Ten Innate Spiritual Roots, the Ginseng Fruit Tree

Qingfeng carried the three of them across the Nine-Bend Corridor, pavilions and towers flashing past like flowing light. In the blink of an eye, a Green Stone Arch suddenly appeared before them.

Stepping through it, Xuanyuan and Tongtian felt a surging vitality wash over them. Looking up, they saw a colossal tree piercing the clouds, its canopy seeming capable of holding up the entire sky.

"The Ginseng Fruit Tree, one of the Ten Great Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots. Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi truly possesses remarkable fortune," Xuanyuan remarked with emotion.

The vastness of the Primordial World had nurtured more than ten top-grade innate spiritual roots since the Heaven and Earth Opening. But those that could rank among the Ten Great Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots were all the finest of the finest.

For example, after the Space Demon God was slain by Pangu and reincarnated into the Primordial World as Old Ancestor Yang Mei, his true form—the Hollow Willow—was one of the Ten Great Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.

"The Ten Great Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots? The same rank as Third Brother's Immortal Apricot?" Tongtian was slightly startled and quickly turned his gaze to the great tree.

The Ginseng Fruit Tree stood one hundred and twenty zhang, nine chi, and six cun tall. Its gnarled branches twisted like coiled dragons, every vein flowing with Innate Jia Wood Essence, connected to the Earth Vein Wutu. The canopy spanned a full seven zhang and two chi, lush with jade-like leaves layered upon one another. Thirty glossy fruits hung among the branches, gleaming with the luster of mutton-fat jade, their limbs fully formed like infants not yet three days old.

"Two Fellow Daoists, this is the treasure of my temple," Zhen Yuanzi said, stroking his beard with a laugh. A Golden Striker appeared in his hand out of thin air. He tapped it lightly three times, and three Ginseng Fruits fell in response, but did not hit the ground—they were suspended midair by his Dharma power. "These fruits bloom in three thousand years, fruit in three thousand years, and ripen in another three thousand years. In short, ten thousand years pass before they can be eaten—ten thousand years for a single harvest. Today they ripened just as you two Fellow Daoists arrived. Truly, fate has brought us together!"

With that, he swept his sleeve, and the fruits fell into a White Jade Cup. Clear Water transformed into Jade Nectar, slowly dissolving them. Ginseng Fruits fall upon metal, wither upon wood, dissolve upon water, scorch upon fire, and sink into earth.

"Then we thank you, Fellow Daoist." Zhen Yuanzi raised his cup in a gesture. Xuanyuan and Tongtian did not decline; they picked up the White Jade Bowl and directly consumed the Ginseng Fruits.

They drank it down in one go. In an instant, a rich spiritual essence exploded in Xuanyuan's mouth, transforming into countless warm currents that coursed through his limbs and bones. Even the Chaos World within the Chaos Pearl trembled slightly. Among it, the Law of the Great Dao of Wood, which he had exchanged insights on with Gou Mang, was further perfected by a bit.

The Ten Great Spiritual Roots were all manifestations of the fusion of Innate Jia Yi Wood with other laws. The Fusang Tree was Innate Jia Wood fused with the Law of the Great Dao of Fire. The Peach of Immortality was Innate Jia Wood fused with the Law of the Great Dao of Water. And this Ginseng Fruit was Innate Jia Wood fused with the Law of the Great Dao of Earth.

The life-extending effect of the Ginseng Fruit held little meaning at this moment. Instead, the trace of Innate Jia Wood Qi within it acted like a key, allowing Xuanyuan to achieve an Accumulate Deeply and Release Wholly breakthrough in his comprehension of the Law of the Great Dao of Wood.

"This time, I am indebted to Zhen Yuanzi. At the very least, it has saved me tens of thousands of years of meditation," Xuanyuan thought to himself.

After consuming the Ginseng Fruits, the three Great Divine Powers did not change locations. They sat cross-legged beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree and began to discuss the Dao.

"The Great Dao of Earth embodies Great Virtue and Tolerance. If one can comprehend the flow of earth veins, one can naturally control a region's mountains and rivers." Beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, the mountain-range phantom condensed from the Wutu Law gently touched Zhen Yuanzi's whisk, and the Mountain and River Veins slowly unfolded in the void, secretly according with the principle of earth-vein circulation.

"Earth can nurture Wood; the Five Elements can all arise from a single source." Xuanyuan's fingertip burst forth with the Law of the Great Dao of Wood, resonating with the Wutu phantom, transforming into a pillar of light that shot straight into the clouds, shaking the mountains beyond the temple and causing the immortal herbs and spiritual plants of Longevity Mountain to grow wildly.

The Five Elements are the Pillars of Heaven and Earth; Yin and Yang are the Origin of Taiji.

"I cultivate the Great Dao of Yin Yang. Even Earth has its Yin and Yang aspects. Wutu suppresses and kills like Mount Kunlun pressing down; Jitu nourishes like spring rain moistening things. Yin and Yang complement each other—that is the Great Dao!" Playing with the Earth Spirit Pearl, Yin Yang Qi swirling around him, Tongtian spoke thus. Earth had Yin and Yang, thunder had Yin and Yang... Tongtian seemed to be showing signs of walking the path of transforming all Daos through Yin Yang, evolving all methods through a single method.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Zhen Yuanzi clapped his hands and laughed.

