Chapter 218 – A Mysterious Attacker Strikes, the Innate Supreme Treasure: Fusang Immortal Tree Branch! (5k)

In the Real World, Su Xing gazed at the simulation text before him, deep in thought.

“The Spirit Vein Dragon is truly a miraculous creation of heaven and earth… If word gets out, it would surely invite mortal danger!”

After a pause, Su Xing murmured:

“After obtaining the Spirit Vein Dragon, keeping it in the grotto-heaven blessed land should pose no problems for the time being…”

“Otherwise, once Protector Dragon learns of it, there will inevitably be another round of pursuit and assassination.”

“Moreover, my movements in the simulator have likely already been exposed. Protector Dragon will absolutely trace the battle’s aftermath back to my identity!”

Su Xing shook his head slightly.

The great battle with Perfected One Myriad Wood had inevitably left traces, and with the two of them fighting across a thousand li, far too many traces remained for Su Xing to conceal.

“It seems… if I want to obtain the Spirit Vein Dragon in reality, the safest approach would be to eliminate Perfected One Myriad Wood inside the ruins. Only then can I minimize the trail left behind…”

So Su Xing thought.

And to accomplish this, Su Xing would likely need to break through to the Body Integration stage before he could establish absolute combat superiority over Perfected One Myriad Wood.

His gaze turned to the simulation panel.

【In the spirit field grotto-heaven, you looked at the Spirit-Drunkenness-afflicted Spirit Vein Dragon, knowing in your heart that keeping this young dragon inside the spirit field grotto-heaven was the only way to ensure its safety.】

【After getting drunk, the spirit dragon slumbered for several months, yet still showed no signs of waking.】

【You were somewhat puzzled by this—why was this spirit dragon so prone to sleep?】

【But what pleasantly surprised you was that with the spirit dragon’s presence in the spirit field grotto-heaven, even though it did nothing at all, the spiritual energy throughout the entire grotto-heaven continued to steadily rise.】

【In just a few short months, the spirit field grotto-heaven had begun producing some mid-grade spirit liquid.】

【By your estimates, if the young spirit dragon remained in the grotto-heaven and did nothing at all, it would take less than ten years for the spirit field grotto-heaven to ascend from a mid-grade grotto-heaven to a supreme-grade grotto-heaven.】

【Every month, you would check the quantity of spirit liquid in the Water-Gathering Formation. Each month, not only could it produce twenty thousand drops of low-grade spirit liquid, but it could even produce one thousand drops of mid-grade spirit liquid.】

【During this time, you found a moment to examine the storage ring left behind by Perfected One Myriad Wood.】

【Inside the ring, you found no large quantity of spirit stones, but you did discover numerous magical treasures and artifacts, as well as a great many pills and pill-refining materials.】

【And what you had long dreamed of… the Myriad Wood Scripture Core Method!】

【With this core method, you could unify your three cultivation techniques and merge them into the Heaven-tier technique, the Myriad Wood Art.】

【The Myriad Wood Art was a powerful technique capable of being cultivated all the way to the immortal realm!】

【As for those pills and spiritual herbs, you did not yet know their uses.】

【However, what puzzled you the most was still that charred piece of wood you had obtained earlier.】

【The wood appeared utterly unremarkable, yet something within it seemed to faintly contain a certain dao essence. You spent days trying to comprehend it but could not determine what it truly was, and so you could only set it aside for the time being…】

In the Real World, Su Xing’s eyes lit up at this.

“My goodness, the Spirit Vein Dragon’s presence alone… in just a few months, it can already produce mid-grade spirit liquid…”

“And the further it goes, the denser the spiritual energy in the spirit field grotto-heaven will become, and the quantity of mid-grade spirit liquid produced will only increase…”

Su Xing nodded with satisfaction.

“The effect and value of mid-grade spirit liquid is ten times that of low-grade spirit liquid! Consuming a single drop of mid-grade spirit liquid is equivalent to cultivating directly with low-grade spirit stones… the rate of spiritual power increase will only be faster!”

Su Xing was somewhat excited, eager to tame this spirit dragon as soon as possible.

“I just wonder how long the spirit dragon sleeps after getting drunk once?”

Su Xing murmured curiously:

“Besides that, there really are an extraordinary number of treasures in Perfected One Myriad Wood’s storage artifact!”

“Especially that piece of wood—what exactly is its origin, to actually contain dao essence?”

“And the Myriad Wood Scripture Core Method… now there’s a clear path for cultivation after the Body Integration stage!”

Joy spread across Su Xing’s face as his gaze returned to the simulation panel.

