novelapdf Chapter 89 Western Continent, Collecting Spiritual Roots
Chapter 89 Western Continent, Collecting Spiritual Roots
Chapter 89 Western Continent, Collecting Spiritual Roots
After leaving the blessed land of Longevity Mountain, Zhen Yuanzi and Ancestor Hongyun were like fish swimming into the sea and birds flying into the forest, truly immersing themselves in this vast, boundless, vibrant, and mysterious primordial world.
Their journey had no clear destination or specific goals; they followed their whims and went wherever their mood led them.
The core lies in the word "wandering," experiencing the flow of the Great Dao while walking, sitting, or lying down, sensing the traces of the laws while observing mountains and waters, and verifying the various insights gained from seclusion and meditation with the real and illusory primordial world, in order to achieve a deeper level of understanding and integration.
If one happens to encounter one or two opportunities along the way, that would be an unexpected joy, a gift from the Great Dao.
On this day, the two set foot on the land of the prehistoric western continent.
At this time, the western continent was far from the barren and desolate scene that would follow the cataclysmic catastrophe of later generations, where spiritual veins were destroyed and the land was scarred.
Before the full-scale outbreak of the Dragon-Han Calamity, it was bathed in the rich innate spiritual energy of the newly created world, and it was comparable to the prosperous Eastern Continent.
Looking out, the sky is high and the clouds are flowing and swirling, containing a unique sharpness of Geng metal.
Above the earth, majestic mountains and rivers rise, their veins clearly defined, the earth's energy abundant and stable. Countless exotic flowers, rare herbs, and precious spiritual trees, whose names are unknown, flourish, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, radiating a shimmering, precious light.
The spring water flows gently, the stream murmurs, and the mist carries a pure and refreshing air.
Even more so are the little demons and monsters who have gained sentience but have not yet taken human form, hiding among the mountains and caves, carefully absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, creating a primitive and vibrant scene.
Zhen Yuanzi walked among them, his deep gaze slowly sweeping over this still intact world.
He walked with ease, yet his divine sense was like the most intricate net, perceiving every faint pulsation of the earth's veins beneath his feet, as well as the subtle rhythms of the laws flowing in the air, slightly different from those of the East.
His primordial Dao heart resonated subtly with the western land, giving him a broader perspective on the true meaning of the earth's "great virtue carries all things."
Suddenly, he paused slightly, his gaze falling on a valley not far away.
There grew a small patch of strange spiritual herbs, pale gold in color and with sword-shaped leaves, swaying in the wind and emitting pure Geng metal energy and a unique Daoist charm that calmed the mind and spirit.
This herb is called "Sharp Gold Calming Heart Orchid". Although it is not extremely rare in the West today, it is quite rare because it combines the sharpness of metal and the calming properties of wood. Moreover, it is a variety that has not been included in the Wuzhuang Temple Medicinal Garden.
With a thought, Zhen Yuanzi did not use any earth-shattering supernatural powers. He simply flicked his sleeve, and a gentle yet irresistible magical power, like an invisible hand, silently and perfectly captured the "Sharp Gold Tranquil Heart Orchid" along with the dozens of squares of spiritual soil where its roots were located.
The next moment, a faint yellow light flashed, and the spiritual plant disappeared from its original spot. It was carefully placed in the blessed land opened up within the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," the earth book that contains all things, deep within his primordial spirit. There, it was nourished by spiritual rain and protected by the essence of the earth element.
The Red Cloud Ancestor, who was admiring the unique changing clouds in the West, happened to catch a glimpse of this scene and couldn't help but show a hint of curiosity on his face.
With a swift movement, like a flowing crimson cloud, he arrived beside Zhen Yuanzi, pointed to the valley where a small section had been cleared, and asked in confusion, "Brother Dao, you are now a supreme being of the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm, wielding innate treasures such as the Earth Book and the Apricot Yellow Banner, and there are also Four Symbols Banana Trees in the mountains..."
Why would a naturally gifted spiritual root like the innate gourd vine be interested in these—well, these spiritual plants that, while possessing some spirituality, aren't exactly top-tier? What use would they have for collecting them?
His question was genuine. At their level, ordinary spiritual roots and immortal herbs, unless possessing extremely special and heaven-defying effects, offered negligible improvement to their cultivation. In his view, Zhen Yuanzi's actions were indeed somewhat inconsistent with his status and cultivation level.
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi continued his work without stopping, strolling towards a "Jade Tree of the Cold Pool" that exuded a cool aura and had a trunk as green as jade. He skillfully transferred it into the Earth Book World with the same technique. His expression remained calm, his gaze still scanning ahead, searching for the next target.
