Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 474 What remains unchanged is the eye for appreciating art! Zhang Caogu!

Chen Fan did not go directly to Weiyang Palace, but instead took a detour and strolled to the vicinity of the Imperial Garden.

From a distant platform overlooking the water, the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted over, accompanied by a woman's melodious singing.

Chen Fan paused, found a secluded spot in the shadow of the artificial hill, and looked up.

On the brightly lit platform, a dozen or so concubines in colorful robes danced gracefully to the music. Their flowing sleeves and swaying skirts, illuminated by the palace lanterns, made them resemble a flock of colorful butterflies. The music was light and lively, and their dance was exquisite, creating a truly delightful sight.

Chen Fan watched quietly, his face expressionless.

He had seen many court dances and songs, from Emperor Taiyuan to Emperor Jianwen, and now Emperor Yongle and Emperor Wu; every dynasty had such scenes.

The concubines vied with each other in beauty and charm, all in an attempt to win the emperor's favor and gain glory or offspring.

As far as Chen Fan was concerned, he simply felt that these concubines were getting thinner and thinner, and were becoming more and more adept at swaying!

He watched several dynasties' worth of works and still felt that art really needed to be carefully appreciated in order to see its charm!

It's getting boring!

Chen Fan withdrew his gaze, turned around and quietly left, inwardly cursing Emperor Wu for his extravagance and debauchery!

After navigating several corridors, the outline of Weiyang Palace came into view in the twilight.

Chen Fan's figure was like a ghost, bypassing several eunuchs and palace maids to enter the palace gate.

The courtyard is lush with flowers and trees, and the evening breeze carries a faint fragrance of flowers.

He walked through the front yard with practiced ease and arrived at the back garden.

Beside the flowerbed, Chun Tao was squatting on the ground, carefully pruning a withered branch of a rose bush with a small pair of scissors in her hand. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing half of her fair arm, her expression focused, and she was softly humming an unknown tune. However, there always seemed to be a faint layer of sadness between her brows and eyes.

"Are you tending to these flowers and plants again?"

The voice came from behind her, and Chun Tao's hand trembled, almost cutting her finger with the scissors. She turned around abruptly and saw Chen Fan standing three steps away, still wearing that gray eunuch's robe, his face calm and his eyes deep.

"Little Chen!" Chun Tao exclaimed, both surprised and delighted. She dropped the scissors and stood up. "You're back?"

Chen Fan smiled slightly: "Yeah, I just finished my errand and stopped by to see you."

Chun Tao quickly walked up to him, looked him up and down, and seeing that he was dressed neatly and looked well, she breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought... I thought you had gone on another long trip. The other day, the people in the palace said that it was chaotic outside, and many flying immortals were fighting fiercely, which was very frightening."

"It's all just rumors," Chen Fan said calmly. "We're just a eunuch who raises horses; those immortals' affairs are none of our business."

"That's true..." Chun Tao wrinkled her nose and pulled him to sit down on the stone bench next to her. "But I still don't feel at ease. Little Chen, where have you been these days? When I ask Xiao Dengzi, he just stammers and can't give me a clear answer."

Chen Fan sat down beside her, his gaze sweeping over her slightly rounder face, and said gently, "I was doing some miscellaneous work for the palace, and went to several places. The journeys were long, so it took a while."

"What chores took so long to do?" Chun Tao asked, her eyes full of concern.

"Purchase some medicinal herbs," Chen Fan said casually. "His Majesty's health has been poor lately, and he needs some special medicinal ingredients."

Chuntao believed what was said, even though it was only half true.

She nodded, then lowered her voice and said, "I've heard... our Grandmaster of the Great Abyss is very powerful; even those immortals can't defeat him. Little Chen, have you seen that Grandmaster outside?"

Chen Fan remained expressionless: "I caught a glimpse of him once from afar; he was an elderly man with white hair and beard, and his aura was indeed extraordinary."

"I knew it!" Chun Tao's eyes lit up. "Everyone in the palace is saying that the Ninth Prince lives a secluded life, possesses great supernatural powers, and is the pillar of the Great Abyss. With him around, those outside immortals dare not act recklessly."

Chen Fan smiled but didn't reply.

Chuntao then went on and on about trivial matters in the palace: which concubine received a reward, which eunuch made a mistake and was punished, and which flowers were in full bloom.

Chen Fan listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two, his gaze lingering on her vivid features, a sense of peace settling over him.

In this deep palace, Chun Tao was one of the very few people who could make him lower his guard and feel a little warmth. She was simple, kind, and although she had some cleverness, she never had any intention of harming others.

"Oh, right," Chun Tao suddenly remembered something, took out a small cloth bag from her bosom, opened it layer by layer, and inside were several exquisite osmanthus cakes. "These were a gift from Her Majesty the Empress. I specially saved two for you. Try them, they're very sweet."

Chen Fan took it, picked up a piece, and put it in his mouth. The pastry was soft and chewy, with a rich osmanthus fragrance, sweet but not cloying.

"It's delicious," he said softly.

Chun Tao smiled, her eyes curving into crescents: "I'm glad you like it. Next time Her Majesty bestows a gift, I'll save some for you again."

The two talked for a while longer until it was completely dark, and the palace lanterns were lit one by one.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Fan stood up and said, "We should go now; we still have some things to take care of."

Chun Tao was a little reluctant to leave, but she knew there were many rules in the palace and it wasn't appropriate to stay long. She nodded: "Then take care on your journey and get some rest."

"Hmm." Chen Fan looked at her, then suddenly reached out and gently patted her shoulder. "Take good care of yourself in the palace, and don't overwork yourself."

Chun Tao blushed, lowered her head, and hummed in agreement.

Chen Fan said no more and turned to walk into the night.

As he walked out of Weiyang Palace, the gentleness on his face gradually faded, and he regained his usual calm and profound demeanor.

He still had the Soul-Nourishing Wood in his arms, and Tianxiangzi was still waiting in the Grass Valley, so he didn't have much time to waste.

A streak of bluish-gray light pierced the night sky, heading southeast.

In just half a day, the rolling mountain range where Caogu is located came into view.

Chen Fan concealed his aura, landed at the valley entrance, and stepped into the clouds.

The valley remained tranquil, filled with the rich fragrance of herbs. Without disturbing Gu Daozi and Old Man Long, he subtly extended his divine sense and sensed that Tianxiangzi's aura was not in her own alchemy room, but rather... in front of the cave dwelling where he had temporarily resided years ago.

Chen Fan paused slightly, then silently headed in that direction.

In front of the cave dwelling was a small medicinal field, usually overgrown with weeds. But now, a beautiful figure was seen squatting by the field, dressed in a plain white dress, her black hair loosely tied up – it was Tian Xiangzi. She held a small hoe in her hand, carefully planting each tender green seedling into the soil, her movements gentle and her expression focused.

A gentle evening breeze stirred, ruffling a few stray hairs across her forehead. The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow upon her.

Chen Fan stopped a few feet away and watched this scene quietly.

As if sensing something, Tianxiangzi paused in her movements and slowly raised her head. The moment their eyes met, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile.

"You're back." She put down the hoe, stood up, and patted the dirt off her hands.

Chen Fan approached, his gaze sweeping over the newly planted medicinal herb field: "What are you planting?"

"A few calming herbs," Tian Xiangzi said softly. "Having nothing to do, I saw this place was a waste to leave it uncultivated, so I planted some things. Your... seclusion went smoothly?"