Visiting Zhen Yuanzi

Mountains stretched endlessly, clouds drifted without end.

A graceful young man in white walked on foot between the mountain peaks.

"For my first stop, I'll visit Wuzhuang Temple and see whether I can get a chance to taste Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi's Ginseng Fruit."

This young man in white was Lu Chen, who had descended from Kunlun Mountain to travel the Primordial World. He was currently hurrying toward Zhen Yuanzi's Wuzhuang Temple.

With every step, he crossed thousands, even tens of thousands, of miles.

At this moment, within Wuzhuang Temple,

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun sat facing each other beneath an ancient tree.

"Brother Dao, you received the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi passed down by the Dao Ancestor decades ago, yet you still haven't comprehended even half a trace of its mysteries?"

"No. Perhaps my comprehension is insufficient."

Hong Yun shook his head and gave a carefree smile.

"Or perhaps the destined opportunity has yet to arrive."

Just then, a voice carried in from outside the temple.

"This humble Daoist is Lu Chen, here to pay a visit to Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi."

"Lu Chen, Tongtian's disciple? What is he doing here?"

Zhen Yuanzi secretly wondered, but since Lu Chen had already come calling, it would not be appropriate to shut him out. He gave an instruction to the attendant beside him.

"White Cloud, go invite Junior Nephew Lu Chen inside."

"Yes."

White Cloud, who stood beside Zhen Yuanzi, cupped his hands in salute and turned to leave.

"Brother Hong Yun, why do you think Lu Chen has come to visit me?"

"We'll know once he comes inside."

Hong Yun smiled faintly.

"That is true. Brother Dao, have some tea."

"Drink."

Lu Chen stood before Wuzhuang Temple's gates, respectful and courteous.

"My master has instructed me to lead you inside. This way, please."

White Cloud emerged from Wuzhuang Temple and bowed to Lu Chen.

"Thank you."

Lu Chen casually took out a Golden Core and slipped it into White Cloud's hand.

Delight appeared on White Cloud's face as he secretly put away the Golden Core.

"Master, Lu Chen has arrived."

"Junior Nephew Lu Chen, please sit."

Zhen Yuanzi smiled when he saw Lu Chen following behind White Cloud.

"Many thanks, Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi."

"This junior, Lu Chen, pays respects to Great Immortal Hong Yun."

After approaching and seeing Hong Yun, Lu Chen saluted him, then sat on a stone bench to the side.

Hong Yun asked with a genial smile, "Did you come this time to deliver a message from your master?"

"No. This junior felt somewhat stifled after quietly cultivating on Kunlun Mountain, so I came to travel through the Primordial World. I happened to pass by Wuzhuang Temple and came to pay a visit."

"I see. White Cloud, go pick several Ginseng Fruits."

Zhen Yuanzi instructed White Cloud.

"Hahaha, Brother Zhen Yuanzi, speaking of which, I've been craving your Ginseng Fruits for a long time."

"If Brother Dao craves them, then simply eat. White Cloud, pick a few more."

Seeing Hong Yun, Zhen Yuanzi revealed a helpless smile and added another instruction to White Cloud, who had not yet gone far.

After White Cloud left, Zhen Yuanzi looked at Lu Chen and said calmly, "Little nephew, you must have some matter to discuss in coming to visit this time."

"Yes."

Lu Chen nodded.

"What matter?"

"I came to save Great Immortal Hong Yun."

"Save me?!"

Hong Yun, seated nearby, froze for a moment and asked in confusion.

"I have never made enemies with anyone. Where would disaster come from?"

"This disaster is not a man-made calamity. Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi, I ask that you conceal the heavenly secrets. This matter cannot be spoken of to outsiders."

"Very well."

Half believing and half doubting, Zhen Yuanzi nodded and formed a hand seal.

He activated Wuzhuang Temple's protective grand formation and summoned his companion treasure, the Earth Book.

