At the center of the grotto-heaven stood an immortal apricot tree amid wind and lightning. Dao essence intertwined in the void, and two apricots, crimson as blood, hung from its thunder-wreathed branches.
"Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot!"
"What a stroke of luck!"
This grotto-heaven spanned only ten thousand li. With Xuan Qing's Golden Immortal vision, he naturally spotted the Innate Spiritual Root standing at its center at a glance.
Of course, the grotto-heaven was rich in Innate Spiritual Qi and held many spiritual roots and immortal herbs. Vermilion fruits, earth marrow mushrooms, calming spirit flowers, and all manner of treasures were scattered throughout like stars across the sky. It was clearly a precious land waiting for Xuan Qing to explore.
"I'll take the immortal apricot first!"
The Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot, one of the ten Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots, was right before him. Xuan Qing could not spare a thought for the other spiritual roots and immortal herbs, immediately riding his sword light toward the center of the grotto-heaven.
They were merely Acquired Spiritual Roots. It was not as if they could run away.
Unlike the lush scenery at the edge of the grotto-heaven, the center was frequently struck by heavenly lightning or swept by fierce winds due to the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot growing there. No other spiritual roots grew nearby.
Instead, the immortal stones on the ground had been eroded by the Power of Wind and Thunder for countless years. Having absorbed some wind and thunder Dao essence, they had developed faintly miraculous properties.
"They're good materials for Artifact Refining. I can bring them back for Senior Brother Duobao!" Xuan Qing summoned his flying sword and casually cut off several high-quality immortal stones before storing them in his sleeve with a divine art. "The journey has been safe and smooth, without any mishaps, all thanks to the Golden Cloud Crown he lent me. These will make a fine gift to thank him!"
Though it was only natural for an elder brother to look after a younger brother, constantly owing favors was not ideal. If such debts piled up, they would inevitably harm their relationship.
Mutual exchange was the proper way.
This was also why Xuan Qing befriended so many fellow disciples, as well as some Chan Sect Disciples.
After collecting several immortal stones containing the essence of wind and thunder, Xuan Qing went straight beneath the immortal apricot tree and plucked the two blood-red apricots from its branches.
After examining them briefly, he decisively swallowed both apricots at once. Then he sat cross-legged on the ground and circulated the Supreme Clarity Heart Method, refining the Great Dao fragments within them.
Innate Spiritual Roots were called Innate Spiritual Roots precisely because, like Innate Spiritual Treasures, they contained all sorts of strange Great Dao Law fragments.
The fruits they bore were the essence of their entire being and often required several yuanhui to mature.
As one of the ten Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots, the fruit borne by the immortal apricot was naturally extraordinary. Refining it would not only increase one's cultivation and magical power, but also condense the embryonic form of a wind and thunder Dao Seed.
It was only an embryonic form, but it was the key to advancing to Daluo. Among a hundred Grand Unity Golden Immortals, perhaps not even one could condense such a thing on their own.
One could either comprehend the Great Dao of heaven and earth!
Or listen to a great expert expound the Dao!
Or, like Xuan Qing, consume and refine a spiritual fruit containing Great Dao fragments!
There was no distinction of superiority between the three methods, only differences in difficulty. After consuming the immortal apricots, Xuan Qing had even condensed an Innate Wind-Lightning Dao Body. In the future, comprehending the Way of Wind and Thunder would take half the effort for twice the result.
Not to mention that he was a Sage's disciple. He often had opportunities to behold a Sage's countenance, listen to a Sage teach the Dao, and sense the various Dao essences flowing through a Sage's every movement.
"Rumble!"
The essence of wind and thunder rippled around Xuan Qing, as though a golden bell were tolling and the Great Dao roaring. He rapidly drew in the surrounding spiritual qi, forging an immaculate immortal body for him.
While the Power of Wind and Thunder tempered his Golden Immortal body, it also cleansed his Golden Immortal primordial spirit, Refining the False into the True and laying the foundation for his future advance to Daluo.
Two Dao Seeds also rose and fell deep within his primordial spirit. Once his Three Flowers were complete and his Five Qi harmonized, they would begin to grow and transform toward the Great Dao of wind and thunder.
