Douluo Continent: You become gods, I become immortals

Chapter 1: The Green Ox Delivers the Apprentice!

Longhu Mountain is shrouded in morning mist.

The contemporary Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing sat quietly in the inner hall of the Celestial Master's Mansion, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three disciples before him—the three most talented disciples he had ever taken in.

Zhang Zhiwei leaned against the door frame, looking lazy; Zhang Huaiyi stood with his hands at his sides, his eyes wandering; Zhang Qingxuan stood straight, his expression calm.

"Master, why did you call us here?" Zhang Zhiwei scratched his fluffy hair and spoke first.

Zhang Jingqing's gaze first fell on this eldest disciple.

[His talent is exceptional, a once-in-a-century occurrence. However, he is arrogant and disdainful of everyone; a celestial master's ordination might become a cage for him. Let's set it aside for now.]

When his gaze turned to Zhang Huaiyi, the old master frowned slightly.

[Exceptionally talented and insightful. Unfortunately, he keeps everything hidden, living like a rat in a sewer, constantly fearful. He is not a suitable candidate.]

Finally, her gaze fell on Zhang Qingxuan, and a look of relief appeared in Zhang Jingqing's eyes.

[His talent is unparalleled, his mind is clear and bright, and what's more, he's a disciple sent by the Green Ox, with a deep affinity for the Dao. The Celestial Master's lineage belongs to him alone.]

Having made up her mind, Zhang Jingqing waved to Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huaiyi, saying, "You two go out first. I have important matters to impart to Qingxuan privately."

Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huaiyi exchanged a glance and simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, their lips unconsciously curving upwards slightly.

Before they arrived, the two had already suspected something.

As the master grows old, the matter of passing on the Celestial Mastership is becoming increasingly urgent.

Now, their master's words have confirmed their suspicions—the heavy responsibility of the Heavenly Master's ordination no longer needs to fall on their shoulders.

The two turned their heads at the same time to look at their junior brother Zhang Qingxuan, a complex look flashing in their eyes.

【Qingxuan, oh Qingxuan, you're doomed—】

Zhang Jingqing took in their expressions, and a vein throbbed on her forehead: "What's with those expressions on your faces? Have you guessed something?"

"No, no, how dare this disciple make such a wild guess!" Zhang Zhiwei quickly waved his hand, grabbed Zhang Huaiyi's sleeve, and retreated outside.

Watching the two "rebellious disciples" disappear out the door as if fleeing, Zhang Jingqing shook her head helplessly: "Two good-for-nothings."

When he turned to Zhang Qingxuan, the old celestial master's expression had become kind and amiable: "Qingxuan, today I will impart to you the complete Five Thunder Orthodox Method."

"Disciple obeys." Zhang Qingxuan bowed respectfully, his expression unchanged. He naturally understood what the "Complete Five Thunder Orthodox Method" meant—it was the mark of the Celestial Master's successor.

But he felt no unease. He had inherited the Heavenly Master's Decree, so his senior brother Zhang Zhiwei would have no worries in the future.

"Good, good!" Zhang Jingqing stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"As expected of my good disciple, you have truly won my heart."

…………

It wasn't until nightfall that Zhang Qingxuan emerged from the Celestial Master's room.

Instead of going straight back to his room, he turned and walked towards the orange grove on the back hill. He had planted this grove himself eight years ago, and every single tree was the result of his hard work.

"Brother Niu, come out." Zhang Qingxuan called softly to the orange grove.

A rustling sound came from the forest, and a large, glossy blue ox with shiny blue hair slowly walked out. Its horns were curved like a crescent moon, and its eyes seemed to gleam with intelligence.

Zhang Qingxuan picked a few golden oranges, carefully peeled them, and fed each segment to the blue ox. The blue ox chewed contentedly, its tail swaying gently, looking completely satisfied.

"Brother Niu, why do you love eating oranges so much?" Zhang Qingxuan gently stroked the cow's back, his tone mild.

He paused, then lowered his voice: "My master taught me the complete Five Thunder Orthodox Method today. Once I have mastered it, I'm afraid... I will have to inherit the Celestial Master's lineage."

