Chapter 513: Making Friends with a Monkey

**Chapter 517: Befriending the Monkey**

Yaochi (Jade Lake) was incredibly magnificent and beautiful. The sacred mountains were majestic, and the elegant peaks were ethereal, as if one had stepped into a celestial realm, causing people to become lost and enchanted. Divine springs flowed from the rocky cliffs, spiritual herbs grew along the precipices, and auspicious beasts lurked in the mountains. It possessed both a celestial aura and extraordinary scenery, vibrant and diverse. This place was a renowned sacred land in the Eastern Wasteland. Naturally, dragon energy permeated it, and in no small amount. Noble purple qi manifested in tens of thousands of strands, and ethereal mists hung, forming massive dragons.

Ye Fan's residence was serene and elegant. His dwelling was nestled within a grove of purple bamboo, accompanied by a clear, tranquil small lake just outside, peaceful and quiet. The purple bamboo was like jade, each segment sparkling. Spiritual herbs grew sparsely in the woods, with only a few visible occasionally. Upon closer inspection, they were several hundred years old, and some ancient herbs were even over a thousand years old.

As soon as the Black Dog arrived, it began to wander around, its eyes darting everywhere. It claimed to be taking Xiao Niannian to enjoy the scenery, but heaven knew what it was truly up to.

"That wretched dog clearly has something devious in mind; it's probably heading straight for the Pan Peach Garden," Li Heishui remarked.

After entering Yaochi, the Black Dog incessantly pestered people, subtly inquiring about the location of the Pan Peach Garden. When no one was around, it almost drooled. Yaochi's Pan Peach Garden was world-renowned, a famous spiritual root in the East. Mortals who ate a single bite of its peach flesh could extend their lifespan by many years, and it was also highly beneficial to cultivators.

"It's not an immortal divine medicine. Is it really that appealing to it?" Jiang Hairen wondered.

"Didn't you hear that wretched dog muttering? It wants to find the oldest Pan Peach tree, not just any spiritual peaches from the immortal garden. I feel it's worth at least a ten-thousand-year-old peerless spiritual medicine."

"I remember now. My grandfather seemed to have mentioned that Yaochi has an ancient tree, the most precious item second only to an immortal divine medicine," Wu Zhongtian recalled.

"What? Close to an immortal divine medicine? What kind of spiritual root is that?" Liu Kou exclaimed in surprise.

"It's said to have been brought out from the Divine Ruins..."

The Divine Ruins, one of the seven great forbidden zones of life in the Eastern Wasteland, ranked alongside the Undying Mountain and the Primordial Ancient Mine. Located in the western region of the Eastern Wasteland, it was unfathomably mysterious. Legend had it that it was a relic left behind by gods. There were even records claiming that this place contained an indestructible South Heaven Gate and majestic celestial palaces, vast and boundless, without end. It was a forbidden zone of life, always allowing entry but no exit. No one had ever fully explored its secrets. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the world had undergone tremendous changes, yet the Divine Ruins remained unaltered.

Throughout heaven and earth, there were only a few immortal divine medicines. Each could choose its own dwelling place, capable of flying through the sky and burrowing into the earth. All of them had now entered the forbidden zones of life. It was rumored that the Immortal Pan Peach Tree was rooted in the Divine Ruins, standing just over a meter tall. In ten thousand years, it could only bear two or three divine Pan Peaches.

"Over a hundred thousand years ago, a saint from Yaochi ventured into the Divine Ruins. After a near-death experience, she finally emerged, not bringing back the Immortal Pan Peach Tree, but a single divine Pan Peach."

Why was Yaochi famous? Everyone knew they possessed a world-renowned spring. All sacred lands would come here to seek water for refining medicine, making it a divine pool. Especially before the Desolate Ancient Era, this pool was most miraculous. Its flowing water was almost comparable to a divine spring of life, possessing the power to revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones. Upon her return, the saint buried the divine Pan Peach seed in the soil and watered it daily with Yaochi's divine spring water. Eventually, it actually took root and sprouted. No immortal divine medicine had ever been able to produce a second plant; they were all unique. Yet, by nurturing it with divine spring water, Yaochi created a miracle. It could be called the greatest spiritual medicine in the world, but not an immortal divine medicine, because this type of Pan Peach fruit could only extend the life of powerful cultivators by over a thousand years.

