Ginseng Fruit Tree, the Budding of the Earthly Dao

The two walked side by side and soon arrived at Five Villages Temple on Mount Longevity.

The temple had been built against the mountain, with green bricks and dark tiles, ancient and unadorned. Before it, pines and bamboo vied in verdant splendor, peach and plum blossoms competed in beauty, stream water murmured, and auspicious clouds coiled through the air.

Above the temple gate hung an ancient plaque bearing the three words "Five Villages Temple" in archaic Primordial Dao script. Its strokes were vigorous, its weight as heavy as mountains, with the faint Dao rhythm of the earth flowing through it.

Once inside, Lingxiao saw an Innate Wu Earth Spiritual Root towering into the heavens—the one and only Ginseng Fruit Tree in all the world:

It stood over one hundred and twenty zhang tall. Its bark was a warm, lustrous dark yellow, its patterns twisting like Dragon Scale, each line a natural Dao mark. Its roots plunged deep into the Earth Veins, fused completely with the Wu Earth essence of the Primordial World, as steadfast as Mount Tai and impossible to shake.

Its branches stretched like Coiling Dragons probing the clouds, crossing and layering over one another to form a canopy dozens of zhang wide;

Its leaves were translucent as jade, shaped like human hands. A faint golden gleam ran along their edges, while tiny earthen-yellow spiritual lights danced between their veins. When the wind stirred the leaves, their rustling sounded like the low chanting of Dao scriptures, clearing and calming the mind.

Only thirty spiritual fruits hung from its branches. Each resembled an infant less than three days old, exquisitely carved from pink jade, with all four limbs and five features intact. Fine stems grew beneath their navels, and their entire bodies were wrapped in a soft glow like mutton-fat jade. A milky fragrance mingled with Primordial Clear Qi and drifted forth; one breath of it cleared the spiritual platform and stabilized one's Dao foundation.

Around the tree's coiling roots, the green earth was moist, spiritual qi condensed into dew, and not a blade of grass grew. It displayed an air of peerless supremacy.

At this time, Zhen Yuanzi had not yet taken Qingfeng and Mingyue as his two immortal attendants. He personally fetched jade cups, drew clear spring water from the mountaintop, and poured Lingxiao a cup of tea.

The two sat beside a stone table beneath the tree, tea fragrance curling around them as they casually spoke of old tales from the Primordial World.

Zhen Yuanzi suddenly smiled and said:

"Perhaps you do not know, Daoist friend, that I did not take form and come into being here. My true body was formed from Primordial Wutu Essence. Yin-Yang gave rise to the Five Elements, and the Five Elements themselves are divided into yin and yang. Wood has Jia and Yi, fire has Bing and Ding, so earth naturally has Wu and Ji. Wu Earth is yang, Ji Earth is yin. In the Primordial World, Mount Buzhou is the root of Wu Earth, while the Kunlun Mountains are the root of Ji Earth."

"Back then, Red Cloud and I took form together at the foot of Mount Buzhou."

At this, he sighed softly, and a trace of nostalgia passed through his eyes.

"I was originally a wisp of Wu Earth essence deep within the Earth Veins of Mount Buzhou beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, while Red Cloud was a mass of innate fiery clouds upon its crown. We nurtured one another within the Primordial Dao Embryo for countless Yuanhu, then took form together."

"Yet the Ginseng Fruit Tree ultimately failed to give birth to complete intelligence. Red Cloud knew that my bond with the fruit tree ran deeper, and remembered our companionship through all those years. Without another word, he flew east alone and left this Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Root to me."

Lingxiao nodded at this.

Had it been Rahu, Moon-Malefic, or the like when they had first emerged into the world, they would likely have fought until their heads were bloodied over this Ginseng Fruit Tree. Yet Red Cloud regarded it as no more than a worn-out shoe. That showed how pure and kind his nature was.

As for the matter of yielding his seat at Violet Firmament Palace, nine times out of ten, it had also been his instinctive kindness at work. In that moment, he had forgotten that Zhen Yuanzi behind him had no cushion either, allowing Jieyin and Zhunti to benefit instead.

"So that was it." Lingxiao came to a sudden realization.

No wonder Gonggong's furious collision with Mount Buzhou during the Witch-Demon Calamity had also been called the "Wu Earth Calamity." Everything now fit together.

Mount Buzhou truly deserved to be the heavenly pillar of the Primordial World formed from Pangu's spine. It had actually produced so many top-tier Innate Sacred Beings: the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Fu Xi, Nuwa, Zhen Yuanzi, and Red Cloud.

After reminiscing for a while, Zhen Yuanzi set down his teacup and asked curiously, "Daoist Lingxiao has always lived in seclusion upon the Sun Star and rarely traveled the Primordial World. Now that you have descended upon the earth, what matter brings you here? If there is any way I may assist you, please speak freely."

Among the many great powers of the Primordial World, most had attended Lingxiao's wedding. They all knew that this Sun Star Sovereign preferred peace and quiet, and would never easily leave the starry heavens unless there was an important matter at hand.