"Mou—" the green ox bellowed softly, nuzzling Zhang Qingxuan's hand with its head as it continued to enjoy the orange.

Zhang Qingxuan shook his head and chuckled. The fatigue from days of practice suddenly overwhelmed him, so he simply leaned against the ox's back and gradually drifted off to sleep.

This green ox was his benefactor and the guide who led him to the Taoist sect.

It was this very ox that carried him, a young boy, across the land to the foot of Longhu Mountain.

This orange grove was planted by him to repay a debt of gratitude.

The moonlight, like water, spilled over the sleeping youth and the standing blue ox.

Suddenly, the blue ox turned its head, its eyes revealing a human-like clarity. It spoke in a low voice, deep and resonant like an ancient bell:

"The time has come... You have accomplished your studies, and it is time for me to send you on your way."

"This is a task assigned by the master; it cannot be disobeyed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint, clear light emanated from the Green Ox, and a subtle, almost imperceptible Daoist aura flowed around it.

The pure energy, like silk threads, wrapped around Zhang Qingxuan's body, slowly enveloping him.

Zhang Qingxuan frowned slightly in his sleep, as if he sensed something, but did not wake up.

The air grew thicker, making his figure appear hazy.

In a short while, Zhang Qingxuan gradually faded away in the clear light, eventually disappearing without a trace.

The green ox gazed at the eastern horizon and whispered, "The beginning and end of things are predetermined."

Having said that, it glanced at a clump of trees, then lightly stomped its four hooves, and its figure transformed into wisps of pure air, dissipating with the wind.

In the orange grove, only moonlight remained on the ground, along with half an orange that had not yet been eaten.

……

Not far away, behind the bushes, two pairs of eyes stared wide-eyed.

"Senior brother...that ox...said something?" Zhang Huaiyi's voice trembled as he gripped Zhang Zhiwei's sleeve tightly.

Zhang Zhiwei, unusually, abandoned his lazy demeanor and stared intently at the spot where the green ox had disappeared: "It didn't just talk... it... it made Junior Brother Qingxuan disappear!"

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"Go and report to the master immediately!"

Zhang Zhiwei pulled Zhang Huaiyi up, and they scrambled towards the Celestial Master's Mansion, their Taoist robes torn in several places by tree branches.

When the two rushed into Zhang Jingqing's room, panting, they found that the old Celestial Master had already gotten up and was solemnly gazing at the statues of the Three Pure Ones enshrined in the room.

A faint light flowed around the statue, flickering like breath.

Zhang Jingqing did not turn around, but slowly said:

"No need to say anything more... Our ancestral master has appeared."

His gaze passed through the window and landed on the orange grove bathed in moonlight, as he murmured softly:

"The green ox brought the disciple here, and when the karmic connection ended, it sent the disciple away... So that's how it is, so that's how it is."

Beyond Douluo Star lies a vast void.

A streak of azure light pierced the universe like a stream of light, falling towards Douluo Star.

The blue light tore through the clouds, trailing a faint tail of light, like a shooting star from outer space, yet without any scorching flames.

It eventually landed in a quiet forest clearing, hovering perfectly in front of a couple.

"Brother Tian, ​​this...this is—!"

The woman stared wide-eyed at the swirling, azure light before her, too astonished to utter a coherent sentence.

The light was as warm and gentle as jade, radiating a calming and soothing aura.

The man was also shocked, but he tried to remain calm and instinctively took a step forward, reaching out to touch the wisp of pure energy.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch it—

The azure light transformed into starlight, merging into the air, and where the light had originally been, a baby in swaddling clothes was revealed.

The child neither cried nor made a fuss; he simply stared quietly at the man and woman before him with his clear eyes.

The man hurriedly reached out and caught the child who had fallen from the sky. The child was warm and soft to the touch, a real flesh and blood.

At that very moment, three words, like a brand, appeared without warning deep within his mind—

Zhang Qingxuan.

The name carried a certain indescribable rhythm, as if it were meant to belong to this child.