Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Auspicious clouds swirl around the South Heavenly Gate.

Upon hearing the words of the Heavenly King of Growth, Li Yan's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained expressionless.

He stood respectfully behind Sun Wukong, his hands hanging down.

Sun Wukong, however, was quite carefree, grinning as he said, "The Jade Emperor is looking for me, old Sun? Then I'll go and see."

After saying that, he cupped his hands in greeting to Dongfang Shuo: "Brother, I, Old Sun, will go to Lingxiao Palace first. Please make yourself at home."

Dongfang Shuo quickly returned the greeting: "Great Sage, please go ahead."

"I happen to be on my way to the Jade Pool Palace to deliver the items I've purchased to Immortal Dong."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes gleamed, seemingly unconcerned.

He turned to look at Li Yan, about to invite him to come along.

But then they saw Venus standing beside the doorpost, his whisk waving as he greeted them with a smile.

"Great Sage, Master Li, you two have had a long and arduous journey."

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "No trouble at all. Old man, what does the Jade Emperor want with me?"

Venus chuckled, his gaze briefly falling on Li Yan before returning to his own, and said:

"Well... I'm not entirely sure either."

However, the Jade Emperor had given an imperial edict, requesting that the Great Sage go to the Lingxiao Palace alone first.

Master Li must be tired from his journey; please return to your residence and rest. The outcome will be clear later.

Li Yan's heart stirred slightly.

One person went first.

These four characters, though seemingly ordinary, are actually quite profound.

He remained expressionless, only cupping his hands and saying, "In that case, Your Majesty, please go ahead. This humble Taoist will return to my residence."

Sun Wukong had no doubts, nodded, and prepared to follow Taibai Jinxing.

After taking two steps, he suddenly turned back, a sly glint in his golden eyes:

"Brother, I'll be right back. Could you save a couple of jugs of your Drunken Immortal Wine for me?"

Li Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand."

Sun Wukong then turned around and, together with Taibai Jinxing, rode the clouds toward the Lingxiao Palace.

The Four Heavenly Kings stood on either side of the South Heavenly Gate, watching the golden light disappear into the distance. Their expressions were subtle, but none of them spoke.

Li Yan stood before the South Heavenly Gate.

Watching the golden light gradually disappear into the sea of ​​clouds, he withdrew his gaze and turned to head towards the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion.

He walked on clouds, his steps were calm and composed, and his face remained expressionless.

But he was secretly making plans in his heart.

Venus's glance just now, seemingly unintentional, was actually deliberate.

Was it the Jade Emperor's will that he stopped him from going to the Lingxiao Palace, or was he acting on his own initiative?

If this is the Jade Emperor's intention, then what does the Jade Emperor want to say to Sun Wukong that he needs to avoid me?

He pondered in his heart, but his feet never stopped.

After passing through several palaces and around the outer wall of Yaochi Palace, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion is not far ahead.

The gate to the mansion was half-closed, and the banner bearing the inscription "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven" fluttered in the wind in front of it.

Li Yan went straight into the back hall, sat cross-legged on the futon, and closed his eyes to concentrate.

His mind sank into the cave.

That grotto-heaven is now a new world.

The mountains and rivers within a radius of 300,000 li are majestic and magnificent, with ever-changing scenery.

Mount Tianzhu rises high into the clouds, and atop its summit stands the World Tree, its canopy like a canopy, shimmering with golden light.

Beneath the tree roots, spiritual veins converge, and the earth's energy surges, nourishing the entire land.

In Anleyuan, the monkeys were playing and frolicking under the trees.

Little Drill Wind perched on the highest branch, holding a big peach, munching on it until juice splashed everywhere.

Looking at this world, Li Yan felt a surge of satisfaction.

With a slight calm, lines of small golden characters slowly appeared on the mirror of the mind.

[The Thousand Worlds evolved within the Grotto-Heaven, spanning 300,000 li in circumference. The World Tree was initially formed, its foundation already established.]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 29300/20480]

[Cultivation Level: Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 30%)]

He stared at the line of numbers, secretly calculating in his mind.

The journey through the 300,000-mile Middle Thousand Worlds is but the beginning.

To evolve the vast world, we must continue to accumulate the energy of destiny and refine more spiritual objects of heaven and earth.

However, the things needed in that vast world are not comparable to ordinary spiritual objects.

It requires great opportunity and extraordinary fortune to obtain.

Suppressing his thoughts, he was about to withdraw his attention when he suddenly felt the World Tree tremble slightly.

Suddenly, the fine golden lines on the tree trunk lit up, with a faint shimmering light flowing through them.

The radiance spread upwards along the tree trunk, reaching the canopy and condensing into a golden halo above it.

Within the halo, stars faintly appear, with the sun and moon revolving around it.

Li Yan's heart stirred. This World Tree was absorbing the energy of heaven and earth on its own, nourishing the cave heaven in return.

He steadied himself and carefully sensed the aura within the halo.

That aura was somewhat similar to the fortune of heaven and earth in the Three Realms, yet completely different.

This is the inherent fortune of the grotto-heaven itself, forming a self-contained entity, unconnected to the Three Realms.

This is the wonder of the Middle Thousand Worlds.

It does not need a celestial status or the approval of the Heavenly Court; it is a world of its own, and it controls its own destiny.

Li Yan was overjoyed.

Just as he was about to withdraw his attention, he suddenly saw a ray of golden light fall from the halo, transforming into a token that hung in front of the World Tree.

