Longevity Candle

Chapter 112 In the west there is Yelang, where people live to be three hundred and remain young.

Nestled in the mountains and forests, a former paradise.

The houses have been rebuilt on the ruined site.

Wooden houses stretch across the hillside, peach orchards cover the mountains, and cultivated farmland lies in the distance.

One by one, Qi cultivators worked in the mountains and forests, observing the growth of crops.

Li Qingchen arrived on a cloud, and looking at the figures, his expression changed: "Qi cultivators of the Taiping Dao are farming?"

“Of course.” Yang Zhi smiled slightly: “We come from the mortal world, so we should take root in the mortal world. The Dao Lord is below.”

Coming from the mundane world, we should naturally take root in the mundane world.

Li Qingchen and Qin Yuqing were taken aback, while the tabby cat remained nonchalant.

An elderly man with gray hair, instead of exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom, resembled an old farmer, covered in dust and mud on his shoes.

"Greetings, Daoist Master. The successor of Peach Blossom Spring has been brought here." Yang Zhi bowed and stepped aside.

The old farmer chuckled and invited them, "Come in, come in, sit down, and have a cup of tea."

Both of them were a little confused. They followed them into the house, where there was no tea, only plain water.

"Dao Master, what about this Peach Blossom Spring?" Li Qingchen had many questions.

In his mind, this place should be well-built. Even if it is not a magnificent palace, it should at least be a place of ethereal beauty, where people live on the wind and dew and do not eat grains.

But now it seems that this is just an ordinary village, except that the people here are Qi cultivators.

This is not a simple disguise. The atmosphere of village life, the way they tend to the crops and the peach orchard, is no less impressive than that of their parents.

"Don't be so polite. Old man Zhang Youwei is, in a way, a disciple of Daoist Qingxuan."

The old man looked at him with loving eyes: "Although you are young, you are also the successor of Daoist Qingxuan. How about I take advantage of you and become your senior uncle?"

"Uncle-Master?" Li Qingchen was slightly taken aback, then quickly said, "No, I was taught by my great-grandmother."

"Why not?" The tabby cat glared at him. "Not making him call him 'Grandmaster' is already giving him face."

His question startled Zhang Youwei: "Immortal Master or Elf?"

“This is my master, the spirit of mountains and seas,” Li Qingchen quickly introduced, and agreed, “I will call you Uncle-Master.”

Zhang Youwei has lived for at least 150 or 160 years, and possibly even longer.

But he also has a tabby cat master, and the tabby cat won't allow it if the backup is too small.

Zhang Youwei quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, spirits of the mountains and seas."

Although the Taiping Dao has deep-seated grudges with the Mountain and Sea Spirits and Immortal Masters, there is also the spirit Qingdeng who looks down and is still friendly to spirits with whom she has no enmity.

At least, he didn't know that the tabby cat was following the way of Heaven.

The tabby cat raised its head slightly, leaned back, closed its eyes slightly, and looked down at Zhang Youwei: "Let you take advantage of me."

“Master, why don’t you go out for a walk?” Li Qingchen said.

As soon as the tabby cat made a sound, Zhang Youwei became reserved, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Qin Yuqing stood up and said, "Master, let's go pick peaches. Yang Zhi said there's peach blossom wine here."

"Mere mundane wine," the tabby cat said disdainfully, but still got up and left with her.

After they left, Zhang Youwei breathed a sigh of relief: "Was it Qingdeng who chose the elf master for you?"

"I suppose so." Li Qingchen nodded slightly. "Uncle-Master, why does Peach Blossom Spring look like this now?"

"It's also a way of commemorating the Peach Blossom Spring of yesteryear," Zhang Youwei sighed. "I didn't want to change too much here, so I restored the Peach Blossom Spring of yesteryear."

"So you farm too?" Li Qingchen asked.

"Of course." Zhang Youwei stroked his white beard, a hint of smugness in his expression. "Do you think that Qi cultivators should only eat the finest dew and not consume the five grains of the human world?"

“Isn’t that so?” Li Qingchen frowned and said, “Once you step into the path of immortality, you no longer interfere with worldly affairs, and you are no longer able to kill at will.”

“But we originate from the secular world, so how can we completely detach ourselves from it?” Zhang Youwei said calmly, “As for killing? Does interfering in the secular world necessarily mean killing?”

Li Qingchen was stunned. In Sheng Kingdom, the Qi cultivators he came into contact with mostly used the essence of all spirits to refine pills and enhance their magical power.

He also thought that in a peaceful and prosperous era, ordinary people would have more time to pursue what they like instead of struggling to make ends meet.

But it's just an idea; he hasn't figured out how to do it yet.

"At first, I was just like any other Qi cultivator. It was only when I came to Peach Blossom Spring, planted peach trees, and used clouds and rain that I suddenly realized that magic could be used in this way."

Zhang Youwei's eyes showed a look of reminiscence: "The peach tree needs rain, so I bring rain; it needs sunshine, so I bring sunshine."

