Chapter 693: Immortal Tree

Shi Jin was also a bold and meticulous man, with a resolute and decisive nature.

He quickly made up his mind: even just forging a slight connection with a Nascent Soul True Person was worth a gamble.

It’s better to shelter under a big tree!

“Master Shi, you truly speak with speed and candor—how refreshing!” Hua Tianxiong smiled warmly.

Shi Jin then asked, “So what’s our next step?”

“No rush. Let’s first enjoy ten days or even half a month in Tianlan Xiancheng—this island is so vast, there must be plenty of interesting things to see.”

“We’ll start by thoroughly learning the lay of the land.”

“All expenses are on me.”

Hua Tianxiong said with a smile.

“Master Hua, you truly embody righteousness beyond the clouds! I love doing business with people like you—hahaha!”

…

Tianlan Xiancheng.

Just after Qin Ming departed, a golden lightning-like streak slashed across the sky, passing through Tianlan Xiancheng’s fourth-rank supreme protective array as if it were nothing, and instantly landed atop the sacred palace’s dome.

The aura faded, revealing an elderly man in golden robes, his hair and beard pure white, his face benevolent and kind, radiating the spiritual pressure of a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator.

From within the Tianlan Sacred Palace, Xia Yuangong shot forth, smiling at the golden-robed elder: “Master Longyangzi, how unlucky—you’ve returned just a step too late!”

Longyangzi showed a hint of surprise, noting Xia Yuangong’s smug expression, and asked curiously, “What do you mean, Brother Xia? Did you somehow acquire something valuable again?”

“Hehe! Just now, the Moonwatching True Person from the Southern Wastes left—barely missed you.” Xia Yuangong chuckled.

Longyangzi asked with interest, “Oh? Him? I’ve heard of him—he’s said to be a legendary cultivator from the Southern Wastes, full of determination.”

“He supposedly rose from the lowest ranks of spirit farmers, inching his way up to our level. Such perseverance and fortune are truly rare—if I hadn’t been occupied, I’d have attended his Nascent Soul ceremony just to drink a toast and make his acquaintance.”

“Exactly. Qin Ming spent most of the day exchanging items with me before leaving—he’s likely heading to Penglai Sect to visit Longmu True Person.”

“That old woman got there first! Sigh!” Longyangzi shook his head. “Judging by your smug look, you must’ve swapped something you wanted from Qin Ming—show it to me.”

Xia Yuangong smiled lightly and pulled out a jade box containing the fourth-rank demonic blood-scaled python’s core, handing it to Longyangzi.

“A fourth-rank demonic core!” Longyangzi gasped upon opening the box.

But after closer inspection, he frowned. “The demonic soul has been extinguished—most of its essence has leaked away. A pity.”

Fourth-rank shape-shifting demonic saints generally far surpass human cultivators of the same stage; even an early-stage demonic saint rivals a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, making them exceedingly hard to kill.

Thus, even for us Nascent Soul elders, obtaining a fourth-rank demonic core is extraordinarily difficult.

Even as the chief and deputy commanders of Tianlan Xiancheng, with our vast experience, we’ve only seen such cores a handful of times in major events—let alone acquired one.

With my mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, I wouldn’t dare claim I could kill a fourth-rank early-stage shape-shifting demon—best case, I’d hold my ground.

If I encountered a mid-stage fourth-rank demonic saint, I’d have no choice but to retreat.

“Master Xia, did you ask him where this core came from?” Longyangzi asked.

Xia Yuangong smiled faintly. “How could I ask such things? I’m already grateful he traded it to me.”

“Hmm. I find it odd—this core seems extremely fresh. It must have been extracted from the beast within the last few years.” Longyangzi pondered briefly, then said.

Xia Yuangong replied, “Impossible. Qin Ming likely obtained this from elsewhere. With his newly attained Nascent Soul cultivation, he clearly couldn’t have slain a fourth-rank beast himself.”

“Hmm. It seems this young man truly has exceptional abilities,” Longyangzi nodded in agreement.

“It’s more than that, Longyangzi. Do you know what Qin Ming traded with me?” Xia Yuangong asked with a meaningful tone.

Longyangzi frowned. “What was it?”

“The main ingredient for refining Hunyuan Pills. Qin Ming isn’t just a fourth-rank spirit plant master—he’s a genuine fourth-rank Pill King.” Xia Yuangong replied calmly.

“And likely of extremely high caliber.”

“What?!”

At this, Longyangzi panicked. Without another word, he transformed into a golden lightning streak and shot off in pursuit.

“Longyangzi, you just got back—where are you going now?” Xia Yuangong called after his retreating figure.

“I’m chasing the Moonwatching True Person! This kind of person—I won’t let Penglai Sect get ahead this time!”

Longyangzi’s anxious voice faded into the distance. Xia Yuangong raised his hand, then let it drop, silent.

