It was still uncertain what the Innate Gourd Vine was like, but this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil was a supreme treasure that even Quasi-Sages would fight over.
This lump of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil alone had already made the journey worthwhile.
At this moment, Cihang felt somewhat fortunate that Hong Yun had refused the Innate Breathing Soil, allowing him to obtain such an opportunity.
Spiritual treasures concealed their brilliance. Unless one came into direct contact with them, it was difficult to discover anything unusual.
Moreover, with the Innate Breathing Soil concealing it, even Hong Yun had failed to notice the difference.
Cihang did not tell Hong Yun about the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. As Hong Yun had said, this was originally his opportunity.
Even though he trusted Hong Yun's character, human nature could not always withstand temptation.
"Congratulations, young friend, on obtaining two Innate Spiritual Items!"
Seeing Cihang put away the Innate Breathing Soil, Hong Yun smiled and congratulated him.
"I should be thanking you, Senior. If not for you, I might not even have been able to break this innate formation!"
Cihang smiled as he offered his thanks.
"This treasure was fated to be yours. Even without me, you would have been able to collect it safely!
Besides, I have obtained a spiritual treasure I desired here as well."
With a smile on his face, Hong Yun pointed at the Soul Scattering Gourd at his waist.
"Very well, then I will not stand on ceremony with you, Senior!"
As soon as Cihang finished speaking, he saw a streak of light fly over, only to be stopped outside the grand formation.
Hong Yun's expression changed. With a wave of his hand, he opened the grand formation, and the streak of light entered his brow.
"Senior, did something happen?"
Cihang recognized it as the unique method cultivators used to transmit messages.
"I had originally planned to travel around Buzhou with you, young friend, but a message has come from an old friend. I can no longer accompany you!"
Hong Yun said with a hint of regret.
"So that is how it is. As it happens, Cihang also needs to enter seclusion for a time and sort through the gains of these past days.
Thank you, Senior, for protecting me over these five hundred years. Without you, Cihang would never have had the chance to obtain this opportunity.
Cihang has an item to give you, Senior. I hope you will not refuse."
Knowing that Hong Yun was leaving, Cihang directly presented a spirit pearl before him.
"What dense life force!"
Hong Yun examined the spirit pearl in his hand with a surprised expression.
Even with his knowledge, he did not know exactly what it was, but the life force within it made even him somewhat alarmed.
"This spirit pearl was obtained by Cihang by chance. It contains immense vitality and possesses some restorative power even for the injuries of a Quasi-Sage!"
Cihang had deliberately downplayed the Life Spirit Pearl's effects.
"This gift is far too precious. Compared to me, young friend, you need such a sacred item more!"
Hong Yun hurriedly tried to return it to Cihang.
"No matter its value, it is a token of Cihang's sincerity. If you do not accept it, Senior, I will not be at ease!"
This time, Cihang's attitude was extremely firm, as though refusing it would mean looking down on him.
The spirit pearl had condensed from Life God Night. The reason he gave it to Hong Yun was because he hoped it could protect Hong Yun's life.
"Very well, then I shall accept your kindness, young friend.
If you have the time someday, you may visit my Huoyun Cave. Hong Yun will surely welcome you with open doors!"
Hong Yun ultimately accepted the Life Spirit Pearl.
It was not only because of Cihang's attitude, but also because he sensed that the Life Spirit Pearl would be of great use to him.
However, this truly meant that he owed Cihang a great favor.
Still, he was not overly worried. With his cultivation, he would eventually have an opportunity to repay this Karma.
"Cihang will certainly pay you a visit someday."
Seeing Hong Yun accept the pearl, Cihang revealed a relieved smile.
"Then we shall meet again someday!"
Hong Yun transformed into a streak of escaping light and vanished from Cihang's sight in an instant.
*I hope the Life Spirit Pearl can help you survive the calamity ahead.
Then I will not have failed the kindness of your five hundred years of protection.*
Facing the direction in which Hong Yun had disappeared, Cihang silently offered his blessings.
Though they had only spent five hundred years together, it had still made him acknowledge Hong Yun's character.
As Hong Yun's aura faded away, Cihang also withdrew his focus.
Seeing that the grand formation in the valley was still operating, Cihang immediately decided to rest and reorganize here for a while.
The Acquired Spiritual Roots from before were manageable, but the innate vine and the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil needed to be settled properly.
With the innate grand formation protecting him, Cihang had no need to worry about his safety. He directly entered the Glazed Grotto-Heaven where he stood.
The moment he entered the grotto-heaven, Cihang sensed vitality and spiritual qi far surpassing what had been there before.
"At this rate, the Glazed Grotto-Heaven will likely advance to the middle grade very soon."
With a thought, Cihang arrived at the Creation Lotus Pond.
The spirit mountain condensed from Innate Breathing Soil was giving off dense earth spiritual qi.
Cihang first collected the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil from within the spirit mountain, then used the grotto-heaven's power to divide the spirit mountain in two.
With a wave of his hand, he tossed half of the Innate Breathing Soil into the lotus pond. It landed beneath the Ancient Life Tree, forming an island in the center of the pond.
The Ancient Life Tree instantly rooted itself in the Breathing Soil, emanating a feeling of joy.
The Ancient Life Tree's grade had already reached its limit and would not improve because of this.
However, with the Breathing Soil, the speed at which the Ancient Life Tree absorbed and exhaled chaos also increased.
The lotuses in the pond likewise benefited, displaying signs of advancing in grade.
Perhaps after several eras, these lotuses might even reverse their origins and become innate.
Cihang crushed the remaining half of the Innate Breathing Soil and merged it into Boundary Sea Island.
With this Breathing Soil, Boundary Sea Island could also hasten its nurturing of Earth Veins.
All of a sudden, Cihang felt the spiritual qi of the grotto-heaven rise by another degree.
Cihang kept the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil in his hands, intending to use its origin to comprehend the Dao and derive techniques.
After dealing with the Breathing Soil, Cihang finally looked toward the clump of vines in the lotus pond.
After entering the lotus pond, the vines had already curled into a ball, silently absorbing the Three Lights Divine Water.
Yet the withered, deathly vines showed no change.
"Innate Gourd Vine, a being suspected to be a Chaos Spiritual Root—can you regain your vitality?"
Cihang directly separated a strand of divine sense and began carefully examining every branch and leaf of the vines.
Since it had resonated with him under those circumstances, Cihang did not believe it had completely perished.
Yet no matter how Cihang investigated, all he could sense was deathly stillness.
Just as Cihang was about to give up, he sensed an exceedingly faint trace of vitality within a thumb-sized gourd.
Cihang opened his eyes in delight.
"The seventh treasure gourd that failed to mature—so you are the true vitality of the Gourd Vine.
But if you had not encountered me, this wisp of vitality would likely have dispersed as well!"
Although the Gourd Vine still possessed vitality, it could not recover from this wisp alone. It was even slowly dissipating.
Cihang did not dare delay. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the Creation Cauldron and placed the Gourd Vine inside.
To prevent any mishap, he also added a drop of Life God Night within.
Then, with a gesture of his hand, the Creation Holy Fire ignited, using the power of the Creation Cauldron to help it return to its origin.
Under the scorching holy fire, the vines slowly turned to ashes, leaving behind only a wisp of faint Innate Origin that converged toward the gourd together with the Life God Night.
In the end, even the gourd itself melted away, leaving only a seed emitting faint vitality inside the cauldron.
Though this vitality was still extremely weak, it radiated a pure innate aura.
Before you continue