Boom!
After Ye Xuan made his choice, another Innate Spiritual Root appeared in the void and entered his hands. It was one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots: the Innate Ren Water Peach. It had been born after the first Essence of Innate Ren Water, formed at the creation of Heaven and Earth, nurtured for countless ages.
Its crown spread like a canopy, blotting out the sky and sun. Every leaf naturally embodied the profound rhythm of the Great Dao of Water, its veins like rivers, expounding the principle of water giving life to all things. Its trunk was grayish brown, with a faint green divine glow about it. Endless misty water vapor surrounded it, and boundless rosy light streamed down. Even a single breath of its fragrance slightly advanced Ye Xuan's cultivation.
"Excellent!"
Looking at the new Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root in his hands, Ye Xuan couldn't help showing a satisfied smile.
This Innate Spiritual Root was itself part of Ye Xuan's Dao Path. It had been nurtured from the first Essence of Innate Ren Water and contained boundless Qi of Innate Ren Water. It would greatly benefit Ye Xuan, allowing his Taiyi Wonderful Divine Light to advance another level.
Qi of Innate Ren Water formed clouds in the heavens and marshes on earth. It was water that flowed endlessly, ceaseless and eternal, and was also the most yang water in the world.
Planted alongside other Innate Spiritual Roots, it could complement them and help them advance another level.
At the sight of this, Ye Xuan was even more delighted. He had fewer than ten Innate Spiritual Treasures in his possession, but he had a whole heap of Innate Spiritual Roots. To him, this was practically an unparalleled treasure!
The Innate Five Elements Spiritual Root and the Five-Leaf Pine Needle were both Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.
The Enlightenment Tea Tree, the foremost among the Spiritual Roots beneath the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots, was also one.
Moreover, the Immortal Apricot, one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots, as well as the Innate Gourd Vine and Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, were each Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.
After countless ages, if all these Innate Spiritual Roots advanced another level, Ye Xuan might even obtain a batch of Chaos Spirit Roots!
Looking at the Spiritual Root in his hands, Ye Xuan swept his palm and sent the Innate Ren Water Peach into the Three Thousand Heavens.
After planting it alongside the other Innate Spiritual Roots, Ye Xuan inspected the Innate Flat Peaches growing on it. The tree in his hands was no Acquired Spiritual Root; it was the ancestral tree, and the fruits it produced were entirely different as well.
It bloomed once every thirty thousand years, bore fruit once every thirty thousand years, and ripened once every thirty thousand years. After eating one, a cultivator could immediately attain the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit and comprehend the mysteries of the Great Dao of Water.
When a Grand Unity Golden Immortal advanced to the Great Unity realm and reached Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, swallowing a Peach of Immortality could make their Three Flowers bloom one grade higher, adding a trace of Dao insight.
At this, Ye Xuan gave a slight nod. The Golden Immortal Dao Fruit was nothing special, but the mysteries of the Great Dao of Water—and the ability to make the Three Flowers bloom one grade higher—were another matter. In the Primordial World, rare treasures capable of raising one's grade were exceedingly scarce.
Ye Xuan no longer needed it, but his disciples might in the future.
Having obtained another Innate Spiritual Root, Ye Xuan went into Secluded Cultivation. If he could grasp the Great Dao of Water within it, his Taiyi Wonderful Divine Light would advance another level. In the Realm of Sages, he would no longer be limited to the treasures of the Five Elements. Anything encompassed by his own Great Dao could be suppressed and incorporated into his divine light.
After Ye Xuan entered Secluded Cultivation, more than ten thousand years passed. While he was still cultivating, another electronic sound rang in his ears.
[Ding-dong!]
[It has been detected that one of the Five Great Fierce Beasts, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, is approaching Spirit Mountain to seek a master. Please choose below.]
[Choice One: Ignore it and let it leave. Complete the task to obtain the Three Pure Ones Divine Thunder Method!]
[Choice Two: Accept it as your fourth disciple. Complete the task to obtain a portion of the Origin Power of Thunder Demon God.]
"Hm?"
Hearing the electronic sound in his ears, Ye Xuan looked surprised.
