As Cihang's physical body broke through, his consciousness also awakened from that profound state of enlightenment.
Cihang did not rush to inspect the changes in his body. Instead, he calmed his mind and tried to enter that mysterious state once more.
Yet no matter how hard Cihang tried this time, he could not immerse himself in that realm again.
That vast, ancient, and powerful aura was clearly right before him, yet no amount of effort allowed him to touch it.
"Ultimately, my fortune was still insufficient!"
Cihang opened his eyes in disappointment.
His greatest gain this time had not been the advancement of his physical body, but the improvement of his state of mind.
Unfortunately, such an opportunity was fleeting.
"To gain such insight is already a great opportunity. Opportunities are not something one can force!"
A smile suddenly appeared on Cihang's face.
There was relief in it, as well as amusement at his own greed.
For cultivators, enlightenment was the rarest of opportunities, but it was also extraordinarily dangerous.
Some cultivators attained enlightenment in a single day and broke through to prove the Dao, while others were assimilated by the Great Dao.
Given the foundation of his cultivation, being able to gain some insight had already been his limit.
Had he continued, he feared he would have become wholly immersed in Pangu's Dao and turned into a part of it.
As things stood now, it was just right.
His physical body had also broken through during that earlier enlightenment, reaching not merely the mid-stage Golden Immortal realm, but the peak of the mid-stage Golden Immortal realm.
Even his true form had undergone a tempering.
"A thousand years have already passed?"
Cihang was somewhat surprised.
It was not that he found a thousand years particularly long, but that while immersed in enlightenment, he had felt no passage of time at all.
Only now did he realize that not only had a thousand years passed, but he had also traveled from the foot of the mountain to the middle of Buzhou Mountain.
He could clearly sense that the surrounding spiritual energy had become denser, while the laws of heaven and earth were far richer and clearer than those outside.
"Now that my physical body has broken through, it is time to begin searching for treasures!"
Filled with excitement, Cihang was about to head deeper into Buzhou Mountain.
"Congratulations, young friend, on successfully breaking through your realm. To comprehend the Dao of Buzhou at such a level of cultivation—what fine fortune and insight you possess!"
A red-robed Daoist appeared nearby, gazing at Cihang with admiration.
Hong Yun?
Cihang was secretly startled. He seemed to have been encountering powerful figures rather frequently lately.
"Cihang greets you, Senior. I did not know you were here. If I have disturbed you in any way, I hope you will forgive me!"
Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, Cihang respectfully bowed to Hong Yun.
Unlike Randeng, Hong Yun was a true Quasi-Saint, and a powerful one even among Quasi-Saints.
"I was merely passing by. Seeing you comprehending the Dao, I stayed to watch over you for a while.
Though Buzhou Mountain is vast, one will inevitably encounter other cultivators.
You should be more careful next time!"
Hong Yun's smile was gentle and warm, and he harbored no ill will toward Cihang.
"Cihang thanks you for your protection, Senior. This time, it truly was Cihang's carelessness!"
While thanking Hong Yun, Cihang also blamed himself somewhat.
Though he had not expected to enter enlightenment, he had still been insufficiently cautious.
He was also immensely fortunate that the person he had encountered had been Hong Yun.
"No need for such courtesy. It was only a trivial matter!"
Hong Yun said it indifferently.
"It may be a trivial matter to you, Senior, but it is not so to Cihang.
It is only because Cihang's strength is too meager that I cannot repay you!"
Cihang bowed in thanks once more.
He had no doubts about Hong Yun's words. Given Hong Yun's cultivation and realm, there was no need for him to scheme against Cihang.
Different levels of strength naturally brought different perspectives. Even if Cihang presented an Innate Spiritual Treasure now, Hong Yun might not be tempted.
Naturally, supreme treasures and inheritances of gods and demons were exceptions.
Cihang had long decided that unless he possessed sufficient strength, he would never reveal them before others.
"You are too polite, young friend. Meeting is fate. Would you be willing to travel with me?"
Hong Yun raised a hand to help Cihang up, then invited him to travel together.
Cihang's aura was peaceful and brimming with vitality, which had also given Hong Yun a favorable impression and led to this invitation.
Traveling with Cihang might bring some unexpected gains.
"It would be Cihang's honor to travel with you, Senior!"
Cihang immediately agreed with delight.
After continuously encountering such powerful figures, Cihang was no longer sure whether his luck was good or bad.
Traveling with Hong Yun also meant absolute safety.
The two immediately headed deeper into Buzhou Mountain together.
From Hong Yun, Cihang learned that, like himself, Hong Yun had entered Buzhou Mountain in search of opportunities.
However, unlike Cihang, who sought spiritual treasures, Hong Yun had failed to gain any insight from the Primordial Violet Qi and had thus gone traveling in hopes of finding enlightenment.
After learning Hong Yun's purpose, Cihang's heart sank.
How could becoming a Saint and proving the Dao be so easy? If those memories were correct, Hong Yun should ultimately fail.
Though the Primordial Violet Qi was an opportunity for Hong Yun, it was also a calamity.
Looking at the amiable Hong Yun beside him, who wore a smile at all times, Cihang did not wish for him to meet such an end.
Yet it was only a thought. At present, there was nothing he could do.
"May you succeed in proving the Dao this time, Senior!"
Though countless thoughts ran through his mind, Cihang revealed none of them and instead offered a sincere blessing.
"How could an Opportunity for Enlightenment be so easily found? Rather than force it, it would be better to find a few spiritual treasures!"
Though Hong Yun had come seeking an opportunity to attain the Dao, he actually held no expectations himself.
The Primordial Violet Qi was simply too profound. Since obtaining it, he had gained no insight from it whatsoever.
Though they were said to be treasure hunting, neither of them had any particular destination. They simply went wherever their hearts led them.
Buzhou Mountain contained countless folded spaces, some holding spiritual treasures and spiritual roots, while others were small worlds that existed alongside Buzhou Mountain.
Not to mention Cihang—even Hong Yun knew only a portion of the regions within it.
Unless a spiritual treasure appeared in the world, cultivators would find it difficult to discover these hidden spaces and worlds.
Of course, it was precisely because of this that many opportunities and spiritual treasures remained concealed here.
Whether one could obtain them depended on a cultivator's fortune and methods.
Along the way, both remained calm. From time to time, Hong Yun guided Cihang and spoke of hidden secrets of heaven and earth.
Cihang benefited greatly from this.
At the same time, Cihang gathered many spiritual herbs and materials along the way.
He even encountered several Acquired Spiritual Roots.
"Buzhou Mountain truly is filled with treasures everywhere!"
Cihang sighed.
These spiritual herbs were not especially precious at present, but in later ages, they would be treasures rarely seen.
"They are merely ordinary spiritual objects. At your realm, young friend, I fear you have no use for them!"
Hong Yun looked at Cihang in confusion.
"I may have no use for them now, but my disciples may use them in the future.
Besides, these are all unusual spiritual herbs. They would also make fine decorations for a Daoist sanctuary."
In truth, Cihang had placed all these spiritual herbs into the Glazed Grotto-Heaven.
These spiritual herbs and roots, filled with vitality and spiritual energy, were also immensely beneficial to the evolution and advancement of the grotto-heaven.
"Very well!"
Seeing that Cihang insisted, Hong Yun did not try to persuade him further. Instead, he even helped gather them.
Innate Spiritual Treasures could only be encountered by chance. It was best to let nature take its course.
Before you continue