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nSu Yi and Qing Wan proceeded northwest under the cover of darkness.

nThroughout their journey, they heard nothing but the chirping of crickets, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional bestial howl. They didn’t run into any other ghosts.

nSu Yi naturally understood why.

nWhen a tiger went out for a stroll, all other beasts got out of its way.

nTo the various low-class ghosts roaming the mountains, Qing Wan’s aura was like a tiger’s; it was more than enough to send them scampering off in terror.

nHowever, it was difficult for a bashful girl like Qing Wan to make such a mental connection.

nThey traveled northwest for an hour.

nA patch of multi-colored mists rose within the darkness. From a distance, it looked like silk ribbons floating down to the mortal world. The sight was particularly eye-catching at night.

nThe rainbow mists covered a peach orchard that stretched as far as the eye could see.

nBefore they even drew close, Qing Wan stopped in her tracks, then exclaimed, “Mystic Master, that powerful yin energy is deep inside the peach orchard, but I can sense another terrifying presence within the woods. It seems like it’s specifically designed to counter yin souls like me.”

nSu Yi stared for a moment. Then, his eyes lit up with a strange light, and he whispered, “Here, yin harbors yang. Yang conceives yin, and yin gives rise to yang. This is actually a natural ‘Yin-Yang polarity land.’ No wonder the woods give off such a dense Peachblossom Miasma.”

nThe colorful mists looked bright and beautiful, but they contained one of the most deadly poisons in the world. It was known as Peachblossom Miasma.

nThe miasma would invade the body of any living thing that drew near, melting them into nothing but a pile of pus.

nSuddenly, Su Yi laughed. “If I’m not mistaken, in addition to the inauspicious yin spirit vein I’ve been searching for, there’s also a Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree with its roots planted directly in the spirit vein!”

nHe understood.

nEven if the?Six-Severings?Yin?Corpse knew the inauspicious yin spirit vein was buried here, there was no way he’d dare approach the peach orchard.

nThe reason was simple: the pure yang aura of the Fire Peaches was a natural counter to wicked creatures like him!

n“To produce such dense Peachblossom Miasma, that Fire Peach Tree has to be at least five hundred years old. Both its fruit and its heartwood are tier-four. Within the Great Zhou Dynasty, that’s extremely rare!”

nWhen he realized this, Su Yi inwardly celebrated that he hadn’t left earlier. Otherwise, he would likely have missed this grand stroke of fortune.

n“Hold this piece of bamboo in your hand.” Su Yi took out two bamboo talismans. He kept one for himself, then passed the other to Qing Wan.

nThe bamboo was inscribed with a basic mark called a “Cloth-Cleansing Inscription.” When you held it in your hand, it warded off filth and the taint of wicked creatures. It could protect you from toxins, miasma, and corpse poison. It was one of the treasures Su Yi had prepared specifically for their journey into Mother Ghost Ridge.

nWhen Qing Wan held her talisman, her keen senses picked up on threads of clean energy flowing around her, like gentle breezes. It was indescribably comfortable.

nThe two of them immediately proceeded toward the peach grove.

nWhoosh~!

nThe lustrous, rainbow mists of?Peachblossom?Miasma receded like the tides before reaching them, unable to draw any closer. It was an amazing sight.

nEven Qing Wan couldn’t help but exclaim to herself,?The Mystic Master’s methods really are indescribably wondrous.

nThe incomparably toxic Peachblossom Miasma cleared a path for them, so their journey was smooth and uninhibited. They walked for a few more miles until suddenly, Su Yi paused.

nIn the distance, he saw a tree that emitted a radiance as bright and red as flame. It lit up the night sky, dazzling to the extreme.

nThe tree wasn’t large; it was only about ten feet tall. Its branches curved like an umbrella of jade-green leaves. Each individual leaf flowed with halos of verdant light.

nThe trunk was about as thick as a human wrist, and the bark looked like a dragon’s scales.

nThat surging, fiery light originated from the tree. Even from a distance, it gave off a burning sensation, much like staring directly into the sun.

