Tonight, there is neither moon nor stars.

Only the wild wind howls, stinging the face like needles.

Li Shiwuwu used a few bamboo mats to make a simple tent to block the wind.

Inside the tent, a fire burned under an iron pot, boiling monkey soup. The whole monkey was in the pot, cooked until the meat fell off the bones, but the baby-like skull and claws were inexplicably eerie.

Not far outside the tent, Hou Qi's remains lay alone, ignored by all.

"Master, I've always wanted to ask, where did you hear about the Seed Immortal Temple? Is it true?" Li Shiwuwu dipped a white bun into the meat soup, asking casually.

Qian Yuanzi, sitting in the middle, had the Chopping Knife back in his hand, his mismatched eyes full of gloom.

"Shiwuwu, are you coveting your master's chance to become immortal?"

The tall, honest-looking Taoist next to him quickly spoke up, "Master, there are only four of us disciples left. If one more dies, there won't be enough of us to carry your sedan chair."

Qian Yuanzi thought for a moment, then laughed, "Guan San, you always think of your master. You can have the monkey head in the pot."

Li Shiwuwu looked aggrieved, "Master, how could you think that of your disciple?"

"I was just thinking, we've been searching for that temple for ten years, enduring hardships along the way, yet we haven't even seen a shadow of it."

"I'm just worried for you, Master."

Qian Yuanzi squinted at him, "Really?"

Seeing this, Li Shiwuwu immediately put on a flattering expression, "Hehe, your disciple is just hoping for you to become immortal."

"If you do, we disciples can bask in your glory and ascend with you."

"Good!" Qian Yuanzi slapped his thigh and laughed heartily, "We will all become immortals together."

"I refuse to believe that the Jade Emperor you dream of can sit in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, but I, Qian Yuanzi, cannot?"

He spat, his expression inexplicably determined.

"Disciples, rest assured."

"We will find the Seed Immortal Temple."

The fire crackled, occasionally sending up red sparks, bringing a bit of warmth to the cold wilderness night.

Qian Yuanzi stared into the fire, gradually lost in thought, "Disciples, have I not treated you well?"

"I raised you with care, taught you to read, and took you over mountains to seek this immortal fate."

"But why do you always think of running away?"

He sighed, fishing a monkey paw from the pot into Li Shiwuwu's bowl, "Thirty disciples, and now only four of you remain."

Li Shiwuwu lowered his head in silence.

The thirty of them were given random surnames and numbered names.

Most died due to Qian Yuanzi's unpredictable moods, but some were killed trying to escape the torment.

Qian Yuanzi continued to sigh, "Shiwuwu, among all the disciples, I value you and Shi Erba the most."

"I even told Erba about the Seed Immortal Temple alone."

"Such a pity."

Hearing this, Li Shiwuwu's eyes shifted, and he cursed, "That bastard left Master and who knows where he died."

Shi Erba was the only one who successfully escaped, two months ago.

Qian Yuanzi nodded, his gaze passing over Li Shiwuwu, Guan San, and Hua Erling, finally landing on the small, silent Taoist curled up.

"Zhao Si, tell me, have I not treated you well?"

"Remember a year ago, we met a country bumpkin leading an old horse, with his newlywed wife in a bright red jacket on its back, full of joy."

"They were returning home after their wedding."

Qian Yuanzi grinned, "That day, you stared foolishly at the wife's chest, saying girls with big chests must have good tempers."

"You said you'd find one like that for yourself someday."

At this, Qian Yuanzi chuckled, "How could I, as your master, let you suffer such grievances?"

"You liked that wife, so I helped you take her."

"With one slash, I killed the man and pulled the wife off the horse, letting you consummate the marriage under the sky."

"Zhao Si, how have I treated you?"

The young Taoist named Zhao Si shivered, looking up in panic.

"Good, Master has treated me the best."

But his voice was high-pitched, like a distorted child's voice, or more accurately, like a eunuch's.

Qian Yuanzi sighed, "Alas."

"I feared you'd be distracted by women and neglect the path to immortality."

"So I castrated you afterward."

Li Shiwuwu listened silently, watching Zhao Si's awkward demeanor, feeling a shared sorrow.

Following Qian Yuanzi was beyond mere torment.

He didn't even dare sleep soundly at night, fearing a sudden mood swing would lead to a fatal slash.