The token was entirely golden, with two large ancient seal characters engraved on it: 【洞天】 (Dongtian).

Li Yan reached out and the token fell into his palm.

It feels smooth and warm to the touch.

On the back of the token are four small characters: 【自成天地】 (meaning "self-contained world").

He was startled. Could this token be the immortal register of the grotto heaven?

Upon delving into it with his mind, he sensed that the token contained a vast power of destiny.

That was the cave's own recognition, the world's acknowledgment of this small world.

He withdrew his thoughts, put the token away, and stood up.

Just then, footsteps were heard coming from outside the courtyard.

Li Yan felt a slight chill.

He got up and went out of the hall, walking into the courtyard.

There stood a person outside the courtyard gate.

The man was fair-skinned and beardless, with a kind face.

He wore a blue Taoist robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and a whisk in his hand.

Li Yan quickly cupped his hands and said, "Lord Venus, what brings you here in person?"

Venus chuckled and flicked his whisk:

"Master Li, I have come by order of the Jade Emperor to invite you to the Peach Garden."

Li Yan's heart stirred.

The Peach Garden?

The Jade Emperor summoned Sun Wukong in the Lingxiao Palace, but then sent Taibai Jinxing to invite him to the Peach Garden. What was the meaning of this?

He suppressed his doubts, cupped his hands and said, "In that case, this humble Taoist will follow you, sir."

Venus nodded and turned to leave.

Li Yan followed closely behind, and the two traveled on clouds towards the Peach Garden.

Throughout the journey, Venus remained silent, simply leading the way.

Li Yan didn't ask any more questions and just silently followed behind.

Upon arriving at the Jade Pool Palace, one sees the enormous peach tree standing tall and majestic.

The tree's canopy is like a canopy, blocking out the sun, and its branches are laden with peaches of all sizes.

Some are green and unripe, some are slightly red, and some are already golden yellow, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

Beneath the tree roots, the nine-colored fairy flower has now been restored to its original state.

The nine-colored light flowed and complemented the peach tree, creating a subtle sense of connection in their destiny.

Dong Shuang, standing beside the fairy flower, nodded slightly upon seeing the two, but remained silent.

Venus led Li Yan past the fairy flowers and deeper into the Peach Garden.

That peach orchard spanned dozens of miles, with peach trees forming a forest, their branches and leaves flourishing.

The forest is filled with spiritual energy and shrouded in mist, like a fairyland.

Cranes occasionally fly by, and deer roam freely, creating a peaceful scene.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a clearing suddenly appeared ahead.

A stone platform stands on the open ground.

The stone platform was about three feet high and about ten feet in diameter. It was made entirely of white jade and covered with runes and restrictions.

On the stone platform, there was a jade box, from which a faint light flowed.

Two people stood beside the stone platform.

A man, dressed in a golden dragon robe and wearing a flat-topped crown, with a majestic face, was none other than the Jade Emperor.

The other person wore a purple Taoist robe and a seven-star crown. He had a face as white as jade and three long strands of beard, giving him an ethereal and otherworldly air.

It was none other than the Supreme Emperor of the North Pole, the Purple Palace of the Central Heaven.

Li Yan was startled and immediately lowered his head, bowing respectfully.

"This humble Taoist priest, Li Yan, pays his respects to Your Majesty and the Great Emperor Ziwei."

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Li Yan, and said calmly, "Li Yan, step forward."

Li Yan stepped forward as instructed, stood respectfully beside the stone platform with his hands at his sides.

The Purple Emperor's gaze also swept over Li Yan.

That gaze, seemingly peaceful, shone like starlight, leaving no one nowhere to hide.

Li Yan felt an immense pressure pressing down on him, as if he were carrying a mountain on his back.

He calmed his mind, silently circulated the Canglang Dao Scripture, and used the power of water virtue to dissolve the pressure into nothingness.

A strange light flashed in the eyes of the Ziwei Emperor, who then withdrew his gaze and turned to the Jade Emperor, his voice clear and melodious:

"Your Majesty, is this the Taoist priest Li you spoke of, who is proficient in alchemy and also knowledgeable in divination and divination?"

The Jade Emperor nodded and said, "That's right. This case of the theft of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower was investigated and solved by him and Sun Wukong together."

He was also the one who discovered the Qiongqi's spine beneath the celestial flower.

Upon hearing this, the Ziwei Emperor nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The Jade Emperor turned to Li Yan, his voice calm:

"Li Yan, I and the Ziwei Emperor are discussing important matters here, so I shouldn't have summoned you."

"However, this matter is somewhat related to your trip to the mortal realm, which is why I summoned you here to ask you a few questions."

Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

The Jade Emperor asked, "Did you discover anything unusual during your descent to the mortal realm?"

After pondering for a moment, Li Yan gave a brief report on his trip to the mortal realm.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's expression turned slightly serious.

The Ziwei Emperor also frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Li Yan as if trying to see through him.

"Earth Vein Dragon Locking Formation..."

The Purple Emperor muttered to himself,

"This formation is an ancient secret technique that can only be set up by a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

That person set up this formation in Kunlun Mountain to sever the spiritual veins and steal the fortune; their intentions are far from insignificant.

The Jade Emperor asked, "In your opinion, what is the connection between that person and Qiongqi?"

The Purple Emperor shook his head and said, "It's hard to say."

The Qiongqi clan was wiped out thousands of years ago. Although remnants still exist, they may not possess such methods.

