"Although this is a fine spiritual treasure, it is not what I need."
Zhang Tianchen sighed softly. Even so, for most cultivators, this fan remained a coveted treasure. While his own practical need for it was low, it could still be used as a gift or traded for things he actually required.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Tianchen put the Banana Fan away.
The Xiantian Banana Tree withered rapidly after its final leaves were plucked.
Examining the roots of the banana tree carefully, Zhang Tianchen found a small piece of Xiantian Silt there.
Xiantian Silt was one of the premier soils for cultivating spiritual roots, extremely rare across the Primordial world. Legend had it that Goddess Nuwa used Xiantian Silt to create the Human Race.
"This item is indeed rare, it will surely prove useful in the future."
With that thought, Zhang Tianchen stored the silt away as well.
Having secured these two items, he departed Buzhou Mountain immediately.
His next destination, in his mind, was Wuyi Mountain.
Across the Primordial world, although countless famous magic treasures existed, most already had masters by this point.
As for masterless treasures whose locations were explicitly known, aside from the Treasure-Falling Money on Wuyi Mountain, he had never heard of a second one.
During the Battle of the Gods, the Treasure-Falling Money shone brilliantly. Although Xiao Sheng's cultivation level fell short of Zhao Gongming's, he managed to use the coin to capture all twenty-four of Zhao Gongming's Sea-Calming Pearls alongside the Dragon-Binding Rope, proving that this spiritual treasure was extraordinary.
After flying for over eight hundred years, Zhang Tianchen finally reached the Wuyi Mountain range.
Located in the eastern region of the Primordial world, the Wuyi Mountain range spanned hundreds of millions of miles, filled with towering peaks and lush vegetation. While it fell short of Buzhou Mountain and the Kunlun Immortal Realm, it was still unquestionably a blessed land.
Yet despite its vast expanse, truly valuable Xiantian spiritual treasures remained exceedingly difficult to spot.
Even knowing that the Treasure-Falling Money was hidden within Wuyi Mountain, finding it proved as difficult as searching for a needle in a haystack.
"Even if I have to turn the entire Wuyi Mountain upside down, I will find the Treasure-Falling Money."
Determined not to leave the mountain without it, Zhang Tianchen unleashed his spiritual sense for a comprehensive sweep.
Wuyi Mountain possessed abundant spiritual qi, hiding numerous powerful demons in seclusion, alongside many cultivators who had established immortal caves within the mountains. Zhang Tianchen's carpet-search inevitably led to multiple clashes with these cultivators. Some opponents he killed, some he subdued, while the few he could not defeat managed to escape using the Five Elements Great Escape technique.
His most dangerous encounter was with a python demon possessing the cultivation of the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm. It chased Zhang Tianchen for a million miles, and only his formidable escape skills allowed him to survive unscathed.
A long millennium passed.
As Zhang Tianchen swept his spiritual sense across a certain peak, he caught a faint trace of array fluctuations. The array had not been artificially constructed, but had formed naturally. A surge of joy rose within him—any place guarded by a natural array was bound to contain a profound treasure.
Drawing upon his supreme comprehension and exquisite array mastery, he quickly figured out the countermeasure.
"Open!"
Executing a hand seal, Zhang Tianchen pointed his gaze sharply at the array. The array instantly cracked open a breach, allowing him to pass through smoothly.
Through a spatial shift, Zhang Tianchen found himself inside a natural immortal cave. A stone tablet at the entrance bore the engraved words: "Wuyi Mountain Grotto-Heaven." Walking further in, he discovered an entire world within.
Soaring peaks pierced the clouds, giant trees blotted out the sun, pine forests blanketed the wilderness, and the cries of beasts and birds echoed continuously. A massive waterfall plummeted from the summit down into a vast steaming thermal lake. The dense aura of Xiantian spirits condensed into mist, shrouding the entire forest. Herbs aged over several millennia grew everywhere, their crisp fragrance invigorating the spirit.
At the very center stood a Xiantian spiritual tree—a top-grade Xiantian spiritual tree, the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Atop the tree hovered a small ball of light. Looking closely, it proved to be a winged coin.
"So you finally show yourself."
A flash of joy crossed Zhang Tianchen's face as he leaped into the air, reaching out toward the light orb. Yet the orb seemed possessed of a mind of its own, darting away at high speed. "Since you've run into me, escaping won't be so easy." Employing the Earth-Fleeing Golden Light technique, Zhang Tianchen gave chase. After a fierce pursuit, his superior skill ultimately prevailed, and he successfully captured his target.
Clenching his fist, the light shattered and dispersed, leaving a winged ancient coin grasped in his palm.
The moment he touched the coin, he knew this was the Treasure-Falling Money he had searched for so long. Yet at that moment, not a shred of joy appeared on his face; instead, his brow furrowed deeply.
For although the Treasure-Falling Money served as a supreme-grade spiritual instrument capable of knocking down any item beneath divine artifact rank, its immense power came with a strict condition: it required equivalent exchange.
The price of the exchange was one's own luck.
Though invisible and intangible, luck remained vital to every living being; once luck was exhausted, one's demise was close at hand.
During the Battle of the Gods, Xiao Sheng used the Treasure-Falling Money to capture Zhao Gongming's twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls and Dragon-Binding Rope, thereby exhausting his own luck, and ended up struck down by Zhao Gongming's whip.
"This Treasure-Falling Money is probably the only magic treasure in the Primordial world entirely unrelated to the user's cultivation."
Zhang Tianchen sighed. He had gone to great lengths to find the Treasure-Falling Money, only to discover it was such a troublesome treasure. Every use consumed the user's luck; no matter how formidable its function, wielding it casually was nearly impossible.
