Chapter 461: Chapter 461

The plants and trees revived, and flocks of birds circled and sang. This jaw-dropping phenomenon persisted for a full half-hour within a radius of dozens of miles.

Even at the foot of the mountain, faint glimpses of azure afterglow could be seen, and many common folk had long since dropped their hoes and knelt on the spot.

At this moment, without a doubt, this was true enlightenment!

Having genuinely received many benefits, inside the wooden hut, the moment the main door opened, including Abbot Wuwei, the eyes of all the surrounding onlookers instantly brightened to an extreme.

Just as everyone present was fantasizing about what peerless master would walk out, the moment this true master actually emerged, it once again dropped everyone's jaws.

There was no ethereal, flowing gauze Daoist robe, nor was it the imagined white hair and youthful complexion.

They saw before them a person dressed in a slightly rough, simple green cloth garment, her hair merely tied loosely behind her head with a simple peach wood hairpin. The important thing was, this true master before their eyes was clearly... clearly just a young maiden of no more than sixteen!

Yet, even so, at this very moment, no one present dared to voice the slightest doubt.

Firstly, everything that had just happened before their eyes was real. And perhaps due to having just attained enlightenment, the person before them possessed an exceptionally ethereal and transcendent aura, as if she might ride the wind and depart in the very next second. Her skin was as clear and flawless as jade, and even the coarse cloth and hemp garments she wore did nothing to diminish that indescribable, pure and spiritual air.

Before the crowd could rise and pay their respects, from within the throng, Abbot Wuwei, clad in a green Daoist robe, suddenly rushed forward:

"Infinite Heavenly Lord, Fellow Daoist Xiao! You've finally emerged. Earlier, when you came here alone, this old Daoist was quite worried, which is why I lingered and did not leave. Good, good..."

First, he respectfully performed a bow, then the old abbot immediately stepped forward quickly, looking at her with a deeply relieved and admiring sigh.

Of course, the relief, even the wild joy, was genuine. As for the content of his words...

Although he clearly knew nothing, once these words were spoken, they instead further confirmed the "fact" the crowd had previously guessed—that the two of them had previously engaged in discussions on the Dao.

Fortunately, regarding this "old friend" of the original body, An Ning had no intention of exposing him. She also nodded slightly in return with a bow:

"Thank you, Abbot, for guarding me here earlier."

Although her tone was light and cool, it could indeed be considered familiar.

The eyes of the surrounding crowd grew even brighter. Abbot Wuwei was clearly shrewd. Seeing that the crowd had no intention of leaving, his gaze quickly shifted to the long, rolled-up scroll in An Ning's hand.

Recalling this "young friend's" various habits from earlier, and thinking of the faint image of a painting scroll that had appeared above the small hut earlier...

With his many years as an abbot, although his practical experience was basically zero and he possessed not a shred of actual magic power, he clearly didn't lack theoretical knowledge. Abbot Wuwei immediately thought of something:

"Fellow Daoist, this... this... could it be that this is the very foundation of your enlightenment today?"

Sure enough, upon mentioning the painting in her hand, a slight, subtle smile finally appeared on An Ning's usually indifferent face. It was as if an originally exquisite jade figure had suddenly been infused with a soul, or as if an immortal had finally descended to the mortal world.

While everyone was in a daze, they saw the woman before them smile slightly and say:

"As the Abbot says, today I indeed gained something!"

Ah, this... the legendary path of enlightenment through calligraphy and painting?

Could it really... really be true?

Although he had guessed it earlier, the moment these words fell, Abbot Wuwei still felt a tiny bit dazed.

If this was possible, then what were all those Daoist scriptures he had read for decades before?

Of course, no matter how confused and puzzled he was inside, it didn't stop the old abbot from appearing increasingly calm and composed on the surface. He then even flicked the whisk in his hand with quite a masterly demeanor:

"Infinite Heavenly Lord, Fellow Daoist Xiao must be truly weary today. Why not go to the temple first to rest for a while?"

By the time the County Magistrate hurriedly arrived with his entourage, ignoring the crowd's gazes filled with admiration and reluctance, An Ning had already comfortably settled back into the previous Listening Bamboo Courtyard.

Of course, comfort was real. As for lying down? How could that be possible!

Naturally, she had to seize this time to intensify her cultivation and improve her cultivation level.

It had been less than a few days since she arrived here. Even with the original body's innate talent, given the sparse spiritual energy here, if not for the elixirs she had taken earlier and the support of the top-grade spirit stones, she probably wouldn't even have stepped over the threshold of cultivation yet.

On the other hand, her supernatural abilities felt somewhat more natural to use.

Thinking of everything she would have to face next, An Ning closed her eyes once more.

This move was still too risky!

During this period, naturally, the more trump cards she had in hand, the better...

Meanwhile, outside the small courtyard, it was already extremely lively.

In fact, because this phenomenon was too "miraculous" and occurred without the slightest concealment—the dazzling azure light, the instantly revived plants and trees—even people at the foot of the mountain noticed it.

The originally not-so-large temple was now packed, both on the mountain and at its foot, with people who had come to "witness the divine miracle."

"I wonder when the Immortal Maiden might have a moment, so that we might have the honor of paying her a visit."

Inside the temple, the hastily arrived Magistrate Wang didn't even have time to take a sip of tea. The moment he sat down, he couldn't help but anxiously ask the person opposite him.

As the local county magistrate, the genuine local authority, someone had rushed to report to him at the very beginning of the phenomenon. However, Magistrate Wang himself obviously hadn't paid much attention at the time, merely thinking it was another case of his subordinates exaggerating and seeking favor.

A divine miracle? How could that be possible?

It wasn't until he saw with his own eyes that despite it being late autumn, the Jade View Mountain before him remained lush and verdant. And after hearing the excited descriptions from the onlookers,

that he suddenly realized what his earlier indifference had caused him to miss.

A master attaining enlightenment!

Mortal bodies bathed in divine light!

Looking at the increasingly ruddy and glowing face of the abbot before him, Magistrate Wang at this moment was so jealous and heartbroken he felt like he was bleeding internally.

Even so, he could only soften his voice now, gazing longingly in the direction of the master and asking in a low voice.

Unfortunately! What he received was still just a cold sentence:

"Fellow Daoist Xiao is already resting and is not seeing anyone for the time being!"

Having lived a life of comfort and ease, Magistrate Wang, whose face was now red and neck thick from the effort of climbing the mountain: "..."

"No matter, this official will simply wait here then!"

As for rashly disturbing an immortal who had already attained enlightenment, that he naturally dared not do! Not even with ten times the courage.

An immortal who has attained enlightenment! What is a petty official like him, no bigger than a sesame seed or a mung bean, worth?

Fortunately, there was a turn of events. Perhaps seeing his sincerity was too great, the very next second Magistrate Wang was preparing for a protracted war of attrition, he heard the person before him speak:

"Your Honor, please wait a moment. To be frank with you, although Fellow Daoist Xiao is not here, she has been extremely generous, leaving behind the insights she gained from her enlightenment today for this humble Daoist to study!"

Magistrate Wang: "!!!"

Heavens, what kind of luck does this old Daoist have!

In short, at this moment, even though the abbot before him wore the calm expression of an enlightened master, Magistrate Wang could still see the smugness in it...

At the same time, while An Ning cultivated day and night, intensively improving her cultivation level, in the nearby Wu Yang Marquis's Household's villa, the mother and son pair who received the news were both stunned for a moment:

"You... what did you say? Attained enlightenment?"

"That country bumpkin?"