That person could not only set up the Earth Vein Dragon Locking Formation, but also use the Qiongqi's spine to ruin the fortune of the Peach Garden.

His cultivation level is so high, and his methods so unpredictable, that he is probably close to the Great Luo Immortal realm.

Li Yan listened to this and pondered it in his heart.

The Emperor Ziwei's words, seemingly analyzing the case, actually absolved him of all responsibility.

He kept talking about that person, as if the person behind the scenes had nothing to do with him.

But those North Star fragments are from the Arctic.

The Earth Vein Dragon Locking Formation also requires the power of the North Star as a guide.

He would absolutely not believe that this matter had nothing to do with the Ziwei Emperor.

However, he couldn't say these things.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then asked, "Li Yan, have you brought the Xuan Yin Nail?"

Li Yan used his magic to conjure the black gold nail and presented it with both hands.

The Jade Emperor took it and examined it carefully.

The nail was entirely golden, with only the character "镇" (zhen, meaning town) faintly visible on it.

The Purple Star Emperor also stepped forward, glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly:

"The original material of this nail should have been black iron."

Xuan Yin Iron is produced in the abyss of the North Sea and is an extremely cold substance.

Throughout the Three Realms, those who can obtain this iron are few and far between.

The Jade Emperor asked, "Does Your Majesty know who could have obtained this iron?"

The Ziwei Emperor remained silent for a moment before saying, "The North Sea Dragon Palace has a Xuan Yin iron ore vein."

However, the mineral vein is buried deep in the seabed, and ordinary cultivators cannot reach it.

Only those with a cultivation level of at least Taiyi Golden Immortal can venture into it and obtain this iron.

"In addition, there is another place where there is also Xuan Yin Iron."

The Jade Emperor asked, "Where?"

The Purple Emperor said, "North Pole Palace."

In my treasury, there are several pieces of Xuan Yin Iron.

These were spoils of war seized from the Demon King when the demons of the North Sea were suppressed.

Upon hearing this, Li Yan was startled.

The Ziwei Emperor actually revealed that he had Xuan Yin Iron in his treasure trove. What does this mean?

Is it because he has a clear conscience, or is he plotting something else?

The Jade Emperor's expression remained unchanged; he simply said, "The Great Emperor is indeed frank."

The Ziwei Emperor said, "Before Your Majesty, I dare not conceal anything."

Although the Xuan Yin Iron is in my treasury, it is not something that only I can access.

In the North Pole Palace, all the Heavenly Star Lords and Earthly Fiend Star Lords have the authority to enter and exit the treasure vault.

If someone with ill intentions were to steal this iron, it would not be difficult for them.

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He said to Li Yan, "Sun Wukong is waiting in the Lingxiao Palace. I and the Ziwei Emperor still have some matters to discuss."

"Go and stroll around the Peach Garden first; someone will come looking for you later."

Li Yan accepted the order and bowed as he withdrew.

He turned and walked toward the Peach Garden, his heart filled with doubt.

The Jade Emperor summoned him just to ask these few questions.

After asking the question, he was told to leave. What does that mean?

He suppressed his thoughts and walked slowly along the path in the peach grove.

In that peach orchard, peach trees formed a forest, and the branches were laden with peaches.

Li Yan walked to an old peach tree and stopped to look around.

That peach tree had a thick trunk that required several people to encircle it.

The bark was covered with cracks.

A faint golden light shimmered within.

Dozens of peaches hung from the branches.

The largest one is the size of a fist, golden in color, and exudes a rich spiritual aura.

He reached out and touched the tree trunk.

It feels warm and smooth to the touch, like touching a beautiful jade.

Within the tree trunk, a vast vitality surged—the primordial power of the peach spirit root.

Just then, he suddenly felt the mirror in his sleeve tremble slightly.

With a slight sinking of the mind, a line of small golden characters slowly appeared on the mirror surface:

Enter the Peach Garden, sense the spiritual essence of the peaches, and glimpse the secrets of the spiritual root of heaven and earth.

[Aura of Destiny +300 (Understanding by analogy, drawing inferences from one instance to another)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 29600/20480]

Li Yan withdrew his thoughts and felt joy in his heart.

Just then, they heard footsteps behind them.

The footsteps were light and graceful, as if walking on clouds.

Li Yan turned around.

Dong Shuangcheng arrived on a cloud, carrying a jade plate with several bright red peaches in it.

"Master Li,"

Dong Shuangcheng approached and bowed slightly.

"I have come on the orders of the Queen Mother of the West to present you with a few peaches of immortality."

Li Yan quickly cupped his hands and said, "Immortal Dong, you are too kind. What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such a gift from the Queen Mother of the West?"

Dong Shuangcheng laughed and said, "Daoist Master, there's no need to be modest. You deserve great credit for the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower."

The Empress has heard of this and sent a special message saying that she will personally thank the Taoist priest at the Peach Banquet.

Li Yan said, "I have only done my duty and dare not take credit."

Dong Shuangcheng handed over the jade plate, which Li Yan accepted with both hands.

The peaches on the plate were all bright red and juicy, emitting a rich, refreshing fragrance.

He took one and took a bite.

The peach melted in the mouth, turning into a sweet juice that slid down the throat and into the stomach.

A surge of heat rose from my dantian and flowed through my limbs and bones, bringing an indescribable feeling of comfort.

[By eating a peach of immortality, one receives spiritual nourishment and makes a slight progress in one's cultivation.]

