Chapter 14

Zhuang Yan said, "Perhaps one day, a monk carrying a great treasure and possessing profound cultivation will pass through Guangci Prefecture. After hearing of your deeds, he will debate scriptures and Dharma with you. You will lose. Then you will fight him with magic, and you will be defeated. Guangci Prefecture will return to the Buddhist Sect, while you can only perish and fall into reincarnation."

Fire Spirit True Immortal asked in surprise, "How could such a formidable monk appear out of nowhere?"

"Indeed, how could a monk capable of taking your life happen to appear?" Zhuang Yan countered.

Seeing Zhuang Yan's expression, Fire Spirit True Immortal seemed to realize something. Zhuang Yan continued, "The affairs of the world are like cultivation: cyclical and recurring, ultimately unable to escape reincarnation."

"It is not that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot tolerate you, but that the greater tide of the Buddhist Sect cannot be defied. The Buddhist Sect has deep foundations. Among the mounts of those Bodhisattvas alone, there are countless beings capable of taking your life." Zhuang Yan's tone was calm.

Fire Spirit True Immortal let out a long sigh. At last, she understood what Zhuang Yan had meant by "saving her life." She said with emotion, "Is it truly so difficult for a cultivator with no roots or backing to seek immortality?"

Zhuang Yan said, "The path to immortality has never been easy."

Fire Spirit True Immortal said gloomily, "Even after becoming an Earth Immortal, one only has six thousand years of life. When the end comes, one must face tribulation and enter reincarnation."

"Is six thousand years so short?" Zhuang Yan said. "A dynasty's fortune lasts only eight hundred years, while mortals live no more than a hundred and twenty."

Fire Spirit True Immortal said resolutely, "The Great Dao is boundless. I do not care how mortals live. I seek only immortality, to continue pursuing the Great Dao forever."

Zhuang Yan said flatly, "The positions of fruition between heaven and earth are fixed in number. Your wish for immortality is nothing more than a fool's dream."

Fire Spirit True Immortal suddenly fixed her gaze on Zhuang Yan. "You are merely at the Spirit Refinement and Return to Void realm, yet you sealed me with such ease. Such magical power is anything but ordinary."

With that, she abruptly dropped to her knees. "Since you have saved me, I beg you to guide me. How should I seek immortality?"

"Where does the road lie?" Zhuang Yan chuckled. "The road lies beneath your feet."

Fire Spirit True Immortal lowered her head to look at the ground, then immediately understood. She repeatedly kowtowed. "Fire Spirit is willing to follow you in cultivation. I will brave fire and water without hesitation."

Zhuang Yan said calmly, "I am merely the insignificant Mountain God of Lingtai. Are you still willing to follow me?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal did not hesitate. "I am willing! Fire Spirit pays respects to the Mountain God." She solemnly kowtowed three times.

Zhuang Yan nodded. "Good. My Mountain God Temple happens to lack a Mountain Guard General. Are you willing?"

"This little immortal is willing!" Fire Spirit True Immortal bowed again.

"Mm." Zhuang Yan took out the Mountain God Jade Scroll and entered Fire Spirit True Immortal's name into it. This Mountain Guard General was not an immortal official of the Heavenly Court, merely one of Zhuang Yan's Grass Head Gods.

Immortal officials held official positions in the Heavenly Court. Once ranked among the immortals, they enjoyed heavenly emoluments. Such status was not easily obtained.

But Grass Head Gods had a chance to become official. As long as they rendered meritorious service, they could receive rewards from the Heavenly Court.

This was far easier than obtaining a position of fruition in the Daoist Sect or Buddhist Sect. Those two demanded merit while also judging one's background, virtue, and even affinity.

The Heavenly Court was different. As long as one possessed great divine abilities or rendered great service, one could potentially enter the Immortal Rank.

Thus, the cultivation world had a saying: to attain true fruition, first become a Grass Head God.

Holding the Three Treasures Silver Pestle, Zhuang Yan offered it to Fire Spirit True Immortal. "Now that you have entered my service, I grant you this spirit treasure. I hope you will use it well."

Fire Spirit True Immortal's eyes lit up. She could barely conceal her delight as she looked at the Magic Tool flowing with Buddhist light. She respectfully accepted the silver pestle and bowed. "Thank you for your generous reward, Mountain Lord."

She possessed several true treasures, but none could compare to this spirit treasure. She had received such a great reward immediately after joining him. This Mountain God of Lingtai was indeed worthy of her loyalty!

