Primordial Era: Reborn Kong Xuan, Steady Cultivation

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingzi was slightly taken aback.

He has been cultivating in seclusion deep in the mountains for several eons, rarely venturing into the outside world and having few friends. His cultivation level is only at the late stage of Golden Immortal, which is not particularly remarkable in the vast prehistoric world. So why the claim of "long admiration"?

However, he was also a perceptive person, and in a moment he realized that this was just a polite remark common in the primordial world. But he didn't point it out, and simply calmly tucked his sleeves, bowed in return, and said:

"So it is Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan. I am but a reclusive cultivator in the mountains, nothing to boast about. But Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan has an extraordinary bearing. Our meeting today is truly a matter of fate."

His voice was calm, yet possessed a refined and dignified air.

Kong Xuan smiled and replied, "This time I happened to enter this treasure mountain and saw the clouds and rosy hues, and the spiritual energy and beauty of it all. I admire it greatly."

"May I ask you for a cup of tea, fellow Daoist, so we can discuss the Dao and verify our understanding?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingzi's eyes flashed with scrutiny as he secretly used his eyesight to examine the person before him. He saw that the other party's cultivation was indeed similar to his own, his aura was pure and upright, and there was a faint golden aura of merit flowing around him, indicating that he was not the kind of vicious and perverse person he was.

He felt a little relieved, and after a moment's thought, he finally smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. Although my mountain dwelling is simple, I still have some humble tea to serve you."

If you don't mind, please come inside for a chat.

A hint of surprise flashed across Kong Xuan's eyes.

He originally thought that this unborn Chijingzi was very wary and would not easily allow anyone to enter his place of cultivation, but he did not expect that the other party would invite him so readily.

It seems that the aura of merit and virtue that I carry with me may be one of the reasons that made him lower his guard.

Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan raised his hand in return, and the two of them transformed into a beam of light, traveling side by side through the vast pine forest.

However, after traveling a thousand miles, the scenery suddenly changed.

Nestled between steep cliffs is an ancient cave, its entrance shrouded in mist, with lush vegetation of rare herbs and spiritual fruits growing on the rocks, their blossoms as bright as stars.

A young boy with his hair in a bun is carefully watering the medicinal herbs in the field with a jade pot, and there is a faint spiritual energy flowing around him.

What a wonderful, tranquil place for spiritual cultivation and liberation from worldly concerns.

"Fellow Daoist, please come in." Chi Jingzi descended from the cloud, gestured towards the cave, and then said gently to the boy, "Song'er, bring me my treasured Fire Essence Tea and brew a pot."

Kong Xuan followed his gaze and saw that the cave dwelling was built according to the natural terrain. Although simple, it blended seamlessly with the mountain rocks and clouds, and he secretly admired it.

When I establish my own temple in the future, I will follow this natural way and avoid any artificiality.

Upon receiving the invitation, he smiled and nodded: "Fellow Daoist's elegant residence is imbued with spiritual beauty and profound charm. I am truly sorry to have troubled you today."

Upon entering the cave, it was surprisingly not as dark as ordinary caves.

Several bright pearls were embedded in the ceiling, their soft light illuminating the four walls, making it as bright as day. What was even more strange was that the cave was warm and cozy, with a faint flow of pure yang fire energy circulating in the earth's veins, which was quite different from the cold and clear air of the surrounding mountains. It was probably a cultivation fire vein that the owner had deliberately gathered.

The two took their seats as host and guest on the cloud-shaped cushions.

Chi Jingzi accepted the teacup offered by the boy. The tea in the cup was crimson, and tiny sparkling fire spirits flickered like stars.

Chi Jingzi gently pushed the teacup closer, raised his right hand slightly to indicate that he was enjoying it, and said with a hint of self-satisfaction that was not easily detected: "Fellow Daoist, please have some."

These are leaves picked from the Fire Essence Tea Tree, a low-grade innate spiritual root in my cave.

Drinking this tea regularly is quite beneficial for understanding the principles of the fire element.

Upon hearing that the tea was made from a tea with an innate spiritual root, a look of understanding flashed across Kong Xuan's eyes.

He did not feel slighted; on the contrary, he understood.

This way of treating guests shows that Chijingzi regarded them as peers who could discuss philosophy.

It should be known that in this primordial world, innate spiritual roots are extremely precious. Even a low-grade one is not something that ordinary Golden Immortals can possess.

Although he knew that the other party's true form was the first red pine tree in the world, a top-grade innate spiritual root, he could not possibly break off the pine needles of its body to make tea for his guests.

The cup of tea before me, with its shimmering crimson hue, is a testament to the host's sincerity.

Kong Xuan then tilted the cup slightly and took a small sip.