[Aura of Destiny +100 (A rare and precious treasure, obtainable only by those with the right affinity)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 29700/20480]

After Li Yan finished eating the peach, he put the peach pit into his sleeve.

Although this peach pit is not as miraculous as the roots of the Immortal Peach, it is still a product of the spiritual roots of heaven and earth.

If planted in the cave, a new peach tree may grow.

Seeing that he had accepted the peach pit, Dong Shuangcheng's eyes flashed with approval, but he didn't ask any further questions, only saying:

"Please wait here for a moment, Daoist Master. I must go and attend to my business now."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Li Yan held a jade plate, stood under the peach tree, and gazed at the garden full of peach trees, pondering in his heart.

The Jade Emperor sent him to wait in the Peach Garden. Who was he waiting for?

Is it Sun Wukong, or someone else?

Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard a burst of laughter coming from afar.

That laughter, powerful and resounding, belonged to Sun Wukong.

Li Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a golden light flying down from the sky and landing in the Peach Garden.

The golden light faded, revealing the figure of Sun Wukong.

He had changed his clothes by now.

Wearing a golden chainmail, a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, and lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes, he was majestic and imposing.

"Brother!" Sun Wukong grinned upon seeing Li Yan, "I've finally found you!"

Li Yan cupped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, why has the Jade Emperor summoned you to the Lingxiao Palace?"

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "Don't mention it."

The Jade Emperor talked to me, Old Sun, for a long time, expounding on the Dao and discussing the Dharma.

They even said they would help me, Old Sun, attain the Great Luo Dao.

I, Old Sun, was completely confused, but I remembered one sentence.

Li Yan asked, "What did you say?"

Sun Wukong said, "The Jade Emperor said that there is a great opportunity in the Peach Garden."

"If I, Old Sun, could obtain it, I could open the gates of the Great Luo in one fell swoop."

As Li Yan listened, a vague guess formed in his mind.

As he spoke, Sun Wukong saw the peaches on the jade plate, his golden eyes lit up, and he grinned, saying:

"Brother, where did you get this? The aroma is making my stomach rumble!"

Li Yan handed over the jade plate and said with a smile, "Since Your Majesty is so hungry, please have a taste."

This was a gift from the Queen Mother of the West. I have just eaten one, and it is truly extraordinary.

Sun Wukong didn't stand on ceremony. He reached out, grabbed a peach, and devoured it in a few bites, casually tossing the pit aside.

He exclaimed, "What a fine peach! What a fine peach! I, Old Sun, have eaten peaches in all these years on Flower Fruit Mountain, but none can compare to this one!"

He picked up another one, but this time he ate it slowly, savoring it carefully.

Li Yan stood under the peach tree, gazing at the garden full of peaches.

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly noticed a slight change in Sun Wukong's expression.

Within the monkey's golden eyes, a turbid aura seemed to surge.

The once golden hairs now had a few strands that had dimmed, as if covered with a layer of dust.

"Your Majesty?" Li Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "It's alright. It's just that I, Old Sun, feel that something is not right."

He looked down at his palm.

Within the golden lines on the palm, a wisp of black energy could be faintly seen.

The black energy moved erratically, like a small snake weaving through the meridians.

Li Yan stepped forward and probed it with his mind.

Sun Wukong felt a surge of turbid energy within his body.

The aura was gloomy and oppressive, like silt that had been accumulating for millions of years, exuding a sense of decay.

Calamity!

The calamity and turbidity that he had continuously drawn into the cave and refined reappeared on the monkey's body.

"Your Majesty, please sit down," Li Yan said in a low voice. "This humble Taoist priest will examine you."

Sun Wukong sat cross-legged as instructed, closing his eyes and concentrating.

Li Yan sat cross-legged opposite him, his hands forming a hand seal, about to activate the [Two Realms and Ten Directions Vajra Garbhadhatu Mandala].

Suddenly, I felt a clear mind in my Niwan Palace.

That was a warning from Guizang.

He felt a slight chill and looked around with the eye of cause and effect.

In the depths of the peach orchard, several faint lines of cause and effect could be seen, barely visible.

The other end of that causal thread connects to the void.

Someone is watching from the void.

Li Yan was startled and quickly composed himself, dispelling the hand seals he was forming.

The person spying was of extremely high rank and possessed extraordinary abilities.

If it weren't for Gui Cang's keen senses, he would hardly have noticed it.

"Your Majesty," Li Yan said in a low voice, "it's not convenient here. Let's go back to the palace and talk about it."

Sun Wukong opened his eyes, a hint of doubt flashing in his golden pupils, but he didn't ask any more questions and just nodded.

Throughout the journey, Li Yan remained silent, simply following behind Sun Wukong.

He was secretly pondering this in his heart.

Who is that spying?

Is it the Jade Emperor?

Or is it the Ziwei Emperor?

Or perhaps it was the northerners who were secretly plotting this?

Whoever that person was, the depth of their cultivation was beyond his comprehension, to be able to set up a spying method in the Peach Garden.

While pondering.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong left the stone platform and walked along the peach grove path towards the outside of the garden.

The forest is shrouded in mist, full of spiritual energy; with each breath, one feels refreshed and invigorated.

Li Yan was in front, and Sun Wukong was behind. The two walked one after the other along the bluestone path through the peach grove.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Li Yan suddenly felt something strange about the path under his feet.

