Mysterious mirror hanging high

"I just begged this demon ape from Senior Cangsong. It's called the [Spiritual Golden Lion Ape]. When it grows up, it will have the strength of the late stage of Qi training. Now it's just a juvenile, just beginning its Qi training."

"This ape is quite human-like and intelligent. Even if it hasn't developed advanced intelligence, it can still communicate with humans. It's the perfect guard."

Jing Yu casually said, "You're not a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and you don't have a Sea of ​​Consciousness. You can't refine and enslave the demon beast's true spirit, so you can only use this clumsy method to control and enslave it... If this demon ape rebels, you only need to ring the bell, and the hoop on this beast's head will tighten immediately."

"Once you've tamed it, you won't need this kind of tricks anymore."

"I've also planted a magical mark on this demonic ape, and I've left you a way to trigger it. If even this hoop can't control it, it will devour its master. Just a thought will trigger the mark, and the ape will die instantly."

If it were an ordinary foundation-building cultivator's magic mark, even if it was sealed, it would slowly become ineffective over time. However, the magic power cultivated by the [Questioning the Mirror and Observing Fate Method] is tenacious and long-lasting, and it is unique in this aspect. Therefore, the condensed magic mark lasts for an extremely long time, even up to hundreds of years.

By the time it dissipates, Zhao Yuanchen will probably have died of old age.

"I'll also give you a few automatic protective [Vajra Talismans], a [Nine-Ring Golden Staff] that's perfect for mortal body cultivators, and a [Jinlan Robe] that's invulnerable to swords and spears, water and fire, and repels insects..."

"If you're still harmed on the road, then my uncle won't say anything. I'll just consider it your fate."

Zhao Yuanchen bowed and said, "Uncle, I am just a mortal, but I have asked you to spend so much spirit stones..."

Jing Yu shook his head. These things looked intimidating to ordinary people, but apart from the [Spiritual Golden Lion Ape], the total value of the remaining items was only a few spirit stones, which was just a drop in the bucket for him now.

Moreover, he seemed to see the shadow of his past life in Zhao Yuanchen, and even couldn't help but wonder: "If I hadn't been captured by the Immortal Palace and awakened the longevity character, but had directly traveled to this world without any spiritual roots, would I have also given up on myself like Yuanchen?"

Being born in a world where one can practice cultivation, but not being able to do so, is an irreconcilable cruelty for anyone, especially a time traveler.

Zhao Yuanxi lowered his brows and walked up to his brother. He also took out some utensils and talismans that mortals could use from his storage bag and stuffed them into Zhao Yuanchen's hands. "Take care on your journey, brother. Yuanxi will take care of mother at home."

Zhao Yuanchen felt a little guilty and even wavered: "Alas, my mother gave birth to me and raised me, but I can't serve her at her knees. What is going on here..."

Zhao Yuanxi frowned and said coldly, "Since you have this in mind, why are you hesitating? In life, there is no such thing as having everything perfect!"

Zhao Yuanchen was startled and nodded subconsciously: "That's right."

The three of them paid homage to Zhao Mingyu's spirit tablet again, then took the Lingming Golden Lion baby monkey and returned to Wushan Market in a flying boat.

Zhao Yuanchen told Mu Pei his thoughts with some trepidation. He was prepared to be scolded, but unexpectedly, Mu Pei was very supportive of this matter.

Mu Shan only has two or three years left before his death, and Zhao Chenghuan is also eighty years old. The two old men don't have much time left. Jing Yu originally wanted to take them to Xiaoyao Fairy City, but was rejected by the two.

Mu Shan said frankly that he had lived in Wushan Market all his life and would rather die here than move.

However, Zhao Yuanxi wanted to take Mu Pei back, but was rejected.

"All my lifelong relationships are here. The neighbors are all nice and support each other. Although the Immortal City is nice, it is not my home."

Mu Pei said softly, "Your grandmother's hope is for you to establish a foundation for immortality and achieve success on the path to immortality. Your father always obeys your grandmother's wishes and hopes the same... But mother doesn't think so. She only hopes that you two children will live a life without illness, disaster, or worry."

Zhao Yuanxi lowered his eyelids and responded in a low voice.

