CHAPTER 544: CHAPTER 506: NEWS FROM ELDER YU

"This transformed peach tree probably has strength that’s not inferior to mine and Immortal Mei, maybe even superior."

After the transformed peach tree went out, Tian Lin couldn’t help but speak.

Cui’er, however, was somewhat unconvinced, "In the Golden Core Realm, there might be those who can defeat the master, but it can’t possibly be him—if he truly had ability, why would he be so unknown in the Wenda Sect?"

As they were speaking, there was another commotion outside.

After hearing two anxious ’How dare you!’ reprimands, the transformed peach tree leisurely walked back in.

He smiled and told Tian Lin at the door, "Brother Tian, the matter outside has been resolved, no one will disturb us while we eat now."

Now Tian Lin was sure this transformed peach tree was not as simple as it appeared, and thus became cautious of him.

After sitting down again, Tian Lin frankly said, "I find Brother Tao’s strength to be superior to mine. The talk of seeking my guidance is probably just a joke, isn’t it?"

Seeing through Tian Lin’s wariness, the transformed peach tree laughed and said, "Brother, there’s no need to doubt me, there is actually a deep connection between us, so you don’t have to worry about me harming you."

Tian Lin looked at the transformed peach tree in confusion, just as he heard the transformed peach tree say, "To be honest, I am not originally from the human race, but a peach tree from thousands of years ago."

Upon hearing this, Tian Lin took a sip of wine, neither confirming nor denying the transformed peach tree’s words.

He had eaten the True Eye Fruit, capable of seeing through a person’s true nature.

If the transformed peach tree before him truly had transformed from a peach tree, it would not escape his eyes.

However, Tian Lin remained skeptical, while Cui’er and her sister seemed somewhat convinced.

Just then, Immortal Mei’s voice echoed from the next room, saying, "No wonder you wanted to see my Divine Lady Tree, turns out it’s because you both come from the same lineage—"

Even though Immortal Mei’s voice came from the next room, everyone turned to look at the door, only to see Immortal Mei walking in from outside.

Yu’er quickly brought a stool for Immortal Mei and poured her some wine.

Immortal Mei picked up the cup but did not hurry to drink; she just skeptically looked at the transformed peach tree and said, "You say you’ve become a refined peach tree, with a lifespan of thousands of years. But thousands of years ago, Tian Lin clearly hadn’t been born yet. How do you explain your connection with him?"

The transformed peach tree calmly explained, "My connection with Brother Tian is naturally related to Elder Yu. It was Elder Yu’s guidance that allowed me to refine into a sentient being."

In the Wenda Sect, Elder Xue had met Elder Yu. Aside from that, not many people had seen Elder Yu.

Tian Lin never imagined that some Inner Sect Disciples had met Elder Yu.

He looked at the transformed peach tree in surprise, trying to ascertain whether he was lying.

"Back then, Elder Yu was reclusive at the Small Fish Temple outside the sect. At that time, the sect hadn’t migrated to the North Wilderness yet, and I was just an ordinary peach tree, without enlightenment."

He explained, "It was a coincidence—thanks to the predecessor Black Emperor in the temple, who would water me with dung every month, so even though I didn’t know how to absorb Spiritual Energy, I gradually developed intelligence."

Immortal Mei was evidently unfamiliar with Black Emperor’s name, but she had probably heard about him before.

But Tian Lin had a deep impression of Black Emperor.

At the beginning, he encountered Black Emperor not only in the illusion of the Invitation Sect but also visited the Small Fish Temple as the ancestor of Invitation Sect.

As the transformed peach tree described it, the Small Fish Temple was established on a mountain, surrounded by innumerable vegetation.

The so-called Black Emperor was merely a dog following Elder Yu, taking a Daoist Child form, loving to fool people into eating feces.

Tian Lin speculated that the Ancestor of Invitation Sect managed to meet Elder Yu, likely by eating quite a bit of the dung provided by Black Emperor.

