Volume One: The Misty Immortal Palace Chapter 125: A Conversation Beneath the Tree

Chapter 125: Conversations Beneath the Tree

The Tortoise was originally a common turtle that ascended from the mortal realm to the Immortal Domain. However, according to its own accounts, it belonged to the Immortal Domain from the start and was only forced to descend for reasons even it could not recall. Judging by the trials it had shared with Zhou Hao, it possessed a truly astonishing background. Its knowledge of the Immortal Domain far surpassed that of many prominent figures; in Zhou Hao's view, the tortoise’s reservoir of knowledge was equivalent to the hundreds of thousands of years of experience held by a Great Immortal-level master. The source of this knowledge could be summed up in two words: strength. Without absolute power, it would be impossible to comprehend the cruel laws, survival techniques, and the vast array of rare treasures found within the Immortal Domain.

"That is indeed possible. Even I had heard rumors that the Hall Master had entered the soul-decay stage of the Five Decays of Immortals. Once one reaches this stage, unless they possess the most precious Nine-Turn Golden Pill or similarly miraculous medicine, or immediately break through to a higher realm, death is inevitable. The Hall Master foresaw Nangong Xun’s treachery long ago, so he was willing to sacrifice himself to glimpse the future and prepare a contingency for the Immortal Hall to strike back at Nangong Xun," Yu Nan nodded, agreeing with the tortoise's speculation.

It is common knowledge that the Five Decays of Immortals—physical, blood, qi, skeletal, and soul decay—are the great tribulations of time that even immortals cannot escape. Who in this world can truly be immortal? Even this vast Immortal Domain, a realm of divine immortals and Buddhas said to enjoy eternal life, has experienced several great epochal collapses. Civilizations have vanished and eras have fractured, let alone those immortal heroes and Dao Lords who once looked down upon the heavens and the earth, only to become fleeting clouds in the pages of history.

Nothing is absolute, and nothing is eternal. Whether human, immortal, or the world itself, all exist in a state of constant progress. Yet, progress brings elimination. Time is the arbiter that weeds out all things; it is impartial, fair, and open because it is ruthless and selfless.

Heaven and earth are unkind; they treat all things as straw dogs. The sun and moon are indifferent; they revolve through a thousand generations, slaughtering the heroes of every age.

"If that’s the case, then the person you are waiting for is Zhou Hao! He is one of the two young people the Immortal Yun Miao spoke of. He is right here, so hurry up and give us the fruit!" Hua Huo said, looking at the Purple-Gold Vermilion Fruit Tree.

"The Immortal spoke of two young people. Are you two? And how can I be sure he is one of the people I am waiting for?" the Purple-Gold Vermilion Fruit Tree retorted.

"You old stick, you just said that only those two young people could enter your barrier. Zhou Hao is inside, which proves he is the one! We just tagged along; we’re just the support group!" the tortoise argued.

"That counts as a reason. After all, no one can enter this barrier except for the Immortal, unless they use Great Immortal-level power to force it open. Since you did not force your way in, it seems you understand the relationship between the barrier and the Great Array of the Yun Miao Immortal Hall. If the barrier breaks, the array is destroyed; if the array is destroyed, the Hall is in danger," the tree replied.

"Senior, do you know why we have come?" Zhou Hao asked sternly.

"Surely for the Purple-Gold Vermilion Fruit," the tree answered.

"Not exactly!"

"Oh?"

"We came to protect the Yun Miao Immortal Hall. Do you know that the Hall has fallen into chaos? It has a new master now. Nangong Xun is ambitious and cruel; he colluded with messengers from the Night Palace to murder the Hall Master, persecuted the elders, and imprisoned those who refused to submit. He did this because of a pact: the Night Envoy would help him become the new Hall Master, and in return, Nangong Xun would secure the Purple-Gold Vermilion Fruit for the Envoy. Although they killed the Hall Master, they could not master the Great Array, and thus could not open this barrier."

"Since they cannot open it, why did you come here? Isn't it still for the fruit?"

"Because I know Nangong Xun and the Night Envoy will not give up. I was lucky enough to use the power of the gourd to repel them this time, but the power of the Night Palace is unfathomable. They will surely gather greater strength to seize the fruit."

"That is merely your own speculation. The fruit is safest here. If I give it to you, it would be like casting a sheep into a tiger's den."

After some negotiation, the tree still refused to hand over the fruit. This truly irritated Zhou Hao. In truth, he did have selfish motives—he wanted the power of the fruit to grow stronger. The old tree saw through his heart, so no amount of debate could move this ancient entity of unknown age.

"You old stick, you’re just being unreasonable! The Immortal Yun Miao said only Su Qing and Zhou Hao could enter and that you should give the fruit to one of them. You’re being stubborn—why can’t you turn your brain around?" the tortoise grumbled.

