In the garden of the White Jade Palace on Penglai Immortal Island, White Deer Immortal was enjoying immortal wine and Immortal Fruit. Chen Renfeng sat nearby, thinking about various minor matters.
At that moment, the world displayed in the water mirror showed Bai Bingxue and Chen Changqing sitting in a dense forest somewhere in Nine Dragon Valley, with Bi Xuzi looking after them in the distance.
Two small Spirit-gathering Arrays were set up beside them. Spiritual Energy within a fifty-kilometer radius was gathering around them as the two sensed the Spiritual Energy.
White Deer Immortal looked at the thin Spiritual Energy in the mortal world and sighed. "Bingxue and Changqing are having such a hard time sensing qi. It's not as fast as when Qing Shi and Bai Yu cultivated in the Small World in their previous lives."
When Chen Renfeng heard this, his heart jolted. White Deer Immortal knows about the Small World too? Then, thinking it over, he realized that the Great General's Nascent Soul and the Princess's Nascent Soul both knew about it. White Deer Immortal must have told them. He had been making a fuss over nothing.
After weighing things in his mind, Chen Renfeng asked, "Immortal, where is the Small World? Why not let Bingxue and Changqing cultivate there?"
White Deer Immortal casually replied, "There's no need for that yet. Obtaining Karma Value in this human world is extremely difficult. Once their Karma Value reaches six hundred thousand, give them the jade pendant. One day in the Small World should be equivalent to about ten years of cultivation outside."
Hearing this, Chen Renfeng deliberately asked, "Immortal, there's a Small World inside the jade pendant? Why have I never heard you mention it before?"
White Deer Immortal was completely off guard and said indifferently, "So what if I told you? Only Changqing and Bingxue can enter this Small World. Neither you nor I can get in, so what use would it be?"
"Why is that?" Chen Renfeng asked curiously.
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. The Small World recognizes its master. When Nüwa refined it back then, she obtained the raw material from the jade body of their manifested forms. They share the same origin. I'm curious about what it's like inside too, but I can't enter." White Deer Immortal explained.
Chen Renfeng's heart jolted when he heard this. How did I get inside, then? It seemed that my hand had bled. Could it be that the jade pendant recognized my blood as its master?
It was rare for White Deer Immortal to be willing to talk, so Chen Renfeng asked curiously, "Immortal, Bingxue and Changqing were Qing Shi and Bai Yu in their previous lives. What is the origin of the jade that formed their manifested bodies?"
White Deer Immortal knew that Chen Tuan was compiling the Chart of Heavenly Karma, and that Bingxue and the others would need his help to overcome their tribulations in this life. Thus, she decided there was no harm in telling him.
"These two pieces of jade were originally a Pure Yang Stone that Lady Nüwa gave to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother infused it with Pure Yin Immortal Spiritual Power, and after ten thousand years of nurturing, it became a Yin-Yang Stone."
"Later, they developed spiritual awareness, so they were sent to the mortal world to undergo tribulation. I, this Immortal, don't know how great a cause and effect is involved."
"Once Bingxue and Changqing ascend and become True Immortals, my task will be complete, and I'll be able to safely overcome the Nine Transformations Loose Immortal Tribulation."
White Deer Immortal spoke very casually, but Chen Renfeng was shaken to the core. The origins of these two pieces of jade were so extraordinary that the price of their ascension was actually White Deer Immortal's tribulation of nine thousand years.
Putting on a shameless expression, Chen Renfeng asked, "Immortal, if Bingxue and Changqing's ascension can bring you such great blessings, then I... I should get some benefits too, right?"
White Deer Immortal rolled her eyes at him and said disdainfully, "Who asks for a reward outright? I'm in a good mood today. What do you want?"
Chen Renfeng hurriedly stood up, bowed, and saluted. "Immortal, do you think you could help me advance further so that I can also cultivate into a Golden Immortal? I can't even pass through that dangerous barrier when I go to the human realm now."
"A Golden Immortal? You certainly have the nerve to ask. Do you know how much effort it took me to cultivate a Golden Immortal body?" White Deer Immortal said unhappily.
Chen Renfeng thought to himself, There's no chance. He immediately shook his head.
"White Crane, how old were you when you cultivated into a Golden Immortal?" White Deer Immortal asked, pointing at White Crane.
Although White Crane had a beast body, he stood behind Chen Renfeng and replied through his primordial spirit, "Twelve thousand years old!"
