Chapter Forty: The Garden of Eternal Life, Luoyang City, Wind Approaches

The surface of the lake was tranquil as a mirror. A gentle breeze passed over it, yet not a ripple stirred; there were no fish swimming, no water plants, not even fallen leaves dared rest upon it.

“So this is the entrance to the Garden of Immortality?” Forgive Wu Yue’s lack of experience; he was beginning to suspect it might all be a royal plot, a scheme to capture everyone in one net. But with so many people present, the royal family could hardly swallow them all, he reasoned—it was just paranoia.

“Indeed. When the lake water fully solidifies, that’s when the Garden of Immortality opens. By the looks of it, we have about an hour to wait,” Zhou Qilin explained.

“You’re going to the Garden of Immortality as well?” Wu Yue asked.

“Why shouldn’t I? Do you think I’m weak?” Zhou Qilin retorted.

Wu Yue didn’t answer. His gaze betrayed his thoughts: Do you really think you’re strong?

Zhou Qilin looked defeated.

Wu Yue withdrew his gaze and began to survey the surroundings. People stood in clusters of three, five, seven, or eight, forming small groups. Many among them were not highly cultivated; these were the ones who needed care, each watched over by the top representatives of various factions. The elders’ voices occasionally rang out with gentle admonitions. It felt almost like Earth.

“My father is busy handling affairs in the Central Mountains, so he won’t see me off. He told me to follow you,” Chen Yanzhi approached, head bowed, speaking softly. Though she said this, she still kept several steps’ distance from Wu Yue, standing among a group of women. Compared to them, Chen Yanzhi, merely of average beauty, seemed lacking—after all, this world’s cultivators generally possessed striking looks.

Wu Yue nodded, replying, "I will do my utmost." He rather liked this young woman. For the daughter of a powerful official to remain humble and courteous spoke well of Chen Yankan’s way of raising her. Especially when compared with certain royal ladies—it was like heaven and earth.

“Hmph. Ungrateful wretch, you took a spot in the Garden of Immortality and don’t even pay your respects at court?” Li Suizhu said coldly.

Wu Yue rolled his eyes, unwilling to respond. He’d always found Li Suizhu impossible to reason with. For such a spoiled girl, Wu Yue’s approach was simply to ignore her.

But this attitude only infuriated Li Suizhu further. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she leapt at him, claws bared—only to be blocked by Wu Yue’s wall of spiritual energy. The disparity between their cultivation levels was simply too great.

Li Suizhu’s antics, combined with her lovely and adorable appearance, were genuinely amusing. Many present couldn't help but laugh at the scene.

“What’s so funny!” Li Suizhu cried.

Clearly, not everyone was impressed with the Princess of Jinping. Ren Ruyi, who had arrived unnoticed, interjected, “Does the Great Qin code even regulate laughter?”

“Thick-skinned! Who told you to come over? Go back to your lot,” Li Suizhu snapped.

Ren Ruyi smiled lightly, unconcerned, and stepped closer. She addressed Wu Yue, “Brother Wu.”

Wu Yue hesitated, unsure how to respond, and finally said, “Sister Ren.”

Ren Ruyi covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her smile was enchanting, especially because it was so natural. Wu Yue had to admit, Ren Ruyi was stunning; her smile was simply captivating.

“Wretch!” Li Suizhu cursed, especially as she watched Wu Yue speaking gently. The two seemed to be enjoying their conversation—and worse, they were conversing with spiritual sense. Li Suizhu fumed: I! Cannot! Hear! Them!

Others felt compelled to intervene, such as Zong Shen, who urgently needed to mend relations with the royal family.

Before Zong Shen could speak, Wu Yue looked at him in surprise. Wu Yue spoke first: “Are you alright?”

“What could be wrong? It was just a minor injury; healed in the blink of an eye,” Zong Shen replied. The truth was, if not for Chen Yankan’s timely intervention and a generous supply of rare elixirs, Zong Shen might not even be alive.

“Oh—so what brings you here?” Wu Yue asked.

Zong Shen suddenly fell silent. Why was he here? Of course, to enter the Garden of Immortality. Because he was outstanding, a prominent figure among the younger generation—yet at the Jade Bowl Banquet, he’d been defeated with a single finger. His face flushed a deep, liverish red.

“Hmph! Take care of yourself!” Zong Shen flung his sleeve and hurried away.

Wu Yue was bewildered; he truly didn’t understand.

Ren Ruyi chuckled softly at Wu Yue. So beautiful! Zhou Qilin muttered, “Form is emptiness; form is emptiness.” In truth, Ren Ruyi appeared to be aloof, but she was actually lively and sharp-tongued.

“In that case, I’ll rely on you, Brother Wu!” Ren Ruyi said.

“So soon, you’re calling him ‘brother’?” After hearing nothing for so long, Li Suizhu was startled by this remark. Ren Ruyi bowed and walked toward the crowd of Dragon Snow Mountain cultivators, ignoring Li Suizhu completely.

“You must have done something shameful together!” Li Suizhu seethed, grinding her teeth.

Wu Yue kept his eyes down, silent. The truth was, Ren Ruyi had simply said the Garden of Immortality would be full of enemies, so everyone should cooperate, then discussed the weather and the delicacies of Luoyang.

Li Suizhu’s interrogation wasn’t finished.

A crackling sound rang out.

The lake began to freeze!

Standing by the shore, their reflections were crystal clear.

The Garden of Immortality was about to open. Wu Yue’s heart surged—this was the moment of fate! Once the bond was fulfilled, he could cross the void to find her, to see her again.

It wasn’t just Wu Yue; nearly everyone was trembling with excitement. Even the elders struggled to remain calm. If not for countless bloody lessons, these elders would have driven the young ones away and jumped in themselves. They could only sigh that they were born in the wrong era.

Someone was first to leap in; as their body touched the lake, they gradually vanished.

“Remember your compasses—gather together as quickly as you can!” Chen Ruifeng instructed sternly. The Garden of Immortality was far from safe; its mortality rate was high. But if even a third of these youths survived, it would suffice.

Similar instructions echoed around the lake. Of course, only the major factions possessed such treasures, each of which cost a fortune to craft.

Forty-nine people quickly vanished into the lake.

At that moment, the surface turned to liquid again. Tiny fish frolicked, stirring gentle ripples.

“It’s exactly like an ordinary lake!”

“It seems to be a teleportation point—once the transfer is complete, it disappears.”

“What kind of terrifying power could control a teleportation array?”

“So the Garden of Immortality truly lives.”

The crowd from Mount Zhou discussed among themselves.

Beneath the Qin Empire, there were seventeen kingdoms, with vast lands stretching endlessly. The number of cultivators and ordinary people was beyond counting, and families and sects were as numerous as stars. Even a single household was rife with conflict—how much more so a great nation, an empire.