41: Visiting Buzhou Mountain again

After the last Great Calamity, the pressure of Pangu's will atop Mount Buzhou had somewhat receded.

However, not just anyone could come here to seek opportunities.

Those who could reach this place were all individuals of considerable strength or possessed treasures for protection.

Qing Wu and Yuan Feng stood side by side at the foot of Mount Buzhou. Looking up, the majestic mountain pierced the clouds, and spiritual light flickered faintly amidst the swirling mist.

Compared to their memories, the pressure of Pangu's will had indeed faded significantly, but that ancient and boundless aura still inspired awe.

"When we last came, this place was still a desolate wasteland, but now it has become quite lively."

Qing Wu chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the scattered footprints on the mountain path.

A few spirit deer raised their heads alertly; seeing the peaceful aura of the two, they lowered their heads again to graze on Spiritual Plants.

Yuan Feng crouched down, her palm brushing over a Red-Patterned Grass.

The leaves trembled slightly and actually wrapped around her finger of their own accord, conveying a hint of intimacy.

"The vital energy of the living beings on Mount Buzhou has also begun to grow lively."

"The divine mountain formed from Pangu's spine naturally contains great fortune," Qing Wu said calmly. "It's just that the pressure was too heavy before, making it difficult for living beings to approach. Now that the Great Calamity has subsided and heaven and earth are in balance, vitality is naturally flourishing."

The two ascended along the mountain path, seeing more traces along the way.

Residual roots of harvested Spirit Medicines, claw marks left from fights, and even a few fresh skeletons of Cultivators.

Many opportunities bring many conflicts. The law of the jungle remains unchanged through the ages.

Yuan Feng suddenly stopped in her tracks.

On the rock wall ahead, a deep claw mark was imprinted, along with several shallower ones.

To be able to leave such marks on the incredibly hard main peak of Mount Buzhou indicated that the opponent's strength was certainly extraordinary.

"The handiwork of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal," she squinted. "It seems someone is ahead of us."

Qing Wu also looked into the distance up the mountain, sensing some of the aura left behind by that individual who had passed by.

"Mount Buzhou has countless resources; it's inevitable that some powerful Cultivators would come seeking opportunities. We simply won't initiate any conflict with them."

Although both of them had already reached the Grand Unity Perfection, a Realm that had few rivals in the current Primordial World.

But unless necessary, Qing Wu still did not wish to offend the powerful Cultivators within the Primordial World.

Their strength was indeed great enough, but they were not invincible existences.

When out in the world, what matters are influence and background.

Now was the time of rapid development for the Three Tribes. Qing Wu didn't want to offend the experts of these tribes over a small matter, which might lead to his Immortal Volcano being targeted by the powers behind them.

Of course, if the other party initiated trouble, that would be a different story.

Yuan Feng's phoenix eyes flickered briefly, but she said nothing.

She naturally trusted Qing Wu's words.

Furthermore, after many instances of verification, every judgment Qing Wu made was extremely accurate, and his grasp of timing and propriety was always perfect.

Over time, Yuan Feng had developed a habit of not liking to think.

If anything happened, she would just let Qing Wu make the decisions.

She would devote all her focus to cultivation, determined to attain the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm first so she could finally suppress him for once.

Thereafter, the two continued up the mountain without encountering the figure of that Grand Unity expert.

Subsequently, the two focused on searching for treasures and opportunities on Mount Buzhou that might be fated for them.

Walking along the mountain ridge, the mists of Mount Buzhou surged beneath their feet, occasionally parting to reveal verdant forests.

The higher they went, the more Pangu's pressure intensified, but the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi also grew denser, with spiritual mist almost condensing into substance flowing around them.

"Strange." Qing Wu suddenly stopped, his gaze falling upon an unremarkable crevice in the rocks.

"The Wood Spirit Qi here is more than three times denser than the surroundings."

With a flick of her finger, a fiery red orb floated out. Under the firelight, a faint green glow emanated from the rock crevice.

She raised an eyebrow. "It's hidden quite deep."

The green light seemed to sense something and suddenly flickered. The surrounding vegetation moved without wind, making a rustling sound.

It was communicating with Qing Wu, as if conveying some kind of message.

