Red Cloud, Ginseng Fruit

As his words fell, the purple haze filling the sky slowly drew in. King of the East manifested amid misty immortal radiance, the vast pure yang providence swirling above his head trembling slightly. The power of heaven and earth around him automatically gathered toward him, as though paying him homage.

Of course, this was not King of the East's true body, but an incarnation of his Primordial Spirit.

Although Lei Xiao and the other four were Tongtian's disciples, they were not important enough to warrant King of the East personally coming out to receive them in his true body.

"This junior, Yun Xiao, has come with her junior sisters and brother on our master's orders to listen to the Dao."

Yun Xiao stepped forward and cupped her hands neither humbly nor arrogantly. "As our master is in seclusion and could not come in person, he specifically ordered this junior to apologize on his behalf. I hope Senior will be magnanimous."

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian is too courteous."

King of the East's Primordial Spirit incarnation smiled warmly and raised a hand in a gesture of support. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian and I have discussed the Dao several times. Since you young friends are Fellow Daoist Tongtian's disciples, simply treat this place as your own home."

As he spoke, he turned sideways to lead the way, personally bringing the five of them into the Purple Jade Pavilion.

Within the pavilion lay another world entirely.

The main hall was so vast that it seemed capable of holding ten thousand people. Countless luminous pearls were embedded in its vaulted ceiling, illuminating the entire hall as brightly as day. Dozens of jade tables stood in neat rows, laden with spirit fruits and immortal brews, their fragrance permeating the air.

Quite a few cultivators were already seated in the hall—no fewer than three thousand of them—and even the weakest were late-stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortals. When they saw King of the East's Primordial Spirit incarnation lead the five inside, they all rose, their gazes full of curiosity and scrutiny.

"Your foundations and providence are both first-rate. No wonder Fellow Daoist Tongtian accepted you as disciples."

Just then, a voice rang out abruptly, its tone carrying undisguised admiration.

Following the source of the voice, Lei Xiao saw a middle-aged Daoist in red robes seated at the foremost position on the right side of the hall, smiling at them.

The Daoist had an ancient, unadorned face, with slightly reddish hair and beard. His aura was profound yet gentle. Unlike other cultivators, whose sharpness was openly displayed, he instead gave one the warm, welcoming feeling of a spring breeze.

"This is Fellow Daoist Red Cloud."

King of the East introduced him with a smile. "He is famed throughout the primordial world for his warm heart. Should you young friends encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to seek his advice."

Red Cloud waved his hand and laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist King of the East, do not gild my face. What warm heart? I merely like meddling in other people's business."

Lei Xiao's mouth twitched slightly at those words. This Red Cloud had quite a bit of self-awareness—he knew he loved meddling in others' affairs.

Only because his cultivation was high and his strength formidable had he survived this long. Otherwise, with that meddlesome temperament of his, he would have died countless times over.

Lei Xiao could not help looking a few more times at this legendary "nice old man" of the primordial world.

King of the East had ostensibly convened this gathering to expound the Dao, but in truth, he wanted to unite the sea clans of the East Sea. He must have invited quite a few great powers of the primordial world.

Yet those great powers had mostly found excuses to decline, unwilling to become entangled in karma. Even Tongtian, despite having come to the East Sea, had only sent their five disciples.

Only Red Cloud was so straightforward that he had truly come swaggering over to show his support.

Seeing Red Cloud's completely unguarded appearance, Lei Xiao secretly shook his head. This Patriarch Red Cloud had truly carved the words "nice old man" into his very bones.

"So it is Senior Red Cloud."

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao immediately stepped forward and gave Red Cloud a graceful bow, her expression gaining a measure of sincere respect. "This junior has long heard of Senior Red Cloud's devotion to righteousness and warm heart. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well deserved."

Although Yun Xiao had never actually heard Red Cloud's name before, that did not stop her from following King of the East's words and offering a few compliments. After all, the other party was a genuine great power of the primordial world.

Patriarch Red Cloud hurriedly rose to his feet, repeatedly waving his hands as the smile on his face grew even gentler. "Young friend, please rise quickly. This poor Daoist is unworthy of such praise."

After a slight pause, Red Cloud waved his hand. Five clusters of spirit light appeared in the air, each containing a fruit shaped like a child less than three days old. They floated quietly, complete with limbs and facial features, radiating an unimaginably rich life aura.

"These are Ginseng Fruits gifted to this poor Daoist by my good friend, Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi. They blossom once every three thousand years, bear fruit once every three thousand years, and require another three thousand years to ripen. Only thirty fruits form every ten thousand years.

Today is this poor Daoist's first meeting with you young friends, so I shall offer these fruits as a meeting gift. I hope you will not find them lacking."

"Ginseng Fruits."

Whatever the others' reactions were, Lei Xiao's eyes lit up the instant he saw the Ginseng Fruits.

These were Ginseng Fruits borne by the Ginseng Fruit Tree, one of the ten greatest innate spirit roots of the primordial world. They had even been recorded in Journey to the West.

Lei Xiao had long yearned for them when reading Journey to the West in his previous life. He had originally planned to exchange heavenly treasures with Zhen Yuanzi for some in the future, but he had not expected Red Cloud to directly give him one now.

Countless gazes from the surroundings fell upon the Ginseng Fruits. Even for Primordial Unity Golden Immortals, these fruits were still tremendously beneficial.

Especially for cultivators at the peak of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm, the trace of the Law of Life and Law of Wood contained within the Ginseng Fruits could serve as a catalyst, helping them comprehend the laws and step into the Great Luo realm.

Yet no one dared make a move to seize them.

Yun Xiao hesitated somewhat. This meeting gift from Red Cloud was simply too precious.

"Eldest Senior Sister, this is also a gesture of goodwill from Senior Red Cloud. Accept it," Lei Xiao said.

After all, refusing would only make it harder for Red Cloud to save face.

Yun Xiao nodded slightly at his words. Only then did she step forward, receive the cluster of spirit light with both hands, and deeply bow to Red Cloud. "Thank you, Senior Red Cloud, for bestowing this fruit."

Seeing this, Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao no longer hesitated. They stepped forward one after another to accept their Ginseng Fruits, their faces brimming with delight.

Zhao Gongming was even more excited, his face flushed red. Though he had eaten many spirit fruits before, this was his first time tasting a supreme innate spirit root of such caliber.

Looking at the Ginseng Fruit before him, which resembled an infant, Lei Xiao was also filled with emotion. This Patriarch Red Cloud truly was the most generous man in the primordial world.

He had decided that if he had the strength in the future, he would do his utmost to help Red Cloud survive his fatal calamity.

At the same time, the smile on King of the East's face stiffened somewhat.

Red Cloud had already given gifts. As the host, it would seem rather inexcusable if he did not give Lei Xiao and the other five something as well.

Yet the thing Red Cloud had given was not of low value at all.

King of the East suspected that Red Cloud had deliberately put him in a difficult position because he had invited him to Purple Abode Island.

As the host, if he could not even produce a meeting gift, or if what he offered was far inferior to Red Cloud's, where would he put his dignity as host?

King of the East took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to kick Red Cloud off Purple Abode Island.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Red Cloud truly is generous."

The warm smile returned to King of the East's face, though no matter how one looked at it, that smile carried a hint of gritted teeth. "Since Fellow Daoist Red Cloud has gifted Ginseng Fruits, this lord, as the host, naturally cannot neglect proper courtesy."