Just then, two clear, lingering crane cries rang out above the garden, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
Lü Chunyang looked up. Chen Renfeng and the other two also raised their heads at the sound, only to see someone riding a white crane and drifting gracefully toward them. The newcomer possessed an immortal air, with a straight figure like a pine and broad robes fluttering lightly in the wind. Even a single glance from afar felt like basking in a spring breeze.
The white crane landed elegantly. The immortal on its back hurriedly leaped down and strode forward, then bowed deeply to Lü Chunyang with an extremely respectful bearing. "Disciple Chen Tuan pays his respects to Ancestor Lu!"
"Fu Yaozi Chen Tuan?" Chen Renfeng cried out from within the Small World, his face full of disbelief. Chen Qing was also startled. He stared intently at the immortal's face and unconsciously murmured, "He... he looks just like the professor..."
Bai Xue, standing nearby, turned pale with fright and quickly gestured for them to keep quiet. Her concern was unnecessary, however, as the immortal outside had not noticed anything unusual on their side.
Ancestor Lu released White Deer, wiped away his sweat with his sleeve, and casually replied, "Tunan, you came at just the right time. What about the things I asked you to borrow?"
Chen Tuan stepped forward and produced five books, presenting them with both hands as he respectfully said, "Ancestor Lu, Lord of Mount Tai sends his regards!"
Ancestor Lu nodded, accepted the books, and walked toward the pavilion nearby.
Seeing Ancestor Lu walking toward them and drawing closer and closer, the three of them were so frightened that they dared not make a sound. Unfortunately, he passed right by them, as though he were standing beneath their feet.
Chen Tuan glanced at White Deer on the ground. She had already transformed into a white-robed immortal maiden, with a bruised and slightly swollen face.
The white crane Chen Tuan had ridden ran over, flapping its wings to brush the flowers and grass clinging to her clothes away.
Chen Tuan chuckled from the side. "There's a folk saying in my old home in the mortal world: 'Beat the dough and knead the wife.' Ancestor Lu certainly doesn't go easy when disciplining his mount."
At that, Ancestor Lu threw back his head and laughed.
After being freed, White Deer cursed inwardly, A true man doesn't fight with women. Lü Chunyang is no man at all! She then watched Chen Tuan wandering around the garden. When he reached Bai Yu's statue, he stopped, unable to tear his eyes away, and began examining it closely.
The three of them from the Small World had already dropped to the ground. Seeing Ancestor Lu standing beneath their feet, they became convinced that they were hanging in midair for some unknown reason, yet were still able to see the three immortals.
Ancestor Lu had come out of the pavilion with the books in hand. Smiling, he said, "Tunan, if you like it, take it and have a set of Go stones made. They'll come in handy when I play against you."
Before Chen Tuan could answer, White Deer Immortal suddenly transformed into her beast form. She charged over and sent Chen Tuan flying into the flower bushes behind him, shouting angrily, "Lü Chunyang, are you trying to infuriate me to death?"
Ancestor Lu ignored White Deer. He walked over, pulled Chen Tuan up, and asked with concern, "Tunan, did this stupid deer hurt you?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Chen Tuan's mouth. He shook his head helplessly. White Deer had been far too savage.
White Deer transformed back into human form, planted her hands on her hips, and said petulantly, "Lü Chunyang, all you ever do is belittle me. You're far inferior to Donghua!"
"I am myself, and he is himself. Why should I become him?" Ancestor Lu replied disdainfully.
White Deer began crying aggrievedly. The white crane nearby flapped its wings and hurried over to comfort her.
Having suffered at her hands earlier, Chen Tuan knew he could not afford to offend White Deer, so he tried to smooth things over. "Ancestor Lu, these two stones are filled with Primordial Qi. If you listen carefully, you can even hear them confiding in each other. They seem to be a pair of Immortal Stones who are lovers."
Ancestor Lu said unhappily, "They no longer have that fortune."
Chen Tuan flattered him, "Having Ancestor Lu is their fortune."
Ancestor Lu sighed. "They originally had a chance to descend into the mortal world, undergo tribulation, and return to the immortal realm. Unfortunately, some conceited Supreme Immortal ruined it."
