186: Little peach tree

From the initial nine-person caravan, Huang An and his group were now only three.

After a series of battles, only Huang An, Huang Long, and Sun Yunsheng remained alive...

They were all wounded and covered in blood. Although they hadn't suffered fatal injuries, they were in a miserable state, with skin torn here and flesh missing there!

Of course, their spirits were still good. After all, seeing Han Yi display his Divine Might and sweep away all the Yins, they had seen the hope of survival.

"Lord Han!"

Huang An and the others saw Han Yi's gaze sweep over them and respectfully bowed. Han Yi's strength had already proven his status.

"Mm..."

Han Yi nodded lightly in response. He was going to check on Bai Sanren and Qian Xue's condition.

When Huang An and the others were in a critical situation, he had only taken out some healing medicine and asked Qian Xue to help treat the wounds first. Then, he hurriedly came to deal with Tao Wu.

As for their specific injuries, he hadn't had time to look closely.

But no matter what, the stratagem of 'Tian Ji's Horse Racing' was effective, everything went smoothly, and all the Yins were resolved!

Next, he should figure out how to leave this village...

And what about the Peach Mómomo that Tao Wu and the other monsters mentioned?

Countless thoughts flashed through Han Yi's Mind's Eye as he pondered his next plan.

I didn't eat that meat pie. Perhaps I should first try to get out, and then directly attack the body of this Old Peach Tree?

He thought long and hard, and this was the only method he could come up with...

"Yi Gege..."

Qian Xue also saw Han Yi, who had finished the battle, and joyfully waved and called out.

"Right away, I'm coming right over!"

Han Yi snapped back to reality, revealing a slight smile.

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Whoosh!

Suddenly, that colossal, unparalleled Old Peach Tree, which covered the sky and sun, spreading gray mist and its massive canopy inverted over the entire courtyard, shook violently.

On the canopy, there were vines everywhere, entwining countless root-like aerial roots, one aerial root next to another, like countless, wriggling, crowded loaches, one pulling at the other, sticky and gooey, even more like a fishing net covered with countless green algae and barnacles, twisted and folded!

In the courtyard, everyone's gaze was drawn to it as well.

Swish!

The deepest colored, arm-thick aerial root stretched its body and spiraled down from the canopy.

The end of this aerial root was like a hand-claw, tightly coiled together. Under the illumination of the bonfire, the entire aerial root emitted an ominous black-purple glow.

Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle!!!

At the end of the aerial root, the hand-claw loosened, and the branches and leaves tightly gripping a round object unfurled.

Thump, thump!

A red immortal peach pit rolled onto the ground with a thud, turning two circles with a "gulu, gulu" sound before stopping.

The color of this immortal peach pit was so red, even redder than the most intense blood-red!

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Crack!

A small crack appeared on the immortal peach pit, and it quickly rooted and sprouted.

This speed was extremely fast, completing in the blink of an eye, and everyone present didn't react in time.

"What is this?"

Han Yi was also at a loss, not understanding what was happening.

But after a fierce battle and preparing to clean up the aftermath, such a strange Old Peach Tree suddenly underwent an unusual change. This was likely a misfortune, not a blessing!

He secretly kept his Mind's Eye open, quietly raising his guard to twelve parts. If anything seemed amiss, he was ready to act, first to see if he could deal with these aerial roots!

Although using the Dao of the Blade - Solid as a Mountain had consumed a great deal of his physical strength, dealing with these inanimate objects that didn't move should not be a problem.

"Everyone, hold your torches tightly!"

"When I say throw, throw them all together!"

This peach tree was too strange. Han Yi wanted to see if the 'Arson Immortal' technique would work.

Rustle!

Without watering, fertilizing, or cultivating, in just a few breaths, that tiny red immortal peach pit grew into a small peach tree seedling.

This peach tree seedling was entirely like jade, radiating dazzling light, and it appeared even more brilliant under the glow of the bonfire!

Not only that, but the peach tree also emitted a pleasant fragrance that wafted with the wind. After smelling this fragrance, everyone even felt their bodily pains lessen by a few points.

"Treasure, treasure!"

"This must be a Heaven And Earth Treasure!!"

"This must be the secret that these villagers in Peach Blossom Village turned into monsters to protect with their lives!!!"

