There really was an elixir of eternal youth

And atop the bronze cauldron stood an enormous bird.

It resembled a peacock, yet also the phoenix of legend, its body covered in blue, red, and gold feathers. Its form was more graceful than a peacock's, its crest like emerald, its tail feathers like tassels. Its eyes were bright and clear, without a trace of ferocity, radiating instead a gentle, sacred air. With its wings folded, it stood elegantly—

It was none other than the divine bird from the Primordial Era recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas—the Three Blue Birds!

"It's, it's the Three Blue Birds!" Someone in the livestream instantly shouted. "It's in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Western Mountains Classic! The divine bird that gathered food for the Queen Mother of the West! It's an auspicious beast from the Primordial Era! Not a vicious one!"

But even knowing it was an auspicious beast, Chen Siyao and the other three were still too frightened to move.

After all, this was a divine bird from the Primordial Era, one they had never seen before. It was large and exuded an overwhelming presence. None of them knew whether it might suddenly attack.

Yang Wanqing's teeth chattered as she muttered, "It, it's coming over... are we going to get eaten...?"

Li Li squeezed her eyes shut, her voice trembling. "I, I don't want to become a divine bird's snack..."

Chen Siyao held up her phone, keeping the camera fixed on the Three Blue Birds, her voice on the verge of tears. "Hao, Hao, help..."

The millions of livestream viewers had their hearts in their mouths, too. The comments were nothing but:

"Run!" "Celestial Master, protect them!" "Divine bird, spare them!"

Just as everyone thought a battle was about to erupt, something utterly astonishing happened—

The Three Blue Birds walked gracefully toward Chen Hao, step by step. First, it lowered its proud head and gently brushed the back of his hand with its soft feathers. Then it let out a clear, cheerful call, brimming with affection and delight. It even leaned its head toward him, asking to be petted!

There was nothing vicious about it at all.

It looked exactly like a creature reunited with its master after a long separation!

Chen Hao gave a helpless chuckle and reached out to rub the Three Blue Birds' soft crest, his tone carrying a note of familiarity. "Ten thousand years, and you haven't changed at all. Still as clingy as ever."

The Three Blue Birds circled Chen Hao affectionately, its tricolored wings sweeping across the ground and stirring up tiny glimmers of spiritual light. It was as docile as a house cat, nothing like the majestic bird that had swooped down moments earlier.

Chen Siyao and the other two were completely dumbfounded. Their hearts finally settled, only for endless shock and confusion to take over.

Yang Wanqing pointed at the Three Blue Birds, her mouth wide enough to fit an egg. "Why, why isn't it attacking anyone? And why is it so close to you?"

Cai Jingwen's eyes widened as well. "Chen Hao, you know this bird? It's a divine bird from the Classic of Mountains and Seas! It only exists in legends!"

Chen Siyao thrust the camera right up to Chen Hao's face, excited and curious. "Brother! Did you just say ten thousand years? How do you know a divine bird from the Primordial Era? What exactly is this place?"

Their barrage of questions hit precisely what the millions of viewers wanted to know. Comments surged like a tsunami as everyone waited for Chen Hao's answer.

[Hardcore Classic of Mountains and Seas Fan: The Three Blue Birds! The Queen Mother of the West's messenger! Her closest mythical beast!]

[Archaeology's Leading Authority: The Three Blue Birds + an ancient hidden realm + a black iron stone gate + white jade buildings... could, could this be the Queen Mother of the West's Palace?!]

[Crazy for Love: The Queen Mother of the West? The one from mythology? She really existed? She wasn't just a legend?]

[Chancheng Ye Family: The Queen Mother of the West... that legendary female immortal from the Primordial Era! She really existed?]

[Worker Questioning Life: What am I even watching today? Demon slaying? An expedition? Or mythology becoming reality?]

Chen Hao looked at their stunned faces, then at the Three Blue Birds fussing affectionately around him, and calmly revealed the answer:

"This isn't an ordinary ancient hidden realm. It was once the Queen Mother of the West's residence—a place where she lived."

"This Three Blue Birds was her closest mythical beast, essentially her personal attendant."

Boom—!

Those words exploded through the livestream like thunder crashing down from the highest heavens!

Millions of viewers were collectively stunned, their minds blank. After a full five seconds of silence, the flood of comments practically blew the servers apart!

