Li Yi and Hong Yun walked towards the depths of the Taiyin Star.
The power of Taiyin surrounded them. Li Yi could still withstand it, but Hong Yun had already activated her protective shield.
Hong Yun said to Li Yi:
"The Sun Star is scorching hot, while this Taiyin Star is the complete opposite, bone-chillingly cold."
"My intention was to help you, Daoist friend, but I seem to be holding you back! Please do not blame me!"
Li Yi smiled faintly:
"Your kind intention is deeply appreciated, Daoist friend. How could I possibly blame you!"
Hong Yun heard this and said:
"It is good that you do not blame me, Daoist friend. I cannot venture further into the Taiyin Star, or I fear I will lose my life here!"
Seeing Hong Yun's words, Li Yi said to her:
"If that is the case, there are many treasures on Taiyin Star. Why not search for them, Daoist friend? Perhaps some treasure will be fated for you. I can proceed alone!"
After Li Yi finished speaking, Hong Yun apologized and retreated, going off to search for treasures.
Without Hong Yun accompanying him, Li Yi quickened his pace towards the depths of Taiyin Star.
Before long, Li Yi spotted a osmanthus tree, radiating silver light all over.
Li Yi knew this was the Moon Osmanthus. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and broke off a branch.
Li Yi was overjoyed upon obtaining the Moon Osmanthus. Just as he was about to leave, a clear shout echoed through the heavens and earth:
"Who dares to be a thief and steal on Taiyin Star!"
As the voice faded, a flash of silver light appeared, and two tall, slender women, clad in silver-white sheer robes and possessing breathtaking beauty, materialized before Li Yi.
Upon seeing them, Li Yi knew these must be Xi He and Chang Xi, the innate beings born from Taiyin Star.
Thus, Li Yi bowed and said:
"Greetings, two immortal fairies!"
One of them snorted coldly and asked Li Yi:
"Who are you? Why have you damaged our Moon Osmanthus tree?"
Li Yi replied:
"This humble Taoist is a manifestation of Great God Pangu's primordial spirit, named 'Taishang'. May I ask who the two of you are?"
Upon hearing that Li Yi was born from Pangu's primordial spirit, the two dared not be remiss and replied:
"We are beings born from Taiyin Star. My name is 'Xi He', and this is my sister, Chang Xi."
Li Yi nodded and said:
"Please forgive me, two Daoist friends. I did not intend to offend. However, my younger brother is gravely injured and requires this Moon Osmanthus as a medicinal catalyst for his complete recovery. Therefore, I came uninvited. I beg your pardon for my transgressions!"
Chang Xi said to Li Yi:
"Since you are a direct descendant of Pangu, your brother must also be a direct descendant of Pangu?"
Li Yi nodded:
"Naturally."
Xi He took over the conversation and said:
"Since you are a direct descendant of Pangu, and Taiyin Star was formed from Pangu's eyes, my sister and I are grateful for Great God Pangu's grace in opening the heavens. We shall not hold this against you."
Li Yi was overjoyed and said:
"Thank you kindly, two immortal fairies, for your generosity. My younger brother is still in critical condition, and I dare not delay. Once my brother has recovered, I will certainly visit to express my gratitude. Farewell!"
With that, Li Yi transformed into a streak of mystical light and vanished into the horizon.
Chang Xi, puzzled, asked:
"Sister, you believed him just because he said he was a direct descendant of Pangu? Even if he truly is, we shouldn't have let him leave so easily!"
Xi He smiled and said:
"Do you know what his cultivation level is?"
Hearing Xi He's words, Chang Xi realized she could not discern Li Yi's cultivation, and said:
"I do not know!"
Xi He smiled and said:
"You certainly wouldn't know. Even I, with my higher cultivation, cannot see through him, which indicates his cultivation is above mine. The branch of the Moon Osmanthus is already in his possession. Even with both our strengths, we might not be able to reclaim it. It is better to do him a favor and let him have it. He will remember our kindness!"
Chang Xi scratched her head and said:
"Sister, you think of so much!"
Xi He also patted Chang Xi's head and smiled:
"If I don't think ahead, how can I protect my sister!"
