"Huh?"
"The aura of a Spiritual Root being born?!"
Hearing Chen Ku's words, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were both taken aback, immediately halting in midair.
Both wore expressions of keen interest and anticipation.
"Oh? Where is this Spiritual Root?!"
Jie Yin immediately asked, harboring not the slightest doubt toward Chen Ku's words.
There was no helping it!
Chen Ku was the manifestation of the Innate Bitter Bamboo, with the foundation of a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root.
His perception of Spiritual Roots was innate, unmatched by anyone.
Moreover, throughout their earlier travels, Chen Ku's ability had already been verified countless times.
No matter how low the grade of a Spiritual Root Immortal Fruit, it could not escape Chen Ku's senses and scrutiny.
It was a talent that had to be believed!
Hearing Jie Yin's question, Chen Ku did not respond.
He merely stirred his divine sense and released it, carefully sensing the faint, nearly imperceptible auras around them.
Before long, his gaze sharpened as he locked onto a certain direction.
Without another word, Chen Ku immediately followed his senses.
Behind him, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti hurriedly followed as well.
Yet only moments later, without Chen Ku needing to say anything, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's expressions changed dramatically.
"Just as expected!"
Zhun Ti cried out in delighted surprise.
Though his perception of Spiritual Roots was less acute than Chen Ku's,
he could now clearly see traces of Innate restrictions flowing through the void ahead, profound and mysterious.
This was precisely the sign of an opportunity under protection.
Moreover, the power of these Innate restrictions was extremely weak, so weak that there was no need to break them by force.
Without further words, Jie Yin, Zhun Ti, and Chen Ku all took a step forward, directly passing through the intangible Innate restrictions.
With that single step, it was as though they had crossed into another world.
Before the three of them, the view suddenly opened up, and the scene changed drastically.
"That is... the Innate Spirit Root, Plantain Tree?!"
Before them stood an enormous Spiritual Root, its branches and leaves lush and flourishing, vast beyond compare.
Every leaf glowed with a deep emerald radiance, shimmering with flowing light. It was truly extraordinary.
The entire Plantain Tree blotted out the sky and covered the earth, casting down endless spiritual light that made one's body feel at ease and one's divine sense clear.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti recognized it at once. This was the Innate Spirit Root, Plantain Tree!
Though this Spiritual Root was somewhat inferior to existences like the Yellow Central Pear and Ginseng Fruit, it was still exceedingly rare and precious.
Jie Yin, Zhun Ti, and Chen Ku were overjoyed and hurried toward the Plantain Tree.
But when they drew close, all three paused slightly, their eyes narrowing.
Beneath the Plantain Tree, amid the reflections of boundless immortal light, sat a figure in an ancient Daoist robe with his eyes closed.
Holding a whisk in his hand, he looked solemn and dignified, with the bearing of an immortal sage!
Around him surged mighty currents of aura. A pressure no weaker than that of Jie Yin and Zhun Ti faintly leaked out, awe-inspiring and incomparably powerful.
There was no doubt that this was another great powerhouse at the level of a quasi-saint.
Seeing this, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti froze, somewhat astonished.
"This... why is he here?!"
Zhun Ti murmured in an extremely low voice.
Though Jie Yin said nothing, his eyes were likewise filled with surprise.
Clearly, they already knew the person before them and were no strangers to him.
Just then, the elderly Daoist seated beneath the Plantain Tree seemed to sense their arrival and slowly opened his eyes.
Upon clearly seeing Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, the old Daoist could not help but reveal a stunned expression.
However, he concealed it well. In an instant, his expression returned to normal, and he said calmly,
"So it is the two junior brothers from the west."
Hearing this, Chen Ku, who stood beside them, stirred.
Junior brothers?!
The only ones who could address Jie Yin and Zhun Ti this way were the Three Pure Ones.
Could this person before them be one of the Three Pure Ones?!
Sure enough!
At this moment, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti slightly cupped their hands in greeting and replied,
"Greetings, Senior Brother Grand Supreme!"
That was right!
The man before them was Taishang Laozi, one of the Three Pure Ones and the foremost among them.
Chen Ku suddenly understood and could not help curiously studying the other man.
This was the future leader of the Human Sect, one of the Six Sages of the Mystic School.
It was Chen Ku's first time seeing this legendary figure in person.
Little did he know that although Laozi's expression remained calm, thoughts were surging through his mind.
Speechless!
Utterly speechless!
Why had he run into those two fellows from the west here?!
There was no doubt that Laozi had also sensed, through some unseen connection, the opportunity of a Spiritual Root being born here. That was why he had come specifically and discovered the Innate Spirit Root, Plantain Tree.
