Longevity Candle

Chapter 100 The Trapped Elf is Bullied

Qi Refiner!
Ning Qinghan had only heard of it on Peach Blossom Island and in Taiping Road.

In today's prosperous country, most people practice martial arts and protect the world. Only the most core members or those who have made great contributions can become Qi cultivators.

Qi cultivators, practitioners of the immortal path!

Unexpectedly, there was a peach tree cultivator in this deep mountain.

"Li Qingxuan, are you alright?"

The ethereal voice inquired.

"Our ancestor has long since passed away." Ning Qinghan bowed and asked, "May I ask how you were addressed, ancestor?"

"Old Snake King, call me Peach Spirit," the peach tree said.

"The Old Snake King?" Ning Qinghan asked in confusion.

“That’s a snake that Li Qingxuan keeps,” Tao Ling said. “Come closer and let me take a good look at you.”

The surrounding silver moon snakes quickly parted to make way for him.

Ning Qinghan led Li Qingchen to the peach tree.

The peach tree is not tall, even shorter than most, but its peaches are the largest, sweetest, and contain celestial energy.

A beautiful young girl appeared on the peach tree, sitting on a branch with her feet dangling down. Her bright eyes looked at Xiao Qingchen and said, "Come to my side."

With a wave of her hand, a silver ray lifted Xiao Qingchen and landed beside her: "You are not of Li Qingxuan's bloodline. That's right, she is so old, her life is not long, she has no one she loves in her life, and she will not leave any offspring."

"Ancestor, where is that old snake king now?" Ning Qinghan asked.

"The old snake king is gone. Many things happened after Li Qingxuan left. He moved me here and erased all traces of the peach grove."

The blood of immortals and elves has created too many divine wonders. Though they haven't transcended the mortal realm and can't harm me, they are still a nuisance.

"The old snake king followed the spirits of Nanling to the depths of the mountains and never returned."

Gu Xinsheng died, and no one came to this paradise anymore. The old snake king loved to eat peaches, and his descendants all came to love eating peaches as well.

Tao Ling pointed to the silver moon snake on the ground.

"Are these the old snake king's descendants?" Ning Qinghan asked in surprise.

"That's not entirely true. When the Silver Moon Serpent was born, it was slaughtered by you humans. In order to survive, it sought the protection of the Old Serpent King and hid here."

Tao Ling said, "When I have nothing to do, I tell them the story of Li Qingxuan. It was because Xiao Qingchen fed Tao'er that you were led here."

She knew how to control snakes and how to feed them peaches, which is why she wanted to meet him.

The energy within Xiao Qingchen's body was indeed the martial arts true energy of the Taiping Dao, though weak, it was very pure.

"Ancestor," Little Qingchen called out obediently, "Ancestor Qingxuan, what's the story?"

"Didn't she pass it down?" Tao Ling asked in confusion.

"Little Qingchen was born on Peach Blossom Island. Back then, Ancestor Qingxuan traveled all the way to the South China Sea and went to Peach Blossom Island..."

Ning Qinghan told him everything she knew.

Li Qingxuan did not pass down her deeds; all that remains is the story of Taoyuan's protection and peace, which only Yan Yu knows.

Yan Yu only briefly told her some things, without providing any specific details.

"Born in Peach Blossom Spring, buried in Peach Blossom Forest, she has finally found her final resting place." Peach Spirit sighed softly, "Did the Misty Rain perfect the Way of Peace? It's good that she didn't leave Peach Blossom Island."

Tao Ling asked again, "How is he?"

"Him?" Ning Qinghan frowned, and Xiao Qingchen was also puzzled: "Who is the Ancestor talking about?"

"Never mind if you don't know." Tao Lin smiled and didn't say anything more. He picked up Xiao Qingchen and said, "You have the talent for immortality. You're a good seedling. Come here every year and eat a few peaches."

"Grand Ancestor, I brought some lychees." Xiao Qingchen took a lychee from the small bamboo basket, peeled it, and handed it to Tao Lin.

Tao Lin smiled and ate the peaches: "They're really sweet. Don't call me 'Ancestor' anymore, just call me Tao Ling. Pick all the peaches off this tree, and don't let any outsiders see them."

"Propriety must not be disregarded..."

"What manners are there? I'm still young." Tao Ling glared at her: "You keep calling me 'Ancestor,' it makes me sound old."

Ning Qinghan quickly changed her mind: "Then I won't call you that."

With a wave of her hand, Tao Ling sent peaches falling from the tree, fluttering down and landing in Xiao Qingchen's bamboo basket.

The bamboo basket was too small to hold everything, so it flew towards Ning Qinghan, intending to let her carry it.

Suddenly, a brilliant light flashed, and Tao'er disappeared before Ning Qinghan's eyes.

