Chapter 1139
Immortal Paradise
"There are so many rare ores and spiritual herbs here!" Qingyunzi exclaimed in surprise, the torch in his hand illuminating the joyful expression on his face.
"Yes, we've really gained a lot from this adventure," the woman in white remarked, carefully selecting several spiritual herbs to put into her bag.
After several days of flying and exploration, they finally arrived at the vast and boundless sea. The sea surface shimmered, and the waves gently lapped against the rocks on the shore, making a "whoosh" sound. A sea breeze blew by, bringing a cool breeze and a faint smell of the sea.
Qingyunzi pointed to a faintly visible island in the distance and said, "Look, that's Penglai Wonderland."
Zhou Yuan and the woman in white looked in the direction he pointed, and saw the island shrouded in misty clouds, exuding an ethereal aura. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the entire island seemed to be draped in a golden halo, making it appear even more mysterious and magnificent.
"Wow, it's so beautiful! It's like a paradise in a painting," Zhou Yuan exclaimed sincerely.
"Yes, this place must hold many rare opportunities and treasures," the woman in white said expectantly.
Qingyunzi smiled slightly: "Then let's quicken our pace! Let's try to reach the island before dark."
Upon hearing this, the three of them perked up and sped towards Penglai Wonderland. As they drew closer to the island, the ethereal aura emanating from it grew increasingly intense. Zhou Yuan's eyes sparkled with joy, while the woman in white took a deep breath, as if trying to absorb all the freshness and ethereal charm into her very being.
Qingyunzi led the way, his robes fluttering in the wind, making him appear like an immortal descending to earth. They traveled at an extremely fast speed, and soon reached the edge of the island.
"We've arrived," Qingyunzi said softly, landing first on a lush, verdant meadow.
Zhou Yuan and the woman in white followed closely behind, their eyes scanning the surroundings. They saw ancient trees reaching for the sky, exotic flowers and rare herbs everywhere, and cranes leisurely circling in the clouds, truly a scene of celestial beauty.
"This place is truly breathtaking, as if we were inside a painting," the woman in white exclaimed. Her fingertips gently brushed against a blooming fairy flower, which then shone with even more radiant light.
Zhou Yuan looked around with great interest, when suddenly his gaze was drawn to a cave that was shimmering with golden light: "Look, what's that over there?"
Qingyunzi looked in the direction he pointed, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "That is... the Golden Spirit Cave! Legend has it that the cave contains golden pills and magical treasures, but it is full of traps and dangers."
"Golden Core and Magic Treasure?" Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up immediately. "Then we've come to the right place!"
The woman in white also seemed quite interested, but she was even more cautious: "We must proceed step by step and not act rashly."
Qingyunzi nodded: "What you say makes sense. How about this, I'll go ahead and scout the way first, and you wait here for a while."
With that, he vanished in a flash. Zhou Yuan and the woman in white exchanged a smile. They understood that Qing Yunzi's cultivation was unfathomable, and with him going to investigate, their safety was naturally greatly enhanced.
Not long after, Qingyunzi returned with a look of joy on his face: "Although the mechanisms inside the Golden Spirit Cave are complex, they are not insurmountable. I have found a way to pass through them."
"Great!" Zhou Yuan exclaimed excitedly. "Let's get going now!"
The three cautiously approached the entrance to the Golden Spirit Cave. A thin golden halo enveloped the entrance, giving it an air of mystery and solemnity. Qingyunzi stepped inside first, followed closely by Zhou Yuan and the woman in white.
The cave was dimly lit, but they were all cultivators with eyesight far exceeding that of ordinary people, so they could see clearly even in the darkness. They continued to move forward along the winding cave passage, occasionally triggering some traps and mechanisms, but they were all saved from danger thanks to Qingyunzi's guidance.
Suddenly, a sharp sword aura pierced the air from the front. Qingyunzi reacted swiftly, raising his longsword to block and dissipating the sword aura. Immediately afterward, a young man dressed in brocade robes and wielding a longsword slowly emerged from the shadows.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Golden Spirit Cave!" the young man said coldly.
Qingyunzi stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "I am Qingyunzi, and I have come here with you two young friends to seek opportunities. We have no ill intentions, but we have heard that the Golden Spirit Cave contains golden pills and magical treasures, so we have come to take a look."
Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in the young man's eyes: "Oh? You've also come for the Golden Core and magic treasures? Hmph, the things here aren't so easy to take."
