novelapdf Chapter 31 Planting Gourd Vine
Chapter 31 Planting Gourd Vine
Within the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, the pure Qi of Yi Wood lingers like mist, and the Daoist atmosphere is as peaceful as water. This place is one of the most blessed lands in the primordial world, forming a tranquil world of its own, seemingly separated from the chaos and turmoil of the outside world.
In the center of the courtyard, the four-symbol banana tree casts dappled light and shadow, and the patterns on its branches and leaves are faintly visible, as if each leaf carries a profound truth of the universe.
Beneath the tree, the Longevity Sovereign, dressed in a blue Taoist robe and whose aura blended seamlessly with the Yi Wood Immortal Realm, sat cross-legged on a futon, explaining the wonders of the life force circulation in the "Yi Wood True Scripture" to the two young Taoist boys, Qingfeng and Mingyue, who stood before her.
His voice was clear and melodious, every word a gem, expounding the profound truths of the withering and flourishing of plants and the cycle of life. He spoke of how a seed absorbs the essence of the earth to sprout, and how a towering tree adapts to the changing seasons, blooming and withering. His words were profound yet simple, containing the mysteries of the great Dao.
Not only were the two children completely absorbed in the sermon, their minds rising and falling with the sermon's melody, but even the exotic flowers, rare herbs, and magical plants in the courtyard swayed gently, their rhythmic breathing seemingly echoing the profound sermon's cadence, making the entire courtyard even more vibrant.
Qingfeng Mingyue's face was tense, she was completely focused, afraid of missing a single word.
They had only recently broken through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, their primordial spirits were just beginning to condense, and their physical bodies still needed refinement. This was a crucial period for them to consolidate their foundation and gain a clear understanding of their own path to enlightenment.
Every sermon by the Lord (they habitually call the Lord of Longevity "Lord," since he usually teaches them in his avatars) is like a long-awaited rain after a drought, incredibly precious to them, and the cornerstone for laying the foundation for their future path.
However, halfway through the sermon, the speaker was analyzing the subtle point that "when Yi wood meets spring, vitality arises from the Niwan Palace, follows the meridians and guides the liver qi, transforms into Shaoyang, and circulates endlessly throughout the body."
Wanshou Yuanjun suddenly stopped, her eyes smiling, gentle and warm, gazing into the distance towards the direction of the Cloud Recesses beyond the temple, as if she had pierced through layers of spatial barriers.
As Qingfeng and Mingyue listened, their minds were stirred, and the Taiyi-level Yi Wood Immortal Power within their bodies began to circulate actively, as if trying to simulate the vitality of spring. When they saw the master suddenly stop, they first looked puzzled, then exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
The clever and quick-witted Mingyue's mind worked fast. Her big, dark eyes lit up, filled with anticipation and certainty, and she asked in a clear voice:
"Master, has Master Hongyun and... another master returned?"
She hesitated for a moment, unsure how to address Zhen Yuanzi, the one with a deeper aura and one with the master's origin, in front of Wanshou Yuanjun, but with whom she had less contact on a daily basis.
Wanshou Yuanjun smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Indeed, they have returned and have arrived at the mountain gate."
As soon as he finished speaking, the clouds and mist that lingered outside Wuzhuang Temple all year round, seemingly ordinary yet containing mysterious spatial folds, began to ripple slightly, like two pebbles thrown into a calm lake.
Two streaks of light, one yellow and one red, moved with apparent slowness yet swift speed, like shooting stars streaking across the sky. They carried a rhythm perfectly in harmony with the protective array of Longevity Mountain, gracefully passing through the array's barrier and landing silently in the courtyard, without disturbing a speck of dust. The light faded, revealing the figures of Zhen Yuanzi and the Red Cloud Ancestor.
Zhen Yuanzi was still wearing an unassuming, earth-yellow, simple Taoist robe. His face was peaceful, his eyes were deep like an ancient well, and his aura was harmonious and natural, faintly connected with the vast spiritual energy of the earth veins of the entire Wanshou Mountain. He was incredibly powerful, as if he were a part of this land.
Meanwhile, the Old Ancestor Hongyun was dressed in a crimson Taoist robe, with his usual carefree and cheerful smile on his face. His eyes were clear and bright, and he was surrounded by auspicious clouds, making him appear carefree and unrestrained.
Both of them had a more abundant and refined aura than when they left, clearly indicating that although their trip to Buzhou Mountain had brought them encounters with many powerful figures and some ups and downs, they had ultimately gained a lot, with their Dao hearts improving and their understanding of the laws of heaven and earth deepening.
"Haha, you're back! Longevity Hill is so peaceful and carefree! Is everything alright in the mountains?"
