From the moment the Spirit Herb Garden was established, the Vermilion Fruit had been planted within it. Over the years, it had been nourished by the spiritual energy of the Heavenly River, the elixirs from the Mountain and River SpiritGathering Furnace, and later, the celestial essence of the Starry Liquid.
Now, at long last, it had fully ripened!
Ning Changge’s eyes lit up with joy, while Huang Rong, standing beside him, tilted her head in curiosity.
She had seen the miraculous Spirit Peach Tree on Peach Blossom Island, but this Vermilion Fruit was entirely new to her.
Ning Changge smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, they both appeared within the Spirit Herb Garden.
The moment they arrived, Huang Rong was overwhelmed by the dense, spiritual medicinal energy that filled the air. Her eyes widened in wonder, and she shivered slightly, as if touched by the garden’s vitality.
Everywhere she looked, there were extraordinary spiritual herbs.
Ginseng, lingzhi, foti root, purple perilla… Each herb exuded a magical aura, their medicinal energy visible to the naked eye.
Even the treasures of emperors paled in comparison.
Among the herbs, she spotted a tree identical to the Spirit Peach Tree from Peach Blossom Island, though it was still young. Her gaze shifted, and she froze.
At the center of the garden stood a small tree, no taller than a person, swaying gently as it radiated waves of spiritual energy. At its crown was a single fruit, as large as a fist and as red as blood jade, glowing with an otherworldly light. Though there was only one, its presence overshadowed all else.
Huang Rong swallowed instinctively, drawn to the fruit’s inexplicable allure.
Beneath the tree stood a graceful figure in white. Ji Xiaofu, sensing movement, turned her head. Upon seeing Ning Changge, her face lit up with joy.
“Little Immortal, the Vermilion Fruit…”
Ning Changge smiled and waved a hand dismissively.
“I already know. You’ve done well.”
His words of encouragement filled Ji Xiaofu with a sense of recognition and warmth. She bowed respectfully, her voice humble.
“It’s my duty, nothing more.”
For Ji Xiaofu, tending to the Spirit Herb Garden was not just a task but a blessing. The garden’s spiritual energy had transformed her over time. Even without deliberate cultivation, she felt her strength growing steadily, as if a mysterious power was nurturing her from within.
Her gratitude toward Ning Changge was boundless.
Not only had he avenged her family’s destruction, but he had also given her a sanctuary in the Spirit Herb Garden. She poured her heart into caring for the herbs, hoping to repay him in some small way.
Now, with the Vermilion Fruit ripened, her efforts had borne fruit—literally.
Huang Rong, meanwhile, observed Ji Xiaofu with curiosity. She had heard of this veiled woman but hadn’t expected to find her at Wudang. There was an ethereal quality to Ji Xiaofu that Huang Rong couldn’t help but admire.
Ning Changge nodded in satisfaction.
Taking Ji Xiaofu in as a spiritual farmer had been a wise decision. Without her meticulous care, the Vermilion Fruit might not have ripened so quickly. He began to consider how he might further prepare Ji Xiaofu and Huang Rong for the Immortal Dao.
Ji Xiaofu’s role in tending the Spirit Herb Garden could be enhanced with proper guidance. As for Huang Rong, she would need a secondary focus—perhaps alchemy, artifact forging, or talisman crafting. Ning Changge decided to observe her a while longer before making a decision.
But now was not the time for such considerations.
With a wave of his hand, the Vermilion Fruit detached from its branch and floated into his palm. He could feel the dense, potent medicinal energy within it and couldn’t help but smile.
He had been waiting for this moment.
The two Buddha Relics he had prepared were ready. With the Vermilion Fruit, he could finally refine the Bodhi Pill and advance to the MidFoundation Establishment Stage.
The Vermilion Fruit Tree would continue to be nurtured, and its next fruit would be even more potent—a testament to Ning Changge’s innovative cultivation methods.
For example, the Spirit Tea Tree he had once cultivated was now evolving into the legendary Enlightenment Tea Tree. Similarly, the Spirit Peach branches he had brought from Peach Blossom Island had grown into a new Five Elements Spirit Peach Tree. This content belongs to NoveI★Fire.net
These were treasures that would aid him on his path to the Dao.
Ning Changge nodded to Ji Xiaofu before vanishing from the garden. Ji Xiaofu stared at the spot where he had stood, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. She quickly buried her feelings, knowing they were futile.
Turning back to the spiritual trees, her gaze grew resolute.
“I’ll nurture you into spiritual and celestial trees!”
A faint green light emanated from her body, resonating with the herbs around her, accelerating their growth.
Back in the Scripture Pavilion, Ning Changge began preparing himself. Huang Rong, sensing the gravity of the moment, quietly moved to a corner to study her texts.
Moments later, Ning Changge opened his eyes, which gleamed with fivecolored light.
With a wave of his hand, the bloodred Vermilion Fruit and two golden Buddha Relics floated before him. He had long since devised a pill formula to maximize their medicinal potential.
He called it the Bodhi Pill.
With the Vermilion Fruit now ripened, he made slight adjustments to the formula to ensure optimal results.
The Mountain and River SpiritGathering Furnace emerged from his dantian, manifesting before him.
The Samadhi True Fire flared to life, enveloping the furnace.
Huang Rong, drawn by the commotion, watched in awe. This was her first time witnessing Ning Changge refine a pill.
With a flick of his fingers, the Vermilion Fruit and Buddha Relics flew into the furnace, the Samadhi True Fire blazing even brighter.
One by one, auxiliary herbs emerged from his storage ring, joining the mix.