Beside Han Yi, Huang An dropped the torch in his hand with a "bang" and shouted excitedly.

It was no wonder he was so excited; he had suffered heavy losses in this caravan mission.

Not only had all the loyal and skilled fighters, who had been trained for many years by his elder brother, Huang Shanjun, and could use the Zhe Tie Formation, been completely wiped out...

Most importantly, even his elder brother's son, Huang Zi'ang, had died here!

And now, the most common plot in divine stories appeared before his eyes...

Defeating evil, vanquishing powerful enemies, and finally gaining something, like this treasure tree before him!

As long as he obtained it, not only would his guilt be completely absolved, but he might even receive rewards from the Family elders!

I must obtain it!

Thinking of this, Huang An's eyes were filled with desire for this jade-like small peach tree, and he made up his mind.

Only...

Huang An subtly, secretly glanced at Han Yi. How could he get his hands on this treasure...?

Right, there's an unused secret weapon in the carriage!

Huang An's heart was filled with pleasant surprises at this moment!

"Cough, cough..."

"Han Boy, there must be something strange about this. Quickly think of a way to take Qian Xue and get out first... cough, cough..."

At this moment, Qian Xue, supporting Bai Sanren, also came to Han Yi's side.

However, Bai Sanren's face was pale, his chest was a bloody mess, and he had none of his usual cheerful, joking demeanor.

"Sanren Bai, what are you saying? No matter what, I have to take both of you out!"

Han Yi frowned and said with dissatisfaction.

"Alas, boy, I feel..."

Swish!

Before Bai Sanren could finish speaking, the jade-like small tree seedling grew with the wind. Its dense roots rushed to penetrate the cracks in the bluestone floor of the courtyard, and its branches also rapidly grew taller inch by inch.

Leaves grew and fell, fell and grew again.

In the blink of an eye, this peach tree seemed to have passed through several springs and autumns.

Hiss, hiss, hiss...

This magical scene before their eyes made the Martial Artists present gasp several times. Such a bizarre scene was no different from the Immortal methods used by Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in mythological stories, such as 'Scattering Beans into Soldiers' or 'Bones Growing Flesh'!

And because the peach tree grew so fast, everyone could even hear the "crunching" sound of the branches growing at high speed!

Everyone stared intently at the unbelievable scene, witnessing with their own eyes how this small peach tree, in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, grew from a small immortal peach pit to the thickness of an adult's thigh!

Immediately, tender flower buds slowly emerged from the branches of the small peach tree. In an instant, vibrant pink peach blossoms quickly bloomed, and then just as swiftly, withered away.

But one after another, greenish-red peaches, like a trick performed by a juggler, then swelled up, and in just a moment, they hung heavily, laden on the branches.

These ripe peaches were heart-shaped and enormous. The tops of the peaches were incredibly rosy, as red as a maiden's cheek rouged with blush, and their skins were greenish-white, with white tinged with red, like vivid streaks of early morning glow.

And as the fruits ripened, a rich fruity fragrance wafted forth.

This fragrance was so enticing, as if it transported everyone back to their childhood...

At that time, they would linger under fruit trees, eagerly waiting for their favorite fruits to ripen, to pick and taste them immediately, that purest, most mellow fragrance... it was one of the most beautiful things, unforgettable for a lifetime.

For a moment, everyone couldn't help but be drawn into their warmest memories, the scent making their minds hazy.

"This must be the legendary Birthday Peach, no, it should be an immortal peach..."

"One, two, three... so many... so many, how can I take them back..."

Huang An muttered to himself. The intoxicating fruity fragrance filling the courtyard made him unconsciously swallow, and his body slowly moved towards the peach tree.

The others showed similar reactions, all immersed in the refreshing fragrance.

"Look, there's still a flower bud at the top of the tree!"

Someone suddenly noticed a raw, still tender flower bud at the very top of the peach tree.

Everyone's gaze was immediately drawn to it. At the highest point of the tree, there was an exceptionally brilliant pink flower bud that only grew in size, but simply refused to bloom or bear fruit.

Just as everyone looked over, it grew from the size of a bowl to the size of a washbasin. Then, its petals unfurled, expanding outwards, and it bloomed on its own.

Puff!

With a soft sound, peach blossoms fluttered everywhere. Pink petals danced in a colorful display. The moment the flower bud burst open, everyone felt their eyes brighten. The gray mist that had completely obscured the entire courtyard suddenly dissipated, revealing the bright night sky.

