Chapter 1778: The Immortal Lord's Wife

Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman both tumbled down the hillside. Ordinarily, with their skillful movements, it would have been impossible for them to fall on such a slope. However, they had been struck by the opponent's Eternal Slumber Gaze, which caused a profound weariness to surge from deep within their bodies, even reaching their souls. Their control over their bodies was far weaker than usual, leading to their fall.

Fortunately, the intense sensation of falling kept both women partially conscious, preventing them from immediately drifting into sleep. It is well-known that falling is the most effective way to awaken someone from a deep sleep.

Unable to control their bodies, they instinctively embraced each other, using their combined backs to shield themselves from the surrounding rocks and branches. Soon, both were scratched and bruised. It was this stinging pain, combined with the sensation of falling, that kept them awake.

After tumbling for an unknown duration, they suddenly crashed into a mountain wall where a large boulder protruded. They braced themselves. The force of tumbling down such a slope was immense; for an ordinary person, hitting a boulder directly would mean certain death. However, as cultivators, their bodies had greatly improved flexibility and strength, so while they wouldn't be killed, they would certainly sustain significant injuries.

To their surprise, just as they were about to collide, several mysterious runes flashed on the wall. The next second, as they made impact, the entire boulder rotated inwards, and a gentle force enveloped both women, neutralizing the enormous impact.

The two women exchanged glances, then flushed with embarrassment as they realized they were still tightly embracing each other, even feeling each other's breath. They quickly pushed each other away and shakily stood up.

"Where are we?" Chu Chuyan murmured distractedly, thinking, 'No wonder Ah Zu couldn't help but call her 'Big Manman' every time—they really are enormous...'

Pei Mianman also felt a little awkward, never having been so intimate with another woman. Hearing Chu Chuyan's question, she looked around. "I don't know," she replied, "It seems to be a cave."

Inside the cave, they could see simple stone tables and chairs, as if someone had once lived there. Everything was too simplistic, suggesting an ascetic way of life. The cave was not large; they could see to its end with a single glance. The only other feature was a statue of a woman carved into the farthest wall, with a tattered prayer mat lying on the ground in front of it. This was likely where the previous occupant sat to cultivate, but the mat had decayed over time.

The two women instinctively walked towards the statue. Just as they were about to examine the woman's face, they suddenly frowned slightly and exchanged worried glances. "Oh no," they whispered to each other, "I'm feeling drowsy again."

Both women saw the gravity in each other's eyes. With their current cultivation levels, they wouldn't feel sleepy even after several days without sleep; this drowsiness was clearly abnormal.

"It must be those two rays," Chu Chuyan recalled her brief glance backward earlier. "They seem to have a power that induces sleep."

"We just don't know how long we'll be asleep," Pei Mianman frowned. "If it's only a few days, we can just tough it out here." She noted that the cave was a secluded spot, so there wasn't much danger if they fell into a deep sleep.

However, both knew that a Ghost King's technique wouldn't simply put them to sleep for a few days. If they slept for a few months, their cultivation could sustain them, but if it stretched to several years, their internal energy wouldn't be enough to maintain their lives for that long. Moreover, a Ghost King's skill might make them sleep even longer—perhaps forever.

Fearing falling asleep, both women instinctively drew their weapons and plunged them into their thighs, using the intense pain to temporarily stave off the overwhelming drowsiness.

"What do we do?" Pei Mianman asked Chu Chuyan, hoping that her prestigious sect might have a solution.

Chu Chuyan's delicate brows were tightly furrowed. She racked her brain for any sect methods but couldn't think of a solution. Both saw the despair in the other's eyes.

If they fell asleep outside, it was easy to imagine what might befall them, given their stunning beauty and complete lack of self-preservation. But if they fell asleep here, Ah Zu would have even less chance of finding them, and they might remain in this darkness forever.

"This is all my fault," Chu Chuyan said apologetically. If it weren't for her, Pei Mianman wouldn't have fallen into such a desperate situation.

"We're best friends; you would have saved me too," Pei Mianman sighed, knowing there was nothing they could do. "I never imagined that two people with such different personalities would end up falling for the same man."

"Indeed, life is unpredictable," Chu Chuyan sighed softly, thinking back to how they used to subtly compete, only for it all to come to nothing in the end.

"It really annoys me to think that other vixen-like women will benefit from this," Pei Mianman said sullenly. She knew about the many women around Zu An, and now that she and Chu Chuyan were out of the picture, it would simply be an undeserved advantage for them. "I might as well have given him to you."

