Chapter 1014: Was the Solar Lamp Your Idea, Young Sect Leader?

"Can spirit stones really be earned this way?"

Jin Caiwei remained incredulous. It turned out the embryonic form of her Dao Fruit could actually generate wealth, yet seeing the young cult master's absolute certainty, there truly seemed to be a feast of feasibility in it.

"I am, for the time being, quite confident in my own ability to amass spirit stones," Lu Yang remarked with modest restraint, a faint smile playing upon his lips. He had never once known the sting of anxiety regarding wealth.

To inspire conviction in Jin Caiwei, Lu Yang began to recount his chronicle of successful ventures.

"I shall skip the patent fees for the flying carriages, which bring me a vast ocean of spirit stones each year."

"Take another example—the collaboration between our Heavenly Court Cult and the Nine Nether Cult. We permitted them to establish the 'Come Again' barbecue tavern, and our Heavenly Court Cult claims a full sixty percent of those profits."

"There is also our joint venture with the Radiant Sun Cult, aiding them in the development of solar-powered creations. The most renowned among these is none other than the solar-powered lantern."

Jin Caiwei, whose doubts had lingered, suddenly found her pupils narrowing into vertical slits like those of a predatory tiger. Two small fangs peeked from her lips as the surrounding air surged upward, causing the tips of her hair to float toward the heavens. "The solar lantern... was your idea, young cult master?"

Lu Yang, failing to comprehend why her reaction was so violent, nevertheless explained truthfully, "I merely pointed them in a general direction, suggesting they develop along the lines of solar lanterns, solar water heaters, and the like."

Off to the side, Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi could scarcely contain their amusement, nearly bursting into laughter.

It seemed their senior brother remained entirely ignorant of the vast fortune Caiwei had squandered on buying candles.

"Second Chief, the fruit platter has arrived." Yun Mengmeng's entrance, bearing a tray of fruit, swiftly disrupted the storm brewing in Jin Caiwei's emotions.

Holding the freshly sliced fruit, Yun Mengmeng cast curious, clandestine glances, trying to discern the identity of the Second Chief's guests.

Could they be Ao Ling, the ancient ancestor of the Dragon Clan, and Jiang Lianyi, the ancient ancestor of the Phoenix Clan?

Ah, yes. The Second Chief had mentioned before that he had established an organization called the Heavenly Court Cult, and both Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi were its members.

"Second Chief?" Hearing Yun Mengmeng address Lu Yang in such a manner, Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi found it rather peculiar. It was not just anyone who could call Lu Yang by that title.

"Ah, let me introduce you all. This is Yun Mengmeng, a newly joined Third Chief of our Immortal Lineage. The former Third Chief has been promoted to Fourth Chief."

"The Third Chief of the Immortal Lineage?" Jin Caiwei showed no reaction to Lu Yang's introduction, but Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi were profoundly astonished.

"Indeed, recruited by this Immortal herself," the Immortal Fairy chimed in, drifting out from Lu Yang's body.

"This young girl has condensed the embryonic form of the Immortal Dao Fruit. This Immortal found her quite pleasing to the eye."

"She possesses the embryonic form of the Immortal Dao Fruit?"

Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi gazed upon Yun Mengmeng with immense curiosity. Even during the ancient era, only Sister Immortal had ever possessed that specific embryonic form; the remaining half-immortals had possessed forms related to deathlessness or imperishability.

They had never expected to encounter a half-immortal with the Immortal Dao Fruit's embryonic form in a place like this.

"Yun Mengmeng greets the two seniors," the girl murmured, feeling rather restless and constrained under the intense, circling scrutiny of the two women.

"Oh, you must not call us seniors. We should converse as peers," the two women said, waving their hands. Whether by status or cultivation realm, there was no need for Yun Mengmeng to address them so formally.

The Immortal Fairy stroked her chin, pondering for a brief moment before offering her guidance. "If we reckon by the sequence of entry, I instructed little Ling and Lianyi first. You, girl, came later, so you may simply call them senior sisters."

Yun Mengmeng, ever obedient to the Chief, immediately corrected her greeting. "Greetings, Senior Sister Ao, Senior Sister Jiang."