“If he were that easy to lure, I’d have already tied him down here. Longyangzi doesn’t even think.”

…

…

Several days later.

Qin Ming sat calmly inside the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit.

The Shitian Rat crouched on his shoulder, applying a succession of ancestral massage techniques, pouring him spirit wine, peeling fruit, and placing it directly into Qin Ming’s mouth.

It knew this journey was for Qin Ming to gather tribulation-crossing items—above all else, he must keep this leg of the family well cared for.

Not long after.

Qin Ming slowly opened his ink-black eyes.

“Master, how’s the pressure? Hehehe!” the Shitian Rat grinned and licked.

“Acceptable. You’ve grasped the essence,” Qin Ming said coolly.

“But we’ve arrived at Penglai Island.”

As he spoke,

A massive island emerged in the distance—several times larger than Tianlan Xiancheng’s Lingdao Island—gradually entering Qin Ming’s spiritual sense.

More precisely, it was the silhouette of a colossal tree, stretching from sea to sky, standing majestically between heaven and earth.

As they drew closer, the tree became clearly visible.

It was a golden giant tree, lush and leafy, towering over the ocean, piercing heaven and earth, supporting the entire sky.

Its silver trunk was thicker than the main peak of Tianlan Xiancheng, still standing tall after tens of thousands of years, marked by countless ages.

The entire Penglai Sect, its palaces, pavilions, and dwellings, were built upon the layered branches of its canopy.

From the densely packed houses at the tree’s base to the celestial palaces nestled among its thick foliage.

Soaring straight up to the ninth heavens!

A phantom full moon hovered near the treetop.

Only the lower half of the Penglai Immortal Tree was visible; above it, mist veiled the upper reaches—even Qin Ming’s spiritual sense, comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, could not penetrate it.

This kind of immortal mist either blocked and devoured spiritual sense like Spirit-Nullifying Mist, or was an extremely advanced concealment array of the Penglai Sect.

“This is the legendary fifth-rank divine tree—the Penglai Immortal Tree!”

“No wonder it can nurture Soul Transformation cultivators—this journey was truly worth it!”

Qin Ming gazed at the Penglai Immortal Tree, awestruck, his spirit stirred as rarely before.

The Shitian Rat, perched on Qin Ming’s shoulder, stood frozen, mouth agape, speechless.

Its shock was beyond words.

Even within the Xiao Ling Realm, Qin Ming’s life-plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, emitted an inexplicable emotion.

It was the first time in years Qin Ming had sensed such a reaction from the black vine.

Suddenly,

As the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot neared Penglai Island by several miles,

A group of sect disciples in green robes flew toward them, their chests embroidered with maple-leaf patterns. Their leader was a graceful, beautiful female cultivator, at early-stage Golden Core.

She stared at the magnificent treasure chariot—a moving palace radiating five-colored light, pulled by a late-stage third-rank Xuan Shui Giant Crocodile.

Truly magnificent, dazzling beyond compare.

She too was stunned.

She halted her disciples before the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply.

“Disciple Wang Jingqiu pays homage to the True Person. Which elder is this? What is your purpose in visiting Penglai Sect? Allow me to report to our Nascent Soul Elders.”

From within the carriage came Qin Ming’s cool voice.

“No need. I’ve come to visit Master Longmu—she’s already here.”

Hearing Qin Ming sought her ancestral master, the Golden Core cultivator Wang Jingqiu was startled.

As Qin Ming finished speaking,

A ripple stirred the air, and an old woman’s figure materialized, leaning on a brown dragonwood staff, her aura making one tremble.

Qin Ming immediately dismissed the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot, landed before her, and smiled as he bowed. “Master Longmu, it’s been over a decade—how have you been?”

“Hehehe! Welcome, Master Qin, to our sect. This old bone still holds up well, but you’ve grown younger—truly enviable,” Longmu True Person returned the bow with a smile. “Please come to my cave to taste the spirit mulberry bitter tea I’ve cultivated.”

The Shitian Rat, after a long while, snapped out of its shock, stood on Qin Ming’s shoulder, and clasped its hands in greeting. “Longmu True Person, long time no see.”

Longmu True Person held a fondness for Qin Ming’s spirit pet, nodded with a smile in response.

All Penglai Sect disciples, including Golden Core cultivator Wang Jingqiu, immediately bowed in awe.

“Disciples pay homage to Grand Elder Longmu!!”

“Disciples pay homage to the Moonwatching True Person!”

Longmu True Person waved her hand. “Wang Shixiong, take the disciples to patrol elsewhere—leave this to me.”

“Yes! We humbly obey Grand Elder’s command!”

Afterwards,

Qin Ming followed Longmu True Person into Penglai Sect’s territory, ascending directly to the fourth layer of the Penglai Immortal Tree’s canopy.

Upon arriving, their view suddenly changed.