"Over a thousand years? That certainly counts as a divine medicine!" Jiang Hairen exclaimed in awe.

Wu Zhongtian shook his head and continued, "That was before the Desolate Ancient Era; it definitely wouldn't work now."

"Why not?" Liu Kou asked.

Before the Desolate Ancient Era, the water in Yaochi was almost a divine spring of life. When watered daily with it, the Pan Peach tree naturally grew vigorously, and its fruits possessed the characteristics of a divine medicine. However, eighty to ninety thousand years ago, the spring's spiritual essence diminished, becoming far less potent than before, and watering with it no longer had such a significant effect. Furthermore, tens of thousands of years ago, Yaochi abandoned its original location for an unknown reason and relocated here. Although they managed to move the root of the immortal pool through heaven-defying means, it had still suffered great damage.

Wu Zhongtian's grandfather, Wu Dao, was knowledgeable about ancient and modern times, aware of many secrets. He speculated that the divine spring was far less effective than before, and the fruits produced by the ancient Pan Peach tree planted beside it could now only extend life by a maximum of five hundred years.

Ye Fan thought of Yaochi's old location. He and the Black Emperor had once ventured there to obtain the Western Emperor Sutra, seeing the abandoned immortal pool with dead bodies scattered across its bottom. To this day, he couldn't comprehend what had happened.

"How does this wretched dog know everything? It's clear it's going for the world's number one spiritual medicine." Everyone was speechless, secretly praying it wouldn't cause trouble, or else it would surely face severe consequences.

Half an hour later, the Black Dog returned, carrying Xiao Niannian, utterly dejected and spiritless. Seeing its state, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where did you go?" Ye Fan asked.

"Sightseeing and watching beauties bathe," the Black Dog replied grumpily.

"Wretched dog, you didn't actually go peep at Yaochi fairies bathing, did you? Share the good fortune; take us to see too!" Liu Kou's eyes gleamed.

"Damn it, do you think this Emperor is as perverted as you are?!" The Black Dog became even more depressed.

"Doggy went to steal peaches, but got caught and was chased out," Xiao Niannian said clearly.

"We knew you weren't up to anything good. You should stop causing trouble!" The others chided it together.

"Damn it, that damned monkey! If it hadn't acted first and stirred things up, the people of Yaochi definitely wouldn't have been able to stop this Emperor!" The Black Dog fumed.

"What kind of bandit logic is that? You have an excuse for stealing Pan Peaches, and now you're dragging in the Dou Zhan Saint Ape..."

"The Immortal Pan Peach Tree was in the possession of the Dou Zhan Saint Ape lineage, a primordial king, during the Primordial Era. That damned monkey hasn't changed its thieving ways and is eyeing it again now," the Black Dog cursed, adding, "That dead monkey dares not seek the true Immortal Pan Peach Tree in the Divine Ruins, but comes here to cause trouble and steal my business."

Ye Fan and his companions had been in Yaochi for several days, but the grand event had not yet begun, as if some important figures had not yet arrived. Aside from some restricted areas, they were quite free, their movements unrestricted, allowing them to explore the ancient land at will.

"Brother, there's a monkey over there," Xiao Niannian tugged at Ye Fan's sleeve.

"Where's a monkey? This Emperor hates monkeys the most, always have, always will!" the Black Dog barked.

Ye Fan glanced over and saw a strong, golden-skinned young man standing not far away. He was well-built, exuding power, with keen, bright eyes.

"Dou Zhan Saint Ape..." Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. With his divine eye, he discerned its true form: a body covered in golden fur and fiery golden eyes. It had actually altered its appearance and infiltrated the area. This was a formidable individual. As a member of the Primordial Royal Family, though not yet fully grown, it already faintly possessed the power to suppress mighty figures. Why had it come here?

Ye Fan was surprised to find that a Supreme Elder of Yaochi politely escorted the monkey out. Clearly, they had also sensed its true nature but did not attempt to capture or kill it.

"You recognized me?" the monkey spoke. He was currently in human form, his voice young, no longer speaking the ancient language but human tongue.

Ye Fan nodded, watching him silently. The Dou Zhan Saint Ape was something he had cut out from a strange stone, and there was a significant karmic connection between them.

"Aren't you afraid of the human race surrounding and killing you?"

