The unique fragrance of the three peaches blended together, filling the air with an irresistible aroma that could grant a mortal a thousand years of life.
The seven fairies neatly arranged the flower baskets on the table, and the peaches that all the immortals dreamed of were piled up into a small mountain.
Not to mention the fairies, even Guanyin herself would take notice.
"Mother, what about us?" the Seventh Fairy asked hurriedly.
"Regardless of background!" the Queen Mother said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, may I ask what the first challenge is?" the Flower Fairy asked impatiently.
The Queen Mother had prepared three trials, but now that the Bodhisattva had arrived, she said, "Venerable One, how about you set the question for the first trial?"
"I dare not defy Heaven's will," Guanyin said with a smile.
The fairies stared at her expectantly. Guanyin hesitated for a moment, then said:
"The peaches before me are displayed in baskets. I have also heard that ginseng fruit falls when it encounters gold and withers when it encounters wood, and must be displayed in porcelain. For this first test, the fairies can weave a basket to hold something that cannot be held."
After she finished speaking, she looked at the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother nodded, acknowledging the first hurdle.
The fairies immediately fell into deep thought.
Not all the fairies present are human immortals; some are 'deities' who are gods of incense offerings, such as the Seven Fairies in Clothes, and so on.
After passing the first test and eating the peaches of immortality that have lasted for three thousand years, they will be able to attain the fourth level of the visualization technique. In the future, they will leave the 'list of immortals' and become 'human immortals', or even earth immortals.
The remaining fairies who became human immortals or earth immortals, although they did not need the peaches of immortality that lasted three thousand years, could still be used to reward their disciples.
Moreover, if they want to obtain peaches that are six or nine thousand years old, they must pass this first hurdle, so they are racking their brains for a solution.
"Please, Queen Mother and Bodhisattva, examine this."
The fairies who were pondering quickly looked up, thinking it was some immortal being, but they saw the fair maiden with fair skin and a clear complexion, carrying a bamboo basket.
"Fairy of Gushe, what is this?" the Queen Mother asked.
“A fish basket,” Yang Qinglan explained.
"A fish basket?" the Peony Fairy asked. "Gushe, are there any baskets in the world that can't hold fish?"
Chang'e sneered: "Does the Peony Fairy mean that Gu She is not as good as you and cannot understand the meaning of the Queen Mother of the West and the Bodhisattva's riddle?"
The Flower Fairy and Chang'e were at odds. Peonies were under the Flower Fairy's command, so Chang'e naturally humiliated her every time she saw her, especially since the Flower Fairy had first made sarcastic remarks about the Goddess of Gusha.
In the cultivation world, strength is paramount, but the Heavenly Palace has been at peace for a long time, so strength has gradually become less important, and fairies now compete more on beauty.
In terms of beauty, Chang'e, Gu She (Yang Qinglan), and Wushan (Yaochi) are in a class of their own. Of these three, only Wushan is the adopted daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, so no one dares to offend her. The other two are thorns in the side of all the fairies.
When the Heavenly Palace was first established, Chang'e was always the lead dancer at every grand banquet. Even now, when the Heavenly Palace is almost far beyond the heavens, she is still the lead dancer. How could the other fairies not hate her for this?
Those with ability resented her for only showing off her looks; those without ability hated her even more for living a better life than them just because of her appearance. In addition, Chang'e's aloofness made her even more envied.
The stories of Chang'e flying to the moon, stealing the elixir of immortality, and even Wu Gang chopping down a tree in the moon palace are all just rumors spread by various fairies and plants.
Therefore, Chang'e was particularly displeased with the Flower Fairy, who was the queen of all flowers—she disdained to cause trouble for those flower fairies.
The Goddess of Gusha is a little better; at most, she won't agree to any gatherings that anyone invites her to. Her biggest mistake is being friends with Chang'e.
These two solitary fairies' friendship wouldn't normally be easily known by others, but since Chang'e gave Gu She the Moon Laurel Palace Lantern, Gu She always carried that lantern when she went out at night.
Laurel trees only exist in the moon palace.
"You're really brave! Guanyin is right here!" (Yaochi whispers to Yang Qinglan)
—Could she really kill me on the spot? (Yang Qinglan wasn't afraid at all)
“Since Peony has questions, Gushe, why don’t you demonstrate?” the Queen Mother said with a smile. “If you can bring back the carp fairy from the Milky Way, then you’ll have passed this test.”
“Sister, I’ll go with you.” Chang’e stood up.
“I’ll go take a look too!” Li Qianxia also got up.
"Your Majesty, I'd like to be a witness," Yaochi said with a smile, asking the Queen Mother for permission. The Queen Mother smiled and nodded.
The four of them rode on clouds and left Yaochi, flying towards the Milky Way.
Inside the Jade Pool, Guanyin pointed her finger, and a picture of the four people appeared.
The four figures, their robes fluttering, stood on auspicious clouds, accompanied by auspicious energy, resembling goddesses from the Dunhuang murals. Their appearance, attire, and demeanor fulfilled every mortal's fantasy of a goddess.
Auspicious clouds arrived on the Milky Way, and Yang Qinglan stepped out alone on a golden cloud.
“Now that we have the fish basket, we're missing a rope. I'll lend it to you.” Yaochi took the silk ribbon from her arm.
Worried that Yang Qinglan's fish basket wouldn't be good enough, she lent her this silk ribbon that could bring good fortune and ward off disaster.
Yang Qinglan understood her thoughts, nodded, took the blue ribbon, tied it to the fish basket, and threw the fish basket into the Milky Way as if drawing water.
Immortals come and go on the Milky Way. The carp immortals in the river have heard some Taoist teachings, but they are no match for the Great King Linggan, who is always in front of Guanyin.
With the addition of the Jade Pool's ribbons, the fish basket successfully brought the carp fairy ashore in just one go.
"Hey!" Just as Yang Qinglan put away the fish basket, Li Qianxia suddenly had a brilliant idea.
"I've got an idea!" she clapped her hands and laughed. "They say it's like trying to fill a basket with water, but it's all for nothing. So I'll weave a special basket for filling baskets with water!"
"I want to see!" Yaochi said with a smile as she looked at Li Qianxia.
Fetching water with a bamboo basket is something anyone with a bit of magical power can do, but to pass the first test set by Guanyin, such a simple method is not allowed.
Li Qianxia used both hands, the giant Kun spewed water and the roc spewed mist, the water and mist combined to weave a basket.
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