Longevity Candle

Chapter 48 In Search of the Illuminating Flame
Xue's face turned ashen, her anger surging. How could a celestial master be humiliated by mortals?
Except for those who have accumulated merit!
Looking at the eight swords of merit, Xue snorted coldly: "Is this how you beg for help?"

“You met him today.” Yao Yao said expressionlessly, “My request for the Longevity Snow Lotus does not mean that I am really going to grovel. Your master is the goal of the Longevity Path, and he may not necessarily not need me.”

"Your role is indeed significant, as it involves the fate of the nation," Xue said coldly. "But there are also many spirits of the grasslands, and the supreme Eternal Heaven protects the grasslands."

“If we need to fight against the Path of Immortality in the future, I can also help you,” Yao Yao said.

"Is your promise valid? Demons have no credibility," Xue said.

"I am not a demon of your immortal path. Isn't the so-called Sword Demon something you yourself coined?"

Yao Yao said, "Tell me, how can I make you believe me and give me the Longevity Snow Lotus?"

“I believe you. If you go back on your word, I will dig up your bones and use your skull to make wine vessels.”

Xue raised her hand and said, "Do you want the Longevity Snow Lotus for yourself, or to extend the lifespan of others?"

"Yes, I do." Yao Yao was very frank: "I also want to prolong my life, I still have many relatives."

"Apart from your closest relatives, you don't need to talk to me about the rest. I don't have that many Longevity Snow Lotuses for you. Since the Longevity Heaven went on its journey, the growth of the Longevity Snow Lotuses has been much slower than before, and their effects have been greatly reduced."

Xue pondered for a moment and said, "I still have a question. Where did you learn about the Longevity Snow Lotus?"

"I obtained a peerless alchemical manual from the imperial palace, which contains many formulas for prolonging life, but they all basically require the Longevity Snow Lotus," Yao Yao said.

"The imperial palace of the Qian Kingdom?" Xue frowned slightly. "Let me see the pill formula."

Yao Yao didn't bring any pill formulas, but she remembered a few from memory and casually said, "Longevity Snow Lotus, Earth Qi Ice Spirit Marrow, Hundred Yuan Spirit Liquid, Cloud-Born Flower..."

"Wait a minute." Xue interrupted her, "Do you know that every medicine has some degree of poison? Although these are all tonics, the Cloud-Born Flower, in addition to its own pure spiritual energy, also contains cold poison, and the Earth Qi Ice Spirit Marrow is also extremely cold. Once they are combined, they will become a deadly poison. Even immortal masters and Taoists may not be able to resist such cold poison. Are you sure the pill formula is real?"

"At the time, I heard from the imperial physicians of the Qian Kingdom's Imperial Hospital..." Yao Yao's words trailed off as her gaze suddenly turned icy: "The Path to Immortality!"

The Path of Immortality should have already taken control of the imperial palace; they cannot kill someone as accomplished as I am.

But if they obtain the pill formula and die from concocting the medicine themselves, then it will be none of their business.

“The Longevity Path controls the Qian Kingdom’s imperial palace. You actually dared to use the pill formula you obtained from there. It’s fortunate that you came to me.”

Xue gave her a mocking look: "It seems you really have no other choice."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she and Yaoyao had a grudge against each other, but now she's come to her, clearly because she's out of options.

“My father has been like a lost soul lately. He sits in front of my mother’s grave for a whole day at a time, and he’s getting more and more haggard,” Yao Yao said in a low voice.

"Alas, some mortals are like this; when their lifespan comes to an end, they will miss those who have passed away."

Xue sighed softly, "There's also a saying that the deceased are calling out to them."

"Where do the deceased go besides becoming wandering spirits?" Yao Yao asked.

"There is a legend in the Daoist tradition that the sun illuminates the mortal world, while the moon shines dimly in the netherworld. The dead will follow the moonlight into the netherworld."

But over the years, neither the spirits of mountains and seas nor the immortal masters and Taoist priests have ever found the Netherworld.

Xue shook her head and said, "So, I can't give you an answer."

