Banana Fans

Even the ancient trees that had yet to awaken their spiritual intelligence swayed gently at this moment, wanting to listen closely and accumulate a little cultivation.

Xuanqing sensed that as his sermon deepened, the mana within his body was slowly growing as well.

This growth did not come from arduous cultivation, but from sorting through the Great Dao.

He discovered that teaching others was, in truth, also teaching himself.

Double Merit Fortune came into effect at this moment. Faint Merit Golden Light descended from the sky and merged into his body.

This was the Heavenly Dao's reward for his enlightenment of living beings.

Though it was not much compared with what he had gained on Mount Buzhou, it was a steady trickle that never ran dry.

Carried away by his sermon, Xuanqing simply added his own insights into Body Tempering as well.

Time slipped away unnoticed.

Honghuang did not mark the years, especially not for cultivators.

More often than not, a single nap was enough for a hundred years to pass in the world.

Xuanqing's sermon lasted a full hundred years.

For a Golden Immortal like him, this was already his limit.

For someone at the level of the Hongjun Dao Ancestor, a single sermon often lasted several thousand, or even tens of thousands, of years.

But with his current cultivation, a hundred years of teaching had already benefited these disciples immensely.

When Xuanqing closed his mouth and ceased speaking, the entirety of He Mountain remained steeped in a mysterious atmosphere.

After a long while, Luyao was the first to open her eyes.

Her aura suddenly surged by a considerable margin. Though she had not yet broken through to the middle stage, her realm was gradually stabilizing.

"Thank you, Master, for imparting the Dao!"

Luyao fell to her knees and bowed with utmost respect.

Soon after, Song Xuan, Zimo, and Lingyunzi also awakened one after another, their faces brimming with joy.

Though their cultivation had not directly crossed into a new realm, their foundations had become incomparably solid, and the road ahead had already been paved smooth.

Xuanqing opened his eyes and looked at his disciples, feeling no small sense of accomplishment.

He glanced at the birds and beasts that had yet to leave, then waved his hand.

"You were able to come here and hear the Dao; that too is fate. Today's sermon has ended. Return to your respective places."

The living creatures seemed to understand his words. One after another, they lowered their heads toward Xuanqing before slowly dispersing.

This undertaking not only improved the disciples, but also raised the overall strength of He Mountain by an entire level.

Xuanqing stood and stretched his body.

"Master, your sermon was truly wonderful! I feel as though my entire body is overflowing with cultivation and spiritual power now."

Lingyunzi excitedly waved his fists. The strength of his physical body had increased considerably.

Xuanqing patted him on the head and scolded with a smile, "All you know is fighting and killing. Cultivation tempers the heart, not Strength."

After saying this, Xuanqing turned to look toward the Western Lands.

"The sermon is over. Once I finish refining those three Banana Fans, it will be time to set out."

Xuanqing murmured to himself.

Xuanqing returned to the Cave Abode on He Mountain. With a thought, the Cave Abode's doors silently closed.

He did not rush to rest, instead sitting down cross-legged directly upon the Prayer Mat.

On this trip to Mount Buzhou, aside from his physical body, his greatest gains had been these three Banana Fans.

He took the three Banana Fans from his Sleeve Universe and placed them before him one by one.

The Earth Banana Fan was heavy and steady, radiating earth-element spiritual energy.

The Fire Banana Fan was crimson as sunset clouds, wreathed in blazing flames.

The Wind Banana Fan was light and ethereal, with a faint breeze stirring around it.

Xuanqing closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing for a moment.

Then he formed hand seals with both hands, muttering an incantation.

A stream of flawless Azure Xuan Qi rose from his dantian, circulated through his meridians and across his body, before finally gathering in his palms.

Xuanqing first infused the Earth Banana Fan with Xuan Qi.

The azure Xuan Qi seeped into the fan's handle like a babbling stream, then spread along its ribs, inch by inch, until it covered the entire fan.

The Earth Banana Fan let out a deep hum, and the patterns on its body gradually lit up.

The process was exceedingly slow, yet there could not be the slightest error.

With every fraction that the Xuan Qi penetrated, Xuanqing could feel the Banana Fan's origin being further awakened.

Only after Xuanqing let out a long breath did the Earth Banana Fan become completely tempered by the purifying Xuan Qi.

Next came the Fire Banana Fan and the Wind Banana Fan.

After a long while, all three banana fans were finally fully refined. They floated quietly before Xuanqing, their radiance contained within.

With a thought from Xuanqing, the three banana fans turned into three streams of light and entered his body.

He slowly rose to his feet and pushed open the doors of the Cave Abode.

Outside the Cave Abode, the sky was a flawless, washed-blue expanse.

Xuanqing took a deep breath and linked his mind to the three banana fans. He decided to test the power of these three spiritual treasures.

In a flash, he arrived at an open space deep within He Mountain. Far from the disciples' residences, it was a convenient place for him to act without restraint.

At Xuanqing's thought, the Wind Banana Fan appeared in his hand first. With a light wave, a visible azure wind blade howled forth.

Wherever the wind blade passed, the air was torn apart with a piercing shriek.

A small hill ahead was instantly cleaved open by the wind blade, its cut as smooth as a mirror.

Xuanqing nodded in satisfaction. The Wind Banana Fan's speed and cutting power far exceeded his expectations.

Next came the Fire Banana Fan. Xuanqing gave it a fierce sweep, and a fire dragon roared out, shooting straight into the sky.

Wherever the fire dragon passed, space was scorched into distortion. Scalding waves of heat spread outward, and even the distant rocks began to glow red.

The fire dragon circled once through the air, then abruptly plunged downward and crashed into the ground with a thunderous boom.

A massive crater formed in an instant, its bottom charred black.

Last was the Earth Banana Fan. Xuanqing gripped the handle tightly and swept it downward.

In an instant, the earth quaked and the mountains shook, as though all of He Mountain were trembling.

Great fissures split open across the ground, and countless rocks and clods of earth were torn from the land by an invisible force.

The rocks and earth gathered in midair, forming a thick earthen wall.

The wall stood a hundred zhang tall, impregnable and unbreakable.

With another thought from Xuanqing, the earthen wall came crashing down, turning into dust that filled the sky.

The three banana fans embodied the elements of wind, fire, and earth—both offense and defense complete, their power astonishing.

A faint smile appeared on Xuanqing's face. Now, even if he encountered a mighty expert whose cultivation surpassed his own, he would have the strength to protect himself.

As Xuanqing tested his Magic Treasures, several figures atop He Mountain were watching from afar.

"What is Master doing?" Lingyunzi's eyes widened as he looked at the distant hill sliced apart by the wind blade, then at the charred crater, his face filled with disbelief.

Song Xuan's expression was solemn as he said in a low voice, "Master must be testing the Magic Treasures he has newly refined."

His eyes gleamed with envy. Though they cultivated diligently, they did not yet possess a single Magic Treasure for protection.

But Song Xuan believed that so long as he devoted himself to cultivation, Master would surely see his efforts.

Zimo, meanwhile, looked exhilarated. "Wind can split mountains, fire can burn seas, and earth can build walls! These three Magic Treasures are actually so versatile!"

Luyao stood at the front. She did not shout in amazement like her junior brothers, but her gaze was full of admiration.

Xuanqing recalled the banana fans, then moved in a flash and arrived beside his four disciples.