I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 146
The Ideal World
Ascending to immortality was, naturally, a completely novel experience for Xu Shulou.
At that moment, she felt as light as a swallow—an indescribably wondrous sensation, like a newborn baby opening its eyes to the world for the first time, or as if she were merging with heaven and earth itself. An unseen, gentle force enveloped her, carrying her to the highest reaches of the sky.
She drifted upward through the sea of clouds and celestial light, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in a garden. The air was saturated with spiritual energy, every breath filling her with serenity.
A delicate mist swirled around her, while streams of radiant light cascaded in the distance. Beyond lay pavilions, towers, emerald waters, and blooming flowers—a scene straight out of the ethereal Penglai paradise often imagined in mortal tales.
Xu Shulou had once been deceived by a nameless painting that depicted a blood-soaked fairyland, leaving her with a lingering impression, though not quite a trauma. Now, seeing the true splendor of the immortal realm, she couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
“So that’s why the flowers are blooming so vibrantly today,” a voice as clear as a silver bell rang out nearby. “A newcomer has arrived.”
Xu Shulou turned and saw a stunning celestial maiden gliding toward her. The maiden wore her hair in an elegant “lotus returning to clouds” updo, with a jade-embroidered silk sash draped over her arm. Her hands were delicate as budding shoots, her skin like flawless jade, and she greeted Xu Shulou with a radiant smile. “Sister, have you just ascended from the mortal realm?”
“Indeed. Xu Shulou pays her respects to the immortal maiden.” freēnovelkiss.com
“Just call me Xi’e,” the maiden waved her hand dismissively. “Now that you’re here, we’re all sisters. No need for formalities.”
“Thank you, Xi’e.” Xu Shulou smiled in acknowledgment.
Xi’e circled her excitedly. “How wonderful! Finally, a new face—I’ve heard the same old stories from the elders so many times my ears are calloused! Oh, and you must join us for the daily banquet in the Hundred Flowers Garden!”
“Of course,” Xu Shulou agreed, then asked, “But since I’ve just ascended, shouldn’t I first pay respects to the senior immortals?”
Xi’e shook her head. “We don’t have such customs here. Who did you have in mind?”
Xu Shulou pondered. “The Jade Emperor? The Queen Mother of the West? The Supreme Old Lord? Or perhaps the Moon Goddess?”
With each title, Xi’e’s expression grew more bewildered, until she finally chuckled softly. “Have you been reading too many mortal folktales?”
“...” Xu Shulou reconsidered her phrasing. “Then, may I ask who governs this immortal realm?”
Xi’e shook her head again. “No one governs it. Everyone simply minds their own affairs.”
“Is that so?” Xu Shulou found this rather intriguing.
Xi’e laughed. “Exactly! Come, let me show you around. I’m sure you have many questions—ask freely, don’t hold back.”
“Thank you,” Xu Shulou said as they left the garden. “Xi’e, what should someone like me, who’s just ascended, do here?”
“Nothing in particular,” Xi’e replied, nudging aside a wisp of cloud blocking their path. “If you enjoy company, join the others in their revelry. If you prefer solitude, do whatever pleases you.”
“Then who manages affairs here?” Xu Shulou pressed. “Daily patrols, official documents—things like that?”
“No one manages them.”
“What do immortals usually do, then?”
“We don’t do anything. We just feast, chat, and drink every day.”
“What about cultivation? Are there sects here? How different are the techniques from the mortal realm?”
“We don’t cultivate.” Xi’e seemed amused.
“You don’t?”
“Of course not. Mortals cultivate to become immortals, but we’re already ageless and free—why bother?”
“...”
“Sister Xu, I understand. You’ve worked hard to ascend, so it’s natural to feel unsettled at first,” Xi’e reassured her. “But this is a paradise, a reward for diligent cultivators. Here, we do as we please. Just relax and enjoy yourself.”
Xi’e pointed to the distant pavilions. “Those unmarked residences are unoccupied—pick any you like. Whether you prefer seaside sands, cloud-wreathed peaks, or snowy summits, there’s a home for you.”
Xu Shulou explored with great interest, finally settling on a house with breathtaking views—lush greenery outside the windows, fragrant blossoms drifting in, and a lakeside bedroom where she could gaze at the moonlit waters stretching like frost under the night sky.
