Immortal Travel of Longevity

Jiu Fengchun was also learning to accept this friend.

Zhang Zhengdao brought him into Hidden Immortal Mountain. This was the first time in many years that he had invited a fellow Daoist here.

As Jiu Fengchun gazed at the mountain peaks shrouded in ethereal mist, a boundless sense of yearning swelled within him.

For the longest time, he had hidden in the shadows, scraping by just to survive.

He had never thought he would be able to stand in such bright light. The stirring in his heart slowly made him feel that he was no longer such a cold, unfeeling person.

"Haha, fellow Daoist, these fruits are at their most delicious at the start of spring," Zhang Zhengdao said. "You arrived just in time. In another two days, they would be past their prime."

"Hurry and try one, fellow Daoist."

Jiu Fengchun ate the fruit, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace.

He liked these days.

"Speaking of which, I still don't know your name, fellow Daoist."

"I..."

Jiu Fengchun paused for a moment. "Jiu Fengchun," he said.

"My surname is Zhang," Zhang Zhengdao replied, "and I go by Zhengdao."

The two shared a smile. Jiu Fengchun felt an immense sense of respect from the man—something he had rarely encountered during his long years on the run.

Sometimes, he couldn't even describe the feeling.

He simply liked it here, and he liked this fellow Daoist.

Zhang Zhengdao also cared deeply for this quiet fellow Daoist. In his twilight years, this was his only lasting friend.

The friendship between them was pure and unassuming.

Yet it was exactly this purity that made Jiu Fengchun grow increasingly uneasy.

One day, he suddenly spoke up.

"Priest."

"What is it, fellow Daoist?"

"If you found out one day that I was a monster, would you still treat me as a friend?"

Zhang Zhengdao blinked in surprise, then smiled. "How could you be a monster, fellow Daoist? But even if you were, we would still be friends."

"And if..."

"If I committed a terrible mistake?"

Zhang Zhengdao grew thoughtful.

After a moment, he said, "Are you facing some kind of hardship, fellow Daoist? If it is something I can help with, just say the word."

That answer put Jiu Fengchun's heart at ease.

In truth, Zhang Zhengdao was perfectly aware of how extraordinary his fellow Daoist was. No ordinary person in this world could swallow down such vast amounts of murky Spiritual Energy.

He had known for a long time.

He simply accepted that difference.

To Zhang Zhengdao, his fellow Daoist had a kind heart. Nothing else mattered.

In the blink of an eye, countless seasons passed.

With Zhang Zhengdao's encouragement, Jiu Fengchun slowly integrated into the Mortal World.

Zhang Zhengdao walked with him through the local Market Town, teaching him to read and identify everyday objects. Slowly, Jiu Fengchun learned how to survive in the Mortal World—how to earn money and how to buy the things he needed.

It was vastly different from the Cultivation World.

It was far more peaceful here, free from the endless fighting and killing.

Jiu Fengchun believed he could live out the rest of his days like this—living a plain, quiet life like an ordinary mortal.

But as the years went by, something changed.

His appetite continued to grow. He had assumed the Spirit Spring would endlessly replenish its spiritual liquid.

He was wrong.

Beneath his ceaseless consumption, the Spirit Spring was gradually growing shallower.

He remembered something Zhang Zhengdao had told him.

Hidden Immortal Mountain was only brimming with Spiritual Energy because of the Spirit Spring flowing beneath it. It was the place Zhang Zhengdao cherished most in all his life.

Jiu Fengchun crouched before the Spirit Spring, falling into a long silence.

He did not want to destroy the very thing the Priest cherished.

"Priest, I need to leave for a while."

Zhang Zhengdao was taken aback. "Where are you going, fellow Daoist?" he asked.

"Just to wander around. I will be back soon. Very soon..."

Jiu Fengchun could not come up with a better answer.

Zhang Zhengdao thought for a moment before saying, "Then I wish you a smooth journey, fellow Daoist."

Jiu Fengchun left. He set out to find another Spirit Spring.

He hoped to find a different source, but where in the Mortal World could he possibly find another Spirit Spring?

This was the only one.

Over the years, as the Spirit Spring had grown shallower, the Spiritual Energy in the Mortal World had subtly shifted. Minute as it was, this change caught the attention of certain cultivators.

"The Spiritual Energy isn't as abundant as it used to be."

The cultivators of the Mortal World had noticed the shift.

However, the Mortal World's qi destiny had not undergone any major changes recently, so why was the Spiritual Energy declining?

Puzzled, the cultivators began to investigate.

They followed the flow of the Spiritual Vein. After a long search, they finally discovered the Spirit Spring hidden beneath the mountain, and in doing so, uncovered Hidden Immortal Mountain—a place entirely hidden from the mortal eye.

Zhang Zhengdao was somewhat surprised by the visit of these outsiders.

He had thought no one would ever find this place in his lifetime.

"Greetings, Senior."

"This junior followed the Spirit Spring to find this Immortal Mountain. I hope I haven't intruded."

Zhang Zhengdao glanced at the person, then invited them to sit.

The Mortal World cultivator explained the reason for his visit, detailing the recent changes in the Mortal World's Spiritual Energy.

Zhang Zhengdao shook his head repeatedly. "I know nothing of this matter," he said.

He brushed the question off with that excuse.

But upon further reflection, he knew exactly what was going on.

He went down to check on the Spirit Spring. Comparing its current state to his memories of the past, everything suddenly made sense.

"So, that was why you left, fellow Daoist..."

Zhang Zhengdao pursed his lips, a complex swirl of emotions rising in his heart.

Meanwhile, Jiu Fengchun roamed the Mortal World. He tracked the Spiritual Veins, searching endlessly, but for two years, his efforts yielded nothing.

The gnawing hunger tortured him relentlessly. When he could no longer bear it, he was forced to return to Hidden Immortal Mountain.

He gorged on the Spiritual Vein, and slowly, clarity returned to his eyes.

He tried to slip away quietly, but Zhang Zhengdao had already noticed him.

Panic flashed across Jiu Fengchun's face. "Priest..."

Zhang Zhengdao asked, "Fellow Daoist, was the Spirit Spring the reason you left?"

Jiu Fengchun opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Zhang Zhengdao shook his head and sighed. "What were you thinking, fellow Daoist?"

Jiu Fengchun lowered his head. "Priest, don't you think I'm a monster? What cultivator in this world needs to consume so much?"

"Have I not known that from the very beginning?"

Jiu Fengchun blinked in surprise and looked up.

"You have your burdens, fellow Daoist," Zhang Zhengdao said. "But didn't we agree long ago that we are friends? Friends are supposed to share each other's burdens. If you were facing a hardship, why didn't you just tell me?"

Jiu Fengchun fell silent.

"Priest..."

"If I keep consuming it, this place will be destroyed. The Immortal Mountain will be destroyed. Didn't you say that this is the place you cherish most in your twilight years?"

Zhang Zhengdao fell into a daze. After a long silence, he said only one thing.

"That is just a mountain."

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