n“Yin alone cannot grow, and yang alone cannot create. In this Yin-Yang polarity land, only the inauspicious yin vein could give rise to a Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree of this level….” Su Yi felt great.

nIt was fair to say that all of his gains from this journey combined paled in comparison to this single peach tree!

nEspecially since there was an inauspicious yin spirit vein beneath it. That was no less valuable than the tree.

n“Mystic Master, that peach tree’s power is too scary. I… I don’t dare get any closer….” Qing Wan was still far away from it, but she was trembling, anxiety written all over her pretty little face.

nPeach wood was a natural counter for ghosts.

nEach time the common folk welcomed a new year, they’d carve peachwood talismans and place them above their doors to ward off evil, calamity, and ghosts of all kinds.

nBut this Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree was no ordinary peach wood; it was a tier-four spiritual material, brimming with power. How could any ghost endure it?

nIf Qing Wan could cultivate to the “phantasm” level and step into the Origin Dao, she would no longer need to fear such spiritual materials.

n“You can just remain here,” said Su Yi, proceeding on his own. He could already tell that this Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree was eight hundred years old, far older than his initial estimate.

nFurthermore, peaches red as flames dangled beneath the leaves, like radiant miniature suns. They were only dimly discernable beneath the cover of jade-green leaves.

nBut when Su Yi drew near, his pupils suddenly constricted.

nThat was because he saw a stone stele embedded in the dirt beside the Fire Peach Tree.

nThe words?“This?stele was left by Ge?Changling. No one is to approach. Anyone who does shall be summarily executed!” were written on its surface.

nThe characters were with vigorous strokes and fine details, and they emanated a solemn killing intent.

nGe Changling??Su Yi furrowed his brow. The name sounded a bit familiar; he dimly recalled hearing it during his first seventeen years in this body. However, he still couldn’t quite recall who that was.

nBut that didn’t stop him from realizing that Ge Changling had long since discovered the Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree, and furthermore, that he saw it as his private property. The sign was a warning for others to stay away.

n“Spiritual lifeforms like this are born of heaven and nourished?in earth. Are they yours just because you say they are?” Su Yi sneered and shook his head, disregarding the warning completely.

nBut when he approached, the leaves shook. Fiery light condensed within the branches, outlining a short, stumpy figure.

nThe dwarf looked like a child, but his hair and eyebrows were white with age, and his eyes were bright green.

nAs soon as he appeared, he shouted, “Young man, didn’t you see the words written on that stone stele? Leave right this instant! Or else, don’t blame this old man for killing you on the spot!”

nBoth his words and?expression?were harsh.

nBut Su Yi merely glanced at him inquisitively. “And here I almost took you seriously. It turns out you’re nothing but a teensy little nature spirit!”

nThe dwarf was stunned, then he roared, “What a mouth you’ve got on you! You dare look down on me?”

nSu Yi suddenly stepped forward, his eyes flashing with terrifyingly cold light. He stared directly at the dwarf and said flatly, “Even someone who’d cultivated into a yao emperor wouldn’t dare be so impudent before me. You’re nothing but a puny little nature spirit. Who the hell do you think you are?”

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nWhen he met Su Yi’s gaze, the dwarf felt his soul palpitate. Indescribable terror coursed through him, as if a divine monarch were bearing down on him. He quivered in fright, then fell from the tree with a thud. He lay there, sprawled in the dirt, unable to get back up.

n“Mystic Master, forgive me! Forgive me!” The dwarf lowered his head and begged for mercy, trembling from head to toe. He looked as if he were about to collapse.

nA mere thread of the Sword of the Nine Hell’s aura scared him this badly? No wonder that, despite countless years, few figures of note have emerged from the ranks of nature spirits.?Su Yi inwardly shook his head.

nHe put his hands behind his back, then turned his attention to the Fire Peach Tree. “Get up. So long as you answer a few questions honestly, I’ll forgive your earlier display of poor manners.”

n“Thank you for sparing my life!” The dwarf kowtowed repeatedly. Only then did he dare get back up.

nSu Yi pointed to the words on the stone stele. “Who is this Ge Changling guy?”