Lu Yang stared at the Immortal Fairy in utter bewilderment. If the ranking was based on the chronology of their entry, then why on earth had he become the senior brother to Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi?

Fairy, does this system of yours possess any logic whatsoever?

"Wait a moment. What embryonic form of the Immortal Dao Fruit? And who are these two?" Jin Caiwei watched the harmonious gathering, sensing that they all shared an intimate history, while she alone stood discordant with the environment, like a complete stranger.

In particular, the woman who had just drifted from the young cult master's body stirred a strange familiarity within her, as though they had met in the ancient past. Yet, upon deeper reflection, her mind yielded nothing but a blank void.

Back in the Imperial City, whenever the Immortal Fairy had interacted with Jin Caiwei, she had always utilized Lu Yang's physical vessel.

Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi looked at Jin Caiwei with knowing, enigmatic smiles. "Little one, the matters of the ancient era are exceedingly labyrinthine. Many things are hidden not only from you, but even from your father."

"Such as the very existence of Sister Immortal."

Flanking the Immortal Fairy on either side, Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi delivered a solemn introduction. "Sister Immortal possesses the mightiest of all Dao Fruits, the Immortal Dao Fruit. She holds a pure, innocent heart that even your father and his peers envied deeply."

"She... She is an immortal?!" Jin Caiwei stammered, her voice trembling. How could this be?

At this mention, a distinct note of pride resonated in the voices of the two women. "She is far more than a mere immortal. Sister Immortal stands as the undisputed head of the Five Ancients of antiquity. Even your father was far from being her match."

"And it is not a matter of strength alone. Look upon Sister Immortal's flawless countenance; she also held the title of the foremost beauty among the Ten Beauties of the ancient world."

"Regrettably, Sister Immortal fell victim to a treacherous plot. The mastermind behind the scenes erased the memories of the world, which is why you have no knowledge of her existence."

Since the Immortal Fairy had revealed herself to Jin Caiwei, it meant the tiger princess was permitted to know the truth. Thus, the two women took the opportunity to thoroughly recount the saga of the Immortal Fairy to the little tiger.

As they took turns weaving the narrative, unveiling the true ancient world as it had existed during the Fairy's zenith, Jin Caiwei sat frozen upon the imperial throne, entirely lost in thought long after they finished.

It turned out her own memories had been altered by an unseen hand. The reality was exactly as Senior Sister Ao and Senior Sister Jiang had described.

"Hold on... You said just now that she belongs to the same generation as my father, and that she once held me in her arms?"

"Then, does that not mean I ought to address you as Aunt Immort—"

"Hmm?" The Immortal Fairy’s brow furrowed slightly, and a faint, perilous gaze locked onto Jin Caiwei.

"Sister Immortal," Jin Caiwei corrected herself with breathless haste.

Only then did the Immortal Fairy withdraw her dangerous glare.

"By the way, seniors, do you know anything regarding the reversal of time?" Lu Yang recalled the matter of Tang Chuanwu, wishing to seek the counsel of Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi.

He had naturally posed this question to the Heavenly Emperor Immortal before, but even that supreme being could not fathom why the wielder of the Time Dao Fruit would bestow such an ability upon a mortal.

"The reversal of time? A method belonging to the Time Immortal?"

"Yes. A short while ago, I journeyed to the Buddhist Kingdom and happened to encounter a mortal who possessed the ability to turn back time."

"To think such a thing could occur."

"Moreover, it is exceedingly bizarre. That man is an ordinary mortal, devoid of even a spiritual root. The Fairy also verified that he does not harbor the Time Dao Fruit within him, suggesting instead that the wielder of the Time Dao Fruit deliberately bestowed this temporal reversal upon his person."

Since everyone present belonged to their inner circle, there was no need for concealment. Lu Yang meticulously detailed the circumstances surrounding Tang Chuanwu.

Ao Ling seemed to hit upon a sudden revelation. "The fact that the wielder of the Time Dao Fruit left no clues upon Tang Chuanwu implies he wishes to remain unfound."

"Yet, he deliberately asserts his presence through this very method."

"Could there be a possibility that he is sending a message to a certain immortal? For instance, to inform that immortal that he has finally attained the Time Dao Fruit?"

"And furthermore, that he stands in bitter enmity with that very same immortal."