"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you should know that Senior Lin's calligraphy contains boundless mysteries. Only someone who has reached the perfected realm of the Five-Pass Breakthrough can activate the great divine power hidden within it."
The Cheng Family Ancestor smiled. "As for this piece... 'Onward, ever onward, through a thousand miles of misty waves, beneath heavy evening haze and the vast skies of Chu.' Just as the verse suggests, its form embodies the immensity of a distant journey. The great divine power within it is enough to transcend heaven and earth, tear open the firmament, and breach the boundary between the mortal world and the Heavenly Realm to create a passage. Even if Immortals and Gods cannot cross it, it can still accommodate a few inanimate objects."
"The Way of Heaven and Earth?"
Understanding dawned on Xiao Sui, and she exclaimed in admiration, "There are quite a few people in the mortal world who cultivate the Way of Heaven and Earth, but I've never heard of anyone capable of breaking through the barrier between the mortal world and the Heavenly Realm. What a truly great divine power!"
The members of the Cheng Family were so stunned that they could not speak.
Commissioning those two Other Shore Straw Dolls alone had consumed more than half the Cheng Family's wealth. Even an expert in the Five-Pass Breakthrough realm would probably feel considerable pain at parting with one.
That was why the grand elder had hesitated so much when Cheng Buxiu said he wanted to use an Other Shore Straw Doll.
Yet even such a precious Other Shore Straw Doll could do no more than allow a sliver of an ascended immortal's divine sense and will to cross space and barely descend into the mortal world.
The divide between heaven and mortals was an eternal separation!
Even a Banished Immortal descending to the mortal world had their immortal body destroyed on the Immortal-Slaying Platform and their Primordial Spirit sealed, reducing them to a mortal. An immortal's reincarnation likewise involved their Primordial Spirit being reborn into a new body.
From ancient times to the present, no one had ever heard of an Immortal or God descending into the mortal world in their actual body. At most, they could send down inanimate objects such as heavenly treasures and immortal pills, and even that was merely legend.
Yet this seemingly unremarkable piece of calligraphy could actually bring physical objects down from the Heavenly Realm?
Unbelievable...
Compared with this piece of calligraphy, an Other Shore Straw Doll was not even in the same league!
Thus, when they heard about the great divine power contained within the calligraphy, everyone felt as though they were listening to a myth, something dreamlike and inconceivable.
At the same time, their astonishment and curiosity only grew-
Could Senior Lin be the reincarnation of some great figure from the Heavenly Realm?
"Judging by the power of the divine ability contained in this calligraphy, sending down a few immortal fruits shouldn't be difficult."
The Cheng Family Ancestor smiled. "Fortunately, thanks to Fellow Daoist Xiao's guidance before I ascended, I was lucky enough to receive a few Lesser Immortal Peaches. Although they're the variety that ripens once every three thousand years, the immortal spiritual energy within them should be enough to replenish Lanhai's vitality."
At his words, the members of the Cheng Family were both delighted and excited.
These were the legendary immortal treasures-Immortal Peaches! Whether they ripened once every three thousand, six thousand, or nine thousand years, mortal cultivators had no right to taste them.
Their ancestor had actually obtained such treasures, and he was going to send them down?
"Lesser Immortal Peaches?"
Xiao Sui smiled. "You certainly acted quickly, Fellow Daoist Cheng."
"I have your guidance to thank for that, Fellow Daoist Xiao." The Cheng Family Ancestor smiled. "I still have four Lesser Immortal Peaches here. One will be used to treat Lanhai, one will be a gift to you, and the other two will go to Senior Lin. Do you have any objections?"
Xiao Sui shook her head. "That won't do."
The Cheng Family Ancestor frowned slightly. "Then... how many do you want, Fellow Daoist Xiao?"
"I don't need any."
Xiao Sui smiled faintly. "They're only Lesser Immortal Peaches of the three-thousand-year variety. I've eaten quite a few already, and they won't benefit me much as I am now. Give all three to Senior Lin. A treasure possessing such a great divine power is far more precious than these few Lesser Immortal Peaches."
Then she added with a smile, "Of course, someone like Senior Lin probably cares even less about a few Lesser Immortal Peaches."
"Whether Senior Lin cares or not, we juniors must still convey our gratitude," the Cheng Family Ancestor said with a smile.
"That's thoughtful of you, Fellow Daoist Cheng."
Xiao Sui smiled. "However, Senior Lin has always preferred peace and quiet, and he only takes an interest in those brought to him by fate. Now that your entire family knows about him, I'm afraid they might disturb him."