Thus, she began her life in the immortal realm, which proved far more effortless than she’d imagined.
She often flew alone to the mountaintops at night to watch the starry river below, its shimmering currents like delicate gauze—a sight rarely seen in the mortal world.
Everything here was beautiful, free of worries, and indeed, there was nothing to worry about. No cultivation, no dangers, no malice—just serene, uneventful days.
Here, she had the rain she loved. With a snap of her fingers, her grand home could cycle through the seasons, letting her admire snowfall or blossoms at will, or sit quietly sipping tea to the sound of rainfall.
Every desire was fulfilled. At the Cloudloom Pavilion, a giant spinning wheel wove clouds into fabric, then tailored them into any garment imaginable at lightning speed. If she wished, Xu Shulou could change outfits countless times a day.
At the realm’s center stood a magnificent fountain flowing with wine, each spout offering a different vintage. Passersby could fill their cups with the crystal-clear nectar at any time.
In the northeastern forest, fruits of every kind ripened in succession—cherries, pears, peaches, citrus, melons—all bursting with sweetness and juice.
Life here left no room for complaint.
Xu Shulou made many friends and even met some predecessors who had ascended from her own sect.
With resources abundant for all, competition was nonexistent. Everyone lived in harmony, gathering daily to feast, play games like pitch-pot or backgammon, or engage in leisurely rounds of chess or cards.
Nothing here provoked anger. Even the once-fiery temperaments of elder immortals had mellowed into tranquility over time.
There were no problems to ponder, either. Years of disuse had slowed their minds—the longer one had been ascended, the more pronounced this became. Sometimes, when Xu Shulou asked a question, they’d pause with a puzzled “Hmm?” before answering at a leisurely pace.
With everyone’s personalities so similar, Xu Shulou often found their faces indistinct, even struggling to tell them apart.
Many kept celestial steeds, cranes, or rabbits as companions, and they encouraged her to visit the Beast Taming Hall if she ever felt lonely, to choose a creature of her own.
Xu Shulou went for a visit and saw a meadow full of rabbits leisurely grazing. No one tended to them—they ate when hungry, drank when thirsty, occasionally reproduced, and lived in complete freedom. She wandered among them, indulging in petting as many as she pleased, then left without taking a single one.
Having abandoned further cultivation, the immortals here had all remained at the level of their ascension. Some had even regressed over the years due to idleness.
Xu Shulou felt she could defeat at least ninety percent of them, which left her somewhat disappointed. She had hoped to learn more profound techniques here and encounter more formidable opponents.
The number of people she saw daily was limited, as many immortals never left their dwellings. Someone told her that among them were those who had once attended every banquet but had eventually grown weary of it.
Naturally, Xu Shulou had inquired everywhere about a way to return to the mortal world. Most claimed ignorance, though a few mentioned that a passage had once existed—until a great immortal of the celestial realm sealed it a thousand years ago. Others had tried to find a way to reopen it, but none had succeeded.
"Why would you want to go back?" they clamored. "Isn't this place good enough?"
"Exactly! You've already seen everything the mortal world has to offer. Why insist on returning?"
"If there's someone you miss, just wait for them to ascend. They'll join you here eventually."
Xu Shulou fell silent. She didn’t know how to explain—she had promised her junior sister she would return. Besides, it wasn’t just people she missed, but the mortal world itself—the lively music of prosperous streets, the bustling markets stretching for miles.
"This place is wonderful," someone said to her. "Back in the lower realm, I fought tooth and nail over a single magical artifact. Here, we’re free from such troubles."
"Indeed, no conflicts, no upheavals. This is like an ideal world."
An ideal world?
Xu Shulou had no rebuttal. Here, there was no need to labor for survival, no struggles—just an existence that embodied the dreams of most, a culmination of all that was good.
From the flawless scenery to the endless flow of fine wine, everything was provided without cost. One only needed to reach out and take.
Some desires seemed ungrateful to voice—what more could one want, having attained immortality and absolute freedom?
Xu Shulou didn’t deny that she was enjoying it all at this moment. Yet she couldn’t imagine herself, a thousand years from now, still waking each day only to meander to the garden, wine cup in hand, passing the hours in idle chatter before drifting back to bed.
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