Chapter 1208 836: Scheming for the Peach of Immortality

Zhang Chen had already prepared for the worst, which included his son: Shun.

Shun was taken away by The Queen Mother of the West, accompanying her for cultivation. Zhang Chen didn't think this was out of the Queen Mother's goodwill; rather, it was a subtle threat against him.

Lady Biyun was overwhelmed with worry, shedding tears daily, while Zhang Chen meditated in the alchemy room, silently practicing his divine techniques.

After much contemplation, Zhang Chen finally resolved: "I can no longer wait; I must take the initiative."

A hundred years flew by

In the alchemy room

Lady Biyun's voice echoed: "The hundred-year period has arrived."

"I have made a breakthrough of five levels this time." Zhang Chen took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, a distant indifference filling his voice.

Lady Biyun extinguished the flame in the alchemy furnace, her spell guiding a pellet out of the furnace and into a gourd: "Five levels? Faster than before, though it's uncertain what new tricks The Queen Mother of the West might employ this time."

"Don't worry, I will bear everything myself! At worst, I'll end myself right before The Queen Mother, though she will certainly never allow my death." Zhang Chen declared.

"The Queen Mother is not someone who can be threatened; unless absolutely necessary, you must not play with fire," Lady Biyun's expression changed upon hearing this, quickly advising Zhang Chen.

"I am well aware; the entirety of West Kunlun belongs to The Queen Mother, her will is not to be defied," Zhang Chen replied.

The two made their way out of the alchemy room, arriving at the altar where Zhang Chen saw Shun, whom he hadn't seen for a century. Shun had transformed into a thirty-meter-tall Golden Armor Divine General, quietly guarding the entrance to the altar.

"Pay respects to The Queen Mother!"

The pair approached The Queen Mother, kneeling on the ground.

"How many levels have you broken through?" The Queen Mother inquired.

"Reporting to Lady, this one has broken through five levels," Zhang Chen swiftly responded.

The Queen Mother fell silent at that, only retrieving the whip after a moment: "You should know the power of this whip."

Zhang Chen trembled upon hearing her words: "Of course, this one knows."

"From today onward, if you fail to meet the goal, your son Shun will bear the punishment." The Queen Mother's voice was cool and indifferent, lacking any pressure, yet its oppressive force was undeniable.

"Lady, wait! This one has something to say!" Zhang Chen urgently called out as he saw The Queen Mother about to raise the whip against Shun.

The Queen Mother paused her motion, turning her gaze toward Zhang Chen, waiting in silence for him to speak.

"This one has discovered a method for rapid cultivation, although..." Zhang Chen stopped there, hesitating while glancing at The Queen Mother, then feigning timidity by lowering his eyes.

"What is it?" The Queen Mother asked.

"This one's faster breakthrough rate over the century is due to consuming two peach kernels. The Peach of Immortality might aid in further breakthrough, but such a treasure is exceedingly precious to Lady; this one..." Zhang Chen faltered in his words.

The Queen Mother was momentarily taken aback, studying Zhang Chen, then after brief contemplation, instructed Lady Biyun: "Retrieve a three-thousand-year-old peach from the Peach Garden for him."

Upon hearing this, Lady Biyun quickly departed and returned shortly after with a Peach of Immortality, handing it to Zhang Chen with a complex expression. Zhang Chen took the peach and began to eat it, utilizing its power to nourish his primordial spirit, accumulating transformation points, while initiating the Causal Transference Technique for breakthroughs.

As he consumed the peach, even swallowing the peach kernel, The Queen Mother stepped forward, lightly touching Zhang Chen's forehead, sensing the Qi Mechanism within him. Moments later, she remarked with surprise: "Indeed effective! Your efficiency in utilizing pellets was merely one ten-thousandth, yet after consuming the peach, it increased to one percent."

"As long as subordinates have sufficient peaches, they can break through rapidly, however, peaches are far too precious..." Zhang Chen stammered.

"Peaches are the least of our concerns in West Kunlun. As long as you can utilize them to achieve breakthroughs, this palace has plenty to aid your cultivation," The Queen Mother gazed down at Zhang Chen. "I can provide you with ample peaches, but you must perfect the Causal Transference Technique within a hundred years. Should you fail to reach perfection within that time, in my wrath, I may extract your son's soul and refine it into a lamp."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen clenched his teeth: "If Lady allows this one to freely eat within the Peach Garden, I shall perfect the Causal Transference Technique within fifty years. Should this vow be broken, I willingly accept Lady's punishment."

"You achieved Perfection in the Causal Reversal Technique after fifty years?" The Queen Mother of the West examined Zhang Chen from head to toe, finally speaking:

"Good! From today onward, you may freely enter the Peach Garden and eat any Peach of Immortality there, as long as you achieve Perfection in the Causal Reversal Technique within fifty years. I will lavishly reward you. If you fail, I will extract and refine your son's soul, and you must not blame me then!" The Queen Mother of the West finished speaking, took out a token, and tossed it to Lady Biyun: "Take him to the Peach Garden, let him eat as he pleases!"

