Even if someone beat Zhen Yuanzi to death, he would never have guessed that Hongyun's good news was that he had started a family and had children.
Li Yu had originally thought Hongyun had acquired some heavenly treasure or other, but this was quite far off the mark.
But then again, why had Hongyun suddenly changed his ways? Hadn't he previously harbored certain thoughts about Nüwa?
"Brother Hongyun, Fuxi's sister, how could you..."
Before Li Yu could finish, Hongyun hurriedly cut him off. "Brother Li, you must not speak nonsense. Fuxi, Nüwa, and I are merely friends. You cannot tarnish our reputations with empty words!"
"Ha ha!"
Zhen Yuanzi, standing nearby, laughed. "Brother Hongyun, that might fool others somewhat, but before Brother Li and me, there is no need to put on such an act."
Hongyun's old face reddened. "I truly made friends carelessly!"
"In that case, Brother Hongyun, why not first accompany me to Mount Kunlun and help transplant my Ginseng Fruit Tree to my new daoist grounds? Then you can pick a few fruits to take back as my congratulatory gift." Zhen Yuanzi proposed.
"That would be excellent. Going back empty-handed would truly leave me feeling guilty toward the mother and child!"
Since Zhen Yuanzi had produced a congratulatory gift, Li Yu naturally could not go empty-handed either. "There are still some pills in this Azure Jade Gourd, refined by Taiqing. They are quite beneficial to cultivation, so take them as a congratulatory gift."
"Taiqing?"
Hongyun looked rather surprised. After receiving the Azure Jade Gourd, he pulled out its stopper, and a burst of medicinal fragrance rushed into his nose, making his heart shudder at the scent.
Hongyun quickly replaced the stopper. "They truly are good things. You two brothers are being so generous that I am almost embarrassed."
The three made their way to Zhen Yuanzi's daoist grounds on Mount Kunlun. There was actually nothing much left worth longing for here. Apart from the Ginseng Fruit Tree, it no longer possessed the air of a blessed immortal land it once had.
After the second sermon, as his cultivation rose, certain vague premonitions from the past had become much clearer.
The Three Pure Ones would inevitably become great powers of the Primordial World in the future. Mount Kunlun itself would likely become their daoist grounds, so it was truly inconvenient for outsiders to cultivate here in peace.
The Ginseng Fruit Tree had taken root here for many years, its roots spreading deeply through the soil. Transplanting it whole would be no easy task.
Then the three joined forces and used immense divine power to carve out a mass of earth as large as a small mountain. Encasing the Ginseng Fruit Tree's roots, they carried it out of Mount Kunlun.
Five Villages Temple was Zhen Yuanzi's new daoist grounds. The name sounded rather familiar.
Five Villages Temple was closer to Mount Buzhou, of course, only relative to Mount Kunlun. In truth, it was still an immense distance from Mount Buzhou.
Everything at Five Villages Temple, his new daoist grounds, had already been arranged. All that remained was to transplant the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
Only after the Ginseng Fruit Tree settled into the soil did Zhen Yuanzi let out a breath of relief. Innate spirit roots were incomparably precious, but that also meant that if anything went wrong, saving them would be far more troublesome.
Fortunately, the journey had been calm and uneventful.
"Qingfeng, Mingyue, hurry and make preparations. I must properly thank these two brothers," Zhen Yuanzi instructed.
The two young attendants accepted the order and hurried off to make arrangements. Zhen Yuanzi then led Hongyun and Li Yu into the main hall.
"Speaking of which, the last time the three of us sat together as we do today was when the dragon, phoenix, and qilin clans collapsed. Who knows how many years have passed since then," Zhen Yuanzi said with a sigh.
"Since this opportunity is rare, why do we not discuss the Dao and verify what each of us has gained from cultivation over these years?" Li Yu suggested.
Ever since his last discussion of the Dao with Taiqing had greatly benefited his cultivation, he had often kept such matters in mind.
"Indeed!" Hongyun agreed.
Thus, the three Quasi-Saints in Five Villages Temple began discussing the Dao.
As their Great Daos collided,
all manner of phenomena appeared. Golden lotuses fell like rain, blanketing a thousand li around Five Villages Temple. Many living beings benefited from it, and their cultivation advanced. Several months later, the three ended their discussion of the Dao, the phenomena dispersed, and this stretch of heaven and earth returned to its former calm.
After drinking to their hearts' content, Hongyun took six Ginseng Fruits and Li Yu's pills and flew northeast.
After watching Hongyun leave, Li Yu also bid farewell, then headed east toward the Eastern Sea.
Upon returning to the immortal island, Li Yu saw Black Armor lying on a bamboo recliner, a palm-leaf fan in hand, leisurely enjoying the beach, sea breeze, and sunlight...
Li Yu laughed. This little turtle certainly knew how to enjoy himself!
"Black Armor, living quite comfortably, are you?"
Hearing Li Yu's voice, Black Armor immediately jolted awake, hurriedly rose from the bamboo recliner, and knelt on the beach.
"Reporting to Grand Master, this little turtle has not dared to neglect his duties. Today, it was only after finishing cultivation..."
Li Yu interrupted Black Armor. "Cultivation is your own affair. So long as you have not neglected your duty as a guard, you have done right by me."
"Reporting to Grand Master, the immortal island has always been well tended," Black Armor said.
Li Yu nodded. His figure appeared before the Bitter Bamboo. After so long apart, he wondered what changes it might have undergone.
Upon seeing Li Yu approach, the Bitter Bamboo swayed without wind, as though it had developed intelligence and was welcoming his return.
"Interesting!"
Li Yu looked at the Bitter Bamboo, then infused it with two more streams of Chaos Qi. There was plenty of Chaos Qi in the Innate Gourd, so he did not care about using such a small amount.
The Bitter Bamboo gradually quieted, presumably absorbing the Chaos Qi.
At this moment, Black Armor also entered the immortal island. However, his cultivation was still too low for him to approach too closely, so he could only stand and wait from afar.
"Grand Master, the ladies of Three Immortals Island came some days ago. Seeing that you were absent, they returned. They specifically instructed this little turtle to tell you that once you returned, they hoped you would visit Three Immortals Island as a guest."
Li Yu nodded to show that he understood. The two homes were not far apart, so it was only natural to visit each other from time to time. It was just that he had given all his remaining pills to Hongyun. Next time, he could only bring some spirit fruits as a gift.
Li Yu did not set out immediately. He first secluded himself on the island for a period of quiet cultivation, while also studying the uses of the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner and the Godslayer Spear. Whether Hongjun had left contingencies within these two spirit treasures as he had with the Innate Gourd or not, leaving them unused would truly be a waste.
After ending his seclusion, Li Yu picked some spirit fruits and went to Three Immortals Island.
"An old friend has come to visit. Are the island's hosts present?" Li Yu called loudly outside Three Immortals Island.
At once, the cloud-and-mist grand formation protecting the island dispersed, opening a path inside and revealing the immortal scenery within Three Immortals Island.
Li Yu chuckled and transformed into a streak of rosy light as he entered the island.
His luck was rather good this time. Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao were all not in seclusion.
"Three fellow Daoists, it has been a long time. Greetings!"
"We sisters greet Brother Li!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Yu handed the spirit fruits he had brought to Bixiao, and she turned to make arrangements.
"It has been many years since we met. Fellow Daoist Yunxiao, your cultivation has advanced greatly. Your Golden Immortal Dao Fruit is not far away."
Li Yu could tell at a glance that Yunxiao was already considered a Half-Step Golden Immortal. She had found the method to break through to the Golden Immortal Realm. Her path was not wrong; it was only a matter of time.
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