Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Meanwhile, the Ming court was celebrating this achievement of territorial expansion.

The New World lies deep in the wilderness, thousands of miles away from Zhenhai Fortress.

The mountains stretch endlessly, and ancient trees reach for the sky.

This place has completely escaped the exploration range of the Ming army. It is rarely visited by humans, and even those huge ancient beasts rarely venture into this secluded valley.

The valley is surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks, and a biting wind howls across the summit.

But strangely, in the center of this valley, there was a warm, spring-like landscape.

The hot springs deep in the earth flowed out along the cracks in the rocks, gathering into a clear, emerald-green pool.

Around the pool, there are large swathes of unusual peach trees with pink and white blossoms.

Even though the outside world is covered in snow, the peach blossoms in this valley are in full bloom. When the wind blows, the petals fall like rain, creating a scene like a fairyland.

This secluded valley is like a bright pearl embedded in the wilderness.

On a blue stone beside a deep pool.

Li Changqing was casually half-lying down.

A few pink and white petals fell on his faded blue cloth robe.

His eyes were slightly closed, and he was playing with a rough stone bowl in his hand, listening to the cries of monkeys coming from not far away.

A group of large, pure white apes were frolicking and playing among the peach trees.

These white apes are not ordinary wild beasts, but spiritual beasts that have multiplied by absorbing spiritual energy in this secluded valley.

Their eyes are clear, their movements are agile, and their every gesture reveals a touch of human-like dynamism.

Several mischievous little white apes were swinging back and forth on the branches, each holding a few fist-sized, bright red peaches.

Not far from the bluestone, an old white ape, about the size of an ordinary black bear and with a tuft of golden hair on its forehead, was squatting beside a natural stone pit.

The stone pit was filled with clear, rich liquor.

This is the legendary monkey wine.

These apes picked the ripe peaches and various exotic fruits from the valley, crushed them, and sealed them in a stone pit.

It is fermented over many years by taking advantage of the unique warmth and spiritual energy of this valley.

The wine has a rich and lingering aroma; just a sip is enough to feel your internal organs enveloped in a warm and refreshing energy, bringing immense comfort.

Li Changqing sat up straight and took out an oil paper package from his sleeve.

Unwrapping the oil paper revealed several large pieces of braised beef that had been marinated and air-dried with coarse salt, star anise, and cinnamon.

This was a piece of street food that he had asked Zhao Laolang for when he was working as an accountant on the Fuyuan ship.

He picked up a piece of braised beef, waved it at the old white ape, and then gently tossed it over.

The old white ape nimbly reached out and caught it, then sniffed it.

The rich aroma of spices and meat was a unique flavor it had never smelled before.

It tentatively took a small bite.

The next moment, the old white ape's golden eyes widened suddenly.

It disregarded any semblance of a mythical beast and swallowed the half-pound piece of braised beef in just a few bites.

Then he stared longingly at the oil paper package in Li Changqing's hand, making an urgent "gurgling" sound in his throat.

Seeing this, Li Changqing couldn't help but chuckle.

"You mischievous monkey, you're used to eating bland spiritual fruits and peaches, but you've suddenly tasted the heavy oil and salt of this mortal world, and it suits your taste quite well."

He handed over the stone bowl in his hand and tapped it on the bluestone.

"There's plenty of meat, but there's no such thing as a free lunch. Trade me the monkey wine from your pit."

The old white ape clearly understood Li Changqing's words.

It scratched its head, seemingly weighing whether the deal was worthwhile.

A moment later, the lingering aroma of the braised beef overcame my stinginess with the fine wine.

It carefully picked up Li Changqing's stone bowl, walked to the stone pit, scooped out a full bowl of amber-colored monkey wine, and respectfully presented it to Li Changqing.

Then, he eagerly stretched out his large, white-haired hand and pointed at the oil paper package.

Li Changqing tossed the remaining braised beef, along with its oil paper wrapping, to the old white ape. He then took the stone bowl, tilted his head back, and drank the mellow monkey wine in one gulp.

As the wine entered my throat, I first tasted the sweetness of a hundred fruits, followed by a burst of fiery spiritual energy that exploded in my chest and abdomen.

Ultimately, it transforms into a long, warm current, nourishing every part of the body.

"Fine wine. Pure and natural, untouched by worldly calculations; this is a gift from heaven."

Li Changqing exhaled a long breath of alcohol, a slight blush rising on his handsome face.

He put down the stone bowl and looked at the group of white apes that were leaping and frolicking in the peach grove over the braised beef. A deep tranquility shone in his eyes.

Where exactly is the Way in this world?

The powerful figure of the Taixu Sect, in pursuit of the supreme realm, set up a great formation to drain the earth's veins, ultimately inviting divine punishment.

The lineage was severed, and the city's prosperity was reduced to ruins.

In order to expand the territory and establish a foundation for future generations, the emperor and his ministers of the Ming Dynasty used rune-inscribed cannons to blast open the gates of this barbaric land.

The methods of cultivating immortality were transformed into the abacuses of the marketplace and the swords and spears of soldiers.

The group of untamed white apes before us, living in this secluded valley, quench their thirst with spiritual spring water, feast on immortal peaches, and brew wine in their leisure time, living a life of unbridled freedom.

They know nothing of immortality, yet they have already become one with this world, enjoying a true lifespan.

"All phenomena are empty; only the mind is free."

Li Changqing muttered to himself as he took out a small carving knife from his sleeve and picked up a broken peach wood branch from the ground.

The blade moved swiftly, and sawdust fell in a flurry.

He carved it slowly and deliberately.

These long years are a deadly poison for mortals and a tedious period of seclusion for cultivators.

But for him, an observer detached from the mundane world, it was a play that never truly ended.

In this secluded snow-capped valley, he had no need to concern himself with the grand scheme of things or confront the intrigues and deceit of the imperial court.

Alone, he kept company with the group of white apes, drinking the finest wine and gazing at the most beautiful flowers.

As the sun began to set, a rough peach wood wine cup took shape in his hands.

Li Changqing picked up his wine cup, walked to the stone pit, and scooped up a cup of monkey wine for himself.

He raised his glass to the rising, cold, solitary moon in the sky, offering a distant toast.

"A salute to the vastness of this mortal world, a salute to the long passage of time."

The wine, entering my sorrowful heart, transformed into a hearty laugh that lingered long among the peach blossoms in the secluded valley.

The snowstorms of the New World continue to rage on the distant mountain peaks.

The warships and cannons of the Ming Dynasty still roared along the coastline.

But in this world, there is always a quiet corner reserved for this immortal guest dressed in an old blue robe.

It allows him to pause and savor the purest Tao and nature in this world.