"You..."

Mu Pei sighed and held Zhao Yuanxi's hand. "You just worry too much. This is exactly the same as your grandmother. Mother can't understand what's going on in your mind."

Mu Pei mentioned Zhao Mingyu, which made Zhao Yuanxi a little dazed.

In fact, she had always kept a secret in her heart. It was a few days before Zhao Mingyu's death. Perhaps the old woman had some sense of it. One day, after teaching Zhao Yuanxi about political strategies, she handed her a handwritten copy of "Ice Skin and Jade Bone Secret".

Zhao Yuanxi was naturally familiar with this technique. It was a gift given to her by her uncle at the spiritual root banquet that year.

Now the original copy of this body-building technique is in her hands, but she doesn't know what the meaning is that her grandmother gave her a handwritten copy?

However, Zhao Mingyu would never do anything without a purpose, Zhao Yuanxi was sure of that.

That night, she carefully read through the handwritten copy of [Ice Skin and Jade Bones Secret], but saw two words on the cover of the last page.

Letter to [Evergreen].

Like a flash of lightning, Zhao Yuanxi almost immediately connected all the anomalies over the years.

"Qi training life span is 600 years, foundation building life span is 800 years, and Golden Core life span is 1,300 years..."

"Evergreen Dao Body!"

That night, she burned the handwritten copy of [Ice Skin and Jade Bone Art] directly. Looking at the blazing flames, something called "ambition" quietly grew in her frosty body.

Zhao Yuanxi once again recalled the day when True Lord Yanjun severely injured True Lord Baoding with a single sword strike. She kept repeating in her heart:

"Yuanying Zhenjun..."

"One day, Zhao Yuanxi will... become like this!"

----

Jing Yu and others stayed in Wushan Market for more than a month, during which time they met many old friends and acquaintances.

Mu Shan's disciple Li Sheng is now 48 years old and has reached the eighth level of Qi training. Considering his spiritual roots, this is not slow at all and he can be considered diligent in his practice.

At this rate, he should be able to perfect the ninth level of Qi training by the age of sixty, or at most sixty-five, and then he can try to build his foundation for the first time.

What is quite intriguing is that Li Sheng is still single and has never married. He is just serving Mu Shan and his wife. Jing Yu has some vague guesses about this, but did not say it out loud.

As for Hu Yiming, who entered Wushan Market at the same time as the two of them, he is still stuck at the third level of Qi training. It is obvious that he is completely stuck at the bottleneck of transitioning from the early to the middle stage of Qi training. There is no hope for him to build a foundation in this lifetime. When he saw Jing Yu, he actually bowed to him and called him "Sir".

----

Suburbs of Wushanfang City

"Brother, please take care of yourself."

"Sister, I wish you a smooth journey to immortality..."

The day of separation finally arrived. Jing Yu sat upright on the flying boat, quietly watching Zhao Yuanxi and Zhao Yuanchen, the brother and sister, say their final goodbyes on the road.

"Yuan Xi, it's almost time."

Zhao Yuanxi turned to look at Jing Yu, nodded, turned around and flew towards the flying boat.

Only Zhao Yuanchen was left alone, with a bell tied on his left wrist and a golden-haired demon ape with a headband in his right hand. He pouted reluctantly at Zhao Yuanxi's back.

Then he looked more yearning and turned to walk towards the west of Wushanfang Market.

There is the hometown of his ancestors and parents, but that is only the end point, or even just a temporary end point. What is important is the scenery and people along the way.

"In the world of immortal cultivation, there are many travelogues written by cultivators, recording the local scenery. However, it is rare for mortals to record the affairs of mortals from the perspective of cultivators."

Zhao Yuanchen, holding the young golden lion monkey, muttered, "Why don't I compile the scenery along the way into a book, supplemented with stories about gods and monsters, and write a travelogue... What's a good title?"

Zhao Yuanchen has always been a foil since he was born, and in many cases, he is not even a foil.

A mortal is destined to be just a background or even a number in the world of immortal cultivation. Zhao Yuanchen is tired of such a life. He doesn't want to be the foil of the destined protagonist in the vernacular novel anymore.

This time, he wants to be the protagonist of his own book.