Lin Xiao first briefly explained the events of this morning to the two elders, then handed over Li Zhanying for their reception before returning to the mountain with Elder Liao.
Sun Yigao stayed at the private school to prepare for the upcoming lessons.
After a while, many villagers were pushed out of the Dream Path, clearly having failed the screening. Some were still inside, their brows furrowed in worry.
Lin Xiao climbed the mountain and found that Liu Yunan was still waiting under the Peach Blossom Tree. Liu Yunan hadn't been practicing and asked:
"What's wrong?"
Liu Yunan, seeing him approach, immediately greeted him happily and pointed at the Peach Blossom Tree beside him:
"Lin Xiao, look at this Peach Blossom Tree! Hasn't it shrunk a bit? Before you came out of seclusion, a cloud of pink mist came out of the tree, saving Yuan Jiao and the others, and then it shrank a bit."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao looked at the Peach Blossom Tree and saw that it indeed appeared smaller than before. Surprised that the tree had actually saved people, he felt quite grateful. He gently patted the tree and thought: I'll try not to pluck too many of your blossoms, leaves, and branches in the future.
He then inquired of the system in his mind:
"System, what's the deal with this Peach Blossom Tree? Is it a tree spirit?"
Lin Xiao had previously tried to use the identification function on the Peach Blossom Tree's flowers and branches but found it unhelpful. The system only told him which parts of the tree could be used for various materials but didn't provide information about the entire tree.
System: ...
[Key Terms: Growth, Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Tree, "Peach Blossom Void Sutra"]
Lin Xiao thought for a moment and then said:
"Does this mean that because Mo Yuan Jiao and the others practiced the 'Peach Blossom Void Sutra,' the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Tree sensed their danger and came to their aid?"
System:
[Correctness: 50%]
Lin Xiao: Only half right? Well, that's enough for now.
He then told Liu Yunan and Liao Pantu about this.
The two were impressed with the Peach Blossom Tree in front of their sect. They had initially thought it was just a tree that produced materials, but they hadn't expected it to have such use—what a treasure of a tree!
The three were about to head to the cultivation room when Liu Yunan suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed:
"Oh no, today is the day to prepare dishes for the dining hall, and I haven't put the dishes in yet! Lin Xiao, you go ahead with your cultivation; I'll be back soon!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already run off.
When Liu Yunan arrived at the Lingxian Dining Hall, he saw that visitors had already entered the village and were heading towards the dining hall. He immediately used a concealment technique and quietly sneaked into the Lingxian Dining Hall, placed the dishes on the table, and then slipped away.
The visitors who entered the village that day noticed that the villagers had all returned from the direction of the North Mountain early in the morning. They were puzzled and started chatting with the villagers.
The villagers, not knowing the specifics, only recounted what Chief Hu had told them after coming out of the Dream Path, and said it in a mysterious manner to the visitors:
"I'll tell you, but you mustn't tell anyone else…"
"Alright, alright, I promise not to tell anyone!" "I'm telling you, this morning, a very formidable thief came to cause trouble for our village's immortal gate. Fearing for our safety, the immortals used a technique to move the people in our village to the Peach Blossom Mountain Path for protection. The thief has been killed by the immortals, and everything is peaceful now, so the immortals have released us."
Hearing this, the visitors were impressed and said repeatedly:
"Impressive! Your village is truly fortunate, having immortals to protect you from danger!"
They thanked the villager and then shared what they had heard with other visitors.
Soon, the news spread among all the visitors to Xiushui Village.
More people were interested in buying land and building houses in Xiushui Village.
However, some voices said that Xiushui Village was caught up in the immortal gate's troubles and was suffering from an undeserved disaster. If it weren't for the enemies attracted by the immortal gate, Xiushui Village wouldn't have had such troubles.
Yet, many people disagreed with this view.
Even if there are risks with drinking water, does anyone guarantee they won't face danger in their lifetime? Isn't it better to live at the foot of a mountain protected by immortals than without any protection?
Moreover, living at the foot of the immortal mountain might offer opportunities for them or their descendants to become immortals in the future, which is a long-term benefit!
Thus, many visitors, after being unable to get a meal at Lingxian Dining Hall, went to find the village chief.
However, the village chief was not at home.
At this moment, the village chief was showing the royal ancestor Li Zhanying around Xiushui Village.
At the Dream Path, people were gradually coming out of the mountain path, either on their own or being pushed out.
Unfortunately, at the end of the mountain path, there was a white mist that obscured everything.
Little did they know, this was a small illusionary array set up by Liao Pantu, as he thought their sect's mountain gate shouldn't be visible to those who passed the Dream Path.
After waking up on the Dream Path, Ma Changlong was curious and walked up the mountain.
Along the way, he saw many people suddenly disappearing, only to reappear at the foot of the mountain when he turned around. He was surprised but continued up the mountain.
Since he hadn't been pushed out, it meant he had passed the immortals' test.
The outside world had spread fantastic tales about the Peach Blossom Mountain Path. Ma Changlong, thinking that the immortals had told him to wait until the recruitment of disciples, hadn't tried before.
Unexpectedly, he had been brought into the Peach Blossom Mountain Path with the villagers and immortals early in the morning while waiting in line for the dining hall.
Thus, Ma Changlong had a glimmer of hope.
What if he was accepted as a disciple this time?
Perhaps this was the period when the immortals recruited disciples?
However, when he reached the top of the mountain and saw only the white mist and that no one paid him any attention, he realized he was mistaken.
With a sigh of regret, he turned and headed back down the mountain.
He decided to spend more money to have his house in the village built quickly.
He wanted to live here permanently!
When the immortal gate opened to recruit disciples, he must be the first to sign up!
Thinking this, he instinctively looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was already high in the sky.
"Oh no! My food!"