Zhenyuanzi Bestows Treasure

His abnormal reaction—the suddenly surging aura that resonated with the Four Symbols Plantain Tree—was naturally sensed clearly by Lord Wanshouyuan and his main body, Zhenyuanzi.

A trace of understanding and relief flashed in Lord Wanshouyuan's eyes, and he slightly nodded.

As for Zhenyuanzi's main body, that mass of Profound Yellow light rippled faintly. A calm, gentle divine thought carrying a knowing smile transmitted directly into Hongyun's heart:

"The Great Dao manifests, and destined affinity forms of itself. I observe that Fellow Daoist's Qi flow resonates with it, your Origin Power echoes it as if from the same source. This tree is fated to be yours. This is Heaven's will, and also your fortune."

Hearing this, Hongyun snapped awake from that mysterious resonance, his face first showing overwhelming joy.

Then it was quickly replaced by immense hesitation and disbelief. He waved his hands hastily, his voice distorted by agitation:

"This... how can this be! Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi! This is an Innate Spiritual Root, incomparably precious—a great opportunity you painstakingly obtained from the Xiantian Restriction of Buzhou Mountain!

It is even connected to your Book of the Earth and Ginseng Fruit Tree in fortune, perhaps of great use! How can This Poor Daoist... how can I snatch away your beloved treasure and accept such a gift?"

An Innate Spiritual Root—how precious was that? Throughout the entire Primordial World, such things could be counted on one's fingers.

Each one contained one or even several complete Great Dao Laws, peerless treasures enough to drive any great power mad with desire, even stirring up bloody winds of war.

And Zhenyuanzi was just going to give it to him so lightly, without hesitation? This gift was far too heavy! So heavy that his heart panicked, and he dared not accept it.

Zhenyuanzi's divine thought came again, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable frankness and sincerity, along with the deep bond formed over countless epochs:

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, why must you be so distant? To me, this is merely icing on the cake, adding a bit of depth to my foundation.

But to you, it is a perfect match for the Dao, like wings added to a tiger—a key item to lay your Dao foundation and illuminate your path forward. Its value is immeasurable.

We have accompanied each other here since the dawn of our spiritual wisdom, watching the evolution of the Primordial World together, passing countless epochs of cold and heat. In terms of friendship, we have long surpassed ordinary fellow Daoists, nearly becoming brothers or Dao companions.

A mere external object—if it can help you advance in your Dao and make your future path promising, then that is its greatest value to me. Why should I be stingy?

Could it be that after all these endless years, Fellow Daoist still wishes to draw a line between us?"

These words, calm and gentle in tone yet heavier than Mount Buzhou, struck deep into Hongyun's heart.

Hongyun stood frozen, a surge of countless emotions welling up within him. An indescribable warmth rose from deep within his Primordial Spirit, instantly spreading through his limbs and bones, infinitely comforting.

Yet it also made his nose sting, his throat feel blocked, and for a moment, he could not find words.

Countless fragments of memory flooded his mind.

He recalled countless epochs ago, when he was still a confused, hazy mass of innate red clouds drifting above Longevity Mountain. Below him, that warm, heavy, and calm essence of Wutu Earth would often emit thoughts of comfort and guidance, dispelling his confusion.

He remembered the years that followed, when Zhenyuanzi would lecture him daily on the Dao, breaking down the obscure and profound Ultimate Truth of the Great Dao into digestible pieces, patiently explaining, helping him condense his spiritual wisdom, clarify his cultivation path, and step by step reach today.

He recalled the Time of Transformation, when tribulation descended, and Zhenyuanzi unhesitatingly activated the Earth Fetal Membrane with all his might, drawing on the endless Earth Vein Qi of Longevity Mountain to protect him—that unreserved support and guardianship.

And now, having just broken through to the Great Luo realm with the help of his friend's main body's opportunity, the other was gifting him this Innate Spiritual Root, so perfectly suited to him and so precious...

This bond was far too heavy! So heavy that he did not know how to repay it, and even felt unworthy to accept it.

He looked at the Four Symbols Plantain Tree, its light flowing, its aura perfectly integrated with his own.

Then he "looked" at that silent yet infinitely reliable mass of Profound Yellow light (Zhenyuanzi's main body), which stood guard over this place like an eternal ancient mountain.

Finally, a thousand words and ten thousand emotions condensed into a single deep bow, his body bending a full ninety degrees, his voice trembling with barely suppressed emotion and choked tears:

"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi... this time... the gift of such deep feeling... This Poor Daoist... Hongyun... will engrave it in my heart and never forget it for eternity! In the future... should you ever need anything, Hongyun... would not refuse even ten thousand deaths!"

He knew that for someone of Zhenyuanzi's temperament, excessive refusal would only seem distant and insincere, betraying the other's Heart of Sincerity.

This bond, higher than the heavens and thicker than the earth, he would deeply remember. In the future, he would repay it with everything he had!

Zhenyuanzi's main body's light flickered faintly, transmitting a calm and indifferent thought: "Between you and me, this is only right. Do not dwell on it."

Hongyun straightened up, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the surging emotions within him.

