Primordial Era: Reborn Kong Xuan, Steady Cultivation

He didn't directly mention the name "Falling Treasure Coin" to prevent the old ginseng spirit from realizing the treasure's value and deliberately trying to manipulate it or harboring ulterior motives. Instead, he described its characteristics to observe its reaction.

Upon hearing this, the three ginseng leaves at the top of the old mountain ginseng moved swiftly without wind, as if it were pondering something at great speed.

It has lived for so long that it has heard and seen a great many strange and wonderful things.

After a few breaths, its aged voice, tinged with uncertainty, cautiously replied, "Reporting to the Immortal... 'Gold Coins,' 'Falling Treasures'... I seem... I do seem to have heard some very ancient tales."

When it was still a small, ordinary ginseng, it occasionally sensed fragments of conversation between two powerful beings who were passing by... It seemed... to be related to a treacherous mountain stream on the north side of the mountain where clouds and mist never dissipate and birds and beasts are nowhere to be found.

It is said that a faint, strange Taoist sound, like the clanging of metal or the soft tinkling of coins, sometimes emanates from that place. However, it is extremely ethereal and accompanied by a mesmerizing mist that can bewilder the mind. No living being has ever dared to venture deep into the place. Even those who have dared to enter usually emerge in a daze, having gained nothing, or even suffering damage to their spiritual consciousness.

It's been so long that I can't remember the specific details clearly anymore, but I do know that some of the local old folks privately call that mountain stream "The Enchanting Golden Stream."

As it spoke, it secretly observed Kong Xuan's expression. Seeing that the other's eyes brightened slightly, it knew that it might have hit the mark, and quickly added, "However, Immortal, that place is very eerie. Although I am curious, I am too afraid of my life and have never been close to it. My knowledge is limited to rumors."

Whether there truly is a treasure, and what kind of treasure it is, I dare not presume to say.

After hearing this, Kong Xuan had already made up his mind.

The disappearance of birds and beasts, the year-round fog, the strange Taoist sounds, the confusion of the mind... these characteristics do indeed have some similarities with the Treasure-Dropping Coin, a divine object that relates to fortune and disturbs the senses of treasure.

This "Golden Stream" is very likely the hiding place of the Treasure-Dropping Coins!

"Where is the Lost Gold Ravine? What are its exact locations?"

Upon hearing Kong Xuan inquire about the specific location, the old ginseng spirit dared not delay. It quickly extended a slender root pointing north and respectfully replied, "Your Excellency, if you start from this place and travel north along the mountain range, you will travel approximately 178,000 li. There you will find a treacherous canyon shrouded in thick gray-white fog year-round, where birds and beasts have vanished. The stream is deep and bottomless; that is it."

The exact entrance is difficult to describe precisely due to the ever-changing fog, but upon approaching it, one should be able to sense its strange Taoist aura and a feeling of bewilderment.

After listening, Kong Xuan nodded slightly, having grasped the general location and distance.

He didn't completely believe the old ginseng's one-sided account, but the characteristics described by the other party matched quite well with the "Falling Treasure Coin" pattern, making it worth investigating.

"Hmm," Kong Xuan's tone softened slightly, "If what you say is true, then there is indeed something I need in the Golden Stream. I will naturally not treat you unfairly, and there will be a reward for you at that time."

Having said that, he said no more and gestured for the old ginseng spirit to lead the way.

This was both to prevent the old ginseng from sneaking away or giving the wrong directions along the way, and to save myself the time of figuring out the direction.

The other party was, after all, a local expert and more familiar with the mountain terrain and paths.

Upon hearing this, the old ginseng spirit smiled bitterly to himself, how could he dare to hope for any reward?

It is already an act of mercy from this immortal to have preserved my tens of thousands of years of cultivation and my old life.

It hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! It is my honor to guide the immortal!" Immediately, its plump ginseng body flashed with spiritual light and transformed into a pale yellow streak of light. It flew cautiously northward, a few feet off the ground, neither too fast nor too slow, always keeping a few feet in front of Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan followed behind, accompanied by Zhitong, at a leisurely pace.

While using his divine sense to lock onto the old ginseng ahead, guarding against any unusual movements, he also spread out part of his mind to pay attention to the changes in the terrain and spiritual energy along the way, confirming the direction and distance mentioned by the old ginseng.

The journey of 178,000 li was neither long nor short under the escape light of the primordial cultivators.

Without following the guidance of the old ginseng spirit, Kong Xuan and his party arrived at their destination several days later.

The scene before me was exactly as the old ginseng had described.

Two steep, sheer, gray-black cliffs stand facing each other, forming a deep and dark canyon.

The valley is perpetually shrouded in a thick, grayish-white mist. This mist is not ordinary water vapor; as it churns and surges, it faintly exudes a strange power that isolates divine consciousness and confuses perception.

Standing outside the ravine, even with Kong Xuan's mid-stage Golden Immortal level spiritual power probing in, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, unable to penetrate even a few feet, let alone discern the truth within.

The ravine was eerily silent. Not only were there no sounds of birds, beasts, or insects, but even the wind seemed to have been swallowed up by the strange mist. Only a deep, unfathomable aura, which made people feel uneasy, emanated from it.

"This place... is indeed extraordinary." Kong Xuan's expression was solemn, but instead of being afraid, his eyes shone even brighter.

Such a perilous place, which can naturally isolate one from the divine sense of a Golden Immortal, is rare even in the primordial world.

However, if this place is indeed the hiding place of innate spiritual treasures such as the Treasure-Falling Coin, which are related to the rules of "treasure falling" and disrupt the spiritual connection of treasures, then such an anomaly is perfectly normal!

His mind raced: "That's it! Only such a natural and secluded place can ensure that this treasure will not be easily discovered or taken away over the long years."

He recalled his memories from his later life, that the Treasure-Dropping Coin was ultimately obtained by two human immortals named Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao.

However, what era are we living in now?

Hongjun Daozu had just become a saint and was giving his first lecture on the Great Dao at Zixiao Palace! Nuwa had not yet molded humans from clay, and the human race had not even been born in this primordial world!

From this point onward, it would take until the three lectures at Zixiao Palace ended, Nuwa created humans and became a saint, and then they would go through the fierce battles of the Lich War, until the human race prospered. That would be a long period of time that spanned countless eons.

In such a long river of time, if the hiding place of the Luobao Coin was not hidden or well protected, it would probably have been discovered and taken away by countless powerful beings, strange beasts, and even the Wu and Yao tribes who passed through Wuyi Mountain long ago. How could it have been obtained by chance by Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, who were not top-notch in the distant future?

"The greater the obstacles, the more significant the opportunities."

Kong Xuan gazed at the churning mist, certain in his heart: "The more difficult this ravine is to explore, the more extraordinary the things within may be. The Treasure-Dropping Coin... it's most likely inside!"

He did not rush in.

Such natural and perilous places often conceal deadly traps, mazes, or treacherous obstacles.

He first said to the trembling old ginseng spirit beside him, "What you say is true, this place is indeed extraordinary. You wait outside, and when I come out, I will have my own plans."

He then instructed Zhitong, "Your cultivation is still shallow, so you cannot go inside. Stay here and keep an eye on it as well." He pointed to the old ginseng.

Zhitong readily agreed, and the old ginseng felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He only hoped that this jinx would go in quickly, so that he could escape whether he succeeded or not.