[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars":3,"chapter-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-4":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Immortal Path Among the Stars",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2319936,4537,"Chapter 4: Wang Yu","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-4",4,"\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu stood at the foot of a small hill, watching his grandfather bow and scrape as he spoke with a man dressed as a Daoist priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist was around forty, with thick eyebrows and a square face, speaking slowly and deliberately, exuding great solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the two, a winding stone path led up the hill, where the faint outline of a small Daoist shrine could be seen atop the lush summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a cup of tea, the old man turned back and instructed Ding Yu:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Er, from now on you’ll follow Master Chongyun. Do exactly as the Daoist says, obey every order, and when the spirit labor is over in a few years, I’ll come get you home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, the old man offered a few words of gratitude to the Daoist, handed him a heavy bundle, then turned and shuffled away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu stared at the old man’s retreating back, silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the road, he had already learned why everyone feared “spirit labor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huangshi City ordered its subordinate villages to conscript large numbers of able-bodied men every decade or so to clear wasteland in remote areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soil there was unnaturally hard, requiring specially made heavy farming tools; the labor was excruciating, even damaging to the body, lasting at least three or four months, sometimes over half a year. Without the generous rewards offered by Huangshi City, few adults could endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stranger still, once the land was cleared, the city lord’s men would seal it off, forbidding ordinary civilians to approach even a step. The reason? Rumor said they planted a special rice that took ten years to harvest, reserved exclusively for the elite—said to extend life, though no one knew if it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also learned from his grandfather that Huangshi City controlled hundreds of villages and towns, beyond which lay desolate wastelands, rumored to harbor monsters and ferocious beasts. Even his grandfather knew nothing of officialdom or the imperial court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu found this strange, but then he remembered his grandfather was merely a hunter, likely like the others from Wangjia Village—never having left the surrounding region. How could he know what the outside “world” was like? The full truth of this world probably belonged only to those with some status in Huangshi City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from these, Ding Yu saw no major differences between this world and Blue Star; the presence of Buddhist and Daoist religions didn’t surprise him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world might indeed be deeply connected to Blue Star, as Dr. Chen and the others had speculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he felt helpless about becoming a Daoist acolyte just days after arriving in this realm—hopeful only that the shrine’s meals might be better than those at “home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough staring. Come with me up the mountain. Only after your name is registered in the shrine’s roster will you be counted among us.” Master Chongyun said to the boy calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thank you, Master.” Ding Yu quickly turned and bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young as you are, you still understand propriety! Normally, this shrine doesn’t accept anyone at this hour, but your grandfather found something I desperately needed—he did me a great favor. So, your admission as an acolyte is an exception. Your Dao name is ‘Autumn Leaf.’ From now on, call me ‘Abbott.’” Master Chongyun glanced again at the ordinary boy, then spoke coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Abbott.” Ding Yu replied obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Chongyun nodded, then turned and walked up the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu followed closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a stick of incense, they reached the summit, where a small Daoist shrine—no more than two or three mu in size—appeared ahead. Above its gate hung a red plaque bearing three silver characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baiyun Shrine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu, a Blue Star university student, stared at the characters resembling clerical script from his world; his lips twitched, and he silently recited them aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the open gate lay a small square paved with blue bricks. Ahead stood a main hall with a statue of a deity; on either side were side rooms, and two stone-paved paths led from each side of the hall straight to the rear of the shrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the square, a chubby young Daoist was sweeping the ground. Upon seeing Master Chongyun enter, he hurried forward and called out, “Abbott.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dongyue, go to my room and fetch the shrine’s Dao register. This boy is the new acolyte, ‘Autumn Leaf.’ Remember—if anyone asks, say ‘Autumn Leaf’ joined with you half a year ago.” Master Chongyun nodded to the boy and gave the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ll get it right away.” The young Daoist glanced at Ding Yu in surprise, then hurried toward one of the side rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist led Ding Yu into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall was not gilded or lavish, but ancient and solemn. The altar held incense burners and offerings. Facing the entrance, a stone lotus pedestal bore a statue of a Daoist, nearly ten feet tall, carved entirely from green stone: three long beards, lifelike features, and a white stone sword strapped to his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Nine Heavens Qiu Yang Tian Shi, our shrine’s revered deity. Come and kowtow.” Master Chongyun lit an incense stick before the statue, then said to Ding Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Ding Yu slammed his forehead against the floor with full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Chongyun’s expression softened with approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Dongyue rushed into the hall, clutching a thin red-covered book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist took the book, opened it, picked up a brush from the altar, and asked casually, “What is your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Tiezhu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Ding Yu’s answer, Master Chongyun frowned and shook his head repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That name won’t do—too crude. Though there’s no formal rule, names this vulgar are never recorded in the Dao register. Change it. I’ll inform your grandfather afterward—he won’t object.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Change my name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If you can’t think of one, I can suggest one.” The Daoist spoke indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll change it to ‘Wang Yu’!” Ding Yu’s heart surged, and the new name slipped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yu? That sounds acceptable. Can you write it?” The Daoist asked, slightly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yu hesitated, then replied, “Yes,” and traced the characters in the air with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Chongyun nodded, then wrote “Wang Yu” directly after the already inscribed “Autumn Leaf” in the register. His expression turned grave as he warned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember: once your name is in the register, you are Wang Yu from today. Never reveal your true identity to outsiders—if you slip up and are caught, I won’t be able to intervene if they drag you off for spirit labor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu nodded repeatedly, resolving inwardly: from now on, in this realm, he was Wang Yu. (The protagonist’s name is now ‘Wang Yu.’)