"Heaven and earth have changed. The Primordial Race is about to revive. If they surround and kill me, Primordial Kings will surely annihilate sacred lands in the future. They know this," the monkey replied calmly.

"What brings you here?" By now, Jiang Hairen and the others also realized that this was the Dou Zhan Saint Ape that had once caused a great commotion in God City, and they were all utterly astonished.

"I want Yaochi's ancient Pan Peach tree to save someone," the monkey stated directly, his eyes gleaming. "I know you have a Qilin seed on you. If you give it to me, I will repay you with a great favor in the future."

Ye Fan's heart stirred. This monkey was extraordinary, with a unique physique. Once it activated its celestial technique, even Ye Fan's saint blood would boil. He didn't know what karmic ties existed, but he certainly didn't want to make an enemy, hoping instead to befriend it. Soon, they began to converse, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Ye Fan subtly indicated that the Qilin seed was no longer available, but he had other divine objects that could serve as substitutes.

"I've discussed it with the people of Yaochi. If I can nourish a Stone King with Primordial King's blood for a month, they've agreed to give me a divine Pan Peach," the monkey said.

Liu Kou and the others were astonished. The fairies of Yaochi were truly skilled negotiators. Nourishing a Stone King with Primordial King's blood for a month was an astonishingly high price. In this era, where could one find such a pure-blooded Primordial Royal, whose entire body was a treasure, especially their essence blood, which was the most valuable?

"I need your Origin Technique to help infuse the king's blood into the Stone King," the monkey stated.

"No problem, it's not very difficult," Ye Fan nodded.

"Yaochi really knows how to do business. I thought they were just a bunch of white-robed fairies, but they're just as worldly as anyone else," Jiang Hairen grumbled.

"Don't talk nonsense. Relatively speaking, they are unconcerned with worldly strife, surpassing all other sects," Wu Zhongtian rebuked, stopping him from speaking carelessly.

"Alright, let's go meet the people from Yaochi now," the monkey nodded.

The successor of the Origin Heavenly Master and the Dou Zhan Saint Ape arrived together. Yaochi showed them great courtesy; several Supreme Elders personally came out to greet them, and the Yaochi Saintess also accompanied them.

"This stone is very special, quite unlike other Stone Kings. We don't wish to seal it, but rather hope it can give birth to life," a Supreme Elder said. In the past, an ancient saint of Yaochi left this stone, full of expectations, and it has been passed down ever since. The Yaochi Saintess gracefully led the way, as ethereal as an exiled immortal, exuding endless charm. Her beauty could bring peace and tranquility to one's soul.

Accompanied by several Supreme Elders of Yaochi, they were led to Yaochi's most important location — the Immortal Pool, which was the origin of their name. Ahead, water mist blurred the view, and the surroundings were filled with the fragrance of flowers and the songs of birds, like a mythical world. Rare birds and beasts resembling three-legged golden crows, fire phoenixes, and Qilin roamed nearby.

"That ancient Pan Peach tree has indeed borne fruit again!" the Black Dog excitedly muttered.

By the Immortal Pool, there was an ancient tree, gnarled like a coiled dragon, dozens of meters tall, stretching towards the sky, rooted by the pool, lush and green. It bore several fruits, exuding a rich fragrance that made one's pores open upon smelling it—clearly a peerless treasure medicine. The Immortal Pan Peach Tree in the Divine Ruins was only just over a meter tall. Although this tree was so tall and had grown for over a hundred thousand years, it still couldn't compare.

Beneath the ancient Pan Peach tree by the Immortal Pool, there was a crystalline stone with nine apertures and eight holes, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. It looked exceptionally mystical!

"Damn it, there's actually a stone like this!" The Black Dog was shocked and couldn't help but exclaim.

By the ancient Pan Peach tree near the Immortal Pool, several other people were observing. One of them, Ye Fan recognized: Ouyang Ye, who was infinitely close to the realm of a Source Master. It was this old man who had recognized him in God City, leading to his near-fatal predicament. Ouyang Ye also looked over, his eyes flickering with an unknown thought, a faint, meaningful smile playing on his lips. Ye Fan disliked people from ancient Origin Technique families and paid him no mind.

"Hmph!" The Dou Zhan Saint Ape let out a cold snort and directly acted, extending a large golden hand to grab forward, saying, "You actually harbor killing intent towards my friend. Are you seeking death?!"