The Dao discussion continued. Zhen Yuanzi's wide sleeves unfurled, and the heavens and earth within a million li turned into a phantom within his sleeve. Tongtian's Yin Yang Qi coiled around him like dragons, faintly seeming to evolve the Five Elements. Xuanyuan deduced the laws of the Five Elements, faintly manifesting the image of giving birth to all things. The three Dao rhythms intertwined, dyeing this stretch of heaven and earth in dazzling colors.

Time flowed on. The three Great Divine Powers conversed joyfully, each gaining something. A thousand years passed in their Dao discussion.

During this time, Xuanyuan also comprehended two great divine abilities from Zhen Yuanzi: Shrink the Ground to Inch and Universe in a Sleeve. The former borrowed the momentum of earth veins; the latter manipulated spatial power.

"Today, I gift you this, Fellow Daoist—the harmonization of Wutu and Jitu. It may help you comprehend the Great Dao of Earth." Xuanyuan thought for a moment, then flicked his finger, sending forth a clump of earth-yellow beads exuding a desolate aura. This was the Essence of Innate Jitu obtained from killing Shanhe Daoist.

The Essence of Innate Wutu plus the Essence of Innate Jitu formed the complete Origin of the Great Dao of Earth. If Zhen Yuanzi could comprehend it, refine this Essence of Jitu, and merge it into himself to perfect his foundation, then his potential and achievements would be no less than Old Ancestor Yang Mei's. Without walking the path of Severing Three Corpses, he could still Prove Dao Hunyuan through laws—and become even stronger.

To be fair, the Essence of Jitu was somewhat useful to Xuanyuan, but not greatly so. Gifting it to Zhen Yuanzi served both to repay a kindness and to forge a good karmic bond, laying groundwork for establishing the Earth Path in the future.

"Essence of Jitu?"

At these words, Zhen Yuanzi abruptly rose, his Primordial Spirit trembling wildly as it sensed that aura of homologous complementarity.

He had a premonition that refining this clump of Essence of Jitu would bring him immense benefits.

"Indeed, this item is destined to be fated with you, Daoist friend, so there's no need to refuse. As for the Ginseng Fruit, you can give me a few more," Xuanyuan said with a smile.

The Ginseng Fruit was still quite good.

Not to mention anything else, it would certainly be of no small benefit to the Ancestral Witch of Wood, Gou Mang, and the Ancestral Witch of Earth, Houtu.

"You jest, Daoist friend. This Essence of Wutu is a chance at enlightenment for This Poor Daoist, and the grace of enlightenment is greater than heaven! Mere Ginseng Fruit—whenever they ripen in the future, should you need them, you may take them all."

Zhen Yuanzi's expression turned solemn. With a wave of his sleeve, the Golden Striper took twenty-six of the remaining twenty-seven Ginseng Fruits, wrapped them in a primordial ice-silk handkerchief, and presented them before Xuanyuan.

If not for remembering his gluttonous Close Friend Hong Yun, Zhen Yuanzi would have left none at all.

"If you ever encounter confusion on the path of the Great Dao, Daoist friend, you may come to Kunlun Mountain or Buzhou Mountain to seek me."

Putting the Ginseng Fruits into his sleeve, Xuanyuan pondered for a moment before dropping a hint.

The matter of the Chaos Pearl could not be leaked to anyone, and since Zhen Yuanzi's place had no means to isolate Heaven's Dao and karma, he could not directly mention Hongjun's lectures.

The Hongmeng Purple Qi was a great trap, but it wouldn't kill Zhen Yuanzi—only that Good Old Person Hong Yun would be doomed by it.

But severing the Three Corpses to attain sainthood was another matter entirely. Where would Zhen Yuanzi find three homologous Innate Spiritual Treasures?

Moreover, compared to Proving Dao by Law, Severing Three Corpses to Prove Dao was a path that seemed simpler on the surface but was in truth a misguided detour.

By smelting the essences of Wutu and Jitu, Zhen Yuanzi's talent for Proving Dao by Law pressed directly upon those reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods.

"This Poor Daoist will remember that."

Zhen Yuanzi nodded, his In Heart growing more and more grateful.

"Hm?"

"Kuafu and Da Yi?"

Suddenly, Xuanyuan and Tongtian raised their heads and Looked Towards the west, sensing two familiar auras fleeing from that direction.

"Daoist friend, what's wrong?"

Seeing This, Zhen Yuanzi couldn't help but ask.

Why were the two of them looking west? The west was barren; how many Great Divine Powers could there be?

"Nothing. A couple of shameless ones are bullying the bloodline of my sworn brother. Since I've seen it, I naturally can't turn a blind eye."

A flash of cold light passed through Xuanyuan's eyes. With a clench of his right hand, the heavy Qiankun Bow appeared in his grip, exuding a dense Fierce Ominous Aura.

Then, with his left hand, he took out a Zhentian Arrow, infused it with Grand Unity Magic Power, drew the bow, and aimed it straight at the west!

Whether Kuafu and Da Yi are fated with you lot or not is still up for debate, but this arrow Is Destined To be fated with you!