Zhen Yuanzi, Ginseng Fruit

Longevity Mountain stretched across the Primordial Land. Taking it as the boundary, one side was the east, while the other was the west. The mountain rose majestically into the heavens, its peaks reaching straight into the skies, its body shrouded in a sea of clouds year-round.

Moreover, though the mountain was grand and magnificent, it bore not the slightest trace of sharpness or peril. Instead, it carried a deep, solemn Wu Earth Dao aura. The entire immortal mountain was tightly fused with the veins of the earth, as spiritual energy from the earth veins surged up from below and transformed into layers of yellowish-brown earth-origin spiritual mist. The mist drifted slowly, warm and gentle to the touch; a single breath of spiritual energy could nourish both soul and body.

Ancient pines and cypresses remained evergreen for ten thousand years in the mountains. Junipers towered into the clouds, while vines draped down the cliffs. Dark apes swung from green vines, white cranes perched upon ancient branches, Azure Phoenixes swept across the sky, spirit deer wandered among the flowers, and Qilins hid within deep ancient caverns. Immortal birds and strange beasts roamed freely, without the slightest fiendish air, and the entire place was filled with leisurely serenity.

Clear spring water wound through the ravines, streams twisting around the mountain's foothills and peaks with crisp, limpid sounds. Orchids and ganoderma grew thick along the cliffs, jade grasses never withered through the seasons, and exotic flowers bloomed all year long. Their fragrance spread across the wilderness, while lush vitality permeated the vegetation. On clear days, rosy sunlight poured through the forest, a thousand strands of red mist winding around the treetops. Mountain winds passed through deep valleys, carrying countless wisps of colorful clouds through the air. Clouds and rosy mists flowed over the ridges; every step revealed a new vista, and every place brimmed with peaceful immortal charm.

Even Dao Xuan, who alone possessed the fortune of the three islands, was greatly astonished upon seeing this sight. Zhen Yuanzi truly deserved to be called the ancestor of Earth Immortals. With the Earth Book, transformed from the Earth Womb Membrane, in his grasp, he had gained the favor of the Primordial Land in the unseen currents of fate. His blessings were truly profound and inexhaustible!

Dao Xuan rode his escape light down before the mountain and saw that the spiritual light around the boundary stele had withdrawn. He knew that Zhen Yuanzi had already calculated his arrival and had thus shut down Longevity Mountain's grand formation. Otherwise, even though Dao Xuan had now become a Primordial Golden Immortal and could draw upon the power of his Inner World, breaking through Longevity Mountain's defenses would still have been difficult.

Or rather, even if he could break through them, Dao Xuan would never dare do so. After all, everyone knew that the mountain-protecting formation Zhen Yuanzi had set up was the Innate Wu Earth Formation, the most defense-oriented of the Innate Five Elements Formation.

Furthermore, Zhen Yuanzi used the Earth Book as the formation's core, linking it to the earth veins of the Primordial World. Not attacking the formation was one thing, but once it was breached, even the earth veins of the Primordial World would suffer grave damage. When the Heavenly Dao sent down karmic backlash, even Saints would be left dumbfounded.

However, Zhen Yuanzi's attitude toward Dao Xuan's arrival was clearly one of goodwill. As Dao Xuan walked along the mountain path and admired the scenery, he judged the man by his mountain and his Dao by his mountain, gradually gaining some understanding of Zhen Yuanzi.

He strolled along at leisure and gradually reached the mountainside. Here stood Zhen Yuanzi's Daoist sanctuary—a temple named Five Villages Temple.

Just as Dao Xuan arrived, the temple gates opened, and a pair of young attendants emerged. Upon seeing Dao Xuan, they bowed respectfully. "Senior Dao Xuan, our master invites you inside."

"Good!"

Dao Xuan nodded and was about to step forward when he suddenly stopped. After pondering briefly, he smiled, then raised the Myriad Laws Staff in his hand and swept it toward the left side of the gate. A line of words immediately appeared: Immortal Mansion of Deathless Deities.

Then he swept it toward the right side in the same manner, and another line appeared: Daoist Home as Eternal as Heaven.

