Drinking Companion

Sifting white elms shed jade leaves; the clear moon soaked the icy wheel.

When the Mountain Lord returned to the courtyard with a scroll in his arms, Li Fan was surrounded by young ladies feeding him wine. His face, lips, and neck were all dotted with layer upon layer of rouge petals.

"Ha ha, little friend, you are quite the free-spirited sort. Excellent. I hate hypocrites most of all."

When the three maidservants saw their master return, they gave him smiling bows. Their gauze skirts, rosy robes, and lovely faces all scattered into flying blossoms.

Li Fan alone toppled headfirst into a pile of petals. By the time he climbed back up, the petals had all blown away, as though he had merely dreamed a spring dream.

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

'Li Fan, Mood, 100/100.'

'Lottery charge 100/100. One daily lottery draw available tomorrow.'

Well, what do you know? It seemed the cultivators here understood the importance of physical and mental health too. He had no idea what kind of illusion this was, but in three to five minutes, it had filled Li Fan's mood meter with a "great increase of 1 point."

Seeing how happily Li Fan was enjoying himself, the Mountain Lord smiled and unfurled the scroll in his hand. "Little friend, was this the sight you saw?"

It was an ink painting. Li Fan would have called the painter an Immortal Realm Picasso. There was just a messy splash of ink on it, and he could not make out what the thing was supposed to be. Yet within that chaotic blot of ink, some of the lines did look round, rather like the string of bubbles beneath the heavenly canopy.

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

"This is the ancestor of Non-Things." The Mountain Lord understood at once from Li Fan's thoughtful expression. With a flick of his hand, he put away the scroll, then sat beside the tea table in front of Li Fan. He cupped his hands vaguely, bowed toward the sky, and said with absolutely no reverence on his face, "Tai Su Dao Ancestor."

The ancestor of Non-Things? A Dao Ancestor?

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

"Chaos Beast Mother, Great Wilderness Void Star, Yellow Heaven Dark Spring—these are the Tai Su Six Ancestors." The Mountain Lord tapped the scroll in his hand. "Dao Ancestor Void Star."

"The Tai Su Six Ancestors? Void Star Dao Ancestor?" Li Fan frowned. He had no idea what the other man was talking about.

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

Rather than despising his dullness, the Mountain Lord began explaining with great enthusiasm,

"From the Limitless came the Supreme Ultimate. There are five primordial states before heaven: Taiyi, Taichu, Taishi, Taisu, and Taiji.

"Taiyi was the beginning of spirit, Taichu the beginning of qi, and Taishi the emergence of form.

"Taisu was the beginning of substance and the formation of shape; shape formed and substance existed, yet no body had been completed.

"Taiji was the pivot of movement and stillness, the mother of yin and yang, the source of all creation, and the beginning of all things.

"Thus it is said:

"Those born of Taiji are things.

"Those born of Taisu are Non-Things."

'Li Fan's mood greatly decreased by 1 point.'

"Oh... Taiji..."

Li Fan indicated that he understood, though not entirely.

This sounded like Daoist philosophy, some kind of understanding and speculation regarding the origins of the universe and all things.

The Mountain Lord laughed heartily. "Little friend truly deserves to be called a natural-born Dao Child! Speaking so frankly of the Dao, yet remaining unmoved by lust—delightful! Delightful! Hahaha!"

Li Fan just sat there with a baffled expression...

"Hahaha, please partake."

Only after laughing for quite a while did the Mountain Lord stop. With a sweep of his sleeve, he laid out a feast before Li Fan: two green rice cakes on a jade dish, and a shallow pour of wine in cups made from green leaves. The fragrance was intoxicating and cleared the mind at once. One look was enough to tell they were no ordinary delicacies.

Well, at least he was not using someone's head as a drinking companion...

Li Fan did not stand on ceremony. He picked up a green rice cake and took a bite. It truly was an immortal delicacy; one bite left a lingering fragrance between his lips and teeth. He took a sip of the immortal wine from the shallow cup and felt an icy line slide down from his throat, filling his lungs and organs with indescribable freshness. Good stuff!

The system agreed.

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

Seeing that Li Fan ate and drank so happily and freely, without a trace of polite refusal, the Mountain Lord found the boy quite agreeable. He became even more eager to discuss the Dao, and at last began speaking in plain language.

"Before Taiji transformed into all things, when Pangu first split heaven and earth, when the ancient chaos had yet to be clarified, there were certain ancient primordial supreme beings within the Primordial Universe. These beings were known as the 'Tai Su Dao Ancestors.'

