Chapter 26: I See You’re Not Very Professional Either

The old peach tree likely couldn’t defeat that Sword Immortal, so it used a method similar to self-disintegration, manipulating its roots to scatter and flee in all directions.

If any segment of the roots managed to luckily escape the Sword Immortal’s pursuit and survive, finding a remote corner where no one would notice to take root and sprout, it would become a formidable figure once again after a few hundred years.

Seeing Li Qiuchen’s gaze fall upon the root in his hand, the Old Daoist Priest’s heart tightened, and he quickly continued: “Actually, it’s not just this humble Daoist; several other Fellow Daoists also obtained the Celestial Elder’s Dharma Remnant. Among them, a Senior calling himself Immortal Master Mohe is the most knowledgeable. It was he who told us about this Celestial Elder’s origins and background.”

“It’s said that this Celestial Elder of the Heavenly Pool attained the Dao at the Heavenly Pool of West Kunlun Mountain. After three thousand years of Cultivation, he formed a Golden Core and established the Great Luo Divine Sect with supreme immortal arts, making a great name for himself in the Central Plains. Unfortunately, he was later suppressed by the government, his sect’s lineage was destroyed, and he fled alone to the Northern Border to Cultivate in seclusion. This Dharma Remnant contains infinite heritage. If one is lucky enough to comprehend even a fraction of it, they will benefit immensely for a lifetime…”

Is it really that impressive? I don’t believe it.

As a direct witness to that battle, Li Qiuchen knew better than anyone that the old peach tree was a total stingy miser. Over the years, it hadn’t even been willing to bear a single peach, storing all its life essence within its tree core.

As for the roots, those things grew all over the mountains.

He actually had a piece of the tree core in his possession, but it was hidden in the mountains.

He was more than familiar with that scent.

But this root in front of him… it wasn’t that it had no scent, but it was so faint it was better than nothing.

“That Immortal Master Mohe told you all that?”

Li Qiuchen shook his head and said, “Senior, I’m afraid you’ve been deceived by him. If this Dharma Remnant in your hand were used in medicine, it could be considered a decent medicinal ingredient. But if you want to comprehend something from it, I’m afraid it’s a waste of effort.”

The Old Daoist Priest was not alarmed but rather delighted upon hearing this. He nodded and smiled, “Junior Brother indeed has extraordinary insight, but you only know one side of the story. Although this Dharma Remnant seems devoid of life now, if it can be carefully cultivated using the Pharmacists Blessing’s divine methods…”

“Oh—”

Li Qiuchen suddenly understood. The two of them looked at each other and simultaneously revealed a knowing smile.

What to do if there aren’t enough roots? Dig a hole, fill it with soil, pour some water, and let it grow again, right?

Even cut potatoes can sprout. A peach tree’s root… as long as there’s a Pharmacists Blessing, it can still be brought back to life.

Li Qiuchen whispered, “Senior, do you intend to use the villagers of this village…”

The Old Daoist Priest quickly waved his hand and said, “Earlier I didn’t know an expert was cultivating in seclusion here; I have offended you. Since Junior Brother has stepped forward, this humble Daoist should naturally leave and choose another blessed land.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. None of that is important.”

Li Qiuchen waved his hand and said, “Senior is already here, so why go through the trouble again and waste time for nothing? This Junior has an audacious request. I wonder where one can find more of this Celestial Elder’s Dharma Remnant? This Junior also wishes to… observe it a bit.”

Hearing that the other party neither drove him away nor snatched his treasure, the Old Daoist Priest was very happy.

There really are many good people in this world!

“Junior Brother might not know, but this Celestial Elder’s Dharma Remnant can only be obtained by those destined for it. If you search the mountains, you might waste countless days and still not find it. However, Immortal Master Mohe has collected quite a lot. The Immortal Master is broad-minded and acts with righteousness; as long as you visit and ask, you will surely obtain some.”

