Chapter 32: Meeting Hou Tu, Banana Spiritual Roots

Xuan Qing was also somewhat embarrassed, inwardly speechless. What the hell? Among the Three Thousand Daos, there’s a Dao of Wine.

He groaned silently, No, no! Do not inscribe it. I am not cultivating the Great Dao of Wine.

Xuan Qing was drunk. Who could have imagined that among all the Daos, one like that would exist? Zi Yun even asked if it should be carved, to not be branded by it.

He quickly sent a message inwardly to sober himself up, yet his steps were unsteady, swaying as if still intoxicated. Just then, a pair of soft, graceful hands reached out to support him.

“Huh…” Xuan Qing murmured in confusion. Through the haze, it seemed as though he glimpsed a woman.

That woman—he could not tell what was wrong with her—seemed to know Nuwa. Upon seeing him, she casually picked him up.

Xuan Qing had no strength to resist. Powerless, he was carried into her embrace. His face flushed, slightly drunk and utterly helpless.

“Your Excellency Tai Qing… Is this your disciple? He’s drunk—how amusing.” The woman laughed, treating Xuan Qing like a rag doll.

Laozi stroked his beard and looked at the drunken Xuan Qing, smiling faintly and shaking his head. “This child has followed me in cultivation since he first took form. He has never tasted wine before. Now that he’s had a little… this is the result. It troubles Fellow Daoist Hou Tu.”

“No harm, no harm. This child is quite cute—and mysterious. The first elixir created in the Flood Era is already a great miracle. It seems Your Excellency Tai Qing is not only versed in alchemy but also well-acquainted with the Dao of Creation,” Hou Tu said with some admiration.

“Haha… The old Daoist has never cultivated the Dao of Creation. Xuan Qing’s formation was merely a coincidence of fate,” Laozi responded, laughing lightly.

“A coincidence? Even so, this child is brimming with creative essence.” Hou Tu said as she continued to examine Xuan Qing, gently toying with him as if observing something deeper.

Though intoxicated, Xuan Qing remained somewhat aware of the conversation. Knowing that the one currently manhandling him was none other than Hou Tu, he became even more dejected. What is going on? Why is this happening? First, there was Nuwa, always trying to abduct me and take me home. Now there’s Hou Tu, treating me like a toy. Am I so attractive to female cultivators?

He sighed inwardly. Powerless to resist, he could only let her turn him about like a doll.

Meanwhile, Laozi continued his conversation and managed to obtain the information he had been seeking regarding spiritual roots.

“Brother Tai Qing,” said Emperor Jiang, “Spiritual Treasures may repel or resonate with each other, but truly symbiotic Spiritual Roots are rare. After all, among the Great Daos, only the Five Elements or the Four Elephants may truly coexist harmoniously. Among our clan’s roots, only the Five Elements Divine Tree and the Four Elements Root match that condition—and even they are not of the highest quality.”

“Then let us lower the criteria slightly,” Laozi responded. “Rather than looking for symbiotic roots, let us instead seek extremely high-grade Spiritual Roots that each contain the essence of a Great Dao. They need not be mutually supportive, so long as they are potent and refined.”

Indeed, Spiritual Roots that were perfectly symbiotic—capable of housing multiple Daos in harmony—were exceedingly rare. Like a gourd vine that bore fruits containing different Daos, they existed only in legend. Finding five extreme Spiritual Roots separately would be simpler than seeking such perfection.

“High-grade individual roots? That we have plenty of.” Emperor Jiang laughed. “Do not worry, Brother Tai Qing, we shall not disappoint you.”

At this moment, Hou Tu, still playing with Xuan Qing, suddenly recalled something. “Your Excellency Tai Qing, I do recall a Banana Tree that may suit your needs. It’s of extreme quality and contains the four Great Daos—Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water—though they are mutually exclusive.”

“Innate Plantain Tree? Containing Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water?” Laozi’s eyes gleamed. “That will do. Refining it into my disciple’s limbs will greatly aid his cultivation.”

“Very well,” Hou Tu nodded casually. “That Plantain Tree is hidden in the Land of Buzhou. It should be ripe by now. I shall send someone to fetch it for you.” She instructed a subordinate—an imposing figure with a bow and arrows on his back—who immediately set off toward the desolate land.

Xuan Qing, still dazed, was startled when he heard mention of the Innate Plantain Tree

. In his past life’s memory, this tree was famed for producing four distinct banana leaves: Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. One of these was refined by Laozi into a fan, used to incite divine fire. Another fell into the hands of Luo Shu and was eventually gifted to Princess Iron Fan.

If it is truly that rare Spirit Root… then this is a tremendous windfall.

Each leaf could become an extreme spiritual treasure. Its worth was immeasurable.

Soon after, the bow-wielding sorcerer returned, as if he had only gone to fetch something from home. In his hand was the Innate Plantain Tree, now fully matured.

Even the tree itself radiated a primal fear, as if aware of its impending fate.

Laozi stroked his beard and examined the tree with a satisfied expression. “Not bad… Not bad at all. Among all extreme Spiritual Roots, this is one of the finest. These four banana leaves, each containing a distinct Dao, may each be refined into a supreme spiritual treasure. Excellent. Very excellent.”

He was pleased, knowing this would be more than enough to restore and enhance Xuan Qing’s body.

“It is good that Brother Tai Qing is satisfied,” said Emperor Jiang, smiling. “However, even between close friends, business is business. What shall be the price of this transaction?”

Laozi smiled faintly and waved his sleeve. “Worry not. Naturally, I shall provide something to satisfy you, Fellow Daoist Di Jiang.”

Buzz—

A sharp hum echoed from Laozi’s treasure as he retrieved it.

Ten arrows appeared, each radiating a chilling sharpness and Dao rhythm. Though made of bone, they emanated a strange immortality.

“Arrows… forged from Father God’s bones!” Emperor Jiang exclaimed, rising to his feet as his eyes locked onto them.

Laozi sighed softly. “Indeed. I found these arrows by chance. Each was made from the bones of the Great God Pangu. Fired by a master archer, they can unleash immense destructive power. For the Witch Clan—if given to a great archer—they will be weapons of unmatched force.”

“Haha… Marvelous! These are truly divine treasures. Brother Tai Qing, you are too generous. Exchanging something like this for merely a Banana Tree feels… excessive.”

Laozi waved his hand. “The Banana Tree is not the only item I seek. I also require the Five Elements Divine Tree and the five extreme Spiritual Roots I mentioned earlier. How about this—one arrow in exchange for one Spiritual Root?”