Setting aside the other uses of this Spiritual Root, once it matured, its most extraordinary leaf could be taken and refined into a Plantain Fan.
And once the Plantain Fan was made, it would surely be an Innate Spiritual Treasure!
That was precisely why even Laozi had been tempted. He had sat here, waiting for the Plantain Tree to reach maturity.
Yet before the Spiritual Root could mature, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti from the west had arrived first.
Laozi had long known about Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's shameless, overbearing habit of stripping every place bare.
With things like this, the ownership of this Spiritual Root would likely require quite a bit of wrangling—or rather, entanglement.
Of course, no matter how much he mocked them inwardly, Laozi showed none of it on the surface.
Besides, they had all listened to the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace and had been accepted as disciples by Dao Ancestor Hongjun, making them nominal fellow disciples.
That was why Laozi had offered that indifferent courtesy earlier.
Just then, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti came to their senses as well.
"Disciple, why have you not greeted your Grand Supreme senior martial uncle?!"
Jie Yin looked at Chen Ku with a smile and said this.
After all, being able to accept a disciple as exceptionally talented and brilliant as Chen Ku filled Jie Yin with pride.
Before Laozi today, he naturally had to deliberately mention it.
Hearing this, Chen Ku also saluted and said,
"This junior, Chen Ku, greets Grand Supreme senior martial uncle!"
In response, Laozi merely gave Chen Ku a slight glance.
The instant he sensed Chen Ku's aura, an imperceptible trace of oddness flashed through Laozi's otherwise calm eyes.
A Grand Luo Golden Immortal?!
In an instant, he had seen through Chen Ku's cultivation. He was actually at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had actually accepted such an extraordinary disciple?!
This left Laozi somewhat astonished.
Still, he said nothing more. He only nodded faintly, indicating that Chen Ku need not stand on ceremony.
Yet after Laozi finished speaking, Chen Ku acted as though he had not heard him. He continued maintaining his bow and did not rise.
Laozi frowned at the sight, unable to fathom his intentions.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were also somewhat puzzled, but after exchanging a glance, the two immediately understood.
Good kid!
He was plainly asking Laozi for a greeting gift.
Their disciple—no, their martial nephew—really did have a thick skin.
However... Jie Yin and Zhun Ti exchanged knowing smiles and did not stop him.
If they could extort something from Laozi, that would be an unexpected gain.
Moreover, as though afraid Laozi might not understand, Zhun Ti put on a deliberately reprimanding expression and said,
"Martial nephew, Senior Brother Grand Supreme has already told you to dispense with the formalities."
"Could it be that you insist on making Senior Brother bestow a greeting gift before you are willing to rise?!"
Though he appeared to be reprimanding Chen Ku, Laozi could not help rolling his eyes when he heard it.
Who were the two of you putting on this act for?!
Laozi was filled with helplessness. Sure enough, whenever he encountered these two from the west, nothing good came of it.
But seeing that Chen Ku still did not move and remained in his bowing posture, Laozi knew the boy would not give up without getting something.
Helplessly, Laozi pondered for a moment and could only sigh inwardly.
With a flip of his palm, three Golden Pills immediately appeared.
"This is my first meeting with my martial nephew. Let these three Six-Cycle Golden Pills serve as a greeting gift."
Only then did Chen Ku finally raise his head.
"Hehe, this junior thanks Grand Supreme grand senior martial uncle!"
Before his words had even faded, he tucked the three Golden Pills away.
Hearing this, Laozi became even more irritated.
What the hell... why were all beings from the west so shameless?
After that, the group fell into silence for a time.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti secretly considered that since Laozi had arrived first,
getting the Plantain Tree for themselves would likely take some effort.
Laozi was also secretly considering how to send Jie Yin and Zhun Ti away.
Three Six-Cycle Golden Pills were not especially precious, but he absolutely could not let Jie Yin and Zhun Ti snatch away the Plantain Tree before him.
Just as the three had their own thoughts—indeed, each harboring ulterior motives—
Chen Ku's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at the Plantain Tree in utter delight.
Then, in a carefree manner, he laughed and said,
"Hehe, this truly is a top-grade Spiritual Root!"
"Hmm... this treasure is fated with our west!"
The instant these words fell, all three people present were completely stunned.
Laozi: ??? Why did those words sound so familiar?!
Beside Chen Ku, Zhun Ti was even more dumbfounded, staring at Chen Ku in stunned disbelief.
What?!
Isn't that my line?!
Before you continue