Refining the Yellow Central Plum! Celestial Court Envoy Visits the Western Realm!

Just as Duobao was stunned, Qin Mu had already flown down before that Innate Spiritual Root.

He looked up and saw that on the golden fruits of the spiritual root, the two characters "Yellow Central" were clearly visible.

Seeing this, Qin Mu couldn't help but sigh:

"It really is the Yellow Central Plum!"

"And by the looks of it, it has already ripened to the point of being ready for picking."

Qin Mu said calmly.

At this moment, Duobao recovered from his shock and quickly walked over to Qin Mu's side.

"Daoist Qin Mu."

"The fruits on this Innate Spiritual Root must be something extraordinary!"

Duobao looked up at the dazzling golden Yellow Central Plums, his throat bobbing uncontrollably.

Though he didn't know what kind of fruit this was, just the scent of it made him feel his own cultivation loosening.

Hearing Duobao's words, Qin Mu smiled faintly and explained:

"Daoist Duobao."

"This Innate Spiritual Root is called the Yellow Central Plum."

"This spiritual root blooms once every ten thousand years, bears fruit once every ten thousand years, and takes another ten thousand years to ripen."

"In thirty thousand years, only nine fruits are produced."

"As for its fruit, one single fruit is worth ten thousand years of bitter cultivation, and is greatly beneficial even to a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal."

After Qin Mu's explanation, Duobao nodded in understanding and said with emotion:

"I never expected Daoist Qin Mu to be so knowledgeable!"

Qin Mu smiled, not taking Duobao's flattery too seriously.

After a brief silence, Duobao quickly turned to Qin Mu and congratulated him:

"Congratulations, Daoist Qin Mu, on obtaining such a supreme treasure!"

If that Primordial Unity Golden Immortal hadn't butted in earlier, Duobao wouldn't have said such words.

After all, it was he who had led Qin Mu to find the Yellow Central Plum.

In a sense, he deserved some credit.

But the appearance of that Primordial Unity Golden Immortal had changed the situation.

If Qin Mu hadn't struck down that Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, this Innate Spiritual Root, the Yellow Central Plum, would never have been theirs.

Hearing Duobao's words, Qin Mu smiled meaningfully.

Then, he lightly raised his hand, and with an invisible surge of magical power, he plucked two golden Yellow Central Plums.

"Duobao, one for each of us."

As he spoke, Qin Mu casually tossed one Yellow Central Plum to Duobao.

Duobao fumbled to catch the Yellow Central Plum, his face full of disbelief.

"This... this is far too precious!"

"Daoist Qin Mu, I..."

Before Duobao could finish, Qin Mu said with a faint smile:

"Finding this Innate Spiritual Root, the Yellow Central Plum, is largely your merit."

"Giving you one Yellow Central Plum is only right."

"Besides, we are friends—why refuse?"

After hearing Qin Mu's words, Duobao's eyes grew slightly warm.

He hadn't expected Qin Mu to choose to share a Yellow Central Plum with him.

After a brief pause, Duobao quickly bowed deeply to Qin Mu, his face full of gratitude:

"Thank you, Daoist Qin Mu!"

Qin Mu's expression remained calm. Without delay, he immediately swallowed the Yellow Central Plum in his hand.

"Boom!"

As the Yellow Central Plum entered his stomach, a surging wave of spiritual power exploded within Qin Mu's body.

Qin Mu quickly sat cross-legged and began to absorb and refine the power of the Yellow Central Plum.

Seeing this, Duobao didn't hesitate either and swallowed his own Yellow Central Plum.

As the fruit entered his stomach, golden light immediately radiated from Duobao's body.

He quickly imitated Qin Mu by sitting cross-legged and began to refine the Yellow Central Plum.

In the Western Realm, Mount Sumeru.

In the past, the great war between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Tribes and Demon Ancestor Luohu took place in the West.

This caused most of the Western spiritual veins to be destroyed, leaving the West barren and desolate.

Later came the Dao-Demon Conflict.

