Chapter 707: Withered Wood Gains New Life
Chapter 707: Withered Wood Gains New Life
There were also various pills inside Gu Mu’s spatial ring that Xiao Chen could not be bothered to go through. However, a secret manual attracted his attention.
When Xiao Chen took it out, he saw the words “Withered Wood Gains New Life” clearly written on the cover.
Xiao Chen’s eyes lit up. Unexpectedly, it was the heaven-defying Martial Technique that Gu Mu used.
At that time, after Gu Mu used this Martial Technique, his cultivation increased by twenty percent, immediately allowing him to push back Shui Lingling. Xiao Chen remembered this scene very distinctly.
He quickly flipped open the book to see if he could learn it. He discovered that it did not require anything special. He did not even have to cultivate wood-attributed Quintessence.
However, the side effects were somewhat scary. If one could not obtain a Spirit Herb more than five thousand years old to replenish one’s Qi and blood, it would draw from one’s life force instead. Furthermore, after executing it, it would leave one weakened for some time.
“Instantaneously raising one’s cultivation by twenty percent. Although the side effects are scary, it is acceptable as a means to preserve my life.”
Xiao Chen memorized the contents of the secret manual. Then, he stood where he was, beginning his comprehension of it.
He only stopped meditating on it when Hu Hai and the three true inheritors returned. Then, he chatted leisurely with them.
The other four had fairly excited expressions on their faces; they probably had a good harvest.
Seeing that Xiao Chen had returned rather early, Wang Cheng purposely poked fun at him, saying, “Junior Brother Xiao Chen, I noticed that you returned here earlier than we did. You are probably not satisfied with your harvest.”
Xiao Chen did not wish to say too much to this person. He only replied politely, “It’s still alright.”
Wang Cheng took Xiao Chen’s response as an attempt to avoid embarrassment. He laughed loudly and said, “On this trip, I found a total of ten fifty-year-old Earth Essence Fruits, three one-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits, and even fortunately obtained one two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit.
Two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit?
Strange looks flashed in the other three true inheritors’ eyes. Clearly, they felt astonished. Hu Hai said, “A two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit is very hard to find. It can save one half a year of cultivation time. It is a great harvest. Congratulations, Junior Brother Wang.”
Seeking another kind of strange fruit, Hu Hai had not entered the depths of Python Swamp, so he had not obtained any two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit.
Jun Si and Chen Xiao had only lingered in the periphery. They were not as fortunate and could only reveal envious expressions.
Wang Cheng felt somewhat pleased. He spoke at length about how hard he worked and how fortunate he was, telling the rest the entire process of how he obtained the Earth Essence Fruit in detail.
After Wang Cheng finished, he looked at Xiao Chen and asked, “Junior Brother Xiao, how is your harvest? Tell us about it. If it is not enough, I can give you some of mine.”
Xiao Chen felt very helpless. There were some people who would not shut up if they were not punched in the face.
Back then, Wang Cheng had said a lot of things to prevent Xiao Chen from entering the Savage Battlefield. Now, he was trying to boast over some minor achievement. Xiao Chen really did not understand what he was thinking.
Xiao Chen replied calmly, “Not many, just ten two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits. As for those one hundred years old and below, there should be about sixty or seventy.”
Wang Cheng’s face froze. He immediately became upset and complained, “Junior Brother Xiao Chen, what kind of attitude is this? I am kindly offering to split some of my Earth Essence Fruits with you, and yet you are lying about your achievements.”
Xiao Chen waved his left hand, and five two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits appeared. Then, he flourished his right, and another five two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits appeared.
Then, he looked at Wang Cheng and said calmly, “See for yourself. Look at what these are. Do I still need you to split your Earth Essence Fruits with me?”
The two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits had overwhelming Spiritual Energy. Their delightful fragrance was a full-on assault on everyone’s noses—especially so with ten of them gathered together. It made everyone felt carefree and relaxed as they stared at the fruits in fascination.
Wang Cheng’s face went blank with astonishment. He did not dare to believe his eyes. He pointed at Xiao Chen and trembled slightly as he said, “How can this be? These are two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits. With your strength, how could you get so many?”
Hu Hai and the other two were astonished as well. They were stupefied and could not get over their shock.
Two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits were worth cities. A person was already very lucky if they could obtain one.
Even if one went into the depths of Python Swamp, they might not find so many two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits, because that place was too large and the strength of just one person would be inadequate.
Searching would require time, and fighting would also require time. More importantly, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of people looking for Earth Essence Fruits as well; the competition was intense.
How could Xiao Chen find so many two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits alone? Just the thought of it was incredible.
However, no matter what, the truth was before them. They were not looking at illusions.
Xiao Chen, the one with the lowest cultivation, had a better harvest than the four of them. This result was extremely frustrating.
Hu Hai smiled bitterly and said, “They are indeed two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits. Junior Brother Xiao Chen, congratulations.”
Jun Si and Chen Xiao recovered their wits and congratulated Xiao Chen as well.
Only Wang Cheng remained red with embarrassment at the fact that Xiao Chen obtained ten two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruits. He no longer had the pleased expression he had before.
Wang Cheng thought about how he had boasted so much when he only obtained one two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit. The worse thing was that he even said he would split some of his Earth Essence Fruits with Xiao Chen. He was simply slapping himself by doing all this.
Seeing that Wang Cheng finally became quiet, Xiao Chen put away the Earth Essence Fruits, no longer caring about him, who seemed to have something wrong with his expression.
“Xiu!”
A purple, petite figure descended from the sky. Shui Lingling had come out of Death Marsh and rejoined the group.