As he spoke, Ancestor Lu glanced at White Deer and continued, "In another ten days, the divine power of the Immortal Stones will be completely depleted. Then they'll be nothing more than ordinary stones."
Suddenly, Bai Xue in the Small World went into a frenzy and shouted, "This is fake! We're not dreaming, are we?"
Seeing that the people outside could not see them, Chen Renfeng angrily rebuked her, "Impossible! This is all real. If you don't believe me, hit yourself and see if it hurts!"
Bai Xue did not argue. She suddenly slapped Chen Qing across the face, making him cry out in pain.
Not willing to lose out, Chen Qing reached out and pinched Bai Xue's arm. She cried out in pain and shoved him away, only to discover that her arm had already turned blue.
Bai Xue's face went pale and her hands trembled. Her entire worldview had collapsed. She had studied medicine for ten years and believed only in science, not gods, ghosts, or monsters. But how was she supposed to explain what was happening now?
Bai Xue began suffering from palpitations and an accelerated heartbeat. Chen Renfeng hurriedly told her to lie down and comforted her, telling her not to be afraid and that she should accept things as they came.
Her palpitations did not ease for the time being. Chen Renfeng could only arrange for Chen Qing to carry her to the lakeside for some water and told her not to look over here anymore.
In front of their side of the world, White Deer hurried over to Ancestor Lu and asked anxiously, "What Emperor said is true?"
Ancestor Lu replied displeasedly, "When have I ever spoken falsely?"
White Deer's expression softened. She grabbed Ancestor Lu's sleeve and pleaded, "Emperor, you must have a way. Please help me, or the Queen Mother of the West will banish me to the mortal world to undergo tribulation."
"I've already said what I had to say," Ancestor Lu replied coldly. After that, he ignored her.
White Deer stood frozen at the side, scratching the back of her head as she desperately racked her brain.
Seeing this, Chen Tuan asked in confusion, "What is the origin of this pair of lovers' Immortal Stones? Why must they undergo tribulation to ascend as immortals?"
White Deer shot him a glance and retorted, "What use is it for a Void Refinement Stage cultivator like you to hear about it? I'd only be wasting my breath."
Chen Tuan found the exchange unpleasant and turned away to withdraw.
"Do not underestimate Tunan," Ancestor Lu said. "He was personally appointed by Great Brahma as the chief editor of the Chart of Heavenly Karma."
Upon hearing this, Chen Renfeng muttered to himself within the Small World, "The Chart of Heavenly Karma? Why have I never heard of it?"
Seeing Ancestor Lu praise him so highly, Chen Tuan hurriedly said, "Ancestor Lu... I..."
Ancestor Lu waved his hand, cutting him off.
When White Deer heard this, she suddenly remembered. Turning around, she ingratiatingly said, "Little immortal, it's not that I can't tell you. But do you know who I am?"
"You're Ancestor Lu's mount, White Deer," Chen Tuan replied casually.
White Deer Immortal let out a cold snort at that, then softened her tone. "Forget it. You became an immortal only recently, so I can't blame you. I came from the Thirty-six Heavens.
"These two Immortal Stones were Chaos Stones left behind by the Great Goddess Nüwa after she refined stones to repair the heavens. The Queen Mother of the West personally refined them into a pair of lovers' Immortal Stones and had me bring them to the Pure Yang Emperor!"
After hearing this, Chen Renfeng's eyes widened like bells. His worldview collapsed completely, and the situation grew more and more unbelievable. Where in the world was he?
Outside the Small World, Chen Tuan was stunned when he heard this. He hurriedly bowed and said, "This humble immortal Chen Tuan pays his respects to White Deer Supreme Immortal!"
White Deer Immortal gestured for him to rise, then slowly said, "As for these Green Stone and Bai Yu, we must start with the ancient great gods. It won't be possible to explain everything in a short while. First, tell me what the Chart of Heavenly Karma is."
Chen Tuan was taken aback. He then replied, "Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao are interconnected. 'The one who bears it comes before; the one who carries it comes after.'"
White Deer Immortal was displeased by his pedantic recital and asked, "What is it used for?"
Before you continue