A Zhuji Premier [IV]

"Yes, the journal. What about it?"

"First, you must know. This is a great secret we've been keeping. We are telling you because we are convinced we are all fated to be together at this point in time. The bond we've come to be sharing with you is only getting stronger. So, we decided to share this with you. Okay?"

"Okay."

Ju Feng replied with utmost concentration. The tone of the twins' voices indicated what they were about to tell him was of great seriousness. He glanced at Lin Da Xia before looking at Lin Cheung who nodded and reached for the journal. 

"This journal belonged to our grandfather, grandpa Lin Tian. We've read it. It was about a place our grandfather came across. In his account, he said it was a place he found by chance when he was looking for the Jade Heavens spirit fruit."

Lin Cheung hurriedly offered the journal to Jufeng.

"Read it, and you'll see what we're talking about."

"Quickly go through it. We'll wait while you do that." 

Lin Da Xia added.

Ju Feng quickly opened it and started to read.

"... I left JinJin village and entered the plain of Ivory Yonder. I was looking for the Jade Dragon spirit fruit when i came across the place. The Jade Heavens spirit fruit was the only thing in existence that could totally amend a cracked soul if three was eaten. One Jade Heavens could add millions of years to that of any cultivator, with cracked soul or not ...

I had on my finger, the red ring I had come across by chance in the hands of an antique dealer. This piece of treasure took most of my fortune which I had reluctantly departed with in great hopes. The ring the dealer had told me would locate the place where the heavens spirit fruit was existing. With unmatched hopes, I set out on my journey to find the fruit that would provide solutions to my problems. Nearing the place, the ring I had on me began to glow bright red.

That was how I came to find a place no one else was looking for. The ring had resonated with the massive gates of the place which suddenly appeared right in front of me. This gate, I didn't notice there before since it wasn't there in the first place.

There was no problem in me entering the yard. Inside, I saw a statue of what looked like a ruler. Upon closer checks, I realized I must have found the recreational forsaken palace of the ancient Jade Emperor, Wan Bao. This wasn't the imperial palace of the Lorran emperor, but was the secret palace of Jade emperor Wan Bao. The place where he would perform different recreational activities and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

The huge outer garden was filled with fruits and plants. My soul was overjoyed beyond words with this discovery. I was patiently checking the garden to see if i could find the Jade Dragon spirit fruit, when I met the guardians. I passed their test, but couldn't find the Jade Heavens spirit fruit. I found many other spirit fruits, some I didn't even know before then.

I took a few that I was permitted to, but my aim was the Jade Heavens spirit fruit. I know it could only be inside the closed palace. I tried but couldn't enter the palace at that time. I left the place and marked the spot down for future references. I'll be going back later when I become stronger than I am now.

My golden core had been damaged when I was attacked by Chieftain Deng Hou, of the Wonsong village. An attack based on the dispute between me and his brother Deng Hai.

Without the spirit fruit, i will surely die if i face the heavenly tribulations.....

....I'm going back inside the palace yard now to see if i can enter the palace or not. Until then..."

Jufeng was totally captivated after reading the brief journal, and was curious at the same time. It was a true journal of a golden-core cultivator who wanted to survive and live. He could only give his respect to the twins grandfather. After living in a world for a long period of time, a cultivator would realize that being alive and surviving, was better than death and reincarnation. 

But how did the twins come by something like this? He could only assume the grandfather was already dead from what he could make of the journal's account. The journal should be in the spatial sac of their grandfather where they would have no access to it. Unless, he gave it to them or they somehow managed to take it before his death. 

"Heaven's tears! How did you get hold of this box? I know it belonged to your grandfather, but I guess he wouldn't just give it to you. Would he?"

"Yes, you are right. He didn't give it to us. I found it in the place he was hiding it. For reasons known to him, he didn't keep it in his spatial sac. Neither did he kept it in the ancestral box. There was a day I was doing something behind a tree, when I saw him hiding something in a place close to it by chance. I couldn't check what it was for the trouble it would have brought me. But after he died, I remembered that day he was hiding the thing. I went to check the place and found this box."

Lin Cheung looked at his sister who nodded in acknowledgement.

"Anyway, we've already located the Ivory Yonder. The plain is not too far from here. We are planning on finding the palace next week during the sect's luminary week. We're thinking maybe you'll like to join us. So, what do you think?"

"Adventure? Of course, I'm in. But the three of us?"

"Are you scared?"

"Not really. It's just that we are only Zhuji cultivators whereas your grandfather was a golden core."

"Yea, we know. Isn't that the fun of adventure?"

"Yes, but..."

'...not to die.' Ju Feng concluded silently in his mind. What was he even thinking agreeing to the adventure.

"Alright, we'll see if there's any addition to the group later."

"Then, shall we." 

Ju Feng said with a smile while gesturing towards the training ground.

"There's so much I need to learn."

Followed by Lin Cheung and Lin Da Xia, Ju Feng flash-stepped towards an empty section of the area.