Chapter Nineteen: The Origin of the Lotus Platform
After returning to his rented quarters, Chen Jiu sat cross-legged atop his bed, his face clouded with worry.
If he wished to preserve his own safety now, his only option was to leave Xinyang County at once—the farther he went, the better. As long as that woman named Zixuan couldn't find him, things would be easier.
Yet Chen Jiu knew perfectly well that she was a demon, and naturally would not ally herself with the Bureau of Public Welfare. If she truly wanted to deal with him, she could have done so straightforwardly, either by taking action herself or by exposing him to the Bureau; either method would have been effective.
Therefore, Chen Jiu was certain: she genuinely wished to make some sort of deal with him. But before that, she needed to show her sincerity.
“That lotus platform is certainly extraordinary, but even the master of Ascension Tower, at the Jade Pill stage, couldn't discern anything. What could a mere fox accomplish?” Chen Jiu muttered to himself in doubt.
In myth and legend, foxes belonged to three great clans: Qingqiu, Tushan, and You Su. Among common folk, the Qingqiu foxes were the most renowned.
“She claims her true form is a Tushan demon fox… Could it be that she knows the origins and use of this lotus platform?” Chen Jiu pondered.
Setting aside the lotus platform, he was also eager to learn the secret behind his own “Heavenly Eye.” It seemed that in this world, the “Heavenly Eye” was not unique.
Combined with his own mysterious background, Chen Jiu felt a chill run down his spine.
“Those born with a Heavenly Eye on their brow… Could it be there exists such a race?”
The more he thought, the more terrifying the possibilities seemed. After swallowing hard, Chen Jiu forcibly calmed himself and began his cultivation.
In a few days, he would go to the tavern and ask Zixuan.
---
A rustic wooden house sat quietly on the outskirts of the county, with a clear stream flowing before it.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in a green robe sat alone by the water, holding a long fishing rod, deep in concentration.
Suddenly, a jade pendant at his waist began to glow.
An aged voice issued from the pendant. “Master, the arrangements at Mount Tai'nan are ready. What are your instructions?”
Without taking his eyes from the immobile bobber in the stream, the green-robed man replied impatiently, “Handle it yourself, as always. Make sure it doesn't cause any deaths—let it eat less.”
At his words, the pendant fell silent once more.
“Oh, and the designated candidate this time will be Zhao Deyang of the Zhao family. That boy seems pleasing to me…” Moments later, the jade flickered with a faint blue light.
---
“Yes, your servant understands…” came the reply.
The area returned to silence, save for the gentle murmur of the stream.
Abruptly, the bobber began to rise and fall. The green-robed man’s expression brightened, and he chuckled, “Heh, the fish has taken the bait…”
---
Several days later, as the sun shyly peeked over the horizon, Chen Jiu slowly opened his eyes.
He exhaled deeply, channeling his abundant vital energy through every part of his body.
“The ‘Longevity Tree’ in the pill chamber is still unchanged—it’s been blooming for ages, but there’s still no sign of fruit. It seems to have reached a bottleneck…” Chen Jiu frowned.
To form a ‘Little Pill Embryo’ and truly step onto the first tier of immortality, he needed the Longevity Tree to produce its first fruit.
The nature of this fruit was quite unique. According to the cultivation manual, when the fruit ripened, the practitioner’s meridians would open naturally, marking the true beginning of the immortal path.
Moreover, the fruit had a chance of becoming the cultivator’s personal magical artifact. Yet this so-called artifact was random—it could be a sword, a gourd, or even something utterly useless.
“No wonder the ‘Longevity Technique’ was so despised by Master Wang…” Chen Jiu smiled wryly.
Not only was the technique difficult to cultivate, but the final artifact was left to chance. It was enough to drive anyone mad.
He suppressed the urge to switch his technique—after all, it had saved his life before.
Clearing his mind, he hurried out of bed, washed his face carelessly, ate a hard, dry bun, and shouldered his bundle before heading out.
Today was the day for registration at the Tai'nan Ascension Conference.
---
But Chen Jiu’s first destination was the Eight Immortals Tavern.
Arriving at the designated room, he was unsurprised to find the woman in the purple dress.
“Oh! You’re early, little bun face,” Zixuan whispered.
Chen Jiu ignored her teasing, getting straight to the point. “I want answers.”
Zixuan’s eyes flashed with an unusual light. “Why are you in such a hurry? Sometimes, the sooner you learn things, the sooner you die… Do you still want to hear?”
His heart stirred—this fox spirit definitely knew something vital.
“Don’t worry,” Zixuan said, “When the time is right, I’ll tell you everything, whether you want to hear it or not.”
Chen Jiu stroked his chin, thinking.
---
Clearly, this fox spirit had guessed he would fall into her trap and was keeping him in suspense.
What a cunning fox.
Now, there was a vast gap in information between Chen Jiu and Zixuan.
“Enough about that. You must have come here today with a decision,” Zixuan said, gazing deeply at Chen Jiu.
He snapped back to attention. “Indeed, besides what I just asked, there’s something else.”
Zixuan’s lips parted gently. “Is it about the lotus platform?”
“Correct. How can you prove that, once I obtain the lotus platform, I’ll be able to use it freely?” Chen Jiu asked, getting to the heart of the matter.
Acquiring the treasure might not be difficult for Zixuan—her power was undeniable. But without a method to activate it, it would be nothing more than a sturdy, pitch-black lotus platform.
What Chen Jiu wanted was a powerful defensive artifact, not a useless trinket.
Zixuan laughed. “Can you guess where the lotus platform comes from?”
Chen Jiu frowned, pursing his lips.
“At the foot of Tushan lies a Pool of Azure Waves. Deep within its waters, ‘Azure Lotus’ blooms, growing their entire lives at the bottom, never yielding even under immense pressure…” She smoothed her delicate fringe and smiled. “The lotus platform in Ascension Tower comes from that pool, and as it happens, I know the method to activate it. So…”
Chen Jiu’s eyes flashed with sharp light.
“Those who lie must swallow a thousand needles,” he said meaningfully.
Zixuan snorted coldly. “Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, I’ll go right now!”
With that, she spun, violet light flaring.
Startled, Chen Jiu cried, “Wait!”
The purple glow on Zixuan faded instantly.
She looked at Chen Jiu, her smile radiant.
“At least tell me how to use the Heavenly Eye to bring you inside.”
Should he simply use the ‘Divine Control Technique’ to pull her into the Heavenly Eye?
Zixuan replied, “Just use the Heavenly Eye to store me—what’s so complicated about that? Silly Daoist.”
Chen Jiu raised his brows—so it really was that simple…