Immortality: Beginning With The Great Zhou Divine Dynasty

Chapter 9: The Strange Occurrences at the Liu Residence

Everyone was busy with their own work and had no time to pay attention to others.

Lin Xuanzhi carefully flipped through the unknown predecessor's recipe book in his hands, unknowingly immersing himself in it.

The Jade Wheel was mysteriously turning in the chaotic and unfathomable Mud Pill Palace.

"Fire temperature..."

"Ingredients..."

He didn't know how much time had passed.

When he came back to his senses, he realized that he was already in a drowsy and extremely exhausted state. Unable to think about anything else, Lin Xuanzhi couldn't hold back any longer and fell asleep at his desk.

In a daze, he felt as if he had fallen into a dream, vaguely seeing a blurry figure surrounded by a purple flame. The figure's hands were constantly moving, and countless restrictive runes flew like blooming flowers, falling into a silver light. Lin Xuanzhi was fascinated by what he saw.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Xuanzhi heard Lord Liu calling him.

"Yixian, it's time to finish work. Wake up."

Lin Xuanzhi, still half-asleep, looked at Lord Liu and only came to his senses after a few moments. He rubbed his temples and mumbled, "Finish work?"

Lord Liu nodded and couldn't help but express concern, "Yixian, although you're young and have cultivation, you should still take care of yourself. You slept for a whole day."

"I saw you sleeping so soundly, so I didn't wake you up for lunch. Scholar Song, who was on patrol in the afternoon, came and asked about you. He said that if you're not feeling well, you can take a leave of absence."

Lin Xuanzhi nodded, tidied up his desk, and bid farewell to Lord Liu before leaving.

From Imperial City until he got on the carriage back home, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and had time to examine the contents he had obtained.

"A method for refining a Law Weapon? It's even more hidden than the 'Qi Cultivation Method of the Eight Scenic Spots of Shangyuan'."

Rubbing his temples, Lin Xuanzhi organized his thoughts.

"The text in the book hides the materials and techniques for refining the Law Weapon. If I discover this, I can activate the hidden methods in the book and directly see the various restrictions and refining processes?"

"The various restrictions of the Jade Wheel are still being organized. Although I have managed to remember them, it will take some time to familiarize myself with and comprehend them. The Jade Wheel can probably be further optimized."

"Well, it will probably take a few days."

Whether it was the previous travelogue or today's recipe book, they both seemed like ordinary books, without any hint of the supernatural. Even the hidden contents in the books were very subtle and naturally integrated into ordinary language.

And in a book like today's recipe book, the method that allowed Lin Xuanzhi to enter a dream and directly witness things was probably not something an ordinary cultivator could possess.

The paper used was commonly used by the prominent figures of the Divine Capital, and the registration of the books dated back three thousand years, but it's not certain that it was originally included in the Hidden Knowledge Pavilion.

Great Zhou had also organized the library several times in its early years, but there was no commotion like today.

After much contemplation, Lin Xuanzhi could only speculate that this was a test and opportunity left by an unknown expert for future generations.

"Unfortunately, there is no author's name, making it difficult to purposefully search for other notes by the author."

In less than a month, he had discovered two opportunities left behind by the same predecessor. Lin Xuanzhi couldn't help but sigh at his good fortune.

His mental energy was greatly depleted, and it was obviously not suitable for cultivation tonight.

After returning home, Lin Xuanzhi had dinner and prepared to read a book before resting. At this time, he saw Biyue hurriedly coming to report that Lord Liu Tongzhou had come to visit.

Surprised, but still receiving Lord Liu in the outer study.

"Coming to disturb you late at night, Yixian, please don't blame me."

"It's just that the sun has just set, and An'er started crying incessantly again. The doctor on duty at the hospital was called away by the Duke An's Mansion, and I really had no choice but to come here. I don't know if Yixian can come and take a look." Lord Liu's face turned red, unable to help but bow.

After dinner, Lin Xuanzhi felt lazy and didn't want to move.

But seeing Lord Liu's anxious expression and considering the relationship between colleagues and their usual friendship, he couldn't bear to let the child suffer. He slowly nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I'll accompany you."

"It's just that even the temple's priests couldn't do anything. I'm afraid I'm also helpless."

Lord Liu smiled bitterly, "I paid three hundred taels to have a Taoist priest come to our house, but I could tell that he was just going through the motions."

Lin Xuanzhi nodded, not delaying any further. He brought his storage pouch and went to Lord Liu's house together.

Although he held the position of Sixth Grade official, it wasn't much in the vast Divine Capital. Lord Liu's residence was located on the outskirts of the city, a three-courtyard compound on the west side of the city, with two small side courtyards on the east and west, and a small garden.

Now the elderly couple lived with their second son's family.

Lord Liu's second son, Liu Sen, was nearly forty years old. After failing the imperial examination several times, he found a position through connections and became a county magistrate in a county in the north. Later, when the county magistrate was promoted, Lord Liu used his son-in-law's influence to help Liu Sen take over. Now, after six years, he finally managed to find a job in the capital. He had just arrived in the Divine Capital not long ago.

Although he was still only a Seventh Grade official, he was considered a capital official and could reunite with his family.

An'er was Liu Sen's son, who was just over half a year old. He was like the heart and soul of the whole family.

On the way, Lord Liu complained incessantly, but they finally arrived at the Liu family's house after a long journey.

Although it wasn't completely dark yet, the courtyard of Liu Sen's house was brightly lit.