The darkness had been dispelled, and the bright moonlight shone upon everyone. Silver-gilded pink peach blossoms fluttered in the sky like butterflies, and then fell gently like rain.

At the same time, with the blooming of the flower bud, a fragrance countless times sweeter than the sweetest honey instantly surged forth.

Stepping on the thick peach petals and smelling the intoxicating peach blossom fragrance, this scene, with its overflowing floral scent, was exquisitely beautiful, as if one were in an Immortal realm.

Everyone present, including Han Yi, felt as if they were floating, utterly enchanted, and saw the deepest desires of their hearts in this trance-like state.

In Huang An's eyes, he saw himself, after obtaining the fruit, returning to An Yan City. With this item, he pleased the Family elders, absolved himself of his sins, and even became the Huang Family's Patriarch.

In Sun Yunsheng's eyes, he saw himself safely returning home, intimately chatting with Xiao Qing, discussing various arrangements before their wedding. It was truly a night of joyous marriage, with swallows dancing lightly in pairs.

In Huang Long's eyes, he saw himself returning smoothly to his hometown, spending a peaceful and Ru Yi New Year with his wife, children, and old Mother.

As for Bai Sanren, he seemed to see himself deducing the Bai Family Swordplay to a higher level, finding that person, and fulfilling his long-cherished wish of many years.

Qian Xue here seemed to see herself understanding her Mother's long-standing heart ailment, successfully resolving her Mother's illness, and moreover, bringing Han Yi back home...

Even Han Yi here saw himself, as he wished, achieving a Breakthrough to the Tongmai Stage, and uncovering the secrets behind the Gushen Sect and Black Wind Stronghold. Then, with his fists and feet, he became the strongest Martial Artist in An Yan City!

In this dreamlike scene, everyone found their most cherished desires, their deepest inner desires unmasked and fully revealed. It seemed that all of these could be easily achieved simply by eating an immortal peach!

Everyone present was swaying their heads, moving lightly, fearing that their every move might disturb this intoxicating Immortal realm and cause their cherished dreams to vanish.

Therefore, although everyone's gaze towards the immortal peach was fervent, seemingly capable of burning people, no one dared to step forward and pick one.

Perhaps sensing this contradictory psychology of the crowd, a moment later, a wisp of Immortal smoke wafted, thin and ethereal.

Then, accompanied by the swaying of the Immortal mist, a group of thumb-sized little people emerged from beneath the peach tree's branches and leaves. They began to play various instruments, their ethereal Immortal music, elusive and captivating, like heavenly melodies.

At this moment, as petals danced, a team of fragrant, graceful maidens, carrying flower baskets, shyly emerged.

The faces of these maidens were obscured by a faint, ethereal Immortal mist, making them unidentifiable, but each wore a magnificent, floor-length gown, with their hair elegantly coiffed, and their jewelry and gold ornaments shimmered under the moonlight.

They first bowed gracefully to everyone present, then raised their slender, fair hands to pick the delicious, juicy, and abundant immortal peaches, placing them into their flower baskets.

Suddenly, another fragrant breeze swept through, causing the peach tree branches and leaves to sway. The maidens immediately stopped their actions and bowed in unison.

Everyone in the courtyard had their gaze drawn to the figure that appeared after this fragrant breeze.

Gasps of "hiss, hiss..." were incessant.

She wore an ochre-colored, half-sleeved Immortal dress that exposed her shoulders, partially revealing her smooth, jade-like fragrant shoulders. A faint, red peach blossom tattoo was vaguely visible on her back.

Enveloped by the thin veil of Immortal smoke, her exquisite, graceful figure was indistinct yet alluring and dazzling.

Her face was covered by a white veil, revealing only a pair of delicate, rosy peach blossom eyes. But precisely because of this, it further stirred the imaginations of others.

She was like morning dew, delicate and fragile, easily vanishing into green smoke if one wasn't careful, as if looking away for a moment would cause her to disappear from the world;

She was like a flower bud, raw and adorable, small and exquisite, making one feel nothing but the desire to care for her meticulously;

She was also like a ripe immortal peach, mature and rosy, full-bodied. Even from a distance, one could sense her enticing sweetness, making one's mouth water.