Hongyun was impatient. As soon as he stood up, his hearty laughter rang out. He first greeted Wanshou Yuanjun, and then his gaze habitually swept over the Four Symbols Banana Tree, the innate spiritual root that supported the grandeur of Wuzhuang Temple, with a hint of concern. Seeing that the precious tree was lush and its Daoist energy was flowing smoothly, he nodded in satisfaction, as if he had returned to his own home.
Zhen Yuanzi also smiled gently and nodded slightly to his clone, Wanshou Yuanjun. In an instant, their divine senses exchanged countless messages, and their hearts were in sync. There was no need for many words between the main body and the clone; everything was understood without being spoken.
His gaze then swept over Qingfeng and Mingyue, who were hurriedly bowing respectfully. With a gentle flick of his sleeve, a mild yet irresistible force lifted the two children steadily up, and he said softly:
"Rise, no need for formalities. Judging from your auras, you are calm and composed, with the vitality of the Yi Wood element. It seems you haven't been slacking off lately, and your cultivation levels have stabilized considerably. Very good."
Wanshou Yuanjun rose. As an avatar formed from the thoughts and a portion of Zhen Yuanzi's original essence, he naturally knew all of the original's experiences and gains, and responded with a smile:
"My lord, fellow Daoist Hongyun, you have had a long journey. Everything is well in the mountains, all the formations are functioning normally, and the spiritual energy is circulating smoothly."
The nurturing of the golden dragon's body went quite smoothly. The imperial dragon energy contained within it gradually merged with the innate Geng metal energy, its intelligence grew steadily, and its aura became increasingly profound and powerful.
However, the complete gestation and awakening of the true spirit involves the reshaping of the very origin, which is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it still requires considerable time, patience, and favorable circumstances.
He briefly explained the situation inside the temple, especially the progress of nurturing the nine-clawed golden dragon's body with its immense potential.
After exchanging greetings, Zhen Yuanzi didn't waste time with pleasantries and went straight to the important matter of his trip and its findings.
With another flick of his sleeve, a rich and peaceful earth-yellow light flashed, and a ball of light, condensed from pure earth essence and covered with countless fine runes, appeared steadily in the open space of the courtyard.
Inside the sphere of light, a vibrant vine, imbued with the essence of Dao, could be faintly seen winding and coiling. Seven colors of precious light—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—appeared and disappeared on the vine. Beside it, a wisp of spiritual liquid, exuding a chaotic aura and seemingly containing boundless vitality, flowed slowly, its essence intertwining with the vine's aura.
"This is a great opportunity gained from this trip to Buzhou Mountain."
Zhen Yuanzi explained to Wanshou Yuanjun, and at the same time, he also spoke to Qingfeng Mingyue, who was standing to the side with wide eyes, full of curiosity and amazement.
"It is an innate spiritual root - the gourd vine. This vine is born from the innate creation, and it nurtures seven innate treasure gourds, each with its own mysteries, corresponding to different laws of the Great Dao. They are still growing and have not yet reached full maturity."
The clump beside it is the primordial chaotic liquid that accompanies it, formed from the primordial chaotic energy remaining at the beginning of creation. It has an incredible effect on nourishing spiritual roots and igniting life force.
Hongyun couldn't help but add, describing with a hint of excitement how she discovered the vine, how she felt a connection with it, and how she obtained the gourd vine through a predestined connection.
He pointed in particular to the crimson gourd on the vine that best matched his own Dao of Clouds and carefree aura, and said with a mixture of pride and gratitude:
"This treasure is indeed destined for me; our auras are connected. Once it matures, it will surely become a powerful and wondrous protective artifact!"
Wanshou Yuanjun took a few steps closer and observed carefully. He had inherited all of Zhen Yuanzi's memories, knowledge, and some of his supernatural powers.
Naturally, one could clearly sense the faint aura of merit and profound yellow surrounding the gourd vine (because it nurtured spiritual treasures and had contributed to heaven and earth) and the boundless, pure, innate vitality that seemed capable of giving birth to all things. One could nod in admiration.
"Indeed extraordinary! Innate spiritual treasures are extremely rare, and those that can simultaneously nurture multiple innate spiritual treasures are even rarer, truly an anomaly in the primordial world."
Transplanting it back to the spiritually rich soil of Longevity Mountain, protecting it from external disturbances, is a wise move, far better than leaving it to suffer the erosion of wind and rain and the entanglements of karma on Buzhou Mountain.
Then, Zhen Yuanzi's expression became even more solemn. He took out the divine soil—the Nine Heavens Breath Soil—that he had obtained from the core depths of Buzhou Mountain. It shimmered with nine-colored light, exuded a vast and profound aura, and resembled the source of the Earth Mother's energy.