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Dongyue, show the new recruit around the shrine, give him his belongings, and explain the rules. I must perform morning meditation—you may leave now. Autumn Leaf, come see me tonight.” The Daoist gave the order, then sat cross-legged on a mat beside the altar and closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Daoist replied and led Wang Yu out of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Autumn Leaf, I joined the shrine before you, so you must call me ‘Senior Brother.’ You joined Baiyun Shrine to avoid spirit labor, didn’t you? So did I. My father learned of it months in advance and paid a fortune to get me accepted. The last spirit labor was ten years ago—terrible, they say. Every male child over ten must serve, for at least several months, sometimes never returning. Those who do return are often gravely ill. But don’t worry, Senior Brother, once your name’s on the Dao register, Huangshi City can’t touch you. Our rules are simple: just don’t disobey the Abbott. Daily tasks are easy: sweep the shrine, recite the Baiyun Scripture three times a day, morning and evening, then you’re free. You can tend the vegetable plots nearby, or go to the back mountain…” Dongyue, clearly a chatterbox, launched into a flood of words the moment they left the hall, acting as if they’d known each other for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Dongyue, this place seems quiet. Are you and the Abbott the only ones here?” Wang Yu asked, glancing at the neat side rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. Besides you, me, and the Abbott, there’s Senior Brother Qingfeng—he’s the Abbott’s true disciple, allowed to call him ‘Master.’ We’re only nominal disciples—we still call him ‘Abbott.’ But Qingfeng isn’t here; he’s down the mountain performing rites for a wealthy household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So there are four of you.” Wang Yu mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Dongyue showed Wang Yu most of the shrine, found him a properly fitting Daoist robe, and assigned him a side room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as they walked along the path beside the main hall to the rear of the shrine, a vast open field appeared: one side held a lush vegetable garden enclosed by wooden fencing; the other side featured a weapon rack with swords, spears, staffs, and other arms, alongside three or four crude wooden dummies and five or six white stone weights of varying sizes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the open field stood a stone house, its door black and sealed with a massive copper lock, upon which two torn yellow paper strips were pasted crosswise, bearing strange black patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Yu studied the surroundings, Dongyue pointed to the weapon rack and winked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is where the Abbott and Senior Brother Qingfeng train their martial arts. By the way, since you’ve joined, the Abbott will likely teach you a martial art for protection. I learned a staff technique from him—it’s amazing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the Abbott know martial arts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu stared at the scene and listened to Dongyue’s words—genuinely startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! And he’s powerful. Come look at these handprints—left by the Abbott’s palm strike.” Dongyue hurried to the weapon rack, pointed to the largest stone weight, and boasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu hurried over and stared intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the side of the white stone weight, a clear palm imprint, half an inch deep, was visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu touched the edge of the imprint with his finger, then pressed slightly harder—the stone was impossibly hard; even a sharp blade would require great effort to leave such a mark. No human flesh could achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If true, Master Chongyun’s martial skill was terrifying—far beyond any “martial art” on Blue Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was this supernatural power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu’s heart pounded with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Dongyue, can you show me the staff technique the Abbott taught you? Let me see it.” Wang Yu looked at the smug little Daoist, thought for a moment, and asked in a flattering tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Abbott taught me the Golden Staff Art. If you want to see it, of course.” The young Daoist had clearly been waiting to show off. He readily agreed, pulled a heavy staff taller than himself from the rack, and stepped into the center of the open field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This staff… Senior Brother, can I touch it?” Wang Yu stared at the black staff, his face twisted with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. But be careful—it’s heavy!” Dongyue paused, then grinned and handed him one end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This staff is wrapped in thick iron! It must weigh thirty or forty catties—how can you swing it?” Wang Yu gripped the staff, felt its icy chill, and could no longer suppress his shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! You underestimate me. I may have nothing else, but I’ve got strength. This weight? Nothing. Even a solid iron staff wouldn’t trouble me. Watch closely, Senior Brother… Awakening from a great dream, Vajra descends upon the world…” The young Daoist laughed, strode to the center of the training ground, muttered incantations, and swung the staff with force—it whistled through the air, appearing fearsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu appeared fascinated, clapping occasionally, but inwardly unimpressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been conditioned by modern martial arts films and special effects, he found the staff technique flashy but unremarkable—though it was strange that this chubby boy, his own age, possessed such strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongyue roared, slammed one end of the staff into the ground, leaving a shallow crater, then panted as he retracted it and grinned at Wang Yu:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s that? I’ve only trained for half a year, and I’m already this skilled—the Abbott even said I have talent for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive. I couldn’t handle such a heavy staff in half a year. But if you’re this strong, isn’t Senior Brother Qingfeng even stronger?” Wang Yu, still thinking of the palm print on the stone weight, asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Qingfeng is naturally stronger—but… he’s hard to approach. You’ll see when you meet him.” The young Daoist’s voice grew hesitant at the mention of Qingfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu’s curiosity flared, but he didn’t press further. He pointed to the stone house and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, what’s that house for? Why is it locked and covered in paper strips?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those aren’t paper strips—they’re talismans! Said to ward off evil and seal things. As for the house’s purpose? I don’t know. It was here before I joined Baiyun Shrine. The Abbott told us not to get too close. But I’ve seen Senior Brother Qingfeng enter it. When I asked what’s inside, he wouldn’t tell me. Still, the house is strange—get closer, and you’ll feel it.” Dongyue glanced at the stone house, shook his head, then replied with a faintly eerie expression.\u003C\u002Fp>",2221,"2026-06-20T15:44:30.991Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7e3973e7474c3fdb44a9e486e95a09d4447235e5e67426970bfe95380e334df9","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-5","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-3",530,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-immortal-path-among-the-stars-cover.jpg"]