The road, which was originally smooth, is now gradually becoming rugged and uneven.

Some unknown wild grasses grew in the cracks of the stone slabs, green and lush, covered with dewdrops.

The peach trees on both sides grew taller and thicker.

The tree trunk is covered with moss and vines, making it look like an ancient tree that is thousands of years old.

Li Yan's heart stirred slightly, and he slowed his pace, turning back to look.

Sun Wukong followed behind, and the black aura in his golden eyes grew even thicker.

The once golden hairs have now dimmed considerably, as if shrouded in a layer of gray mist.

The monkey's expression remained normal, and its gait was steady, though a hint of weariness lingered in its golden eyes.

"Your Majesty, do you feel there is anything amiss?" Li Yan asked in a low voice.

Sun Wukong shook his head and grinned, "It's alright. It's just that this garden seems to get bigger the further we walk in."

"I just came from the Lingxiao Palace, and I didn't feel it was this far."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

He looked up and around, and saw that the fog was getting thicker and thicker in the depths of the peach grove.

The Jade Pool Palace, which was originally visible in the distance, is now completely obscured by a thick white mist.

Above our heads, the azure sky gradually blurred.

Instead, there was a hazy, gray sky, obscuring the sun and moon, and making it impossible to distinguish east from west.

He stopped, squatted down, and touched the wild grass on the bluestone slab with his fingers.

The wild grass was cool to the touch, and there was a thin layer of frost on its leaves.

Li Yan picked up a leaf and brought it closer to examine it.

Tiny ice crystals had formed within the veins of the leaf, sparkling and translucent, like frost flowers on a winter morning.

"This is...Cold Dew?" Li Yan was shocked.

It was the height of summer in the Heavenly Court. In the Jade Pool Palace, lotus flowers were in full bloom, and the heat was intense.

Why is there condensation of cold dew in this peach orchard?

He stood up, opened his Eyes of Cause and Effect, and looked around.

Upon seeing this, he was even more shocked.

Within the peach grove, countless threads of cause and effect intertwined and tangled, densely packed like a tangled mess.

The once clear cause-and-effect relationship has now become blurred and indistinct.

Some were intermittent, while others were tangled together.

Some even reversed direction, extending backward from the void, their destination unknown.

Those causal lines appeared in an eerie grayish-white color, like rotten wood, lifeless and gloomy.

Li Yan steadied himself and used his Eye of Cause and Effect to trace one of the clearer lines of cause and effect.

The causal line emerged from under the stone slab at the base of an old peach tree, extending upwards and into the void.

He looked in the direction of the causal line.

In the void, there was a gate that could be seen faintly, beyond which lay another world.

In this world, there are mountains and rivers, cities and villages, and the sun, moon and stars.

The mountains and rivers, however, were all gray and white.

The towns and villages were deserted.

The sun, moon, and stars were dim and without light.

"Is this... a time distortion?" Li Yan murmured to himself.

He once saw an ancient book in the library of Fangcun Mountain, called the "Dongxuan Lingbao Dadong Zhenjing".

The scripture records that there is a strange phenomenon in the world called the disorder of time.

This phenomenon occurs when the Qi of Heaven and Earth is in disarray, Yin and Yang are out of balance, the order of time is reversed, day and night are indistinguishable, and the four seasons are in chaos.

Ordinary people who fall into this trap will lose their way, become trapped in time, and never be able to escape.

Li Yan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He turned to look at Sun Wukong.

The monkey was squatting under a peach tree, reaching out to pick a peach from the branch.

The peaches were golden yellow all over and emitted a rich, refreshing fragrance, clearly indicating that they were fully ripe.

Sun Wukong picked it, took a bite, and juice splattered everywhere.

He chewed a few bites, but his expression changed slightly:

"Brother, why are these peaches bitter?"

Li Yan took the peach with a bite taken out of it and brought it close to his nose to smell it.

The fragrance of peaches was mingled with a faint stench of decay, like fruit that had been left out for too long and was beginning to spoil.

He took a small bite and found it bitter and coarse, like chewing wax, lacking any of the sweetness and charm that a peach should have.

He threw the peach on the ground, his expression grave: "Your Majesty, something is wrong with this garden."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed as he looked around.

Although his eyes were disturbed by the turbid energy of the calamity and were no longer as clear as before, he could still see some clues.

Within the peach grove, mist surged and light and shadow shifted.

Sometimes it is as bright as day, and occasionally as dark as dusk.

Some of those peach trees were lush and leafy.

Others, however, have already lost their leaves and withered.

Some were even on the same tree.

It embodies the beauty of all four seasons: flowering, fruiting, and falling leaves.

"This is..." Sun Wukong stood up, his golden cudgel already in his hand. "Has someone set up a formation here?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "It's not a formation. It's the movement of the Qi of heaven and earth that has caused the time sequence in this Peach Garden to be disordered."

He pointed to the peach tree: "Your Majesty, please look."

This tree has spring blossoms, summer fruits, autumn leaves, and winter branches.

The scenery of all four seasons appears on the same tree. This is a sign of the disorder of time.

Sun Wukong frowned and said, "Is time disordered?"

When I, Old Sun, was on the mountain, my patriarch once said that the order of time and the harmony of yin and yang between heaven and earth are the foundation of the Great Dao.

If the chronology is disordered, it indicates a problem with the flow of Qi (vital energy) in the universe.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right."

This Peach Garden is the source of the Heavenly Court's destiny.

