Chapter 242

Next, under Zhuang Buran's guidance, the group went deep into the Ancient Vine Forest without any obstacles.

Until they bumped into an old tree stump blocking the way, which, with a flash of green light, manifested into an old, dignified, vine-covered monster holding a staff.

Jingtian spoke first:

"Are you that Ancient Vine Old Monster?"

"Yellow-mouthed child, I am the Ancient Vine Elder. I am an immortal, while the 'Ancient Vine Old Monster' refers to a demon."

"An immortal is an immortal, and a demon is a demon. The two are completely different, yet you child don't even have that much discernment."

Zhuang Buran stepped out:

"A spirit creature formed by an exotic ancient vine absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, having almost reached the level of an immortal—it is reasonable to call yourself an immortal."

"You junior have quite good discernment, and your cultivation can be called outstanding." The Ancient Vine Elder stroked his beard with satisfaction.

Zhuang Buran asked calmly:

"Then I wonder what it will take for the Tree Immortal to be willing to clear the way so we can go find the Ancient Vine Old Monster."

"I have been cultivating with focus for many years without external interference, but I have inadvertently gained the ability to read minds."

The Ancient Vine Elder laughed:

"Any living creature in the world, no matter what they desire in their hearts, I know as soon as I guess. Today, I just want to find some companions and want to make a bet with you all."

Jingtian became spirited the moment he heard about a bet and asked curiously:

"What bet?"

"As long as I guess what is in everyone's heart, you don't have to leave. Just stay here and accompany this old man. You don't have to stay long, just three to five hundred years will do."

"If I don't guess correctly, I will clear the way. You all just need to move forward, and you will find the Ancient Vine Old Monster. The Earth Spirit Bead is in its tree roots."

Zhuang Buran raised his hand to signal:

"Tree Immortal, you can guess me first."

"Refreshing! It's been a long time since I've seen a young man as humble and confident as you." The Ancient Vine Elder narrowed his eyes:

"Then let me take a look at what you desire most in your heart, young man."

After a good while, Jingtian looked at the Ancient Vine Elder's furrowed brows and couldn't help but mock:

"I was almost fooled by you old man. What 'ability to read minds'? Why don't you say what he desires most!"

"Don't panic. Give me a moment, and I'll calculate again." The Ancient Vine Elder began to calculate the heavenly secrets with his fingers.

Zhuang Buran spoke calmly:

"The Ancient Vine Elder not only likes to be mysterious and discuss heavenly secrets recklessly, but because your vine roots are deeply planted underground and cannot move, you rarely have contact with living creatures, causing your temperament to be somewhat extreme."

"And if someone approaches, you always like to chatter on and on, refusing to let people leave, but you don't have the heart to hurt or kill anyone."

"You..."

The Ancient Vine Elder was too surprised to speak.

Zhuang Buran said lightly:

"I am a Daoist who has left the secular world. Physiognomy, fortune-telling, and even calculating heavenly secrets are my specialty."

"Hahaha, so you were afraid of loneliness, which is why you blocked the road." Jingtian laughed:

"You wanted to read minds, but were read instead. This should be called 'lifting a rock only to drop it on your own feet'."

"Truly, there is always someone better than you, and a sky beyond the sky." The Ancient Vine Elder said this, and his habit of recklessly discussing heavenly secrets flared up again. Unwilling to admit defeat, he said to the young man in white carrying a sword:

"Although I can't see what you are thinking, young man, I know your previous lives clearly."

"What 'Daoist who has left the secular world'? You were the same in your previous two lives, and in the end, didn't you still fall in love and return to secular life to marry someone?"

Everyone present was stunned. Tang Xuejian couldn't help but ask:

"Tree Immortal, then did you calculate whether Hero Changqing will return to secular life and marry in this life?"

"Hmph, if I had calculated that, would I have talked about his previous two lives?" The Ancient Vine Elder flashed with light and disappeared from the spot, along with the old tree stump.

"White Tofu, I couldn't tell." Jingtian looked the young man in white carrying a sword up and down:

"You are actually a romantic. No wonder you were willing to fulfill Wan Yuzhi's wish."

Zhuang Buran glanced at him, and as he stepped forward, he left behind a sentence:

"As long as it does not endanger the normal operation of the human world and they are willing to pay the corresponding price, I am never stingy in fulfilling wishes."

