Just as Duobao was reeling in shock.
Qin Mu had already flown down in front of the Innate Spiritual Root.
He raised his eyes to look. The golden fruits on the tree all bore the words "Yellow Central."
Seeing this, Qin Mu couldn't help exclaiming:
"Just as I thought—it really is the Yellow Central Plum!"
"And from the looks of it, it's ripe and ready to be picked."
Qin Mu spoke calmly.
At that moment, Duobao recovered from his shock and hurried over to Qin Mu.
"Daoist Qin Mu."
"The fruits on this Innate Spiritual Root must be something special!"
Duobao looked up at the dazzling Yellow Central Plums, his throat bobbing uncontrollably.
Although he didn't know what kind of fruit they were,
just breathing in their fragrance made him feel his cultivation loosening.
Hearing Duobao's words, Qin Mu smiled faintly and explained:
"Daoist Duobao."
"This Innate Spiritual Root is called the Yellow Central Plum."
"It flowers once every ten thousand years, bears fruit once every ten thousand years, and takes another ten thousand years to ripen."
"Only nine fruits grow in thirty thousand years."
"Each fruit is worth ten thousand years of arduous cultivation and greatly benefits even a Great Principle Golden Immortal."
After hearing Qin Mu's explanation, Duobao nodded in understanding and sighed:
"I never imagined Daoist Qin Mu was so knowledgeable!"
Qin Mu smiled and paid little mind to Duobao's compliment.
After a brief silence, Duobao hurriedly turned to Qin Mu and congratulated him:
"Congratulations, Daoist Qin Mu, on obtaining such a treasure!"
Had that Taiyi Golden Immortal not interfered earlier, Duobao wouldn't have said this.
After all, he had found the Yellow Central Plum together with Qin Mu.
He had to deserve some of the credit.
But the appearance of that Taiyi Golden Immortal had changed the situation.
If Qin Mu hadn't killed him, there was no way they would have obtained the Innate Spiritual Root, the Yellow Central Plum.
Hearing Duobao's words, Qin Mu smiled meaningfully.
Then he raised a hand slightly. An invisible stream of magical power stirred, plucking two golden Yellow Central Plums.
"Duobao, one for each of us."
As he spoke, Qin Mu tossed one of the Yellow Central Plums to Duobao.
Duobao fumbled to catch it, his face filled with disbelief.
"This... This is far too precious!"
"Daoist Qin Mu, I..."
Before Duobao could finish, Qin Mu smiled faintly and said:
"You deserve the greatest credit for finding the Innate Spiritual Root, the Yellow Central Plum."
"It's only right that I share one with you."
"Besides, we're friends. Why refuse?"
After hearing Qin Mu's words, Duobao's eyes grew warm.
He hadn't expected Qin Mu to give him one of the Yellow Central Plums.
After a brief pause, Duobao hurriedly bowed to Qin Mu, his face full of gratitude:
"Thank you, Daoist Qin Mu!"
Qin Mu remained calm and didn't delay. He immediately swallowed the Yellow Central Plum in his hand.
"Boom!"
As the Yellow Central Plum entered his stomach, a surging torrent of spiritual energy exploded within Qin Mu.
Qin Mu quickly sat cross-legged and began absorbing and refining the fruit's power.
Seeing this, Duobao didn't hesitate either. He swallowed his Yellow Central Plum as well.
As the fruit entered Duobao's stomach, golden light began to shine from his body.
He quickly followed Qin Mu's example, sitting cross-legged to refine the Yellow Central Plum.
In the Western Lands, at Mount Sumeru.
Long ago, the great war between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Tribes and Demon Ancestor Luohu had taken place in the West.
Most of the West's spiritual veins had been destroyed, leaving the region utterly barren.
Later came the Dao-Devil War.
When Hongjun and Luohu fought, they had again chosen a place in the West: Mount Sumeru.
Their great battle had only made the West even more desolate.
That was precisely why Hongjun had said during his third lecture that he had a great karmic connection with the West.
He had even given Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti one strand of Primordial Violet Qi each and bestowed an Innate Spiritual Treasure upon them.
At that moment, two people sat on the peak of Mount Sumeru.
They were none other than the future Two Saints of the West, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti.
"Senior Brother, our Western Lands are truly too barren."
"We don't even have a single decent Innate Spiritual Root."
"How can we ever prosper?"
Daoist Zhunti said with a deeply troubled expression.
"Alas!"
Hearing this, Daoist Jieyin sighed helplessly and pressed his palms together.
"Such is Heaven's will!"
"Let's hope things will change after the two of us become saints!"
Zhunti furrowed his brow slightly and asked doubtfully:
"I wonder what the Saint-Making Opportunity our teacher mentioned actually is?"
"Attaining the Dao Through Strength is far too difficult, and becoming a saint through Slaying the Three Corpses is no easy feat either."
"Could it be Attaining the Dao Through Merit?"
Hearing Zhunti's words, Jieyin smiled faintly and replied:
"Junior Brother, don't be anxious."
"The opportunity hasn't appeared because the time isn't right yet."
Zhunti nodded slightly and didn't dwell on it further.
Just then, a streak of light appeared in the distance.
A moment later, a disciple of the Western Lands appeared, clad in a gray robe.
It was none other than Zhunti's disciple, Jia Ye.
He stepped forward, bowed to the two, and said:
"Master, Martial Uncle!"
"Someone outside requests an audience."
Jieyin and Zhunti were taken aback.
"Who?"
Zhunti asked.
Jia Ye replied without delay:
"Reporting to you, Master. It's Xuan Xiao, from the Immortal Court of Purple Mansion State."
Hearing Jia Ye's words, Jieyin and Zhunti frowned.
"Senior Brother, why has the Immortal Court sent someone to visit us now?"
"Our Western Realm has never had much contact with the Immortal Court."
Jieyin narrowed his eyes slightly, deep in thought.
After considering it, he finally said:
"Jia Ye, bring him in."
"We'll ask him directly and find out what he wants."
Jia Ye bowed in assent and turned to leave.
Before long, Jia Ye led a man before Jieyin and Zhunti.
The newcomer had the strength of a Great Principle Golden Immortal.
If the Three Pure Ones and Qin Mu had been there, they would have recognized him at a glance. Wasn't this the man who had gone to Kunlun Mountain earlier, hoping to recruit the Three Pure Ones?
Unfortunately, Tongtian had sent him flying with a single slap.
The Great Principle Golden Immortal was named Xuan Xiao. Acting on East King Duke's orders, he traveled throughout the Primordial Wilderness, recruiting powerful rogue cultivators for the Immortal Court.
He had managed to recruit a few along the way.
But quite a few had refused.
After returning from Kunlun Mountain and reporting back, East King Duke had sent him to the West as well. The purpose was obvious.
Seeing Jieyin and Zhunti, Xuan Xiao bowed to them and said:
"Greetings, seniors."
Jieyin nodded slightly and got straight to the point:
"Daoist Xuan Xiao."
"What brings you to our Western Realm?"
Xuan Xiao didn't hide his purpose and stated it directly:
"Reporting to you, seniors."
"I come at the command of East King Duke to pay you a visit."
"The Immortal Court wishes to invite you both to join us and work together for the greater good of the Primordial Wilderness."
Hearing Xuan Xiao's words, Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a look, surprise flickering in both their eyes.
They had just been talking about how barren the West was.
They hadn't expected the Immortal Court to send someone at just that moment, proposing that they join forces for a great cause.
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