Longevity Candle

Chapter 45 So, do you want to know about Zhuzhao?
Jiang Zhu knew nothing about the path to immortality.

All he knew was that there were evil immortal masters who bewitched mortal emperors to hunt down spirits in order to achieve immortality.

As a result, the immortal master left with the spirit, leaving all the sins and karma to be borne by the mortal emperor.

"Are we just supposed to let these immortal masters bewitch us?" Yao Yao frowned.

"If the emperor doesn't believe it, how dare the immortal master enter the mortal world?" Jiang Zhu said, "Have you ever heard of the immortal master entering the mortal world during the Chongwu and Chengwu eras?"

“If I hadn’t gone to the Holy Mountain, I wouldn’t have dared to say I was certain about immortal masters, Taoist priests, or spirits of mountains and seas,” Yao Yao said.

"The founders of the new dynasty were all ruthless and decisive, and did not believe in ghosts and gods. In front of the founding emperor, immortals, Taoist priests, and spirits of mountains and seas could not use their magic. However, the chaotic world gave them the opportunity to gain official positions so that they could use their magic to bewitch the emperor."

Those founding emperors had more faith in the sword in their hands; they had all crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Such an existence would surely cleave immortal masters, Taoist priests, and spirits of mountains and seas in two with a single blow.

This is why, when there were signs of a new dynasty being established, the spirits of the mountains and seas and the immortal masters and Taoists all went into hiding.

After several generations, when the country is no longer ruled by such bloodthirsty killers, and emperors are no longer so bloodthirsty, greedy for the prosperity of the country, and desiring immortality, then immortal masters and Taoists will have a chance.

As for whether any founding emperors were eager to achieve immortality, Jiang Zhu was not yet sure, as he had never encountered one.

They didn't talk anymore; he sat cross-legged to gather his magical power.

Now that the path to immortality has entered the world, all sorts of temples have sprung up, but that has nothing to do with him.

If there's no need for incense offerings, there's no need to get involved in this mess.

Yao Yao sat beside him, quietly keeping him company.

When his time was up, he returned to the lamp, picked it up, and got up to go home.

"Brother," Yao Yao called to Li Qingping, "Do you want to embark on the path of immortality, or do you want to practice martial arts like your older sister?"

"The Immortal Path?" Li Qingping's eyes lit up. "Is it the kind of Immortal Master or Daoist who can live for a very long time?"

“Yes, I met one on the Holy Mountain back then. She could live for a thousand years. My brother has that talent. If he steps onto the path of immortality, he can live even longer,” Yao Yao said.

"What about Father and Sister?" Li Qingping asked.

“We…” Yao Yao opened her mouth, then fell silent.

“I understand, I want to learn martial arts.” Li Qingping was very intelligent and understood the unspoken meaning.

Yao Yao frowned: "Don't you want to live forever?"

"Why did you give up on the pursuit of immortality, Sister?" Li Qingping asked.

"Because my elder sister lacks the talent for immortality, her persistence will not bring her anything, and she has come to realize that she is ordinary," Yao Yao said.

"My older sister watched my grandmother leave, my mother leave, the old people and aunts in the village leave, and now I have to watch the people in the village leave, generation after generation?"

Li Qingping calmly recounted, "Is this the kind of future my sister would have wanted to see?"

“You’re still too young. I shouldn’t have asked you this so early.” Yao Yao rubbed his head. “I’ll give you the methods of immortality, and I won’t hide the martial arts from you either. Even if you don’t cultivate immortality, you can still take a look.”

She paused for a moment, then said, "You still have 30% dragon energy in your body. If you don't follow the path of immortality, this dragon energy might cause you trouble."

"What trouble? What is dragon energy?" Li Qingping asked.

"Dragon energy is the convergence of the will of all living beings on this land of Qian Kingdom..."

As Yao Yao recounted the story, even the intelligent Li Qingping seemed somewhat lost at that moment.

How could he possibly bear the will of all spirits on his own body?
He suddenly felt a heavy pressure. He just wanted to be a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and treat patients; he didn't have any grand ambitions.

However, he didn't think too much about it and focused on practicing martial arts. He would concentrate on learning medicine and martial arts, and deal with the rest later.

He once again immersed himself in the ocean of martial arts and medical books.