"Who?" Tao Ling's eyes suddenly changed, and Yin Hui had already transformed into a sword and gone.

Ning Qinghan also drew her sword, and Xiao Qingchen also gripped the wooden sword.

A short figure, less than 1.3 meters tall, with shiny fur, was a tabby cat. It was carrying a rusty ancient sword on its back, squatting on a tree, and taking a big bite of a peach.

He paid no attention to the arrival of Yin Hui.

The silver light fell on him, producing a metallic clang before instantly dissipating.

"It's you again!" Tao Ling glared angrily at the monkey, feeling both angry and helpless.

This tabby cat has come to pick peaches more than once, but she can't beat it or chase it away.

"A mythical beast?"

Ning Qinghan's gaze turned cold, and the longsword flew out of his hand, instantly multiplying into two, then three, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into more than thirty swords.

A hint of surprise appeared in the tabby cat's eyes. It casually waved its paw, and the sword shadow vanished instantly, the sword shattering into pieces.

It transformed into a beam of light, its claws gleaming brilliantly as it reached for Ning Qinghan.

"Auntie!" Xiao Qingchen cried out in alarm, and her wooden sword flew out.

Tao Ling exclaimed angrily, "They are descendants of Li Qingxuan!"

The tabby cat froze in mid-air, its paws just an inch away from Ning Qinghan's throat.

Ning Qinghan felt her whole body stiffen, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. If Tao Lin's voice hadn't come in time, her throat would have been crushed.

The wooden sword lost its strength before it even reached the tabby cat and fell to the ground.

“Li Qingxuan is long dead.” The tabby cat finally spoke, its fangs menacing: “She can’t scare me. That old dragon from Nanling is a good match.”

Even so, he still stepped back, staring intently at Xiao Qingchen: "Talent in the path of immortality is rare. Human child, would you be willing to become my immortal master?"

"Immortal Master?"

Ning Qinghan's pupils shrank sharply: "Are you a spirit of the mountains and seas?"

This is a spirit of mountains and seas nurtured by heaven and earth, not a beast that has mutated by obtaining divine blood.

"You do have some knowledge, knowing about the spirits of mountains and seas." The tabby cat proudly raised its head and looked at Xiao Qingchen: "Qi cultivators are as insignificant as ants. No matter how much they train, they will hardly become great. I have observed you learning swordsmanship. If you join my tutelage, your swordsmanship can become second in the world."

Tao Ling shielded Xiao Qingchen behind her, but Xiao Qingchen still cautiously peeked out: "Who is the number one in the world?"

"Of course it's me," the tabby cat said proudly, raising its head.

Tao Ling sneered, "You, the number one in the world, and Tao'er who stole the doll? Who was the one who got beaten to a pulp back then?"

The tabby cat instantly bristled, angrily saying, "If it weren't for the old crow risking his life, and Zhang Ning borrowing Li Qingping's Candle Illumination, would I have been injured? If it weren't for his talent in the immortal path, I would have killed you long ago."

Ning Qinghan winked at Tao Ling, afraid that she might provoke this mountain and sea spirit into going mad.

"Why didn't you make a move before she arrived?" Tao Ling said sarcastically.

"Your peaches are barely palatable," the tabby cat retorted stubbornly.

"Tao Ling." Ning Qinghan arrived under the peach tree and called out softly.

Tao Ling glanced at her: "Your sword strike at him just now did offend him, but he won't have any karmic consequences if he kills you."

Ning Qinghan's face paled slightly; she knew she couldn't possibly defeat an elf.

The tabby cat's eyes gleamed coldly as it took a vicious bite of the peach: "Little one, become my disciple and I will teach you the way of the sword and forgive her offense."

Xiao Qingchen looked frightened. Although he was young, he knew that the elf that his aunt and ancestor could not defeat must have extraordinary magical power.

However, despite his fear, he still jumped down and stood protectively in front of Ning Qinghan: "If you dare to hurt Auntie, I will definitely not forgive you when I grow up!"

His voice, though youthful, was firm and resolute.

The tabby cat squinted its eyes: "Interesting. Did you really think that after the old crow, I would be unable to lift a sword?"

"My sword is not without its weaknesses!" Xiao Qingchen guided the wooden sword with his finger, and raised his head, saying, "My great-grandmother said that the Peach Blossom Spring lineage would rather die than bow down to the spirits of the mountains and seas or to immortal masters and Taoists! Although I am young, I am still a man of Peach Blossom Spring!"

The tabby cat was completely enraged, its eyes gleaming with cold light: "Your appearance is truly repulsive to me, just like Li Qingping back then, but you don't know how to hide it, you're too foolish!"

A brilliant celestial light shone forth, and a vast celestial might swept out, sending the surrounding silver moon snakes flying. As if encountering a hurricane, they tumbled in the air, unable to fall.

