Chapter 93: The Longevity Patriarch

No sooner had Mu Yuan departed than Konghuan surged from the sea. Seeing Ha Ma, Zi Lan, and others looking utterly disheveled, he quickly demanded an explanation. Purple Lan relayed the events, concluding, “I believe that man resembled Bing Chengzi from the Ice Soul Sect. He came with a companion, Bing Wei’er, and another was Yin Shenzi from the Profound Yin Sect. What did they pilfer from you, Great Sage, to provoke such fury?”

Konghuan seethed inside, bitter over his losses in their sea battle. His painstakingly condensed Bodhi Gold Tree now lay heavily damaged, and he’d even lost the Immortal Spirit. Though rage threatened to erupt, he maintained a calm facade before his followers. His expression remained unreadable as he stated coolly, “It’s nothing serious. Knowing their origins suffices for now.”

He promptly dismissed the assembly of spirits. Seating himself upon a radiant golden lotus, he drifted away along the ocean currents.

Mu Yuan raced far into the distance before halting on solid ground. There, the spirit birthed by the Immortal Divine Tree transformed into a jade-green infant, no larger than a few inches tall. It curled on his shoulder, its body shimmering with emerald light as wispy green tendrils—resembling dancing leaf shadows—swirled tenderly around them, instilling instant serenity.

Though tiny, the infant bore features both complete and delicate. Large, lively eyes blinked as its minute mouth parted gently. Seemingly relishing the resonance with the Longevity Qi within Mu Yuan, the child smiled at him, then shut its eyes, exhausted into deep slumber.

“Hmm?” Mu Yuan couldn’t discern the spirit’s nature but sensed a potent surge of pure armor-wood spiritual energy flowing in harmony with his own power—an intensely comforting blend. “For your sake, my Primordial Qi Grand Clutching Hand shattered beneath Bimo’s White Bone Seal! I’ve never suffered such a setback since entering the world!”

He released a breath, dispersing shimmering white sinking silver and sparkling five-colored star sand. Guided by his Zhenqi, they coalesced again into the shape of a palm, though its intricate talismanic scripts and formations remained broken. Unfazed, Mu Yuan retracted the construct into his Dantian to temper and nurture, planning to repair it later.

A few dozen li onward, he spotted Qi Wei and Chu Yunfei gathered together. Landing swiftly beside them, he called a greeting. Chu Yunfei’s tension visibly eased upon seeing Mu Yuan unharmed. But spotting the infant perched on Mu Yuan’s shoulder, he scowled. “Mu Yuan, really—what is this thing? Chasing it got my Profound Yin Black Fiend Great Capture dispersed! Who knows how long recovery shall take!”

Seemingly offended, the spirit’s eyes snapped open. Twin jade bolts shot toward Chu Yunfei like sharpened swords. Caught unprepared, the youth tumbled backward in the air. Though shielded by thin currents of black Qi from his Demon Banner, he sustained no injury. Still, being flung aside by an infantine spirit ignited fresh anger. Incensed over his damaged divine art, Chu Yunfei swung his hand, eager to confront the tiny form until Mu Yuan stepped between them, chuckling. “Brother Chu, why quarrel with a mere child?”

Still fuming, Chu Yunfei knew throttling an infant seemed beneath him, yet indignation persisted. Gruffly, he demanded, “Have you learned its nature?”

Mu Yuan shook his head. Intrigued by the infant’s charm, Qi Wei approached. As one skilled in Longevity Qi herself, the spirit welcomed her touch, seemingly soothed.

Boarding the Dragon Boat at last, they embarked toward Round Pot Mountain. Settling on deck, Mu Yuan finally pressed the infant for its origins.

The infant answered in its milky voice: “I am the Longevity Patriarch, spirit of the Immortal Divine Tree standing tall beneath Wind-Howl Bluff in the Kunlun Mountains. You mortals share my aura—save this swarthy fellow who vexes me.”

Chu Yunfei, long devoted to Qi Refinement, possessed refined features and clear skin. Yet the relentless coils of black aura from his undefeated Demon Banner often made him appear swarthy. Stunned by the infant’s quip, Mu Yuan and Qi Wei burst into riotous laughter.

