Two spirit roots tried to slip away from a headless corpse. Su Yan caught them by their Primal Dao Essence. He consumed it, feeling his Six Secrets ignite with medicinal power.
He released the roots. "Their value is in what they gather. Let them grow."
Zhu Hongyi arrived too late, stamping her foot. "Those were bought with Zhu family blood!"
Su Yan's gaze turned cold. "I am not Zhu family."
She lowered her voice and retreated.
* * *
Xue Ying'an walked beside Su Yan in silence. Finally he spoke. "My master is not a bad man. He raised me like a father."
Su Yan told him what he had learned at Shuikou Temple. The white nuo immortal Chen Mianzhu, killed with the Octagonal Sword, devoured down to his skin. "The one who ate him knew the sword art. He taught Chen Mianzhu the nuo techniques himself."
Xue Ying'an's hands trembled. "You insult my master without proof. We walk different paths. Farewell."
He turned and descended the mountain.
Su Yan called after him. "When you return, tell him you found nothing. If he has Six Secret medicines inside him, he will kill you for the root."
Xue Ying'an paused, then walked faster.
At the stone city wall, he sat alone. The red-bean root floated out and wiped his tears with its tendrils. He smiled sadly. "Red Bean, I won't take you back. This is your world."
The root touched his face, then burrowed into the sand.
* * *
Su Yan and Yuan Qi continued searching. They found a green bamboo root hiding among a forest of ordinary bamboo. It charged, blade-like qi flashing.
Yuan Qi opened his mouth. Dozens of treasures—bells, towers, blades—hovered inside.
The bamboo root slid to a stop at Su Yan's feet.
Su Yan harvested its Primal Dao Essence and gave it to Yuan Qi. The snake's Longevity Immortal Medicine surged, his cultivation climbing.
Then thunder rolled from the summit. A dragon-headed god of light appeared.
"Heavenly Dao Artifact," Su Yan breathed.
Spirit roots flew toward it from every corner of the desert, their light weaving together into a road that stretched into the void. Half-ruined immortal palaces emerged from the darkness, dragged by the roots.
A voice shook the heavens.
"People of all realms. I am the will of the Heavenly Dao. Return the stolen spirit roots. Reopen the Heavenly Road. Refuse, and tribulation shall fall upon you."