The night dragged on.

The pot of monkey meat gradually reduced to bones.

Even the soup was slurped clean by Guan San.

Hua Erling got up and walked to a small tent nearby, stripping off his clothes as he approached.

As Hou Qi said, every night he had to warm Qian Yuanzi's bed.

Li Shiwuwu was not surprised, just cleaned up the pots and dishes with Guan San and Zhao Si, adding more firewood.

The night wind howled, making the wild grass and shrubs sway, looking like black ghosts watching the group from afar.

Li Shiwuwu laid a bamboo mat by the fire, covering himself with a thin blanket. Perhaps because of Hou Qi's death, his mind was especially restless tonight.

Is there really such a thing as immortality in this world?

He couldn't help but question himself.

All along the way, he and Qian Yuanzi had scoured countless mountains, never encountering any cultivators, spirit beasts, or even spiritual plants.

At most, they encountered strange and eerie things like Lord Guan.

Thinking of this, he sat up, staring at Hou Qi's remains, then turned to Qian Yuanzi's tent.

A fierce look gradually appeared in his eyes.

He was considering whether to take a desperate gamble and see if he could kill Qian Yuanzi.

"Shiwuwu, don't, you'll die."

Zhao Si, who had woken up at some point, shook his head repeatedly, his eyes full of dissuasion.

"You can't beat him, don't throw your life away."

Li Shiwuwu exhaled, his face relaxing into a smile, "Sleep, we have to travel again in the morning."

But suddenly.

The previously silent earth began to tremble violently, emitting a terrifying rumble.

The world shook, and the thick clouds above split open, revealing a crescent moon stained as if with blood.

Under the blood moon, everything seemed bathed in a crimson glow, filled with an indescribable sinister beauty of the apocalypse.

Li Shiwuwu stood up, stunned for a moment.

Then a thought filled his entire being, making his blood boil uncontrollably.

The earth dragon has turned, a heaven-sent opportunity, escape!

But before he could act, Qian Yuanzi rushed out, his old face unusually flushed with excitement.

"The earth dragon has turned?"

"No, that's not right."

"The world is stained with blood, everything trembles, could it be the Seed Immortal Temple has appeared?"

"Haha, immortality, I'm going to become immortal."

Qian Yuanzi's voice was hoarse like a ghost, "Disciples, quickly, follow me to find the chance for immortality!"

Li Shiwuwu frowned, clearly an earthquake, what madness has possessed this old man?

But he had no choice.

Under the blood moon, they stumbled and searched amidst falling rocks.

Finally.

An hour later.

A dust-covered temple appeared before them.

"The Seed Immortal Temple, does it really exist?"

Li Shiwuwu stared blankly at the scene, an overwhelming sense of absurdity rising in his heart.

Guan San, Hua Erling, Zhao Si, and the others felt the same, as it seemed too unreal.

Only Qian Yuanzi was so overjoyed he couldn't help but howl at the sky.

"We found it, finally found it."

The temple before them was unremarkable, like any ordinary mountain temple.

Built of stone and wood, its exterior was weathered and severely decayed, yet it exuded an ancient charm of having withstood the test of time.

"Zhao Si."

"Go, open the temple door," Qian Yuanzi suddenly ordered.

Zhao Si was stunned, immediately kowtowing repeatedly.

"This immortal fate is destined for you, Master. I dare not be presumptuous."

Qian Yuanzi's eyes narrowed, his voice deep, "What, you won't listen to your master?"

Seeing this, Zhao Si had no choice but to rise reluctantly, trembling as he approached the temple.

As he neared, he saw a grayish-brown door of unknown material, with two brass rings.

But just as Zhao Si reached out to push the door, Qian Yuanzi charged with the Chopping Knife.

In a flash of blood, accompanied by a scream, Zhao Si's legs were severed at the root, leaving him in a pool of blood.

Qian Yuanzi licked the blood from the knife, his mismatched eyes filled with cruel malice.

"Heh."

"I told you to go, and you went? You can't withstand any test."

"It seems you really covet your master's immortal fate."

In the next moment.

Qian Yuanzi's gaze locked onto Li Shiwuwu, his crooked smile terrifyingly sinister.

"Shiwuwu, you often dream of immortals."

"It seems you have an affinity for immortality."

"Open the temple door for your master!"

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.