The might of heaven swept in, and Tao Ling immediately protected them. However, how could her little magic power be a match for a mountain and sea spirit?
In an instant, Tao Ling's ethereal body disintegrated, transforming into a ray of light that disappeared into the peach tree. Just then, a silver radiance emanated from within the peach tree, forming a silver barrier that barely managed to block the heavenly might.

A white fox materialized and transformed into the former Hu Ling.

"I have met the spirits of the mountains and seas. Please calm your anger." Hu Ling bowed slightly, humble and respectful.

"Calm down? The world has really changed. Anything dares to stop me now." The tabby cat's eyes were cold: "Even though my injuries have not healed, the Nine-Tailed Fox would not dare to act recklessly in front of me."

"Since the elf doesn't know how to calm down, then let Hu Ling help the elf calm down."

Hu Ling lost her respect, her eyes turning cold, and a silver-green lamp appeared in her hand: "May the green lamp bring you peace and tranquility!"

As she spoke, a vast and powerful pressure suddenly appeared in the void, and golden light shone brightly in the sky, with the might of a dragon soaring high.

A magnificent python, stretching over seventy meters, with a pair of sharp horns, coldly stared at the tabby cat below.

"How can you command the nation's destiny and dragon energy?"

The tabby cat was horrified and tried to leave, but it was too late. If he were in his prime, he could have retreated easily, but the injuries he sustained back then were too severe.

"Now that the world is at peace, the Peach Blossom Spring lineage should enjoy this tranquility. I have no intention of making things difficult for the spirits, and I also ask the spirits not to cause trouble."

Hu Ling said coldly, "Don't forget who held the green lamp and commanded the national destiny and dragon energy back then. If you really kill the successor of Peach Blossom Spring, the Dragon Blood Serpent will not let you go."

The tabby cat's face turned extremely pale, and it understood the meaning behind her words.

Back then, Li Qingxuan, holding a green lamp, commanded the dragon energy of the nation's destiny, returning it to Xu Wenhe.

The nation's destiny and the dragon's energy will naturally receive this favor, and the dragon blood serpent lurking within the nation's destiny and the dragon's energy will not sit idly by.

The tabby cat managed to utter four words: "Let's call it quits."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, spirit." Hu Ling bowed, and the dragon aura above her head dissipated.

The tabby cat gave Xiao Qingchen a cold look, then turned and left.

"Thank you for saving me, Immortal Master." Ning Qinghan bowed in gratitude, then looked at the peach tree with concern: "Is Tao Ling alright?"

"It's just a minor injury; you'll recover after a period of rest," Hu Ling said gently, glancing at Xiao Qingchen as she handed him the silver lamp. "If you encounter any immortals, hold this lamp and call upon it for protection. Peace and tranquility will prevail, and the nation's fortune and dragon energy will safeguard your safety."

"Thank you, Immortal Master." Ning Qinghan quickly bowed respectfully with Xiao Qingchen in tow.

"Let's go back." Hu Ling waved her hand, and the two of them, one big and one small, felt a blur before their eyes and were out of the peach grove.

"go home."

Ning Qinghan picked up Xiao Qingchen and returned to the lychee orchard.

She patted Xiao Qingchen's head and said, "Don't stand in front of your aunt in the future. She's a spirit from the mountains and seas."

“Father said that the people of Peach Blossom Spring cannot compromise with the spirits of the mountains and seas. This is the ancestral teaching of my great-grandmother and ancestors.” Xiao Qingchen’s childish voice was full of determination.

Ning Qinghan opened his mouth, but no matter how much reasoning he gave, young Qingchen probably wouldn't understand. Only the ancestral teachings would remain firmly in mind.

She didn't pick any more lychees and took Xiao Qingchen home directly.

"We haven't dug up the bastards yet. We were planning to bring some for Erniu and the others." Xiao Qingchen said with some disappointment.

"Auntie will bring you again next time," Ning Qinghan said.

She encountered the spirits of the mountains and seas and almost got into trouble. Even with the silver lamp in hand, she dared not linger any longer.

Back at the Peach Blossom Inn, she took Xiao Qingchen to wash up, and only told the couple what had happened that night.

The couple were terrified upon hearing this, and they held Xiao Qingchen in their arms: "That mountain and sea spirit, it didn't come with us, did it?"

"Probably not." Ning Qinghan wasn't sure either; if the mountain and sea spirits wanted to hide, they wouldn't be able to detect them.

Li Taoshan seemed to have thought of something, so he quickly went back into the house, took out the green lamp, and placed it next to Xiao Qingchen: "From now on, you should take this lamp with you, whether you're eating or sleeping."

He wasn't sure, but it was left by their ancestor Li Qingxuan, passed down to his grandmother Yanyu, and then Yanyu passed it on to Xiao Qingchen.

