See the Great Way by Breaking Through Life and Death; Create the Future with the Nine-Turn Divine Art (Continued)

At that moment, Hao Tian led Yun Xiao into a courtyard. Innate Spiritual Roots grew densely all around; there were more than fifty of them alone!

As expected of Hongjun's backyard. Even the innate restrictions surrounding the Three Pure Ones when they took form paled in comparison!

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao was curious.

Had Hao Tian brought her here just to show off his wealth?

"These days, the world is in chaos, and baleful energy is rampant. Even the Spiritual Roots we've cultivated have been affected."

Just then, Yaochi Golden Mother looked at Xiao Bai and continued, "This Geng Metal White Tiger has full wings on its back, wreathed in Geng Metal energy, which can fend off the baleful energy."

"So I want to use the feathers from the tiger's wings to weave a canopy for these Spiritual Roots."

Pfft!

At her words, Xiao Bai nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

What the heck?

Use his feathers to weave a canopy for those Spiritual Roots?

Never mind the indignity—if they plucked him bald, he wouldn't look beautiful when he went out!

Thinking this, Xiao Bai flatly refused. "No!"

If he turned ugly, what if people mistook him for a ferocious beast when he went out?

Hao Tian's childish face filled with displeasure at the outright refusal. Then he looked at Yun Xiao. "My master once said that Jade Capital Mountain is off-limits to anyone who isn't fated to come here."

"You barged in without permission. If my master sees you, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain myself!"

A threat—an utterly blatant threat!

Yun Xiao clenched her fist, then relaxed it, then clenched it again. Hao Tian was truly asking for a beating at this age!

She'd been invited up the mountain, yet now he was accusing her of trespassing?

Hold it in. I'll hold it in a little longer!

Yun Xiao's mind was locked in a fierce internal struggle. If she weren't afraid that beating Hao Tian would bring Hongjun rushing out of Jade Capital Mountain, she'd have already pounded the brat until his head was covered in bumps!

After taking a long breath, Yun Xiao grinned at Xiao Bai. "Give them to her!"

"Can I give her half?" Xiao Bai asked pitifully.

"No." Yaochi shook her head.

Seeing how pitiful Xiao Bai looked, even Hao Tian felt he was being a little unreasonable. He promptly tried to reassure him. "When my master comes back, I'll ask him to compensate you with an Innate Spiritual Root."

An Innate Spiritual Root?

Xiao Bai hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "I'll pluck them!"

"Wait!"

Just then, Yun Xiao suddenly stopped Xiao Bai.

She looked at Hao Tian, her gaze frighteningly bright. "You just said that when your master comes back, he'll compensate my mount with an Innate Spiritual Root?"

"What's the matter? These things are incredibly precious to you, but to us, they're nothing special."

"Who knows? My master might bring back a whole bunch more when he returns this time. If I ask, getting one or two as a reward won't be a problem."

Hao Tian explained, thinking Yun Xiao didn't trust him.

"Good. Very good."

Just then, Yun Xiao smiled. She held out her fist and cracked her knuckles.

So Hongjun wasn't home!

Then this brat definitely needed to be taught a lesson!

At the thought, Yun Xiao's heart stirred, and a three-inch ruler appeared in her hand.

The Primordial Measure Heaven Ruler. It killed without incurring Karma—and beat people without incurring Karma, too!

"Y-You! What are you going to do?!"

Seeing Yun Xiao approach with the Primordial Measure Heaven Ruler in her hand, Hao Tian nervously backed away until he was cornered in the courtyard.

Smack!

"Ah!"

"I'm warning you, my master is—"

Smack!

"If you've got the guts, fight me fair and square!"

Smack!

"Waaah, I was wrong!"

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The next moment, cries of agony rang out, echoing across all of Jade Capital Mountain.

"I'll take these Spiritual Roots, then. Consider them payment for the trouble of teaching your master's disciple a lesson."

The next day, Yun Xiao cheerfully collected every Spiritual Root in the courtyard, then rode away on Xiao Bai.

She'd spent the whole day beating him. It was so satisfying!

Hao Tian truly lived up to his origins as a Chaos Boulder. He could take a beating!

As for why she'd only taken the Spiritual Roots and hadn't gone looking for any Spiritual Treasures, Yun Xiao had her reasons.

Who knew if that old fox Hongjun had set up arrays or restrictions around the Spiritual Treasures? If she accidentally triggered something, it could become a huge mess.

After all, Hongjun at this point hadn't yet joined with the Heavenly Dao and become the dispassionate Dao Ancestor.

Clearing out the backyard was more than enough.

After all, it was best to leave some room for future encounters.

"Once Shen Ni emerges, the Primordial Wilderness will fall into chaos, and traveling around will become a real hassle."

"I'd better make the most of the peace while it lasts, look for more opportunities, and improve my strength as soon as possible."

Yun Xiao murmured to herself. After leaving White Jade Mountain, she promptly used Barrier Penetrating Insight and flew west on Xiao Bai.

Several days later.

A hazy figure slowly descended onto the mountaintop. When he saw Hao Tian bound up with bruises all over his backside, and Yaochi with a mouthful of feathers, even his calm expression flickered with surprise.

The figure was none other than Hongjun.

He hadn't yet joined with the Heavenly Dao and entered that state of dispassion.

"Waaah!"

The moment Hongjun returned, Hao Tian started crying. Hongjun gently pointed a finger, and the magical light binding the two of them burst apart.

"Master, you have to get justice for us!"

Hao Tian scrambled over to Hongjun and tearfully recounted what had happened.

Of course, he exaggerated some parts and conveniently left others out.

"Be quiet for now. Let me calculate that woman's origins."

Looking at the marks from the ruler on Hao Tian's backside, Hongjun began calculating with his fingers.

But after a long while, he let out a puzzled "Huh?"

He couldn't calculate her location?

Hongjun's brow furrowed slightly. He glanced casually at the now-empty courtyard, then suddenly brightened as if he'd thought of something. With a flash, he appeared beside a Spiritual Treasure.

"She didn't take it?"

Looking at the Spiritual Treasure floating quietly in midair, Hongjun raised his eyebrows again.

He hadn't placed restrictions around the Spiritual Roots, but he had around the Spiritual Treasures.

The idea was to lure in anyone who trespassed on Jade Capital Mountain!

After all, if they found no restrictions around the Spiritual Roots, who would expect restrictions around the Spiritual Treasures instead?

And now, someone really had taken the Spiritual Roots but left the Spiritual Treasures untouched...

This counterintuitive move left even Hongjun speechless.

Leaving the lively Jade Capital Mountain aside, Yun Xiao had by then reached the boundary between the Western Land and the southern continent.

"That's strange."

She looked down at the mountains, a puzzled expression on her face.

Why hadn't Barrier Penetrating Insight reacted at all during the entire journey?