Chapter 1428: Reciprocate a Favor

"He killed Hou Yi?" Everyone was astonished. From the various legends they had heard, Hou Yi was like a mighty hero sent from heaven. Could such a figure actually have been murdered in the end?

Although Pang Meng was not weak, he still seemed far from Hou Yi's legendary power.

The leaves of the large mulberry tree swayed with a peculiar rhythm. "Some people who passed through the mulberry forest back then said so. And over the years, I've seen Pang Meng occasionally fall into a frenzy, muttering things like 'Sorry, Master,' and 'It's not my fault, it's not my fault.' This seems to corroborate those rumors."

Hearing this, everyone fell silent, concluding that the rumors were likely true.

Yun Jianyue remarked, "There's no need to be surprised. No matter how powerful Hou Yi was, he wasn't immortal. As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge an open spear but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. And he was Hou Yi's apprentice; if he attacked by surprise, there might well have been an opportunity. Throughout the history of our Holy Cult, countless masters have been killed by those close to them."

The others realized this was true and sighed, lamenting that such a great hero had ultimately died at the hands of someone close to him.

"By the way, what about Hou Yi's wife, Chang'e?" Zu An asked. Seeing the women's unreadable expressions, he quickly explained, "Pang Meng seemed to be calling Chang'e's name just before he died."

Was his image in their minds truly that lustful?

No matter how beautiful Chang'e was, she was still another man's wife.

The large mulberry tree replied, "Indeed, I heard travelers passing through the mulberry forest mention it back then. One theory about why Pang Meng became Hou Yi's disciple was that he considered himself a master archer, believing his skills were no less than Hou Yi's. He challenged Hou Yi to a contest, and only after losing did he become Hou Yi's apprentice to learn his archery. Another theory is that he was struck by Chang'e's celestial beauty the moment he saw her, and he became Hou Yi's disciple solely to get closer to her."

Zu An's expression turned odd. He thought, 'Though Cao Cao is long dead, the spirit of a 'Cao贼' (a term for a lecherous opportunist) exists in every era.'

It was quite astonishing that this immobile mulberry tree could have heard so much; those passersby must have been incredibly gossipy.

"Pang Meng is truly a shameless scoundrel!" Yun Jianyue scoffed. She had felt his gaze on her earlier was unsettling.

Yan Xuehen and Yu Yanluo nodded in deep agreement. As women, and very beautiful ones at that, they had encountered many men. No matter how well those men tried to conceal it, the ill intentions in their eyes were hard to hide from their perception. Pang Meng's gaze had been filled with blatant possessiveness, and his deliberate attempts to hide it only further proved his poor character.

"I heard travelers say that Chang'e consumed the elixir of immortality not out of greed for eternal life or to abandon Hou Yi, but because she was forced by Pang Meng at the time and had no choice but to take the elixir to protect herself," the large mulberry tree stated.

"Pang Meng truly deserved his death! Not only did he kill his master, but he also tried to bully his master's wife!" Yan Xuehen rarely showed anger, but in her moral compass, either act alone was an unforgivable transgression, let alone both.

"Precisely. Even within our Holy Cult, individuals with such a lack of morals would be subjected to the most excruciating punishment," Yun Jianyue said. She was no longer using her charm techniques, and although her attire remained the same, her entire demeanor now exuded a formidable aura.

Yu Yanluo looked somewhat lost in thought, remembering how her uncle had caused so much trouble because of his greed for her beauty.

Zu An, meanwhile, was deep in thought. Pang Meng was a large wild boar. He couldn't help but think of Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) from *Journey to the West*. And recalling the myth where Marshal Tian Peng was banished to the mortal realm and reincarnated as a pig for harassing Chang'e in heaven, he wondered if there was some connection.

At that moment, several emerald green leaves floated down from the sky and landed before them. They instinctively caught them.

The large mulberry tree then said, "The Great Dongting Marsh ahead is filled with miasma. Outsiders, both people and animals, who enter are highly susceptible to poisoning and death. Carry these leaves on you to prevent harm from the miasma. Moreover, wearing them will also benefit your injuries."

Zu An looked at the leaves in his hand. They were clearly different from ordinary mulberry leaves, being emerald green and translucent, glowing with an inner light. They looked more like jade pendants than leaves.

