eagles do evil in the palace. Originally, His Majesty wanted to imprison you for life, but this time I came back to visit my family. After hearing about this matter, I took pity on your ability and pleaded in front of His Majesty, so you were released."
Chang Zai was surprised and said, "So it was Master Bai who saved me?"
Bai Tu said, "Yes, but I don't expect you to thank me for saving you. I just want you to do something for me."
"What is it?"
Bai Tu smiled and said, "There's no rush. We'll talk after I see Teacher." He looked at him again and said, "I see that your body is weak, so I'll teach you a set of breathing techniques. After you practice it, you'll know the benefits." He took out a book from his sleeve and placed it on the table. He tapped it with his finger and then stood up to leave.
Chang Zai picked it up and took a look, but his mouth twitched. This was a cultivation of Qi, but it was far from the Clear Qi Scripture. He took a few glances and threw it to the side.
He touched his belt and poured a bit of inner Qi into it. He felt that he could see another place that was not in front of him. After a brief inspection, he found that there were all kinds of external medicine for opening meridians. He just had to find an opportunity to open his meridians and break through, but now was not the time.
After traveling for a month, the carriage stopped in front of a peak. Chang Zai then followed Bai Tu up the mountain and came to a Daoist temple with cedar trees planted in front of it.
Bai Tu was the first to enter. After a long time, he was called in. He saw the Daoist who had come to the Immortal Palace to choose a disciple all those years ago. He understood quite a few things these past few days, and knew that this Daoist Xi Yi was Bai Tu's teacher.
Daoist Xi Yi looked him up and down a few times. Although he had been imprisoned for a few years, he was still in good spirits and did not look dispirited at all. Other than his slightly pale skin, he had delicate features. She nodded and said, "You are a talented young man. Bai Tu did not misjudge you."
Chang Zai said, "Thank you for your praise, Daoist."
Daoist Xi Yi chuckled and said, "Bai Tu said that you are good at controlling birds and beasts. Can you control a serpent-scaled sparrow?"
Chang Zai said, "Reporting to Daoist Immortal, as long as there is a serpent-scaled sparrow nearby, I can do it."
Daoist Xi Yi said, "If I want you to use this bird to attack a herd of rubber oxen, can you do it?"
Chang Zai thought about it and said, "This kind of sparrow is wild and unruly. If that's the case, I'm afraid I'll have to ride it myself. It's best if it's at night."
Bai Tu suddenly interrupted and asked, "Why at night?"
Daoist Xi Yi waved her hand and said, "Rubber oxen have weak eyesight at night and cannot see too many of their companions. They are not brave and are easily frightened. This suggestion is correct."
Bai Tu bowed and said, "Teacher is wise."
Daoist Xi Yi said to Chang Zai in a gentle tone, "Recently, I need to deal with a herd of rubber oxen. If you do this well, I will bring you into Daoism."
Chang Zai lowered his head and said, "Thank you, Daoist Zhang."
Daoist Xi Yi nodded and said, "You may leave."
Chang Zai immediately bowed and left with a Daoist child, remaining silent along the way.
He was still young and had not experienced the affairs of the world. However, after being deceived by King Bai, he didn't dare to trust anyone easily. Moreover, after reading the various historical books and allusions that Shen Dong had given him, he was no longer a child who knew nothing.
In the immortal palace, he knew that most of these Daoist Immortals only had two disciples. It was impossible for them to have more. This promise was actually empty talk. In fact, he didn't care about this, but he was afraid of what was behind it.
It was obvious that only a small profit was needed to make him serve him, but this Daoist Immortal made such a promise that was impossible to fulfill. It was obvious that he had never considered fulfilling it. After thinking about it carefully, he felt a chill run down his spine.
He couldn't help but make up his mind that he had to find a way to escape from this place!
In the following months, Daoist Xi Yi never came to find him, as if she had forgotten about this matter. Until one night, when he was meditating, a Daoist child suddenly came to call for him.
He knew that the matter had finally come. He slightly calmed his nervous emotions and tidied up a little before following the Daoist child out. Along the way to the front of the Daoist temple, he saw Daoist Xi Yi, Bai Tu, and another youth standing on a flying boat. He was about to go forward and greet them when Daoist Xi Yi waved her hand and said, "Time is pressing, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. Quickly come on up."
Chang Zai quickly walked onto the flying boat.
The flying boat immediately rose up into the sky. However, he had flown on an eagle before, so he didn't show any signs of panic.
Along the way, Daoist Xi Yi didn't speak, so everyone was silent. The atmosphere was very oppressive. Chang Zai had been imprisoned for six years and had long since been able to endure the loneliness, so he didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
After flying for two hours, the flying boat slowly came to a stop.
At this moment, Daoist Xi Yi opened her eyes and looked over with some dignity. She said, "Chang Zai, there's a dragon-scaled sparrow near you. You can try to call it over."
Chang Zai said yes and called it in his heart. Not long after, he heard the sound of flapping wings. A spotted sparrow about three meters long flew over and circled around the flying boat.
Daoist Xi Yi nodded and said, "Not bad. You're indeed capable."
Chang Zai said, "Immortal Elder praises me too much."
Daoist Xi Yi pointed to a hazy valley in the distance and said, "The herd of rubber oxen is right below. Go down and drive them away. That will be a great merit."
Chang Zai said, "Yes, Immortal Elder."
Daoist Xi Yi slowed down her tone and said, "My previous promise still stands. Go!"
Chang Zai went up the side of the boat and jumped out onto the back of the large sparrow. The large sparrow was very obedient. After circling once more, it flew in the direction of the valley.
When Daoist Xi Yi saw him go far away, she turned around and said to her two disciples, "That spiritual milk only appears once in a thousand years. Once you get it, you'll have hopes of ascending to the upper realm in the future."
Bai Tu and the youth bowed and said, "Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance."
Daoist Xi Yi said again, "It's just that this item can reconstruct one's foundation and increase the aptitude of us Daoists. Countless itinerant cultivators covet it, so this matter must not be leaked. When that kid drives away the herd of rubber oxen, you know what to do. Tu 'er, I hope you won't care about our past friendship."
Bai Tu said calmly, "Teacher, don't worry. I know the severity of the matter."
Although he and Chang Zai were old acquaintances, for the sake of his own Dao path, he could only choose to apologize.
Moreover, Chang Zai wasn't a Daoist cultivator. He was merely a commoner and ultimately couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as him. Using the life of a commoner to help him, whether it was from the standpoint of a noble young master or a Daoist cultivator, he felt that it was only natural.
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