"I left the mountain this time intending to sort out the lingering Sha Qi and Demonic Qi upon the Primordial Lands since the Dragon-Han Calamity, repair the shattered Earth Veins, and accumulate some Merit... Hmm?" Before Lingxiao could finish, his heart suddenly stirred.

Looking at Zhen Yuanzi before him, he abruptly came to his senses.

Wouldn't the task of sorting out the Earth Veins and establishing the order of mountains and rivers be a thousand, ten thousand times more suitable for this future ancestor of Earth Immortals, who bore the Wu Earth Origin, wielded the Earth Embryonic Membrane-born Earth Book, and possessed the Ginseng Fruit Tree?

Zhen Yuanzi's foundation was close to the earth, and with an exceptional treasure like the Earth Book, formed from the Earth Embryonic Membrane, aiding him, this task would yield twice the result with half the effort. It would also benefit the heavens and earth of the Primordial World even more.

What was more, Zhen Yuanzi had just resolutely acted to save him despite Moon-Malefic Star Lord being a Primordial Golden Immortal.

This was the perfect chance to repay this good deed—and plant the seeds of Earthly Dao order in the Primordial World ahead of time.

With that thought, Lingxiao set down his teacup and said solemnly to Zhen Yuanzi, "Daoist Zhen Yuan, I have something to say, though I do not know whether I should say it."

"If you have guidance to offer, Daoist friend, I shall listen with washed ears and rapt attention." Seeing his grave expression, Zhen Yuanzi hurriedly sat up straight, anticipation filling his eyes.

Nuwa's establishment of the Heavenly Marriage and the boundless Merit she had gained from it remained fresh in his mind. Though he had no ambition to contend for supremacy, if Lingxiao's guidance could help him obtain Merit and advance along the Dao path, it was naturally what he most desired.

"You bear the Wu Earth Origin of the Primordial World and hold the supreme treasure, the Earth Book. You are already linked to the fortunes of the earth. Rather than drift with the current, why not take the initiative? Use the Earth Book as your foundation to establish order for the Primordial Lands and accumulate boundless Merit." Lingxiao spoke slowly and clearly, just as he had once guided Eastern King Lord:

"This matter may be carried out in two steps:

"First, travel throughout the Primordial World, sort out the shattered Earth Veins, purify the lingering Sha Qi and Demonic Qi, and use the Earth Book to connect the nodes of Earth Veins everywhere, allowing barren lands to burst back into life;

"Second, assign ranks to all mountains, rivers, and streams beneath heaven. Divide territories according to the distribution of the Earth Veins, select people of virtue and talent, and appoint them as mountain gods, land gods, and river earls. Establish a system of earthly deities to protect the living beings of each region and eliminate needless disputes and slaughter.

"Once these two steps are complete, Daoist friend may integrate all the mountains and rivers, exotic beasts and Spiritual Roots, and registers of deities recorded within the Earth Book. Like the Dao Ancestor's Creation Jade Slip, let the Earth Book transform into a true supreme treasure of the earth.

"Then not only will your Merit be immeasurable, but your Dao path will surely open wide and clear before you."

Lingxiao did not mention a distant goal such as becoming an Earthly Dao Sage.

Haste makes waste. One had to walk the road step by step; reaching too high only led one into the barrier of one's own understanding. He merely explained, one by one, the things Zhen Yuanzi could and should do before him.

Zhen Yuanzi's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he listened. It felt as though thunder had exploded in his mind; clouds parted and the sun emerged, leaving everything suddenly clear.

From the moment he was born, he had been a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. His foundation had made him, and his foundation had hindered him. He had never experienced the struggle and ascent from weakness to strength. After countless Yuanhu of bitter cultivation, he had still never known where his own Dao lay.

He had thought he could only wait for the Dao Ancestor's second or third lecture to resolve his confusion. Yet today, with a single remark from Lingxiao, the direction he had sought all his life had appeared before him!

"Thank you for your guidance, Dao Brother!" Zhen Yuanzi abruptly rose to his feet and bowed deeply to Lingxiao, his voice trembling faintly with emotion.

After offering his thanks, however, his face grew slightly embarrassed. He rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth before asking, "Only... if I undertake this alone, it may be far too slow. My close friend Red Cloud is the most warmhearted of people. How about we go together to Fire Cloud Cave and invite him to join us, so that we may look after one another?"

He knew clearly that Lingxiao's guidance alone was already an immense favor. To pull in another person to share the Merit was truly asking for an inch after taking a foot.

But he and Red Cloud had accompanied one another for countless Yuanhu, as close as brothers. With such a heaven-sent opportunity before them, there was no way he could swallow it alone.

"No matter. Daoist Red Cloud is pure and kind by nature, making him perfectly suited for the task of protecting living beings and benefiting all creatures." Lingxiao nodded with a smile and readily agreed.

The two immediately rose, left Five Villages Temple, and transformed into a golden rainbow and an earthen ray of light, flying side by side toward Fire Cloud Cave in the Eastern Land.