"Since you are knowledgeable in alchemy, do you know how to refine longevity pills?"

“Three years. If the White Wolf King is not injured, he can extend his life by five years if he refines medicine,” Xue said.

"Even with the right medicinal herbs, a Taoist immortal can only extend their lifespan by three to five years?" Yao Yao didn't understand. In her opinion, Xue possessed many supernatural powers and should be able to extend her lifespan by many years.

"If prolonging life were so easy, why would the path to immortality be so mad as to target elves?"

Xue said in a deep voice, "Extending life is going against the will of Heaven. There are very few methods to extend life without any karma. Even three to five years is something that many people would beg for but cannot obtain."

"I was greedy." Yao Yao quickly adjusted her mindset; she was no longer the stubborn little girl she used to be.

"Every day that extends my life is better than nothing," Xue said. "Once you've gathered the medicinal herbs, bring them here. I have some Longevity Snow Lotus; I can refine up to five Longevity Pills for you."

"Only five pills in one batch?"

“I also have two friends who need the longevity pill, how can I give them both to you?”
Moreover, only the first longevity pill is effective. What's the use of having more? Are you suggesting you extend the lives of those with whom you have no blood relation?

"You only gave me five Longevity Snow Lotuses?"

"Go to any temple in the Great Qian Dynasty and ask around. How many of them know how to refine pills, and how many will help you?" Xue Aoran said. "Besides, it's already good if a batch can produce eight pills. I'm only confident that I can refine seven."

In the world of immortals, alchemists are extremely rare.

"Then what if we refine a few more batches?"

"I don't have time. There are too many things to do on the grassland. I wouldn't even want to start the furnace if you hadn't been willing to help."

"I'll bring the medicinal herbs over when I get back," Yao Yao said, standing up.

"Don't forget your promise. If the Qian Kingdom attacks the White Wolf King, you must come to help," Xue reminded her.

"Will do."

Yao Yao got up and left, flying away on her sword.

After she left, Xue's expression turned serious. Although she said that there were many grassland spirits, the power of the Longevity Path was equally great.

Among the elves of their grasslands, some had already secretly joined the path to immortality.

Immortal!

It's not just mortals who pursue it; mountain and sea spirits, immortal masters, and Taoist practitioners all pursue it. Who would want to die?

Yao Yao rushed back to the Immortal Fox Temple, where the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox gave her a storage bag that could hold many items.

She didn't linger, but rushed to the sacred mountain, gave the medicinal herbs to Xue, and stayed there as a protector of her.

Her whereabouts were not difficult to find. The immortal masters of the Great Qian Imperial Palace did not care when they learned that she had come to the Holy Mountain.

In their view, the two sides were enemies, and the grassland spirits would not tolerate a martial artist with a body full of merit who did not respect the spirits and immortal masters living too long.

Three months later, Yaoyao took the five longevity pills and returned to Peach Blossom Village.

After taking the elixir, Li Erfeng felt much more energetic and surprisingly did not go to the peach grove again.

After putting down their new clothes, the siblings went to the Immortal Fox Temple again: "I want to know where the Candlelight is. I want to go and see it."

“Yes, after you return to Peach Blossom Village, head south and cross two mountains. A white fox will guide you there,” Nine-Tailed Fox said.

"After I leave, please take care of Peach Blossom Village and prevent the people of the Longevity Path from disturbing the village," Yao Yao said.

“That’s natural, but we can’t control martial artists in the Jianghu,” Nine-Tailed Fox said.

"Martial arts practitioners? That's none of your business."

Yao Yao was very confident in Li Qingping. Although Li Qingping had not yet reached her level, he was about to cultivate true essence.

With the Seven Star Sword Box on his back, he headed south, crossing two mountains.

A white fox, bowing respectfully from afar, led her through the forest: "Do not wander aimlessly in the mountains. These are the times when mountain and sea spirits, immortal masters, and Taoists are active. Some of the creatures in the mountains are quite petty. If you accidentally damage their medicinal herbs, they will hold a grudge."

“Okay.” Yao Yao nodded.

She will not overstep the rules that must be followed.

(End of this chapter)