【You spent your days in the spirit field grotto-heaven, observing the Spirit Vein Dragon’s changes.】

【But before long, you noticed that the Spirit Vein Dragon seemed to occasionally show expressions of pain while it slumbered.】

【From time to time, the Spirit Vein Dragon would even exhale black vapor. When this dark qi contaminated the spirit fields, it caused the spiritual plants to wither and the purity of surrounding spiritual energy to decline.】

【Your heart immediately tightened, and you carefully probed the Spirit Vein Dragon’s condition with your divine sense.】

【Ultimately, you discovered that the Spirit Vein Dragon’s condition was caused by the dark qi entwined around its body.】

【You surmised that this dark qi originated from the Myriad Wood Sect ruins—a tremendous grudge born from the Spirit Vein Dragon’s years of imprisonment within the formation…】

【Yet this was no ordinary grudge. It seemed as though the spirits of heaven and earth could not bear to witness the torment the Spirit Vein Dragon had endured, and thus this dark qi had been born.】

【You had no way to resolve this dark qi for the moment, so you could only carve out a small separate area for the Spirit Vein Dragon to slumber in, and specifically arranged several formations to isolate it from the surroundings.】

【You did your best to prevent the dark qi from contaminating the surrounding spiritual plants and spiritual energy.】

【The Spirit Vein Dragon continued to slumber, and several more months passed.】

【In the twenty-second year, the Spirit Vein Dragon finally awoke from its slumber. You sensed that the dark qi on its body had faded somewhat, though it still occasionally caused the spirit dragon pain and torment.】

【The Spirit Vein Dragon opened its eyes and surveyed its surroundings. The abundant spiritual energy in the air filled it with delight.】

【Like a fish in water, the spirit dragon excitedly bounded about the spirit field grotto-heaven, destroying quite a few spiritual plants in the process.】

【You were rather helpless about this and could only try to counsel the Spirit Vein Dragon again and again.】

【But having been confined within a cramped formation for hundreds or even thousands of years, the Spirit Vein Dragon was naturally curious and restless about everything. It continued to do as it pleased, paying you no heed.】

【You could only sigh at this, understanding that Spirit Vein Dragons each had their own distinct temperaments… and your Spirit Vein Dragon’s personality was exceedingly unruly.】

【To train this Spirit Vein Dragon’s temperament would likely require a long period of mutual adjustment.】

【The mischief was one thing, but what worried you most was the dark qi on the Spirit Vein Dragon’s body. That dark qi seemed to be restricting the Spirit Vein Dragon’s continued growth.】

【After one bout of slumber, the Spirit Vein Dragon should have grown somewhat larger in size, yet it showed no change whatsoever. This left you rather anxious.】

In the Real World, Su Xing sighed at this.

“It seems the only way is to visit the Luotian Sect dungeon again in the next simulation to find a way to understand the source of this dark qi…”

Su Xing shook his head slightly.

Based on what he previously knew, just like ordinary living creatures, Spirit Vein Dragons were also capable of growth.

Each time a Spirit Vein Dragon slumbered, it underwent a tremendous evolution.

For instance, when a juvenile Spirit Vein Dragon matured into its adolescent stage, it would provide an even greater boost to surrounding spiritual energy and could produce high-quality spirit stones even faster.

But the Spirit Vein Dragon Su Xing had obtained was being held back from growth by the dark qi’s presence.

Though a juvenile Spirit Vein Dragon was already of enormous help to Su Xing, if it could continue to grow, the benefits would be even greater.

With that thought, Su Xing turned his gaze back to the simulation panel.

【Fortunately, the dark qi showed no signs of worsening. You dug a larger pond in the spirit field grotto-heaven, filled it with spirit springs and dripped in spirit liquid, creating a dwelling for the spirit dragon.】

【You gave the snow-white Spirit Vein Dragon a lovely name: Little Black.】

【The Spirit Vein Dragon had no sense of whether this name was good or bad, and was simply delighted to have a name at all.】

【It would occasionally play with the earth dragons laboring in the spirit fields, though the earth dragons felt an innate trace of fear toward the spirit dragon.】

【And so, several more months passed.】

【In the twenty-third year, the spirit dragon, having stayed in the spirit field grotto-heaven for so long, began to feel bored.】

【It had already explored every inch of this hundred-zhang space, and clamored daily about wanting to go outside.】

【But you knew that the moment the Spirit Vein Dragon appeared in the outside world, you would face tremendous danger.】

【Thus you had no intention of taking that risk, and could only deceive this young and naive spirit dragon.】

【You told it that in the outside world, everyone would want to imprison it, and it would never have freedom again. Only in this small domain could it truly be free.】

