Having chased away Dàoyuán Buddhist monk, Chen Yun and Niú Dàilì discussed the matter immediately and decided to go to Māomao Mountain at once.
Chen Yun is under pressing time constraints.
He still has some fantasies about the gold axe and the gold scissors.
After exploring Māomao Mountain, Chen Yun and Yan Feng were ready to head to the basin together.
It took several days to search for the Lingxiao Baiyun Flower and the Xingchen Tianyuan Fruit before this.
After that, several more days were spent in order to cultivate a true divine image.
Adding up the journey time for exploring Māomao Mountain and returning, Chen Yun estimated that it would take approximately seven months to complete his exploration of the mountain.
"Now I have obtained the nine-refined Bìntiě (high-quality iron), the dragon's saliva, the Lingxiao Baiyun Flower, and the Xingchen Tianyuan Fruit."
Chen Yun, while turning into a beam of gold light to fly at high speed, quietly calculated in his mind what else he was missing. "The first thing I need is forging, and I still lack the Xuánmíng Xuānshā (Eternal Fog Sand), Zhū Xiào Huǒjīng (Phoenix Flame essence), Chóu Míng Niǎo Yì (Crimson Bird wing), Zhāoxià Zī Qì (Aurora energy), Lěngshà Zhī Jīng (Frost essence), and Tàibái Zhī Yuán (Great White's essence) — six rare treasures from the heavens and the earth."
"As for the spirit transformation broth, I'm missing quite a few celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots, and I'm currently short by eight types."
Chen Yun recited the names of the eight celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots in his mind, "Forget-Sorrow Abscission Grass, Revive-Spirit Red Fruit, Blood Python Branch, Celestial Cicada Spiritual Leaf, Earth Center Forged Earth Milk, Seven-Dream Blue Spirit Water, Penetrating Heart Orchid, and Nine-Tiered Purple Ginseng."
Thinking of this, Chen Yun transformed into a beam of light next to him and spoke to Niú Dàlì, who had previously said that Māomao Mountain had things like Penetrating Heart Orchid, Nine-Tiered Purple Ginseng, and Blood Python Branch. "Niú Dàshèng, you mentioned that Māomao Mountain has things like Penetrating Heart Orchid, Nine-Tiered Purple Ginseng, and Blood Python Branch. Are there any places near the entrance?"
Niú Dàlì replied with a question: "True Sage Chen, I apologize for my rudeness, but may I ask how many celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots and rare treasures you need in total? If you tell me all of them, I might be able to use my past experience to reasonably plan an exploration route."
It's no trouble to say what kind of rare treasures and celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots I need.
As long as Niú Dàlì doesn't have the core purple-gold cauldron or cultivation method, it doesn't matter.
Chen Yun told Niú Dàlì everything he needed to know.
Upon hearing this, Niú Dàlì did not reply immediately, as if he were recalling something.
Chen Yun was not in a hurry to urge him, so he patiently waited for Niú Dàlì's response.
After a moment, Niú Dàlì transmitted a thought wave, "The celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots you mentioned, except for the Revive-Spirit Red Fruit, I've at least heard of some. As for the rare treasures, there are three that I truly have no impression of."
Chen Yun asked, "Which three?"
Niú Dàlì replied, "Zhū Xiào Huǒjīng (Phoenix Flame essence), Chóu Míng Niǎo Yì (Crimson Bird wing), and Zhāoxià Zī Qì (Aurora energy)."
Upon hearing these three names, Chen Yun showed no surprise.
Zhū Xiào Huǒjīng (Phoenix Flame essence) can be understood by its name.
It requires the essence of the Phoenix Flames.
Only the Phoenix godbird possesses it.
The same is true for Chóu Míng Niǎo Yì (Crimson Bird wing).
It also requires finding the divine bird, Chóumíng Niǎo (Heavens-bright Bird).
Actually, Chen Yun wasn't too worried about not being able to find these two rare treasures.
