"By the way, Elder Brother."
Tongtian suddenly remembered something. His eyes lit up as he looked at Taiyuan with eager anticipation.
"Could you teach me your way of farming?"
"Mount Kunlun is rich in spiritual energy, but compared to your place, it's practically a run-down temple."
"I want to get my own place in order, too. At the very least, I can't let it look too shabby, or I'll be embarrassed to invite you over."
Taiyuan pondered for a moment, lightly tapping his fingers on the Ten Thousand Year Zitan Wood table.
"Farming can be difficult, but it can also be simple."
"The key is being willing to invest and spend money."
He stood and walked to the window, gesturing toward the lush spiritual roots outside, which brimmed with spiritual energy.
"Look at these spiritual roots. I grew every one of them with top-grade Merit Water and cultivated them in Nine Heavens Breathing Soil."
"The greater the investment, the greater the harvest."
"It's just like cultivation. Without putting anything in, how can you expect a return? If you want something for nothing, all you'll get from your fields is weeds."
Tongtian nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with understanding, as though he'd grasped some profound truth.
"Elder Brother is right. I was thinking too small."
"When I get back, I'll take out every last bit of my savings and get Mount Kunlun in order. Then I'll definitely invite you over to inspect it!"
Taiyuan smiled and nodded. He took a storage pouch embroidered with mysterious runes from his robes and handed it to Tongtian.
"There are some spiritual root seeds and notes on cultivation in here. Take them back and study them."
"If anything's unclear, come ask me anytime. There's no need to stand on ceremony between brothers."
Tongtian took the pouch and swept it with his spiritual sense. He froze, his breathing growing unsteady.
The seeds inside weren't ordinary spiritual root seeds. They were seeds of Innate Spiritual Roots—more than a dozen of them, each radiating rich innate Daoist resonance.
There was also a thick Jade Slip, densely packed with detailed notes on cultivation and methods of nurturing the plants. It contained the essence of Taiyuan's ten thousand years of farming experience.
This gift was far too valuable.
"Elder Brother, this... this is too precious!"
Tongtian felt embarrassed and tried to refuse, but his hand clutched the pouch tightly, unwilling to let go.
"Keep it."
Taiyuan waved a hand, cutting him off. His tone brooked no argument.
"There's no need to say such things between brothers."
"You've helped me, and I'll help you. That's what friendship is about."
Tongtian looked at Taiyuan's sincere, guileless face, and a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time welled up inside him.
He had spent so long on Mount Kunlun. Though he was one of the Three Pure Ones, he had never felt what it was like to be treated with such genuine kindness.
Elder Brother Yuanshi was always putting on airs and talking about rules. Second Brother Laozi spent all his time in seclusion, cultivating nonaction. Tongtian was left all alone, with hardly anyone to drink or chat with.
But here, with Taiyuan, he felt real friendship—no exchange of favors, just a meeting of kindred spirits.
"Elder Brother."
Tongtian stood, put away the pouch, and gave Taiyuan a solemn bow.
"I'll remember this kindness, Tongtian."
"From now on, you're my best friend."
"If anyone dares lay a hand on you, they're picking a fight with me! I'll cut them down with my sword!"
Taiyuan smiled and nodded, inwardly pleased.
He had gained another powerful ally, and a staunch one at that—the future Jie Sect Leader.
His networking was getting smoother and smoother.
Tongtian departed with a full haul, riding his Escape Light away. Before leaving, he looked back several times, as if trying to etch the opulence of Mount Sumeru into his mind.
"Elder Brother, I'll come mooch another meal next time!"
"You're welcome anytime."
Taiyuan waved goodbye with a smile, watching the streak of azure sword light disappear into the horizon.
Zhunti came out from the side, his face showing both envy and admiration.
"Elder Brother, you're really good at building connections."
"Even Sovereign of Heaven has become one of our staunch allies. Now we have someone on our side in the Eastern Lands."
Taiyuan turned and looked at Zhunti's bald head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a knowing smile.
"Connections are wealth, and friends are resources."
"In the Primordial World, you can't get by on your own. You need friends to lend a hand if you want to go far."
"Got it?"
Zhunti nodded at once, firmly committing those words to memory. His admiration for Elder Brother deepened.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, at Purple Heaven Palace.
An eerie atmosphere hung over this ancient, silent sanctuary.
Hongjun sat cross-legged on his cushion, the mysterious, purple-glowing Primordial Violet Qi resting quietly in his hand like a hot potato.
He looked at the Violet Qi he couldn't give away, and a flicker of complexity and calculation crossed his usually placid eyes.
Nuwa had become a Saint with the Chaos Lotus Seed, completely disrupting his original plans for the Heavenly Dao.
The script he had prepared, along with all his carefully linked schemes of cause and effect, had now been rendered useless.
After a long silence, Hongjun suddenly opened his eyes. A meaningful smile curled his lips, carrying a hint of coldness and ruthlessness.
"Since I can't give this Violet Qi away, I'll put the other one to use."
"The great tide of the Heavenly Dao cannot be changed. The tribulation must proceed."
He flicked a finger. An invisible ripple of the Great Dao spread from Purple Heaven Palace, instantly sweeping across the Primordial World and entering the minds of every powerful figure.
It was an extremely subtle message, yet one with irresistible allure.
