As they spoke, Qin Mu didn't dawdle. He directly collected the Red Packet hovering in midair.
At that moment, the plump Daoist who had been transformed from the Rat Spirit turned to Qin Mu and cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Duobao. Greetings, Senior."
Duobao had sensed Qin Mu's presence earlier.
But he was at a critical point in his transformation and didn't dare let himself be distracted.
So he had no choice but to brace himself and endure the tribulation.
Fortunately, Qin Mu had only watched from the sidelines and hadn't interfered.
That made Duobao feel somewhat favorably toward him.
Besides, Duobao had also sensed that Qin Mu's cultivation had already reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal level.
After successfully transforming, he himself was only a Mystic Immortal.
The gap in their strength naturally made Duobao treat Qin Mu with respect, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
"Daoist Duobao?"
When Qin Mu heard Duobao introduce himself, he couldn't help being surprised.
Others might not know, but he knew all too well.
Daoist Duobao would become the future First Disciple of the Sect of Interception. After the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, he would defect to the Western Lands and later become the formidable Western Tathagata Buddha!
Without me here, this fellow would be the First Disciple of the Sect of Interception, the disciple Sect Master Tongtian valued most.
Qin Mu muttered to himself, his gaze turning a little peculiar.
But now that I'm here, he can only be second!
Qin Mu sighed quietly.
After all, tens of thousands of years ago, he had already become a disciple of Tongtian and the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones.
Though surprised, Qin Mu showed nothing on his face. He returned the greeting.
"So you're Daoist Duobao. I'm Qin Mu, a disciple of the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun Mountain."
Duobao immediately looked up to him.
"So you're a distinguished disciple of the Three Pure Ones! Forgive my lack of respect!"
Even before his transformation, Duobao had often heard of them.
The Three Pure Ones of Kunlun, the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu, were among the most powerful beings in the Primordial Land.
And now he had actually met one of their disciples.
Duobao felt he had to seize this chance to befriend Qin Mu.
As Duobao mulled this over, Qin Mu was also sizing him up.
Noticing Qin Mu staring at him with a meaningful expression, Duobao furrowed his brow slightly and couldn't help wondering to himself.
Strange!
This is the first time we've met.
Why does he seem to know me so well?
At the thought, Duobao couldn't help asking.
"Does Senior know me?"
Qin Mu smiled faintly and replied.
"Not exactly."
"It's just that seeing you reminded me of an old friend."
Qin Mu's explanation did nothing to ease Duobao's frown. His doubts only grew, and he asked again.
"Was your old friend also... a Treasure-Seeking Rat?"
Though he asked aloud, Duobao was uncertain.
After all, he was the first Treasure-Seeking Rat in the Primordial World. By rights, there shouldn't be another.
"No."
Qin Mu answered briefly.
Seeing that Qin Mu had no intention of saying more, Duobao was tactful enough not to press him.
After a brief silence, Duobao pursed his lips and changed the subject.
"May I ask what brings Senior here?"
Qin Mu smiled and replied.
"I've been traveling through the Primordial Land and came to the Outskirts of Buzhou Mountain to seek opportunities."
"While passing by, I saw a tribulation gathering and thought a treasure had appeared. I didn't expect it to be your transformation."
At Qin Mu's words, Duobao's eyes lit up.
He knew that Buzhou Mountain was hailed as the Primordial First Divine Mountain. It had formed from Great God Pangu's spine and was said to be covered in treasures.
Duobao thought for a moment, then came to his senses and grinned at Qin Mu.
"Senior."
"Could you take me with you?"
Qin Mu didn't give it much thought and agreed at once. "Sure!"
First, he found traveling alone rather dull.
Second, Duobao would likely join Tongtian's sect in the future, making him a junior brother.
Traveling together would be quite nice.
Delighted that Qin Mu had agreed so readily, Duobao set off with him.
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, a thousand years passed.
Qin Mu and Duobao descended into a secluded mountain valley.
After landing, Qin Mu glanced around, then raised an eyebrow and looked at Duobao.
"Duobao, are you sure there's a treasure here?"
Seeing Qin Mu's hesitation, Duobao hurriedly said.
"Daoist Qin Mu, don't you trust my talent?"
"In the thousand years we've traveled together, I've helped us find plenty of treasures!"
Over the past thousand years, Qin Mu and Duobao had traveled together and grown quite close.
Duobao had gone from addressing Qin Mu as "Senior" to calling him "Daoist."
Qin Mu had to admit Duobao was right. Thanks to Duobao's Treasure-Seeking Talent, they had indeed found plenty of treasures.
In Qin Mu's eyes, Duobao truly lived up to his name.
After a brief pause, Qin Mu spoke.
"Then see where the treasure is."
Duobao nodded and walked to an open patch of ground, closing his eyes and focusing.
In the next moment, a faint golden glow suddenly shimmered around him.
"Treasure Hunting Qi! Unleash!"
With a soft shout, Duobao's eyes snapped open.
Golden light flowed through his eyes.
As he scanned the area, Duobao could see the contours of the mountains before him.
At last, his gaze fixed on a rock face deep in the valley.
"Found it!"
"Daoist Qin Mu, it's over there!"
Duobao exclaimed excitedly and pointed toward the rock face in the depths of the valley.
Qin Mu was excited too. He quickly looked in the direction Duobao indicated.
Sure enough, he spotted a subtle fluctuation of formation energy on the rock face.
Without a careful search, it would have been impossible to detect.
"Duobao really is something!"
"He even managed to find this."
Qin Mu marveled to himself. Once he had gathered his thoughts, he raised two fingers and flicked them.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of Sword Qi shot past, hurtling straight toward the rock face deep in the valley.
"Boom!"
"Bang!"
In less than a moment, the Sword Qi Qin Mu had unleashed struck the surface of the rock face.
As an earth-shaking rumble rang out, a profound Innate Formation was revealed on the rock face!
Profound runes shifted across the formation, its Daoist aura flowing naturally.
"There really is a treasure!"
Qin Mu cried out, knowing full well that something precious must lie within a place protected by an Innate Formation.
When he had transformed, the Fire Spirit Pearl had appeared nearby, also protected by an Innate Formation.
Seeing Qin Mu's astonishment, Duobao raised his chin proudly and smiled.
"Daoist Qin Mu, do you believe me now?"
"After all, I'm the one and only Treasure-Seeking Rat in the world!"
Qin Mu laughed and patted Duobao on the shoulder.
"Impressive, impressive."
"Come on, let's take a look inside!"
With that, Qin Mu and Duobao set off without delay toward the depths of the valley.
Before you continue