"In the past, cultivators of qi in this world cultivated the Postnatal Immortal Dao. What they sought was no more than longevity, emulation of heaven and earth, and the lesser art of shedding the corpse to ascend. At their highest, they could only reach the realm of Feather Transformation Immortals, where all things were born and the golden cicada shed its shell.

"Only ten thousand years ago, when the False Moon appeared and we began worshipping the moon and cultivating through its contemplation, did we learn the true explanation of primordial Taisu, of things and Non-Things. And only then did we have those of great fortune such as yourself, little friend, who could stand at the abyss and enter dreams, glimpse the true forms of the Tai Su Six Ancestors, and learn that the truth of heaven and earth was that the path of the past had been a crooked one.

"From then on, we cultivators began cultivating the Innate Great Dao from the beginning of the universe and the origin of primordial chaos. We seek only to trace things back to their source, probe the secrets of heaven, and one day glimpse the true forms of the primordial Dao Ancestors, transform our bodies into Taisu, and comprehend the principles of primordial evolution.

"For many years, I too have been stalled and wandering at the Transformation Stage. This time, with your help, little friend, I attained sudden enlightenment and completed my Great Dao in a single day. It is all thanks to you! Empty this cup!"

The Mountain Lord spoke with a flushed face and boundless excitement. Three-forked peach branches grew from the top of his head, blooming with six golden flowers. Purple, white, gold, green, and red radiance burst forth, piercing the clouds and shooting through the heavens.

Li Fan could only stare at him with his jaw hanging open.

Right from the start, a Divine Transformation boss with three flowers gathered atop his head and five qi returning to their source was treating him to wine and beauties. Was that awesome or what...

"Mountain Lord, Immortal Venerable, you are too kind. This junior merely made a tiny contribution, not worth mentioning. Not worth mentioning."

"Ah! Little friend, there is no need for modesty. The Innate Great Dao is obscure and difficult to comprehend, far more perilous than postnatal immortal cultivation. A moment's carelessness can cause an aberrant form to manifest, plunging one into the demonic path beyond all redemption.

"Therefore, what was merely an offhand remark to you is a once-in-a-millennium Dao opportunity to me. Whatever you desire, speak freely. So long as it is within my power, I will never refuse."

Oh, was this one of those "I can grant you one wish" scenes?

Li Fan set down his wine cup and rolled his eyes. His first impulse had been to ask how those three lovely young women had been conjured, but thankfully he held himself back. Then he considered asking whether the man knew any method of transmigration, but after thinking it over, he figured the other man probably could not do that either.

Forget it. Since he had already transmigrated into a world of immortal cultivation, there was no need to fuss over pointless things. Better to be direct.

"This junior, Li Fan, sincerely seeks the Dao and wishes to take the Mountain Lord as his master."

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for life. Once he attained the Dao and became immortal, would he not be able to summon a crowd of lovely young women to throw parties whenever he wanted? Li Fan was done being human!

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

System, get lost...

The Mountain Lord wore an expression of course, as though this had been entirely expected, yet he shook his head. "Little friend, you are a natural Dao seed. Since you entered a dream and saw Void Star, you are naturally fated to have no further connection with the Human Dao in this life.

"Unfortunately, I have just heard the Dao and am on the verge of a breakthrough. There is a risk that a Devil Form may manifest at any time. I must immediately enter seclusion to cultivate, and cannot delay your talent.

"But there is no need to worry. Since you too have the desire to seek the Dao, this is easily handled."

The Mountain Lord clapped his hands. In less than a moment, Li Fan heard a crane cry from the horizon. Then a white figure descended into the courtyard and bowed. "Master."

Li Fan turned to look and saw a graceful female Taoist. She wore a moon-colored robe and a splendid crown, with cloud gauze draped around her body. Her black hair was twisted into a spirit-serpent bun, secured by an enormous pearl hairpin and suspended above her head.

When she raised her head, he saw willow brows and phoenix eyes, an almond-shaped face with peach-blossom cheeks, embroidered-red lips, skin like congealed cream, and a tiny golden flower painted between her brows. She possessed three parts elegant refinement, three parts gentle warmth, three parts ethereal immortal charm, and one part delicate, alluring softness.

Hiss...

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

The Mountain Lord shot Li Fan a half-smiling glance, then said to the female Taoist, "Wangshu, Jade Toad ate your attendant boy, so your master will compensate you with another.

"This boy is a natural Dao seed. Though he came from the Human Dao just now, he saw Void Star at first sight. I see that his spiritual intelligence has already awakened; he is an excellent seedling. Teach him well on my behalf, and bring glory to our Bamboo Mountain lineage."

"I respectfully receive your decree." The female Taoist bowed once more, then smiled sweetly at Li Fan and extended her hand. "Dao Child, come with me."

