Xu Fang pondered the question posed by the Queen Mother of the West but found no answer.
After all, Xu Fang didn't understand the situation of the Kai Ming Beast Lu Wu. All he knew was that it was a divine beast of Kunlun, guarding the nine gates of Kunlun Mountain.
This matter had already been dismissed by the Queen Mother of the West.
The Kai Ming Beast was a gatekeeper, but not of the main gate of Kunlun Mountain, but of nine gates whose reality was difficult to discern.
Xu Fang couldn't figure it out and didn't dwell on it, looking up at the Queen Mother of the West.
Seeing this, the Queen Mother of the West smiled and began to explain to Xu Fang.
"The thoughts of fellow Daoist Xu Fang were also considered by the many fellow Daoists residing on Kunlun Mountain. Furthermore, the Kai Ming Beast guards those nine mysterious gates, naturally attracting the covetousness of many beings who wish to explore their secrets."
The Queen Mother of the West, who had once established a dojo on the Western Kunlun to cultivate, spoke with ease as she recounted these matters, quickly revealing the secret of the Kai Ming Beast Lu Wu to Xu Fang.
According to the Queen Mother of the West, the Kai Ming Beast was so divine, and the nine gates it guarded were so mysterious, that they were naturally eerie and attracted attention.
Thus, over the years, both the immortals residing on Kunlun Mountain and those who heard of this matter had harbored intentions towards the Kai Ming Beast Lu Wu.
What was even more baffling was that the Kai Ming Beast Lu Wu, despite guarding nine eerie gates and having existed since Kunlun's inception, had not transformed and its abilities were rather weak.
It was very easy for beings to suppress the Kai Ming Beast, yet each time they failed to glean any information about the nine gates from it.
Moreover, the Kai Ming Beast was incredibly fierce and would never yield. Whenever suppressed by a being, it would defiantly self-detonate.
"However, the most incredible thing is that after the Kai Ming Beast dies, it reappears in Kunlun Mountain after some time, as if it had never experienced death."
The Queen Mother of the West spoke with emotion at this point.
She had personally witnessed the Kai Ming Beast self-detonate before her eyes, blowing up the entire mountain.
Yet, when she emerged from seclusion to search for spiritual roots to refine pills, she saw the Kai Ming Beast frolicking about in Kunlun Mountain, appearing as if it had never died before.
"Resurrection?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Fang's eyes widened in disbelief. How was this possible!
"It is just so. The Kai Ming Beast dies and lives again, lives and dies again, an untold number of times now."
The Queen Mother of the West replied, stating that this was the greatest mystery of her immortal life during her cultivation on the Western Kunlun.
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang does not believe. Turn back and look."
As the Queen Mother of the West spoke, seeing Xu Fang's uncertainty, she pointed to the place where the Kai Ming Beast had perished.
Xu Fang turned back and indeed, the flesh and blood of the Kai Ming Beast, which had merged with the mountainside, was now disappearing at a visible speed.
A surge of aura then shot towards the sky, spiraling in the air before splitting into nine and heading in as many directions, scattering across Kunlun Mountain.
Xu Fang watched, dumbfounded. It was truly resurrecting!
"Holy cow! No way, is it really that magical?"
"This is fake, how is it possible!"
"I was thinking, even if the Kai Ming Beast can revive, the pain of each death is not fake. How painful must that be!"
The Golden-Winged Great Peng and the other two listened to the Queen Mother of the West and watched the scene, sighing in amazement.
"Seeing is believing. I also didn't believe it at first."
The Queen Mother of the West said, "I have been pondering this for many years. I suspect that within those nine gates, there is something that allows the Kai Ming Beast to revive?"
The Queen Mother of the West revealed her conjecture, which made Xu Fang, who was in a state of existential doubt, brighten up, thinking of something.
"Spring water!"
Xu Fang blurted out. This cycle of death and rebirth, life and death and rebirth, wasn't it just like the games he played in his past life, where he resurrected in the spring water?
Could it be that beyond those nine gates, there really existed something akin to spring water, allowing the Kai Ming Beast to revive with full health repeatedly?
"Spring water? What is that?"
The Queen Mother of the West, of course, did not know what this was and asked with confusion. The Golden-Winged Great Peng and the other two also looked at Xu Fang with curiosity.
"It's nothing."
Xu Fang regained his senses and replied. Seeing their continued curiosity, he had to explain.
"I have always heard of a kind of spring water that is even more miraculous than the Three Lights Divine Water, capable of allowing beings to escape reincarnation and be reborn. I suppose the Kai Ming Beast is similar!"
"What Fellow Daoist Xu Fang has said is indeed quite miraculous."
The Queen Mother of the West pondered for a moment, confirming she had never heard such a rumor, but upon careful consideration, Xu Fang's words were not inconsistent with the Kai Ming Beast's situation.
Meanwhile, Xu Fang was lost in thought.
Could it be that beyond the nine gates, there really was spring water that helped the Kai Ming Beast?
The Kai Ming Beast died, soaked in spring water, and then bounded around Kunlun Mountain again?
This was a bit too modern and game-like, not at all fitting for the Primordial Era!
However, regardless of Xu Fang's thoughts, his curiosity about the nine gates guarded by the Kai Ming Beast intensified, and he quickly inquired.
"Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, what is the situation with these nine gates on Kunlun Mountain? Have they truly not been opened after all these years?"
"No!"
The Queen Mother of the West shook her head decisively, affirming this.
"Rather, there were endless beings seeking to scheme against the Kai Ming Beast, causing constant annoyance. I suppose it was precisely because of this that those three in the East, overwhelmed by the disturbance, spread the rumors that Fellow Daoist Xu Fang heard!"
Xu Fang nodded at this. It seemed he should best consult the San Qing to thoroughly understand what was going on.
Speaking of which, he really didn't want to step into Eastern Kunlun. He had no idea how he would face the stubborn fellow Daoist Tai Shang!
Seeing this, the Queen Mother of the West assumed Xu Fang was still troubled by his inability to capture the Kai Ming Beast. She quickly bowed to Xu Fang and said.
"Regardless of what, I still thank Fellow Daoist Xu Fang for his kind intentions. However, the Kai Ming Beast truly cannot be schemed against."
"If it were possible, over the years, those great beings would have followed the Kai Ming Beast to find the secret of the nine gates long ago."
Xu Fang quickly returned the bow.
"Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, what are you saying? This is what I should do. Since, as you say, the Kai Ming Beast cannot be schemed against, I will set up a few more great formations for you later!"
Xu Fang replied, immediately putting aside the matter of the Kai Ming Beast and escorting the injured immortal court female cultivators to the Treasure Distribution Rock.
Under the guidance of the Queen Mother of the West, he proceeded towards her former dojo.
However, after the incident with the Kai Ming Beast, even though Xu Fang had no intention of exploring the nine gates, he still needed to figure out why it could hear the words of treasures. How could he give up on this?
"It seems I must find an opportunity to investigate thoroughly."
Xu Fang looked back at the place where the Kai Ming Beast had perished, making a silent resolution.
However, the immediate priority was to send the Queen Mother of the West home. These matters could be discussed later.