Treasure Lands Naturally Belonged to the Strong!

Meanwhile, outside Spirit Platform Mountain.

Hundred Flowers Fairy and Hundred Herbs Fairy led the Wood-and-Grass Clan to settle in a High-grade Spirit Land.

Zhu Yin gave them the naming rights. After discussing it, they decided to name this place "Worry-Free Peak."

Its meaning was... to forget one's worries and begin anew.

The Wood-and-Grass Clan had a clear division of labor:

Fruit spirits tended the old fruit trees and planted new ones;

Flower-and-grass spirits sowed seeds, summoned rain, and irrigated the land;

Tree spirits used spells to hasten the growth of flowers and grasses, built treehouses, and decorated the dwellings;

Herb spirits gathered medicinal herbs, opened medicine gardens, filled them with spirit medicines, and watered them with spirit springs;

Other spirits released Spirit Butterflies to spread pollen and summoned earth dragons to loosen and nourish the soil...

The entire mountain brimmed with life, everyone working with blazing enthusiasm.

As Hundred Flowers Fairy and Hundred Herbs Fairy watched it all, long-lost relaxed smiles appeared on their faces.

For the past hundred thousand years, they had drifted from place to place without a fixed home, living every day on tenterhooks. Now, they finally had somewhere to settle and no longer had to wander.

Though this was only a High-grade Spirit Land, spanning merely tens of thousands of li and unable to compare with the Grotto-heaven Blessed Land of Tuohu Mountain in the past, it gave them a true sense of security—one even stronger than what Azurewood Ancestor had once given them.

"Though the Western Lands are not as prosperous as the Eastern Lands, they have accepted us. This is our pure land."

"As long as grass and trees have roots, they can grow. This place is our root."

"From now on, this will be the new home of our Wood-and-Grass Clan."

"The great power of Spirit Platform Mountain will be the ancestor we follow for generations."

With these thoughts in mind, they deeply bowed toward Spirit Platform Mountain, their hearts full of gratitude.

Then, seeing the two Boy Attendants—Wuxin and Wuqing—curiously wandering about like children, they could not help but smile as well.

Partly because they too belonged to the Flora Clan, and partly because they were Zhu Yin's Boy Attendants.

The opening of a new Spirit Land naturally drew attention from all directions.

Many Rogue Cultivators and clans discussed the arrival of the Flora Clan, but no one dared stir up trouble.

First, because Zhu Yin had arranged it; second, because the Wood-and-Grass Clan itself was powerful. They alone could sweep aside the surrounding forces, not to mention that they had two Golden Immortals guarding them.

Treasure lands naturally belonged to the strong.

The vast majority of living beings accepted this fact and even felt pleased by it.

The Western Lands were poor and sparsely populated, while the Flora Clan could cultivate spirit plants. This was a great blessing for the surrounding mountain ranges.

Not only would the spiritual energy grow denser and the earth veins recover faster, but the Hundred Treasures Hall would also gain many more treasures.

All in all, the arrival of the Wood-and-Grass Clan brought far more benefits than harm.

Besides, this was something the Venerable had decreed. No one dared object.

Time flew by.

Two thousand years later, Zhu Yin awakened from his state of expounding the Dao.

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

Zhu Yin rose and bowed respectfully.

He chatted with Zhunti for a while longer, then took out the Enlightenment Tea he had prepared long ago and presented it with both hands as filial respect to his master and martial uncle.

Only then did he turn and leave.

Watching his disciple's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Zhunti nodded, quite satisfied in his heart.

This disciple was quick-witted, steady in his work, accomplished in cultivation, and knew how to honor his elders. How could he not receive more care?

Spirit Platform Mountain, within a pavilion.

After returning, Zhu Yin immediately entered seclusion for five hundred years, thoroughly digesting the insights he had gained during this time and advancing his Dao attainments another step. After emerging, he tended the Spirit Medicine Garden before finally finding the leisure to brew tea and rest.

After taking a sip, his gaze seemed to pass through the void and fall upon the distant Worry-Free Spirit Land.

Two thousand five hundred years had passed, and the Flora Clan had long since taken root there. The entire Spirit Land now teemed with life, its spiritual energy growing ever denser. It was on the verge of advancing into a Supreme-grade Spirit Land.

The Hundred Treasures Hall and Merit Pavilion had benefited as well.

At the Hundred Treasures Hall, many rare flowers and grasses, spirit fruits, immortal medicines, and special woods had appeared. Trade became more frequent, the crowds grew livelier, and its fortune increased accordingly.

As for the Merit Pavilion, it had become an essential place for the Flora Clan's spirits to come and go. Led by Hundred Flowers Fairy and Hundred Herbs Fairy, they continuously repaired earth veins and adjusted the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers. Even the other living beings nearby were affected, while the Merit Pavilion's rank rose swiftly. Sooner or later, it would become a merit spirit treasure.

Then Zhu Yin looked farther away. The number of living beings around Spirit Platform Mountain had clearly increased, and the mountains and rivers had grown more spiritual. A gratified smile appeared on his face, and even the tea in his hand seemed more fragrant.

