Zhenyuanzi Inquires About Karma

"What exactly is this difficult matter?"

"Daoist, please tell us at once."

Haotian explained at length, his words earnest. "You both know that This Daoist possesses a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root. The Spirit Tea we drank today was made from its leaves."

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"This spiritual root is called the Great Red Robe Mother Tree. This Daoist happened upon it years ago in the Mount Wuyi Blessed Land."

"And therein lies the difficulty."

"Mount Wuyi lies in the southeast of the Central Continent. It is separated from the Purple Firmament Palace where I reside by boundless chaos and the Vast Great Desolation."

"Thus, although this spiritual root belongs to me in name, the mountains are distant and the roads long. It is truly difficult to tend to it often, much less keep it under effective control."

"Today, seeing how vibrantly Fellow Daoist has nurtured the Ginseng Fruit Tree, and hearing that it was transplanted here, I could not help but feel hopeful."

"I wonder... does Fellow Daoist possess some profound method for safely transplanting Innate Spiritual Roots?"

"If so, This Daoist is willing to exchange suitable treasures for it. I certainly will not let Fellow Daoist suffer a loss for nothing."

Hearing this explanation, both Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi revealed looks of sudden understanding.

"So that's how it is." Zhenyuanzi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Haotian had just questioned him in great detail about the Ginseng Fruit Tree's origins, and Zhenyuanzi had thought Haotian coveted the tree itself. He had not expected that Haotian merely sought a method of transplantation.

Zhenyuanzi immediately said generously, "Daoist, you overstate the matter."

"This method for transplanting and nurturing spiritual roots is no extraordinary inherited secret art."

"If Daoist needs it, This Daoist can simply give it to you. Why would there be any need for an exchange?"

At those words, joy immediately welled up in Haotian's heart.

Yet Zhenyuanzi abruptly changed his tone. "However... even if Daoist learns this method, I fear... you still would not be able to use it."

Haotian's brows drew together slightly. "What does Fellow Daoist mean by that? Please enlighten me."

Zhenyuanzi explained, "My method is indeed quite ordinary. The reason it can safely relocate things such as Innate Spiritual Roots, which are intimately bound to the origin of the earth, lies chiefly in the power of the Earth Book."

The Earth Book!

Haotian's heart jolted at first, but then he found it entirely natural.

Innate Spiritual Roots were deeply rooted in the earth, drawing upon immeasurable earth energy and laws of origin. Their roots were often connected to a region's Earth Veins, or even deeper rules of heaven and earth. Tug one hair, and the whole body moved.

Without special means, forcibly transplanting them would, at best, cause the spiritual root to wither; at worst, it would damage the Earth Veins and invite backlash.

Only the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Earth Book, formed from the Earth Fetal Membrane and capable of regulating mountains and rivers and stabilizing earth energy, could smoothly accomplish such a "heaven-defying feat" without disturbing the foundation.

"So that is where the knot lies... This Daoist had not considered the matter carefully enough."

Haotian quickly composed himself. With understanding and a trace of regret on his face, he cupped his hands. "In that case, let us set aside the matter of transplantation for now. This Daoist will seek another opportunity in the future."

"Still, I must thank Fellow Daoist for speaking so frankly."

Zhenyuanzi waved a hand to indicate there was no need for courtesy. Then his expression turned solemn as he cupped his hands and asked, "Daoist, This Daoist also has a question that has long lingered in my heart. I wonder... might I seek confirmation from Daoist?"

Haotian answered seriously, "Please ask, Fellow Daoist. This Daoist will speak all that I know."

Zhenyuanzi drew a deep breath, his blazing gaze fixed on Haotian as he asked in a low voice, "May I ask, Daoist—in the past, when the Purple Firmament Palace first opened, before its gates, Daoist once said to Brother Hongyun and me: 'Origins arise and fade, flowers bloom and wither, fortune and misfortune lean upon each other, and when things reach their extreme, they reverse.'"

"This Daoist is slow-witted, yet after pondering it again and again, I dare ask whether Daoist was referring... to the upheaval later within Yan Dao Palace, caused by the struggle over the Golden Cloud Prayer Mats?"