[History Professor: The Queen Mother of the West really existed?! She wasn't invented for a myth?! This will shake the entire archaeological world!]

[Gift: The myths I grew up hearing were actually real history?!]

[Little Sister Yilin: Siyao, ask him! What did the Queen Mother of the West look like? Did she really have a leopard's tail and tiger's teeth?]

[Waiting: The Three Blue Birds stood guard for three thousand years! Just to wait for Chen Hao?!]

Chen Siyao and the other two had completely lost the ability to speak. They looked at one another, their eyes filled with the disbelief of people wondering whether they were dreaming.

Yang Wanqing mechanically turned toward the white jade towers in the Secret Realm and murmured, "The place where the Queen Mother of the West lived... I actually got to see a place from mythology..."

Li Li pinched herself, grimacing at the pain. "It's real! This isn't a dream! We really entered the Queen Mother of the West's Palace!"

Chen Siyao was the first to recover. Holding up her phone, she spoke in a voice trembling with excitement. "Did everyone hear that? This is the Queen Mother of the West's Palace! The myths are real! The Queen Mother of the West really existed!"

The Three Blue Birds seemed to understand their conversation. It lifted its head, puffed out its chest, and gave a clear cry, as though confirming Chen Hao's words. Then it spread its wings and flew ahead of him, leading the way deeper into the Secret Realm.

Chen Hao chuckled and followed. "Come on. I'll take you inside for a look."

The group followed the Three Blue Birds into the Secret Realm of the Queen Mother of the West's Palace. Smooth, lustrous white jade steps lay beneath their feet. On either side grew spiritual flowers and rare plants that had not withered in a thousand years. The streams were crystal clear, with ancient spiritual fish, transparent from head to tail, swimming within them. Every view was as beautiful as a painting, making them reluctant to leave.

But most astonishing of all were the densely packed inscriptions covering the stone walls around the chamber.

"These are..." Cai Jingwen stepped closer. "These characters are different from the ones outside."

Chen Hao glanced at them. "This is the Queen Mother of the West's own writing."

"She wrote this herself?" Chen Siyao's eyes widened. "Hao, can you read it?"

Chen Hao nodded, his gaze passing over the inscriptions as he slowly read aloud:

"I am the Queen Mother of the West. I dwell upon the hills of Kunlun and hold the Elixir of Immortality. Through ten thousand years, I have witnessed the changing fortunes of the mortal world. Now I shall depart, leaving these remains to await one brought here by fate..."

His voice echoed through the stone chamber, carrying an indescribable weight of ages.

Everyone in the livestream fell silent.

[Capital City University_Professor Li: This... this is the Queen Mother of the West's own account?! It's priceless! Absolutely priceless!]

[No More Being a Rat: I've got goosebumps.]

[One Storehouse: So the Queen Mother of the West really existed? And lived for over ten thousand years?]

[Snow Blows at the East Gate: The Elixir of Immortality... there really is an elixir that grants eternal life and youth?]

[Slightly Warm: If this is true, human history will have to be rewritten.]

Chen Siyao couldn't help asking, "Hao, is the 'Elixir of Immortality' she mentioned the legendary elixir of eternal youth?"

Chen Hao looked at her, fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes."

"It really exists?" Yang Wanqing's eyes lit up. "Where is it?"

Chen Hao said nothing and turned toward a corner of the stone chamber.

There was a small stone niche there, with a jade jar inside.

He reached out, picked up the jar, and gently opened it.

A delicate fragrance instantly filled the air.

Everyone leaned in to look. The jade jar was filled with pills the size of longan fruit, each translucent and glowing with a faint golden light.

"This is... the Agelessness Elixir?" Even Cai Jingwen's voice trembled.

Chen Hao nodded. "The Queen Mother of the West refined them. There are about three hundred left."

Three hundred!

The livestream erupted:

[I Am Ying Zheng: Three... three hundred?! I'm stunned!]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: Can one pill grant eternal life and youth?]

[Snow Blows at the East Gate: Wait, doesn't eating one make you immortal and eternally young? Why are there so many left?]

[Levelheaded Guy: Exactly. If they really grant eternal life and youth, why didn't the Queen Mother of the West take them herself?]

[So Annoyed: Good point. Is there some kind of catch?]

Chen Hao glanced at the comments and said evenly, "Who said eating one would grant eternal life and youth?"