Hongyun's question touched upon a vague memory and sigh deep within him, originating from "later generations."
He knew all too well that, in the original course of history, the Western Continent would have suffered a devastating destruction in the future. The Demon Ancestor Rahu detonated the Western Spiritual Veins, causing billions of miles of mountains and rivers to shatter, spiritual energy to dissipate, and all things to wither, turning it into a barren and bitterly cold land.
These spiritual root immortals, which are still quite common now, will probably only be found in some remaining blessed lands or the dojos of powerful beings in the future. Each one will become a rare spiritual material, attracting fierce competition from living beings.
He could not, and should not, reveal this weighty understanding concerning the dramatic changes to the future to Hongyun at this moment. Heavenly secrets should not be lightly divulged, especially future trajectories involving significant cause and effect, and even potentially triggering a backlash from the Great Dao.
More importantly, he did not want to disturb Hongyun's carefree state of mind at this moment, or the unpredictable chain reaction that might be triggered.
So, Zhen Yuanzi simply turned his head slightly, glanced at Hongyun, and smiled gently and casually. He explained in a flat tone, "Oh, they're not of much use. It's just that these spiritual plants have different shapes and unique auras, and they have a certain wild charm. I was thinking of taking them back to Wuzhuang Temple, either to decorate a corner of the courtyard or to transplant them to the edge of the herb garden, so that our temple can have a bit more vitality and color, and it will be more pleasing to the eye."
His reasoning sounded reasonable, even somewhat leisurely.
At their level of near-immortality, it's perfectly normal for them to have some personal, harmless collecting hobbies. Just like ordinary people enjoy planting flowers and grass in their yards, it's an instinctive pursuit of "beauty" and "vitality."
Upon hearing this, Ancestor Hongyun blinked, and a look of understanding and deep agreement instantly appeared on his face.
He was by nature free-spirited, and he felt that Zhen Yuanzi's actions were not abrupt at all, but rather quite in line with his Daoist heart, which pursued freedom and ease and valued a joyful state of mind.
He clapped his hands and laughed, "So that's how it is! Brother Dao, your words are excellent! Absolutely! Our Wuzhuang Temple is indeed beautiful, but with more exotic flowers and rare herbs from all over the primordial world, it would certainly add to its natural charm and make it less monotonous. Very well, this is a refined matter, and I, this humble Daoist, will lend you a hand!"
After saying that, Hongyun enthusiastically joined the "gathering" team. His body was surrounded by crimson clouds and light, and he spread out his divine sense, also beginning to pay attention to those spiritual root immortals that were not found in Wuzhuang Temple and had unique appearances and extraordinary auras.
"Brother Dao, look quickly! That clump of fiery moss growing in the crevice of the rocks over there—it's a beautiful crimson hue, like a sunset carpeting the ground. Take it, take it!"
"Huh? This pansy can actually absorb and release moonlight on its own, containing a trace of the Yin energy. Though faint, it's quite unique. I'll take it back to the temple for that kid Mingyue to play with."
As Hongyun worked, he also offered his critiques, clearly enjoying himself. His movements were equally gentle and precise; his magical power passed through without harming the spiritual plants or disturbing the surrounding environment, demonstrating the control of a peak Great Luo Golden Immortal.
These two top-tier beings from the primordial era, like two enthusiastic gardeners, traveled across the vast western continent, admiring the scenery and casually acquiring any spiritual plants that caught their eye.
Their actions were perfectly in line with the grand theme of travel and enlightenment; on the contrary, they added a touch of composure and everyday life.
As Zhen Yuanzi watched Hongyun's busy and cheerful figure, the slight heaviness in his heart caused by knowing the future lessened a bit. He continued to communicate with the Earth Book with his divine sense, carefully placing each spiritual root with different shapes and containing different Daoist attributes within the Earth Book Cave Heaven.
These spiritual roots may be just "embellishments" at the moment, but who can say that at some point in the future they won't play an unexpected role under certain circumstances? After all, the workings of the Great Dao are mysterious and unpredictable, and having more reserves means having more capital to deal with variables.
The two thus explored the subtle differences in the manifestation of laws between the Western and Eastern lands, exchanging their views on earth, water, and...
While gaining insights into the fundamental laws of wind, fire, and more, they casually gathered spiritual plants, their figures gradually disappearing into the depths of this vast, rich, and peaceful western continent, continuing their carefree and fulfilling prehistoric travels.