The Earth Book emitted a heavy pale-yellow radiance, enveloping all of Wuzhuang Temple.

Sensing something unusual, White Cloud raised his head to look at the temple wrapped in the grand formation, and his footsteps slowed unconsciously.

After finishing all this, Zhen Yuanzi turned his gaze to Lu Chen. "Now that I have concealed the heavenly secrets, little friend, you may speak freely."

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a jade invites guilt."

Lu Chen smiled faintly.

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a jade invites guilt?"

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun both lowered their heads, their brows knitting slightly as they pondered the meaning behind those words.

"The Primordial Chaos Purple Qi?"

Uncertainty flickered in Hong Yun's eyes as he tentatively spoke.

"That's right."

Lu Chen did not beat around the bush. Seeing that Hong Yun had thought of the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, he nodded.

"This Primordial Chaos Purple Qi was personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. Who would dare come to seize it? Who would dare rob it?"

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Lu Chen with suspicion in his eyes, his expression turning colder.

"If there is nothing else, you should leave."

His words carried a hint of dismissal.

At this moment, Zhen Yuanzi regarded Lu Chen as nothing more than a petty thief coveting the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi.

Lu Chen's expression remained unchanged in the face of Zhen Yuanzi's attitude. He casually picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and set it down. A faint smile appeared on his face as he slowly spoke. "Are you certain it was personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor, rather than given to the lucky one chosen by the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi?"

"This..."

As Hong Yun's spokesman, Zhen Yuanzi opened his mouth, memories surging forth as he recalled the Dao Ancestor distributing the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi at Zixiao Palace.

"This... the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi was indeed not personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor."

Hong Yun answered, his expression somewhat blank.

He recalled the details. The Dao Ancestor had said that those with affinity could obtain this strand of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, after which it flew into his spiritual platform. It could not be considered a personal bestowal; it was more like an offhand gesture, and he had been the lucky one chosen.

Zhen Yuanzi spoke to comfort him. "So what? The Primordial Chaos Purple Qi chose you, Brother Dao. You are the one with affinity. What difference is there from a personal bestowal?"

Usually optimistic and free-spirited, Hong Yun was no longer so optimistic. He stared fixedly at Lu Chen. "There are seven strands of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi. Could they all be sources of disaster?"

"Of course not. Only the one in your possession is."

Lu Chen shook his head.

"Only the one in my possession is... You mean the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi choosing me was itself a scheme?"

Hong Yun did not speak the name of the one plotting against him, for calling that name would stir that person's awareness.

"That's right."

"What evidence do you have?"

"That day at Zixiao Palace, you gave up your cushion because..."

Hong Yun frowned, somewhat puzzled. "Could it be that giving up that cushion was a mistake?"

"Once body and Dao perish, all karma scatters."

The moment Lu Chen spoke those words,

A stormy sea surged in the hearts of Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi, and their thoughts became clear in an instant.

Neither of them was foolish, and they quickly understood everything.

"Who would have thought? I thought I would become the eighth person in the Primordial World, yet it turns out all of this was a scheme. No wonder I have spent every day comprehending the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi without grasping even a trace of its mysteries..."

Hong Yun threw back his head and let out a long sigh.

"Is there a solution?"

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Lu Chen, all coldness gone from his face, replaced by urgency.

"How to resolve it—you already have your own conclusion in your hearts, do you not?"

"Yes."

"Little Friend Lu Chen, I wish to give the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi to you. Are you willing to accept it?"

!!!

A look of astonishment appeared on Lu Chen's face.

They said Hong Yun loved making friends and was free-spirited by nature, but was he really this free-spirited?

The Primordial Chaos Purple Qi—this was what more than two thousand great powers remaining at Zixiao Palace dreamed of obtaining, and he was simply giving it to him?

"When an elder bestows a gift, one dare not decline."

Lu Chen hurriedly rose to his feet and cupped his hands in salute toward Hong Yun.