Chapter 169 The Five-Eared Rice of the Primordial Nature
This place wasn't far from the Houtu tribe, and the three of them moved extremely fast, traveling at full speed. Before long, they entered the territory of the Houtu tribe.
"What's that?"
From afar, Feng Zichen saw patches of green plants growing on the ground, quite similar to the rice seedlings of later generations.
However, compared to rice seedlings, these rice-like plants were undoubtedly much larger, reaching a height of three zhang (approximately 10 meters).
Furthermore, its fruit was different from that of later generations; its ears were large, bearing five fruits of five colors, emitting the energy of the five elements, clearly possessing all five elements.
"That's a low-grade innate spiritual root, the Five-Eared Rice of the Primordial Nature. It can bear the fruits of the five elements, nourishing the origin, strengthening the physical body, and is extremely filling. Its effects are far better than some demon beast meat or ferocious beast meat."
Xing Tian smiled and explained to Feng Zichen upon hearing his question. Furthermore, He stepped forward, plucked a fruit spike, and handed it to Feng Zichen, saying, "Fellow Daoist, try it."
The spike contained five fruits of five different colors, resembling rice grains but much larger. It emanated the Daoist intent of the Five Elements and emitted a fragrant aroma, making it exceptionally tempting.
"Just like that…"
"Eat it raw?"
Taking the five spikes of innate fruit from Xing Tian, Feng Zichen looked at Him with some doubt and hesitated slightly.
This thing looked so much like rice; he had thought it would be cooked before eating, but he hadn't expected Xing Tian to let him eat it raw.
"Yes! Aren't innate spiritual fruits always eaten raw like this?"
"Does Fellow Daoist Zichen have another way of eating them?"
Scratching his head, Xing Tian looked surprised and asked in return.
"Haha!"
"Fellow Daoist, please don't be offended; I was being too attached to appearances!"
Feng Zichen smiled somewhat embarrassedly. He had forgotten that this wasn't a human settlement, and few people knew how to cook.
Everything in this world is formed from primordial energy. If one wants to eat something, one simply refines it into a ball of primordial energy and swallows it whole; why bother with cooking and fire?
Humans, on the other hand, cook their food before eating, not for the sake of taste, but because humans are inherently weak and cannot directly convert food into primordial energy, thus requiring an extra step.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the Five-Spike Fruit of Primordial Energy. The fruit melted instantly in his mouth, producing five flavors and demonstrating the mysteries of the Five Elements and countless creations.
Feng Zichen felt a warm current rising within his body, continuously strengthening his origin, enhancing his physical body, and promoting his transformation into a Primordial Dao Body.
"What a treasure! This fruit can actually help one evolve into a Primordial Dao Body; truly extraordinary!" Coming back to his senses, Feng Zichen exclaimed in amazement.
"Of course, fellow Daoist, please don't underestimate it just because it's a low-grade innate spiritual root."
"In terms of its preciousness, it might be comparable to a top-grade innate spiritual root!"
"Any single fruit of this plant, when planted in the ground, can grow into a new innate five-eared grain."
"Moreover, as long as the innate energy is sufficient, its grade will not change; it will remain a low-grade innate spiritual root."
"Truly, it's inexhaustible!"
"Tell me, which other innate spiritual root has this function?"
Speaking of the advantages of his treasure, Xing Tian couldn't help but get excited, his tone becoming more forceful, carrying a hint of boasting.
"Indeed, it's a rare treasure!" Feng Zichen wholeheartedly agreed.
Other innate spiritual roots, for each branch they sprout, consume a significant amount of their own source energy; if they sprout too many, they inevitably damage their source energy and drop in grade.
Not to mention, the offshoots that branch out from them are a grade lower than the original. Unlike the innate five-eared grain, which differentiates into countless varieties without its grade declining, its characteristics are not like those of innate things, which weaken with each generation. Instead, it is quite similar to the acquired grains of later generations.
"The innate spiritual fruits born from top-grade spiritual roots are mostly potent, with effects manifesting on the spot. How can ordinary people consume them?"
"The innate five-eared grain is different. Although its effects are not strong, it excels in quantity and duration. It can be consumed long-term, slowly changing the physique of the consumer. After thousands of years of accumulation, it gradually reaches the effect of a top-grade spiritual fruit, or even stronger!"
Xing Tian became interested and pulled Feng Zichen along, talking incessantly.
Indeed!
The effects displayed by the innate five-eared fruit are not temporary, but lifelong.
If someone starts consuming the innate five-eared fruit from birth, with the accumulation of Dao intent, after reaching the Great Perfection of Taiyi Golden Immortal, the chance of advancing to the Great Luo Golden Immortal is much greater than that of ordinary people.
Thinking of this, Feng Zichen was somewhat tempted.
"Fellow Daoist," he said, bowing to Xing Tian, "our human race is inherently weak. This fruit's ability to strengthen our origins is of great use to us. Would you be so kind as to send me some?"
The Innate Five-Eared Grain was practically tailor-made for the current human race.
With the ever-increasing human population, the prey obtained solely from hunting and fishing was far from enough to feed the entire race!
This spiritual root appeared at the perfect time, capable of propelling human civilization further into the agricultural era.
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formality. This matter is not urgent. These innate five-eared grains are not yet mature; even if you were given them, they would be useless!"
Waving his hand, Xing Tian explained, "This treasure takes a hundred years to take root and sprout, a hundred years to bear ears and fruit, and another hundred years to mature. From birth to death, it takes a total of three hundred years!"
"At this moment, there is still a sixty-year gap before the five-eared fruit matures. Fellow Daoist, you should first come with me to pay respects to the Ancestral Witch and receive the True Spirit Treasure Control Method."
"Afterwards, when the five-eared fruit matures, I will give you half of the five-eared fruit from my territory."
"Also, your transmission of the method this time has been a great favor to my Witch Clan. When you see the Ancestral Witch Houtu, you can mention this matter to her."
"I remember that the Ancestral Witch still has some seeds of the first generation of five-eared grains. If you ask her for them, she will certainly not refuse."
"Perhaps she will even give you some earth essence to help you cultivate the innate five-eared grains."
Considering Feng Zichen's help to the Witch Clan, Xing Tian couldn't help but consider his situation.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist!"
Although he didn't know the size of Xing Tian's territory, he figured it must be considerable given his status within the Wu Clan. Half the harvest was no small sum.
"By the way, according to you, fellow Daoist, it seems this Primordial Five-Eared Grain was found by the Ancestral Witch Houtu?" After a moment, Feng Zichen suddenly asked.
"That's right. Our Wu Clan's cultivation requires a large amount of blood food. Therefore, countless lives are devoured by our Wu Clan every day."
"The Ancestral Witch Houtu, seeing this, felt compassion and made a great vow.
She traversed the entire prehistoric world, spending hundreds of thousands of years, and finally found the Primordial Five-Eared Grain in the far east to replace blood food, becoming our clan's cultivation sustenance." Xing Tian nodded and said.
"The Ancestral Witch Houtu is merciful!" Feng Zichen said with some admiration.
Houtu's actions saved countless lives and truly deserved everyone's respect.
(End of this chapter)