Hong Yun has the Primordial Violet Qi.
Whoever obtains it can become a Saint.
The message was like a boulder crashing into a calm lake, sending up a thousand waves and stirring the Primordial World back into a frenzy.
The North Sea, Kunpeng's lair.
Kunpeng brooded in the depths of his gloomy, frigid lair, venomous light flashing in his sinister eyes. Terrifying demonic energy swirled around him.
Ever since Taiyuan's Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage had sent him flying at Purple Heaven Palace, he had held a grudge. The humiliation of being disgraced in public made him dream of revenge.
But Taiyuan's strength was unfathomable, and he had the backing of the newly ascended Saint Nuwa. Kunpeng didn't dare make a move, so he could only seethe helplessly in the depths of the North Sea.
Just then, he heard the message about Hong Yun.
Kunpeng's eyes suddenly lit up, greed surging through him.
Hong Yun had the Primordial Violet Qi?
That was the key to becoming a Saint!
More importantly, Hong Yun was friends with Taiyuan. They had even shared a hotpot at Purple Heaven Palace—they were clearly allies.
"If I can't touch Taiyuan, I'll start with Hong Yun!"
Kunpeng sneered, a vicious, calculating glint in his eyes.
"I can get the Violet Qi and prove my Dao, while also getting under Taiyuan's skin and cutting off one of his arms. Two birds with one stone!"
He sprang to his feet, his massive body unfurling in the lair. With a beat of his wings, he whipped up violent gales and raced toward the Primordial World.
The Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe's domain.
Blood mist shrouded this place year-round, and baleful energy surged through it. Countless vengeful spirits wailed in the sea of blood, making it one of the Primordial World's notorious places of ill omen.
Ancestor Minghe sat cross-legged atop the Twelve-Grade Red Lotus of Karma Fire in the middle of the Blood Sea. Countless blood-red sword auras swirled around him—his companion treasures, the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords, peerless weapons of slaughter.
When the message about Hong Yun reached him, Ancestor Minghe abruptly opened his eyes. Two terrifying beams of light shot from his blood-red pupils.
"Primordial Violet Qi?"
He murmured to himself, his voice hoarse and grating. Unconcealed greed flashed in his eyes.
He had been stuck at Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal for countless years, unable to break through to Quasi-Saint, let alone become a Saint.
If he could obtain the Primordial Violet Qi, sainthood would be within reach. Then even Saints would have to give him some respect.
"That good-natured fool Hong Yun has such a treasure in his hands. What a waste."
Ancestor Minghe sneered. His figure blurred, turning into a streak of blood-red light as he shot out of the Blood Sea and headed straight for Huoyun Cave.
Huoyun Cave, Ancestor Hong Yun's domain.
Clouds and rosy mists drifted through this blessed grotto, where spiritual energy was abundant. It was usually a place of peace and harmony.
Hong Yun was meditating in seclusion, comprehending the Great Dao, when his heart suddenly lurched. A powerful sense of foreboding surged over him, as if disaster were imminent.
He opened his eyes and furrowed his brow, rapidly working through divinations.
"What's going on?"
"I feel as if something terrible is about to happen. I can't calm my mind."
He tried to divine the cause, but nothing came to him. The secrets of Heaven seemed utterly muddled, as if some powerful figure had concealed them.
His unease only deepened, until he felt an urge to flee.
Mount Sumeru, the main hall.
Taiyuan lounged in his chair, the enormous Prehistoric Power Distribution Map floating before him, its countless points of light flickering.
Suddenly, his brows knitted, and his gaze fixed on a corner of the map.
Several ominous red markers were quickly gathering around the point representing Hong Yun.
One was Kunpeng. Another was Ming He. There were also several Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals he didn't recognize, each radiating intense killing intent.
"Someone's going after Hong Yun."
Taiyuan spoke gravely, a hint of concern and coldness in his eyes.
Hong Yun was a friend he had made at Purple Heaven Palace, and an important link in his network. If something happened to Hong Yun, he would lose not only a friend but also leave a gap in the connections he had worked so hard to build.
More importantly, during the Hotpot Feast, he had secretly slipped Hong Yun some meat imbued with the Law of Fortune, helping stabilize his fortune. He couldn't let that investment go to waste.
If Hong Yun died just like that, wouldn't all his plans have been for nothing?
"Second Brother, Third Brother."
Taiyuan stood and brushed off his robes, looking over at Jieyin and Zhunti, who were drinking tea nearby.
"Get ready. We're going to pay Huoyun Cave a visit."
Zhunti set down his teacup, his eyes lighting up. He immediately grabbed the Sky-Turning Shovel resting nearby, looking excited.
"Elder Brother, another fight? Who are we beating up this time?"
Taiyuan shook his head, the corner of his mouth curling into a knowing smile.
"We're not going to fight. We're going to save someone."
"Hong Yun's always been unlucky. There's always someone after what he has. Even being a good-natured fellow comes with risks."
"We'll help him ward off trouble, and while we're at it..."
A sharp gleam flashed in Taiyuan's eyes—the look of a merchant spotting a business opportunity.
"We'll see if we can squeeze some benefits out of the people coveting his treasure."
"After all, rescue doesn't come free. Our Western Sect doesn't do business at a loss."
Before you continue