Chapter 420: Extra Four: Lingxiang's Dream in the Clouds (Part Two)

As the saying goes, "precious things are treasures of heaven and earth"; if it were truly a treasure, it would be perfectly reasonable for it to be shrouded in brilliant light, yet Xiaolongzi was filled with doubt.

Although he was merely a small immortal boy in Doushuai Palace, he had at least followed Laojun for many years; even if he lacked great cultivation, he still possessed some Daoist attainments, so why couldn't he see this so-called "brilliant light"?

Could it be that the Emperor was teasing him again?

Xiaolongzi looked at the Ziwei Emperor with half-belief; the latter looked back at him with a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes more numerous than the pits of the immortal peaches in the Pantao Garden.

Forget it, forget it; it wasn't the first time anyway, he was used to it, used to it...

Xiaolongzi sighed in resignation: "But it is about to die..."

Laojun already looked sorrowful, and upon hearing this, he beat his chest and stamped his feet, as if mourning a parent.

"Such a treasure, how did it become like this?"

Since his master said so, it must really be a treasure! But how could this treasure appear here?

Xiaolongzi had always trusted Laojun implicitly, but he still couldn't figure it out, and the Ziwei Emperor on the side advised:

"Why must Laojun be so distressed? The Sweet Dew Water at the bottom of the Great Bodhisattva's Jade Pure Vase in the South Sea is excellent for healing immortal trees and spirit sprouts; if you put aside your pride and beg for some, the Bodhisattva will surely be happy to help."

That was true, Xiaolongzi nodded; he had heard of this too, but would his own master be willing?

"No!"

As expected!

In terms of seniority, Laojun was much higher than the Bodhisattva, so how could he lower himself to ask? Xiaolongzi nodded in understanding, but Laojun's next words made him choke on his own saliva, nearly unable to catch his breath.

"No! If I go to the South Sea to ask, then the entire Divine Court will know!" Laojun waved his hands decisively: "Absolutely not!"

Fine! So he was just reluctant to part with his treasure!

It is well known that there are many treasures in Doushuai Palace, but what no one knows is that those are just what Laojun wants others to see, while the ones he hides away are the true treasures!

Aside from the two immortal boys Jinling and Yinling who served him closely, no one knew about this, yet Laojun had told Xiaolongzi.

"Oh my~" the Ziwei Emperor looked troubled: "That little gossip-monger is really hard to talk to, but this sprout is clearly..."

Xiaolongzi glanced at the Ziwei Emperor: to think he could talk about the South Sea Bodhisattva like that? He was probably the only one in the entire Divine Court!

The Ziwei Emperor did not finish his sentence, but everyone knew what he meant; Laojun's expression became even more solemn.

After a long silence, Laojun spoke faintly: "It is not that there is no way, it is just a bit difficult..."

Upon hearing this, the Ziwei Emperor was as excited as if this Lingxiang were his own treasure: "Since there is a way, why not speak quickly? Why the hesitation and stammering?"

Laojun sighed: "Lingxiang Grass is a spirit beast of heaven and earth; now that it grows in the Divine Court, it only receives Clear Qi and lacks the nourishment of Turbid Qi, which is why it has become so withered. If it could go to the mortal realm..."

"Yie!" The Ziwei Emperor's exclamation made Xiaolongzi's ears ache, "Even though you, Laojun, are ranked among the Three Pure Ones, this... this is simply against the rules!"

As the Ziwei Emperor spoke, he glanced inadvertently at Xiaolongzi, who was picking his ear, and feigned worry as he advised: "Going to the mortal realm without permission is a violation of the Heavenly Law!"

Laojun also looked at Xiaolongzi, but Xiaolongzi noticed nothing, preoccupied with relieving the discomfort in his ear.

"It is not necessary to go all the way to the mortal realm; lowering the clouds at the Triple Heaven would also work, but I fear it will take a very long time, and one must be careful not to be seen..."

So, this task ultimately fell upon his own shoulders...