After subduing Fire Spirit True Immortal, Zhuang Yan cultivated diligently in his retreat. Every ten days, he consumed one Suoluo Immortal Fruit, dividing its spiritual power between his magical power and physical body.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. On the third day after refining the final immortal fruit, the opportunity for a breakthrough arrived as expected.

Magical power surged within him like a tide. The Five Qi in the Chest gathered together, and a dazzling radiance burst from the Niwan Palace. Carrying the Five Qi, this light shot directly toward his spirit platform. Then countless streams of magical power erupted from the Niwan Palace, transforming into rainbow clouds that lifted the Five Qi to the summit of the spirit platform.

The Five Qi blossomed in the air, and treasure light instantly illuminated the entire spirit platform. An unceasing flow of magical power continued to pour in as the Five Qi gradually solidified. In an instant, they transformed into a golden lotus that hung overhead, scattering clear radiance.

The Niwan Palace shone brilliantly, and Zhuang Yan's aura abruptly changed. Once the golden lotus took shape, the surging magical power gradually settled. Only the lotus's shadow remained floating in the air, and the spirit platform returned to clarity.

As he breathed in and out, Zhuang Yan opened his eyes. His skin was lustrous as jade, and his bearing was transcendent—he had advanced from Spirit Refinement and Return to Void into the realm of Refining Void into Dao.

The profundity of this realm perfectly matched the saying:

When Five Qi Facing the Origin enter the spirit platform, the mysterious treasure lotus blooms of itself. Should one someday obtain true heavenly Dharma, three flowers atop the head will shake the land.

On South Cliff Slope of Mount Fangcun, Patriarch Bodhi gently stroked a Longevity Immortal Peach hanging from a branch and smiled. "This tree grew from a sapling given by Old Man of the South Pole. I planted it only this spring, yet it has already borne abundant fruit by year's end."

He picked two more and gave them to the two young attendants, Xianyun and Guhe. The children held the peaches and leapt with joy. "Thank you for your gift, Patriarch."

"Though this peach only adds ten years to one's lifespan, it bears fruit every year." Patriarch Bodhi's gaze swept over the peach grove before he said to Guhe, "Later, pick ten and deliver them to my Daoist friend, to congratulate him on advancing into the Refining Void into Dao realm."

Guhe hurriedly swallowed the peach flesh in his mouth and respectfully answered, "As you command, Patriarch."

"Distribute the rest among everyone. One for each person, neither more nor less. That is the number ordained by heaven." Patriarch Bodhi flicked his whisk and drifted back to the Daoist grounds.

A short while later, Guhe arrived before the Mountain God Temple carrying a basket of Longevity Immortal Peaches.

Fire Spirit True Immortal sat cross-legged atop the temple roof, concentrating on cultivating the Three Treasures Silver Pestle. She did not notice anyone approaching.

Guhe saw her first. His brows furrowed slightly as he said, "You are quite presumptuous. The Mountain God Temple is a solemn place. How can you sit high upon its roof? That is disrespectful to the deity."

Fire Spirit True Immortal opened her eyes and looked down. She could not see through the depth of this child's cultivation, and alarm rose in her heart. She immediately restrained her aura and leaped down, landing before Guhe. Cupping her fists, she said, "I am the Mountain Guard General under the Mountain God, known as Fire Spirit True Immortal."

Guhe suddenly understood. "So you are the Fire Spirit True Immortal who caused havoc in Guangci Prefecture and forcibly seized the Buddhist Sect's incense offerings?"

"Precisely." Fire Spirit True Immortal raised a brow. "I did not expect even a mountain child to know my name."

Guhe smiled faintly. "Patriarch once said that if the Mountain God of Lingtai had not subdued you, you would certainly have met your doom within ten years, with both body and soul scattered."

Fire Spirit True Immortal froze, then hurriedly asked, "Who is your Patriarch?"

"His Daoist name is Subhuti. The world respectfully calls him Patriarch Bodhi."

"Subhuti?" Fire Spirit True Immortal asked doubtfully. "Could he be one of the Buddha's ten great disciples?"

"No." Guhe shook his head. "The Buddhist Subhuti specializes in Buddhist Dharma. My Patriarch has mastered the true essence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. He is an immeasurable True Immortal of this age."

After hearing this, Fire Spirit True Immortal relaxed slightly, but she remained suspicious. "Why have I never heard of such a person? Are you merely boasting?"

A trace of pride surfaced on Guhe's youthful face. "A frog in a well cannot speak of the sea. Mountain Guard General, is the Mountain God in the temple?"

Seeing his extraordinary bearing, Fire Spirit True Immortal gained a measure of respect for Patriarch Bodhi. "He is."

"Please announce me."