The old peach tree’s roots had shattered into who knows how many pieces; the value of this thing wasn’t actually that high.

It had some value as a medicinal ingredient.

But if you wanted to plant the root and make it live, you’d have to be like the Old Daoist Priest: find a remote village, trick the villagers into becoming ‘pigs,’ and then build a pigsty to collect fertilizer.

In other words, taking too much was useless.

The fertility couldn’t keep up.

After listening to the Old Daoist Priest’s explanation, Li Qiuchen followed up with, “Then I wonder where Immortal Master Mohe is currently located?”

The Old Daoist Priest showed a difficult expression and sighed, “To be honest with Junior Brother, we cultivators are repeatedly suppressed by the government, living like stray dogs in constant fear. We hide our names and don’t dare to walk openly in public, and there’s almost no contact between us.”

“This humble Daoist truly doesn’t know Immortal Master Mohe’s current location, but I imagine he should be nearby and hasn’t gone far. Because back then, he made a three-month appointment with us to gather at the Green Stone Terrace to share our results. Counting the days, there’s less than a month left.”

“When the time comes, Junior Brother can come find me, and we can go see that Immortal Master together.”

Less than two months left? Then the time is quite tight.

It wasn’t that Li Qiuchen’s time was tight, but rather the Old Daoist Priest in front of him.

Li Qiuchen glanced at the root in the Old Daoist Priest’s hand and smiled, “I see that Senior seems to be… encountering some difficulties?”

The Old Daoist Priest’s face turned red, and he gave a dry laugh, “I wouldn’t say difficulties… Junior Brother, you know as well that the Great Dao of Longevity has infinite mysteries, far beyond what these common mortals can understand. I have the heart to enlighten them…”

“But the villagers are ignorant, only knowing how to take and not how to give back?”

“Exactly!”

The Old Daoist Priest nodded vigorously, almost squeezing out tears.

To put it bluntly, this matter was a problem of eating without excreting.

The Old Daoist Priest was promoting the Art of Longevity here, and the villagers believed him and started cultivating along.

But he couldn’t convert the results of this cultivation into fertilizer to nurture the root. As a result, after more than a month, the root was still a root, without any change.

Li Qiuchen’s gaze toward the Old Daoist Priest suddenly became subtle.

I thought you were some kind of transcendent expert, but it turns out you’re just an amateur.

No wonder I’ve been fooling you until now without you having any suspicion, to the point that my subsequent preparations have had no place to be used.

Pharmacists Blessing also has different levels.

The blessing Li Qiuchen received himself was of a very Advanced kind; he wasn’t sure exactly how high. But clearly, the blessing this Old Daoist Priest received was definitely not as high as his.

This old man didn’t even understand the basic principles.

Not understanding didn’t mean this Old Daoist Priest wasn’t powerful.

Li Qiuchen hadn’t mastered that trick of turning a living person into a tree.

“Senior…”

“Junior Brother…”

Both had their own hidden agendas. They looked at each other, and the Old Daoist Priest took the initiative to speak: “Junior Brother has been cultivating hard in the mountains and was taught by a famous master. Surely you look down on this humble Daoist’s crude tricks. If you could offer some guidance, this humble Daoist would be eternally grateful.”

“Senior, you overpraise me.”

Li Qiuchen smiled and said, “Actually, my purpose in coming down the mountain this time was to make friends with fellow practitioners and broaden my horizons. I wonder what sect Senior hails from? Could we set aside sectarian biases and sit down for an exchange?”

The Old Daoist Priest said with great joy, “This humble Daoist is just a Loose Cultivator; what sect could I speak of? Usually, I rush about for a living while avoiding government investigations; it’s a miserable life. Even if I occasionally meet a fellow practitioner, I don’t dare to associate too deeply. If Junior Brother has this intention, it’s more than I could ask for! Please, sit down quickly; I’ll have the boy brew some tea for Junior Brother!”