Wen Xin, puzzled by the question, answered casually, “That would naturally be an illusion spell—a mirage technique.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and in an instant, the entire landscape vanished, replaced by a magnificent peach grove, its petals fluttering in the wind like a cascading shower of blossoms.
Hong Ning lifted her hand to catch a petal—
But unlike yesterday, there was no solid sensation.
“These flowers are just illusions,” she murmured. “They’re not real.”
Wen Xin nodded. “Of course they’re not real.”
“What if I want real flowers?” Hong Ning asked.
Without hesitation, Wen Xin said, “Then plant them yourself.”
Her master was always so blunt and to the point.
Hong Ning couldn’t help but laugh. Then, testing the waters, she suggested, “What about using the Five Ghosts Transportation Technique to move them from elsewhere?”
Seeing her uncharacteristically eager to learn, Wen Xin dispelled the illusion, restoring the scenery to its original state.
“The Five Ghosts Transportation Technique can transfer objects from one place to another,” he explained. “But plants contain spiritual energy and souls of their own. They are connected to the earth’s vital currents and are governed by the Flower Deity. Even high immortals cannot overstep their authority and summon them at will.”
He continued, “Unlike humans, plants rely entirely on the spiritual essence of the land to survive. If uprooted, their energy is severed. Once the energy is severed, their spirit dissipates. Once their spirit is gone, their roots wither. That’s why plants that have been pulled from the ground can never cultivate into spirits.”
Hong Ning pondered this before asking, “Then what about the vegetables and herbs we eat? Isn’t that incredibly unfair to them?”
Wen Xin chuckled. “This is the will of the heavens—it is their destined tribulation. Otherwise, wouldn’t the world be overrun with spirits and demons? Even we cultivators are not guaranteed immortality. If an immortal fails their tribulation, their cultivation will be greatly diminished, or they may even be reverted to their original form. The laws of the universe apply equally to all beings.”
Even immortals have to pass tests…
Hong Ning sighed. “Then what’s so great about being an immortal?”
Wen Xin merely smiled and did not answer.
Returning to the original topic, Hong Ning said, “So plants cannot survive without soil. That means the Five Ghosts Transportation Technique won’t work.”
Wen Xin nodded. “Once separated from the earth, their spirits will dissipate. Though plants do not enter reincarnation, casually uprooting or destroying them without necessity harms one’s karmic merit. Not only would ghostly messengers refuse to help, but even if a cultivator were to personally cast a spell and retrieve them from a thousand miles away, they would have to be extremely careful. If done recklessly, it could sever the plants’ path to cultivation, drawing punishment from the Flower Deity. Even immortals who do such things will face harsher heavenly tribulations in the future—let alone someone like you, who wants so many.”
Hong Ning thought for a moment. “Then what if I move them along with their roots and soil?”
Wen Xin laughed. “To do that, you would have to command the Earth and Mountain Gods. The power to shift mountains and reshape the land—do you think that is something an ordinary mortal can possess?”
Hong Ning paused. “Mortals can’t?”
Wen Xin said, “It’s not impossible… but I have never seen it done.”
Hong Ning asked bluntly, “You can’t?”
Wen Xin shook his head.
But Jin Xiu did it effortlessly…
Had he also lived for hundreds of years?
Hong Ning found it difficult to imagine, but then she remembered—he had merely waved his hand, and the camellias had appeared instantly.
“Is there no other way besides moving a mountain?” she asked.
“You could set up an altar and offer prayers to the Flower Deity and the various Flower Immortals,” Wen Xin replied. “Some have successfully borrowed their power before, but this method isn’t always effective.”
Hong Ning got straight to the point. “Is there a way to summon flowers at will?”
Wen Xin answered, “Among the flower spirits, the Flower Deity, and the many Flower Immortals and flower demons—they have the ability to do so.”
Flower Deity? Flower Immortals?
Hong Ning looked up at the sky.
Over the years, she had learned much about cultivation and the supernatural. Ghosts and spirits were nothing surprising anymore. But a living deity? She had never seen one before.
It was unlikely she had been that lucky.
She had probably just encountered a powerful flower demon instead… right?
Just as she was pondering this, Wen Xin suddenly spoke.
“Could it be that?”
Hong Ning quickly asked, “What?”
Wen Xin raised his hand and pointed toward the stone wall on the opposite bank.
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