"The peach trees are growing very well, and the peaches are very sweet. Later, I thought about planting grains. I didn't dare to hope for three harvests a year like in Shengguo, but at least I could improve the yield..."

He recounted his actions with pride on his face.

He abandoned his otherworldly demeanor and his abstinence from worldly pursuits, devoting all his energy to it.

The cultivators of the Way of Peace do not necessarily have to fight and kill; rather, they strive for a peaceful and prosperous world.

“We have improved many grain varieties, but since they were cultivated using immortal methods, these varieties will weaken with each generation,” Zhang Youwei explained.

However, cultivating grain seeds is not difficult. As long as the Qi cultivators of the Taiping Dao are still around, they can continuously cultivate new grain seeds.

In addition to these, the Taiping Dao Qi practitioners would also travel around Ningguo, performing rituals wherever rain or sunshine was needed to ensure favorable weather and abundant harvests.

Of course, there are not enough Qi cultivators in the Taiping Dao at present, so they cannot take care of the entire Ning Kingdom.

Even so, Ningguo's grain production has increased several times compared to that year.

"The Way of Peace must have a very high reputation in Ningguo, right?" Li Qingchen exclaimed.

This is the path to peace he longed for.

"The Way of Peace has no prestige; we are merely angels of imperial power. When we perform rituals outside, it is all by order of His Majesty. Therefore, the people will only thank His Majesty."

Zhang Youwei slowly said, "Since you are a Qi cultivator of the Immortal Path, why do you need to seek that name? You can't be like the Immortal Masters and Spirits, asking for incense offerings, can you? Or are you trying to manipulate public opinion?"

Li Qingchen pondered quietly. They had already entered the path of immortality, and even if they were to be worshipped, they could afford it and could cultivate with the help of incense.

However, Ningguo forbids the construction of temples to gods and immortals; to do so would be to challenge imperial authority!
If the Way of Peace were to gain too much popularity among the people, the emperor would become suspicious.

“Without imperial power, one can tolerate an uncontrollable force,” Zhang Youwei said. “The same applies to Ningguo.”

"How did the Emperor of Ningguo make things difficult for the Taiping Dao?" Li Qingchen asked.

“Initially, we wanted to arrange for members of the royal family, but how could they endure this kind of manual labor? They were thinking about living on the wind and dew, and prolonging their lives, but I can’t do these things.”

Zhang Youwei laughed and said, "I won't run away. I'll just stay here. If Your Majesty wants to kill me, then take my life. I don't know how to achieve immortality."

The Emperor of Ningguo had considered taking over the Taiping Dao more than once.

However, Zhang Youwei had a firm grip on the Qi cultivators of the Taiping Dao, and the officials in the court would not tolerate the Ningguo Emperor's reckless behavior.

Although Emperor Ning controlled the court, the officials were taught loyalty, filial piety, and etiquette. No matter how great the imperial power was, there were always some people who held high the ancestral tablets and would rather die than submit.

As Zhang Youwei introduced improved grain varieties and implemented disaster relief measures in various regions, he always consulted the emperor first, leaving the emperor with no choice but to suppress his thoughts.

As emperor, the primary task is to ensure that all the people in the land are well-fed and clothed.

Moreover, a peaceful and prosperous era was a national policy established during the reign of Emperor Taizu, and no subsequent emperor could violate it. No matter how incompetent an emperor might be, he wouldn't dare openly say that he didn't want a peaceful and prosperous era, would he?
Listening to Zhang Youwei's account, Li Qingchen compared the two countries, Sheng and Ning, and realized that the difference was truly enormous.

One sought to gather the essence of all living beings to achieve immortality, while the other sought to use immortal methods to give back to all living beings in the mortal world.

"Can I participate in this?" Li Qingchen stood up and bowed, his eyes filled with eagerness.

"Of course, I'll take you to the fields tomorrow to see my grain seeds. I've also planted many flowers and plants, and I'm studying fruit trees..."

Zhang Youwei said excitedly.

Li Qingchen thought that if possible, he should bring Tao Ling along, as she should be able to improve the fruit trees.

The two talked almost all night, envisioning a peaceful and prosperous future.

After calming down, Li Qingchen also noticed something was off; it was too perfect.

Taoyuan and Ningguo, although not yet in a truly peaceful and prosperous era, are experiencing unprecedented prosperity.

The prosperity gave him an unreal feeling.

The two people and the elf settled down in Peach Blossom Spring and lived the life of ordinary farmers.

They tended to crops and peach orchards, raised fish and shrimp, and even raised silkworms and wove cloth.

It was a completely rural village, and there was no indication of any Qi cultivators there.

The tabby cat looked down on them, thinking that these people were ultimately just ordinary ants. Even if they entered the path of immortality, they were still ants, still doing ordinary things.

After obtaining his consent, Li Qingchen passed on the new method to Zhang Youwei.

They could only use the new laws as a reference, after all, they were tailor-made for Li Qingchen by the tabby cat.

After staying for a year, Li Qingchen wanted to return to Sheng Kingdom, so he brought his father and mother over. This paradise was too beautiful.

