The blue sky was clear and crystalline, while layer upon layer of waves rose and fell gently across the azure sea, stretching all the way to the endless horizon.
The damp sea breeze drifted in slowly, setting the countless blazing peach blossoms on the ancient tree swaying. Wave after wave of fresh floral fragrance spilled through the air, staining the small, simple bamboo house ahead with wisps of delicate perfume.
Standing before the bamboo house, Gao Xian felt the flower scent to be fresh and soft, as though even the spiritual qi circulating between heaven and sea had become pure and ethereal. Immersed in it, one felt body and spirit grow empty and luminous, light enough to float into immortality.
Gao Xian praised, "Peach blossoms blaze in splendid bloom. As expected of a Heavenly Lord's place of quiet cultivation—it gathers all the spiritual beauty of heaven and earth."
"Teacher likes peach blossoms. Every March and April, he comes here to admire them..."
Wan Yingying pointed at the ancient, towering peach tree as she introduced it to Gao Xian. "This peach tree is at least fifty thousand years old. It gained sentience thirty thousand years ago, passed its lightning tribulation twenty thousand years ago, and has already attained the sixth rank. Even I have to call it Senior Brother Peach..."
The peach tree stood six or seven zhang tall, yet its branches and leaves were extraordinarily lush, extending hundreds of zhang outward. It resembled a colossal umbrella, covering nearly half the island.
Scarlet blossoms blazed upon the tree, white blossoms gleamed brightly, and thousands upon thousands of peach flowers bloomed together like radiant clouds at sunset.
Gao Xian also liked peach blossoms. Xuandu Peak, where he had once lived, had been covered in unusual varieties of peach trees. They bloomed only