Zhou Yuan retorted defiantly, "Since we've come, we have no intention of leaving empty-handed. If you know what's good for you, then don't block our way."
The young man sneered, "Hmph, quite the boast. With your abilities, you're far from getting the Golden Core and the magic weapon."
The woman in white frowned slightly: "We are not here to cause trouble, but only to share the opportunities here. Why are you being so aggressive?"
The young man, however, remained unyielding: "If you want an opportunity, you must prove yourself with real skills. Otherwise, it's all out of the question."
Before he finished speaking, he moved swiftly, attacking Zhou Yuan directly. Zhou Yuan reacted quickly, swinging his sword to meet the attack. The two engaged in a fierce battle within the narrow cave passage, their swords clashing and sparks flying.
Qingyunzi and the woman in white exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with worry. They knew that although Zhou Yuan was strong, he would probably not be able to hold out for long against the young man before them.
Qingyunzi whispered to the woman in white, "This young man's swordsmanship is ruthless and his inner strength is profound. Zhou Yuan probably won't be able to hold out for long. We need to find a way to help him."
The woman in white nodded: "I had the same idea. However, the space inside the cave is cramped, and if we act rashly, we might accidentally injure Zhou Yuan. We have to wait for the right opportunity."
At this moment, the battle between Zhou Yuan and the young man intensified. Although Zhou Yuan was brave and fierce, he was gradually showing signs of fatigue under the opponent's fierce attacks.
A glint flashed in Qingyunzi's eyes: "The time is almost right, let's go!"
Having said that, he and the woman in white attacked simultaneously, striking the young man from the left and right sides respectively. Although the young man was highly skilled in swordsmanship, he couldn't help but be somewhat flustered under the combined attack of the three.
"You're ganging up on us!" the young man shouted angrily.
Qingyunzi smiled calmly: "Didn't you also intend to bully the weak before? We are just giving you a taste of your own medicine."
Under the combined attack of the three, the young man gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. Finally, in a fierce clash, he was struck by Zhou Yuan's sword and staggered backward.
"Alright, stop now," Qingyunzi said in time to stop them. "We are not mortal enemies, why fight to the death?"
Although the young man was defeated, there was no fear in his eyes: "You are indeed quite capable, I admit defeat. However, if you want to obtain the Golden Core and the magic weapon, you will have to pass the subsequent trials."
Zhou Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Thank you for the reminder. We will handle it carefully."
Qingyunzi cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask your honorable name?"
“My name is Jian Chen,” the young man replied. “If you can pass the tests that follow, perhaps we will have a chance to meet again.” With that, he turned and left, quickly disappearing into the depths of the dark cave.
The three exchanged a smile and continued walking forward. Before long, they arrived at a spacious hall. In the center of the hall stood a high platform, upon which rested a golden alchemy furnace and several magical artifacts shimmering with radiant light.
"It seems we've finally found the real deal," Qingyunzi said with a smile.
Zhou Yuan's eyes gleamed with excitement: "These magical treasures and golden pills are all ours!"
The woman in white remained cautious: "Don't forget Jian Chen's warning, there are probably other trials hidden here."
As soon as she finished speaking, eight dazzling lights suddenly illuminated the hall. Immediately afterward, eight figures emerged from the light—eight identical Jian Chens!
"This is... a clone technique?" Qingyunzi exclaimed in surprise.
“That’s right,” one of the swordsmen said. “If you want to take the golden core and magic weapon, you have to defeat us first.”
Zhou Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly: "This is troublesome."
The woman in white remained remarkably calm: "Don't panic. They are just clones; their strength is definitely inferior to the original body. If the three of us join forces, we can definitely defeat them."
Thus, another great battle ensued. The three engaged in fierce combat with the eight sword clones, sword light flashing and spells flying everywhere. After a hard-fought battle, they finally defeated the eight clones one by one.
Qingyunzi let out a long breath: "It's finally over."
Zhou Yuan excitedly ran towards the high platform: "These golden pills and magic treasures are all ours!"
The woman in white also smiled happily: "We have truly gained a lot from this adventure."
The three of them collected all the golden pills and magical treasures, returning home laden with their spoils. As they left the Golden Spirit Cave, they couldn't help but look back frequently, their eyes filled with longing and sighs.
“We will come again,” Qingyunzi said.
"Of course they will," Shi Ji and her junior sister replied in unison.