"From now on, unless facing a life-or-death crisis, I will never use it lightly."
Zhang Tianchen put the Treasure-Falling Money away. Though the treasure might seem like a tasteless burden, at critical moments it could serve as a life-saving trump card.
"I wonder what the effects of the Xiantian Enlightenment Tea Tree are like?"
Turning his gaze to the Xiantian Enlightenment Tea Tree, Zhang Tianchen plucked a tea leaf and popped it into his mouth.
Instantly, his divine soul grew lucid, his mind became utterly focused, and all distracting thoughts vanished without a trace, leaving him ready to enter meditative practice at any moment.
"As an aid to cultivation, the effect is quite remarkable."
Zhang Tianchen felt quite satisfied with the properties of the Xiantian Enlightenment Tea Tree.
"This Wuyi Mountain Grotto-Heaven is magnificent. Finding it is a matter of fate—from this day forth, this shall be my Daoist sanctuary."
Following the split of the Three Purities, Zhang Tianchen would naturally have to leave Kunlun Mountain, and he was precisely in need of a Daoist sanctuary. He had not expected such a fortuitous opportunity.
Walking up to the stone tablet at the cave entrance, Zhang Tianchen erased the characters for "Grotto-Heaven" and inscribed three new ones: "Wuliang Cave."
"That sounds much more like the residence of a Divine Immortal: Wuyi Mountain Wuliang Cave."
Glancing at his revised name, Zhang Tianchen nodded in satisfaction.
"The outer protective array is a bit too weak. If someone were to break in and launch a sneak attack while I'm away in the future, the losses would be disastrous."
With that, Zhang Tianchen dismantled the original protective array, preparing to set up a new one.
Approximately ten thousand miles away from Wuliang Cave lived three fox demons. When Zhang Tianchen dismantled the protective array, they sensed the anomaly.
"What a mighty fluctuation of spiritual power!"
"Elder Sister, such a strong spiritual power fluctuation must mean a supreme treasure has been born. Should we go take a look?"
"Alright."
The three fox demons flew toward Wuliang Cave immediately. Before long, they arrived outside, only to see Zhang Tianchen in the midst of setting up his array.
"It's just a Human Race cultivator at the True Immortal Realm."
"I wonder if this fellow is blessed or cursed to have found such a fine location, but these spoils shall now belong to us sisters."
The fox demon sisters were all at the Mysterious Immortal level. They saw through Zhang Tianchen's cultivation and origins at a glance, and plotted to forcibly seize the immortal cave.
"So it's three little fox demons. If you leave immediately, I can spare your lives; otherwise, don't blame me for being unpolished."
Zhang Tianchen had sensed the three presences approaching long ago, but since they were merely at the Mysterious Immortal realm, he paid them little mind.
"Spare our lives?"
"You Human Race cultivator are truly overestimating yourself."
The second sister among the fox demon trio laughed in anger. With a flip of her right hand, a treasured sword flashed into view and she lunged at Zhang Tianchen.
Zhang Tianchen flicked his fingers, executing a spell, and a bolt of lightning came crashing down directly.
"Ah!"
With a miserable scream, the second fox sister tumbled to the ground, reverting to her original fox form.
"Second Sister!"
"Second Sister!"
Seeing the second sister beaten back into her true form by a single bolt of lightning from Zhang Tianchen, the eldest and youngest fox sisters rushed forward in panic.
Zhang Tianchen formed another spell, preparing to engage the remaining two foxes.
"Have mercy, Exalted Immortal!"
The eldest fox demon dropped directly to her knees, pleading with Zhang Tianchen.
Although her cultivation was slightly higher, she was still far from being a match for Zhang Tianchen.
Seeing this, the youngest fox sister quickly dropped to her knees as well.
"Hmph, I already gave you a chance. Since you dared to attack me, you should naturally be prepared to bear the consequences."
Zhang Tianchen snorted coldly; he was no merciful saint.
"Exalted Immortal, as long as you spare our lives, the three of us sisters are willing to serve as your maids and bondservants to atone for our sins."
Forced by the situation, the fox demons kowtowed incessantly and submitted.
Hearing this, Zhang Tianchen was tempted. His Daoist sanctuary lacked attendants, and three maids would serve the purpose.
"Foxes are fickle. If you want to win my trust, you must swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao."
In the Primordial world, once any living being swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao, heaven and earth would resonate, and should anyone violate it in the future, the punishments invoked by the oath would immediately take effect.
"We are willing to swear the Heavenly Dao oath."
The eldest fox demon knew very well that once she swore the Heavenly Dao oath, she would never be able to turn the tables in this lifetime, but she had no other choice to preserve her life.
Zhang Tianchen waved his sleeve gently, and a stream of immortal power landed on the second fox sister, who instantly recovered her human form while her injuries subsided significantly.
"Many thanks, Exalted Immortal."
The second fox sister scrambled to her feet and knelt once more beside the other two foxes.
"Quickly make your vows."
With an expressionless face, Zhang Tianchen watched them closely, ready to deliver a fatal blow at the slightest sign of betrayal.
"Heavenly Dao as witness, we three sisters voluntarily submit to the Exalted Immortal, to obey his commands. Should we harbor any double intentions, may we suffer the punishment of being struck by the five thunderbolts."
The three fox demons swore their oaths to the heavens. A thunderclap echoed through heaven and earth, reverberating in the depths of their minds.
"You may rise."
Zhang Tianchen nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you, Master."
The three fox demons stood up.
Being addressed as Master made Zhang Tianchen feel a little awkward, and he considered having them change the title.