Chapter 852: Mount Fuji Summit

At the summit of a towering mountain, two figures suddenly emerged from the Void.

"Teacher, what place is this?" Fujiwara no Mokou asked with some confusion, stamping on the snow beneath her feet.

"This place is where you can obtain the power you need to step onto the Lunar Surface battlefield," Lingyun said slowly, looking at the mountain beneath his feet.

If viewed from afar, this mountain peak could be described as towering into the clouds; the summit where they now stood was covered in pristine white snow. It was none other than the world-renowned Mount Fuji of later generations!

In Japanese culture, Mount Fuji possesses an extraordinary status and is one of its symbols. It is called the "Sacred Mountain" by the people of Yamato. The name Fuji originates from the Ezo language, meaning immortality and eternal life, from which one can see the reverence the land of Fusang holds for it.

However, amidst this pristine white snow, Mokou keenly sensed a trace of scorching heat, seemingly coming from not far away.

"Let's go." Lingyun led Fujiwara no Mokou forward.

Before long, the two arrived before a volcanic crater. This was a crater that still showed signs of activity; scorching magma boiled and churned within it, and bursts of gray mist carrying a thick smell of sulfur drifted out, somewhat scorching and somewhat pungent.

Looking at the still-boiling magma, Lingyun sighed softly and said to Fujiwara no Mokou beside him, "Mokou, have you really thought this through? In fact, you don't have to be in such a hurry."

Fujiwara no Mokou was silent for a moment, then smiled and said to Lingyun, "Teacher, my mind is made up."

"Alright, I understand." Seeing Fujiwara no Mokou like this, Lingyun knew she would absolutely not be swayed.

Standing before the crater, Lingyun suddenly asked Fujiwara no Mokou, "Mokou, do you remember what Kaguya's surname is?"

"Kaguya-sister's surname? Penglai Mountain," Mokou said.

"Then, have you heard of the Hourai Elixir?" Lingyun asked again.

"Hourai Elixir, the legendary elixir of immortality?" Fujiwara no Mokou couldn't help but mutter, and then her eyes widened. "Hourai? Could it be that the legendary elixir of immortality has a connection to Kaguya-sister?"

"Rather than saying that, it would be more accurate to say that the Hourai Elixir was researched by a certain unscrupulous doctor together with Kaguya. It is precisely because of this reason that Kaguya violated a taboo and was exiled to the surface," Lingyun said.

"Could it be that the thing Kaguya-sister left behind earlier is the Hourai Elixir?" Mokou said suddenly.

"That's right." Lingyun reached out and took out the jade bottle. "I have to say, that terrible nurse Yagokoro Eirin is still very capable when it comes to pharmacy. A tiny pill can make a person an immortal, deathless existence. However, the Hourai Elixir also has a drawback that cannot be ignored: the moment you consume it, your time is fixed, and likewise, your strength is fixed, which makes it almost impossible for those who have taken the Hourai Elixir to grow in power. To overcome this situation, one must find the power that can break this limitation. And this power is right here."

"Right here?" Mokou looked at the crater in front of her; there was no fear in her eyes, but rather a hint of eagerness.

"To obtain immortality without paying any price is a great sin. Therefore, any existence that becomes immortal without paying a price will be punished by heaven and earth. If you endure it, you are naturally fine; if you cannot endure it, you turn into fly ash. However, it is extremely difficult to kill someone who is immortal. But the Phoenix that dwells within this crater possesses this ability. Its innate ability for Nirvana and Rebirth can break the limitations of the Hourai Elixir, which is exactly what you need right now," Lingyun said.

"A Phoenix?" Fujiwara no Mokou had heard of this creature that only existed in legends; it was an extremely powerful existence.

"However, the Phoenix's strength is terrifying, and this crater is its home turf. In this place, even some top-tier Great Youkai might not be its match, and those stronger than it might even be dragged to death by its immortality. But you now need to defeat it with your own strength and completely devour its bloodline to obtain the ability of Nirvana and Rebirth. This is not just a contest of force, but a contest of will. Both of you, possessing the ability of immortality, will inevitably experience a protracted and arduous battle, and there can only be one final victor. And in this battle, outsiders cannot intervene at all," Lingyun explained slowly to Fujiwara no Mokou.

"In this battle, in terms of strength, you will absolutely not be the Phoenix's match; all you can rely on is your own immortality and will." Lingyun handed the jade bottle in his hand to Fujiwara no Mokou, his tone gradually becoming serious. "So, Fujiwara no Mokou, I will ask you one more time: do you want to become the Immortal Smoke?"

Fujiwara no Mokou was silent for a while, then reached out and took the jade bottle from Lingyun's hand. This action of hers already represented her answer.

The moment Fujiwara no Mokou took the jade bottle, Lingyun simultaneously reached out and grasped her hand.

Fujiwara no Mokou looked at Lingyun with some confusion, only to find that Lingyun, standing before her, had a serious expression, and dots of light seemed to be overflowing from around his body.

"Mokou, I ask you, are you willing to always stand by my side, accompanying me, until eternity?" Lingyun's voice was low, carrying a hint of inexplicable majesty.

"To stay by Teacher's side, until eternity?" Fujiwara no Mokou's heart trembled slightly, and a small sprout broke through the soil within her heart.

In Fujiwara no Mokou's heart, there were not many figures who had stopped there; up to now, there were only three. The first was her mother, who gave her life, raised her from a young age, and taught her the principles of being a person, but she had already passed away, and there was no possibility of meeting again from then on.

The second person was Kaguya. Although she was initially captivated by Kaguya's beauty, it could not be denied that Kaguya brought her out of the dark life following her mother's passing. Not only that, but her ability to become Lingyun's student was also recommended by Kaguya. Between the two of them, there seemed to exist an unknown bond that tied them firmly together.

The last person was Lingyun, who stood before her. As her master, Lingyun taught her much, allowing her life to embark on a completely different path from then on. In the years of being together, Fujiwara no Mokou found that her thoughts seemed to be changing; she felt that she was no longer satisfied with the simple relationship of teacher and student, but was developing in other directions. But this budding feeling was still very weak, quietly waiting for the moment to sprout.

"I, I am willing." The young girl's voice carried a hint of nervousness, but more than that, it was firm.

"Then, the Contract is established!"

As Lingyun's voice fell, an incomparably complex Array unfolded beneath their feet. Fujiwara no Mokou only felt a slight pain between her brows, and a complex mark slowly emerged on her forehead.

"This is?" Fujiwara no Mokou reached out and gently touched her forehead.

"This is the witness of our Contract," Lingyun said with a smile. "Now, trigger that mark, and then consume the Hourai Elixir."

"Oh." Mokou nodded, then followed what Lingyun said and began to trigger the mark.

The moment the mark was triggered, Fujiwara no Mokou couldn't help but let out a muffled groan. She felt an inexplicable power flow out from her mark and then spread throughout her entire body. Under the influence of this power, she felt her strength swell in an instant. It could be said that she had never experienced such a powerful feeling.

At this moment, Lingyun fed the Hourai Elixir into her mouth. Fujiwara no Mokou felt a warm current flow through her entire body. Although she seemed to have no changes in appearance, Fujiwara no Mokou knew that at this moment, she was no longer an ordinary human girl, but had become an ageless and deathless Hourai Person.