The two attendants were greatly shocked. As they looked at each other in helpless confusion, a flash of light streaked past, and a Daoist hurried over.

His hair was tied in a Daoist topknot, his face youthful as a child's. He wore broad robes with wide sleeves, held a fly whisk in one hand, and kept the other palm-up. A long beard hung beneath his chin, fluttering in the wind. Who else could he be but the master of this place, the great immortal Zhen Yuanzi?

Zhen Yuanzi hurried over. Upon seeing Dao Xuan, he immediately performed a greeting and then said, "Dao Brother, how can this be appropriate?"

Dao Xuan burst into laughter and returned the greeting. "Why not? With Dao Brother's abilities, this mere couplet is surely an understatement."

"Alas!"

Zhen Yuanzi sighed. He had always kept a low profile and disliked contending with others. Thus, seeing Dao Xuan inscribe this couplet upon his gateposts made him deeply uneasy. Yet since Dao Xuan had already written it, he could hardly wipe the words away. He could only sigh and say, "Dao Brother, you have truly put me in a difficult position."

Hearing this, Dao Xuan did not wish to offend Zhen Yuanzi over the matter. Moreover, he had indeed acted rashly, so he apologized. "Do not blame me, Dao Brother. I was deeply moved by the scenery of Longevity Mountain and could not help myself, which is why I did this. Please forgive me, forgive me!"

Zhen Yuanzi shook his head. "What is there to forgive?"

"Dao Brother has come from afar and is my honored guest. Please come into my humble abode so we may speak further." With that, Zhen Yuanzi invited Dao Xuan inside.

Dao Xuan followed behind Zhen Yuanzi, and after walking for some time, they arrived at a courtyard behind the temple.

The moment he entered the courtyard, he saw a towering tree standing in the open space at its center. It was the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

One of the ten great spiritual roots of the Primordial World, the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

The Ginseng Fruit Tree was so tall that its height could not be measured in tens of thousands of zhang. The entire tree even distorted space and time, such that one could not make out its true appearance without coming right before it.

The Ginseng Fruit Tree grew in extraordinary abundance. Its branches were thick and its leaves broad, with no sign of withering or decay. Its layers upon layers of branching seemed to contain some profound mystery, connected to heaven and earth and merged into one with them, breathing and exhaling alongside the world.

Hidden among the lush green leaves were fruits that resembled upside-down infants. When the breeze blew, they swayed and bobbed along with it, lifelike beyond compare.

Yet upon closer inspection, one could see that these fruits were still unripe. Their infant-like features were blurry, clearly showing that they had only recently formed and had not yet matured.

Strands of pale yellow airflow drifted in from all directions. As they passed by the tree, they were automatically absorbed by the fruits. Even the currents farther away seemed to be drawn in by an invisible force, gradually absorbed by the fruits as well.

Dao Xuan stared at the sight without blinking, utterly focused. Only after a long while did he let out a soft sigh and come back to himself.

Within the temple courtyard, beneath the great tree, stood a stone table. Beside it were two meditation cushions, simple and tranquil in appearance.

Dao Xuan and Zhen Yuanzi each took one. Dao Xuan said, "To have such a spiritual root as your companion, Dao Brother, is truly a great blessing."

Zhen Yuanzi smiled upon hearing this. "You flatter me, Dao Brother. Since you have come today, you must taste my fruits. Please."

Dao Xuan nodded. He had long noticed a gold-lacquered tray on the stone table, covered by the Embroidered Geographic Map. Even divine sense could not penetrate it to see what lay inside.

Though its contents were covered, waves of delicate fragrance still seeped out. A single whiff left one refreshed and clear-minded, with every limb and bone feeling light and buoyant.

Clearly, the item inside was none other than the spiritual fruit borne by the Ginseng Tree, also known as the Grass-Restoring Elixir! This treasure bloomed once every three thousand years, bore fruit once every three thousand years, and took another three thousand years to mature. Nearly ten thousand years passed before it produced thirty fruits.

The fruits resembled infants less than three months old, complete with limbs and facial features. Those with the proper affinity could gain three hundred and sixty years of life merely by smelling one, while eating a single fruit would grant forty-eight thousand years of longevity.