Haotian's heart stirred. When he had risked revealing the Heavenly Secrets, one of the foundations he had laid was precisely for this very moment.

Only when the other party took the initiative to ask, allowing him to respond in turn, could he deepen to the greatest extent their impression of him as "unfathomably profound" and "one who saw the future."

And further solidify this relationship founded upon "kindness" and "mystery."

Meeting Zhenyuanzi's probing gaze, Haotian slowly nodded and admitted it openly. "Fellow Daoist's guess is correct."

"What This Daoist said that day did indeed allude to the struggle for the Golden Cloud seats, as well as... the immense Karma entangled behind it."

"Fellow Daoist was right. What I referred to then was indeed the matter of fighting over the Golden Cloud Prayer Mats."

Though Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun had already discussed it privately and made countless guesses, hearing Haotian personally confirm it so plainly still sent a violent tremor through their minds. Their expressions changed drastically!

Even the jade cup in Hongyun's hand shook faintly.

Unable to suppress the raging waves churning in his heart, he blurted out, "How did Daoist know at the time—"

"Fellow Daoist!" Before Hongyun could finish, Haotian raised an arm and interrupted him, his expression exceptionally grave.

Haotian said in a low voice, "The Heavenly Secrets are obscure and subtle; they cannot be fully revealed."

"To rashly delve too deeply may invite backlash and bring disaster upon oneself."

"This is no empty threat. Fellow Daoist, please watch your words. Do not bring a calamity upon yourself!"

Intimidated by Haotian's abruptly stern expression and the awe-inspiring gravity contained in his words, Hongyun immediately fell silent. A trace of lingering fear even surfaced on his face.

As Innate Divine Beings and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, their awareness of and reverence for the laws of heaven and earth, Karma, and karmic force ran far deeper than that of ordinary Living Beings.

With Haotian warning him so solemnly, how could he dare not believe him?

Zhenyuanzi's expression was equally grave. He had thought more deeply and further ahead than Hongyun.

After a long silence, he spoke again, his tone heavy. "Daoist, back at Purple Firmament Palace, Brother Hongyun gave up his seat out of a moment of kindness, indirectly causing Daoist Kunpeng to lose his place upon the Golden Cloud."

"After that, Kunpeng came to harbor resentment and hatred toward Brother Hongyun."

"This Daoist has vaguely sensed that the Karma surrounding this matter is deeply entangled. I fear it will be difficult to bring it to a good end."

"I wonder... Daoist, do you have any way to resolve it?"

Though Zhenyuanzi possessed no memories of the future, as an Innate Divine Being with a lucid Dao Heart, he naturally had vague premonitions of the blessings and misfortunes concerning himself and his closest friends.

He had always felt a powerful unease, believing that Kunpeng's hidden hatred was like a festering disease clinging to the bone—one day, it would surely brew into a great calamity.

Yet whenever he brought it up with Hongyun, Hongyun would always dismiss it, laughing at him for worrying too much, leaving him with nothing but helpless sighs.

It was only after encountering Haotian again at Buzhou Mountain, and recalling all the extraordinary things about him, that Zhenyuanzi decided to invite him here in an attempt to seek a way to break the deadlock.

Hearing this, Haotian fell into deep thought.

At present, there were actually two people who harbored resentment toward Hongyun.

East Prince and Kunpeng.

Zhenyuanzi had mentioned Kunpeng alone, clearly having keenly sensed that Kunpeng's hatred ran deeper and was more vicious, posing the greater hidden danger.

Kunpeng hated Hongyun for two reasons.

First, Hongyun had helped him out of a tight spot before Purple Firmament Palace.

Second, within Yan Dao Palace, Hongyun's act of yielding his seat had indirectly caused him to lose the crucial Golden Cloud!

Though, tracing things back to their source, Hongyun was not the true culprit in either case.

But the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Fuxi, and even Haotian all had powers backing them—none of whom Kunpeng could afford to provoke.

Only Hongyun, whose kind and benevolent nature bordered on foolishness, was, despite Zhenyuanzi's protection, ultimately a "soft persimmon."

Thus, he naturally became Kunpeng's foremost target for venting his boundless resentment and fury.