Chapter 12: Bringing the Dead Back to Life Is Not That Difficult After All
Qin Wuxu walked down the street, his anger rising uncontrollably.
That Peter Parker—he doubted my golden ally? He doubted my immortal benefactor?
I had finally managed to clutch onto a powerful patron, and now you’re trying to ruin everything for me!
The Useless Prophet said, “Do you even understand what the immortal’s elixir means? Can the things from your world even compare?”
The Useless Prophet continued, “Let me give you just two examples to ponder. In the immortal realm where my benefactor dwells, there is a fruit called the Peaches of Immortality. Do you know what effect these peaches have?”
Spider-Man replied, “I don’t know.”
Swinging among the towering buildings of the sleepless city, Spider-Man Peter Parker found himself at a loss after the sharp rebuttal.
Kind-hearted yet trouble-prone Peter firmly believed that gaining power always came at a cost.
For instance, he gained the power of the spider but lost his uncle and some of his freedom.
The same applied to Dr. Banner, Captain America, Doctor Strange... all similar cases.
Gaining power also meant losing a great deal.
He could not believe that immortals could enhance one’s strength out of thin air without any sacrifice.
It simply did not fit his understanding.
But what the Useless Prophet said next left him momentarily speechless.
The Useless Prophet explained, “In the heavenly court where my benefactor resides, there is a goddess named the Queen Mother of the West. In her peach orchard, there grow Peaches of Immortality—three thousand six hundred in total. The first twelve hundred bear small flowers and fruit, ripening every three thousand years; those who eat become immortal and enlightened, with strong bodies and lightness. The next twelve hundred have layered blossoms and sweet fruit, ripening every six thousand years; those who eat them ascend to immortality and live forever. The last twelve hundred have purple stripes and yellow cores, ripening every nine thousand years; those who eat them live as long as heaven and earth, as ancient as the sun and moon.”
The Serpent Queen exclaimed, “Impossible! Even the rarest treasures of the world cannot grant immortality equal to heaven and earth or longevity alongside the sun and moon!”
A Golden Age warrior from the Martial Soul Hall said, “Even the lowest-grade Peaches of Immortality can grant ascension and enlightenment? @Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate, is this true, Immortal?”
The lifelong enemy of the mosquito muttered, “Slurp, sounds like these peaches taste pretty good! I’d love to try one.”
The Grand Celestial Master said, “I always thought the Peaches of Immortality were mere legend. Now that I see an immortal, I realize they truly exist! @Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate, Immortal, both myself and Miss Hu have the same question: Are these peaches really as miraculous as the legends say?”
The Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate replied, “They’re alright.”
Jiang Wang frowned.
How would he know the effects of the peaches?
He had never eaten one.
The Peach Banquets hosted by the Queen Mother of the West generally did not invite ordinary immortals.
Even celestial officers like Bima Wen couldn’t enter.
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Let alone the common celestial soldiers.
Bima Wen was at least a low-ranked celestial officer—he had a rank.
If ranked celestial officers couldn’t enter, the gatekeeping celestial soldiers certainly couldn’t. But he had heard from some soldiers chatting that the peaches in the orchard were indeed precious.
The peach orchard was guarded year-round by celestial soldiers and generals directly under the Jade Emperor’s authority, with ranks far above ordinary celestial soldiers.
The Useless Prophet asked, “@Spider-Man, so, do you believe me now?”
Spider-Man said, “@Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate, greetings, Immortal. I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Peter Parker, I live in the sleepless city, and I’m currently fighting crime! Everyone calls me Spider-Man.”
The Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate replied, “Hello, Parker. I am Jiang Wang, an ordinary celestial immortal.”
Jiang Wang held no ill will toward Peter Parker.
Spider-Man said, “Immortal, I have a small question I’d like to ask you.”
The Guardian replied, “Ask away.”
Spider-Man asked, “Immortal, do you have a way to bring someone back to life?”
The Useless Prophet interrupted, “No way, Parker. You still hold hope of resurrecting your uncle? I already told you, your uncle’s death is inevitable in your world. What has happened cannot be changed.”
The Serpent Queen said, “The dead cannot be revived.”
The Golden Age warrior from Martial Soul Hall said, “When a person dies, their path ends. Please, spare the Immortal from such troubles.”
The Grand Celestial Master said, “We believe in resting in peace. Since the person has passed, it’s best not to disturb them.”
The mosquito’s lifelong enemy fell silent.
Spider-Man said, “Alright, sorry. I was presumptuous.”
The Guardian of the Southern Heavenly Gate said, “Bringing someone back from the dead… it’s actually not difficult.”
In the world of the Primordial Journey to the West, Jiang Wang certainly didn’t dare claim he could fetch a dead person back.
Honestly, aside from reckless folk like Sun Wukong who dared to cross into the underworld and mark the Book of Life and Death, who else would dare cause trouble there?
Though the Heavenly Court governs the Six Realms, the underworld is also under its jurisdiction, yet in reality, the underworld enjoys vast autonomy.
The underworld has a powerful backer.
It is the existence of this backer that grants the underworld great independence.
If an immortal tries to snatch a soul from the underworld, the underworld will imprison them, and the Heavenly Court would not protest.
Such acts violate the celestial laws and invite punishment from above.
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No skinning, no bone stripping—surviving the thunder and fire of heaven is already a miracle; escaping alive? Impossible.
If it weren’t for the “Journey to the West,” Sun Wukong’s daring to tamper with the Book of Life and Death in the underworld, it would be incredible for anyone to walk out alive.
On the journey to the West, the only true instance of rescuing someone from the underworld was when the Supreme Elder Lord gave a golden elixir to the King of the Wujiguo Kingdom.
The King of Wujiguo was a casualty in the conflict between Buddhism and Daoism.
A devout monk, the King was sent to the west by the Buddha through Manjushri Bodhisattva to attain Arhat status.
Because they couldn’t meet in their true forms, Manjushri disguised himself as a mortal monk.
The King, suspicious of Manjushri’s monk disguise, ordered him to be soaked for three days and nights.
Later, the Six Jia golden body rescued Manjushri and reported the incident to the Buddha.
The Buddha then sent the Azure Lion to push the King into a well to be soaked for three years.
During those three years, the King’s physical body remained, but he was effectively dead; his soul had already returned to the underworld.
The Supreme Elder Lord gave the King a golden elixir to win him over and prevent the Daoist territory from falling under Buddhist control.
That golden elixir was well worth it—the King did not follow Manjushri to the West to become an Arhat.
This incident exposed a flaw in Buddhism.
Monks preach detachment from the four desires and no greed, hatred, or delusion.
Yet Buddha and Manjushri embodied several of these very traits.
Of course, Jiang Wang would not judge the grand rivalry between Daoism and Buddhism—he was not of that level.
What mattered to him was the golden elixir crafted by the Elder Lord.
If he had enough spirit stones and studied the “Taiching Alchemy Primer,” perhaps he could also refine such an elixir.
But that was for the future.
Jiang Wang’s claim that resurrecting the dead was not difficult was not mere boasting.
In Peter Parker’s world, there were many ways to bring someone back.
Hovering over the sleepless city, Peter Parker was momentarily stunned upon seeing Jiang Wang’s message.
He nearly collided with a moving car in his momentary distraction, but relying on his spider-sense, he quickly shot a web and clung to a nearby building.