But before making this decision, he planned to take another look at Ningguo.

"Uncle-Master, I want to visit Ningguo. Taoyuan is wonderful, but does Ningguo have no flaws?" Li Qingchen asked.

Zhang Youwei's expression became more serious: "I am pleased that you asked this question. Indeed, beneath the glitz and glamour, there are undercurrents."

"Undercurrents are brewing?" Li Qingchen frowned.

Qin Yuqing looked worried: "Is the situation in Ningguo not good either?"

"Ningguo has been around for so many years, and the old guys from back then are long gone. It's because the national policies set by the founding emperor have not gone wrong so far that things are getting better and better."

If a mistake is made, it could lead to doubts about national policy, causing Ningguo to head in an unknown direction.

"Furthermore, in ordinary countries, nothing is more important than fame and fortune. Those court officials have become the new gentry and powerful."

"Now Ningguo is strong, the people are doing alright, and His Majesty is wise enough to keep them under control..."

Zhang Youwei spoke with a heavy expression, explaining that Ningguo was now very powerful, but it also had new drawbacks.

Having learned from past mistakes, the new wealthy and powerful will certainly not be as easily driven out as before.

Through generations of accumulation, their power became deeply entrenched, and even the emperor couldn't simply eliminate one person at a time.

"There is another matter, Your Majesty. Hearing that Emperor Sheng is searching for peaches of immortality and refining elixirs of life, you have also taken a similar interest," Zhang Youwei sighed.

"Can't we stop it?" Li Qingchen frowned.

"Since the incident with Li Wanyun, His Majesty's protective forces have been greatly enhanced, with royal Qi cultivators guarding him day and night."

Zhang Youwei shook his head and said, "We can only pray that His Majesty will not seek immortality."

Did they want to emulate Li Wanyun and change the emperor?

That won't work anymore.

Li Qingchen nodded silently, stayed for a few more days, and then left with Yuqing and the tabby cat.

They first went to Yigu City and saw that a small number of the people in the city had surplus food, but most of them were still poor and barely making ends meet.

"Even the mighty Ning Kingdom cannot make all its people wealthy," Qin Yuqing lamented.

They wandered around, to some remote places, and even to beggars.

Although Ningguo is not perfect, it is worlds apart from Shengguo.

In those bustling metropolises, there was no curfew, and the nights were brightly lit with lights and filled with singing and dancing.

Boating on the lake, going out for a spring outing, is a poetic and picturesque experience.

Li Qingchen thought that this was how a peaceful and prosperous world should be, and it would be even better if those remote cities could be like this as well.

Time flies, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

They had visited many cities, witnessed Qi cultivators conjuring clouds and rain, and seen some mythical beasts, but before they could even make a move, they were all dealt with by the Taiping Dao.

They enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous era, and did not have to worry about bandits when they went out.

They had met martial artists from Ningguo, some of whom were top-tier experts, no less powerful than the martial artists of the Taiping Dao.

Let's make friends through martial arts, but stop when we've reached a point.

The two made many friends and listened to their stories about the martial arts world.

Li Qingchen made up her mind and brought her parents over.

He went to the South China Sea once, but failed to find Peach Blossom Island and had to give up.

The Peach Blossom Inn was opened in Yigu City, and they planted peach trees outside the city.

Another year passed, and just as Li Qingchen and his companion were enjoying their carefree days, news spread throughout the land.

“In the west there is a country called Yelang, with an army of 80,000. Its ruler is 300 years old but young, and claims to have lived forever. He calls himself the Celestial Empire and issues an edict ordering the Ning Kingdom to become its vassal and pay tribute.”

Li Qingchen was completely stunned when he heard the news.

Qin Yuqing also looked bewildered: "Are these 80,000 Yue Wu?"

With an army of 80,000, he issued an edict ordering Ningguo to submit to him?

If everyone were as powerful as Yue Wu back then, she could understand, but in the current Ning Kingdom, even 80,000 Yue Wus wouldn't be enough.

"Master, have you heard of this Yue Wu?" Li Qingchen asked.

The tabby cat laughed in exasperation: "A mortal kingdom, you ask your master? I can sleep longer than his ancestors have been dead, how would I know anything about Yelang Kingdom?"

"Didn't he call himself the Celestial Empire? It even has the character 'Celestial' in it. I thought it was related to your 'following the way of Heaven'?" Li Qingchen said.

The tabby cat suddenly paused, pondering, "Do you think it could be the Western Kunlun Mountains, the Azure Sky Domain?"

Li Qingchen was slightly taken aback: "Impossible, right? They are just mortals, how could they possibly open up the Western Kunlun Mountains?"

"It's not impossible, come with me now," the tabby cat said.

"I'm not going. My swordsmanship isn't honed enough yet. What if something goes wrong and I ruin this opportunity?" Li Qingchen was extremely anxious and quickly made up an excuse.

The tabby cat's eyes darted around: "That makes sense. Then I'll go and see what kind of people that Yelang Kingdom is."

(End of this chapter)