Chapter 105: Is This an Immortal Mansion?

Thunder halted before the white jade bed, no longer chasing after the distant immortal abode. Yet, his divine consciousness secretly communicated with Tian Rui, who nodded and shook her head intermittently before finally smiling gently. Thunder then tossed out the blue lotus disc, which swelled in the wind to more than ten zhang in diameter. In a swift motion, Tian Rui transformed into a wisp of green smoke and slipped into the disc.

Looking again, both Thunder and the white jade bed had vanished into thin air. Only a strange tree remained—a dual-trunked oddity bearing clusters of peculiar red and blue fruits.

The blue lotus disc carrying Tian Rui continued to grow rapidly, soon covering several miles. It circled in the air before converging upon the immortal abode. The abode, which had been hovering, suddenly darted forward at nearly teleportation speed. However, the now gigantic blue lotus disc blocked its northeastern and northern sides, forcing the abode to flee only westward and southward.

A breeze stirred, yet the strange tree to the east remained unmoved. As the immortal abode streaked past like a meteor, the tree suddenly animated—a fiery red spirit serpent burst forth, growing wildly with the gusts. In the blink of an eye, it stretched close to a hundred zhang, swiftly catching up to the abode. It coiled around two massive, exquisite lion statues guarding the entrance. The serpent’s tail shot straight down, piercing into the rock beneath.

No matter how much the immortal abode communicated with spirits, it could no longer move.

The strange tree blurred briefly, revealing the white jade bed once more. Standing on it were Blue Tide and Thunder, who held the Visionary Eye. It turned out Thunder had used the Visionary Eye’s illusionary power to deceive the immortal abode, allowing Tian Rui to direct the blue lotus disc in a feigned pursuit. Meanwhile, Thunder himself launched a stealth attack with the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff. The immortal abode, despite its spiritual connection, could not escape.

Transmitting his divine consciousness, Thunder immediately ordered Tian Rui to hasten the lotus disc, pressing down heavily upon the entire immortal abode. Then Tian Rui transformed back into the green-clad maiden and leapt onto the white jade bed again. Her phoenix-like eyes glanced at Thunder as she thought to herself: this seemingly unremarkable human cultivator was truly extraordinary. Thunder had no time to respond; his foremost concern was how to enter the immortal abode. He began drawing numerous magical artifacts from his storage pouch, each one aimed at the abode.

A powerful sealing formation had been laid upon the immortal abode—something Thunder and his companions had anticipated. Yet, to their surprise, the formation was impervious to all attacks. Even the palm-sized Shooting Immortal Spear was deployed, but the abode remained steadfast. Frustrated, Thunder activated the Blue-Yellow Transition Divine Technique and struck the purple copper door with a fierce punch. No resounding crash followed; instead, to his bewilderment, the door swung open at a mere push.

What kind of mysterious mechanism was this? A sealing that no treasure could break, yet opened so easily?

Peering through the open copper door, a thick mist shrouded the interior of the immortal abode. Approaching closer revealed a quaint tile-roofed courtyard. Could this be some sort of trap?

Thunder considered briefly, then turned to the two beauties beside him: “The immortal abode is now open. Whatever dangers lie within, I must venture inside. If you prefer not to come, wait here.”

Blue Tide hesitated, but Tian Rui stepped forward eagerly: “I’ll go with you. After all, you’ll need my help in the future. I don’t want you to perish like this, and I can assist you in critical moments.” Beneath her words lay a hidden intent. Her observations of Thunder over recent days had deepened her confidence in him. She knew he would not rashly engage the immortal abode without certainty, and so, driven by strong trust, she resolved to follow him inside.

Hearing Tian Rui, Blue Tide’s azure eyes brightened with renewed faith in Thunder’s abilities. Glancing around the mist-laden surroundings, which felt emptily silent, she was unwilling to remain alone in this unknown space. Thus, she agreed to enter as well.

Thunder nodded slightly, channeling his spiritual energy into the white jade bed. It trembled and passed through the purple copper door. For safety, Thunder activated a spell to retract the blue lotus disc and the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff—both among his greatest assets. Whether the immortal abode would move again was no longer a concern; now that they were inside, he could not fear it fleeing.

Upon entering, Thunder was overwhelmed by a strange sensation. Every plant and tree seemed both familiar and yet alien. Many of the buildings and furnishings resembled customs from the Eastern Yue Kingdom, but the two women were captivated purely by the enchanting new world.

Exotic flowers and grasses, winding paths leading to hidden retreats, lotus ponds with pavilions—the scene was a world apart.

Yet Thunder’s attention was elsewhere. The blue light in his eyes never ceased flashing as he meticulously examined the sprawling abode. His gaze eventually settled upon the central hall, a graceful edifice in white tones. This was not merely for its elegance; unlike other parts of the abode, which he could partially discern, even with his advanced Divine Thunder Slash, he could not penetrate even the slightest trace of this hall’s secrets.

Thunder strode alone towards the hall, making no call to the two women lost in wonder. The closer he got, the more his heart raced—he sensed something momentous was about to occur. With his left hand, he summoned the blue lotus disc, rapidly expanding it to shield his entire body. His right hand drew the palm-sized Shooting Immortal Spear, already loaded with a Heavenly Crystal bullet, as he stepped inside.

The first thing to meet his eyes was a long eight-foot table. Beneath it stood a black lacquered eight-immortal table, flanked by two grand master chairs. Behind the chairs hung a landscape painting. The curtains on the east and west wings were drawn.

Thunder froze instantly. Without the protection of a strong state of mind, he might have believed he had entered an ordinary household. This setup was no different from a modest, middle-class home in the secular world. How could such a thing exist within an immortal abode?

There were no transcendent spirit treasures, no immortal pills—nothing connected to cultivation here. His divine consciousness was restrained. Thunder activated Divine Thunder Slash again, his blue light flashing wildly, yet still found no irregularities. The wings of the hall were utterly opaque. “Better to retreat first,” he thought, his heart skipping a beat.

As his divine consciousness moved, the blue lotus disc shielded him, and the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff crossed in front of him, ready to withdraw. But then his eyes caught the landscape painting on the wall: a small bridge, flowing water, a humble cottage in a gentle drizzle. A child stood by the bridge holding an umbrella, uncertain whether to cross or wait for someone. The monochrome ink strokes were simple yet evocative, outlining a peaceful rural scene.

Though a modest ink painting, Thunder felt irresistibly drawn in. His spirit seemed to be pulled slowly into it, his very soul unsteady, as if about to step inside the picture. At that moment, his fortified state of mind snapped him back. Shaking, he wiped the cold sweat from his brow and swung the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff to destroy the cursed painting.

Suddenly, an anomaly occurred. The door behind him slammed shut automatically. His sniper’s calm kept him perfectly composed. Looking back at the painting, he saw an astonishing change: the drizzle had ceased, the sun shone brightly, and the child’s umbrella was folded under an arm.

Thunder stood dumbfounded.

At the same time, the curtain of the left wing room was lifted.