Five-Needle Pine, Refining the Three Immortal Isles

Xiao Teng soared up along the winding mountain path and arrived at the summit of Penglai Mountain.

At the mountaintop lay an enormous lake. Its waters shimmered with three strange lights that reflected one another—it was the Three Lights Divine Water Xiao Teng knew so well.

As Xiao Teng gazed at the Three Lights Divine Water, a surge of wild joy rose in his heart.

The Three Lights Divine Water he had possessed before had nearly been used up, and he had been worrying over it. He had never expected to find such an abundance of it here.

Judging by the amount in this pool, even ten aeons might not be enough to exhaust it.

What delighted Xiao Teng even more was the Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Root growing by the lakeshore—the Five-Needle Pine.

Like Xiao Teng, this Five-Needle Pine was one of the ten great Innate Spirit Roots. He had never imagined it would grow here.

The Five-Needle Pine underwent a change every five thousand years, gradually maturing from its tender youth. A full cycle of ripening required fifteen thousand long years.

Its fruits were divided among the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—with ten of each, for a total of fifty fruits.

Eating these fruits could gather the qi of the five elements. For cultivators, they were undoubtedly a shortcut to a breakthrough, sparing them ten thousand years of arduous cultivation.

Although the value of a single Five-Needle Pine fruit was somewhat inferior to Ginseng Fruit and Yellow Center Plum, it made up for that with its considerable quantity and relatively shorter growth period.

The power of the five elements was crucial to the Calabash Kids' cultivation and enormously beneficial to their growth.

Xiao Teng slowly approached the Five-Needle Pine, stretched out a hand, and gently rested it against the trunk. He closed his eyes slightly and focused his senses.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flashing through them. "This Five-Needle Pine has yet to awaken its intelligence? That is rather unexpected. Still, that is for the best. If it had awakened its intelligence, subduing it would likely have been far more troublesome."

The corners of Xiao Teng's mouth lifted slightly as he said softly, "Five-Needle Pine, from this day onward, follow me well."

With that, Xiao Teng raised his hand and gently plucked five fruits from the tree, placing them into his mouth one by one to taste.

The moment the fruits entered his mouth, cool, sweet juice spread across his tongue. Five distinct flavors bloomed across his taste buds in turn—some blazing like fire, some cold as frost, some plain and heavy with earthiness. It was an exceedingly novel sensation.

Though these fruits did not significantly improve Xiao Teng's cultivation, they were still of some benefit.

As Xiao Teng savored the fruits, a thought suddenly struck him. This Five-Needle Pine contains the power of the five elements. Perhaps the Five-Element Spirit Pearls in my hand can help it grow.

With that thought, Xiao Teng immediately activated the Five-Element Spirit Pearls.

The Five-Element Spirit Pearls shone brilliantly as the Five-Element Formation slowly took shape.

The power of the five elements within the formation flowed slowly toward the Five-Needle Pine like babbling streams. Like withered wood receiving sweet rain after a long drought, the Five-Needle Pine greedily absorbed that elemental power.

The entire tree was instantly enveloped in a layer of five-colored light. Its branches and leaves swayed as though dancing joyfully.

With this, perhaps the Five-Needle Pine would grow a little faster.

"Father, Father, look what treasures we found!"

The Calabash Kids came running over, each showing Xiao Teng the treasures they had obtained.

The Calabash Kids had indeed gained quite a few treasures. Yet compared to the Five-Needle Pine, they paled far too greatly.

Still, Xiao Teng had not expected to find another treasure on the Three Immortal Isles equal to the Five-Needle Pine.

"Father, what are we doing next?" Seventh Gourd asked.

"Of course, we will refine these three immortal isles. The Three Immortal Isles are still concealed by a formation and have not yet emerged into the world. Once they do, many will surely come to seize them, so we must refine them first. Only then can we cut off others' covetous designs and make the Three Immortal Isles truly our territory."

Immediately afterward, Xiao Teng and the Calabash Kids set about refining the Three Immortal Isles without pause.

This refinement lasted a full thirty thousand years. Time flowed on, and they finally succeeded in thoroughly refining the Three Immortal Isles. From then on, the Three Immortal Isles became their exclusive domain.

Just as their great work was complete, the grand formation outside the Three Immortal Isles suddenly unsealed.

The Three Immortal Isles released an incomparably powerful aura that instantly spread throughout the entire Primordial World.

The great powers of the Primordial World all sensed it. The Innate beings were likewise drawn by the aura of the Three Immortal Isles and flew toward them one after another.

Er Wa shouted, "Father, so many people are coming this way! I can see quite a few Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals among them!"

Yet Xiao Teng remained calm and unruffled, as though everything had gone exactly as he expected.

He gently patted Er Wa's shoulder and reassured him, "Do not panic. I have my own way of dealing with this."

With that, his figure flashed, and he arrived beneath the Five-Needle Pine.

Using the Five-Needle Pine as the foundation and combining it with the Five-Element Spirit Pearls, Xiao Teng deployed the Five-Element Formation, shrouding the three islands beneath the Five Elements Formation.

The Five-Needle Pine was a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Root, while the Five-Element Spirit Pearls possessed power comparable to a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure. Drawing upon the mutually generating and overcoming forces of the five elements, this formation was impregnable; even Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals would find it difficult to breach.

The first to arrive above the Three Immortal Isles was Eastern King Duke, followed by a group of Innate beings.

Eastern King Duke had originally been cultivating near the East Sea when he suddenly sensed the vast spiritual qi emanating from the Three Immortal Isles. Thinking some treasure had appeared, he had come to investigate.

When Eastern King Duke saw the Three Immortal Isles blocked by a grand formation, his face filled with astonishment and shock.

"Someone has actually already claimed the Three Immortal Isles!"

"How is that possible? Who could have arrived before me? Could it be the Dragon Clan? Only the Dragon Clan of the East Sea would have such an opportunity."

The Three Immortal Isles overflowed with spiritual qi. How could Eastern King Duke willingly give them up? He immediately called out, "May I ask which Daoist friend has occupied the Three Immortal Isles?"

Upon hearing the shout, the Calabash Kids flew out of the grand formation without hesitation.

Da Wa cut an imposing figure as he shouted back, "Your Grandpa Calabash!"

At the sight of the Calabash Kids, Eastern King Duke was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

He had yet to get over the theft of the Wood Spirit Pearl. Now they had beaten him to the Three Immortal Isles as well, and the hatred in his heart only deepened.

His eyes rolled, and a plan sprang to mind. "The Three Immortal Isles are a divinely crafted land blessed by Heaven and Earth. They should be a boon to all living beings of the Primordial World. Is it not too overbearing for the few of you to monopolize them?"

Hearing this, the Calabash Kids reacted as though they had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world and burst into uproarious laughter.

The hot-tempered Si Wa spat, "You old thing, aren't you just drooling over the Three Immortal Isles? If you have the ability, then come and take them!"

With that, both sides stood at sword's point, ready to fight.

Eastern King Duke called out, "If you win, we will leave at once. If we win, you will obediently hand over the Three Immortal Isles."

With that, both sides unleashed their divine abilities and spells. For a time, the light of magical treasures crisscrossed, thunderous roars rang without end, and the scene descended into utter chaos.

Although Eastern King Duke's side had greater numbers, the Calabash Kids were not the least bit weaker when they joined forces.

The Calabash Kids and Eastern King Duke's group fought in a deadlock, neither side able to gain the upper hand.