The peach of immortality is as long-lived as heaven and earth, and shines as brightly as the sun and moon.

If the timeline is disordered here, it indicates that the destiny of the Heavenly Court has begun to fluctuate.

He recalled the conversation between the Jade Emperor and the Ziwei Emperor in the Lingxiao Palace just now.

The two appeared to be discussing important matters, but in reality, they were subtly scheming and harboring their own thoughts.

The Jade Emperor wanted to send troops north, but the Ziwei Emperor kept making excuses.

It was argued that the power of the North Sea Dragon Palace was immense, and that a long-term plan was needed.

The Jade Emperor then said, "Let's discuss this further."

However, with the Peach Banquet approaching, the fate of the Three Realms is related to the safety of the Heavenly Court, so precautions must be taken.

Those words, seemingly about the North Sea, were actually a warning to the Ziwei Emperor.

The Jade Emperor was telling him, "I know everything about you."

If you behave yourself and behave your own way, you will have a place at the Peach Banquet.

If you harbor ill intentions, then don't blame me for not showing any mercy.

Who is the Ziwei Emperor? How could he not understand the implied meaning in the Jade Emperor's words?

His expression remained unchanged, and he simply said, "Your Majesty is wise. I will do my utmost."

The phrase "do your best" carries profound meaning.

Li Yan suppressed his thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, we must leave this garden quickly."

The timeline here is disordered; the longer you stay, the easier it is to get lost.

Sun Wukong nodded, and the two quickened their pace, heading out of the garden along the path.

The path grew narrower and more winding the further you walked.

What was once a path that could accommodate two people walking side by side gradually became a narrow path that could only allow one person to pass at a time.

The peach trees on both sides are becoming increasingly dense.

The branches intertwine, blocking out the sky and the sun.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, so thick that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Li Yan led the way, using his eye of cause and effect to discern the direction.

He found a causal line extending from outside the garden and followed its direction.

That causal line was the trace left by Venus when he led him into the garden.

Although blurred, it is still recognizable.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared ahead.

The light, filtering through the mist, was hazy and indistinct, like the dawn before sunrise.

Li Yan was overjoyed and quickened his pace. Sun Wukong followed closely behind.

But at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

The path suddenly split into two, branching into two separate paths.

One goes left, and one goes right.

The path on the left leads to the place of light, where auspicious clouds swirl and celestial music drifts by.

The path to the right, however, was dark and shrouded in swirling mist, its destination unknown.

Li Yan stopped and observed with the Eye of Cause and Effect.

On the left, the path, with its clear lines of cause and effect, leads straight out of the garden.

The path on the right, however, is tangled and disjointed, as if it had been cut off by something.

Just as he was about to step onto the path on the left, he suddenly noticed that Sun Wukong had stopped behind him.

"Your Majesty?" Li Yan turned around.

Sun Wukong stood at the crossroads, and the black energy in his golden eyes surged even more violently.

His complexion was sometimes pale, and occasionally flushed.

The veins on his forehead were bulging, indicating that he was enduring great pain.

"Your Majesty!" Li Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped forward to help Sun Wukong up.

But as soon as he touched Sun Wukong's sleeve, he felt a tremendous force surge from the monkey, causing him to stagger back several steps.

"Brother..." Sun Wukong raised his head, his golden eyes filled with confusion.

"I, Old Sun...I, Old Sun, saw something."

Li Yan asked, "What did Your Majesty see?"

Sun Wukong said, "I, Old Sun, see... a mountain."

That mountain was so high that its peak was nowhere in sight, and its area was unknown, spanning tens of thousands of miles.

At the summit of the mountain, there is a huge rock.

Inside the boulder, there was a stone egg. Inside the stone egg, there was a monkey.

"That's Flower Fruit Mountain, the place where Your Majesty was born," Li Yan said.

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "No. That wasn't when I was born."

That was...that was a very, very long time later.

Those stone pebbles weren't natural; they were placed there by someone.

That person…that person was wearing a golden dragon robe and a flat-topped crown, it was…it was the Jade Emperor!

Li Yan was shocked.

Sun Wukong added, "I also saw... a grand hall."

Inside the hall, there were many celestial officials, lined up on both sides.

Sitting in the hall was a person whose face was obscured. The person said…the person said…

The voice grew softer and softer, and the light in the golden eyes dimmed further.

The wisp of black energy had now spread to his brow, like a black eye slowly opening.

"Your Majesty!" Li Yan roared, his voice like thunder, shaking the peach grove.

Sun Wukong trembled, the black aura paused slightly, and then spread out again.

Li Yan knew he couldn't wait any longer.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, his hands forming a mudra.

Silently recite the incantation, and communicate with the World Tree within the grotto using your mind.

The World Tree sensed his call, trembled slightly, and golden light shone brightly from its crown.

The golden light surged out from the cave, following the causal lines.

It passed through Li Yan's Niwan Palace, transformed into a golden pillar of light, and shot towards Sun Wukong's brow.

The golden beam of light struck the wisp of black energy, producing a sound.

"Hiss!"

The black mist writhed violently, like a snake being burned, emitting a putrid stench.

Sun Wukong groaned, clutched his head, and trembled all over.

Li Yan steadied himself and continued to activate the power of the World Tree.

The golden light grew stronger and stronger, enveloping Sun Wukong completely.

The black mist gradually dissolved in the golden light, turning into wisps of green smoke that drifted out from Sun Wukong's pores.