n“Mystic Master, Ge Changling is one of the nine ‘non-Zhou’ kings, the ‘Sea-Swallowing King.’ He’s in the Anāsrava Realm. When he first came here thirty years ago, he was already publicly recognized as one of the dynasty’s ten Xiantian Martial Ancestors,” Said the dwarf respectfully.

nAnāsrava was the last of the Four Realms of the Martial Dao. Reaching it meant stepping into the ranks of “xiantian”, or “precelestial” cultivators. This represented a full-body metamorphosis, akin to rebirth.

nThus, such cultivators were known as “Xiantian Martial Ancestors.”

nSetting aside those so-called “Earthly Immortals”, Xiantian Martial Ancestors were the strongest experts the Great Zhou had to offer.

nAs he said this, the dwarf snuck a glance at Su Yi, only to discover that he seemed perfectly calm, as if he didn’t care in the least. Su Yi’s casual composure made the dwarf’s heart shake.

nThis youth made it here easily, and his aura was so terrifying earlier. Now, he doesn’t even seem afraid of a Xiantian Martial Ancestor. Then he… Just how terrifying of an existence is he?

n“This Ge Changling guy didn’t just cut the tree down. Was that because he planned to come back periodically and pluck the Fire Peaches? Does he plan to use them as a medicinal foundation for his attempt to break into the Origin Dao?” asked Su Yi.

nThe dwarf said hurriedly, “Mystic Master, your eyes are bright as torches. The Sea-Swallowing King once said that Fire Peaches were born of heaven and nourished by the earth, and that they were rare treasures. Cutting the tree down would be like desecrating a divine treasure. That’s why he left that?stone stele to?warn people from coming too close.”

nHe paused, then continued, “The Fire Peach Tree flowers and fruits once every ten years. Each time, it will produce nine Fire Peaches. Judging by the time, the Sea-Swallowing King will visit to pick the fruit within the year.”

nSu Yi smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re saying that if I pick the peaches, I’ll offend the Sea-Swallowing King? Should I take that as a warning?”

nThe dwarf was so scared, his lips quivered. “I wouldn’t dare! Mystic Master, please don’t misunderstand!”

nSu Yi rubbed his chin, then looked over the fruit. “How many of the fruits currently on the tree are ripe?”

n“Three,” said the dwarf honestly. “The other six still need time to mature. It’ll be at least half a year until they’re ready.”

nSu Yi furrowed his brow, then sighed. “Fine, then. You can just go fetch the three ripe Fire Peaches.”

nI really came at the wrong time. If the Fire Peaches aren’t ripe, they’re tier-two spiritual medicines at most—not worth much at all.

n“Uh….” The dwarf hesitated, then whispered, “Mystic Master, this humble one dares not offend you, but I dare not offend the Sea-Swallowing King either. How….”

nSu Yi walked right up to the stone stele and shook his wrist. Mortal Edge emerged from its sheath, and he used the blade like a writing brush. After a few quick swishes and scattered stone fragments, a line of text appeared on the stele:

n“On the fourth day of the second month of the Great Zhou’s calendar, Su Yi took three Fire Peaches and left.”

nThe words were clear and elegant, yet they surged with power.

nSu Yi then returned his sword to its sheath and looked at the dwarf. “If Ge Changling shows up, just show him the words on the stele.”

nThe dwarf sighed in relief, then bowed gratefully. “Thank you for your understanding, Mystic Master. This old man will go pick your peaches now.”

nPoof!

nHe vanished, then reappeared above the tree.

nBefore long, he’d plucked three lustrous Fire Peaches, each glowing with spirituality. They were about the size of a fist, bright red and translucent, with an enticing, fruity aroma. The smell alone soothed the nerves and calmed the heart.

nSu Yi took out three jade boxes, then placed one peach into each box and sealed them away.

nThen, he pointed to the ground beneath the tree. “I’m here for the inauspicious yin spirit vein too. I’ll?have to trouble?you to remove it for me.”

nIt was just one sentence, but the dwarf felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. He wanted to cry, but he had no tears. .𝒄𝒐𝒎

nThis was no “mystic master.” This was obviously a demon king hellbent on ransacking the place!

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