### Chapter 157: Serendipitous Fortune, Mystical Beings, and the Millennium Vermilion Fruit - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

### Chapter 157: Serendipitous Fortune, Mystical Beings, and the Millennium Vermilion Fruit Su Mo was jolted from his reverie by Xu Miaoyin's voice. Looking at Kong Bing, who was bound before him, he felt a headache brewing. "Well, if that's the case, let's wait until she wakes up." "As for where, let's keep her in our room for now." "In case she wakes unexpectedly, we’ll be the first to know." "Alright." With that, Xu Miaoyin picked up Kong Bing, carrying her to a corner of the room. To prevent her from sitting on the cold floor, Xu Miaoyin thoughtfully placed a cushion beneath her. After setting everything in place, the two retired to bed, shedding their clothes for sleep. Since today had been a promising start, Su Mo decided to forego practicing the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, opting to observe further. By doing so, he hoped to gather more intelligence on the Earthly Immortal Realm. Seeing that Su Mo had no intention of continuing his training, Xu Miaoyin nestled in his embrace, offering reassurance. "My dear, you shouldn't push too hard. Balancing effort and rest is just as important." "Only in this way can one achieve the highest levels in martial arts." "Tonight, I'll let you rest." "Get some sleep." Su Mo chuckled softly. "My love, I have quite a few matters to mull over." "You get some rest first." "Alright then, I'm off to dreamland." Soon, Xu Miaoyin's gentle, rhythmic breathing filled the room. Having high martial prowess had its perks: sleep came easily whenever desired, and with a simple thought, she was asleep. Holding Xu Miaoyin close, Su Mo began reviewing his life's simulation. In this narrative span, the simulated Su Mo had turned six. Blessed with an innate fortune, he skirted dangers seamlessly, engaging in mischief and exploration with boundless enthusiasm. With parents who doted on him as their late-born treasure, in Little Stone Village, he was a young tyrant of the carefree sort. Due to his overwhelmingly good luck, unknown dangers remained just that—unknown. His antics often frightened the village folk. One such occasion saw him climbing atop a villager's thatched roof and leaping down, unharmed, while an elderly woman fainted from shock. His curiosity about the nearby Celestial Pillar Mountain was insatiable. Despite everyone avoiding the place, he harbored a yearning to scale its highest peak. Once, practicing his climbing, he ascended a nearby tall fir tree, prompting the villagers to pile hay beneath, anticipating his fall. But he merely climbed down casually, leaving everyone speechless. Realizing their son was too mischievous, his parents eventually sent him to study with his third brother-in-law, a wealthy gentleman with a private tutor. Initially, unfamiliarity with the new environment made him seem obedient, leading his brother-in-law to suspect deceit on his parents' part. However, after two years, having learned basic literacy and grown accustomed, his true, mischievous nature emerged, creating chaos at his brother-in-law's estate. Despite the havoc, his formidable third sister ensured her husband remained silent on the matter. In short order, due to unrestrained freedom, he even climbed the local Daoist temple's statues to urinate, angering the priests who marched him home. Feeling a pang of conscience, his third sister brought him back to his parents, knowing something had to change. His parents, understanding the turmoil he'd caused, decided to keep him. His return sparked apprehension among villagers, wary of disruption. Yet, older and slightly wiser at eight, he saw past childish antics to embrace more 'manly' endeavors. On a misty dawn, armed with a sickle and a pair of stolen steamed buns, he ventured towards Celestial Pillar Mountain. With thirteen peaks, he aimed to conquer the shortest first, resolved to one day reach the top. The path was thorn-covered and rugged, but undeterred, he carved his own way with the sickle. Unconsciously he'd devoured his buns, finding himself hungry. Late summer adorned the mountains with brightly colored wild fruits, tempting yet untouchable due to warnings of toxicity from vivid hues. Heeding his tutor's words, he refrained, pressing onward. Reaching a midpoint, a broken path halted him, impossible yet intimidating. Disheartened, about to retreat, he noticed a crevice below. Something lurked within, prompting both fear and childhood warnings of a snake that devours children to paralyze him. Yet no serpent emerged. Instead, a tiny horse carrying an even tinier rider scrambled out. The miniature horse, no taller than a foot and a kaleidoscope of colors, mirrored its larger counterparts. Its rider, no more than six inches tall with fair, smooth skin, donned a red outfit and jaunty straw hat, appearing like a traveler on a miniature journey. Overcome with delight at this pint-sized spectacle, he reached out, desiring to take them home. The tiny beings, unaccustomed to intrusion in their remote abode, lacked an instinct for caution. Easily captured, the diminutive rider panicked, raising a commotion. "You brat! I am the King of Herb Crow Mountain! Release me, or else face dire consequences!" The little horse neighed alongside, echoing its companion's outrage. Unfazed by their warnings, his childhood mischief flared. Never one for threats—especially with hunger gnawing at him, and tantalizing aromas emanating from his captives—he impulsively bit off the tiny rider's head, gulping it down. "King of what? Saying such things to me!" With a few chews, the taste like exquisite mushrooms, he consumed the rest of both rider and horse, find satisfaction in his meal. With a full belly and renewed vigor, a warm glow permeated, erasing his fatigue. Intrigued by the discovery, he scoured the crevice, hoping for more. Little did he know his intake was a rare find: a meat Ganoderma, its rider male and horse female. For mortals, consuming them granted extended life and refined physical essence, adding four hundred ninety years to one's lifespan. For those on the path of cultivation, it bypassed nearly five centuries of effort. Their venture outside had intersected with his journey by sheer happenstance. Unaware of his gained longevity and foundation, he still wanted more out of this adventure. Yet finding nothing more, he eventually moved on from his search, unknowingly poised for a prosperous destiny. ### As You Prepare to Descend the Mountain As you contemplate returning downhill, your gaze drifts to the three-meter gap in the mountain path. A surge of daring fills you, convinced you can leap across it. **At this point, you must choose:** 1. **Option One**: Leap across the gap and continue climbing. 