A moment later, the black mist finally dissipated completely.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes regained their clarity.

He let out a long sigh, his face pale and his forehead covered in sweat.

"Brother..." Sun Wukong looked at Li Yan, his golden eyes filled with gratitude, "Thank you."

Li Yan shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to be so polite."

However, the black energy was formed from the turbidity of calamity and was entangled with the Geng metal energy in the king's body, making it difficult to completely eradicate.

"I only suppressed it temporarily just now. To completely eliminate it, we'll have to go back and discuss it further."

Sun Wukong nodded, stood up, and stretched his limbs.

He gazed at the two forked roads, a hint of seriousness flashing in his golden eyes: "Brother, which way should we go?"

Li Yan observed once again with the eye of cause and effect.

On the left, the path, with its clear lines of cause and effect, leads straight out of the garden.

On the path to the right, the causal lines are still tangled, but within that tangling, a faint golden light flickers.

That golden light was exactly the same as the golden light he had just drawn from the World Tree.

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Your Majesty, let's go to the right."

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "The right side? Doesn't the left side lead out of the garden?"

Li Yan said, "The left side leads to the outside of the garden, but that's just an appearance."

Although the causal line was left by Venus, it has been forcibly severed by humankind and replaced with a false one.

If you go to the left, you'll fall into that person's trap and be led astray without knowing where.

He then pointed to the right: "Although the right side seems dark, there are my karmic threads within it."

That causal thread was unintentionally left when I used the power of the World Tree to heal the Great King.

Follow that line of cause and effect, and you will find my grotto.

"Once you leave the cave, you can bypass that person's eyes and ears."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes lit up: "Brother, do you mean someone deliberately set a trap in the garden to lure us in?"

Li Yan nodded and said, "It's pretty much true."

The person who was able to tamper with the Peach Garden must have a position of such high status and such powerful methods that they are beyond our comprehension.

If we rashly go to the left, we might just play right into that person's hands.

Sun Wukong sneered: "What a fine Peach Garden! What a fine Heavenly Court!"

I, Old Sun, originally thought that only demons and monsters would use such tricks in this world.

Unexpectedly, this celestial realm is even dirtier than that demon cave!

Li Yan said, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. Although the timeline here is disordered, it is not impossible that person has spies around."

Sun Wukong snorted, but said nothing more.

The two turned and stepped onto the path on the right.

The path grew narrower and darker as you walked along it.

The peach trees on both sides gradually thinned out, turning into a wasteland.

Scattered among the weeds are some broken stones and rubble, which seem to be the remains of abandoned buildings.

Li Yan led the way with his Eye of Cause and Effect, with Sun Wukong close behind. The two of them, one in front and one behind, groped their way forward in the dim light.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a clearing suddenly appeared ahead.

A stone pavilion stands on the open space.

The stone pavilion, with its four stone pillars and a simple roof, exudes an ancient charm.

Inside the pavilion, there is a stone table and two stone benches.

On the stone table were a jade pot and two jade cups.

A faint aroma of wine wafted from the jade pot.

Li Yan stopped and looked at the stone pavilion with his Eye of Cause and Effect.

All around the stone pavilion, causal threads intertwined to form a huge net, enveloping the pavilion.

In the very center of the net, an extremely thin golden thread of cause and effect hangs down from the pavilion roof, connecting to the jade pot on the stone table.

That golden thread of cause and effect was the golden light he had drawn from the World Tree when he was healing Sun Wukong.

Li Yan understood that this stone pavilion was the boundary between his grotto and the Peach Garden.

The aroma of wine emanating from the jade pot is the very essence of the grotto.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Li Yan said, "This is the boundary between my grotto and the Peach Garden."

"Once you pass through this stone pavilion, you will enter my grotto-heaven, and with its power, you can leave this place."

Sun Wukong nodded and strode toward the stone pavilion.

Li Yan followed closely behind.

The moment the two stepped into the stone pavilion, they suddenly felt their feet sink into the ground, as if they had stepped into an abyss.

The stone pavilion, the stone table, and the jade pot all vanished, turning into nothingness.

In the void, there is neither sky nor earth, neither light nor darkness, only chaos.

Li Yan was startled and was about to call out to Sun Wukong when he found that he could not make a sound.

He reached out to grab Sun Wukong's sleeve, but grasped nothing.

Sun Wukong has disappeared.

Li Yan stood in the void, looking around, seeing only a vast, boundless chaos.

He calmed himself and observed with the eye of cause and effect.

All the causal threads were broken and scattered, as if they had been torn apart by something.

A chill ran through him.

This is... being set up.

That stone pavilion, that thread of cause and effect, are all real.

However, someone separated him and Sun Wukong the moment they stepped into the stone pavilion.

Li Yan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, communicating with the World Tree within the cave.

The World Tree sensed his call and trembled slightly.

A golden light surged from the void and enveloped him.

The golden light guided him, through the chaos, and drifted in a certain direction.

I don't know how much time has passed; it might be a moment, or it might be ten thousand years.

Li Yan suddenly felt his feet become solid, and the view before him suddenly opened up.

That was a world unto itself.

Within a radius of 300,000 li, the mountains and rivers are magnificent, and the scenery is ever-changing.

Mount Tianzhu soars into the clouds, and atop its summit stands the World Tree, its golden light shimmering.

In the paradise, the monkeys were playing and frolicking, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Li Yan stood atop the Temple of Heaven, gazing upon this vast expanse of land, yet felt no joy whatsoever.

