Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

Zhang Yuanjing carefully checked the island and found nothing amiss. He asked the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast, who also shook its head. Then, he landed his flying sword outside the estate.

The estate's walls were about ten feet high, constructed from blue stone, giving them a thick and sturdy appearance.

The gate was tall, with glazed tile eaves and gold-studded vermillion doors. A plaque hung above, inscribed with the words "Supreme Goodness is Like Water."

Zhang Yuanjing unleashed a palm strike, sending out a burst of magic that struck the red wooden door, producing a hollow "thump" sound.

Unsurprisingly, no sound came from within the estate.

However, to his surprise, there was no array power flowing on the wooden door.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Yuanjing asked the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast, "Do you sense any danger?"

The Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast shook its head.

Zhang Yuanjing then reached out and pressed against the vermillion door, pushing it open with force.

With a creaking sound, the wooden door slowly opened inward.

What came into view was a yellowish screen wall, painted with exquisite pavilions, jade towers, elixir trees, stone springs, birds singing, cranes drinking, crimson auspicious clouds, jade chimes, and golden bells—scenes of ethereal transcendence, creating an atmosphere of immortals.

Zhang Yuanjing stepped forward, walking around the screen wall, while the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast kept staring at the scenery depicted on it.

Zhang Yuanjing found it somewhat strange but didn't disturb it. Instead, he released Ape Thirteen.

As soon as Ape Thirteen emerged, he adopted a fighting stance, thinking he had to deal with the sand centipede.

Zhang Yuanjing laughed and said, "Brother Ape, no need to be nervous. We've already escaped that ferocious beast."

Ape Thirteen also noticed the tranquility of the place. He put away his Mixed Heaven Cudgel, pointed at the courtyard walls, and squeaked twice. At the same time, he conveyed his thoughts to Zhang Yuanjing: "Yuanjing, where is this? What is the Suanni Beast so engrossed in?"

Zhang Yuanjing explained briefly. He was about to take him to the main hall behind the screen wall when the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast, which had been staring at the painting on the screen wall, suddenly went limp and collapsed to the ground.

Zhang Yuanjing immediately retreated, squatting down beside the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast to check on its condition.

The Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast's eyes were glazed over, looking somewhat listless. It raised its head and squeaked twice before collapsing weakly to the ground.

Ape Thirteen said, "The Suanni Beast says this screen wall is a bit strange."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuanjing was startled. He looked at the screen wall again, carefully scrutinizing each scene, but he didn't notice anything unusual.

He wanted to ask the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast, but seeing that its divine soul was severely depleted, he asked Ape Thirteen if he had any soul-nourishing pills. Ape Thirteen nodded and, without waiting for Zhang Yuanjing's instructions, took out three mid-grade pills and fed them to the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast.

After half an hour, the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast's divine soul recovered somewhat. It stood up and squeaked a series of sounds.

Ape Thirteen translated for it: "Yuanjing, the Suanni Beast says you can't stare at the paintings on the screen wall for too long. If you look at any one picture for too long, you'll be pulled into an illusion, and your divine soul power will be unknowingly devoured."

Zhang Yuanjing naturally believed in the Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast's innate talent in divine soul matters. He didn't dare to test it easily and said, "Let's go inside and take a look."

The estate had over a dozen houses and pavilions, arranged in a staggered manner. Some were connected, while others were separated by rockeries and gardens, linked by white jade corridors.

Passing around the screen wall, one arrived at the main house, a two-story redwood building. In the middle of the first floor was a doorway, directly facing the screen wall. The door was wide open, and inside, everything was arranged as usual. There were tables, chairs, and desks, their age indiscernible, but all were intact and free of dust, as if someone regularly cleaned them.

On the left and right were side rooms, their doors tightly closed. Zhang Yuanjing tried to push them open with force, but couldn't.

Ape Thirteen didn't care and smashed one open with his cudgel, causing the entire building to shake.

However, there was nothing special inside the side rooms, nor were there any precious treasures.

There were only beds, cabinets, dressing tables, and other common items used by ordinary families.

He then went up the wooden stairs behind the main hall to the second floor. The second floor had three guest rooms and a side hall, all furnished and spotless, as if someone lived there.

But there were no items used by cultivators, as if it were truly just a wealthy home in a mortal kingdom.

Zhang Yuanjing then checked all the buildings in the estate one by one, including the warehouse, kitchen, and cellar. Everything needed for daily life was complete.

The granary still had seven or eight stones of rice, and the kitchen even had pickled vegetables and dried meat.

Ape Thirteen was bored the whole way. When he saw the fragrant dried meat in the kitchen, he couldn't resist. He tore off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, devouring it with relish.

Zhang Yuanjing was about to stop him, but he moved too quickly, so he could only glare at him: "Be careful, it might be poisonous!"

Ape Thirteen didn't care and squeaked twice, roughly saying that even if it was poisonous, he wasn't afraid and couldn't be poisoned to death.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuanjing simply laughed and said, "We've been running all this way and are quite tired. Why don't we rest here for a few days? Brother Ape, give the Suanni Beast a few more soul-nourishing pills and let it take some time to heal its divine soul injuries. I also have some materials, so I'll take the opportunity to refine a batch, just in case."

The Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast squeaked twice, expressing its gratitude to him.

Zhang Yuanjing then chose a secluded pavilion and began refining pills there.

This secret realm is full of illusions, which may injure the divine soul at any time. Refining a batch of pills to keep on hand is better than being unprepared when danger strikes.

He spent three days refining six batches of soul-nourishing pills, producing two high-grade pills and twenty-three mid-grade and low-grade pills each.

Estimating that it was enough, he came down from the pavilion.

He hadn't walked far when he smelled the aroma of cooked rice, mixed with the rich fragrance of roasted meat. He couldn't help but be stunned, thinking, 'When did Ape Thirteen learn to cook!'

He hurried to the kitchen and saw the golden-haired monkey, his face blackened with soot, jumping up and down, looking excited.

The Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast was looking at two bowls and plates on a low table, sniffing and making squeaking sounds.

Ape Thirteen saw Zhang Yuanjing enter, grinned, and conveyed his thoughts, "The Suanni Beast taught me the human race's cooking techniques. I learned how to cook rice and stir-fry meat."

Zhang Yuanjing laughed heartily, looked down at the low table, and saw that the bowl did indeed contain rice, and the plate contained stir-fried pickled vegetables and dried meat. Judging by the color, it seemed to be quite decent.

The Azure-Eyed Suanni Beast squeaked twice, seemingly disapproving of the food he made.

Ape Thirteen ignored it and gestured to Zhang Yuanjing, inviting him to try it.

Zhang Yuanjing picked up a wooden stool, sat down beside the low table, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and put a piece of dried meat into his mouth, chewing slowly.

A long-lost feeling surfaced in his heart.

In his memory, only when he was in that small mountain village would he sit by the stove and eat freshly cooked food like this. Although it was coarse grains and wild vegetables, it tasted very sweet.

Suddenly, an uncontrollable sadness welled up in his heart.

Some things, once lost, are lost forever and can never be recovered. This feeling was familiar, but it was no longer the peacefulness of those days.

Just as he was about to praise Ape Thirteen, a voice mixed with surprise, bewilderment, and shame suddenly came from outside the door: "Esteemed guests have arrived, and this old one was slow to realize it, failing to notice! It's truly a neglect! To even let the esteemed guests cook for themselves is too impolite!"