The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 178 A Gift (3k)

Although there is still a long way to go before rebuilding their hometown, at least the people have won back their lives.

As long as people are still alive, as long as they breathe, new buds will always sprout and smoke will always rise from the yellow earth.

Looking at the people whose faces glowed with joy because they had truly found a way to survive.

Du Yuan didn't want to do anything or say anything. She just wanted to watch quietly.

The peaceful and serene days are truly breathtaking!
I really want to close my eyes, lean against the alchemy furnace, and have a good sleep.

That kind of languid weariness that seeps from the very bones after a heavy burden has been lifted is truly captivating and seductive, tempting one to fall into its trap.

Once the thought arose in her mind, Du Yuan actually did it.

He closed his eyes slightly, relaxed his tense shoulders and back, leaned back, and tried to find some support from the alchemy furnace to rest for a while.

But as soon as he touched the hard, slightly cool furnace wall, he couldn't help but chuckle.

This isn't something to lean on; it's clearly uncomfortable!
Shaking her head, Du Yuan slowly rose from in front of the alchemy furnace.

After glancing down at the golden and jade-forged pill formula in her hand, Du Yuan walked towards the old general.

Upon seeing the immortal approach, the generals who were gathered around the withered grass and yellow earth, pondering why they couldn't concoct the elixir, hurriedly composed themselves and bowed in unison:

"I've seen the immortal!"

The old general also quickly stepped forward:
"Does the Immortal Master have something to instruct you on?"

Du Yuan raised her hand, displaying the golden jade disc in front of everyone's eyes, and then handed it to the old general:
"Since it was forged using your dragon veins, then this item should be returned to you!"

Upon hearing this, the old general trembled, immediately lowered his head, and spoke with fear in his voice:
"Immortal Master, this is inappropriate! This is a divine object!"

Du Yuan shook her head and smiled:
"Perhaps it counts, but what truly matters is the pill formula. The material recording the formula, whether it's this golden jade disc or withered yellow paper, is unimportant to me, and to Heaven as well." He shifted his tone slightly, his gaze sweeping over the old general and the many officers. "However, it must be quite different for you. Please take good care of this item and protect it with utmost care!"

Seeing that the immortal had said so, how could they, who already wanted this treasure, possibly say anything more?

They immediately clasped their hands and bowed again, saying:

"Thank you for your mercy, Immortal Master!"

Du Yuan waved her hand and laughed:

"There's no such thing as being granted mercy; it was formed by borrowing your dragon veins."

After saying that, he handed the Golden Jade Disc Manual to the old general.

After the old general respectfully accepted it, suppressing his urge to examine it closely, he hurriedly asked:

"May I ask, Immortal Master, if that's the case, is our dynasty's dragon vein still damaged?"

Knowing what they wanted to ask, Du Yuan looked at them and smiled:

"The southwest has suffered from a severe drought for three years, with corpses littering the fields and people living in misery. Your dragon vein has already been damaged at its very foundation!"

These words made them quickly lower their heads, for they did not know whether this was a question posed by an immortal.

"However, the way of Heaven is cyclical; there is loss and gain, and only after destruction can there be construction! I have paved the way for you; whether you can find it back, and how much you can find back, depends on your own destiny!"

Who was this old general? A veteran of the battlefield, he had also weathered many years of ups and downs in the officialdom. In an instant, he discerned the immense turning point within!
He looked up abruptly, his eyes gleaming with unbelievable surprise, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Immortal Master! Are you saying that our dynasty's dragon veins can not only reverse the decline, but even hope to reach new heights?!"

Du Yuan smiled without saying a word, but simply raised her hand and tapped heavily on the Golden Jade Disc.

The foundation of a nation lies in its people!
When the people are kind and live in peace and contentment, the dragon vein will be firmly established, and the nation's destiny will be long and prosperous!

Conversely, don't blame ordinary people for wanting to change their way of life.

Upon seeing this, all the generals hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Du Yuan:

"Thank you for the treasure, Immortal Master!"

"Thank you so much, Immortal Master!"

All that had happened before, whether it was the world-saving power of the "Beggar's Elixir" or Du Yuan's magical abilities, was indeed earth-shattering and of extraordinary significance. But for these generals, that magnificent beauty ultimately hung in the sky, unable to illuminate the gloom in their hearts.

It's just a castle in the air.

They are burdened with the grave crimes of "betraying their master and abandoning their country" and "tampering with the dragon veins"! Even if the calamity in the southwest is resolved, after the reckoning, their heads, and even the lives of their entire families, will probably be hard to guarantee!

After all, it was the immortal lord who saved the southwest from the great calamity, what does it have to do with you?
Besides, you're not some immortals who can capture dragons at will, so what's the harm in messing with you?
However, the dragon vein's foundation has already been damaged due to the severe drought in the southwest.

They are not only innocent now, but they are also the heroes who found a way to remedy the situation!
In an instant, the guillotine that could have taken a life at any moment was transformed into a decree of merit and reward!

Not only will the heads of his entire family remain unharmed, but immense wealth and fame will also be within his grasp!
In that case, how could I not thank you?

Du Yuan had little interest in the generals' expressions of gratitude.

