"Younger brother, wait a moment while I check who it is," said Old Black.
Having said that.
The Black Bear Essence walked out of the cave.
Outside.
Appearing before him was a young man wearing a Daoist robe with a gait, his face gentle as jade, exuding an air of humility and nobility.
"May I ask this Daoist priest...?"
The Black Bear Essence was surprised, could this be a true Daoist?
In his understanding, even the old monk of Guanyin Zen Temple at the foot of the mountain did not possess the demeanor of this Taoist.
That's right.
The visitor was indeed Xuanqing, who had rushed over from the town.
"I am Daoist priest Xuanqing, traveling around. I happened to pass by and heard that the king of Black Wind Mountain is kind and friendly to humans, so I came to make friends!"
Xuanqing gave a slight smile, then took out an antique-looking book from his bosom.
"This is 'The Supreme Profound Treasure of The Infinite Measure of the Uppermost Wonderful Scripture for Delivering People,' which I shall give as a greeting gift to the king!"
"A Taoist scripture... Could it be the one that can eliminate the disasters of innocent people and make the souls of the dead rise to heaven?" The Black Bear Essence widened his eyes.
This conversation.
It took Xuanqing by surprise.
He did not expect the Black Bear Essence to have such knowledge, knowing that the "The Supreme Profound Treasure of The Infinite Measure of the Uppermost Wonderful Scripture for Delivering People" was a scripture for saving people.
"I only heard the king likes to practice Zen, but I didn't expect you to also understand the Taoist scriptures!" Xuanqing nodded slightly, his tone light.
"Hehe, actually, I, Old Black, am more of a... It's a long story. The wind is strong outside, why don't you come in, Daoist Xuanqing?" The Black Bear Essence enthusiastically invited.
"Okay!"
Xuanqing nodded and followed the Black Bear Essence into the cave.
Although he had stolen a kasaya robe, compared to other demons who would casually eat people, stealing a robe wasn't that bad.
...
Entering the cave.
The roar of the Black Bear's footsteps was intimidating, and before he even arrived, he let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha~ Little Brother Bai She, good news, very good news indeed~ It's Daoist Xuanqing who came here, hearing about how friendly I am with humans. He came to visit and gave me a 'The Supreme Profound Treasure of The Infinite Measure of the Uppermost Wonderful Scripture for Delivering People'."
Upon hearing this.
White Snake Demon was slightly taken aback.
Although he didn't quite understand what the purpose of the scripture was, just from the name alone, it was clear that it must be an authentic Daoist scripture.
Subsequently.
The Black Bear Essence introduced Xuanqing, saying, "This is Daoist Xuanqing!"
"Immeasurable Longevity and Fortune, I am Xuanqing." Xuanqing pinched a finger seal and greeted with a smile.
White Snake Demon quickly stood up, cupped his hands together, and returned the greeting, "White Snake greets Daoist Xuanqing."
"Haha, guests are welcome, Daoist Xuanqing, please take a seat!"
Black Bear Essence invited Xuanqing to sit down.
...
And so.
The two demons and the man were introduced to each other.
These two demons, the Black Bear Essence was honest and magnanimous, while the White Snake Demon was polite and courteous. Their personalities were very approachable, and there was no awkwardness as if they had just met.
They chatted like old friends, talking about everything under the sun.
During the enthusiastic conversation.
Both the Black Bear Essence and White Snake Demon took out their treasures to admire each other's collections.
White Snake Demon took out a two-thousand-year-old ginseng.
"This ginseng has already grown nine leaves and is more than two thousand years old. If given a few more hundred years, it might evolve into a Ginseng Essence."
Xuanqing looked closely.
He saw a ginseng that looked like a radish and a human with limbs, exuding a refreshing medicinal aroma that was extremely soothing!
"What a treasure! With such a medicinal ingredient, I'm afraid it could refine a superior elixir, right?" Black Bear Essence praised.
The White Snake Demon smiled slightly and explained with a hint of pride, "Big Brother Black Bear has a discerning eye. With this ginseng, if it is combined with the same grade of lingzhi and blood grass, it can be refined into a Life Creation Pill in ninety-nine days and eighty-one nights!"
Faced with such a topic.
Xuanqing found it hard to join the conversation and just listened quietly.