"It's the wood spirit pearl."

Qing Wu whispered, "One of the Innate Five Elements Spirit Pearls. I didn't expect it to appear here."

Like the Fire Spirit Pearl Yuan Feng had obtained previously, the wood spirit pearl was also one of the Innate Five Elements Spirit Pearls, a High Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

The two had resonated with each other, leading them to this spot step by step.

"No wonder I sensed the Yimu Qi being exceptionally active just now; it turns out it's breathing in the essence of heaven and earth."

Seeing the wood spirit pearl practically throwing itself at Qing Wu, Yuan Feng's interest waned.

She looked around. "However, it seems it's not yet time for its full emergence."

Qing Wu nodded, pressing his hand against the ground as a green light seeped into the rock layers.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand. "The ley lines converge here, and the wood spirit pearl is absorbing the earth qi of Mount Buzhou. At this rate, it won't be long before it breaks through the ground."

The two then stayed there for a while, waiting for the treasure to emerge.

With a wave of Qing Wu's hand, a green light flew out, and the Azure Lotus Treasure Flag appeared.

Qing Wu then activated it to isolate the heavenly secrets of this area.

Waiting is always long.

Yuan Feng toyed with a wisp of flame, sensing that heaven and earth seemed to have changed after the Great Calamity. She spoke, "Qing Wu, do you feel that the Primordial World has changed in any way?"

Wutong picked up a fallen leaf, its veins extending into Dao patterns in his palm. "Innate spiritual items are the most sensitive. They likely sensed a great change coming to the Primordial World, which is why they are emerging one after another to choose their masters."

Yuan Feng's eyes blinked. "What kind of great change is happening in the Primordial World? Is it good or bad for all living beings?"

Qing Wu smiled faintly but shook his head slightly without giving an answer.

After the Great Calamity, order is being reorganized, and the Heavenly Dao is about to awaken.

Presumably, Yuan Feng had also sensed these changes, which prompted her reflection.

Before he could finish his sentence, the ground suddenly shook!

A brilliant green light erupted from the rock crevice as a crystal-clear sapling broke through the rock. Hanging from a branch was a verdant orb the size of a longan.

Within the orb, thousands of forests seemed to be born and destroyed, and a vast vitality surged forth.

Just as the surroundings stabilized, the crystal sapling suddenly spread its leaves. The wood spirit pearl hanging from the branch erupted with surging vitality, its emerald radiance rippling out like water.

Qing Wu's outstretched palm was enveloped in green light, and the Dao patterns on his palm actually resonated with the forest phantom inside the orb, emitting a faint hum.

Countless tender green vines sprouted from the ground, gently wrapping around Qing Wu's ankles. They showed no intent to attack, instead conveying a sense of affinity.

The wood spirit pearl suddenly detached from the branch, tracing an emerald arc in the air.

It circled Qing Wu three times, its body trembling slightly as if confirming something.

The spatial phantom within the orb suddenly solidified—a towering tree identical to Qing Wu's true form rose from the ground, its roots connecting thousands of worlds. This was the pearl actively carving Qing Wu's mark into itself.

The wood spirit pearl was emitting a thick divine light, echoing in harmony with Qing Wu.

Qing Wu closed his eyes to feel this scene of All Trees Paying Homage. When he opened them again, the wood spirit pearl had turned into a streak of light and entered between his brows.

With the treasure gone, the Spiritual Root that had birthed the wood spirit pearl rapidly withered away.

Seeing this, Qing Wu didn't feel it was a pity.

After all, not every Spiritual Root was like the Gourd Vine, which birthed seven gourds of the Peak Grade Innate Spirit Treasure rank and still hadn't exhausted its destiny, eventually becoming the Mankind-Creating Whip necessary for creating humans.

At this thought, Qing Wu wanted to go search for that Gourd Vine.

To see if he could spirit it away.

If nothing else, he could negotiate with it to leave the last masterless gourd for himself.

At this moment, Yuan Feng suddenly moved, becoming alert toward a certain direction where a figure was faintly visible.

"Which Fellow Daoist is here? Why not show yourself and meet?"

Firelight flowed in her hands; if the other party still didn't appear, she would not hesitate to strike.