Ignoring the final jab, Chu Yunfei sneered disdainfully. “A milk-scented infant styling himself the Longevity Patriarch? What boundless conceit!”

Amid laughter, sudden recognition seized Mu Yuan. Thrilled, he squeezed the infant tightly. “The Immortal Tree’s spirit?” His trembling voice betrayed excitement.

“Are you like that bald monk who sought to consume me?” whimpered the Patriarch in clear pain.

Noticing the infant’s terror, Qi Wei urged softly, “Ease your grip, apprentice brother!”

At once, Mu Yuan recollected. He’d conversed with True Lord Tiemu within the Azure Dragon Hall. The sect’s leader had revealed that only the mythical Elixir of Immortality or the Immortal Tree could grant Elder Cang Qing Zi Eternal Life. Hearing this infant embodied the very tree’s spirit overwhelmed Mu Yuan.

“My apologies,” Mu Yuan murmured sincerely, reverence for the child replacing carelessness. “Please forgive me. Might you possess powers to extend life?”

Sensing Mu Yuan’s sincerity and lack of malice, the Patriarch grew composed. Its innate awareness confirmed no hostility. “Immortality once dwelled within me while still rooted,” it acknowledged. “But becoming the Patriarch absorbed the tree’s living spirit. My being is sustained solely by primal animus. Prolonging mortals’ lives consumes essence I cannot refill. Achieving true Eternal Life, I fear, proves impossible.”

Qi Wei and Chu Yunfei listened in wonder-filled silence. Realization flooded them: this precious, doll-like infant embodied a perfection sought in vain—natural permanence! Unlike their kind needing Primordial Spirit status or an Immortal Demigod Body to resist aging, this being lived outside time. Envy kindled in their eyes.

Disappointment surfaced though Mu Yuan hid it. Mere life extension sufficed not; Eternal Life likely demanded consuming the spirit itself. Doubtless, Konghuan learned this cruel reality before assaulting it. Mu Yuan knew his master’s honor too well to swallow the child for selfish salvation. Finding the Elixir alone offered true hope for his teacher.

Still, additional time was vital. Glancing at the formidable yet untaught spirit—its wood essence dense, yet wielding no true divine arts beyond instinct-based wood-energy gathering—Mu Yuan offered hopefully, “Little one, might we trade?”

Confident their eagerness lacked malice, the infant reclined lazily. “Speak, mortal. State thy bargain without disturbing my rest.”

With a grin, Mu Yuan extended his terms: “Master my Longevity Art in exchange for aid extending life, should the hour require?”

A surge of green energy propelled the Patriarch onto its diminutive feet, bounding excitedly on Mu Yuan’s shoulder. “You wield wood essence with skill! Bargain struck! Harm none of my foundational spirits.”

“Of course,” affirmed Mu Yuan readily. “I understand the strength of a steady stream.”

Pleased agreement settled it. Instantly, Mu Yuan imprinted the Longevity Art directly into the Longevity Patriarch’s Sea of Consciousness.

To their astonishment, the spirit exceeded all expectations. Reciting the Art internally only once before cycling its principles took merely half an hour to shatter three thresholds—Channel Passage, Condensing Acupoints, Dharma Body—as if through brittle bamboo. Now radiating purest Longevity True Qi matching both Mu Yuan and Qi Wei’s own foundations, the Patriarch emanated unmatched density and potency.

Shock rooted Mu Yuan, Qi Wei, and Chu Yunfei to stillness. Feeling their intense stares, the infant-form spirit shivered, sank swiftly into a jade beam, and vanished into Mu Yuan’s form. Whirling down meridians, it soaked into the Dantian. The spirit brushed past each treasure—Longevity Sword, Minghe Immortal Sword, Six Harmonies Sword Pills, Primordial Qi Grasping Hand, Green Wood Thunderblade—before entering the Black Water Gourd. A single cry of joy resonated before drifting into silence.

“O Heaven! Smite me with thunder!” Chu Yunfei groaned, exchanging despairing glances with Mu Yuan. “Decades of struggle earned me Condensing Evil Energy mastery. This creature attains such heights in mere moments! Who could bear such shame?”

He spat furiously onto the deck. “I must train!”