NOVPUB
Chapter 670: Chapter 676: Obtaining the Treasure
With the help of the Chaoyang Crow, Li Fire Sparrow, and Li Chengsheng, tonight’s ghost tide passed very smoothly, without any casualties.
And this, in turn, picked up a bit of trust from the mortals towards the cultivators.
"I heard that fellow Daoist practices a Yang attribute cultivation technique. May I ask, from whom did you inherit it? And these two Spirit Beasts, could fellow Daoist part with them? Feel free to state your terms." As soon as the ghost tide subsided, the robust Golden Core approached with several questions in a row.
In his eyes, as he looked at the Chaoyang Crow and Li Fire Sparrow, a burning desire was evident.
Li Chengsheng looked up at him, just about to refuse, when he heard a voice in his mind.
"This trial is complete!"
Subsequently, Li Chengsheng disappeared into thin air along with the two Spirit Beasts!
"Where did he go?!"
The burly man fully unleashed his Divine Sense, scouring every corner within a few miles.
"Stop looking, the person’s long gone," the youth who had remained silent until now said indifferently.
The burly man, in disbelief, asked, "There was no fluctuation of Spiritual Energy; how did he disappear so suddenly?"
The youth did not respond, but the sharp glint in his eyes hinted he might know something.
When Li Chengsheng reappeared, it was not in any mortal city, but atop a Spirit Mountain brimming with Spiritual Energy.
"Where is this?" The presence of the two Spirit Beasts beside him gave him a sense of security.
"Might you be a visitor from beyond the heavens?"
A Spirit Light halted in front of Li Chengsheng, manifesting into a cultivator resembling a graceful orchid and noble jade, and said warmly, "I am Zhi Lin, and I seek your help with a particular matter."
By the aura emanating from him, this person was actually at the Divine Transformation stage!
But Li Chengsheng hadn’t heard a word after "visitor from beyond the heavens." His throat was parched, as dry as a bone, and it took a considerable effort before he could utter a few words and ask, "Senior, how do you know this?"
"This matter is not a secret among high-level cultivators," Zhi Lin said with a smile.
Upon hearing this response, Li Chengsheng was completely stunned.
"The Immortal Tao in this realm is weak, on the brink of complete annihilation. Fortunately, at a tremendous cost and by expending vast amounts of resources, we managed to contact the Immortals from the Immortal Realm, preserving some of our heritage."
He naturally did not disclose the specifics.
Zhi Lin, looking calmly at Li Chengsheng, said, "I have invited you here because I have a favor to ask."
"My power is too insignificant; I fear I’m not up to the task," Li Chengsheng refused without hesitation.
A problem that a Nascent Soul cultivator, and even those cultivators behind him, could not solve—how could he, a mere Golden Core, possibly manage?
"Do not worry, young friend. There’s no danger involved. We just need a strand of the Southern Bright Li Fire Essence from your Spirit Beast."
Seeing Li Chengsheng remain silent, a flash of impatience crossed Zhi Lin’s eyes. He, a person of Divine Transformation, revered by countless cultivators, had lowered his voice again and again, giving the other enough face, yet this mere Golden Core was being so uncooperative!
Li Chengsheng certainly knew that persistently declining would offend the other party, but to give up the Essence meant that the Li Fire Sparrow would be incomplete, likely never able to break through in the future!
And this also concerned his own path of cultivation! How could he agree?
He dared to refuse because he firmly believed that he was in a trial and would not die.
Ever since the creation of the Secret Realm of Wanxian, countless cultivators had died within the realm or been ambushed from outside, but there had never been reports of a cultivator dying during a trial.
"If the young friend agrees, you may choose any three Fifth-order Spiritual Objects," Zhi Lin said, still holding his patience.
Li Chengsheng’s heart stirred, but he did not immediately agree and instead asked, "Senior, among those Spiritual Objects, are there any that can restore Essence or enhance the bloodline of a Spirit Beast?"
If there is such an opportunity, there’s no harm in agreeing. Perhaps the Li Fire Sparrow may even benefit from this adversity and further advance its bloodline.
"There is!"
By now, his tone had become very cold.
"I need to first select two fifth-order Spiritual Objects. After the deed is done, you can give me the remaining one." Li Chengsheng seemed completely unaware of this and persisted with his demands.
Zhi Lin’s gaze was icy cold, and even though he firmly believed that one could not die in the trials, he couldn’t stop his heart from trembling. "You’ve got some nerve! Do you really think I wouldn’t lay a hand on you?"
"I dare not."
Li Chengsheng became alert, relieved that he had recalled the Spirit Beast the moment the other party made a request, and he was even ready to voluntarily withdraw from the trial.
"This is but a trivial matter. Take a look among these Spiritual Objects to see if there’s anything you need." Just then, a Spirit Light flew over from afar. It clearly didn’t leak the slightest bit of aura, like an ordinary mortal woman, but it placed an even greater pressure on him.
As she spoke, a list of precious items unfurled before Li Chengsheng.
After quickly scanning the list ten lines at a time and constantly comparing in his mind, he soon came to a decision. "I require the Southern Bright Vermilion Fruit, as well as the Fusang Spirit Root, and for the last Spiritual Object, I want the Phoenix Tree Spirit Root."
The Vermilion Fruit was to restore Li’s essence and strengthen its bloodline, while the two Spiritual Roots were intended for all his Spirit Beasts.
The Fusang Spirit Root was a companion plant to the Three-legged Golden Crow, enhancing each other, speeding up the evolution of Golden Crow bloodline Spirit Beasts. The Phoenix Tree was the dwelling tree of the phoenix clan, also having the function of enhancing bloodlines, whereas the Vermilion Bird is a variant of the phoenix.
In other words, these two Spiritual Roots could help the three Spirit Beasts in his possession to accelerate their evolution.
"Very well." The female cultivator agreed without hesitation and left with Zhi Lin.
About fifteen minutes later, she returned alone, handing over the Vermilion Fruit and Fusang Spirit Root to Li Chengsheng.
"Thank you, senior!" After checking the Spiritual Objects and finding no issues, he accepted them.
"One essence of Southern Bright Li Fire." The female cultivator said with an indifferent expression.
Li Chengsheng had Li share ten percent of its essence and quickly handed it over to her, then received the remaining Phoenix Tree Spirit Root.
"This round of trials is complete!"
The moment the trade was concluded, a thunderous voice once again echoed in his mind.
This left Li Chengsheng astonished; he had not previously heard any trial tasks being issued, yet now it suddenly showed as completed.
But before he could ponder any further, he was once again engulfed in darkness.
The Divine Transformation female cultivator looked at the spot where Li Chengsheng had just been and murmured, "Is this the legendary power of an Immortal?"
With her current level of cultivation, not to mention reacting, she couldn’t even detect the slightest fluctuation.
—— 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Outside the Secret Realm of Wanxian.
"Jiu, you’ve finally come out." Xiaoqing had been waiting on the Spirit Boat this whole time, unable to step away even for a moment, and was feeling quite stifled.
"You’ve had it tough." Li Zhirui chuckled softly. "How are the other powers faring?"
When he came out and did not detect the presence of Li Chengsheng and the others, he knew they were still in the trials and he breathed a sigh of relief.
That they had not come out for such a long time meant that they must have passed at least the third round of trials. For them, each additional round was a good opportunity.
"I hear from those Nascent Soul Cultivators that this year’s trials are particularly difficult, and many cultivators have been eliminated early on."
Xiaoqing’s response left Li Zhirui somewhat surprised.