Lin Xuanzhi naturally exchanged pleasantries with everyone when he arrived, but fortunately, Lord Liu was tactful and quickly sent the others away, leaving only the couple.

At this moment, the child named An'er was listlessly sniffling in his mother's arms. Lin Xuanzhi circulated his spiritual energy through the child's body once, and it seemed that there was no major problem.

"It's nothing major, just a little scared. He's a bit tired," he said.

Then he walked around the courtyard and didn't find anything unusual. He checked the talisman he had given and found that although the light was slightly dim, it wasn't obvious.

It seemed like there was a problem, but not a big one?

"Does An'er usually go anywhere?" Lin Xuanzhi asked Liu Sen's wife.

The woman replied with a worried expression, "An'er is only a little over seven months old. It's spring now, so he usually just goes out to get some fresh air in the mansion. Either in the garden or in his mother's room, he hasn't been out of the house."

Lin Xuanzhi said to Lord Liu, "I'll go to the main house to take a look."

Lord Liu personally led the way and they searched the main house but found nothing.

They continued until they reached the small garden of his house.

Pointing to the peach tree in front of him, Lin Xuanzhi's eyes hid the Jade Wheel, and he casually asked, "This peach tree has been here for a long time, hasn't it?"

Lord Liu didn't understand, but nodded, "When I bought the house fifteen years ago, the old man said that this house has a long history, over three hundred years, and the peach tree has always been here."

"But when I consulted a feng shui master, he said that the peach tree is far from becoming a spiritual entity," Lin Xuanzhi nodded and smiled, "The peach tree is indeed fine, but it is full of vitality and wood energy. It's just an ancient tree about to give birth to a wooden heart."

"But there is an unexpected guest living on it, which is probably the reason for An'er's crying at night."

As Lin Xuanzhi's words fell, the invisible colorful light in the heart of the peach tree trembled slightly, but it remained hidden inside, as if deceiving itself and others.

Lord Liu's eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "Could it be a ghost? Ordinary wandering spirits and wild ghosts can't withstand the aura of the Divine Capital, but if it's a fierce ghost, it's not just An'er's problem."

Lin Xuanzhi also found it strange. The talisman didn't react much, so it shouldn't be an evil spirit, but An'er was indeed affected.

He took out a fan with hidden wind and fire, and there was a clear threat in his gesture.

With a light flick of his wrist, he appeared very elegant and gentle. His gaze focused on the colorful light, and he smiled kindly, "Don't think you can get away with hiding inside and not making a sound."

The light cluster in the wooden heart trembled more intensely, hesitated for a while under the unwavering gaze of Lin Xuanzhi, and finally moved slowly.

What appeared in the light cluster was a pair of colorful butterfly wings, beneath which was a delicate little figure no longer than a finger.

The little figure looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, barefoot, wearing a colorful dress, with double-looped buns, and a beautiful face that appeared pale and somewhat translucent.

At this moment, her eyes were evasive and helpless, filled with fear and embarrassment of being discovered.

She bravely flew out from the wooden heart, hiding behind a few peach blossoms, trembling as she peeked out her head and pleaded, "Master, spare me, sir, spare me."

"The little demon really has no other choice. If I don't heal my injuries soon, I will revert back to my original form and lose my intelligence."

Lord Liu could never have imagined that there was such a thing hidden in his house.

"This is... a butterfly spirit?"

Lin Xuanzhi calmly swept his gaze over her, his heart unruffled, thinking that she wasn't even half as beautiful as his own mother, but she did have a certain novelty.

Casually nodding, he said, "It seems to be a kind of exotic butterfly. There is no demonic aura on her body, so it's no wonder the talisman for warding off evil didn't react much."

The butterfly spirit hid behind the peach blossoms, not that she didn't want to escape, but because she was currently powerless. With her current physical condition, it was already difficult for her to fly out of the Liu residence.

Although Lord Liu was amazed by the beauty of the butterfly spirit, when it came to his precious grandson, he still spoke sternly, "Speak up, why did you come to my house and disturb my grandson? Tell the truth, or I'll have this mage next to me slay the demon!"

Lord Liu, who already had a stern and serious appearance, continued his deliberate cold interrogation, causing the butterfly spirit, who didn't have much ability to begin with, to spill everything.

"The little demon originally belonged to the Tianxiang Cave on the Yunwu Mountain, guarding the medicinal garden under the guidance of the reclusive Nianbi. Two months ago, a group of people broke through the Cave Mansion's array and had a big fight with our fairy. In the end..."

"The little demon, being inconspicuous, also knows some illusion techniques, and barely managed to escape through countless dangers. It was thanks to Lord Liu's family that we were able to get away from there. We haven't had a chance to repay the favor, how could we harm anyone?"

"It's just that there was no other way, so the little demon borrowed a few strands of my nephew's vitality, but most of it was used to heal using the spiritual energy of this peach tree."

"After I recover from my injuries, I will definitely repay Lord Liu's family."

"Although the little demon is a butterfly spirit, under the guidance of our fairy, I have always adhered to the rules and followed the righteous path. I have never harmed anyone."

"Sob sob sob."

Upon hearing the words of the butterfly spirit, Lin Xuanzhi's heart stirred slightly. Looking at the butterfly spirit, her figure became even more transparent when she became excited. It seemed that she really was about to revert back to her original form. What she said shouldn't be a lie.

However, this was ultimately a matter for Lord Liu.

"Lord Liu, what do you think?"

(End of this chapter)