Because he had heard Yan Fēng mention before that there were sacred beasts guarding the golden scissors and the golden axe in the basin.
He felt that, even though these two sacred beasts were descendants of divine birds, it was still possible for them to give birth to Phoenix Flames essence and Chóumíng Niǎo Yì (Heavens-bright Bird wing).
Therefore, he intended to go to the basin with Yan Fēng, not solely for the golden scissors and the golden axe.
Another reason is that if he couldn't find these two rare treasures in Māomao Mountain, he would have to try his luck with the descendants of the divine birds, Phoenix and Chóumíng.
As for Zhāoxià Zī Qì (Aurora energy).
To be honest, up to now, Chen Yun has no clue at all.
The only thing he knows for sure is that Zhāoxià Zī Qì (Aurora energy) is related to sunrise.
It might be born in a place where the sun rises, and he knows nothing else.
Let's talk about it later.
It's a fact that he can't gather all the rare treasures needed for forging the purple-gold cauldron, and there's nothing he can do about it.
Chen Yun now possesses the formidable artifact "Ten Thousand Families' Lanterns," so he is not as obsessed with the purple-gold cauldron as before.
Finally, there is the Revive-Spirit Red Fruit. Although Niú Dàlì has no impression of it, Chen Yun is aware of the characteristics of its growth habitat.
It is usually found in places that are relatively hot.
Compared to others, it's easier to find.
Even if Māomao Mountain doesn't have it, there are still several other places that can give me 'hope'.
While thinking, Chen Yun asked, "What other remaining celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots or rare treasures are there that are relatively close to the entrance?"
Niú Dàlì quickly replied, "Penetrating Heart Orchid grows in the confluence of Māomao Mountain and Rìyuè Yǒng Quán (Moon and Sun Gushing Spring), and I remember there is a pond there. There are several spiritual beasts with True Sage Realm strength guarding it. Penetrating Heart Orchid grows in that pond."
The spiritual beasts at the True Sage Realm are nothing to Chen Yun's current level of cultivation.
It can be said that as long as he can find a place to get Penetrating Heart Orchid, it's a matter of course.
Niú Dàlì continued to speak, "The second rare treasure that is relatively easy to obtain is Tàibái Zhī Yuán (Great White's essence). It might be born in the western sky of Māomao Mountain where the spiritual qi storm is relatively dense. However, there may be sacred beasts with True Sage Realm strength guarding it there. Well, for me, a True Sage Realm is quite troublesome. However, for True Sage Chen with profound and thorough understanding of the Dao, it should be no problem at all."
Although that is the case, Chen Yun still spoke modestly, "Niú Dàshèng, your praise is too much."
Subsequently, the two of them were discussing the route while traveling.
This route is not only likely to have the treasures that Chen Yun needs, but also those that Niú Dàlì requires.
According to the schedule of the route, if nothing unexpected happens, they should be able to explore Māomao Mountain within one to two months.
Chen Yun was satisfied with this plan.
If it takes one to two months to explore the mountain.
Collect the celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots and rare treasures he needs.
Then he may still have plenty of time to collect other treasures not found in Māomao Mountain, and even cultivate at the same time.
……
The distance between Māomao Mountain and Rìyuè Yǒng Quán (Moon and Sun Gushing Spring) is quite far.
Chen Yun and Niú Dàlì flew for almost two days before they arrived.
It was a colossal divine mountain.
The winds around it were howling fiercely, "Huīshī huīshī."
The fierce winds here are different from any other place in the Moon and Star Cave Heaven.
Chen Yun could clearly see that the intense winds carried boundless spiritual qi "dots" within them.
A little spiritual qi isn't scary.
A wind area the size of a palm, containing hundreds of billions of spiritual qi "dots," is quite terrifying.
He had more than enough reason to believe that such fierce winds could shatter the skin and flesh of any mortal cultivator, even a refiner. If someone were exposed to such winds repeatedly, they could lose both form and essence.
