Hua Dou had just stepped through the gate when he saw a towering tree, its branches lush and leaves thick, reaching into the clouds. A dozen or so small, pale-yellow fruits hung from it, their shapes only faintly resembling human figures. They didn't seem ripe yet. This must be the famous Ginseng Fruit Tree of the Primordial Great Land, he thought.
Great Immortal Zhen Yuan had already been waiting for the two of them in the main hall. He wore a yellow Daoist robe, his brows kind and his eyes gentle. In one hand he held a horsetail whisk, and in the other, the Earth Book. His whole bearing radiated warmth.
"Forgive my momentary negligence, Daoist friend. I've neglected you," said Great Immortal Zhen Yuan. "Qingfeng, Mingyue, go pick a few fruits."
Qingfeng and Mingyue stared blankly at him, then couldn't help asking, "Master, how many should we pick?" The Ginseng Fruit Tree bloomed once every three thousand years, bore fruit after another three thousand, and ripened after a further three thousand. It produced only thirty fruits in ten thousand years. Whenever Zhen Yuanzi had received guests before, he had always told his disciples exactly how many to pick. This was the first time he had simply told them to pick some, without naming a number. Qingfeng wasn't sure what to do. He feared picking too few and embarrassing his master, making him angry; he also feared accidentally picking too many and upsetting him.
Hua Dou smiled quietly. "Four will be enough. To have the good fortune of seeing the legendary Grass-Returning Elixir is a blessing in itself."
"Though these Ginseng Fruits are priceless to mortals, they're nothing to a guest of your stature," said Great Immortal Zhen Yuan. "Hurry and go!"
"You jest, Daoist friend," Hua Dou replied. "The