He did not immediately and eagerly absorb the Four Symbols Plantain Tree into his body to refine it. Instead, he made a decision more in line with the Great Dao.

He walked up to the spirit root, sat down cross-legged, and reached out a finger. With an extremely gentle touch, as if caressing a beloved treasure, he lightly brushed the four leaves, each containing a different Origin Power. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind on feeling the vast, majestic, yet infinitely intimate natural Dao resonance within.

"Since this spiritual root is destined for me, let it continue to grow here in this Spiritual Aperture," Hongyun said, looking up at Lord Wanshouyuan and Zhenyuanzi's main body, his gaze clear and firm.

"This place is the core of Longevity Mountain's Spiritual Vein, nourished by Fellow Daoist's Wutu Essence Qi, which is more beneficial for its growth and strengthening.

In the future, when I comprehend the Dao, I will often sit beneath this tree. Accompanying it day and night, breathing together, I will perceive the natural evolution of its Four Symbols Origin.

Subtly influencing each other, minds interwoven, perhaps this will yield its essence and true meaning better than forcibly refining it into my body. It will benefit my Dao foundation more, and also not betray the fortune of this Innate Spiritual Root."

Hearing this, Lord Wanshouyuan's eyes showed even greater approval. He nodded with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist's words are excellent, deeply grasping the True Meaning of the Natural Dao. A spiritual root has its own spirit and its own Dao path.

Forcibly refining it may grant its power quickly, but it could damage its spirituality and lose the true meaning of its natural evolution—like killing the hen for its eggs.

Accompanying it in this way, sensing the Dao, mutually benefiting each other—that is the path to lasting growth, a strategy of mutual gain. Fellow Daoist has a wise heart."

And so, Hongyun sat down quietly beneath the Four Symbols Plantain Tree, closed his eyes, cast aside all distractions, and sank his mind completely into the Dao resonance with the spiritual root.

He no longer deliberately circulated his techniques, but instead let the four Origin Powers of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire within him flow spontaneously, producing a mysterious resonance and fusion with the four leaves of the plantain tree.

Gradually, centered on the Four Symbols Plantain Tree, a small yet extremely pure and condensed domain of the Four Symbols Law naturally formed, covering an area of several zhang.

Red clouds (containing the nature of Fire and Wind), moist and hazy Water Vapor, and thick, stable Profound Yellow light intertwined and revolved, evolving scenes of Chaos Begins, Yinyang differentiation, the Four Symbols settling, and the myriad things being born.

Hongyun's Dao body became vaguely visible within this domain, his aura perfectly integrated with the plantain tree, as if they had merged into one, no longer separate.

His Primordial Spirit roamed freely in the ocean of the Four Symbols Law, and many previous bottlenecks in his cultivation suddenly became clear. His understanding of the Great Luo Realm deepened at an unprecedented speed, and his Dao cultivation steadily improved without him even noticing.

Lord Wanshouyuan quietly guarded from the side, watching as Daoist Hongyun rapidly entered a deep state of enlightenment and harmonized so naturally with the Four Symbols Plantain Tree. He felt quite gratified in his heart.

This trip to Buzhou Mountain had yielded far more than expected, with profound and far-reaching effects.

His main body had achieved a solid foundation, with a massive surge in latent strength;

His Close Friend Hongyun had also encountered a treasure that perfectly suited him, his Dao path now bright and boundless;

As an incarnation, his own cultivation and Dao attainment had risen accordingly. The strength of the Longevity Mountain lineage had quietly ascended to a Brand New level, with a promising future ahead.

His gaze drifted into the distance, as if piercing through the formation barriers of Wuzhuang Temple and layers of void, glimpsing the Primordial World Situation of the future—vast and magnificent, yet hidden with calamities.

And with enough strength, perhaps they would finally be able to better protect everything they wished to protect within this surging torrent, and change some regrets that might exist.

Qingfeng and Mingyue, two Spiritual and Elegant Daoist Children, blinked their big eyes, both curious and awed as they looked at the newly arrived "little tree" that emitted magical light in four different colors.

They also glanced at Master Hongyun, who seemed to have merged with the tree, his entire being wrapped in Dao resonance. Behaving obediently, they dared not disturb him, only quietly keeping watch nearby. Occasionally, they would absorb a wisp of the Four Symbols Dao resonance that drifted out, Causing People to feel refreshed and at ease, and their own cultivation slowly grew without them noticing.

Within Wuzhuang Temple, the usual tranquility and harmony were restored.

Only the newly born Four Symbols Plantain Tree gently waved its leaves, the power of Earth, Water, Wind, Fire cycling in Endless Circulation, reflecting off Daoist Hongyun as he sat in meditation beneath it, interpreting the mystery and harmony of the Great Dao.

Zhenyuanzi's main body remained Quietly Suspended like an ancient, unchanging rock, continuing to accumulate power, awaiting the final day of transformation.

Lord Wanshouyuan stood guard beside him, like the most loyal guardian and Dao companion, protecting this hard-won peace and opportunity.

A new chapter of hopeful cultivation had thus quietly unfolded atop Longevity Mountain. In the Primordial World, time was immeasurable; the years stretched on endlessly. Only the Great Dao was eternal, and friendship everlasting.