The golden crow flew, and the jade rabbit ran.
There was no sun or moon within the grotto-heaven, yet the sky remained bright. Xuan Qing immersed himself in cultivation and lost track of time. In the blink of an eye, several decades had passed.
His cultivation had advanced from the middle stage of the Golden Immortal Realm to Golden Immortal perfection. He was only one step away from condensing Innate Ancestral Qi and successfully entering the Taiyi Realm.
The Great Dao fragments within the two immortal apricots had transformed into true seeds, rising and falling deep within his primordial spirit as if they were about to use the Power of Wind and Thunder to nurture a divine ability.
"No rush!"
With the foundation laid by the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot and the Wind-Lightning Dao Body it had evolved, even if his aptitude had not yet caught up to Daoist Duobao and Golden Spirit Holy Mother, the gap was no longer great.
The reason he had not broken through to Taiyi in one go was, first, because he wanted to consolidate his foundation. Second, Kunlun Mountain was the ancestral vein of all mountains, where Innate Ancestral Qi was incomparably rich. Breaking through to Taiyi there would bring greater benefits.
That was the advantage of having a lineage.
Next, Xuan Qing thoroughly swept clean the Zhongnan Grotto-Heaven. Whether Innate spiritual materials or acquired immortal medicines, he spared nothing with even the slightest value. Though they were not particularly valuable now, once Buzhou Mountain collapsed and Innate Spiritual Qi was completely cut off, they would become rare treasures!
Only then did he turn his gaze toward the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot. As a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, its fruits could help people condense Dao Seeds, while the tree itself could suppress Fortune. It was an exceedingly precious treasure.
Naturally, it was far inferior to Innate Supreme Treasures such as the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Chaos Bell. But how many such treasures were there in total?
Had he not seen it...
Even Sect Master Tongtian did not have one?
After pondering for a moment, Xuan Qing looked at the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot before him. "This tree is a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root of immense value. I could refine it into a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure! But that would be an utter waste! Offering it to Sect Master Tongtian to suppress Jie Sect's Fortune would be the best choice!"
In the future, when Myriad Immortals came to court in Jie Sect, even a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root would be unable to suppress its Fortune. But before Xuan Qing left the mountain, Jie Sect had only around a hundred disciples. The future was uncertain, but in Xuan Qing's view, the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot's grade was more than sufficient to suppress Jie Sect's current Fortune.
As for Innate Spiritual Treasures?
As Sect Master Tongtian's Personal disciple, if he made his teacher happy, would he still lack Innate Spiritual Treasures?
With that thought, Xuan Qing immediately activated a divine art, intending to collect the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot, bring it back to Kunlun Mountain, and offer it to Sect Master Tongtian, who lacked something to suppress Fortune.
But suddenly, he stopped. Looking at the soil beneath the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot, he laughed heartily. "I never expected another unexpected delight!"
"Of course!"
"How could the place where such a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root grows contain ordinary soil?"
What nurtured the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot was not ordinary soil, but the legendary Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. Known as the soil of life, it could nurture all things between heaven and earth and possessed endless vitality. It was also what Nuwa had used to create humans.
He had learned Nuwa's Creation Yuan Gong, and coupled with his origins, he could be considered half of Nuwa's successor. If he could thoroughly comprehend it in the future and find a divine object like Three Lights Divine Water, he might be able to imitate Nuwa and create a race.
It was not that he wanted to abandon humanity and establish an independent race. He merely coveted the art of creation.
Nuwa had gained Merit by creating humans!
Styx had also gained Merit by creating the Asura Clan!
If he created a race suited to heaven and earth and beneficial to the Primordial Wilderness, he did not dare hope to become a Sage, but he could still condense a Golden Wheel of Merit that even Sages would fear.
Then...
He would have a trump card to preserve his life!
Though he currently possessed some Merit, it was not enough to make Sages wary.
The more of that thing, the better.
With that thought, Xuan Qing immediately used his magical power to collect the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil surrounding the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot and stored the Innate Spiritual Root itself in his sleeve as well.
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