【Sure enough, the Spirit Vein Dragon was thoroughly frightened by your words, trembling with fear every day and never again bringing up the subject of going outside.】

【By this time, you had already hidden in the spirit field grotto-heaven for several years.】

【You believed the danger from the outside world might have passed, so you disguised your appearance, concealed your aura, and shielded your fate from divination before leaving the spirit field grotto-heaven.】

【Upon returning to the Capital City, that ominous premonition rose in your heart once more, along with the warning within.】

【You were puzzled—you had clearly shielded your fate from divination, so why would you still attract Protector Dragon’s attention?】

【At this moment, you are still no match for Protector Dragon. To be safe, you decide to head to Demon-Sealing Pass, where a Peak Emperor-level powerhouse stands guard and has no fear of Protector Dragon.】

【Sure enough, upon arriving at Demon-Sealing Pass, the dangerous premonition in your heart mostly dissipates.】

【Over the next year, nothing happens.】

【In the twenty-fourth year, one day your heart pounds wildly, as if you sense an extremely ominous premonition.】

【You find this puzzling, because the Legendary beast legion’s descent and the destruction of Demon-Sealing Pass are still more than half a year away.】

【But to be safe, you choose to hide inside the spirit field grotto-heaven.】

【What alarms you is that after retreating into the spirit field grotto-heaven, the sense of dread does not diminish at all, leaving you restless day after day.】

【Until one day, you are tending to the spirit dragon inside the spirit field grotto-heaven as usual.】

【Suddenly, the entire sky of the spirit field grotto-heaven turns blood-red…】

【Before your eyes, a hand slowly tears open the surrounding space and enters the spirit field grotto-heaven.】

【It is a mysterious figure draped in a black robe. You cannot make out his appearance.】

【But he is clearly very interested in this space, seemingly not having expected such a cultivator’s grotto to exist here.】

【He extends his palm, and the spirit dragon bathing in the spirit spring is instantly yanked through the air toward the mysterious figure, completely out of control.】

【The spirit dragon struggles desperately, but cannot move an inch no matter what.】

【Seeing this, anxiety fills your heart, and you try to rush forward to save the spirit dragon.】

【But a single glance from the mysterious figure renders your body completely immobile.】

【Then, he gently exhales a breath… and your physical body shatters, your soul annihilated…】

【You died!】

【Your talent Die With Eyes Open activates…】

【You see the mysterious figure seize the spirit dragon, then extend his hand and absorb the entire spirit field grotto-heaven into his body…】

【Violent spatial fluctuations crush your eyes.】

【This simulation has ended!】

After the simulation ended, Su Xing stared at the text before him, a bitter feeling in his heart.

“How can this be… someone was actually able to find the spirit field grotto-heaven, and could tear through space to kill me directly…”

“This… this person must be at least an immortal-level figure!”

Su Xing gasped for breath, unwillingness welling up inside him.

Before, no matter how dangerous things got, as long as the Amalgamated Beast hadn’t descended and shattered space, Su Xing could always survive by hiding in the spirit field grotto-heaven in time.

But now, Su Xing had finally encountered an enemy powerful enough that not only could he not resist, but the enemy could even discover the spirit field grotto-heaven!

“Sigh, I should have realized this sooner…”

Su Xing let out a sigh. In truth, he had sensed this possibility long ago.

Because at the end of the day, the spirit field grotto-heaven was merely a spatial demiplane carved out within the greater world.

It had been modified by a powerful being to be carried on one’s person.

And after more than a year of Su Xing’s improvements, it had become a true spirit field grotto-heaven.

But if someone’s comprehension of the Great Dao was deep enough, with sufficient mastery of spatial laws, they could easily locate it.

The enemies Su Xing had previously encountered were all existences below the immortal level, so it was normal that their comprehension hadn’t reached that depth.

Of course, the exception was that beast whose body was larger than a planet.

Even now, Su Xing still hadn’t figured out the origins of that thing.

Devouring worlds, spatial fragments constantly colliding in its stomach, and the thing could still survive…

Su Xing estimated that even ordinary Immortals probably couldn’t pull that off.

“So then, what exactly is the identity of that mysterious person?”

“Could it be… someone Protector Dragon called in?”

“If that’s really the case, then the mysterious person’s identity… most likely, is either the true leader of the Advent Cult, or the so-called Blood immortal!”

“Or… these two are actually the same person!?”

Countless doubts rose in Su Xing’s mind at this moment.

After pondering for a while, Su Xing shook his head and said:

“But… the mysterious person’s appearance probably wasn’t aimed at killing me, but rather at seizing this Spirit Vein Dragon that had emerged!”