Since the Heavenly Wedding ceremony ended, Zhu Yin's reputation had thoroughly spread throughout the Primordial World.

Many living beings suddenly felt that the Western Lands were not so insignificant after all, and they came in droves to travel there. Among them, the Hundred Treasures Hall had practically become a must-visit destination, while the Merit Pavilion also became much livelier.

Though the Western Lands themselves were poor in resources, causing many to leave after staying for a while, they were deeply impressed by the Hundred Treasures Hall and Merit Pavilion and praised them without end.

Besides their novelty, the reason was that most of these visitors were Mysterious Immortal cultivators, and these two places happened to meet their cultivation needs.

Many Mysterious Immortals exchanged for spirit items they desired at the Hundred Treasures Hall. Some Golden Immortals could also find useful Heaven and Earth Treasures there. At the auction held once every thousand years, treasures that made even Golden Immortals green with envy occasionally appeared.

After the Flora Clan joined, the Hundred Treasures Hall became even more appealing. Even Primordial Unity Golden Immortals could not resist taking a look.

Some Golden Immortals also exchanged for treasures at the Merit Pavilion by helping repair earth veins or water veins. They then rented cave dwellings outside Spirit Platform Mountain for seclusion, and their cultivation improved as well.

Gradually, the Hundred Treasures Hall and Merit Pavilion came to be regarded as blessed lands for low- and middle-tier cultivators. Many who came wanted to return again. As they spread the news throughout the Primordial Wilderness, more and more living beings followed suit, forming a virtuous cycle.

Some living beings simply stopped leaving.

Some opened Dao Fields and settled down directly; some returned to bring their Lineages over and establish a second base; still others belonged to small clans with only tens of thousands of members. When their chiefs or elders saw that the environment was good, they moved their entire clans over at once.

They felt that although the Western Lands lacked spiritual energy, the mountain ranges around Spirit Platform Mountain were reviving. There were also the Hundred Treasures Hall and Merit Pavilion. Most importantly, this place was peaceful. There was no Witch-Monster War, and they did not need to worry about being oppressed by other great clans or dragged into their conflicts.

Though these clans were not particularly powerful, with their strongest members only at Mysterious Immortal Perfection, they added up to more than a hundred thousand living beings. That was enough to make the area around Spirit Platform Mountain ever livelier and its fortune ever more abundant.

Spirit Platform Mountain, within a pavilion.

After Zhu Yin finished the tea in his cup, he thought of how more living beings would come in the future, drawn by his reputation. They would bring fortune and strengthen the Western Lands, and he could not help smiling.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the Spirit Butterflies and Earthworms he had seen in the High-grade Spirit Land before.

Spirit Platform Mountain already had the rare Twin-Headed Jiaochong. If Spirit Butterflies and Earthworms joined them as well, the mountain's spiritual vitality would surely flourish even more.

He set down his teacup, and with a flicker of his body, appeared directly in the Worry-Free Spirit Land.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

"Congratulations on leaving seclusion, Ancestor!"

When Hundred Flowers Fairy and Hundred Herbs Fairy saw Zhu Yin, their faces filled with delight.

Zhu Yin waved a strand of mana, helping the two women up, and directly explained his purpose.

"Earthworms can loosen soil, while Spirit Butterflies can gather nectar. They can both improve soil quality and produce Spirit Honey, accomplishing two things with one stroke. They are very suitable."

"Can you show me these two spirit insects from your clan?"

The two Golden Immortals agreed at once and immediately took action.

Hundred Flowers Fairy brought over a Spirit Butterfly of the finest grade, while Hundred Herbs Fairy brought over an Earthworm with the highest cultivation.

The Spirit Butterfly was brilliantly colored and possessed early Mysterious Immortal cultivation. After reaching Transformation Stage, she took the form of a beautiful woman three inches tall; the Earthworm was crimson from head to toe and likewise possessed early Mysterious Immortal cultivation. After reaching Transformation Stage, he took the form of a red-faced, burly man over two meters tall.

Neither of them dared be negligent before Zhu Yin, and they hurriedly bowed.

Zhu Yin activated his Dharma Eye and examined them, feeling slightly disappointed within.

Though these two were considered outstanding among their kind, they still fell far short of his requirements. What he had originally sought were unusual species like the Twin-Headed Jiaochong, born at the Heavenly Immortal level.

Though somewhat disappointed, he revealed nothing on his face. He merely gave them a few simple pointers on cultivation before dismissing them.

After they left, Zhu Yin asked again,

"Does your clan have any stronger Spirit Butterflies or Earthworms?"

Hundred Flowers Fairy shook her head and said apologetically,

"Our clan did once have stronger ones, such as the Butterfly King and the Earthworm King. Both were experts at Golden Immortal Perfection, but they either died in the great war against the Demon Race or defected to the Demon Race."

"Now, Colorful Butterfly and Red Earth are already the strongest in our clan. If Ancestor wants stronger ones, you can only think of another way."

Though Zhu Yin was disappointed, he did not lose heart.

This had only been a matter of trying his luck. It would have been best if he found them, but it was normal if he did not. The two before him could still barely be put to use.

Just then, Hundred Herbs Fairy, who had been lowering her head in thought, suddenly spoke...