A being had come to seek him as a master—and it was the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, one of the Five Great Vicious Insects. It was on the same level as the Blood-Winged Demonic Mosquito in the Netherworld Blood Sea. During the War of Investiture of the Gods, the latter had bitten away half the origin power of the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus. After swallowing it, that Innate Spiritual Treasure had fallen from Top-grade to High-grade.
The Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus had fallen to the Nine-Grade Golden Lotus!
The Six-Winged Golden Cicada had even, while at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, performed Python Sparrow Swallowing Dragon, devouring every last drop of blood from a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Moreover, it did indeed have a connection to Ye Xuan. After the Six-Winged Golden Cicada died, it had joined the Buddhist Sect and become Tathagata's Second Younger Brother, known as Golden Cicada. It had also undergone ten lifetimes of Reincarnation in the West and led the Journey to the West.
After a moment's thought, Ye Xuan turned his gaze beyond Spirit Mountain. A being with six wings, seemingly cast from gold, stood outside, looking at him with reverence and asking to become his disciple.
Seeing this, Ye Xuan spoke.
"Choose the second option. Accept him as my disciple!"
For Western Prosperity, relying only on himself and Daoist Zhunti would not be enough. They needed disciples and followers to help it flourish. As he spoke, another electronic sound rang in his ears.
[Ding-dong!]
[The host has chosen to accept Golden Cicada as a disciple. A portion of the Origin Power of Thunder Demon God is being issued. Please check it yourself.]
Divine light flashed in the void, and a portion of the Origin Power of Thunder Demon God entered his hands.
Having obtained another portion of Origin Power, Ye Xuan did not use it. He tossed it directly into the Three Thousand Heavens, then swept his palm, bringing Golden Cicada into Dao Seeking Palace.
Finding himself inside Dao Seeking Palace, Golden Cicada froze. Looking up at Ye Xuan on the high dais, whose aura seemed supreme, he was overjoyed. He bowed solemnly and prostrated himself before him.
"This disciple is Golden Cicada. I have heard that within the Pure Land of Spiritual Mountain, two mighty cultivators made great vows to bring about Western Prosperity and once restored the countless Spiritual Veins of the West. I wish to become a disciple of the Dao Venerable and serve you for the rest of my life!"
At this, Ye Xuan's expression shifted slightly. After making a quick deduction, he gave a faint nod.
Back when Daoist Zhunti had restored the Spiritual Veins, his reputation had already spread throughout the West.
It was because of Daoist Zhunti that Golden Cicada had been drawn here by Karma and joined Ye Xuan's disciples.
Yet it had been Daoist Zhunti who restored the countless Spiritual Veins, while Golden Cicada had joined Ye Xuan's disciples instead. Ye Xuan looked at Golden Cicada, puzzled. He swept him once with his spiritual sense, then nodded.
Golden Cicada had come here because he was already bound to the Buddhist Sect by a trace of Karma.
After Daoist Zhunti intervened, the Power of Karma had created a connection that led Golden Cicada to Spirit Mountain earlier.
As for why he had chosen to become Ye Xuan's disciple, he had learned that two mighty cultivators resided at Spirit Mountain: Daoist Zhunti and Ye Xuan. But Daoist Zhunti ranked second!
Moreover, Ye Xuan had not gone to Purple Cloud Palace, which convinced Golden Cicada that he was undoubtedly the stronger of the two. So he had wanted to join Ye Xuan's disciples.
As for how he had found the place, it was because, when Ye Xuan's Heaven Measuring Ruler advanced, it had created boundless phenomena and swallowed the West's endless Innate Spiritual Qi in one gulp. Golden Cicada had then traveled a great distance to reach the Pure Land of Spiritual Mountain.
The Power of Karma was truly wondrous, like a great net, trapping people layer by layer.
After considering it, Ye Xuan gave a slight nod to Golden Cicada and spoke.
"You're quite spirited."
"Good!"
"Then join my disciples as an honorary disciple. Establish a place of cultivation on Spirit Mountain. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me."
"Yes!"
Golden Cicada was overjoyed. He withdrew at once to establish a place of cultivation.
After he had left, Ye Xuan nodded. Though Golden Cicada was not an Innate God-Demon, he was among the strongest Innate Beings. Otherwise, he would not have been ranked among the Five Great Fierce Beasts alongside Mosquito Daoist!
The next moment, a portion of the Origin Power of Thunder Demon God appeared in his hands.
Before you continue