Chapter 38: Spirit Peach

“This ancestral peach tree has existed for tens of thousands of years. No one knows exactly why, but one year, half a peach fell from the sky and landed atop this mountain. The following year, a small peach tree sprouted from that spot. Back then, the world was still brimming with spiritual energy. The little peach tree took root, budding and growing, basking in the sun and moon, enduring wind and frost, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. Its nature was extraordinary, and in time, it awakened its own spiritual intelligence. However, it didn’t know the methods of cultivation—only instinctively inhaling and exhaling the world’s spiritual energy.

Later, a troop of monkeys came to eat its peaches. The ancestral peach tree paid them no mind; rather, it was glad for the companionship, no longer so lonely. The monkeys, clever creatures, buried the peach pits in the soil after eating, hoping there would be more peaches to enjoy in the future. At the time, the peach tree didn’t understand the significance. Over time, a peach grove flourished here, covering the whole mountain. Countless animals and wandering spirits came to feast on the spiritual peaches. Unlike the monkeys, they were not gentle—fighting and killing became commonplace. They would even toss the corpses of their victims beneath the peach trees. As the years passed, the peach trees, originally of pure yang nature, became tainted with resentment and yin energy. Their fundamental nature was no longer pure. The old ancestral peach tree was unaware of this, still standing tall, watching the blossoms bloom and fall, the leaves sprout and wither.

Then, one day, a Daoist named Ning Fengzi arrived at Mount Qingcheng. He beheld the peach grove and burst into loud sobs. The old peach tree revealed itself, perplexed by his grief. Ning Fengzi shook his head and lamented, ‘There are only so many immortal roots in the mortal world—why must there be this entire peach grove? The luck has scattered; old tree, you may face disaster by thunder and fire!’ With that, he left, shaking his head.

Another thousand years passed. The ancestral peach tree finally gained the ability to take human form. One stormy night, the mountain was filled with the resentful energy of countless creatures that had died in the peach grove. That very night, thunder and lightning raged, and the entire grove was reduced to ashes. The ancestral peach tree could not escape the calamity—its intelligence was obliterated by the lightning. Only its body remained, blooming and shedding as before, but it could never again awaken spiritual intelligence. Yet, every millennium, a few spiritual peaches would still be produced—not as famed as the celestial peaches of the Jade Emperor, but still rare treasures in the mortal realm. Alas, as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth grew ever thinner, fewer peaches could be borne, and the time between fruitings lengthened. The last harvest was three thousand years ago. This time, only three spiritual peaches were produced in total—your Grandmaster took one, leaving just two on the tree. If no new spiritual energy replenishes it, this may well be the last time the ancestral tree bears spiritual peaches.” The old peach tree caressed the trunk of its ancestor, its voice full of indescribable sorrow—both for its ancestor and for its own uncertain future.

“Can a mere illusion array really be worth a spiritual peach?” Liaochen asked. “Since the spiritual peaches are so precious, how could my Grandmaster have exchanged one for something as trivial as an illusion array?”

“He said that in a thousand years, his disciple’s disciple would come to save this peach tree,” the old peach tree replied bitterly.

“Ah?” Liaochen was dumbfounded. “Is that really how it is?”

“Like it or not, that’s how it is. Fortunately, your Grandmaster wasn’t a total trickster—you did come after all. I trust you can save my ancestor!” The old peach tree’s words were full of implication. At the very least, it suggested that Liaochen’s Grandmaster had not obtained the spiritual peach entirely honorably.

Liaochen felt as if he’d been set up. “No wonder I was able to come here so easily. But if even my Grandmaster couldn’t do anything, how could I possibly succeed?”

“I don’t know. But since your Grandmaster attained immortality, he surely wouldn’t lie. You’ve arrived, so you’ll surely find a way. This was your Grandmaster’s promise—how could you ignore it?” The old peach tree, no longer so easily deceived, now spoke with a tone of sly confidence.

“Indeed, age brings wisdom—even a tree that has lived for millennia becomes cunning. Who’s to say that when Ancestor Lü took the spiritual peach, he wasn’t ensnared by this old peach tree’s scheming?” Liaochen shivered, looking at the wrinkled old tree with new wariness.

“So, what must I do to save your ancestor?” Liaochen realized he could no longer refuse this errand. Since his Grandmaster had left instructions a thousand years ago, there must be a solution. Besides, he couldn’t help but covet the spiritual peaches himself.

“I don’t know, either,” the old peach tree sighed.

“What? You don’t know, yet you want me to save it?” Liaochen nearly collapsed in exasperation. The old peach tree must think he’s a true immortal! If you want to save the tree, at least tell me how—prune some branches, add some fertilizer, something! With nothing to go on, he was no Guanyin who could revive all spiritual roots with a mere sprinkle of divine water.

“Alas, at this point, there’s no hope of restoring my ancestor’s intelligence. That night, the lightning tribulation shaved dozens of meters off this mountaintop. Back then, I was just a sapling, surviving by hiding amidst the ashes of the grove. I saw with my own eyes the ancestral spirit struck to oblivion, even the trunk charred black. Yet, somehow, the old tree survived—but the cheerful ancestor of old was gone forever. Now, I only hope you can keep the old tree alive a while longer. With spiritual energy nearly depleted, I fear that once it’s gone, the ancestor won’t last much longer,” the old peach tree said, filled with sorrow.

Now Liaochen understood why he had been so lucky to obtain the Zhou Tian Star Array. The ancients truly were resourceful—killing two birds with one stone, using every opportunity to its fullest. It seemed he was still far from reaching his Grandmasters’ level of insight.

“If I can help your ancestor gather new spiritual energy, may I take the peach?” Liaochen asked, rubbing his hands together, unable to hide his anticipation.

The old peach tree looked at Liaochen with a face full of disdain. “I don’t eat peaches. If you can truly do it, take one by all means.”

Liaochen was overjoyed, feeling as though a great fortune had suddenly fallen into his lap. He immediately thanked the old peach tree, and, humming a cheerful tune, took the overfed fire fox home with him.

“Looks like I’ll have to hurry up collecting copper materials. After all, doesn’t Yunnan produce copper? If need be, I’ll just make a trip there—how hard can it be to get some copper?” Liaochen silently plotted as he went, his heart buoyed by the thought of the spiritual peach soon to be in his grasp. Even the fox in his arms seemed more beautiful.

By the time Liaochen returned to his cave dwelling, the sun was nearly setting. Yun Lingzi was already dressed and ready to depart, waiting only for dusk. Seeing her so eager, Liaochen suddenly slapped his forehead. “How could I have forgotten? Wait a moment, you can’t leave just yet!” He hurried to his room, took out a sheet of yellow spirit paper, and wrote out a document for the underworld stating Yun Lingzi’s identity, stamping it with his own seal. Then he handed it to her at the door.

“You’re a ghost. If you go out like this, you might be harassed by patrolling ghost soldiers, deities, or local gods. Take this document with you—if anyone questions you, show it to them. And come back as soon as you’re done. No wandering! It’s dangerous out there!” Liaochen fussed over her like an old mother. Yun Lingzi rolled her eyes discreetly, but answered respectfully. She turned away and, under the moonlight, transformed into a wisp of ghostly wind, vanishing without a trace.