"Yes, I feel the same," Chu Chuyan agreed. The two women exchanged a smile, feeling as if they were back in the days when they were close friends.

At that moment, Pei Mianman suddenly said, "There's something you should know. Your master..."

She stopped mid-sentence. She had once witnessed a somewhat intimate scene between Yan Xuehen and Zu An. But bringing it up now might hurt Chu Chuyan's feelings; after all, having one's master "steal the home" was hardly a pleasant matter. However, revealing it now also felt like speaking ill of someone behind their back and sowing discord, which made her hesitate.

"What about my master?" Chu Chuyan struggled to keep her sleepy eyes open, gazing at her blankly.

Pei Mianman thought, 'We're about to die anyway, why care so much? At least let Chuyan die informed, knowing that Ah Zu has more than just seductive women around him—there are also some unexpected individuals.'

"Your master and Ah Zu..."

Just as she spoke, a light suddenly emanated from the nearby statue, and a translucent female figure slowly ascended from it. Only then did they notice that the ethereal figure looked exactly like the stone carving. Her face exuded an air of dignified serenity, and her eyes seemed to hold compassion for all living beings.

"Whose blood has awakened me?"

The two women looked down and realized that, in their struggle against drowsiness, their weapons had pierced their thighs, and the blood had continuously dripped onto the ground. There seemed to be an imperceptible slope between the ground and the wall, causing the blood to flow unnoticed to the base of the statue on the stone wall.

"Elder, you are...?" Both women were startled and instinctively asked.

"The world knows me as Bao Gu," the ethereal figure replied. "This is a wisp of my divine consciousness that I left behind. Your bloodline seems somewhat extraordinary, which is what activated me." She seemed to be awaiting their astonishment.

However, the two women's eyes were filled with confusion. They were not from this world and had never heard the name. They had heard of king oyster mushrooms, but were afraid to mention it lest they offend her.

The female figure paused, clearly taken aback, then said, "Then have you heard of Immortal Lord Baopu?"

Both women nodded. "Yes, we have." Immortal Lord Baopu was a household name in this world, being the only one to ascend to immortality in thousands of years.

The female figure's expression noticeably soured. "He is my husband," she then stated.

Both women's faces were full of question marks. "An Immortal Lord has a wife?"

The female figure replied testily, "He wasn't born an immortal, so of course he has a wife."

"So you are the Immortal Lord's wife," the women said, bowing respectfully once more. The wife of an immortal was practically a legendary being.

"Do you think I wanted him to become this immortal?" The female figure's expression turned somewhat displeased, especially realizing they only recognized her because of her husband, which made her feel even more stifled. Displeased, she was about to turn and leave, but then noticed the two women's condition. "Oh, you seem to be injured."

The two women gave a bitter smile. "Our physical injuries are minor. The main problem is that we were hit by a strange ray from the Ghost King. We're incredibly drowsy and are barely holding on with our last bit of willpower, about to fall asleep at any moment."

They exchanged glances, a glimmer of hope appearing in their eyes. Though the figure before them was only a wisp of residual consciousness, she had been the wife of an immortal in life, so there might be a chance she could save them.

"Ghost King?" The ethereal figure frowned, either unfamiliar with the name or recalling something. "From your condition, it seems you've been struck by the Yin-Yang Realm's ultimate technique, the Eternal Slumber Gaze. Once afflicted, one falls into an eternal sleep, never to awaken, until only withered bones remain."

Pei Mianman and Chu Chuyan's hearts sank. It was indeed the worst-case scenario.

"Elder, do you know of any way to save us?" Pei Mianman urgently asked, a flicker of hope appearing in Chu Chuyan's eyes as well.

The female figure shook her head. "If you had come before me in my prime, I would have had a way to save you. But now, I am merely a wisp of residual consciousness with no power left. I am helpless in your situation."

Hearing this, the two women immediately fell into despair.

"Pitiable, regrettable," the female figure murmured, shaking her head as she turned to leave.

Seeing her head towards the cave's exit, Chu Chuyan suddenly spoke up. "Elder, can you leave?"

The female figure nodded. "Indeed. I can sense the Great Tomb reopening. Some unresolved earthly ties must finally be severed."

Hearing her imply she was going to the Great Tomb, Chu Chuyan's heart stirred. "I wonder if I could trouble you with a request, Elder?"