Chen Renfeng's eyes widened. He found it unbelievable. How many years have these immortals endured through the river of time?
"I'm a thousand years younger than you. I became a Golden Immortal at eleven thousand years old. Chen Tuan, you're only a few hundred years old and you're already in the True Immortal Realm. Don't be ungrateful!" Although White Deer Immortal's tone wasn't harsh, it carried a strong warning.
Chen Renfeng broke out in a cold sweat and stopped talking.
White Deer Immortal felt that her tone had been too severe and worried that he might slack off in the future, so she offered him a sweetener. "Chen Tuan, after Bingxue and Changqing successfully ascend this time, I'll take care of your Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation for you."
Chen Renfeng hurriedly bowed in thanks.
At that moment, in the world within the water mirror, Bingxue and Changqing were gathering Spiritual Energy and sensing qi in Nine Dragon Valley, enjoying their carefree childhood as childhood sweethearts. White Deer Immortal watched and laughed heartily.
Seeing this, Chen Renfeng lied to White Deer Immortal that he needed to return to his own cave abode to retrieve some magical artifacts. Since White Deer Immortal had nothing important to do at that moment, she let him go.
Chen Renfeng mounted White Crane and disappeared from the garden of the White Jade Palace.
"White Crane Immortal, let's go to the human realm!"
"I'm not going!"
"I'll give you ten High-Grade Spirit Stones!" Chen Renfeng was annoyed. His own mount demanded a riding fee from him every time.
"Immortal Elder, let's go to the market and buy some immortal wine and Immortal Fruits before going to the human realm."
"Good! I'll bring some for my two disciples too."
In the Small World within the jade pendant, the gate of the Siheyuan Courtyard was pushed open. The formation Chen Qing had arranged was triggered, and two puppets immediately struck the drum in the courtyard. Its drumhead was sewn from fish skin.
Chen Qing and Bai Xue cautiously opened the door. In the middle of the courtyard, the Professor was already sitting on a stool before the stone table. A jar of wine and some melons and fruits he had brought were placed on the table.
"Uncle Chen!"
"Professor!"
The Professor swept his spiritual sense over the two of them and laughed heartily. "You two have improved so quickly. You're almost at the peak of the Golden Core Stage."
"Uncle Chen, I feel like I'm dreaming. When I go to sleep at night and wake up, there's always much more magical power in my Sea of Dantian. The Spiritual Energy here seems to pour itself into my body." Bai Xue spoke in confusion.
"Professor, I'm the same. After eating the pills Bai Xue refined, it feels like torrential rain is falling in my Sea of Dantian." Chen Qing also voiced his confusion.
The Professor nodded in satisfaction and had the two of them sit down to talk.
He then opened the wine jar. Seeing this, Bai Xue went to the kitchen, brought out three bowls, and filled them.
The Professor raised his bowl, and Bai Xue and Chen Qing followed suit.
"Let's have a drink first. You can stay here in this Small World without worry. There won't be any danger anymore!" The Professor drained his bowl in one gulp, but he drank too quickly and choked, coughing several times.
Bai Xue and Chen Qing also drank their wine. Bai Xue couldn't help asking, "Uncle Chen, did you receive some new information?"
The Professor nodded. He told them everything White Deer Immortal had said about Qing Shi and Bai Yu, as well as the secret of this Small World inside the jade pendant.
After hearing this, Bai Xue made some calculations in her heart and slowly said, "Uncle Chen, I merged with the Princess's memories. After she took White Deer Immortal as her master back then, she entered the Small World inside the jade pendant for ten days of cultivation every three years. Most of her time was spent practicing combat techniques outside.
"I'll demonstrate them for you."
Seeing her rise to demonstrate, the Professor hurriedly stopped her and said, "There's no rush. What else is there?"
"White Deer Immortal often told them that once you two ascended, Donghua could be resurrected, and Master could avoid the heavenly tribulation!" Bai Xue spoke from memory.
"Donghua resurrected..." the Professor murmured, drawing in a sharp breath.
Seeing this, Chen Qing hurriedly said, "White Deer Immortal really did say that."
The Professor couldn't figure it out. He waved his hand and said, "Focus on cultivating here. Don't work on combat techniques, formations, or puppets for now. Gathering herbs, refining pills, and taking pills to raise your cultivation are the most important things."
Bai Xue and Chen Qing nodded.
The Professor stood up and said, "I'm going back. I need to get to the bottom of Emperor Donghua's matter. I'll come visit you again when I have time!"
Before you continue