After bidding farewell to Jinling Cave, the three found a secluded spot to rest. Shiji eagerly took out a golden pill and examined it closely. The pill was a brilliant golden color, emitting a faint fragrance, as if it contained boundless vitality.
"This golden elixir is truly wondrous. I wonder what effects it will have after being taken?" Shi Ji asked curiously.
Qingyunzi smiled slightly: "The Golden Elixir is refined by immortals. Taking it can enhance one's cultivation and may even lead to enlightenment of new spells. However, the effects will vary depending on individual constitution."
The junior sister also took out a magical artifact, a delicate and exquisite jade pendant, intricately carved with patterns and shrouded in a faint ethereal aura. She gently stroked the jade pendant, her eyes filled with joy.
"This magical artifact seems to have a special connection with me; I can sense the immense power it contains," the junior sister said.
Qingyunzi nodded: "Each magic weapon has its unique features, and one must be in perfect harmony with it to unleash its full power."
After a short rest, the three decided to continue their exploration of the Penglai Wonderland. They followed a winding path, flanked by lush fairy forests, with mist rising from the trees, as if they had stepped into a mysterious paradise.
Before long, they arrived at the shore of a lake with shimmering blue waters. The lake was crystal clear, its surface sparkling, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the surrounding fairy mountains. In the center of the lake was a small island, on which stood an elegant pavilion, and within the pavilion, there seemed to be faintly moving figures.
“The pavilion on that small island is quite elegant. Why don’t we go and see for ourselves?” Shi Ji suggested.
Qingyunzi and his junior sister both agreed, so the three of them walked on the waves and headed towards the island. When they arrived on the island, they saw an old man with a sage-like demeanor sitting in a pavilion, leisurely sipping fragrant tea.
"Junior Qingyunzi, Shiji, and Junior Sister greet Senior." Qingyunzi bowed and paid his respects.
The old man raised his head and revealed a kind smile: "So it's you three young friends who have graced my humble abode. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."
Shi Ji asked curiously, "Senior, are you cultivating in seclusion here? This Penglai Wonderland is truly like a paradise on earth!"
The old man stroked his long beard: "I have been cultivating here for hundreds of years. This Penglai Wonderland is indeed a good place to cultivate one's nature and mind."
The junior sister exclaimed, "Senior is truly blessed to be able to cultivate in such a celestial realm."
The old man smiled and said, "The path of cultivation lies in the heart, not in external things. As long as there is the Way in your heart, where is not a paradise?"
The three nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this. The old man then invited them to drink tea and discuss philosophy. The four of them chatted happily, ranging from their spiritual cultivation to the general trend of the world.
After several rounds of tea, the old man suddenly changed the subject: "You three young friends have come to Penglai Wonderland, presumably also to seek opportunities, right?"
Qingyunzi nodded: "What you say is true, senior. The three of us have indeed come to seek opportunities."
The old man smiled slightly: "Since that's the case, how about I grant you a chance?"
Shi Ji was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Thank you, senior!"
The old man took out three jade slips from his sleeve and handed them to the three men: "These three jade slips contain some of my cultivation insights and secrets of magic. I hope they will be of some help to you."
The three accepted the jade slip and thanked him repeatedly. Qingyunzi asked curiously, "Why did you bestow such a precious opportunity upon us, senior?"
The old man took a deep breath: "I have cultivated for hundreds of years and have seen through many things. These opportunities are useless to me, but they are priceless treasures to you. I hope you will cherish them and make good use of them."
The junior colleague exclaimed, "Your senior is truly a person of noble character and integrity; you are truly admirable!"
The old man waved his hand: "I only did what I was supposed to do." He then pointed to the other side of the lake, "There is a fairy mountain over there called 'Lingyun Peak'. At the top of the peak, there is a thousand-year-old spiritual herb that is about to mature. You can go and pick it as a small reward for this trip."
The three were overjoyed upon hearing this, and after thanking the old man, they departed on the waves. When they reached the summit of Lingyun Peak, they indeed saw a spiritual herb, shimmering with spiritual light, swaying in the wind. Shiji was eager to pick it, but Qingyunzi stopped her: "Be careful, it might be a trap!"
Qingyunzi carefully examined the area and, confirming there was nothing amiss, finally allowed Shiji to gather the spiritual herb. Just as Shiji plucked the herb, thunder rumbled in the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck down! (End of Chapter)