The Black Bear Demon's eyes lit up, and he said, "Younger brother, I remember you have a two-thousand-year-old lingzhi in your spiritual field. Wouldn't it be easy to make a Life Creation Pill?"
"In another hundred years, the lingzhi will break through two thousand years, and by then, it can be used to refine the Life Creation Pill. Once the pill is made, you and I can both enjoy it!" The White Snake Demon said generously.
Hearing this.
Xuanqing thought in his heart.
In the storyline of Journey to the West, it seemed that after the Black Bear Demon stole the kasaya, he held a treasure conference.
There was a snake demon who had brought elixirs to congratulate, could it be this White Snake Demon?
"Younger Brother White Snake is very thoughtful!"
Black Bear Demon patted the White Snake Demon's shoulder and then said, "A few days ago, there was a flash of thunder in Black Wind Mountain, and a thousand-year thunderstruck peach wood was accidentally produced."
As he spoke.
The Black Bear Demon stood up, opened a box placed in the corner, and took out a dark peach wood from it.
"It's actually a thousand-year thunderstruck peach wood... Big Brother Black Bear has such good luck. I'm very envious!" exclaimed the White Snake Demon.
Thunderstruck peach wood?
Xuanqing's heart stirred, and he immediately asked, "Fellow Daoist Black Bear, can I take a look at this thunderstruck peach wood?"
"Daoist Priest, please feel free to look." The Black Bear Demon smiled generously.
Xuanqing nodded, took the thousand-year-old thunderstruck peach wood in his hand, and carefully examined it.
With his current mana, he could clearly feel the traces of raging power flowing through the thunderstruck peach wood, which must be the power of heavenly thunder.
"May I ask, Brother Black Bear, can this so-called thunderstruck peach wood be artificially forged, such as actively drawing down heavenly thunder to strike the wood?" Xuanqing asked curiously.
At this moment.
An idea came to his mind: if, in this game world, he could take a piece of peach wood back to reality and use a lightning rod, could he artificially create a thunderstruck wood?
However, both demons were extremely surprised at his words.
"Daoist Priest may not know that the formation of thunderstruck wood requires natural heavenly thunder. Techniques like using palm thunder won't work," the White Snake Demon explained.
The Black Bear Demon also nodded in agreement.
"So, as long as it's natural thunder, it's fine?" Xuanqing raised an eyebrow and continued to ask.
"That's true... but it's very rare for natural heavenly thunder to strike peach wood accurately," explained the Black Bear Demon.
Immediately afterward.
The Black Bear Demon seemed to think of something and laughed, "Unless... Daoist Priest knows a superior immortal from the Heavenly Court's Department of Thunder and has them specifically strike the lightning on the peach wood."
At these words.
The White Snake Demon on the side also laughed and shook his head.
Obviously, both demons thought it was impossible. While thunderstruck wood was precious to individual cultivators like them, it was of little importance to the deities in heaven.
Xuanqing just smiled slightly and made up his mind that when he returned to reality, he would try to see if he could artificially make thunderstruck wood using a lightning rod.
"By the way, where does my Daoist friend Xuanqing come from?"
Only then did the Black Bear Demon remember that they had been chatting for so long, and he still didn't know the origin of this Taoist. He hurriedly asked.
Upon hearing this.
White Snake Demon also pricked up his ears, as he too was curious about Xuanqing's background.
"I am just a humble Taoist from the mountains and have a minor Daoist official position in the Heavenly Court," Xuanqing said modestly with a wave of his hand.
The lu card had been automatically collected into the System Backpack after he was resurrected.
On the front of the jade card, the word "Xuanqing" was engraved.
On the back of the jade card, it read "Taiji Palace Chosen Scholar: Right Magistrate of the Five Thunder Court and Officer of Thunderbolt Department."
Although he was of the lowest ninth rank, he was part of the most orthodox Heavenly Court Thunder Department.
In layman's terms, even if the official is small, he is still part of the system.
As expected.
Seeing Xuanqing's lu card, both demons not only didn't look down upon him but showed envious faces.
"Brother Daoist is actually a true immortal bestowed with a lu card, truly enviable!"
The Black Bear Demon's heart stirred even more.
Could this Taoist really have a connection in the Heavenly Court Thunder Department?