He still remembered that day, the look in Laojun's eyes, so earnest and pleading, leaving no room for Xiaolongzi to refuse.

Looking at the Lingxiang in his arms, Xiaolongzi sighed helplessly; he always felt he had been schemed against, yet he could never produce any evidence. Laojun had specially taken a small furnace, said to be of the same origin as the Eight Trigrams Furnace in Doushuai Palace, but used it as a flowerpot for the Lingxiang, and inside was Moon Soil that the Ziwei Emperor had begged from the Taiyin Star Lord.

The Taiyin Star Lord was not easy to deal with; this back-and-forth trouble must have taken a great deal of effort.

Xiaolongzi just didn't understand: why was the Ziwei Emperor even more concerned than Laojun? It wasn't his grass.

The Ziwei Emperor also said not to underestimate this furnace; a long time ago, Laojun had gifted it to a mortal emperor, but after that emperor passed away and became a god, he returned it to Laojun.

How could Xiaolongzi dare to slight anything of Laojun's?

He heard from the senior brothers in the palace that to stabilize the Heavenly River, Laojun had once forged a piece of Divine Iron; later, when there was a flood in the mortal realm, it was borrowed, and afterwards, it remained in the sea. But for some reason, it was snatched away by a monkey, who even used it to strike at the Lingxiao Hall.

Fortunately, that monkey was later pressed under some mountain, otherwise, it would have been truly terrifying!

Truly, a monkey cannot be taught!

Xiaolongzi wrinkled his nose and withdrew his wandering thoughts.

The Triple Heaven was shrouded in clouds and mist, and from time to time, one could see flocks of birds crying out as they flew past, which was quite fresh.

This was the first time Xiaolongzi had been so close to the mortal realm; the magnificent scenery of the mortal world was clearly audible. He sat on the clouds like this, holding the Lingxiang that Laojun had transplanted into the incense burner, watching the Great Golden Crow fly from east to west every day, passing the time without a care.

Perhaps there were too many interesting things in the mortal realm; Xiaolongzi was overwhelmed, no longer dazed as he often was in the Thirty-Three Heavens, and he would always tell the Lingxiang in his arms about the interesting things he saw, regardless of whether it could understand.

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He did not know how many days had passed; perhaps it was the nourishment of the heaven and earth's Spirit Qi, or perhaps it was Xiaolongzi talking to it every day, but the Lingxiang Grass actually gained sentience. Whenever Xiaolongzi held it, it would gently stroke his face with its leaves, and the ticklish feeling always made Xiaolongzi laugh out loud.

The Lingxiang Grass grew greener day by day, no longer as wilted as it had been in heaven. Beyond growing sturdily, it even sprouted a few buds. They were just extremely small, with slender vines, weak yet stubborn.

Things seemed to be developing in a good direction, but Xiaolongzi couldn't be happy at all.

Laojun had said that once the Lingxiang Grass bloomed, it could be taken to refine medicine.

Looking at the Lingxiang growing wantonly, Xiaolongzi really wanted to pinch off those flower buds, but he was afraid that doing so would hurt it.

"Little Lingxiang, oh Little Lingxiang, please don't grow any further; if you bloom, you will be taken to be made into medicine."

Xiaolongzi muttered, his eyes unwilling to leave the Lingxiang; no matter how many interesting things there were in the mortal realm, he couldn't muster the slightest bit of interest.

The agonizing days slipped away as fast as an escaping rabbit, amidst Xiaolongzi's worries.

On this day, Xiaolongzi sat early under the Divine Tree, dazed, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Yesterday, the Lingxiang bloomed, and a few white flowers dotted the dense foliage, looking extremely beautiful. Seeing this, Laojun was very excited, and to avoid further complications, he moved it out, intending to put it into the Eight Trigrams Furnace today for refining.

Because of this, Xiaolongzi became depressed, his chest feeling stuffy, as if something was blocking it.

What the reason was, Xiaolongzi didn't know; he just felt as if he had lost something.

Lost what?

Xiaolongzi looked into his arms subconsciously, but there was nothing there.

(End of chapter)