At this moment, not many cultivators remained in Python Swamp. Most of the Earth Essence Fruits that could be found had been taken already. There was no point in lingering here.
Shui Lingling had probably gained a lot in Death Marsh. She revealed a smile on her soft and smooth face.
Hu Hai said somewhat impatiently, “First Senior Sister, where are we going next?”
Shui Lingling looked into the distance and said, “We are going to the Dragon Burial Mound. This time, of the known forbidden lands, the one with the most value is the True Dragon cave there.”
Xiao Chen looked in the direction of Death Marsh and asked, “We are not going in there?”
Shui Lingling shook her head and replied, “There are no natural treasures in Death Marsh. The main purpose for going there would be tempering your Martial Technique. Furthermore, it is very hazardous.”
It was clear that Hu Hai and the rest had heard about Death Marsh before. Their eyes did not reveal any regrets; Xiao Chen could tell that they did not feel that skipping it was a loss.
However, Xiao Chen wanted to give Death Marsh a try. He wanted to find an Emperor departed spirit who used the saber and fight it, so that he could improve his Saber Techniques further.
But he was in a group, so he had to follow what the group wanted. It would not be good for him to travel alone.
In the future, when I have the chance, I must come to Death Marsh.
Going in a group was much safer. However, it meant that one lost their freedom. They would be tied down and could not do whatever they wanted.
After one last glance at Death Marsh, Xiao Chen silently followed the team and walked forward.
Shui Lingling did not want to waste any time. As they traveled, she released her strong aura.
This aura evoked fear in the venomous pythons that felt it, making them flee as far as possible. The group could occasionally see mud moving or bubbles, indicators of venomous pythons slithering away frantically in the marsh, afraid that Shui Lingling would come and kill them.
Without any obstruction, the group moved at full speed, traveling swiftly. They managed to catch up to the groups that had set off earlier.
Just when they were nearing the edge of Python Swamp, Shui Lingling suddenly stopped and looked at another group that she had not wanted to meet. She frowned slightly, evincing her displeasure.
Along the way, Xiao Chen had been meditating on the mysteries of Withered Wood Gains New Life. Hence, he had not extended his Spiritual Sense that far to monitor his surroundings. So, he had no forewarning of the team in front.
When Xiao Chen looked up and saw the leader of the other group, his expression could not help but turn grave. Unexpectedly, he had run into the Extreme Yin Sect’s people here.
Bai Wuxue also seemed somewhat surprised at seeing Shui Lingling and her group. When he noticed Xiao Chen at the back, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
“First Senior Brother, that’s the white-robed brat who challenged you?” asked another true inheritor of the Extreme Yin Sect at the rear of that group.
With a smile that did not seem like a smile, Bai Wuxue replied, “He’s the one. He said to wait at the Extreme Yin Sect’s dueling rings.”
The person who initially spoke mocked, “He really overestimates himself. To think that I thought it was some extraordinary person! It turns out that he was really just a Medial Grade Martial Monarch.”
“Indeed, he is mad. To think he believed himself worthy of being First Senior Brother’s opponent! He thinks too highly of himself. I don’t even need ten moves to defeat this fellow,” another person added as he looked at Xiao Chen with disdain.
With Bai Wuxue and Shui Lingling here, it would be impossible for the two teams to end up fighting to the death. Xiao Chen withdrew his murderous intent, merely committing to memory the appearances of the people who mocked him.
He remained silent, not saying a word. He had never favored trying to win a battle of words. Doing so just felt pointless.
Seeing that Xiao Chen remained quiet, the expression of that Extreme Yin Sect true inheritor became even more arrogant as he stepped forward.
That person demanded loudly, “White-robed brat, are you that gutless? Do you not even dare to take ten moves from me? If so, what qualifications do you have to challenge our First Senior Brother?
“Do you dare to step up today and take ten moves from me? Show me and the others from our Extremely Yin Sect what you are capable of.”
Bai Wuxue smiled faintly and did not stop this person. He said indifferently, “Shui Lingling, what you do think? If he does not step out, does that mean that just anyone from your Supreme Sky Sect can challenge me, Bai Wuxue?”
Shui Lingling was put somewhat in a spot. The other party was a true inheritor of the Extreme Yin Sect. He was slightly stronger than Chen Xiao and the others, just slightly weaker than Hu Hai.
Xiao Chen was merely a Supreme Sky Sect inner sect disciple. Although he had excellent talent, he had not matured yet. During a fight, swords and sabers had no eyes. If he fell here, it would be too much of a pity.
However, the other side had pushed for it. Not agreeing would damage the Supreme Sky Sect’s reputation.
“I agree.”
A neither-haughty-nor-humble voice rang out in the quiet surroundings. Xiao Chen stepped out from the group with his white robes fluttering lightly in the wind.
Bai Wuxue raised his eyebrows slightly, immediately rejoicing in his heart. If he tried to kill Xiao Chen, Shui Lingling would no doubt stop him.
However, if another person fought Xiao Chen and ended up killing him, Shui Lingling would not be able to say anything.
Bai Wuxue projected his voice to this true inheritor and told him sinisterly, “Shen Tu, don’t show any mercy. Just kill him directly. After this matter is over, I will give you a two-hundred-year-old Earth Essence Fruit.”
The elated Shen Tu quickly replied, “First Senior Brother, I will definitely accomplish this. I will surely take his life within ten moves.”
Seeing the two people about to fight, a look of wild joy flashed in Wang Cheng’s eyes. When Xiao Chen sent him flying with one strike back then, it had left him with a fixation in his heart.