Chapter 99

"Phew! Let's go see my little apprentice. After settling her down, I can descend to the mortal world!" Yang Zhen muttered to himself as he walked along the path to the residence of Tai Bai Jin Xing.

After leaving the Palace of Eternal Cold, Yang Zhen felt much better. He didn't have much interaction with Chang'e, as she was a person living in her memories, while Yang Zhen was determined to forge his own future. The two were like parallel lines, destined never to intersect.

This visit to the Palace of Eternal Cold was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision. Feeling a bit depressed, he thought seeing a beautiful woman might help lift his spirits.

If Yang Zhen didn't have high aspirations, he could naturally stay in his position in the Heavenly Court, never worrying about mundane matters again, and even the great calamities of the world would be irrelevant to him. But this kind of life was not what Yang Zhen wanted. He wanted to transcend everything and control his own destiny.

Since he had come to this mythological world, he felt he owed it to himself to strive for something.

After entering the residence of Tai Bai Jin Xing, Yang Zhen went directly to Jiayao's room. Looking through the window, he saw her sitting on the bed in meditation, and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. During her time in the Heavenly Court, Jiayao seemed to have grown. She, who had always disliked cultivation, now knew to practice on her own.

Although Jiayao was a mortal and not particularly gifted in cultivation, Yang Zhen believed that as long as she worked hard, she would eventually be rewarded.

Yang Zhen observed her for a moment from the window. Seeing that she wasn't secretly sleeping, he didn't disturb her and quietly left the residence of Tai Bai Jin Xing.

During his time in the Heavenly Court, Jiayao had been living with Tai Bai Jin Xing, but Yang Zhen didn't trust him. Especially since Yang Zhen was about to leave the Heavenly Court to protect Tang僧 on his journey for the scriptures. Once Yang Zhen was gone, no one could guarantee that Tai Bai Jin Xing would treat Jiayao the same as before, as he was not a kind and gentle old man.

Arriving at the imperial garden, Yang Zhen saw the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers busy watering the flowers. He walked over and said, "Fairy, you are so diligent. The flowers here are so beautiful, it must be thanks to your care."

The Fairy of the Hundred Flowers turned around and, seeing it was Yang Zhen, asked with a smile, "Why are you here?"

"I have a favor to ask of you," Yang Zhen said straightforwardly.

"Wow? A great expert like you asking a favor from a mere woman? That's surprising. What is it? Since you saved me, I'll reluctantly agree," the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers said, patting her chest as if she were very reliable.

"I might have to leave the Heavenly Court. My little apprentice, Jiayao, will need your help to take care of her for a while. I'll come back to pick her up once I'm done with my business," Yang Zhen said softly.

The Fairy of the Hundred Flowers looked at Yang Zhen and said with a smile, "I didn't know you had an apprentice. Bring her over, and I'll take care of her."

Yang Zhen smiled and said, "Thank you!"

"Why are you leaving the Heavenly Court?" the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers asked.

"Because I have an important matter to attend to," Yang Zhen said. "Although it will only take a few decades, I don't feel comfortable leaving Jiayao with Tai Bai Jin Xing."

"By the way, how is Zixia?" Yang Zhen asked.

The Fairy of the Hundred Flowers said, "Zixia is doing well. Do you want to see her?"

"No, thank you," Yang Zhen said. "After I bring Jiayao over, I'll go to the Fire Department to hand over my duties, and then I'll descend to the mortal world."

"Will you come back to the Heavenly Court in the future?" the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers asked.

After some thought, Yang Zhen said, "I doubt it. The Heavenly Court is too comfortable, and there are always people who don't want me to enjoy such a life."

"Oh!" The Fairy of the Hundred Flowers seemed a bit downcast and then asked, "I heard you went to the Northern Sea to subdue a demon. Did you get hurt?"

Yang Zhen shook his head and said, "Thank you for your concern. The trip to the Northern Sea went smoothly, and I didn't encounter any trouble. I'll go to the Fire Department first, and then I'll bring Jiayao over. I'll leave her in your care for a while. I'll come back to pick her up once I'm done with my business in the mortal world."

"You can rest assured. She'll be safe with me," the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers said with a smile.

After leaving the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers, Yang Zhen went to the Fire Department and handed over the Fire Department's token to the Fire Virtue Star Lord. The Fire Virtue Star Lord, seeing that Yang Zhen was leaving, didn't say much, assuming Yang Zhen was going to take up the position of the Heavenly Marshal. He chatted with Yang Zhen for a while, and when he noticed Yang Zhen's impatience, he sent him off with a smile.

After sending Jiayao to the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers, Yang Zhen flew out of the South Heaven Gate and headed towards the Western Region of Niu He.

Originally, Yang Zhen had planned to visit the Kingdom of Biqu, but thinking that his connection with Biqu had ended, he decided against it. Arriving near the Five Elements Mountain, Yang Zhen found a mountain with good feng shui and landed.

Seeing a village nearby, Yang Zhen approached and asked an old man in the village, "Sir, I want to cross that mountain and go east. What is that mountain, and how far is it to cross it?"

The old man, fanning himself, looked into the distance and said, "That mountain is called Han Mountain. Young man, I advise you to go around it. There are demons in that mountain!"

"Demons?" Yang Zhen looked at Han Mountain and asked, "Do you know what kind of demons they are? I have learned some magic, and if they are ordinary demons, I can subdue them."

The old man looked at Yang Zhen and shook his head, saying, "Sigh! I advise you not to go. Many Taoists and monks have come here to subdue the demons, but none of them have come back. They all disappeared. I think it's a powerful demon. Besides, the demon doesn't harm people; it just doesn't let anyone enter the mountain. You should go around it."

Yang Zhen nodded and smiled, "Thank you, sir."

In fact, if age were considered, Yang Zhen could be the old man's grandfather, but since he looked like a young man, he naturally had to show respect to the elderly and follow local customs.

After flying into Han Mountain, Yang Zhen felt a faint demonic aura permeating the area. However, this aura was not strong, even weaker than the demonic aura he carried. Since Yang Zhen practiced immortal techniques, his demonic aura was usually not detectable.

Feeling this demonic aura, Yang Zhen knew that the demon in Han Mountain, like himself, practiced immortal techniques.

"This demon is interesting. I'll go meet him. If he isn't a malevolent being, I'll find another mountain," Yang Zhen thought to himself.

Landing on the ground, Yang Zhen stomped his foot and called out the mountain god and the land god, asking, "What kind of demon lives here, and what abilities does it have?"

"Reporting to the immortal, sixty years ago, a demon immortal came here. We don't know its true form or its abilities," the mountain god stepped forward and replied.

"I heard from the villagers below that Taoists and monks have come to subdue the demon, but you haven't seen the demon in action?" Yang Zhen asked, frowning.