The monkey has disappeared.

He sat cross-legged under the World Tree, closed his eyes and concentrated, using his Eye of Cause and Effect to trace the whereabouts of Sun Wukong.

But the cause-and-effect line was intermittent and blurry; one could only vaguely see that the monkey had been sent somewhere.

That place was full of spiritual energy, with peach orchards stretching as far as the eye could see; it seemed to be deep within the Peach Garden.

Li Yan was shocked.

That place was the forbidden area of ​​the Queen Mother of the West, and ordinary celestial officials were not allowed to enter.

Even Dongfang Shuo only walked around outside the garden and never stepped into its depths.

Is it a blessing or a curse that the monkey was sent there?

Li Yan was anxious, but he knew that there was no use in being anxious now.

He steadied himself and used the power of the World Tree to set up an array within the cave.

Strengthen the connection between yourself and the grotto.

Then, he leaped into the air, transforming into a golden ray of light, and flew towards the Peach Garden.

As for Sun Wukong, the moment he stepped into the stone pavilion, he felt his feet sink into the ground, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he slowly woke up.

I opened my eyes and saw a peach orchard.

The peach grove was completely different from what he had just seen.

The peach trees here are all sturdy and robust.

The branches were laden with peaches.

Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled gold spots on the ground.

A gentle breeze rustled the peach leaves, as if someone were whispering.

Sun Wukong sat up and looked around.

In the peach grove, there was a clean and tidy path.

On both sides of the path stood some stone pillars, engraved with runes and restrictions, with a faint glow flowing around them.

He stood up, dusted himself off, and scanned his surroundings with his golden eyes.

Deep within the peach grove, a palace could be faintly seen.

The palace was not large, but it was exquisite and elegant.

Red walls and green tiles, flying eaves and brackets, gleaming golden in the sunlight.

In front of the palace gate stood two peach trees, several times taller than ordinary peach trees, with faint dragon patterns coiled around their trunks.

Sun Wukong wondered, "Where am I?"

He followed the path toward the palace.

Halfway there, they suddenly heard laughter coming from ahead. The laughter was clear and melodious, like the sound of silver bells.

Sun Wukong stopped and looked with his golden eyes.

Seven women stood before the palace gate.

The seven women were all exceptionally beautiful, their clothes fluttering in the breeze.

They are colorful, like seven blooming flowers.

Each of them carried a flower basket filled with petals, which they scattered along the way.

The woman at the head of the group wore a pink silk dress, with a face as beautiful as a peach blossom and exquisite features.

Upon seeing Sun Wukong, she paused slightly, then bowed and said:

"May I ask if this venerable immortal is the Great Sage who guards the Peach Garden?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback.

Then a memory appeared in his mind.

When he was named the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Jade Emperor did indeed assign him to guard the Peach Garden.

Only when the woman asked him this did he remember that, nominally, he was still the keeper of this peach orchard.

He grinned and said, "That's right. Who are you? What brings you to this garden?"

The woman in pink said, "Reporting to the Great Sage, we are the seven fairy maidens under the Queen Mother of the West."

"By order of the Empress, I have come to this garden to pick peaches for the Peach Banquet."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed as he looked the seven women up and down.

Although they were fairies, they had no magical powers and were just ordinary maids.

He shook his head inwardly.

The Queen Mother of the West is really something, sending several defenseless women to pick peaches, isn't she afraid of encountering some monsters?

He waved his hand and said:

"Pick them as you please. Just don't go too deep into the garden; there are some places you can't go to in the depths."

The seven fairies quickly thanked them, then carried their flower baskets and headed deeper into the peach grove.

Sun Wukong stood on the path, watching their backs as a strange feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

That feeling was indescribable.

The scene before me seemed familiar, as if I had seen it in a dream.

He shook his head and was about to turn and leave when he suddenly heard a scream from deep within the peach grove.

Sun Wukong felt a chill run down his spine, leaped up, and somersaulted into the air.

Jin Jing looked in the direction from which the shout came.

Deep within the peach grove, the seven fairies stood huddled under a giant peach tree, their faces filled with terror.

On that peach tree, several flat peaches were growing.

Those peaches were different from ordinary peaches; they were golden yellow all over, with a subtle shimmering light.

But beneath that peach tree, a giant snake was coiled up.

The giant snake was entirely bluish-black, several feet long, and as thick as a bowl.

It coiled up, head raised, tongue flicking, eyes blood-red, staring at the seven fairies.

The seven fairies were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they retreated repeatedly.

The woman in pink said in a trembling voice, "How...how could there be snakes in this garden?"

Sun Wukong sneered, and the golden cudgel was already in his hand.

He leaped down, landing before the giant serpent, brandished his golden cudgel, and shouted:

"You beast! How dare you injure someone in front of me, Old Sun!"

The giant snake, far from being afraid of him, raised its head and lunged forward, opening its blood-red maw to bite him.

Sun Wukong dodged to the side, and his golden cudgel swept across, striking the giant snake squarely at its vital spot.

The giant snake cried out in pain, its body went limp, and it collapsed to the ground.

Just as Sun Wukong was about to deliver another blow, the giant snake suddenly turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished without a trace.

The seven fairies were stunned and it took them a while to come to their senses. They quickly thanked Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "It's just a little snake, there's nothing to thank me for."

You all pick your peaches, I, Old Sun, will go check over there.

Having said that, he turned and walked deeper into the peach grove.