Yao Yao, relying on the divine connection between heaven and earth passed down by Jiang Zhu, used the glimpse of the power of heaven and earth she had glimpsed to harmonize with the world of Taoyuan Village.

She entered a wondrous state, perceiving every blade of grass and tree, every adult and child in Peach Blossom Village.

She felt completely at one with the world, a state she loved.

The merit within his body stirred again, but he suppressed it and did not use it.

After a moment's thought, she channeled her merit into Li Qingping's body. Since her younger brother possessed greater talent and carried dragon energy, she felt Li Qingping needed merit even more.

However, Li Qingping has not yet matured, so the Seven Star Sword Box cannot be passed on to him for the time being.

Li Qingping was unaware that he had gained merit and remained immersed in medical books.

Time passed, and life in Peach Blossom Village became prosperous and peaceful. Just like before, Yaoyao took things from the village and went out to exchange them for supplies.

Taoyuan Village has a surplus of resources, but there is still a shortage of clothing and cloth, even though the livestock can't finish eating all the grain they raise. They are not completely isolated from the outside world.

Li Qingping obediently stayed at home.

Yao Yao exchanged a lot of cloth, as well as writing brushes, ink, and paper, because all the children in the village needed to read and write, which consumed a lot of resources.

Today, the county town is peaceful and harmonious, with the spirits and deities in the temples protecting it.

Without any celestial masters or spirits to disturb them, life in Peach Blossom Village was very peaceful.

That winter, a heavy snow began to fall, and it just wouldn't stop.

When I woke up, the whole world was covered in snow, and the tributaries of the Qingjiang River were frozen over.

The heavy snow continued, and Yaoyao led the villagers to shovel snow and inspect each household's granary.

Half a month later, Yao Yao once again summoned the Candlelight to block out the heavy snow.

A month later, the heavy snow still showed no signs of stopping, and even seemed to be getting heavier. Yao Yao knew that a snow disaster was coming.

The great injury inflicted on the elves angered the heavens, and the disaster will last for a long time.

Li Erfeng, dressed in only a thin shirt, looked at the heavy snow outside and sighed, "In recent years, there has been drought, floods, and now snow disaster. When will this end?"

"It will pass. There are candles in the village, and there is plenty of food. Everything is fine. So don't worry about the country and its people. That's not something you should be thinking about," Yao Yao said gently.

"Okay, I'm going to play chess with Lao Wang." Li Erfeng nodded; he was living a very leisurely life these days.

"Don't leave the village, it's cold outside," Yao Yao cautioned.

“I know,” Li Erfeng replied with a smile.

Yao Yao sat down cross-legged and once again entered a state of divine harmony with heaven and earth.

Outside Peach Blossom Village, in the deep abyss.

A strange creature, less than four feet tall, wearing a bamboo hat and a cloak, gazed at Peach Blossom Village with blue eyes full of hesitation and entanglement.

He had been standing there for several days, wanting to go in, but afraid of angering the killer inside.

But if we don't go in...

Looking up at the sky, he sighed helplessly and followed the iron chain into the territory of Peach Blossom Village.

Buzz

He had barely landed when a long sword came hurtling through the air and landed right in front of him.

Dressed in white, Yao Yao's gaze was icy: "Should I call you an elf, or a spirit?"

"I am not a spirit of the mountains and seas, but I have been blessed by spirits and entered the path of immortality. I can be called a Taoist Immortal Master." The strange creature said, bowing.

"We keep to ourselves and don't interfere with each other. Peach Blossom Village doesn't welcome you," Yao Yao said coldly.

"I did not come to gather incense offerings, but to request that the warm sunshine of Peach Blossom Spring shine upon the county town. In return, you can also do good deeds," the strange creature said.

"I already have enough merit, I'm not interested." With a thought, Yao Yao returned the Tianxuan Sword to her hand: "If you want to accumulate merit, then do it, don't drag me into this mess."

"I'm out of options," the strange creature pleaded. "If you can let the warmth of the sun enter the county, I'll grant you one request."

"Even immortal masters and Taoists are powerless? Aren't you all incredibly powerful? Why do you need the light of Peach Blossom Spring?" Yao Yao's eyes were full of vigilance.

"Then, do you want to understand Zhuzhao?" the strange creature asked solemnly.

Yao Yao was taken aback: "What do you know?"

(End of this chapter)