Is “The Barefoot Immortal belongs more to folk legend than to orthodox high immortals” true?

In Chapter 005 of 'Journey to the West', it is written that the Barefoot Immortal was tricked by Sun Wukong while on his way to the Peach Banquet. In the orthodox Taoist pantheon, this immortal rarely holds a clear high position; he is mostly a personification of folk tales about wandering immortals, incorporated into the novel. The original text: "那赤脚大仙觌面撞见大圣，大圣低头定计，赚哄真仙，他要暗去赴会，却问：“老道何往？”" (Chapter 005 of 'Journey to the West').