Chapter no.3 Mount Hua and Penglai Sect

[ Chen Dynasty - Imperial Palace ]
" Look at this unusual sign from the heavens. That bright ray of light that just shone on the palace must be a great omen."
A servant exclaimed as he walked behind the Emperor.
The Emperor glanced at the servant as his black robes embroidered in gold swayed with the wind, " Since when did you befit the office of an imperial astronomer ?"
The servant hurriedly bowed while exclaiming," This servant dares not. This servant will ... "
Suddenly a voice called out to the Emperor cut off the servant.
" Your Majesty! I, General Wei, bring joyous news."
A red-haired man covered in armor exclaimed while on one knee.
The Emperor meanwhile looked on in shock as he saw the two entities standing behind general Wei.
An old man wearing blue robes while holding a white cane, smiled as he tapped the big burly man beside him.
Touching his red beard, the burly man smirked as the servants gaped at the giant gourd on his back.
The mere presence of the duo caused everyone even the Emperor to bow in reverence.
" Elder Daoists, it is an honor to have you here. May I ask, what is your purpose for coming here ?" The Emperor asked with a bow.
The old man brushed his long beard to the side as he answered," This Old Daoist witnessed the Ten Thousand Sunbeam Blessings upon the towers of the palace and I knew that good fortune had befallen your majesty. I have come to bestow upon you, several treasures."
" Treasures ?" The Emperor asked in confusion.
" Please back up a little." The Old man said as he crashed his white cane into the floor.
Azure aura flowed down the cane causing a miracle to happen in front of everyone's eyes.
White veins broke out of the floor wrapping around one another making an enormous 20-foot-tall tree in the middle of the imperial palace.
" A branch filled with spiritual energy plucked from the tree whose roots have grown deep in the heart of Kunlun."
Everyone gazed upon the tree in show and awe as the old man continued, " It will produce fruit three times more, and consuming one will increase one's lifespan by 60 years. Thus this is the first treasure."
The Emperor stepped forward in the show as he saw the flowers bloom upon the white tree.
The Old man's sleeves outstretched revealing a small drum that expanded out in size while the old man exclaimed," From beyond the eastern sea, the hide of thousand-year-old white flames alligator was used to craft this drum."
Everyone looked up at the giant drum with blank expressions on their faces. Their minds had gone blank after witnessing such a magical scene.
The Old man's robes swayed in the wind as he exclaimed.
" A single beat will thunder across the world and fill your general's hearts with loyalty. Thus the second treasure."
The Old man's words caused the Emperor to run up and kowtow while exclaiming, " Great Celestial, this mortal is grateful for these treasures but I do not understand what deed these mortals do to cause this generous act."
The Old man smirked and brushed his mustache while exclaiming," These treasures mean nothing as long as you bring them to this elder."
" Huh ?"
The Emperor's confusion was answered when a servant ran down from the palace.
" Your Majesty ..... Your Majesty! A quarter of an hour ago, the empress gave birth to the fourth prince."
The servant's words caused the two Daoists to smile.
...
" Great Celestial, Is my child the reason for your visit ?"
The Emperor asked as he handed out his newborn to the old man who smiled as a crystal inside his robes glowed.
" Spiritual energy permeates through this child's body. He was born flawlessly and with such great potential."
The Emperor cried out in shock," Great Celestial !"
" This child was born holding the fate of Heaven and Earth in both hands. This world is not fit for him."
The Old man hovered in the air as a white cloud formed beneath his feet.
Holding onto the child, the old man and his partner vanished into thin air while the Emperor could only shout out.
" Great Celestial! Great Celestial! Please wait !"
Outside the imperial palace, two children sat upon the clouds as they witnessed everything.
" Looks like we were too late," The boy exclaimed in frustration," Well, it is a matter of luck, but to think that the member of the Mount Hua Sect would get to this mortal country before us."
" Senior, Is this allowed? This country falls under our Penglai sect."
The girl asked while playing with the cloud they were sitting in.
" Junior Sister, I think you might be confused but this mortal country unlikely is located in the intersection of multiple sects. We can't demand anything from those two."
With a click of her tongue, the girl said," I know but to think a Heavenly Yuan Expert would disguise himself as a conman to trick a mere mortal to get a mortal born with spiritual roots."
" Don't be so loud, Junior Sister." The boy exclaimed as he said," We were too late to react once the spiritual detector went off and it's not like those two were from an evil sect so that child would grow up to be a fine cultivator if a Heavenly Yuan Expert personally came to get him."
...
[ Imperial Capital ]
Outside of the Imperial capital, south of the imperial court lay a large river.
The water of the river rippled as a burly old man wearing a straw hat picked up a child from a basket.
" Whose daughter is this ?" The Old man wondered.
" Where ye abandoned because of this." The old man asked as he gazed upon the child's hand which was bleeding from a wound that looked like it was from someone dismembering a sixth finger.
The Old man suddenly patted the child's back as she coughed up some water before crying out loud.
" This little one is a fighter, jus' like me." The Burly Old man said as he held onto the abandoned twin princess.
The Old man adjusted the blade of his back as he said," You'll take Grandpa Chen's name from now on and we'll call ye, A-Ting."
••●••••●••••●••••●••••●••
About 15 years later when A-Ting was abandoned by the Imperial court of the Chen Dynasty, a nameless boy struggled inside the abyss of the prison he was thrown in.
[ POV Change ]
I continued walking along the walls of this prison or wherever I was trapped in.
Chin!
Then something was caught in my fingertips.
It was a solid feeling, a different texture from moss.
It was much smoother.
I moved my hand along the different areas.
It was a single line.
A long and thin line.
A straight line is like a space trapped by a table wall.
'Is it a door?'
I wondered as I knocked on the part that was supposed to be the door with my hand.
Thump!
A dull sound echoed in the underground space where I was confined.
It was a distinctly different sound from the other parts.
'Big, thick iron gate and let's presume it's also black.'
I joked to myself as I fumbled and looked around for a device that could open the door. However, the iron gate was smooth with no protrusions or indentations.
There was no way to open it from the inside. It seemed like it could only be opened from the outside or maybe I was trapped inside a metal box for the delusions of some crazy physician.
I couldn't figure out a way to open the door. But I didn't despair which I chalked up to my insanity or .... sanity.
Whatever I had survived the starvation crisis or maybe this was all just a dream ... Nah, if this was a dream I would be in a palace with a harem of beauties around me.
Well, it's not like I wasn't dreaming the dream life with my moss food, and water to hold on for a while. It will be difficult and painful, but I think I will be able to survive for a few days.
I slowly sat down, leaning my back against the iron gate.
Now there was no fear that it would never happen again.
Now that I had filled my stomach, it was time to rest.
In the darkness, only the sound of my breathing echoed.
Maybe I should sing something.... better yet let's enjoy the silence and not suffer from the nightmare that is my singing voice.