They discovered here: spirit mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and marshes—all present, with spiritual energy and mist swirling ethereally.

Among them flew flocks of immortal cranes and spiritual birds, their animal calls and bird songs rising and falling in succession, like a fairyland on earth.

What surprised Qin Ming even more was that above this canopy, numerous spiritual herb fields were arranged in orderly tiers.

Lush and verdant, thriving and vibrant.

Many cultivators were busily tending to the plants in the herb fields.

As he delved deeper, Qin Ming passed a herb garden and, seeing the various spiritual plants within, could not help but slow his steps.

One plant bloomed with purple spiritual light, over three meters tall, with three branches, bearing several pear-shaped spiritual fruits.

“Fourth-rank middle-grade Purple Marrow Dao Pear Fruit!”

Behind it was a gourd vine crawling over a pitch-black wooden trellis, hanging two green gourds the size of a palm.

Yet what was extraordinary was that golden spiritual runes adorned the gourds, as if naturally formed, radiating astonishing metallic spiritual energy, pure and untainted.

“Fourth-rank middle-grade Golden Steel Gourd!!”

As he pressed further, Qin Ming realized this was a meticulously maintained spiritual herb garden.

Rare high-rank spiritual plants, unseen beyond these walls, appeared one after another, filling his vision with abundance.

“Azure Sea Blue Mystery Flower, Three Yang Crimson Gold Grass, Three-Faced Beast Heart Fruit, Black Jade Orchid Root, White Silk Tan Flower.”

Originally, Qin Ming had thought his own small spiritual realm’s plants could rival all others.

But now that he had come here, he finally understood the true depth of this ancient sect’s heritage.

“Heh! Qin Daoist, this is probably just Long Mu Zhenjun’s private herb garden—not the true treasure of Penglai Sect,” Qingyang Laomo, who had been silent for a long while, finally spoke up.

“After all, in ancient times, Penglai Sect was second only to our Qingyuan Sect among spiritual plant sects.”

He paused, then added: “Yet even if you added up every single plant here—including that Penglai Immortal Tree—it still wouldn’t match your Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree or that strange black vine.”

“To be honest, I never expected you could regrow the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree. Such a talent, defying heaven’s will, deserves a thunder strike.”

Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn’t help but feel the man wasn’t complimenting him at all. Gradually—

Only when he reached the end of the herb garden did a dense bamboo grove appear.

Qin Ming recognized it as third-rank Jade Luanyuan Bamboo, though still slightly less rare than the Void Spiritual Bamboo he cultivated on Wangyue Island.

Passing through the bamboo path, the place held a quiet, elegant charm.

His gaze revealed several simple thatched huts.

Before the houses lay a small lake spanning dozens of mu, covered in lotuses, with countless fish, shrimp, ducks, and birds gliding through the water, exuding serene lake-and-water beauty.

The spiritual energy here was exceptionally dense—clearly fourth-rank upper-grade.

He wondered how this spiritual vein had spread here from above the golden canopy.

Qin Ming had gained valuable insight.

Long Mu Zhenjun led Qin Ming into this secluded cottage and said to one of the huts: “Tian’er, we have honored guests. Brew them a pot of Ling Sang Bitter Tea on my behalf.”

“Yes, Master!”

Creak!

The door opened, and out ran a little girl of four or five years old, her two black braids swinging, her dark eyes sparkling with liveliness.

Qin Ming subtly activated the Yin-Yang Mystic Mirror technique, sweeping over her.

Her body brimmed with an overwhelming surge of vital energy, even stronger than the verdant life force within many Nascent Soul elders!

Then, in Qin Ming’s vision, these lush, emerald life forces coalesced into the shape of a lotus.

‘This’

‘This is a spiritual plant?!’

“Born with spiritual awareness—and transformed from a plant?!”

Qin Ming instantly saw through the truth.

The girl named Tian Linger was exceptionally obedient.

With practiced ease, she took spiritual tea leaves from a jar inside the hut, then ran outside to a spiritual spring to fill a vessel with spring water.

She boiled the water using special spiritual wood, in a black, earthenware pot.

The Devouring Rat, watching the girl’s gentle demeanor, leapt down and approached her. “Shall I help you?”

Tian Linger wasn’t afraid at all; her face lit up with a bright smile as she chirped, “Thank you for the kindness, but I can manage it myself! Esteemed elder, please rest and wait.”

“It’ll be ready soon.”

She seemed unbothered that a rat could speak.

The Devouring Rat frowned, crept closer, and sniffed intently near Tian Linger.

It muttered in confusion: “Strange—why does she smell like a heavenly treasure herb?”

It didn’t move away, instead settling quietly beside her, watching as she burned incense and brewed tea.

From the moment Qin Ming stepped into the hut, his attention had been unintentionally, yet constantly, drawn to the girl.

(End of Chapter)