“It seems that if I want to obtain this Spirit Vein Dragon in the future, I absolutely cannot cause too big a commotion!”

“I wonder… would that be enough to avoid the mysterious person’s pursuit?”

Su Xing felt uncertain.

To verify this theory, he would have to test it in future simulations.

Before that, Su Xing absolutely could not reveal any clues in the Real World, or it would invite a fatal disaster!

“As expected… powerful beings have always been watching Earth. The reason they haven’t appeared before is simply because nothing has existed that could draw their interest…”

“But this Spirit Vein Dragon is something that even powerful Immortals would covet!”

Su Xing let out a soft sigh.

In an era of depleted spiritual energy, a Spirit Vein Dragon was even more precious.

“Forget it, why dwell on this… for now, steadily improving my strength is the priority!”

With that thought, Su Xing turned his gaze to the simulation panel’s rewards.

【”Gimme That!”】: purple talent, priced at 1,000,000 energy.

【Twenty Years of Alchemy Experience】: after redemption, existing alchemy comprehension increases slightly, priced at 2,000,000 energy.

【Five Elements Mutual Generation Scripture (Minor Accomplishment)】: a peak lesser divine art technique, approaching greater divine art level, comprehended by Five Elements Master, infinitely profound. Grants sharper sensitivity to five elemental spiritual energies, and can unleash five elemental spiritual energy to enhance technique power, cultivation speed… with numerous other applications, priced at 100,000,000 energy.

【Essence of Strength Comprehension (Rudimentary)】: the Essence of Strength, a fundamental component of many Great Daos. After claiming, slightly enhances comprehension of strength, priced at 50,000,000 energy.

【Spirit Detonation Art (Perfection)】: by compressing spiritual power to its extreme, produces astonishing destructive force upon detonation. Using different elemental spiritual energies yields different effects and power levels. The divine art’s power scales with total spiritual power. Currently has reached lesser divine art level; with further research, this technique could potentially advance to greater divine art level. Priced at 200,000,000 energy.

【Myriad Wood Scripture Core Method】: the core method of the Heaven-grade upper-tier technique Myriad Wood Art. Can integrate the previously separated Eternal Spring Art, Floating Life Art, and Mystic Yellow Art, thereby comprehending the true Myriad Wood Art. Priced at 10,000,000 energy.

【Burned Branch of the Innate Fusang Divine Tree】: a branch of the Innate Fusang Divine Tree, one of the ten great divine trees of antiquity, ranked thirty-third on the Heavenly Rankings of supreme treasures, an innate supreme treasure. Born within the sun, capable of withstanding the extreme heat of the Golden Crow’s fire, it was later burned and destroyed by Southern Illumination Separation Fire during a great battle. Because it was burned, it cannot be used to forge magical treasures, but it contains Great Dao comprehensions of both the Wood and Fire paths, as well as traces of the true Intent of Southern Illumination Separation Fire, making it extremely precious. Priced at 1,000,000 energy essence.

The rewards Su Xing received this time were nothing short of generous.

Su Xing’s gaze swept down the reward list from top to bottom, finally stopping before the reward 【Burned Branch of the Innate Fusang Divine Tree】.

“Holy crap, what the hell!? A branch of the Innate Fusang Divine Tree, one of the ten great divine trees of antiquity?”

“Burned by Southern Illumination Separation Fire… contains Great Dao comprehensions! Holy shit!!”

Su Xing was instantly stunned, and even began to wonder if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

He couldn’t fathom why Perfected One Myriad Wood would possess such a supreme treasure.

“Damn… carrying such a precious treasure, this Perfected One Myriad Wood is practically a Child of Destiny, the protagonist of a novel!”

Su Xing was shocked to the core. He finally understood why Perfected One Myriad Wood had been able to gain rudimentary comprehension of the Great Dao of Wood.

Possessing such a supreme treasure and carrying it with him constantly—if he still couldn’t achieve comprehension, he’d have to be a complete blockhead…

“But what’s the deal with this energy requirement?”

“What the hell, it only costs one million energy!? Is it being given away for free?”

Su Xing suspected his simulator had a bug.

But at that moment, the simulator’s notification chimed in.

【Please note, Host: the price unit is energy essence, not simulation energy… Note: energy essence is a more refined energy unit than simulation energy!】

Su Xing was taken aback. There was actually an energy unit more refined than simulation energy? He asked in confusion:

“Then, how does one obtain energy essence?”

The simulator answered:

【Energy essence can be obtained by absorbing rarer items…】

【Additionally, every 1,000,000 simulation energy can be exchanged for one point of energy essence… Would you like to proceed with the exchange?】