CHAPTER 498: 0302 LONGEVITY, CHANG’AN (TWO-IN-ONE)

Unfortunately, no one would typically ask Yun Qian such a question, so Miss Zhu is destined to drift further from the truth.

However...

What Miss Yun said isn’t absolutely definitive.

She said there are no immortals in the world now, but if her husband says there are, then there must be.

Just like right now, what Xu Chang’an and Zhu Pingniang are discussing.

"Actually, there might always be immortals existing in the lower realm, we just aren’t aware of it," Xu Chang’an speculated.

"Immortals hidden in the world, unbeknownst to people?" Zhu Pingniang sighed softly, asking, "Chang’an, are you talking about yourself?"

"?"

Xu Chang’an was slightly stunned, his first reaction was that Zhu Pingniang was saying he was an immortal.

However, Xu Chang’an quickly came to his senses, thinking that the senior probably didn’t mean that.

"I indeed have never seen an immortal." Xu Chang’an mused.

According to Zhu Pingniang, was she implying that he... didn’t know immortals were right beside him?

Li Zhibai?

"Senior, could it be that the teacher... is already near that realm?" Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but ask.

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

Tsk.

Some things she had clearly stated, yet this child always manages to avoid the correct answer, not sure if it’s on purpose.

"Your teacher is very remarkable, but she’s still far from the legendary Ming Immortal Realm." Zhu Pingniang shook her head, "But your statement is quite interesting. Immortals hiding in the mortal world is not impossible, for instance... sometimes, an immortal might inadvertently reveal a flaw."

As Zhu Pingniang spoke, she squinted at Xu Chang’an.

Look, here stands a young man who unwittingly exposed his "immortal" identity.

"A flaw? That would not be something I could understand." Xu Chang’an said.

He speculated this purely because if, according to the books’ depiction of the grandeur of the nation’s celebration upon an immortal’s ascension, he could hardly imagine such a figure would perish, after all... what kind of being could kill an immortal?

So he originally wanted to say immortals all stay in the Immortal Realm, but Zhu Pingniang wouldn’t let him say that, so he had no choice but to say they all hid in the lower world.

As for why there are no orthodox records of ascended immortals returning to earth, Xu Chang’an genuinely didn’t know.

"Books mention the human race’s Literary Commander with emperors, these were people who became immortals." Xu Chang’an said, following a certain novel’s concept, "Now, with demon plagues rampant across the Outer Continent, perhaps... an immortal is protecting the human race somewhere?"

"Chang’an, your thinking..." Zhu Pingniang clicked her tongue, thinking kids are kids, their thoughts are wild and elusive.

"...I was just saying." Xu Chang’an scratched his head.

Really just said it casually.

More than thinking about some dumb immortals, he actually wanted to ask Zhu Pingniang what she planned to do with Miss Yun after reading the jade scroll... but as a junior, he had no choice but to follow Miss Zhu’s lead.

"Actually, what you said about hidden immortals does exist." Zhu Pingniang suddenly said.

"Hm?" Xu Chang’an was taken aback.

They do exist?

Could he have guessed correctly?

Zhu Pingniang stretched out her palm, then curled it inward, pointing at herself: "Me."

"...?"

"Sister, I am a hidden immortal." Zhu Pingniang’s brows carried a smile, "In the cultivation realm, those with high Daoist achievements who remain secluded and uninvolved with worldly grand events are called hidden immortals."

"I see." Xu Chang’an nodded, instantly understanding the meaning behind "hidden immortal."

"Then..."

"That’s right, your teacher as well." Zhu Pingniang answered before Xu Chang’an could ask.

"Ha, compared to me, your teacher is more suited to the name hidden immortal, after all, I am constantly out and about, and don’t look as good as she does."

Zhu Pingniang thought of Li Zhibai, a look of infatuation on her face: "An immortal should naturally be good-looking, only someone as beautiful as Ah Bai deserves to be called a hidden immortal, others... are just recluses."

After speaking, Zhu Pingniang noticed the change in Xu Chang’an’s gaze.

Then she understood.

She immediately clarified: "Your teacher didn’t conceal her appearance, she disdains doing such things, so what you see of her is her true self."

"Hm." Xu Chang’an nodded.

"What, are you trying to say... she’s not as attractive as me?" Zhu Pingniang squinted, her eyes filled with amusement.

Xu Chang’an didn’t respond, but facts are facts.

Li Zhibai, purely based on appearance, is actually quite an ordinary woman.

His teacher, unlike the majority of the flamboyantly dressed women of Muyu Peak, doesn’t wear long dresses but rather a very neat and plain Daoist robe, her long hair gathered up into a crown, tied with a black ribbon.

Her features are also regular, not giving people the slightest bit of amazement, looking under thirty with a placid demeanor.

Such Li Zhibai and the enchantingly alluring, occasionally displaying a bit of cool, stunning beauty of Fairy Zhu... are entirely on different levels.

But as a student, even if he had a clear opinion in his heart, he couldn’t openly comment on his teacher’s appearance.

"I just like you youngsters with no eye for beauty."

To Xu Chang’an’s surprise, Zhu Pingniang was instead quite pleased.

"As long as I think she’s beautiful, that’s enough, preferably... I’m the only one who likes her forever." Zhu Pingniang’s voice rose a bit: "Chang’an, in my eyes, your teacher is the most beautiful, if anyone could become immortal, it would certainly be her, after all... the immortal would surely be the most beautiful person of the era."

Xu Chang’an: "..."

The more beautiful someone is, the more they are considered an immortal?