Wu Ju followed with a laugh while clapping his hands: “Senior Miss Xu is indeed extraordinarily clever. Why don’t we join the fun and offer our assistance?”
He was lazy by nature, muddling through cultivation, yet always talented in scheming and maneuvering. After seeing Gan Ruoxu receiving the favor of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, he seized every opportunity to cultivate a relationship, even revealing the secret of his family’s treasured artifact. Now that a true immortal had descended into the mortal world, how could he not try to ingratiate himself?
Wasn’t a living, breathing immortal superior to a guardian deity one could only faintly commune with?
Moreover, Chang’e Immortal’s cold and noble beauty surpassed even the corresponding idol enshrined in temples by a wide margin. Even if gaining nothing from her, one could still feast their eyes.
Gan Ruoxu, equally curious about the immortal descended to the mortal realm, chimed in: “Junior Miss Xu, we were so shocked by the immortal’s descent earlier that we were impolite. We’d like to come over and apologize.”
Xu Feiling naturally understood Wu Ju’s ulterior motive, but since Gan Ruoxu, favored by the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, had already spoken, she couldn’t easily refuse. Smiling slightly, she said, “Then you two help keep watch. Don’t let the kitchen master or the vegetable master catch us and expose the immortal.”
Frankly speaking, how could she not feel uneasy facing a descending immortal? Gan Ruoxu and Wu Ju volunteering to accompany her eased her anxiety somewhat.
With Gan Ruoxu’s supernatural abilities and Wu Ju’s knack for trickery and deceit, Xu Feiling successfully sneaked into the kitchen and stole a rabbit meant for tomorrow’s lunch. She tucked it into her robe and fled back to her courtyard as fast as she could.
Carefully glancing left and right, she confirmed that her fellow disciples in the adjacent rooms were already asleep. Then, Xu Feiling gestured for Gan Ruoxu and Wu Ju to sneak in behind her.
Pushing open the door, she saw the Chang’e Immortal sitting before the moonlight, gently plucking the zither strings, her posture elegant and ethereal. A pair of clear, beautiful eyes turned toward them.
“Immortal,” Xu Feiling smiled brightly, delivering her rehearsed explanation while lifting the rabbit with its ears drooping. “I found this little fellow on the road.”
Gan Ruoxu and Wu Ju chimed in: “Perhaps it escaped from the kitchen. What a pitiful little creature.”
They hoped this white rabbit would bring a smile to the immortal’s face.
As they wished, the immortal, cool and aloof in their eyes, nodded gently, her delicate lips parting slightly: “Good. You’ve thought it through carefully.”
Good? Thought it through carefully? The immortal praised us! Xu Feiling exchanged glances with Gan Ruoxu and Wu Ju, her eyes brimming with suppressed joy, secretly clenching her fist.
Next, they saw Chang’e Immortal wave her hand, and the white rabbit flew through the air toward her, showing no sign of supernatural power.
Indeed worthy of being the Lady of the Moon Palace!
As they silently admired, they watched the immortal’s delicate hands gently stroke the rabbit’s neck.
The immortal indeed favored the Jade Rabbit, her cold beauty softening into grace!
Just as this thought arose, they suddenly saw a spurt of blood erupt from the rabbit’s neck.
Blood spurted, blood sprayed… the three youths, one girl and two boys, seemed turned into ice statues, frozen in place.
The blood flew midair, directly dissolving without staining the room. Xu Feiling and the others heard the “Lady of the Moon Palace” say coolly: “If rabbit blood isn’t cleaned, it leaves a fishy smell, making the meat sour and wasteful.”
“Yes,” Xu Feiling, Gan Ruoxu, and Wu Ju replied blankly, their minds echoing only one thought: What on earth is she saying…
They watched Ruan Yushu elegantly process the rabbit, methodically plucking feathers and removing entrails. Finally, she retrieved tools and seasonings from a ring on her finger.
“Whether roasted rabbit tastes good depends half on marinating beforehand. I’ve just acquired a marination secret recipe and want to try it today.” The immortal’s voice spoke words that left Xu Feiling and others bewildered.
Marinating beforehand? A secret recipe for roasted rabbit?
“The marination requires some time. Let’s prepare smokeless, dustless charcoal in the meantime,” Ruan Yushu said, taking out premium charcoal from her jade ring.
…
Not knowing how much time had passed, the cold moonlight shone through the room. Xu Feiling, Gan Ruoxu, and Wu Ju sat in a row, each holding a piece of rabbit meat. The taste was crisp and fragrant, lingering on their lips, so delicious they couldn’t stop eating.
“What do you think?” Ruan Yushu swallowed her last piece, looking expectantly at the three across from her.
Xu Feiling’s mouth full of rabbit meat, she mumbled in approval, indicating its deliciousness. Gan Ruoxu and Wu Ju also voiced their praise for the exquisite taste.
Then they saw the immortal’s lips curl slightly, revealing a shy, breathtaking smile.
“The immortal has indeed smiled…” The three momentarily lost themselves.
Their goal was achieved, yet something felt amiss!
…
A few days later, Gan Ruoxu was meditating before the Primordial Heavenly Venerable statue in the Three Purities Hall. The hall was specially sealed for him, devoid of others, the surroundings empty and deep, as if he were in the lofty Jade Void Palace above the Thirty-Third Heaven.
Suddenly, someone passed through the layers of restrictions with the Abbot’s token, pushing open the grand doors. Noon sunlight poured in, casting golden rays that dispelled the darkness, illuminating the hall.
