Chapter 46

Qin Manyun rubbed her eyes, thinking she might be hallucinating.

Upon a closer look, she realized that Luo Huang was not alone; Zhong Xiu was with him.

What are they here for? To listen to a story?

Luo Shiyu coming to listen to a story could be excused as she is young, but they have lived for hundreds of years. It seems a bit out of place for them to listen to stories.

Moreover, Luo Huang was just furious, his face contorted with worry. How could he think of coming to listen to a story so soon?

However, looking at Luo Huang's eager expression, it seemed he was indeed here to listen to a story.

Luo Huang arrived late, and the front rows of the tavern were already full. He did not push his way in but stood politely at the back, his expression focused and respectful.

He also noticed Luo Shiyu and Qin Manyun and directly transmitted his voice: "Shiyu, you are so unfair. You came early and didn't even help your father get a seat!"

Luo Shiyu rolled her eyes and ignored him.

Qin Manyun was stunned. From the looks of it, they were regulars here. What kind of story could attract even Luo Huang?

She realized something was unusual and her expression grew serious as she prepared to listen attentively.

Meng Junliang sat in the center of the tavern, slowly opening a scroll and said calmly, "I have received the mandate of the Sage to start from Luoxian City and spread the Dao westward. Those with a karmic connection may enter my door and become my disciples."

"Continuing from the last chapter, Sun Wukong, by the order of the Jade Emperor, was appointed to manage the Peach Garden. The Great Sage played around for a while and asked the land god, 'How many trees are there in this garden?' The land god replied, 'There are 3,600 trees: the first 1,200 have small flowers and fruits, which ripen every 3,000 years. Eating them can make one an immortal, with a light and healthy body. The next 1,200 have layered flowers and sweet fruits, which ripen every 6,000 years. Eating them can make one ascend to the heavens and live forever. The last 1,200 have purple-patterned fruits, which ripen every 9,000 years. Eating them can make one live as long as heaven and earth, and as eternal as the sun and moon.' The Great Sage was overjoyed upon hearing this..."

Everyone in the tavern was captivated, wondering what the peaches looked like.

Qin Manyun had only come with a try-it-out attitude, but the opening chapter completely drew her in.

Her mouth slightly open, she wore an incredulous expression.

Peaches? How could such immortal fruits exist in the world?

Wouldn't eating one make one an immortal? Why bother cultivating then?

This was the first time she had heard of such immortal fruits, something she had never even dared to imagine.

"Shiyu, is what this scholar is saying true?" she couldn't help but ask.

Luo Shiyu, who was deeply engrossed, was somewhat displeased at the sudden interruption. "You are the Holy Maiden of Lianxian Dao Palace, how can you be so surprised?"

But she still explained in a low voice, "Of course it's true. The stories here are definitely about the immortal world, and they are very likely the experiences of that great figure!"

"Wow—"

Qin Manyun drew a sharp breath, feeling her scalp tingle and her body covered in goosebumps.

Does that mean this great figure has encountered the peaches?

It's too terrifying, too unbelievable!

Meng Junliang did not pause and continued, "The Jade Emperor was furious. He immediately dispatched the Four Heavenly Kings, along with Li Tianwang and Nezha, to lead 28 constellations, nine luminous stars, 12 celestial deities, five directional protectors, four duty officials, eastern and western stars, northern and southern gods, five mountains, and four rivers, a total of 100,000 heavenly soldiers, to set up 18 layers of heavenly nets and earth traps to besiege Flower-Fruit Mountain and capture the culprit..."

Ordinary people listened with rapt attention, while cultivators like Luo Huang were deeply shocked, their minds buzzing.

Every element in the story was refreshing their worldview.

The peaches were already incredible, but there were also the immortal elixirs of Laozi and the nectar and ambrosia of the Heavenly Court, each capable of granting immortality!

Their faces were complex. Who would have thought that the path to immortality, which they had been pursuing so desperately, was so easy for the inhabitants of the Heavenly Palace, just a peach away.

When they heard that Sun Wukong had eaten all the peaches in the garden by himself, Qin Manyun couldn't help but breathe heavily, inwardly shouting, "Give me one, even an unripe one would do!"

Then, Sun Wukong stole all of Laozi's immortal elixirs and drank all the immortal wine, making Qin Manyun and others' eyes turn red, a scene that enraged both gods and humans.

What a waste of divine treasures, what a waste!

At this point, even though Sun Wukong was the protagonist, they couldn't help but feel resentment.

Ugh, envy, jealousy, and hatred.

However, when they heard that the Heavenly Court was gathering troops to head to Flower-Fruit Mountain, they couldn't help but hold their breath, worrying for Sun Wukong.

Qin Manyun's doubts had long vanished, replaced by deep shock.

"Shiyu was right. This is not just telling a story, but spreading the Dao!" Qin Manyun took a deep breath, feeling a new world unfolding before her.

She didn't even dare to breathe, staring intently at Meng Junliang, not wanting to miss a single word.

100,000 heavenly soldiers besieging Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Just thinking about it made her blood boil and her heart race, sending chills down her spine.

That's 100,000 heavenly soldiers, 100,000 immortals. The significance of immortals to the cultivation world is self-evident.

It was too shocking, too unbelievable.

The entire tavern was silent, even the sound of breathing seemed to have disappeared.

The subsequent battle did not disappoint.

Various deities displayed their divine powers, moving mountains, filling seas, shifting stars, and controlling thunder, effortlessly altering the world.

Seventy-two transformations, battles of wits and courage.

Eyes of千里 (thousand miles), ears of顺风 (favorable wind), and the火眼金睛 (fiery eyes), one after another, these divine powers were displayed before everyone.

Too powerful!

Worthy of being immortals!

Compared to this, the techniques of cultivators were like children's play, not worthy of high praise.

Is this the world of immortals?

Qin Manyun, who had once been proud of being the Holy Maiden of Lianxian Dao Palace, now deeply felt her own insignificance.

She suddenly had a moment of enlightenment.

No wonder this scholar chose to spread the Dao in the mortal world. This is clearly to temper my mind!

When I first came, I was annoyed by the attention of mortals, thinking myself superior. But in the eyes of those immortals, am I not just an ant?

Whether it's this scholar or the great figure mentioned by Luo Shiyu, despite their immense cultivation, they ultimately returned to their mortal bodies and retired.

Only by experiencing the vastness of the universe can one treat all things with a calm mind. If I can't change my high-and-mighty attitude, I will likely never become an immortal.

Qin Manyun had a sudden realization at this moment.

Luo Shiyu, standing beside her, was slightly stunned and looked at Qin Manyun in surprise. She felt that Qin Manyun was different from before.

Though they were good sisters, the gap in their status always created a subtle distance. Now, that distance was gone, and she suddenly found Qin Manyun much more pleasant to look at.