Successfully Taking Human Form

Yuanshi hovered in the air, watching as the Innate Merit Treasure slowly approached Xuanqing.

"Mm—"

The Innate Merit Treasure was taken into Xuanqing's possession, but his cultivation was still too shallow for him to fully refine it.

"Xuanqing, do not rush. We walk the Great Dao together, so you must proceed steadily. Do not seek quick results or act in haste."

"Yes, Master."

Xuanqing knew that Yuanshi had realized he still could not refine the Innate Merit Treasure, and was reminding him of that.

After speaking, Yuanshi's figure wavered and vanished. Yet Xuanqing could sense an invisible, powerful will enveloping the foot of Kunlun Mountain, blocking all probing from inside and out.

His master was personally standing guard for him!

Warmth welled up in Xuanqing's heart.

Being protected like this felt incredible.

After Yuanshi left, Xuanqing resumed his cultivation.

Beneath Jade Void Palace, the spiritual energy that had originally drifted in all directions suddenly changed course and surged toward Xuanqing, forming a truly spectacular sight.

As the spiritual energy entered his body, Xuanqing's aura grew even more profound.

Xuanqing was the first Merit Spiritual Root in Honghuang. Unlike Huangzhong Li and other Innate Spiritual Roots, he could draw on the surrounding spiritual energy at any moment to nourish himself. Even if all the Ten Great Spiritual Roots of Honghuang were gathered here, Xuanqing would still have the highest priority when absorbing spiritual energy.

This led to one strange result: the Spiritual Roots around Xuanqing received less spiritual energy than a fraction of what he absorbed.

Seeing this, Xuanqing said calmly:

"Don't worry. I'll only be absorbing it for a few tens of thousands of years."

The surrounding Spiritual Roots: "..."

"Phew—"

Xuanqing let out a long breath, his bamboo stalk tilting slightly. His original plan had been to start breaking through the bottleneck of taking human form once he reached the True Immortal realm, but he hadn't expected the merit from becoming Yuanshi's disciple to propel him all the way into the Mystic Immortal Realm.

Of course, the higher one's cultivation, the greater the chance of successfully taking human form.

As spiritual energy continued to pour into him, Xuanqing felt his very essence undergoing a drastic transformation.

If absorbing spiritual energy in the Mortal Immortal realm had been a gentle trickle, then now it was like a whale gulping down the sea!

A vast vortex of spiritual energy began to form around Xuanqing. The boundless spiritual energy of the Kunlun Mountains was stirred up, turning into visible ribbons of azure light that converged from every direction and poured into his tiny bamboo body.

Inside Jade Void Palace, Tongtian Cult Leader's eyelid twitched.

"Second Brother, your disciple... He's going to drain all the spiritual energy from Kunlun Mountain!"

Taishang Laojun also opened his eyes slightly. Watching the terrifying vortex of spiritual energy beneath the mountain, he looked somewhat moved.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat upright on the Cloud Bed, his expression calm, though he was quite pleased.

"The deeper one's foundation, the more spiritual energy one needs to take human form. My disciple has such a remarkable presence. His future is promising."

Though he said this aloud, he was thinking: Absorb away, absorb as much as you can. Better yet, draw all the spiritual energy from Kunlun Mountain. That's what you deserve, with your origins as the first Spiritual Root!

One year, ten years, a hundred years...

Ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the vortex of spiritual energy surrounding Xuanqing's true form reached its peak.

His Purifying Mystic Bamboo had grown to nine zhang and nine chi tall. Its whole body gleamed like jade, and profound Dao Patterns flowed across its surface. Every bamboo leaf seemed to contain a world of its own.

"Boom!"

A burst of energy erupted, breaking through its restraints.

In an instant, the nine-zhang-and-nine-chi Purifying Mystic Bamboo blazed with billions of divine rays, their brilliance even outshining the Great Sun Stars overhead.

When the light faded, the wondrous bamboo that had stood there was gone.

In its place stood a young Daoist dressed in green.

He stood quietly, tall and straight, with a face as beautiful as jade. His long black hair was tied up with a simple bamboo hairpin.

A faint golden mark of merit shimmered at the center of his brow, adding a touch of holiness and nobility to his gentle, jade-like presence.

His eyes were clear and bright, as if they reflected the stars of the heavens. They also seemed capable of seeing through the workings of every law in the world.

This was Xuanqing after taking human form.

He lowered his head to look at his hands, then tentatively lifted one leg.

"So this is... my body after taking human form?"

Xuanqing was filled with wonder. After being a "plant person" for more than ten thousand years, he finally had hands and feet. It felt a little strange.

He tried walking a few steps. His movements were somewhat stiff, but he soon got the hang of it.

Just then, Xuanqing sensed that something was off.

He looked around and saw that the Spiritual Root neighbors who had once surrounded him were now all listless, their leaves yellowed, as if they had suffered a severe loss of vitality.

Xuanqing understood at once.

Oh no! I've been guzzling spiritual energy for ten thousand years and stolen all my neighbors' food!

So he was the biggest spiritual energy bully within a hundred li.

"This won't do. A near neighbor is better than a distant relative."

Xuanqing felt a little guilty.

With a thought, a wisp of incredibly pure azure energy flowed from his fingertips.

It was the source essence of his Purifying Mystic Bamboo, containing the power of his origin as the first Merit Spiritual Root between Heaven and Earth.

The wisp of essence transformed into a hazy azure glow and fell like spring rain, spreading evenly over all the Spiritual Roots around him.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

The Spiritual Roots that had been so listless gave a cheerful shiver as soon as they came into contact with this source essence.

Their yellowed leaves turned green again at a visible speed, becoming even more vibrant than before.

More importantly, Xuanqing's source essence seemed to open a new door for them.

Their speed and efficiency in absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth increased several times over!

Waves of gratitude and affection flowed toward Xuanqing from every direction.

Xuanqing smiled slightly and cupped his hands toward the surrounding Spiritual Roots in return.

Just as he was getting used to his new body and building a good relationship with the Spiritual Roots that had yet to take human form, a figure appeared before him.

The newcomer wore a white Daoist robe and had a stern face. It was Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Your disciple Xuanqing pays his respects to Master!"

Seeing him, Xuanqing did not dare to delay. He quickly straightened his robes and bowed deeply in a respectful salute.

This was the first time he had paid his respects to his master in his new form.

Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze fell on Xuanqing, studying him from head to toe. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Not bad."

Yuanshi Tianzun spoke slowly.

"Using an Innate Merit Spiritual Root as your foundation and Pangu's Clear Qi as your guide, you have forged an Immaculate Dao Body. Your foundation far surpasses what I expected."

Hearing his master's praise, Xuanqing was secretly delighted.

"This is all thanks to Master's protection. I would not dare take credit," he said modestly.

Yuanshi Tianzun waved a hand, his expression returning to its usual calm.

"Now that you have taken human form, you should have a Magic Treasure to protect yourself."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand.

Three beams of treasure light appeared out of thin air, hovering before Xuanqing.