As it was for the Ancestor of Invitation Sect back then, it seemed that the transformed peach tree also had the same experience.

However, while the former felt full of humiliation at eating dung, the latter, the transformed peach tree, seemed filled with gratitude for the experience—

In fact, the Ancestor of Invitation Sect was human and wouldn’t normally consume dung. Whereas for plants, feces were nutrient-rich matter to begin with, especially the dung from Black Emperor?

"So, you came to know Elder Yu earlier than Tian Lin?"

The transformed peach tree nodded, looking at Tian Lin with envy and said, "It’s just a pity that I lack Brother Tian’s talent and capability, so even though I received Elder Yu’s guidance, it merely set me on the path of cultivation and transformation. From start to finish, Elder Yu was unwilling to accept me into his sect."

If what the transformed peach tree said was true, then it explains why he, despite not being weaker in power than Tian Lin, has always maintained respect and even reverence towards him.

Immortal Mei glanced at Tian Lin and sarcastically said, "I can’t figure out what Elder Yu saw in that Tian fellow? I’d guess Elder Yu made a mistake by picking him over you as a disciple."

The transformed peach tree quickly waved his hand, "I’ve spent thousands of years to reach my current late Golden Core Realm. In contrast, Brother Tian is so young yet possesses such cultivation achievements, which shows Brother Tian’s talent and comprehension are far superior to mine."

Tian Lin was self-aware; without the help of entries, a Hua Hualang like him would have found reaching the Golden Core Realm a real challenge. Whether he could survive in the Seeking Immortality process was a huge question in itself.

"Plant cultivation is inherently more challenging than for average humans. Brother Tao having his current cultivation shows his talent—moreover, once plants begin cultivating, their lifespan often extends far beyond that of humans. So, Brother Tao seems to have cultivated for thousands of years, yet remains quite young."

Tian Lin had even heard that while plants find early-stage cultivation difficult, they often excel in later-stage Great Dao comprehension beyond average humans.

Now that the transformed peach tree has reached the late stage of the Golden Core Realm, once he crosses into the Nascent Soul Realm, he will truly have boundless possibilities, like a fish leaping in a vast ocean or a bird soaring in the high sky.

"You claim to be a refined peach tree, yet I see no demon energy in you—what’s the reason for that?"

Actually, Tian Lin wanted to ask why he couldn’t see through the transformed peach tree’s true form?

There’s no way that the transformed peach tree has become powerful enough to surpass even a Divinity Transformation expert, right?

Bear in mind that back when the Xiangxi Sect summoned a divinity, Tian Lin could see the manifestation of its ancestor—even though the manifestation was just a minor avatar, it carried at least the cultivation of a Divinity Transformation expert.

"This is naturally thanks to Elder Yu! Elder Yu knows how challenging it is for plants to refine, and even after refining, surviving in the world would be even harder!

He wanted to prevent me from being targeted by those who seek to refine plants into Magic Artifacts or those cultivators who love gardening, so he cast a Blinding Technique on me, shielding my reality from others."

Hearing this explanation, Tian Lin finally started to believe him to some extent.

But Elder Yu having such skills from thousands of years ago made Tian Lin gain deeper insight into Elder Yu’s power.

For the cheap master he had only seen once in an illusion, Tian Lin felt somewhat reverent yet slightly wary.

Compared to Tian Lin, the transformed peach tree seemed filled only with closeness and admiration for Elder Yu, and he asked Tian Lin, "Recently, Elder Yu sent a message to the sect. I’m sure he privately communicated with you, Brother, right?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Lin was surprised, "Elder Yu sent a message to the sect? I wasn’t aware of this."

The transformed peach tree was even more surprised, because in his view, Tian Lin was Elder Yu’s beloved disciple. How could Elder Yu’s beloved disciple be less informed than he was?

Meanwhile, Immortal Mei laughed, schadenfreude shining through as she said, "I bet Elder Yu long forgot the matter of accepting a disciple for the Wenda Sect. After all, this disciple is just a registered disciple, nothing worth keeping in mind."