The Cheng Family Ancestor pondered briefly, then said coldly, "All you juniors of the Cheng Family, listen carefully. Apart from Buxiu and Qiyue, who have already met Senior Lin, anyone who dares disturb him will be deemed to have defied the family and punished according to our rules. There will be no mercy. Do you understand?"
The members of the Cheng Family shuddered inwardly. Several elders who had been planning to seek out Senior Lin and try their luck at gaining an immortal opportunity immediately abandoned the thought.
The punishment for defying the family was death!
"Yes, Ancestor."
None of them dared hesitate, and they immediately voiced their assent.
At the same time, they grew even more envious and jealous of Cheng Buxiu and his daughter, Cheng Qiyue. Those two had actually been fortunate enough to meet that senior?
"I will send down four Lesser Immortal Peaches and a volume of Immortal Seal Script."
The Cheng Family Ancestor gave his instructions calmly. "The Immortal Seal Script records some more advanced Artifact Condensation and Pill Refining Methods. Members of our Cheng Family may try to comprehend them. As for the Lesser Immortal Peaches... give one to Lanhai. It will be enough to save his life. Have Qiyue deliver the other three to Senior Lin on my behalf."
As he spoke, he smiled at Cheng Qiyue. Although he did not know why Senior Lin had taken an interest in this descendant, Senior Lin must have recognized something unique about her. Having her deliver a few Lesser Immortal Peaches might earn her his favor as well.
"Me?" Cheng Qiyue felt a little apprehensive.
They wanted a mere First Heavenly Pass cultivator like her to deliver such precious treasures, legendary delicacies of the immortals?
Xiao Sui seemed to notice her concern and smiled. "Don't worry. Since these belong to Senior Lin, no one in this world will dare touch them."
"Get ready to receive them."
As the Cheng Family Ancestor spoke, his eyes brightened. A sliver of divine sense entered the calligraphy in Cheng Qiyue's hands, drawing out the divine power hidden deep within it.
Rumble...
The next moment, the calligraphy in Cheng Qiyue's hands slowly floated into the air, its slightly yellowed white rice paper trembling incessantly.
The jet-black characters trembled and flew off the paper. The words "Onward, ever onward, through a thousand miles of misty waves, beneath heavy evening haze and the vast skies of Chu" wound through the air like a long snake, circling and dancing faster and faster.
Then the ink characters abruptly shattered into countless tiny streaks of light. They whirled almost frantically along a perfectly circular path, distorting even space itself.
At that moment, an invisible roar seemed to resound through the nine heavens.
Riiip-
The distorted ring of space suddenly shattered, seemingly forming a dark, unfathomable passage. A circular opening appeared in the air, its broken edges displaying all manner of indescribable colors, as though they contained everything, yet were also nothingness.
From the other end of the passage came a faint, mysterious, inexplicable aura.
-The aura of an immortal.
"Shattering the void!"
The members of the Cheng Family watched in utter astonishment.
Then several dark shapes passed through the passage, causing it to shudder slowly. It seemed to struggle under the burden of these objects and grew somewhat unstable.
With a wave of her hand, Xiao Sui caught the dark shapes.
They were four peaches the size of a baby's fist, looking utterly ordinary and even a little green, along with a thin book made of gold leaf.
"This passage has nearly reached its limit."
Within the firelight, the Cheng Family Ancestor said calmly, "I shouldn't concern myself too much with mortal affairs. From now on, unless the Cheng Family faces a disaster that threatens its extermination, do not contact me. If I obtain anything beneficial that I can give you, I will naturally contact you myself."
Finally, he added, "Of course, if Senior Lin wishes to contact me, reach out at any time. Do not waste his time. Have you remembered that?"
"Yes, Ancestor."
The members of the Cheng Family did not dare refuse and could only voice their assent.
"That is all I have to say. Conduct yourselves well."
Having finished, the Cheng Family Ancestor glanced at Xiao Sui and smiled. "Then we shall meet in the Heavenly Realm, Fellow Daoist Xiao."
"If nothing unexpected happens, that day will come."
Xiao Sui nodded slightly, then froze. "Did I just raise a flag?"
Before anyone could think further, the flames consuming the Other Shore Straw Doll burned out. The circular passage began shrinking until it vanished. In the blink of an eye, the shattered space had completely closed.
Only embers drifted through the air, while the blank sheet of calligraphy, its ink characters now gone, slowly fluttered to the ground.
PS: (I just realized today's update is nearly six thousand characters again. And this time I didn't cut the chapter off on a cliffhanger, so I can shamelessly ask for recommendation votes and tips~~)