Holding them, he felt a cooling sensation spread throughout his body. The stinging pain from his wounds immediately transformed into a comfortable coolness, and his recovery speed significantly increased.

"Thank you, senior," Zu An said, delighted. While his own injuries were manageable, Yan Xuehen and Yu Yanluo were wounded, and with this aid, their recovery seemed promising.

As expected, Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue also showed expressions of joy, having clearly felt the miraculous healing effects. They both thanked the tree.

"Senior has given us such precious items; we truly don't know how to repay you," Yun Jianyue said. Both Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen were of high seniority, usually addressed as seniors by others. However, before a great mulberry tree that had lived for tens of thousands of years, calling it 'senior' was certainly no loss.

Yun Jianyue, in particular, felt a touch of suspicion. As someone from the Demonic Cult, she was wary of everything, knowing that good deeds rarely came without reason. Why would this mulberry tree be so kind to them?

The large mulberry tree emitted a voice that sounded ancient and magnanimous. "These leaves are not precious to me. Giving you a few is like you losing a few strands of hair; there's no need for so much gratitude. In fact, I should be thanking you for getting rid of Feng Xi, that great menace. That fellow chewed up so much of the mulberry forest over the years, causing me endless misery. It's fortunate you dealt with him."

Zu An asked curiously, "Oh, if this entire mulberry forest is your manifestation, couldn't you have dealt with it yourself?"

The large mulberry tree replied, "Feng Xi was an ancient great demon, and he had merged with Pang Meng. He wasn't so easy to deal with. Moreover, my abilities lean more towards creation and life; I am not skilled in destruction."

Feeling the vibrant life force emanating from the leaves, Zu An generally understood what it meant.

"Senior, do you know anything about the elixir of immortality?" Yu Yanluo seized the opportunity to ask. She had taken note of Zu An's previous inquiries, and since this tree had lived for an immensely long time, it might know ancient secrets.

"I have indeed heard some things about elixirs of immortality," the large mulberry tree replied. "One is in the Jade Pond, owned by the Queen Mother of the West, and is exceedingly rare. Another is in the Great Wilderness, on a red stone, a Sophora japonica elixir of immortality, which I later heard was claimed by a Human Emperor."

Zu An was startled. "There are two elixirs of immortality?"

The large mulberry tree chuckled, "Who said there's only one elixir of immortality? In fact, there are likely more than just these two in the world. They simply grow in rare places, or have peculiar appearances, or their surroundings are too dangerous, which is why they haven't been discovered."

The group instantly felt a surge of excitement. They had thought the elixir of immortality was merely a mythical lie, never expecting such a thing truly existed.

Even if their dispositions were usually calm, they couldn't remain indifferent. Moreover, cultivators strive against both humans and heaven; their path is fundamentally one of defying destiny by taking from those who lack to give to those who have. How could truly desireless individuals ever cultivate to a profound realm?

The large mulberry tree then continued, "Elixirs of immortality possess growth potential. The renowned ones are held by powerful peak existences and cannot be given to outsiders. Furthermore, elixirs of immortality are sentient; even if you find one, you might not be able to grasp it. If you could obtain a seed of an elixir, nurture it with your heart's blood, and accompany it as it grows, successfully making it recognize you as its master, it would not only grant longevity but also significantly accelerate your cultivation speed, proving far more useful than simply finding a mature elixir."

The group was greatly astonished. This information had never been seen in any cultivation texts. If it were to spread, it could overturn the understanding of many aspects within the entire cultivation world.

The group continued to inquire about more details regarding the elixirs of immortality and the Heavenly Emperor. The large mulberry tree spread its two thick branches, as if they were hands, saying, "I don't know these things either. Don't forget, I am merely a tree. I only overheard some information when various figures stopped to rest in the mulberry forest and chatted."

Zu An's expression was peculiar. He thought that the information just shared was likely not something ordinary travelers would know. He wondered which significant figures had rested in the mulberry forest back then.

Seeing that they couldn't elicit any more information, Zu An and the others thanked the tree again. "Senior, you have helped us so much. Is there anything we can do for you in return?"

It was proper to reciprocate kindness. The tree had given them precious mulberry leaves and shared so many secrets; simply taking without offering anything in return would be ungracious.