Her voice was like an orchid blooming in an empty valley—clear and pleasant to the ear, with lingering notes that could make one forget the taste of meat for three months.

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

Li Fan instinctively felt close to her. He went over and pretended to be young so that the female Taoist could take his hand. Her hand was warm and soft, like pure white jade.

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

The Mountain Lord smiled and nodded. "Little friend, follow Wangshu and cultivate under her for now. Serve as an attendant boy by her side.

"However, the Great Dao is fraught with danger. Since you are entering the world to cultivate, do not use your Human Dao name again.

"Your family name is Li, correct? Then I shall give you a Daoist name: Qingyue. Li Qingyue.

"If, by the time I emerge from seclusion, you have formed a Nascent Soul, I will accept you as a true disciple."

Who wanted to hang around an old man anyway!

Li Fan imitated the Taoists and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your guidance, Mountain Lord. Qingyue will remember it."

"This disciple takes his leave." The female Taoist Wangshu also made a farewell bow. Holding Li Fan's hand, she rose into the air and landed atop the back of an immortal crane with a wingspan of two zhang.

"Qingyue, that great disturbance outside the mountain just now was caused by you entering meditation while gazing at the moon, was it not?" the female Taoist asked kindly.

Now that the immortal crane was flying, the wind was much stronger than when he had ridden a sword earlier. It blew up the hem of the female Taoist's light gauze robe. Li Fan had not noticed before, but her moon robe was actually worn loosely and open at the chest, just as casually as the Mountain Lord's. There was no sash at her waist either. Beneath the robe, she wore only a short silken undergarment, which the wind could not conceal at all, revealing legs as white as jade and soft as mutton fat...

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

"Ah, ah, in answer to... Master's question, it was me... Qingyue. I was looking at that False Moon just now and saw some illusions," Li Fan answered, dry-mouthed and stumbling over his words.

The female Taoist smiled. "There is no need to call me Master. I am a female Taoist of Ink Bamboo Mountain, cultivating while still wearing my hair. I am Jiang Wangshu, a true disciple under the Mountain Lord. I am only instructing you in cultivation and Foundation Establishment on the Mountain Lord's behalf. If you achieve the Nascent Soul Stage in the future and enter Master's sect, then we will be senior and junior siblings. Until then, simply call me Real Person Wanshu."

"Yes, Real Person."

Then the female Taoist crouched down, leaned close to Li Fan, and asked, "What did you see?"

You too... Don't change your expression, don't change your expression...

By now, Li Fan somewhat understood that these cultivators seemed extremely interested in the Tai Su Six Dao Ancestors. They could attain enlightenment from merely a few words, but there was an even greater chance that they would go mad.

"Um, Real Person Wanshu, this junior can tell you, but just now there was an Old Taoist, Qin Jianshi? After he heard it, he grew a whole bunch of hands and said some Devil Form had manifested. The Mountain Lord directly attained enlightenment and entered seclusion after hearing it. Are you really sure you want to hear what I saw?"

"Even the senior master could not endure it?" Real Person Wanshu's eyes widened in obvious surprise. "You truly saw a Dao Ancestor? No wonder Master treated you to wine... Then what did you eat just now?"

"...Two rice cakes and a cup of wine. They were pretty sweet."

What kind of random question was that...

Jiang Wangshu was shocked. "You ate rice cakes!"

Li Fan was shocked too!

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

No! He was shocked! System, stop making it sound like he was some kind of pervert!

Yet Jiang Wangshu paid no attention to her own unseemly behavior. Perhaps Li Fan was still young, or perhaps, like the Mountain Lord, she did not care much for formalities. In any case, she completely ignored the blushing attendant boy before her and muttered thoughtfully, "Master actually thinks so highly of you. He immediately fed you Immortal Spirit Jade Marrow and even had you consume a Dan Ying Divine Fetus? Hiss! Could it be...!"

'Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.'

Hey, system, enough already!

"Just as I thought. You only just entered meditation for a short while, yet you have already opened a Qi Sea within your Inner Landscape!

"The Human Dao actually produced such a Dao Child. This is truly unheard of!"

Then Real Person Wanshu smiled at Li Fan with sudden understanding and patted his head.

"No wonder the Mountain Lord has his eye on you, Qingyue. You must cultivate diligently and reach the Nascent Soul Stage soon.

"With such shocking talent, once you nurture a Devil Embryo and suffer qi deviation to become a Non-Thing, you will be the finest nourishing ingredient for cultivators like us!"

'Li Fan's mood greatly decreased by 1 point.'

"Forget the Mountain Lord—even I cannot wait to taste you!"

'Li Fan's mood slightly increased by 1 point.'