In an instant, a warm sensation flowed between his lips and teeth, and a pure fire spirit melted from his throat, causing a faint resonance of the magic power throughout his body.

He nodded in praise, "Excellent tea. Its fire element is pure yet not violent, its warmth subtly imbued with Taoist charm. It truly lives up to its innate qualities."

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingzi's expression relaxed somewhat.

This Fire Essence Tea tree was indeed his greatest asset in his cave dwelling, and usually only his closest friends could taste it.

Seeing that Kong Xuan understood the subtleties and spoke sincerely without exaggeration, she felt even closer to him.

He brushed away the wisps of steam rising from the rim of his cup and asked slowly, "May I ask where your immortal abode is, and in which blessed land do you cultivate and contemplate the mysteries?"

"I have only recently entered this mortal world and am still without a fixed abode. My purpose in traveling through this prehistoric world is twofold: first, to find a suitable grotto-heaven to settle my cultivation grounds; and second, to see if I can encounter any opportunities that suit me."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Chi Jingzi's face immediately showed surprise. "Fellow Daoist has a profound foundation! You have already attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit upon your birth. Such a background is truly astonishing."

He couldn't help but recall his own past. When Chisong first awakened his spiritual consciousness, he was only a Xuanxian cultivator. It took him several Yuanhui of sitting in meditation and absorbing the essence of the clouds and dew to gradually reach the late stage of the Golden Immortal realm.

If this fellow Daoist Kong Xuan before me truly possesses a similar level of cultivation from the moment he was born, then his origins and innate talents are probably unfathomable.

Seeing the other party's shocked expression, Kong Xuan immediately explained gently, "Fellow Daoist has misunderstood."

My spiritual intelligence actually awakened quite early, but I have long lived in seclusion in a secluded place, focusing solely on cultivation and ignoring worldly affairs, which is why I have achieved my current meager level of cultivation.

Recently, a sage has been expounding the Great Dao at Zixiao Palace, and all the great powers of the prehistoric world have gone to the heavens to listen to the Dao. The dragons of the four seas have less to worry about, which is why they have frequently appeared in the world and stirred up the waters.

"To avoid trouble, I left my old home and came to the primordial continent, hoping to find a quiet place to settle down and cultivate my Dao."

Upon hearing this explanation, Chi Jingzi's expression softened, and he suddenly understood.

I see, that makes a lot more sense.

Although he did not personally travel to the four seas, he knew that the dragon race was burdened with karma, and that if he could slay them, he would receive the blessing of heavenly merit.

However, with his mere Golden Immortal cultivation, he was powerless to carry out such a massacre.

However, during this lecture at Zixiao Palace, the flow of the heavens and earth's energy shifted, and the causal relationship eased slightly. In this Zhou Mountain, he did indeed sense and obtain some opportunities that were rarely encountered in the past...

He held his cup and pondered for a moment before raising his eyes and saying slowly, "So that's how it is. The power of the Dragon Clan is indeed not something ordinary cultivators can withstand. Fellow Daoist, choosing this time to travel and seek the Dao is a wise move."

His tone revealed a sense of understanding and resonance as fellow cultivators. He then offered his advice: "To be honest, fellow Daoist, in my humble opinion, Zhou Mountain is truly a first-class cultivation treasure land in the primordial world."

Not only because it is the pillar of heaven transformed from the spine of the great god Pangu, with spiritual energy surpassing all others in the primordial world, but also because the mountains are filled with the legacy of creation and hidden opportunities.

If one could establish a cave dwelling here and devote oneself to cultivation, the experience, whether in comprehending the Dao of Heaven and Earth or seeking spiritual objects that resonate with one's own nature, would far surpass that of other places.

He paused slightly, turned his gaze back to Kong Xuan, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, consideration flashed in his eyes.

This fellow Daoist Kong Xuan was able to safely cross from the chaotic Four Seas to the depths of the continent, reaching Zhou Mountain, traversing countless dangers along the way; his strength and character are truly extraordinary.

Although both are at the Golden Immortal realm, their methods and foundations are probably even superior to mine.

If one can form a good relationship with such people and support each other in discussing the Tao, it will surely benefit one's spiritual practice, far more so than staying alone in one's cave and working in isolation.

Thinking of this, Chi Jingzi's expression became even more sincere, and his words revealed a frank invitation to those on the same path:

"Since you are looking for a place to live permanently, why not carefully consider this Zhou Mountain?"

The mountains are quiet and undisturbed, making them an ideal place for spiritual contemplation and enlightenment.

Moreover, our cultivation levels are similar. If we could live side by side, enjoying the cloud-shaped tea leaves together in our leisure time, discussing the great Dao, and verifying each other's understanding, wouldn't that be far better than someone alone facing a cold cliff, groping in vain?