Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The middle-aged man gave a slight nod, knowing Lao Han was right; they were already regicides, and being caught by the Crown Prince wouldn't change how they were perceived.

"Indeed, Great Chu has fallen, and our opponents are those ambitious Noble Families and Clans. Since we can no longer pretend to be loyal and filial subjects on the surface, it's better to be an outright traitor," the middle-aged man laughed heartily, his eyes as cold as ice that would not melt for a thousand years.

As Lu Yuan died, the once united capital instantly fragmented. Ambitious schemers who had been waiting for ages finally saw the chance they had long yearned for. They moved at the first whiff of opportunity. These Noble Families, who in reality controlled the fate of The Dynasty, were ready to ascend the stage to contend for the Central Plains, shedding their hypocritical masks to reveal their sharp fangs.

A single life was as insignificant as a mustard seed in the struggle of the powerful lords. A chaotic era of dazzling stars began. Who would dominate this new era? And who could say for sure?

Just as these long-hidden figures were taking their turn on the grand stage of the world, Lu Xun embarked on his toughest journey.

As soon as Lu Xun stepped through the light gate, he found himself on a mountain wilderness, faced with a somewhat dilapidated courtyard. The earthen walls were overgrown with wild grass, and an incredibly large apricot tree stood in the yard, its dense branches reaching beyond the walls, bearing green apricots that swayed in the wind.

The house was run-down, but not at all cluttered, clearly someone was cleaning it regularly. Lu Xun approached the dilapidated gate and gently knocked, softly asking, "Is anyone there?"

Hardly had his voice faded when the door unexpectedly opened on its own, revealing a very ordinary peasant courtyard. Several mud-brick houses were facing the gate, and a very large apricot tree stood in the courtyard, with stone benches and a stone table underneath, all so clean that not a speck of dust was visible.

"Is there anyone here?" Lu Xun asked again, but there was still no answer, only the breeze blowing through the Old Apricot Tree, rustling its leaves.

By this time, after experiencing his nation's destruction and his family's downfall, Lu Xun was utterly exhausted, parched, and so weak he could hardly muster any strength.

He looked up at the lush Old Apricot Tree, and under the green branches, large green apricots were half-hidden, making his mouth water involuntarily.

Lu Xun swallowed his saliva quietly, looking around with inner conflict. To pick without the owner's consent was to steal. Raised in the Imperial Family and tutored by respected teachers, he had always prided himself on his integrity, which prevented him from committing such acts. Yet, the owner was nowhere to be seen, and his thirst and hunger were unbearable.

Eventually, he couldn't resist stepping onto the stone table to reach for an apricot branch and plucked a green apricot.

The green apricot in his mouth didn't taste sour at all; instead, it turned into a sweet flow that went straight to his stomach. Warmth spread throughout his limbs, and Lu Xun felt all his fatigue swept away, as if boundless strength was about to burst forth from his body. He stared dumbfounded at the Old Apricot, his face full of disbelief.

Such miraculous effects could only belong to the legendary Immortal Fruit. Before these events, he would have scoffed at such tales of Immortal Gods, but having witnessed the appearance of The National Guardian Spirit, he had come to accept that this world was far more mysterious than he had known.

And with that realization came fear. Such a divine item was extraordinary, so how could its owner be an ordinary person? Lu Xun felt a chill sweep over him as he thought this. Turning his head with some trepidation, he found an old man with white hair, wearing coarse linen, and holding a wooden staff standing behind him, looking at him with a smile.

"How is it, the apricot tasty, right?" The old man looked at Lu Xun with a kind face, and said with a smile.

In that instant, numerous ghost and demon tales flashed through Lu Xun's mind, making him feel as though he was the protagonist in those stories, being schemed against by a demon, and now at the critical moment of life and death.

Cold sweat instantly covered his entire body; this somewhat youthful child experienced tremendous fear in that moment. Suppressing the fear rising from deep within his heart, he replied with a voice that seemed slightly trembling, "The apricot tastes very good, this junior gratefully thanks the elder for this kindness."

Lu Xun appeared extremely polite, the imperial upbringing he received from childhood made his manners impeccable. The old man looked at him with increasing satisfaction, stroking his long beard as he nodded with a smile, "Very polite indeed, much better than those few lads back then."

A flash of recollection came over his eyes as if he was remembering something from long ago, when there were also two boys picking apricots from the tree, only they were much livelier than Lu Xun. Although Lu Xun was extremely polite, for some reason, the old man favored those two unrestrained boys more.

"May I ask, elder, where is this place? I have unintentionally trespassed and lost my way, I hope the elder can provide some guidance," Lu Xun asked with an uneasy heart.

He felt that he had never been as nervous as he was today, facing an old man whose depth he could not gauge, he had no confidence he'd leave this place safely. The only comfort in his heart was that the Divine Spirit had sent him here, there should be no danger.

"This is the Lu Family Estate, the home of the Lu brothers," the old man gently said.

Hearing the old man speak, Lu Xun always felt the name "Lu Yu" seemed very familiar, as though he had heard it before somewhere. After a while, his mind suddenly recalled the family tree he had once seen, which had recorded the name of the Great Ancestor at the top and the name of Lu Yu just underneath, recognized as a respected Immortal, the uncle of the Great Ancestor.

Instantly he understood why he had come to this place, and asked with a surprised expression, "Could it be this place..."

The old man smiled and nodded saying, "You're not wrong, this is indeed the ancestral home of your Lu Family. Ever since Lu Zhang passed away, Lu Yu used his Mana to seal this place, so for many years no one has entered here."

"Then you are," Lu Xun gently pointed at the thriving Old Apricot in the yard.

"Ha-ha, yes, I am this Old Apricot, I managed to shape-shift all thanks to young Lu, you can call me Old Apricot, and I can well accept that title," said the old man.

After hearing what the old man said, Lu Xun couldn't help but be stunned. By such accounts, the old man was at least eight hundred years old, a truly immortal being among commoners.

Then, somewhat excitedly, he asked, "Then Old Apricot, is the great ancestor here?"

If he could meet his own ancestor, who was an Immortal, there was hope for the revival of Great Chu.