125: Lao Tzu's purpose, the whereabouts of Huang Zhongli

Having understood the reasons behind it,

Li Yun also approved of Laozi's actions and moves.

This group of innate spiritual roots had occupied the resources of Kunlun Mountain for so many years, to the point that even the Three Pure Ones, as the masters of Kunlun Mountain, were forced to stay in a small corner.

It was impossible for the Three Pure Ones not to feel any displeasure about this. In fact, when Li Yun first made the proposal, the Three Pure Ones agreed without hesitation because they also had the intention and thought of dealing with them thoroughly.

Li Yun even suspected that if it weren't for the Five-Needle Pine incident causing a shift in Laozi's thinking, their original plan would have been to eliminate all these fellows within Kunlun Mountain, taking the opportunity to refine them all into Innate Spirit Treasures to strengthen themselves.

In that sense, the innate spiritual roots scattered all over Kunlun Mountain weren't actually a bad thing; they could be considered part of the inheritance Pangu left for the Three Pure Ones.

It was just that in the Early Stage, the Three Pure Ones were too weak. Their cultivation was inferior to the innate spiritual roots, so they couldn't pose any threat, let alone completely transform them into their own resources.

It was only now, with Laozi advancing to the Quasi-Saint Realm, that clearing out the innate spiritual roots within Kunlun Mountain was put on the agenda. In fact, without his own involvement, the fate of these innate spiritual roots would have certainly been death.

In the original story, the Five-Needle Pine never appeared. The yellow middle plum did appear, but it was destroyed by the Three Pure Ones and split into three, becoming mere decorations. The immortal apricot even became a Spiritual Root of the future Chan Sect, providing fruit to help the Disciples of the Chan Sect absorb, refine, and improve themselves.

But now things were different.

Due to Li Yun's intervention, Laozi attained the Dao as a Quasi-Saint ahead of schedule and took the path of Attaining the Dao through Strength. These innate spiritual roots basically had no power to resist.

Additionally, since the Three Pure Ones were not yet Saints and the current landscape of the Primordial World had changed, they naturally needed a group of people to become their subordinates and enforcers to better protect and guard Kunlun Mountain, and even to establish a great power belonging to the Three Pure Ones within the Primordial World.

After all, the Ancestral Witches next door had already grown powerful. After recruiting Cultivators, they had completely established the hegemony of the Wu Race. In contrast, his Three Pure Ones had no such achievements; even with Laozi advancing to the Quasi-Saint Realm, he was merely on par with Di Jiang.

But if Yuan Shi and Tong Tian could improve, could the other Ancestral Witches not do the same?

Three against twelve—if all were in the Quasi-Saint Realm, the advantage would undoubtedly lie with the Wu Race. This was something Laozi did not want to see and would not allow.

At this thought, the corners of Li Yun's mouth curled up as he murmured, "Interesting, truly too interesting."

"The Three Pure Ones want to develop their own power. I wonder if this will turn into a 'Pangu Descendants Hegemony Contest'!"

"Once the Three Pure Ones establish their power, will the Yao Race still be able to reach their future heights? Will the East King Duke still be able to establish his Immortal Court? Will the future Primordial landscape still move toward the Great Wu-Yao War?"

Rumble—

Rumble—

The sound of thunder echoed as the Shapeshifting Tribulation Lightning fell, continuously striking the body of the Innate Banyan Tree.

However, unlike the previous Five-Needle Pine and Wind and Thunder Immortal Apricot, the Innate Banyan Tree's Shapeshifting Tribulation Lightning consisted of only sixty-three bolts, showing that its inherent potential was not particularly great.

As the Lightning Tribulation dissipated, the Innate Banyan Tree radiated a brilliant light.

Accompanied by a surge of dense Wood attribute Qi, a verdant green glow illuminated the surroundings. The massive body of the Innate Banyan Tree vanished, replaced by a figure in his fifties or sixties standing there.

With the Shapeshifting complete, the aura of the Late Stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal erupted from the Innate Banyan Tree. After opening his eyes, he quickly approached Laozi and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Taiqing!"

"Mm."

Nodding, Laozi sized him up for a few moments before speaking, "Only the Late Stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal. It seems your Shapeshifting did not go smoothly."

"Did you condense it into a Spirit Treasure?"

"Yes!"

His expression stiffened; the Innate Banyan Tree hadn't expected Laozi to see through his actions instantly.

Helpless, he had to take out a long banner and said, "This is a high-grade innate spirit treasure formed from the most refined part of my Main Body. If Taiqing needs it, I can..."

"No need."

Waving his hand, Laozi disdained a mere high-grade innate spirit treasure.

After a few more glances, he said directly, "Hand over your original fruit!"

"Yes!"

He breathed a sigh of relief inwardly; the fact that Laozi didn't want his Innate Spirit Treasure was already an unexpected joy.

As for the original fruit, while its value was indeed immense, he could still accept giving it away.

With this in mind, the Innate Banyan Tree directly took out his original fruit and said, "Taiqing, this is my original fruit. After consuming it, one can obtain the Law of Wood within!"

"Not bad!"

Nodding, Laozi did not take it. Instead, he returned it to the Innate Banyan Tree, saying, "Keep it. When the time comes to go to the Wu Race to exchange for the Method of Proving the Dao, this item can serve as the price."

"For the next period of time, you may Cultivate here. By the way, do you know where the yellow middle plum in that valley went?"

At this point, both Laozi and Li Yun looked toward the Innate Banyan Tree.

Laozi didn't care about that original fruit, and neither did Li Yun.

After all, he knew very well that after a round of exchanges, it would eventually end up in his hands.

The Law of Wood.

This was also something he urgently needed. Since he already had the special Five Qi Primordial Fruit, he was also plotting for the Five Elements Law, a top-tier Law.

The Law of Wood was a part he currently lacked.

If he could truly succeed, then with so many innate spiritual roots within Kunlun Mountain, wouldn't he be able to quickly gather them all?

"The yellow middle plum!"

"He did indeed leave!"

Facing the inquiry, the Innate Banyan Tree pondered for a moment before answering, "That fellow left a hundred years ago, but I don't know the specific reason."

"At that time, the yellow middle plum seemed to have discovered something. His entire Main Body emerged from the valley. I don't know exactly where he went, only that he traveled all the way to the west."

Hearing this, Li Yun and Laozi frowned.

Traveling all the way west was not good news. To the west of Kunlun Mountain was the land of West Kunlun. Once he entered West Kunlun, the difficulty of hunting him down would increase significantly.

Furthermore, West Kunlun Mountain was home to the Queen Mother of the West and various Great Divine Power Holders. When the time came... Thinking of this, Li Yun immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Laozi, it seems we need to speed up!"

"Since we have a general direction, let's just head straight west. We can continue to ask any innate spiritual roots we encounter along the way, how about it?"

"Good!"

Laozi agreed and did not refuse.

Immediately afterward, the two of them no longer hesitated, mounting clouds and speeding toward the west.

No matter what, they absolutely could not let the yellow middle plum escape.

Once the yellow middle plum completely vanished, the goal of their trip would not be truly accomplished.

Most importantly, the yellow middle plum was able to move his Main Body to migrate, which meant his strength likely reached a brand-new level—it wasn't even impossible for him to be in the Quasi-Saint Realm!