Chapter Sixty-One: The Magnolia Blossom Deity, Wan’er

The writing on this animal hide was from the ancient era, yet the story recorded within was strikingly similar to the one Bai Zhi had given him, even sharing the same title: "The Path of Three Lifetimes."

“So much alike, with the same name—how could there possibly be no connection between them?” Liu Ping couldn’t help but murmur softly, filled with confusion and questions. “But what, exactly, is the mystery hidden here?”

He could not tell.

Still, he had a premonition: this animal hide, this “Path of Three Lifetimes,” must conceal some tremendous secret, its origins extraordinary.

“There’s a ‘three’ in the title—could there be a third hide?” He speculated, turning the thought over in his mind but unable to reach a conclusion. In the end, feeling both disappointed and faintly expectant, he put it away.

With a sigh, he said, “Since I can’t figure it out, I’ll set it aside for now and focus on my cultivation.”

He withdrew a golden ancient jade and began to practice.

The third transformation of the Human Immortal: first, condense the Human Flower; second, the Earth Flower; third, the Heaven Flower. After the third transformation, when the three flowers—Heaven, Earth, and Human—gather atop one’s head, it is possible to break through to Earth Immortal.

At this point, Liu Ping hadn’t even formed the Human Flower. He had no insight or inspiration, and couldn’t help but sigh at how arduous and distant the path of cultivation seemed.

Fortunately, he had acquired a good deal of resources—such as this Huangming Jade, which would greatly aid in forming the Human Flower. He could only hope it would yield results.

At the start of cultivation, one refines essence into qi, qi into spirit, gathers the soul, then endures the tribulation of yang-fire. After comprehending the four interconnected forces and breaking through, one becomes a Human Immortal.

The first transformation—Human Flower—does not require any arcane cultivation methods, but rather begins anew from refining essence into qi, from which the Human Flower is born.

The “Essence Treasure Canon” recorded: “Man is born from essence; thus, essence is the seed. A cultivator’s mind must be empty in the lower dantian, abstaining from desire; if essence is not dissipated, it fills and blossoms into the lead flower.”

It sounded simple, but was exceedingly difficult in practice. Without this Huangming Jade, Liu Ping had no confidence at all in reaching the first transformation.

Absorbing the special spiritual energy from the jade, Liu Ping began to refine his essence into qi, searching within for the seed of the Human Flower.

Time slipped by unnoticed. He did not know how long had passed before he slowly opened his eyes and sighed—he had failed once again.

“Even with the Huangming Jade, it’s unrealistic to expect an immediate breakthrough. I can’t even sense the opportunity… But this is only my spiritual form. Though it almost perfectly simulates my real body, it’s not truly physical, so the refinement isn’t perfect. If I returned to my original body, perhaps my chances would be greater.”

He tried to console himself, but not having found even the most basic seed left him inevitably dejected.

Suddenly, a sweet fragrance drifted over. Turning his head, he was startled to see an exquisite beauty lying beside him, watching with playful interest.

He was truly surprised; to approach so silently spoke volumes of her cultivation. Yet, though startled, he did not feel fear. Even if her level was high, she was not at the Immortal realm, and if she bore ill will, he would sense it. Since she had no ill intent, there was nothing to fear.

Seeing Liu Ping jump in shock, the beauty on the soft couch burst into laughter, her bright eyes dazzling and soul-stirring. “Did I scare you?”

Liu Ping looked displeased and asked in a low voice, “What brings you here, Lady Yuzan?”

“You’re so icy, aren’t you? Can’t I come to see you for no reason?” she replied, a trace of grievance in her tone.

Her words caught Liu Ping off guard. What did she mean? She sounded like an old lover, but they’d only just met not long ago. Was there some other meaning he hadn’t grasped?

While he hesitated, Lady Yuzan slithered closer like a snake.

Liu Ping instinctively tried to dodge, but she appeared beside him in a flash, laughing. “Are you afraid of me?”