The battlefield Hongjun chose for his great battle against Luohu was also Mount Sumeru in the West.

That fierce battle further exacerbated the West's barrenness.

It was precisely for this reason that, during his third sermon, Hongjun had said he shared a great karmic bond with the West.

He had also bestowed upon Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti one strand of Primordial Violet Qi each, as well as gifting them Innate Spiritual Treasures.

At this moment, two figures sat cross-legged atop Mount Sumeru's peak.

They were none other than the future Two Saints of the West, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti.

"Elder Brother, our West is far too barren,"

"Not even a single decent Innate Spiritual Root exists."

"How can it ever flourish?"

Daoist Zhunti said with a worried expression.

"Alas!"

Hearing this, Daoist Jieyin sighed helplessly and pressed his palms together, saying:

"Heaven's will is thus!"

"We can only hope that after we attain sainthood, things may change!"

Zhunti frowned slightly, a hint of doubt in his voice:

"I just wonder, what exactly is the Saint-Making Opportunity that Teacher spoke of?"

"Attaining the Dao Through Strength is too difficult, and Slaying the Three Corpses to become a saint is no easy feat either."

"Could it be Attaining the Dao Through Merit?"

Hearing Zhunti's words, Jieyin smiled faintly and replied:

"Junior Brother, do not be anxious."

"If the opportunity does not reveal itself, it simply means the time has not yet come."

Zhunti nodded lightly and did not dwell on the matter further.

Just then, a flash of light appeared not far away.

Immediately after, a Western disciple dressed in a gray robe materialized.

The newcomer was none other than Zhunti's disciple, Jia Ye.

Stepping forward, Jia Ye bowed to the two and said:

"Master, Uncle-Master!"

"Someone outside seeks an audience."

Jieyin and Zhunti were taken aback.

"Who is it?"

Zhunti asked.

Jia Ye did not delay and replied directly:

"Reporting to Master, it is Xuan Xiao from the Purple Mansion State Immortal Court."

Hearing Jia Ye's words, Jieyin and Zhunti could not help but frown.

"Elder Brother, what business does the Immortal Court have sending someone to visit us now?"

"Our Western Realm and the Immortal Court have never had much contact."

Jieyin narrowed his eyes slightly, a contemplative look on his face.

After thinking for a moment, he finally said:

"Jia Ye, bring the visitor here!"

"We shall ask face to face, and naturally learn his intentions."

Jia Ye bowed in acknowledgment and then turned to leave.

Before long, Jia Ye led a person before Jieyin and Zhunti.

The visitor possessed the strength of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

If the Three Pure Ones and Qin Mu were here, they would recognize at a glance—wasn't this the very person who had previously gone to Kunlun Mountain, trying to win over the Three Pure Ones?

Unfortunately, in the end, he was sent flying with a single slap from Tongtian.

This Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal was named Xuan Xiao. Acting on orders from the East King Duke, he roamed the Primordial Wilderness, recruiting Great Experts and wandering immortals to join the Immortal Court.

Along the way, he had indeed recruited some.

But many had also chosen to refuse.

After returning from Kunlun Mountain to report, the East King Duke dispatched him to the Western Realm—the purpose, of course, went without saying.

Upon seeing Jieyin and Zhunti, Xuan Xiao bowed to the two and said:

"Greetings, two seniors."

Jieyin nodded lightly and cut straight to the point, asking:

"Daoist Xuan Xiao."

"May I ask what brings you to our Western Realm?"

Xuan Xiao did not hide his intent, stating directly:

"Reporting to the senior."

"I come on the orders of the East King Duke to pay respects to the two seniors."

"The Immortal Court wishes to invite both seniors to join, to scheme together for the great cause of the Primordial Wilderness."

Hearing Xuan Xiao's words, an unusual glint flickered simultaneously in the eyes of Jieyin and Zhunti.

Just earlier, they had been discussing the barrenness of the Western Realm.

Who would have thought that now, the Immortal Court would send someone to invite them to join in a grand endeavor.