Planting Gourds, Planting Gourds

And so, the crowd of Great Powers dispersed. Yun Ting was dragged straight back to Mount Kunlun by Tong Tian, who said, "Explain. What's going on? Weren't you supposed to be keeping Duo Bao company at home? How did you end up at the Purple Firmament Palace?"

Hearing this, Yun Ting quickly explained, "Father, well... I don't know either. After you left, I took a stroll through the Primordial Wilderness, and then the Dao Ancestor pulled me to the Purple Firmament Palace." He finished with a frustrated rub of his hands, adding, "Ah, what a loss—I forgot to ask the Dao Ancestor for a meeting gift."

At these words, Laozi and Yuanshi burst into laughter. Laozi stroked his beard and said to Yun Ting, "You, still thinking about a meeting gift... First, tell your Eldest Uncle, how did you come up with the idea of giving a gourd to Hong Yun? Don't just say he's a Good Old Man who's always kind to others."

Yun Ting laughed heartily and said, "Eldest Uncle, please help conceal the Heavenly Secrets." Laozi nodded and cast a veil over the Thatched Hut. Yun Ting took out the Ginseng Fruit and said, "I stole the Ginseng Fruit from Wuzhuang Temple and framed Zhunti for it... I felt my Dao Heart was clouded, so I used that gourd to settle the karmic debt."

Yuanshi nodded and said, "A Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure gourd to resolve a karmic bond—good, good..."

Just then, Duo Bao slowly reached out his hand, grinning, and said, "Junior Brother, how about sharing those Ginseng Fruits with us brothers? Not long ago, I gave you a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure sword, you know."

Yun Ting nodded, took out five Ginseng Fruits, and handed them to Duo Bao, saying, "Just five, no more." Duo Bao nodded, thinking to himself, Five is fine, not bad. Then he took them.

Next, Yun Ting also distributed Ginseng Fruits to the Three Pure Ones. He looked at Yuanshi and said, "Second Uncle, you should have some Three Lights Divine Water on hand, right?" Yuanshi nodded and said, "What, you want to borrow Three Lights Divine Water to grow the Gourd Vine?"

Yun Ting nodded eagerly, "Mm-hmm, exactly. I feel that if I grow another gourd and enlighten it, it should have an innate Origin/Foundation. Then, seven Gourd Babies could count as my disciples—how fun would that be?" Yuanshi laughed heartily and said, "Alright, I'll give you a bottle." With that, he produced a jade bottle and handed it to Yun Ting.

After receiving the jade bottle, Yun Ting bowed to Tong Tian, Laozi, and Yuanshi, then returned to his own cave dwelling to plant the gourds... As he planted, he hummed, "Gourd babies, gourd babies, seven flowers on one vine... Wait, something's off—my cave has no formations."

Hmm, after planting the gourds, Yun Ting suddenly realized his cave had no formations. If someone came to steal, it would be trouble. The innate Gourd Vine, Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, and Three Lights Divine Water were all top-tier treasures.

With this thought, Yun Ting turned into a streak of light and returned to the Thatched Hut. He said to Tong Tian, "Father, my cave has no theft-prevention formation, and the Gourd Vine, Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, and Three Lights Divine Water are all rare treasures... Could you arrange something? Otherwise, it won't be safe when I go out traveling."

Tong Tian laughed heartily and said, "Unsafe? Nonsense. This is Mount Kunlun—who would dare come here to steal? Rest assured, my son, nothing will go wrong. If you're really worried, I'll teach you a trick: go out and take on a disciple to watch the house for you in your daily life. How about that?"

"Ding, quest issued: Travel the Primordial Wilderness and take on a disciple. Reward: High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Mountain-splitting Axe." At that moment, the system suddenly issued a quest.

"Oh, quest or no quest aside, help me check Eldest Uncle's entry. I feel like his trust in me is high enough for a random copy." Yun Ting responded to the system.

"Taishang Laojun, Origin/Foundation: Supreme Innate, Cultivation: Quasi-Saint late stage, Entries: Classic of Virtue (Gold), Alchemy Grandmaster (Gold), Great Dao of Yin Yang (Purple), Leader of the Human Religion (Exclusive, cannot copy, not activated), Trust: 79. Congratulations, Host, you just can't draw it." Inside the system space, A Certain Lady gloated.

"What the heck... System, can you give me a break? It's 79—can't we just round it up to eighty?" Yun Ting quickly started wheedling the system.

"Fine, fine, I'll let it slide this once... Drawing and copying Great Dao of Yin Yang (Gold)." Inside the system space, A Certain Lady gave in to Yun Ting's pitiful pleading. Instantly, Yun Ting's mind cleared, and Yin Yang energy swirled around him. Laozi noticed and his eyes lit up, saying, "Third Brother, when did Yun Ting's child cultivate the Great Dao of Yin Yang?"

Tong Tian looked baffled and said, "Huh? Great Dao of Yin Yang? I don't know... After I brought him back, I forgot to give him a cultivation method. It seems you and Second Brother gave him the methods..." Yuanshi chuckled and said, "Well, he's our nephew after all—his comprehension is just that high. I gave him all the Three Pure Ones' methods, so it's no surprise he grasped the Great Dao of Yin Yang."