Gan Ruoxu didn’t turn around. In meditation, he sensed it instantly, as if seeing it himself, blurting out: “Senior Miss Xu.”
Indeed, it was Xu Feiling. Her brows and eyes brimmed with joy, making her even more youthful and radiant. Lowering her voice, she said: “The immortal wants to take me traveling the world, experiencing local customs. I’ve already tricked the Abbot into agreeing with an excuse.”
She had been a disciple for a year now. With the rapid progress of the “Spirit Communication Technique,” her strength could barely protect herself. It was time to travel the mundane world, practicing the “Dao” corresponding to her guardian immortal, thereby deepening the communion, gaining more power and supernatural abilities.
Gan Ruoxu felt envious, sincerely saying: “I wish I could too, but as the favored one of the Heavenly Venerable, many harbor ill intentions toward me. Without the strength of a top-tier expert in the world, I dare not travel far, which might take five or even ten years.”
“You can follow us. With the immortal around, who would dare target you?” Xu Feiling said cheerfully.
With an immortal descended to the mortal realm, who could rival her?
Could borrowed power from the Spirit Communication Technique ever match the presence of a real immortal?
Gan Ruoxu sighed: “I know following you would be safe, but the Abbot wouldn’t believe me. Since you can’t reveal the immortal’s existence, he certainly won’t allow me to leave.”
“Alright then, Senior Brother, take care.” Xu Feiling smiled playfully, “Looks like you’ll be ‘unknown for ten years of cultivation, but astonishing the world upon emerging.'”
Watching Xu Feiling leave the Three Purities Hall, Gan Ruoxu sighed again. The greater the precious favor received, the greater the price to pay. Youth, freedom, and spontaneity would all drift away. Five years of bitter cultivation, ten years of solitude, would be his future life.
But he accepted it willingly, completely satisfied.
Bang!
Xu Feiling shut the Three Purities Hall door again, light turning to darkness, cold and lonely.
Gan Ruoxu turned around, sitting once more before the statue of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, whose deep eyes and aged temples contrasted sharply with his youthful form, creating a vivid juxtaposition filled with sacred meaning.
The greater the achievement desired, the greater the loneliness one must endure!
He hoped the Guardian Nation Temple could protect his parents well.
…
Outside the capital, a carriage sped past, seemingly fleeing from something.
Inside sat a man and a woman. The woman wore colorful attire characteristic of remote regions, clinking copper plates in her hands, their faint “Dang Dang” sounds seemingly capable of reaching the underworld, summoning ghosts.
The man, dressed in a tall hat and black robe, wore an air of pride—none other than Lin Fengxiao, favored by the Black Emperor Zhenwu!
“If the young master joins our Five Pecks of Rice Sect,” the woman in colorful attire smiled, “you can immediately assume Yangping Governance and be appointed ‘Sacrificial Wine Official.'”
The area governed by the Five Pecks of Rice Sect was called the Celestial Master’s Kingdom, a theocratic state led by the “Master Lord” as the supreme leader, divided into three ranks and twenty-four jurisdictions, each governed by a “Sacrificial Wine Official,” also known as “Chief Official.”
Yangping Governance was the chief among the twenty-four jurisdictions, usually directly ruled by the “Master Lord.” The implication of making Lin Fengxiao the Sacrificial Wine Official of Yangping was obvious.
The official seal of the Yangping Sacrificial Wine Official was also known as the “Yangping Chief Official Seal”!
Lin Fengxiao sat upright, nodding slightly: “Since Guardian Nation Temple refuses to value me, I was indeed considering leaving. Your sect’s sincerity is evident.”
How could one favored by one of the Five Emperors of the Five Directions remain subordinate?
The woman smiled, clinking her copper plates while sensing briefly with closed eyes: “The Guardian Nation Temple elders were indeed misled by sky ghosts, chasing the wrong direction.”
…
Amidst the vast ocean’s foggy core, warships bristling with enchantments lay silently anchored. On the lead warship, a woman with arched eyebrows and phoenix eyes stood at the bow, hands clasped behind her back.
“Not only has Zhenwu’s favored one appeared in the world, but the Primordial Heavenly Venerable has also shown favor to a mortal?” Dressed in a purple robe, her collar fluttering in the wind, she exuded immense authority.
Beside her stood a general with a terrifying aura, respectfully answering: “Yes, and the supernatural power is terrifying, capable of reversing life and death. He is currently cultivating secretly within the Guardian Nation Temple.”
Outside the cabin behind the general hung a scroll, clearly a Divine Rank Chart.
The woman in purple chuckled, her eyes gleaming: “Indeed, it’s an age of great contention. I want to go ashore and witness everything firsthand.”
Before her voice faded, she stepped forward and vanished into the mist. Behind her, on the Divine Rank Chart, the name of the Celestial Emperor in the center of the second row faintly glowed, as if responding!
…
In a certain deep, secluded chamber, a strange man with a yellow headscarf covering his forehead and eyes knelt on the floor, a Divine Rank Chart placed before him.
This chart differed from the ordinary, but only in one aspect.
Suddenly, the name in the center of the second row on the Divine Rank Chart emitted radiant light, showering the man in yellow cloth.
The man lifted his head. Though his eyes were covered, his gaze seemed tangible as he muttered softly: “Spare no cost to eliminate the Primordial’s favored one?”
The glowing name was not “Xuantian the Supreme Emperor” nor the abbreviated “Celestial Emperor,” but “Donghuang Taiyi”!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage