Is the cultivation world now only populated by demonesses?

Chapter 40. The Ladder to Heaven

Miaoyu Palace is located in the highest mountain among a series of mountain peaks. The area is shrouded in clouds and mist and full of spiritual energy. There is a small town before entering the mountain. To enter Miaoyu Palace, one can climb the Heavenly Ladder from there and see the crystal gate of Miaoyu Palace.

By the time the fairy boat arrived, it was already dark.

Looking at the rolling mountains, Xia Lianxue said, "Young master, why don't you rest for the night at the foot of the mountain?"

Going into the mountains at night is naturally a bit dangerous, so we might as well rest at the foot of the mountain for the night and go into the mountains the next day.

The thought of returning to the mountain soon made Xia Lianxue feel somewhat confused.

She wasn't sure what she was feeling, so she often stared blankly at Lu Changyuan along the way—she found that looking at Lu Changyuan calmed her down.

Even though it was night.

The town was brightly lit.

Upon entering the town, the first thing you see is a small tavern, with brown wine jars covered by a lacquered red cloth, and the fragrant aroma of wine already wafting through the air.

Before the three could even enter the tavern, someone came out to greet them: "Are you three also here to visit Miaoyu Palace? Do you need any supplies?"

Lu Changyuan looked at Xia Lianxue, only to find that Xia Lianxue also felt confused.

The man explained, “Climbing the Immortal Mountain is extremely difficult. Not to mention that the Miaoyu Immortal Palace is located deep in the mountains, and you have to be careful of wild beasts along the way, climbing the 99,999 steps is also extremely difficult. If the three of you are going to climb the mountain, you can buy some ointments and fasting pills.”

Xia Lianxue understood and gently shook her head: "No need."

This was also her first time visiting this small town at the foot of the mountain, and she was completely unfamiliar with the place.

Lu Changyuan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's this about mountain climbing?"

Xia Lianxue spoke gently: "The palace accepts disciples every three years, and at that time the mountain gates are opened wide. However, many times, some people seeking immortality cannot wait three years, so the palace has set up another method."

This is the ladder to heaven.

If a mortal has the perseverance to cross mountains and climb 99,999 steps, the immortals of Miaoyu Palace may come out and give him a chance to become their disciple.

This gave rise to an industry, and the town provided some basic auxiliary tools for those who came seeking immortality.

The three of them certainly don't need it.

Xia Lianxue seemed to have thought of something, and then said, "Sometimes, disciples from the palace patrol the mountains and bring back mortals who have fainted in the mountains to this town, but every year there are still unlucky ones who are eaten by tigers in the mountains."

Seeking immortality is difficult.

Seeking the Great Way is even more difficult.

Without talent, seeking the Tao is extremely difficult.

Compared to other sects, Miaoyu Palace is relatively gentle. Most sects are completely devoid of human compassion and regard mortals as worthless.

Lu Changyuan smiled and said, "Let's go to the inn."

The inn was not far from the tavern, with an oil lamp lit at the entrance and the signboard crookedly written "Yingfeng Inn".

The shop owner was calculating at the front desk: "Should we grab a bite or stay the night?"

Lu Changyuan asked, "You can still light a stove this late?"

"Sure, but it'll cost extra."

"Then let's stay at the hotel, three guest rooms."

The shop owner grunted and handed the sign to Lu Changyuan: "Don't wander around at night."

This inn looks quite old; you can clearly hear creaking sounds when you go upstairs, and there are also some marks of swords and knives on the tables in the lobby.

Of the three consecutive rooms, Lu Changyuan chose the leftmost one, which also faced the street, and he could hear the wind outside as soon as he opened the window.

Lu Changyuan yawned, placed Duan Nian by the window, and prepared to go to sleep.

Unexpectedly, a knock came at the door shortly afterward.

"Young master, are you asleep?"

"Sleep."

"Then I'm coming in."

Xia Lianxue pushed open the door and took off her hairpin. Her smooth hair fell loosely, and her eyebrows and eyes were gentle and soft, as if she could soften time.

Lu Changyuan sighed: "Why aren't you sleeping tonight? Can't you talk about it tomorrow?"

Xia Lianxue bit her lip; she really couldn't sleep.

"I have some questions for you, young master."