Standing on the bare earth at the foot of the mountain, Chen Yun asked curiously, "Niú Dàshèng, are these fierce winds the spiritual qi storms?"
Niú Dàlì looked at him and smiled, saying, "These aren't spiritual qi storms, how could they be called such?"
Chen Yun was quite surprised, "Such fierce winds aren't even spiritual qi turbulence? How intense would a spiritual qi storm be?"
Niú Dàlì smiled and explained, "True Sage Chen, you just need to remember one thing: spiritual qi turbulence can potentially harm the bodies of immortals. As for spiritual qi storms, if immortals do not release their immortal qi to resist, they could even perish, or be engulfed by the storm and lose both form and essence. With this understanding, you can differentiate between spiritual qi turbulence and a spiritual qi storm. The fierce winds here, although they look intense, are mainly composed of 'wind' rather than spiritual qi. Therefore, they are not considered spiritual qi turbulence, let alone a spiritual qi storm."
Chen Yun began to understand, "Your meaning is that the main component of spiritual qi turbulence and spiritual qi storms is spiritual qi itself, rather than other 'forces' or 'matter'."
"Right." Niú Dàlì nodded slightly and then pointed to the west, "I remember that Penetrating Heart Orchid is in that direction. True Sage Chen, let's go and get it first, and then we will formally enter Māomao Mountain?"
Chen Yun said, "Good, it's a favor to have the Great Saint guide the way."
Niú Dàlì walked forward and said with a hearty laugh, "True Sage Chen, we've known each other for decades. There's no need to be so formal. Just call me Lǎoniú (Old Ox) in the future."
Chen Yun echoed, "Alright, Old Ox."
The two people looked leisurely as they walked forward.
In reality, each step they took felt like a compressed inch.
In just a few steps, Chen Yun and Niú Dàlì had arrived at the edge of a pond, which was about four or five miles away.
The fierce winds here are also very strong.
There were no plants growing in the soil around.
However, in the pond, there was a faint hint of greenery here and there.
Including some seemingly strong fish and shrimp-like spiritual beasts hidden within.
Niú Dàlì, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, immediately released the aura of a demonic immortal as soon as they arrived here.
The next moment, the fish and shrimp-like spiritual beasts hidden in the pond fled in terror to a distant place.
Chen Yun looked at the pond and saw that in the center, there were a group of lotus leaves that looked very similar to ordinary lotus leaves.
The only difference between these lotus leaves and ordinary ones was that they were all "framed with gold" on the edges, emitting a golden color.
Most of these lotus leaves had not grown any lotus flowers, and some were even withered and decayed.
Only a few lotus leaves among them were in the bud, with some few that were mixed with golden and red, very unique flowers.
Niú Dàlì pointed to the three or four lotus flowers and asked, "True Sage Chen, are these Penetrating Heart Orchids?"
Chen Yun nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, they are Penetrating Heart Orchids. Brother Niú, please wait a moment. I'll be back after I pick the lotus flowers."
As he spoke, a small bronze cauldron appeared in his palm and drifted towards the center of the pond.
The method of picking Penetrating Heart Orchid isn't very particular, but after picking, it must be sealed and stored in special spiritual water within a very short time, or it will rot instantly.
Chen Yun didn't have time to prepare spiritual water, nor was there a need to.
After all, the hidden compartment of the small bronze cauldron can preserve freshness.
decades ago, dried meat in it hasn't gone bad yet.
Penetrating Heart Orchid placed inside wouldn't be a problem either.
He quickly picked the three or four Penetrating Heart Orchids and put them into the small bronze cauldron's hidden compartment.
Perhaps because the protective spiritual beasts here were relatively weak in power, there was no resistance at all during this process.
After picking the Penetrating Heart Orchids and returning to the shore, Chen Yun felt that it was too easy.
He is not the first time to come to the Moon and Star Cave Heaven.
Each time he had picked celestial and terrestrial spiritual roots in the past, it was not as easy as this.
This gave him a feeling of getting it all without much effort.