2. **Option Two**: Retrace your steps and return home, fetch a ladder, and attempt the climb again. 3. **Option Three**: Persist in searching the cliff’s crevice, determined to uncover something valuable. Faced with these options, Su Mo meticulously weighed his choices. The mini-person and horse he consumed were undoubtedly some remarkable treasures, perhaps akin to the legendary Ginseng Dolls. Whether consumed by an ordinary person or a cultivator, the effect was boundless. Perhaps he truly could leap the three-meter breach. Returning home or continuing to dig into the cliff held little appeal for him. His simulation self seemed to be blessed with remarkable fortune—perhaps even a fall wouldn’t hurt him. With resolution, Su Mo chose the first option. **Simulation Continuation:** You take a few steps back, feeling a gust beneath your feet as you effortlessly leap across the broken path. Upon landing, your confidence swells—certain it's the effect of the mini-person and horse. Emboldened, you continue ascending the peak. After consuming the mystical beings, fatigue seems a distant memory. Energy pulses through you, sharp and invigorating, leaving you in awe of the surrounding beauty, your mind devoid of burdens. By the time you reach the summit, it's afternoon. The setting sun transforms the sky into a canvas of crimson hues. Basking in this breathtaking vista, you feel invincible, as though no challenge is insurmountable in this world. With a triumphant shout echoing across the landscape, you prepare to descend. But suddenly at the path back down, a fruit tree inexplicably springs from the cliffside. The tree is jade-like in texture, with emerald leaves and deep red fruits with smooth, finely detailed skins, reminiscent of blood-red gems under the sunset. It's the Millennium Vermilion Fruit! Seeing this miraculous tree, Su Mo’s excitement overflows. Previously, Meng Hongshang had specifically mentioned these fruits. Each ripe fruit could extend a mortal's life by sixty years and grant cultivators sixty years of cultivation. Even the leftover peels could be used to brew elixirs that boost strength. An encounter with such a rare treasure required immense fortune. And the earlier encounter with the enigmatic mini-person and horse was equally extraordinary. To stumble upon both treasures at once undoubtedly confirmed his blessed fortune. **Simulation Continued:** You drool at the sight of the unexpected fruit tree and hurriedly climb up to harvest the bounty. There are nine large fruits and thirty-six smaller ones. You greedily consume all nine large fruits, the taste so divine you swallow them whole, skins and all. However, the smaller fruits are too sour. After thirty, your taste buds demand a break. You pocket the remaining six, hoping to ripen them alongside apples back home. But as you prepare to climb back down, the tree rapidly retracts into the rock crevice, leaving you with nothing to grip. Suddenly devoid of support, you plummet towards the abyss below. Regret floods your thoughts, lamenting your greed and the calamity it brought. As you fall, a sword light streaks from the distance, carrying a person who swoops you up on a flying sword. Tension eases as you land in a firm, protective embrace. Upon reopening your eyes, you've been brought safely to the mountain's base. The man who saved you stands before you—a middle-aged Daoist with a lean face and a goatee. The Daoist gazes at you curiously, sensing your extraordinary fortune and outstanding spiritual affinity. A fruity aroma drifts from your pants pocket, which immediately catches the Daoist's attention as he identifies six vermilion fruits. "Where are your parents?" "How could they let you explore the mountain alone?" Faced with your savior, shock renders you speechless. What? People can fly? Quickly, you kneel before the Daoist, pleading. "Immortal, Immortal!" "Please, accept me as your disciple!" "I wish to soar in the sky like you!" The Daoist, surprised by your sudden plea, admires your cleverness. Your exceptional talents further fuel his desire to take you as a pupil. But his sect weighs both potential and character. He questions whether you experienced a stroke of fortune on the mountaintop. Cleverly selective in your revelation, you recount your encounter with the fruit tree but omit the consumption of the mini-person and horse, fearing the immortal’s disapproval. Upon hearing your tale, the Daoist marvels at your incredible luck. He informs you that you've consumed the Millennium Vermilion Fruit—each one a phenomenal stroke of fortune, making your situation truly exceptional. In response, you hastily offer the remaining six fruits. "Immortal, these are the leftover fruits. Please, accept them as my tribute to you!" The Daoist, seeing your sincerity and teachability, feels pleased. He then reveals his identity: he is Yichen Zhenren, disciple of the current leader of Shushan. Should you be willing, he invites you to join him at Shushan. However, he insists on first consulting your parents to seek their consent. (End of the Chapter)