"I want to protect you too, sister!"
Xi He chuckled playfully:
"Alright, then Sister Chang Xi must cultivate diligently, or you won't be able to protect me!"
After bidding farewell to Xi He and Chang Xi, Li Yi found Hong Yun, and the two of them left Taiyin Star together.
After Li Yi and Hong Yun departed from Taiyin Star, Hong Yun said to Li Yi:
"Daoist friend, you have now obtained three Heavenly Spiritual Roots. You are still missing six. Do you know where you plan to search for them?"
Li Yi smiled:
"I possess one Heavenly Spiritual Root, the 'Enlightenment Tea Tree'. I am currently missing five. I know there is one on Mount Kunlun in the West, so I intend to go there."
Hong Yun heard this and said:
"If that is the case, then we shall head for Western Kunlun!"
With that, the two of them set off directly for Western Kunlun.
At Western Kunlun, Li Yi successfully found the Queen Mother of the West and, in exchange for a top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Qiankun Bag, he obtained a branch of the Peaches of Immortality tree.
This Qiankun Bag was obtained by Li Yi and his two brothers from Patriarch Qiankun. Tong Tian and Yuan Shi did not want it, so Li Yi kept it. He never expected it to be useful today.
Currently, Li Yi had almost acquired all the Heavenly Spiritual Roots he knew of, but he was still missing four more, which troubled him greatly.
Just as Li Yi was unsure where to go, he suddenly thought of the Great Red Robe from Mount Wuyi. Thus, Li Yi headed towards Mount Wuyi.
Along the way, Hong Yun had some urgent matters at his Fire Cloud Cave and bid farewell to Li Yi.
On Mount Wuyi, Li Yi searched the entire mountain, front and back, but could not find the Great Red Robe. Li Yi almost doubted if he remembered correctly. Thinking that such a heavenly spiritual object would create its own realm for self-protection, Li Yi searched again. He finally discovered a spatial anomaly. Li Yi broke through it with his Coiling Dragon Crutch and finally found the Great Red Robe tea tree.
Li Yi transplanted it into his Chaos Bead.
After obtaining the Great Red Robe, Li Yi remembered that Zhun Ti had transformed from the innate spiritual root, the Bodhi Tree. Thus, he headed towards Mount Sumeru in the West.
Upon reaching Mount Sumeru, Li Yi continued to search for Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.
Li Yi could not find the two on Mount Sumeru. Thinking they might not be there, Li Yi widened his search range. He finally found two Taoist priests, clad in yellow robes, on a mountain peak not far from Mount Sumeru.
Li Yi bowed and asked them:
"May I ask if you are Jie Yin and Zhun Ti?"
The two also returned the bow and said:
"We are indeed Jie Yin and Zhun Ti. May we ask where you heard of our names, esteemed friend?"
After receiving their reply, Li Yi immediately unleashed the Taiji Diagram and his Coiling Dragon Crutch, attacking the two. He forcefully compelled Zhun Ti to give him a branch of the Bodhi Tree and snatched the Six Pure and Peaceful Rods, refined from bitter bamboo, from their hands.
The two were dumbfounded, not understanding why Li Yi had come. After beating them, he left.
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.
In truth, Li Yi had originally only intended to obtain the Bodhi Tree and the bitter bamboo. However, being from a later generation, Li Yi knew of their character and, unable to contain his anger, gave them a good thrashing.
After leaving the West, Li Yi saw a place with flashes of lightning and thunder. He thought some treasure was about to appear and rushed over. He found nothing, but saw a green ox.
Li Yi felt a connection with this green ox. He also recalled that Taishang's mount was a green ox. Thus, Li Yi subdued the green ox to be his mount.
Riding the green ox, Li Yi traveled around, contemplating where to find the one remaining Heavenly Spiritual Root he needed. Suddenly, he smelled a strange fragrance. Li Yi's eyes focused, and he saw it was the Heavenly Spiritual Root, the Yellow Middle Plum.
Li Yi was overjoyed. He never expected to stumble upon this Yellow Middle Plum. After collecting it, Li Yi immediately took the green ox and returned to Mount Kunlun.