Lady Biyun accepted the token with a respectful bow, then reluctantly glanced at Zhang Chen before leading him down the altar.

"How confident are you?" After leaving the altar for quite some time, Lady Biyun asked.

"Completely confident! Those peaches can assist me in cultivating the Causal Reversal Technique. If there's enough supply, my cultivation will surely progress remarkably fast," Zhang Chen replied.

Upon hearing this, Lady Biyun looked at Zhang Chen, her eyes reflecting hesitation: "I always feel that if you achieve Perfection in the Causal Reversal Technique, something bad will happen."

"I am well aware that bad things will happen, but I have no choice. I cannot bear to see you and your son becoming involved. I am a man, and I should shoulder the responsibilities of a man!" Zhang Chen's voice was filled with solemnity.

Lady Biyun tidied Zhang Chen's clothes and whispered: "No matter what the future holds, whether it's a mountain of knives or a sea of flames, even if souls are scattered, I will be with you."

The words were simple, yet they surpassed countless sweet words.

"Live well!" Zhang Chen earnestly said to Lady Biyun.

Upon hearing this, Lady Biyun turned her head, quickened her pace towards the Peach Garden: "Hurry up, the sooner you reach the Peach Garden, the sooner you can cultivate, increasing your chances."

As they spoke, they broke through the void to reach a valley in Kunlun Mountain, where the valley spanned a thousand miles and was protected by a grand array, the array turned into mist that enveloped the valley.

"This is the Peach Garden," Lady Biyun pointed to the garden ahead.

No sooner had her words fallen than a sound echoed from afar, shaking the endless sky: "The Peach Garden is a place of great importance, unauthorized people are not permitted to intrude."

"I am here under the Queen Mother of the West's decree, escorting Golden Armor Divine General Jia Shiba to the Peach Garden for cultivation, this is the Queen Mother's hand decree." Lady Biyun raised the token in her hand, and as the token emitted a clear radiance, the grand array twisted under the force of the radiance, forming a passageway, while the voice disappeared.

"Enter now!" Lady Biyun said.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded to Lady Biyun without saying more, then stepped forward into the passageway.

Entering the Innate Grand Array, Zhang Chen was immediately stunned, before him lay an endless sea of flowers, among which towering Peach Trees bloomed with pink flowers, amidst those pink petals dangled rosy, plump Peaches of Immortality.

At a glance, the peaches were innumerable, and Zhang Chen realized he had underestimated the Queen Mother's peach reserve.

Zhang Chen soared into the air, flew over the peach grove, carefully observing the differences within the orchard, after a long time, his eyes revealed a trace of contemplation, as he noticed differences among the peaches.

Indeed, the peach trees before him differed, there were trees bearing three-thousand-year-old peaches, six-thousand-year-old peaches, nine-thousand-year-old peaches, the most direct distinction was in their size.

A six-thousand-year-old peach was at least one-third larger than a three-thousand-year-old one, while a nine-thousand-year-old peach was again one-third larger than a six-thousand-year-old one.

Zhang Chen's eyes turned to the distance, his gaze shimmering with a divine brilliance, moments later he leapt towards the nine-thousand-year-old peaches, landing directly on the trunk, picking one of the nine-thousand-year-old peaches and biting into it.

Instantly, an exotic fragrance overwhelmed him, a scent indescribably pure surged into his heart, Zhang Chen couldn't help but be captivated by the aroma, as the nine-thousand-year-old peach entered his stomach, he felt an unusual fragrance emanating from his pores.

His Primordial Spirit floated as a sensation of indescribable comfort filled him, then a large quantity of points began converting.

The cultivation of the Causal Reversal Technique, though each level required vast point consumption, couldn't withstand the nourishing properties of the peaches; a single nine-thousand-year-old peach could produce tens of millions of points.

At this moment, Zhang Chen transformed into a Taotie, continuously devouring peaches while secretly observing everything within the Peach Garden, guarded by Innate Spirits of Daluo level, wondering if he'd be detected if he tried to open the Ba Snake Space to stash a few peaches, or hide a few peach pits.

The crucial matter was whether he could quietly refine the Peach Tree beneath him, if Zhang Chen managed to refine it, once he sent it into the Wood Element River in the future, his strength would undoubtedly rise to an unimaginable realm.

As he ate the peaches, Zhang Chen silently sensed the Peach Tree beneath him, he had the Authority of Wood Element, granting him a natural suppressive force over all flora, including the Queen Mother's Peach Trees, although these trees were Innate Spirit Roots, they remained within Zhang Chen's control and suppression.

"This Peach Tree is indeed peculiar," Zhang Chen murmured as he stroked the trunk, his gaze reflecting a look of astonishment.

He could sense that the Peach Tree possessed a soul, its spirituality vast and beyond Zhang Chen's imagination, though not on par with the Queen Mother, it was still incredibly immense, albeit with some issues.