"Uh... hi?"
Xuanwei's Immortal Qi body swayed by the water pool, trying to send out a friendly ripple of intent, like greeting a neighbor's aloof pet cat.
The branches and leaves of the Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root moved without wind. One palm-shaped leaf slowly lifted and pointed at Xuanwei, and a clearer sense of "being watched" settled over him. That intent was as pure as newborn dew, filled with curiosity and a trace of... eager anticipation, like a foodie spotting an unfamiliar snack?
"Wait! Fellow Daoist! Great Spiritual Root! We're on the same side! Don't be rash!" Xuanwei's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly pushed [Deep Immortal Seclusion] to its limit while frantically circulating the Innate Immortal Qi Origin Method, disguising himself as an utterly harmless, slightly fragrant backdrop.
[Analysis: Target is an unknown Innate Spiritual Root. Energy level extremely high. It has developed intelligence. Status: Curiosity > Hostility.] [Recommendation: Release goodwill. Display the pure characteristics of your origin. Avoid any intent fluctuations carrying threat or greed.]
"Display my pure origin?" Inspiration struck Xuanwei. Carefully, he separated an extremely pure wisp of Immortal Qi infused with the aura of the Wutu Source Core and slowly sent it toward the Spiritual Root, as though offering it an invisible lollipop.
That palm-shaped leaf hesitated, then lightly touched the wisp of Immortal Qi.
Whoosh!
The next second, Xuanwei felt the entire Spiritual Root "light up." Its nine leaves swayed joyfully, emitting waves of delight. The wisp of Immortal Qi was instantly absorbed, leaving it wanting more. The intent it sent to Xuanwei changed from curiosity into a clear demand: "More!"
Well, would you look at that? It's a foodie! Xuanwei was delighted. This was easy! He did not have much of anything else, but as long as he had enough energy, Innate Immortal Qi was a renewable resource!
He immediately sent over several more wisps of Immortal Qi, like an eager feeder. The Spiritual Root accepted every offering without hesitation. Its branches and leaves danced even more happily, and even the three red fruits at its peak seemed to grow a little brighter.
[Target favorability has increased significantly! Energy exchange ratio: 1 unit of Immortal Qi exchanged for 0.5 units of refined plant-life essence.] [Hint: This life essence is extraordinarily effective at stabilizing one's origin, healing hidden injuries, and enhancing spirituality.]
There was even a gift in return? Xuanwei felt the warm current full of vitality flow back into him. The minor flaws left behind by his forced breakthrough and escape were rapidly repaired. His Immortal Qi body became clearer and more complete, and even his thoughts seemed slightly sharper.
This deal is an absolute steal! He immediately perked up and worked even harder to produce Immortal Qi lollipops. For a time, the cave was filled with an atmosphere of harmonious friend(ship) and feed(ing).
Just as he was wondering whether he could use this "meal ticket" friendship to trade for a fruit to taste—
[Warning! External spatial fluctuations detected! A living being is forcibly breaking through the natural formation surrounding the cave!] [Energy signature analysis: Not an Earth Vein Rock Lizard. Attributes are mixed and carry... the aura of karma and curses?] [Risk assessment: High! The intruder bears ill intent!]
You've got to be kidding me, officer?! Again?! Xuanwei nearly spat out a mouthful of blood—if he had any. Does this Primordial World have GPS installed? Why is someone—or some beast—always chasing me wherever I go?
He instantly stopped feeding and warily "looked" toward the cave entrance. The Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root also sensed the threat. Its nine leaves immediately closed together, protecting the fruits at its peak within their center. A faint green radiance spread out, and the cave's natural formation shone brightly as its defenses visibly strengthened.
Boom!
A dull, thunderous impact came from the cave entrance, shaking the entire cave. The vines and spiritual light covering the entrance flickered violently. It was obvious that whoever was outside was forcibly breaking the formation!
"System, can you scan what's outside?"
[Formation interference is severe. Precise scanning is impossible. Blurry outline indicates... humanoid? Number: one. Estimated energy level: peak True Immortal to early Mysterious Immortal. Status: Apparently injured, aura unstable, but extremely aggressive.]
An injured humanoid creature at least at peak True Immortal? Xuanwei's heart sank. This was far more troublesome than the Earth Vein Rock Lizard! The Earth Vein Rock Lizard was not very intelligent, so he could still use the terrain to maneuver around it. An existence at this level definitely had far more methods!
"Fellow Daoist, it seems we have a problem." Xuanwei tried to send his intent to the Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root. "That thing outside seems to be after your precious fruits."
The Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root sent back waves of tension and anger. It was clearly aware that its "beauty" brought disaster.
Boom! Another tremendous impact rang out. The formation's light screen at the entrance dimmed noticeably, and even a fine crack appeared!
"No, we can't just sit here and wait for death!" Xuanwei's thoughts raced. Run? The entrance was blocked, and that thing outside would surely lie in wait. Fight? With his mere 15% energy level, he would not even be enough to fill the gap between its teeth!
His gaze fell once more on the Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root and the pool at its center. The spiritual energy in this pool... was unbelievably dense!
A bold idea surfaced in his mind.
"Fellow Daoist! Let me borrow your treasured ground! Buy me some time!" Without caring whether the Spiritual Root understood him, his Immortal Qi body plunged headfirst into the pool brimming with spiritual energy!
Splash!
The instant he entered the pool, incomparably pure Innate Spiritual Qi surged into his origin like a breached riverbank! Its absorption efficiency was hundreds of times greater than anything he had experienced before! His energy level began soaring like a rocket!
16%... 18%... 20%...!
[Energy level has exceeded 20%! The Qi-Guiding Chapter of the Chaos Heaven-Opening Art has reached a higher unlock level! You may now initially draw upon Chaos Qi to temper your origin!] [Warning! Energy is entering too quickly! The host's origin is at risk of bursting! Please slow down immediately or direct the energy elsewhere!]
"Direct it? Right! Direct it!" Inspiration struck Xuanwei. While crazily absorbing the pool's spiritual energy, he recklessly poured that vast power into the newly initiated Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body technique!
He was not trying to temper a Dao body. He wanted to... forcibly shape one! Even if it was only a temporary shell!
Supported by the boundless energy, his originally intangible Immortal Qi body began to churn and compress violently! Specks of Wutu Essence were forcibly extracted and mixed with his pure Immortal Qi origin and the pool's spiritual energy. Around his body, they painstakingly outlined a blurry, roughly three-foot-tall, chubby, round... earthy-yellow gaseous figure?
It looked like a chibi little clay man casually molded from mud. It had no facial features, only rough limbs and a round body, making for a rather comical sight.
What the hell? What is this supposed to be? An infant elemental slime? Xuanwei was somewhat speechless as he looked at the temporary "body" he had cobbled together. Still... it had a shape, at least! And he could feel that this temporary shell's defensive power was considerably stronger than his pure Immortal Qi state!
Just then—
Crack!
The natural formation at the cave entrance finally shattered beneath the intruder's relentless, costly assault!
A dark shadow, wrapped in dense baleful energy and a nauseatingly fishy-sweet stench, darted inside like a ghost!
It was a gaunt Daoist in tattered black robes. His face was deathly pale, and a trace of dark-red blood still hung from the corner of his mouth. Yet his eyes were as greedy and vicious as a starving wolf's, fixed firmly on the red fruits atop the Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root in the center of the pool!
"Hahaha! An Innate Spiritual Root! Dragon Saliva Fruit! They are destined to heal this ancestor's injuries, extend my life, and let me advance another step!" The black-robed Daoist let out a night-owl-like cackle, completely ignoring the newly formed chibi little clay man in the pool, who looked harmless and even somewhat amusing.
However, just as his body moved and transformed into a streak of black light lunging toward the Spiritual Root—
"Halt! This path is closed! This tree was planted by my... uh, by my friend! If you want to pick its fruit, you'll have to get past me first!"
A somewhat childish voice, striving to sound fierce, rang through the cave.
The chubby little clay man stood with his round "hands" on his hips, blocking the black-robed Daoist from the Nine-Leaf Spiritual Root. Though his appearance was comical and his imposing presence was... basically nonexistent, he struck a thoroughly convincing pose.
The black-robed Daoist abruptly stopped, as though he had seen something unbelievable. His sinister gaze finally fell upon Xuanwei.
At first, he was stunned. Then he sensed the pure yet weak—at least compared to himself—Immortal Qi and Wutu Source fluctuations around Xuanwei, and a cruel, disdainful sneer appeared on his face.
"Heh... A mere wisp of Innate Qi that stumbled upon some fortune and barely managed to take shape dares block this ancestor's path? You truly do not know the meaning of death!"
Before his words had even faded, his withered claw shot out. Filthy black light coiled around his fingertips, carrying a vicious aura capable of corroding the soul as it lunged straight for Xuanwei's round "head"!
"Then... you can serve as an appetizer for this ancestor's Dragon Saliva Fruit!"
Before you continue