Now, with the blessing of the green lamp, we live in peace and tranquility. Perhaps this green lamp is the same one from back then.

If there truly is divine intervention, it will surely protect Xiao Qingchen, after all, she possesses the talent for immortality and is the sole heir of the Peach Blossom Spring lineage.

“The mountain and sea spirit is injured. Xiao Qingchen has a silver lamp that can summon the dragon energy of the nation’s fortune. If he doesn’t want his injury to worsen, he should stop bothering us,” Ning Qinghan said.

The couple nodded: "Let's still be careful."

That night, Li Qingchen fell asleep holding a green lamp, while the couple kept watch over him by the bedside.

For the next period of time, nothing unusual happened, everything was calm, and the three people's worries lessened.

Little Qingchen was finally able to go out and couldn't wait to find her friends to play with.

I didn't bring them any bastards, and we hadn't seen each other for a long time, so the children were a little resentful, but that resentment quickly dissipated after eating a few lychees.

"Little Qingchen, the stream to the north is almost dry. Let's go there to catch fish," said Erniu, who had pigtails.

“I brought a bucket,” said a chubby little boy, the son of the grain merchant next door.

"Okay."

Xiao Qingchen immediately agreed and, with her four companions, headed north of the city.

A small ditch, with little water left, revealing dark silt. Not far away, there are various fruit trees, and children are playing in the orchard.

The group jumped into the ditch, first using buckets to clear out the remaining water, then feeling around in the mud.

In just a moment, Xiao Qingchen caught a yellow eel about the thickness of a thumb and put it into the bucket.

The other children also caught something: loach, small fish, shrimp, and crabs.

The Chishui River is not far away, and the area is rich in resources.

The children were having a great time when Xiao Qingchen caught a fat loach. Just as she was about to put it back, she turned her head and saw a tabby cat holding an eel, crunching and chewing on it.

Xiao Qingchen froze. There was a rusty sword on the back of the tabby cat.

Mountain and Sea Spirits!

The tabby cat seemed surprised when he suddenly turned his head, and was stunned for a moment.

Ripples spread through the surrounding void, and the tabby cat took a big bite: "What's wrong with eating a few of your dead fish? I wouldn't even want to eat a live one."

Xiao Qingchen glared at him angrily. Both lamps were in the bag on his back. She immediately said, "Don't run away."

He rushed ashore, about to shout, when the tabby cat scooped up two more loaches with its paw and ran away.

The tabby cat naturally sensed the silver lamp and, of course, wouldn't linger.

"It's truly a case of a spirit in distress. I can tolerate Li Qingping, and I won't say anything about Li Qingxuan either, but a mere child like her is chasing me around! It's infuriating!"

The tabby cat hid under a tree, feeling incredibly frustrated. If it hadn't been injured by Zhuzhao Youying back then, would it be so pathetic?
"I'm furious, you old crow, Zhang Ning!"

The tabby cat gritted its teeth and chewed the loach viciously: "But there's really nothing I can do about him. If I want to recover quickly, I really need to rely on him."

If I could kill an elf and devour its flesh and blood, my injuries would definitely heal quickly.

"If the path to immortality is capable, why can't I? I wasn't the only one who was injured back then." The tabby cat's face gleamed.

He finished the fish in a few bites and returned.

Xiao Qingchen was still angry about the lost fish. When she saw him return, she quickly put the bag on her back in front of her and said, "You dare to come back?"

"Want to learn swordsmanship?" The tabby cat proudly raised its head: "If you become my disciple, I will teach you swordsmanship."

"Peach Blossom Spring..."

"I won't make you my disciple, I'll just teach you swordsmanship," the tabby cat said immediately.

Xiao Qingchen wouldn't listen at all: "The green lamp is for protection..."

"Your motherfucker."

The tabby cat cursed and ran away even faster.

This little kid is completely incomprehensible.

“Everyone in Peach Blossom Spring has something wrong with their brains. Li Qingping is one, and so is Li Qingxuan.” The tabby cat walked toward Star Moon City, feeling frustrated.

Xiao Qingchen lost interest in catching fish and called her friends to go home.

The children, unaware of what was happening, were all bewitched by the tabby cat's magic.

Back at the inn, Xiao Qingchen washed her hands and feet and practiced her martial arts in the backyard.

Ning Qinghan walked in and asked in surprise, "What's wrong? You're still gritting your teeth while practicing, have they stopped playing with you?"

"No, it's that cat. He stole my fish," Xiao Qingchen said angrily.

Ning Qinghan was stunned: "Mountain and sea spirits, stealing your fish?"

Is there something wrong with that cat?
Stealing peaches is acceptable, as it's said that peaches have energy and offer some benefits. But stealing ordinary fish is a different story.
(End of this chapter)