After waving her hand to indicate that this was unnecessary, Du Yuan turned to the old general and asked:
"Old general, please tell me, what is the current situation in the southwest?"

Upon hearing this, the old general's expression turned solemn. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke:
"utterly dejected and utterly corrupt!"

This made Du Yuan frown slightly and say:
"Even with this prescription added, it's still the same?" The old general hurriedly waved his hand and said:
"Immortal Master, you misunderstand! With the spread of your life-saving elixir, the countless people of the Southwest will have a chance to breathe, and their predicament can be gradually eased. It will certainly not be as desperate and terrifying as before!"

At this point, the old general couldn't help but sigh and say:
"The deep-seated problems left by years of drought and war cannot be cured overnight. And there are two particularly intractable issues!"

Then, the old general carefully considered his words and said:

"Firstly, the rebel army has spread like wildfire and is deeply mired in chaos, making it difficult for them to turn back. They have tasted the benefits of plunder and have taken many people with them. Even if they are safe today, the fighting will likely continue tomorrow!"

"After all, wealth moves people's hearts, beauty bewitches people's souls, and when you add power and greed, it becomes even more difficult."

Du Yuan frowned as he listened, realizing that he might have thought too highly of those so-called "righteous armies."
To put it bluntly, whether it's a righteous army or a bandit army, they are often essentially the same thing.

It's terrible for people to be unrestrained, but it's even more of a disaster when a group of people who can't survive and have no restraints gather together.

The old general's voice grew even lower, revealing a deeper worry:
"Secondly, and this is the fundamental problem—although the elixir can save lives, it cannot cure the scorched earth left by the three years of severe drought!"

"With water sources dried up and crops failing to grow, even if the people are not hungry, this land beneath our feet remains a barren wasteland! Without the foundation of people's livelihood, how can we talk about long-term stability and peace? The root of banditry and chaos also lies here!"

This elixir could definitely revitalize the southwest, but the southwest is indeed not so easy to revitalize.

At this point, the old general and his officers all looked at Du Yuan.

Is the immortal lord perhaps still heading west?
Thinking of this, the old general immediately asked:
"May I ask, Immortal Master, do you still intend to travel west to save the world?"

Du Yuan remained motionless and offered no lengthy explanation, simply stating:
"Yes!"

This character, though simple, carries immense weight!
Everyone watched as Du Yuan's throat bobbed incessantly, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

Throughout history, they have heard countless legends of banished immortals, but searching through the ages, which banished immortal can compare to this one?

There was no speech, for verbal arguments are too superficial.

The generals simply bowed in unison.

Du Yuan nodded slightly, then asked:
"Please, General, tell me in detail about the situation of this mutineer army."

Du Yuan was still reluctant to call them 'thieves,' because they were simply desperate and had no other way to survive. But she also couldn't call them 'righteous,' because they were truly desperate and had no other way to survive.
After Du Yuan had listened attentively to the old general's account, he glanced at the sky and said:

"In that case, I shall depart. But please remember, General, that you must spread the word about this elixir formula far and wide!"

The old general quickly cupped his hands in greeting:
"Please rest assured, Immortal Master, this matter is of utmost importance both in terms of public and private matters, and I will certainly not neglect it!"

In fact, he didn't need to worry too much about such a big matter. He could just go with the flow and the news would spread quickly throughout the southwest.

Because people's determination to survive is beyond anyone's imagination.

"Then I shall take my leave!"

Before Du Yuan could finish speaking, a general hurriedly spoke up:
"Immortal, please wait!"

All eyes turned to him, and the general hurriedly turned around, pointing to the glowing alchemy furnace, saying:

"Immortal Master! Your, your divine furnace is still here!"

Although the fire in the furnace had gone out, the entire furnace was still enveloped in a warm golden light, shining brightly and appearing sacred and extraordinary.

Even though I knew it was an old item from Hansong Temple that had been transformed by the immortal, it seems that even after the immortal's departure, it is still beyond the reach of ordinary mortal objects.

Seeing that they were talking about this, Du Yuan glanced at the ruins of Hansong Temple and said:

"This villain is unjust, and it is understandable that he has suffered this calamity. However, this alchemy furnace is ultimately an item of this place, so I will not take it with me."

Leaving this stove here is much better than taking it with you.

After all, it's something that people can admire!
Besides, since we've taken advantage of their location, we should at least show them some respect.

Seeing that the immortal had said so, they naturally didn't say anything more and all expressed that they understood.

When the ceremony was over and they looked up, they found that the immortal had already drifted away.

After looking around but still not seeing Du Yuan, they all exclaimed in admiration:

"Having accomplished his task, he left without seeking fame or fortune; such is the demeanor of a banished immortal!"

"It's extreme, it's extreme."

Du Yuan did not actually leave Hansong Mountain.

Instead, they went down the mountain and found the elegantly dressed young man.

The elegantly dressed young man, who was rambling on and on about his cheap uncle, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Then, looking around in a panic, he saw Du Yuan and wiped away his cold sweat, saying:
"I've met senior!"

It turns out it's a senior! My heart was pounding; I thought it was the Buddha!

However, we still need to find a way to stay away from this senior. We must not get involved in the Buddha's karma, and we should not treat this senior lightly either.

(End of this chapter)