Lu Changyuan stood up and sat on the mahogany round stool: "Tell me, is there a problem with your cultivation?" The fairy shook her head, her delicate and fair neck swaying in the candlelight, giving off an alluring orange glow.

"No, I've just been thinking about your fiancée, young master."

Lu Changyuan found it somewhat amusing: "Why would I miss her? I don't even remember her."

Xia Lianxue bit her lip even harder: "I'm just... inexplicably a little concerned. Could you tell me your story, young master?"

Ever since she learned that Lu Changyuan had a fiancée who was sent away by Lu Changyuan to cultivate immortality and thus could not stay by his side, she had been feeling depressed and her heart was heavy.

Want to know me better?

"Hmm," the fairy said obediently, "I want to know."

She has also become much more honest.

Ask if you want to know anything!

Lu Changyuan squinted, trying hard to recall, but he couldn't remember much.

too long.

“Back then, I told her that I would wait for her in the mortal world, and that when she became successful, she would come back to find me and take me to the Feather Palace to live a good life.”

Xia Lianxue's emotions were churning like ocean waves, so complicated that even she couldn't understand them.

The soft light cast a warm yellow glow on her long eyelashes, making her fairy-like appearance even more breathtaking.

Xia Lianxue whispered, "And then?"

"Later? About a year later, the Celestial Palace sent me a letter saying that she had died. To compensate me, the immortals wanted to find me a few more wives, but I refused."

That's how it is in the world of cultivation: the better your talent and the higher your ambition, the easier it is for you to die.

Silence spread in the candlelight.

Xia Lianxue said softly, "Young master, there are many good girls in this world, there is no need to dwell on the past."

Lu Changyuan scrutinized Xia Lianxue carefully, as if he were meeting her for the first time today: "How come you're just like your senior sister? Qiu Yuehan also told me back then that Miaoyu Palace had many fairies for me to choose from."

These two female disciples are really interesting. Are they going to help me choose a wife?

Xia Lianxue said sweetly, "Young Master!"

She herself didn't realize how seductive her voice was.

Lu Changyuan looked at the moon outside the window. The moon was round and full, unlike the joys and sorrows of the human world. "By the way, what is the name of the master of your Miaoyu Palace?"

"We don't know. We only know that there is a Palace Master, but no one knows what the Palace Master's name is."

"Nobody knows?"

"Well, nobody knows, but maybe a few of you real people do?"

That's strange.

Lu Changyuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Isn't it written in the sect's records?"

Xia Lianxue shook her head: "There is a long corridor in the palace with white jade statues and introductions of the palace masters of all the past, but the current palace master is the only one without one. Perhaps it is because it is not auspicious to have a white jade statue erected while the person is alive."

Lu Changyuan remembered that the palace master was named Feng Xianlong. According to Xia Lianxue, Feng Xianlong probably died in that turmoil. Then the current palace master was ordered to break through to Yao Guang in a time of crisis, which is why Miaoyu Palace has been able to hold on for a hundred years.

None of Feng Xianlong's disciples seemed capable of breaking through Yao Guang, so where did this Palace Master Miaoyu come from?
Lu Changyuan waved his hand: "Go back to sleep quickly. We're going back to Miaoyu Palace tomorrow. I think the expression on Hanyi Zhenren's face will be very interesting."

Seeing the fairy whose cultivation he had personally destroyed return to the Dao realm and even advance further, would that Cold-Clothed True Man tremble with fear?
"Ah."

So the fairy carefully closed the door.

Lu Changyuan looked at the moon outside the window and poured himself a cup of cold tea. The tea on the table was cold and bitter, making his tongue turn white.

"Wait and wait, until the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, then sweep away the old dust."

He had actually waited for many years.

He was twenty years old when they got engaged, while the Taoist priest of Chang'an entered the path of immortality at the age of fifty.

He waited for his fiancée, whose name and face he could not remember, for thirty years, until he was certain that he could no longer live off her, before he embarked on the path to immortality.

Later, when he attained enlightenment, he sent people to the Feather Moon Immortal Palace to search for someone, and even beat up Feng Xianlong, but still found nothing. That person probably died in the secret realm.

However, given her talent, if she hadn't died, she would be the Palace Master of Miaoyu Palace by now.

(End of this chapter)