"The logic is simple: the fruit is mine, and I give it to whom I please. Even the Immortal’s words cannot dictate my decisions. In other words, I could even give the fruit to Nangong Xun if I wanted. But the Immortal saved my life once, and I took root here to protect the Hall to repay that kindness. Although he asked me to bestow the fruit upon the future hope of the Hall, I must follow my own rules to decide who that is. And in my view, you, young man, do not meet the criteria," the tree said, eyeing Zhou Hao with a playful smile.

"Then what exactly is lacking in me?" Zhou Hao asked, unconvinced.

"Your temperament is unsettled, you are impetuous, and you lack stability. You are not destined for greatness. How could I entrust such a precious fruit to you?" the old tree remarked.

Zhou Hao wanted to argue, but the words died in his throat. He realized with a start that the tree was right; his temperament had indeed been unstable lately. Perhaps not just lately, but for a long time. His heart had felt suppressed and stagnant, and the reason was obvious: the chaos in the Immortal Hall and the successive deaths of those dear to him.

In less than a month, the Yun Miao Immortal Hall had become the Nangong Immortal Hall. The Hall Master was murdered, his master was killed, Senior Sister Su Qing sacrificed herself to save him, and Senior Brother Cao Shuang, who had always supported and cared for him, was also dead. Since arriving in this vast Immortal Domain, what had he gained? And what had he lost?

Zhou Hao smiled—a bitter, mocking smile. He was filled with heavy hostility, and his next tribulation would surely summon an even stronger inner demon. These were all symptoms of an unstable mind. For instance, the last time his inner demon took control of his body, it wasn't just because the demon was powerful; it was because his own willpower was too weak and his resolve was flawed.

In the Immortal Domain, it is said that besides the physical body and the primordial spirit, there is something even more important: the Immortal Intent. This intent is divided into good and evil, strong and weak. The difference between the immortal path and the demonic path lies in a single thought; the difference between the strong and the weak is also but a single thought. If the Immortal Intent does not perish, even if the body and soul are destroyed, one can still reside between heaven and earth. Over time, a new life can be born.

The Great Immortal Dengtu Lang was the same. Although his body and soul were destroyed to seal Luo Tianyi, his Immortal Intent was so potent that it gathered a wisp of his soul, allowing him to persist through the ages and gradually recover his peak state within the gourd.

Immortal Intent—the intent of the Immortal Dao—arises from the heart but is not burdened by it. In other words, even if the heart is gone, the intent remains. The firmer the temperament, the stronger the Immortal Intent. This spiritual consciousness is thought, and it can be divided. Unless one’s heart is completely turned to ash, one will never truly die.

"It seems you have realized it," the tree said, watching the bitter-smiling Zhou Hao.

"The primordial spirit and the physical body can be strengthened through cultivation. While the temperament is the same, it is not identical. On the contrary, if one takes a wrong step, it leads to instability and grave consequences. Immortal Intent arises from the heart but is not burdened by it. It is like a ray; it has a beginning but no end. Yet, obstacles on the path can hinder its progress. Some obstacles turn the ray into a curve, while others cut it off, turning it into a line segment with both a beginning and an end."

"You are currently a curve—impetuous, filled with excessive hostility, and highly distorted. What good would it do to reach the Immortal King realm now? You would only nurture an inner demon and destroy yourself."

Zhou Hao did not speak. He took a deep breath, bowed deeply to the old tree, and sat cross-legged beneath its boughs. He closed his eyes, entering a state of meditation, as if he were an ancient monk in deep contemplation.

If before, inside the yellow gourd, Zhou Hao was learning how to draw his sword, now he was learning how to sheath it.

For a true swordsman, one must first know how to use the sword. The moment the blade leaves the scabbard, it should dim the sun and moon and shake the mountains and rivers—the sword’s edge revealed, its brilliance suppressing the cosmos. But the moment the sword is sheathed, there must be absolute silence; all light must be retracted, possessing the grand spirit to turn the cosmos into chaos.

"Senior Sister, what is wrong with Zhou Hao? Why did he suddenly start meditating?" Xiao Shanshan asked, puzzled.

Yu Nan shook her head; she did not know what was in Zhou Hao’s heart.

The tortoise said with an air of profound wisdom, "He is gaining insight, calming himself, and cultivating his temperament. He is emulating the followers of the Buddha, seeking enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. If nothing goes wrong, when he stands up again, he will be at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm!"

The Purple-Gold Vermilion Fruit Tree chuckled, "Indeed, indeed. If this child can gain insight and find his own Great Dao, perhaps I, too, shall be known as a Tree of Wisdom, a Tree of Enlightenment, just like the Bodhi tree. Hahahaha..."

Before its laughter had even faded, Hua Huo, the tortoise, and the others all sat down beneath the tree, eager to seek enlightenment and elevate their own realms.

Six figures sat beneath the tree, still and meditative. Only the rustle of falling leaves could be heard as time drifted by, unaware that a momentous upheaval was brewing outside the barrier.