Chapter 27

Su Chen stood in front of Wuzhuang Temple, his heart turning a hundred times.

The couplet "Immortal mansion of longevity, Daoist home with the same life as heaven" did not reveal arrogance between the lines, but a calm statement of fact.

As if living the same life as heaven and earth, for the owner of this Daoist temple, it was just an ordinary thing.

The temple gate was tightly closed, and the copper rings on the vermilion wooden door were ancient.

Su Chen could feel that behind this door was a world completely different from the outside. That heavy Dao charm like the earth made him unable to give birth to any thought of peeking.

Knock on the door, or not?

If Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi is in the temple, would a small cultivator like him at the Return to Emptiness Realm visiting rashly be seen as rude?

No one can say clearly about the temper of the ancestor of Earth Immortals.

But if he doesn't knock on the door, is he going to wait here?

The Heavenly Secret Tianji Baojian only said the opportunity was behind Wuzhuang Temple, but didn't say how to get in.

Su Chen even had an absurd thought: should he learn from that Monkey Sun and sneak in?

This thought just rose and was immediately extinguished by him.

Are you kidding? Playing stealth in Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi's dojo is like lighting a lamp in a latrine, looking for shit?

He took a deep breath and suppressed all the distracting thoughts in his heart.

Since it is an opportunity pointed out by the Heavenly Secret Tianji Baojian, there must be a glimmer of life.

He took a step forward, tidied up his Daoist robe, and decided to ask for a visit with courtesy; this was the safest way.

However, just at the moment he raised his hand and was about to knock on the door ring.

"Creak—"

That heavy vermilion main gate actually opened inward by itself.

Inside the door, clouds and mist lingered, Immortal Qi was steaming, and it couldn't be seen clearly.

Only a pure herbal Qi rushed toward him, making people feel refreshed.

Su Chen's raised hand froze in mid-air, his heart shivering.

Just as he was suspicious, two Daoist boys with topknots walked out from inside the door.

The one on the left was about ten years old, with clear eyebrows and eyes, a calm expression, holding a whisk, quite like a little adult.

The one on the right was younger, with red lips and white teeth, his big black eyes full of curiosity, staring at Su Chen without blinking.

It was Qingfeng and Mingyue.

"Are you the person with fate that Master mentioned?" Mingyue, who was younger, tilted his head and spoke first, his voice as crisp as jade falling on a jade plate.

Su Chen's heart stirred slightly, but he remained calm on the surface, performing a salute to the two Daoist boys: "This poor Daoist is Disciple Wu Chen, I have met the two Daoists."

Qingfeng, who was older, stepped forward, learned the adult's manner to return a salute, and said in a calm tone: "Taoist Disciple Wu Chen, no need for courtesy. Master is out visiting friends and is not in the temple now.

However, before Master left, he had instructions, saying that there would be a person with fate coming recently. If he could find the temple gate, let the two of us lead him to the willow tree behind the temple."

As he spoke, Qingfeng looked at Mingyue, and seeing that he was still staring at Su Chen curiously, he tapped his head lightly with the whisk: "Mingyue, don't be rude, why don't you lead the way for the Taoist."

"Ouch, I know." Mingyue rubbed his head, stuck his tongue out at Su Chen, made a face, and then turned and hopped toward the temple, "Taoist, please this way."

Su Chen followed the two, his heart shocked.

Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi actually calculated that he would come!

How is this possible?

He has the Heavenly Secret Tianji Baojian on him to cover the heavenly secrets, so even if a Saint came in person, don't even think about calculating his background.

But this ancestor of Earth Immortals, even when he is not there, can accurately predict that he will enter Mount Wanshou, and even know when he will come.

This Dao practice is truly unfathomable.

He suppressed the shock in his heart and stepped into the Wuzhuang Temple gate.

Once inside the temple, the scene in front of him opened up. There were no magnificent halls, nor the luxury of carved beams and painted buildings.

What met his eyes were blue bricks and gray tiles, ancient and natural.

The courtyard was spacious, planted with various strange flowers and grasses that Su Chen couldn't name, each one full of spiritual energy, obviously not ordinary.

A few white cranes paced leisurely in the courtyard, not panicked when seeing strangers, just tilting their heads and sizing him up with black bean-like eyes.

On the path in the distance, there were a few plum blossom deer eating grass, a scene of peace and tranquility.

Every brick and stone here, every inch of land, merged with the entire earth, emitting a charm of ancient existence.

Su Chen walked in it, only feeling his mind was unprecedentedly peaceful.

"Taoist, how is our Wuzhuang Temple?" Mingyue saw Su Chen silent all the way and couldn't help but show off.

Su Chen praised sincerely, "This place is quiet and inactive, the Dao follows nature, and it has reached the realm of returning to simplicity."

This made Qingfeng look at Su Chen more, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

Ordinary cultivators who come here mostly marvel at the abundance of spiritual energy and the Immortal birds and strange beasts in the temple; only a few can see the true meaning of the Great Dao here at a glance.

Passing through several courtyards and bypassing an ancient main hall, the scenery of the backyard came into view.

Su Chen's steps paused slightly.

He saw an ancient tree standing in the center of the backyard.

The tree was only ten zhang tall, its branches twisted and powerful, but the leaves were like banana leaves, green and dripping.

Among the lush branches and leaves, one could vaguely see fruits shaped like children less than three days old, with all four limbs and five features, swaying lightly in the breeze.

A boundless vitality that could not be described emanated from the ancient tree, almost turning into substance.

Just by smelling the faint fragrance emitted by the fruit, Su Chen felt his Golden Core was jumping with joy.

One of the top ten innate spiritual roots, the Ginseng Fruit Tree!

Even if he had expected it in his heart, when he saw this legendary heaven and earth spiritual root with his own eyes, Su Chen's mind was still hit by a huge impact.

This tree seemed to be the source of life, representing the ultimate of the "Life" Great Dao.

"Taoist, don't look anymore, that is our Master's treasure, Ginseng Fruit. Smell it, you can live 360 years; eat one, and you can live 47,000 years. But this fruit is very precious, it only bears thirty fruits every ten thousand years, and we can't eat them," Mingyue explained in a low voice on the side, his tone somewhat aggrieved.

Su Chen withdrew his gaze.

Qingfeng and Mingyue led Su Chen to a place not far from the Ginseng Fruit Tree, where a willow tree stood alone.

This willow tree was not tall, and could even be said to be somewhat unremarkable.

The trunk was already withered, presenting a gray and defeated color, most of the branches had withered, and only a few withered yellow leaves hung on a few withered branches, as if they would pass away with the wind at any time.

Compared with the vibrant Ginseng Fruit Tree next to it, this willow tree was like an old man nearing death, full of dead silence.

"Taoist, Master has instructions, the opportunity you are looking for is here," Qingfeng pointed to the withered willow tree and said, "The task of the two of us has been completed, so we won't disturb the Taoist."

After saying this, Qingfeng pulled Mingyue, who still wanted to say something, and turned to leave.

The huge backyard was instantly left with only Su Chen.

He stood in place, looking at the withered willow tree in front of him, and then looked at the Ginseng Fruit Tree not far away that was full of life.

Life and death, glory and withering, formed an incomparably sharp contrast at this moment, as if explaining some kind of heaven and earth principle.

Su Chen's mind was completely attracted by the withered willow tree.

He could feel that a weak yet incomparably pure wood-element origin, as well as a more mysterious and elusive power, were hidden in this seemingly dead trunk.

Hollow willow, hiding the universe inside.

He slowly stretched out his hand and pressed it lightly against the rough trunk.