"Miss, White Tofu is walking so fast. Is he feeling guilty?"

"You are so annoying, of course Hero Changqing can't be bothered with you." Tang Xuejian glared at Jingtian and chased after the young man in white carrying a sword.

"Sister, look, this Tang young lady's expression changed immediately when the Ancient Vine old man said White Tofu returned to secular life and married in his previous two lives."

"Long Kui only sees Brother Xu's devotion to the Dao. If he has feelings, they are feelings for the common people of the world."

Upon hearing this, Jingtian couldn't help but feel jealous:

"My good sister, didn't you see that I also have feelings for the common people of the world?"

"Of course I saw it. Didn't Brother say before that this trip out of Yuzhou City was to be a world-saving hero?" Long Kui said softly.

While the two were talking, they suddenly heard a shrill scream from deep in the road. They ran in with Xu Maoshan and saw the young man in white carrying a sword holding a bead emitting earthy yellow light.

"The Earth Spirit Bead is in hand. The next stop is Fengdu."

Zhuang Buran took out the Mount Shu Immortal Ship, and Jingtian sighed inexplicably:

"I thought it would be a difficult journey with many dangers. I didn't expect to get the first spirit bead so easily. My world-saving hero career is too easy."

Tang Xuejian, not far away, rolled her eyes:

"If it weren't for Hero Changqing, we would have been kept by the Ancient Vine Elder just now. Stop being ungrateful for the blessings you have."

"I was just sighing a little."

A while later, as the immortal ship hung in mid-air, several sword auras fell toward the outside of Anning Village.

"White Tofu, what are you doing?"

"Slaying demons. The few fox demons outside Anning Village are all evil demons that don't avoid killing, and their aura of resentment is thick."

On the bow of the ship, Xu Maoshan suddenly spoke:

"Hero Xu, if we head west, will we pass through Changan?"

"We will pass through."

"Then can we stop in Changan for a while?"

After Xu Maoshan finished speaking, Jingtian said:

"Going to Changan has been Mao Mao's wish since he was a child. Can we stay in Changan for a day? We can also buy some food to eat on the rest of the journey."

Zhuang Buran looked at Xu Maoshan and said:

"Brother Jingtian, have you forgotten that you are the one who is truly in charge of this mission?"

"Hey, that's right." Jingtian reacted suddenly and shouted:

"Then when we pass through Changan, we will stay for a day!"

The young man in white carrying a sword listened, but only turned slightly to look at a flash of purple light that disappeared in an instant.

When the immortal ship disappeared into the horizon, Zixuan's figure manifested out of thin air, along with an old woman with a youthful face and white hair.

"Zixuan, how long are you going to keep pestering him?"

"Saintess, this life is my last chance. After this life, Changqing will become an immortal. If I cannot be with him in this life, then we must truly be separated forever."

"Being together will only make Xu Zhangqing break his vows. You weren't blind just now—you saw that he has completely broken through the barrier of love in this life."

"That little girl named Tang Xuejian is fond of Xu Zhangqing, and there is a fox demon greedy for a mortal. It seems like fulfillment, but in reality, it is letting the fox demon trade her Dao path for a lifetime of companionship."

"And even if he knows he was misled by love in his previous two lives, he still remains calm. It shows how firm his Dao heart is. As long as you don't appear again, he will definitely cultivate and become an immortal."

Zixuan said solemnly:

"That little girl is just experiencing love for the first time, and Changqing has calculated that her love affinity is with Jingtian. Naturally, he won't be moved."

"Changqing, precisely because he understands the word 'love', is willing to fulfill the fox demon's lifetime of love."

"If he is so lenient toward others, let alone himself—as long as Changqing remembers everything, he will definitely be willing to stay with me for this lifetime."

"Self-deception. If he remembers everything, he will only stay away from you, or even loathe you." The Saintess said indifferently:

"That Demon Sword spirit, Long Kui, can verify everything for us. We can know how Xu Zhangqing views those who should have left but are unwilling to, lingering in the human world and entangling with people of the present."

Zixuan's expression tightened:

"Are you saying that once Changqing knows Long Kui's identity, he will definitely send her to transcendence?"

"Looking at Xu Zhangqing's actions, he only wishes to devote himself to cultivating the Dao and shoulder the Mount Shu sect and the common people of the world."

The Saintess asked indifferently:

"Do you dare to make this bet with me?"

(End of chapter)