"There are also tales of a thing called Ginseng Fruit in that place, which is a rare treasure of Heaven and Earth, and eating it grants immortality." Little Fox spoke longingly, as living forever was an unceasing pursuit for all beings of the Three Realms.
However, Lin Fang did not agree. If, as the books claimed, the Ginseng Fruit could indeed extend one's life, aspiring for immortality was still foolish and delusional.
Yet he was quite curious about this being known as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Great Immortal Zhen Yuan. After having experienced so many things, Lin Fang realized that substituting the personalities described in books or television for them was a huge mistake.
These individuals were far from as kind-hearted as he imagined, and given his identity from the Demon Clan, who knew if the Great Immortal would spare him if they met.
Therefore, Lin Fang had resolved never to approach Wanshou Mountain. He would rather take a longer detour than encounter this powerful Immortal, considering even someone like Monkey was captured several times; a Little Monster like him going there would be akin to delivering himself on a platter.
Lin Fang, guiding Little Fox, continued westward, observing the layered mountains and lush trees, a place rarely trodden with tigers and leopards roaming freely.
"When will we ever get to Pingding Mountain!" Little Fox shaded his eyes with his hand as he looked into the distance, but saw only dense jungles stretching endlessly.
Yet Lin Fang only laughed and said, "Thinking of reaching Pingding Mountain already? It's still a long way off, past Wanshou Mountain and Baoxiang Kingdom, and only then can we get there."
"That far!" Little Fox exclaimed in surprise, wondering how his parents ever managed to come such a long distance.
Little did they know that this journey wasn't originally so difficult. It was made perilous by the Buddhist Sect orchestrating the Journey to the West, drawing numerous demons into the lower realm, turning this land into one fraught with extreme dangers.
As they walked, a green mountain came into their view, extraordinarily elegant with lush trees and surrounding spiritual energy—a truly precious feng shui site.
"What a wonderful place, after traversing through these barren and dangerous mountains, it's rare to see such a splendid spot. If you could build a manor here, it would indeed be like a Shangri-La," Lin Fang exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise.
Little Fox quickly followed Lin Fang's gaze and, with just one look, fell in love with this spiritually vibrant place, laughing as he ran forward.
Lin Fang laughed and followed behind. Seeing such a spiritually vibrant place indeed lifted their spirits, seeming to alleviate some of the underlying stress in their hearts.
"How strange and marvelous, this place is so extraordinary, why has no demon taken it over?" Lin Fang mused aloud after surveying the mountain.
Given that demons grow up in the woods and are extremely sensitive to aura, it was inexplicable that such a superior place remained undiscovered; yet the mountain housed only gentle-natured wild beasts, with not a single demon in sight.
Just then, a frosty voice suddenly rang out: "Halt, comers!"
Lin Fang looked up and saw a Fairy in a white robe appear amidst the mountains, her white garments outshining the snow, her expression cold.
"May I know which Immortal's residence this is? I am ignorant and plead for forgiveness," Lin Fang quickly responded.
Those who were able to occupy a blessed land on the Journey to the West were not to be trifled with; now that he was of lower strength, he still needed to be cautious.
"This place belongs to Lady of Mount Li's manor. How dare you, being a Daoist, bring a Little Fox Demon to this place?" The Fairy was also surprised—as tales of this route of the Journey to the West were well known to her.
Many powerful and ferocious Demon Kings had occupied mountains, making it extremely difficult to pass through.
It was indeed her fault, as today, while cleaning, she had unwittingly damaged the core of the Formation. Only having just repaired it revealed the blessed land, mistakenly leading Lin Fang and his companion to stumble upon it.
"Lady of Mount Li?" Lin Fang recalled the name carefully.
In history, this Immortal was quite renowned. Many famous female heroes were rumored to be her disciples. Of course, these were aspects of the Journey to the West world and were not to be forcibly overlaid, but in the trial of the Four Saints' Zen hearts, this Immortal played the roles of Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra's mother, which certainly spoke to her capabilities and background.
"I did not know this was the Old Mother Immortal Mansion and have affronted the Fairy, please forgive my trespass!" Lin Fang quickly apologized; such a powerful deity was truly someone he couldn't afford to offend.
The frosty Fairy, seeing Lin Fang's respectful demeanor, didn't pursue the matter further. After all, it was her own fault for damaging the formation core, and Lin Fang's intrusion was merely accidental.
"Since you entered unintentionally, please leave quickly. Otherwise, if the Old Mother returns and sees this, it would reflect poorly on my duties," the frosty Fairy said, not wishing to interact further with Lin Fang, and thus issued a dismissal.
Lin Fang wasn't bothered. These high-minded people of the Immortal's world, considering it a courtesy not to attack on sight upon seeing a demon, indicated the Lady of Mount Li was not presently here.
Leading Little Fox away, Little Fox tiptoed to get a glimpse of the Immortal Residence, only to see the landscape gradually obscured by fog, likely the effect of the Formation activating.
However, just at that moment, an unexpected event occurred as they heard a loud crash; a massive force descended from the sky, aiming directly at the blessed land.
The Fairy's face showed anger, her eyebrows furrowed, and her frosty voice echoed through the mountains: "Monster, you haven't had enough of your previous suffering, and today you dare come to seek death!"
As her words fell, the Treasured Sword behind her flew into the sky, transforming into a Glass Dragon with a gaping maw, charging towards the mountain exterior.
With a bang, a figure fell from the sky, landing on the ground; it was an old man holding a Wooden Staff.
This was a Monster transformed from plant life, exuding a unique demon qi, dressed in a green robe, with bushy green branches growing from his shoulders and arms, and a white beard that reached his chest.