Fire Spirit True Immortal waved a hand. "The Mountain Lord has ordered that all beings may enter the hall directly to pay their respects. No announcement is needed."

Guhe said seriously, "The Mountain God and Patriarch share a deep friendship. Etiquette must not be neglected. I ask that you announce me on my behalf, General."

Fire Spirit True Immortal was helpless and was about to turn around when she saw a graceful figure standing at the hall entrance. She hurriedly bowed. "Mountain Lord."

Guhe also stepped forward and bowed. "By Patriarch's order, I have brought ten Longevity Immortal Peaches to congratulate the Mountain God on advancing in cultivation."

Zhuang Yan descended the steps and smiled at the bamboo basket. "Patriarch's generous gift has deeply moved me."

Guhe respectfully said, "Patriarch said that the Mountain God of Lingtai shares a deep friendship with him. Now that his Daoist friend's cultivation has advanced greatly, it is only proper to prepare a gift in congratulations."

The child continued, "This Longevity Immortal Peach tree grew from a sapling Old Man of the South Pole gave Patriarch. It was planted on South Cliff Slope of Mount Fangcun this spring and has borne many fruits. Aside from those distributed to the immortal friends, Patriarch ordered me to deliver all the rest here. Please accept them, Mountain God."

Zhuang Yan accepted the basket of fruit and nodded. "Convey my thanks to Patriarch. Another day, I will certainly visit the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars in person to thank him."

Guhe bowed and replied, "I will obey the Mountain God's instructions. This child takes his leave." With that, he rode the clouds into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he returned to Mount Fangcun.

After the child departed, Fire Spirit True Immortal stepped closer and examined the basket of peaches. Curious, she asked, "Mountain Lord, who exactly is this Patriarch Bodhi? How could he receive an immortal tree from Old Man of the South Pole?"

Zhuang Yan smiled. "Patriarch's origins are unfathomable, but even the spells he imparts casually are enough to transform one completely and make one awe-inspiring in a region."

"Is he truly so extraordinary?" Fire Spirit True Immortal looked astonished.

Zhuang Yan activated his Cave Heaven True Sight and carefully examined the immortal peaches. He took out two and handed them to her. "These are Longevity Immortal Peaches. Eating one extends your lifespan by ten years."

Fire Spirit True Immortal accepted the peaches, looking somewhat disappointed. "An immortal tree from the old Star of Longevity, yet its fruit only adds ten years to one's lifespan?"

Zhuang Yan smiled. "This peach ripens once a year."

Fire Spirit True Immortal suddenly understood—if it bore ten fruits each year, that meant a hundred years of lifespan. Planting such an immortal tree was equivalent to extending one's life by a hundred years every year.

Her eyes flickered as she thought of how difficult it had once been to fight over incense offerings in pursuit of immortality, while a great power needed only a single tree to enjoy everlasting life.

Clutching the peach tightly, a thought suddenly arose in her mind. Could the pit be planted?

Zhuang Yan saw through her thoughts and smiled. "Do not set your sights on the peach pit. A common peach pit can only grow an ordinary peach tree. Only cuttings from the mother tree can inherit its treasure essence. Otherwise, why would Old Man of the South Pole have gifted a branch?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal was still unwilling to give up. "I wish to try."

Zhuang Yan did not care. "As you wish."

She put away the immortal peaches and solemnly bowed. "Congratulations, Mountain Lord, on breaking through to the Refining Void into Dao realm."

Zhuang Yan flicked his sleeve. "I will continue my secluded cultivation. You are to patrol Spirit Platform Mountain every ten days and inspect the mountains and rivers of Guangci Prefecture every month. Should you encounter demons or evil beings harming people, kill them without mercy."

Fire Spirit True Immortal accepted the order solemnly. "This subordinate obeys."

Zhuang Yan transformed into divine light and vanished into the retreat. Silence returned to the mountains.

After Zhuang Yan returned to his retreat, Fire Spirit True Immortal lightly leaped onto the roof and lazily lay across the tiles.

Basking in the warm sunlight and facing the gentle breeze, she took a Longevity Immortal Peach from her sleeve and slowly savored it.

Time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside Zhuang Yan's retreat, he looked at the accumulated 270 points of Heavenly Dao Power and began making plans.

Spending 200 points could add or restore one major ability. He examined his six existing abilities: Add Status, infinite space, Cave Heaven True Sight, Instantaneous Refinement, One Thought Capture, and One Thought Seal.

He decided to unlock "Infinite Dodge" to remove the limits of distance. After confirming his choice, he refined the Heavenly Dao Power. In an instant, a crisp notification rang in his mind: "Infinite Dodge" had been added.