He couldn’t evade her? A wave of shock washed over him. In the earlier dream, he’d held the upper hand, taking the lead and unconsciously treating her as the weaker one. Now, feeling her true power, he remembered—Lady Yuzan was already half a step into Earth Immortal!

She had already gathered the three flowers, only waiting for the chance to unite them. He, meanwhile, hadn’t even formed the Human Flower.

A delicate fragrance enveloped him—her natural scent. His arm froze, for something incomparably soft was pressed tightly against him.

He swallowed hard, finally certain that Lady Yuzan was trying to seduce him. But why? What was her aim?

She wore a coronet made of jade hairpins, the flowers white as snow and exquisitely beautiful, but not as beautiful as her own fair, supple skin, her delicate face now basked in seductive charm, her figure voluptuous and alluring—a peerless beauty, truly a national treasure.

Her looks were only slightly inferior to Meng Shang, but her figure more than made up for it, especially the magnificent peaks on her chest, their deep valley begging to be explored.

“Why so silent?” Lady Yuzan pressed close, tilting her head to whisper in his ear, her breath soft and teasing.

“Lady Yuzan, what do you want from me?” Liu Ping nearly lost control. In this spiritual body, his desires were all the more vivid, and this temptation was nearly overwhelming—utterly unfair!

Sensing his struggle, Lady Yuzan laughed and clung to him even tighter.

His hands were deeply trapped in her softness. It was a wonderful feeling, yet at this moment, torturous. The first transformation of Human Immortal required abstinence, yet here she was, tempting him. Was this some petty revenge? But that would be beneath her—after all, he’d saved her life.

“I’m here to fulfill your wish. As a goddess, how could I not grant what you asked for?” Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

“My wish? What wish?” Liu Ping was baffled, then remembered: on the Flower Festival, he had jokingly wished, “Since you’re the Flower Goddess, grant me some luck with women!”

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—this was absurd! But no, it couldn’t be that simple; surely this was only an excuse. To grant a wish, she wouldn’t have to do this herself.

He shook his head with difficulty. “It was only a joke, Lady Yuzan. You needn’t take it seriously.”

“My name is Shangguan Wan’er. Please, call me Wan’er,” she said plaintively, as if lamenting his lack of understanding.

Suddenly, Liu Ping felt a forceful push, and before he could react, Lady Yuzan—Shangguan Wan’er—had toppled him.

Wan’er straddled him, giggling, “Call me Wan’er, my lord.”

He lay on the soft couch, her delicate body pressing down on his abdomen, a sheer veil barely concealing her jade-like skin—utterly enticing. He could only smile bitterly, struggling to control his desires.

“All right, Wan’er… Do you like me?”

This didn’t seem like revenge—was there another reason? Now he finally realized, though he still wasn’t certain, so he asked.

To his surprise, Wan’er’s face flushed crimson. She stammered, “Yes… more or less. Since leaving the immortal ruins, I haven’t stopped thinking of you, wanting to be with you. Am I being too willful?”

His mind went blank. Since when had he become so popular? But Lady Yuzan was a bit too forward—wasn’t this a bit much?

“Of course it’s willful—far too willful. But now I understand. Could you let me up? If you keep pressing on me, I might not be able to control myself,” Liu Ping said, his eyes flashing.

Meeting his burning gaze, Wan’er only laughed, “Lose control? Really, my lord, what exactly can’t you control?”

Before he could answer, she slowly leaned down.

From his angle, her face was close enough to kiss, and the deep valley between her breasts was right before his eyes, the snowy expanse faintly revealing a trace of rosy red—the delicate bud atop her jade peak.

“My lord, do you like me?” Wan’er teased, “Do you?”

He was about to reply when, suddenly, the door burst open.

Liu Ping jumped in fright, feeling as if he’d been caught in the act. He looked up quickly, but it wasn’t Meng Shang—it was the youngest of the Flower Goddesses, the Narcissus Goddess, who was now staring at the two of them in shock.

With a squeal, her face turned beet red, even seeming to steam a little. Stammering, she asked, “Sister, Brother Liu, what are you… doing?”