“That’s a Longevity Fruit! It can add a hundred years to your lifespan, though you can only eat one in a lifetime. Even so, people outside fight tooth and nail for it!”
Someone recognised the fruit growing on the tree.
Even for Mortal Realm martial artists, who typically live around two hundred years, an extra hundred years was significant, equivalent to the lifespan limit of a Heavenly Human Realm martial artist!
Boom!
Finally, someone couldn’t resist the allure of the Longevity Fruit and tried to charge in.
But upon hitting the seven-coloured auspicious cloud, not only was their body repelled, but countless rays of coloured light shot out from it, instantly turning the disciple into a pincushion.
The seven-coloured rays were incredibly fast, rivaling Ling Xiao’s flying sword. Few among the martial artists present could withstand them.
“Remaining participants: twenty-two!”
Another elimination made those outside the seven-coloured cloud hesitate again, weighing whether it was worth risking their trial opportunity for the Longevity Fruit.
With a clang, Ling Xiao drew his “Fury Wind Sword.”
This was a rare treasure-grade sword he’d purchased from the Divine Weapon Hall, perfectly suited to his Twelve Golden Lotus Technique’s wind phenomenon.
Wind inherently possessed fearsome cutting properties.
Coupled with the Fury Wind Sword, which doubled the power of wind-attribute true essence, increased attack speed by twenty percent, and had a special skill, “Fury Wind Shuttle,” condensing wind power into a shuttle for a piercing strike, it was formidable.
Tearing through the seven-coloured cloud should be no issue.
The onlookers stared at Ling Xiao, thinking him mad.
What others dared not attempt, he boldly undertook.
Without hesitation, Ling Xiao swung his sword at the seven-coloured cloud.
A terrifying ripping sound echoed.
The cloud, like leather, was sliced open with a small cut.
In that instant, several rays shot toward him, aiming to eliminate him.
Ling Xiao used Cloud Dragon Divine Movement, easily dodging the rays.
He’d already analysed them: though fast, the rays were straightforward, so with proper movement control, they could be avoided.
“Interesting stuff. A cloud formed from a mix of energy and metal elements, with quite strong defence, but…”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, thrusting his sword again.
Wind Phenomenon: Fury Wind Shuttle!
“Ling Xiao, don’t waste your effort. That seven-coloured cloud isn’t something your lousy sword can cut…” Shen Tianlin began, but his words halted.
A shocking scene silenced him.
Ling Xiao’s Fury Wind Sword condensed the phenomenon’s power into a shuttle, piercing the seven-coloured cloud and instantly widening the gap.
Though the gap tried to heal itself, Ling Xiao’s speed was too great.
With a whoosh, as the gap closed, he was already inside the cloud.
“Damn it, how did he get in!” Shen Tianlin’s eyes bulged like bells, shocked and furious.
“If that kid can get in, so can I!” Bai Feifei thought, then condensed true essence into her sword, mimicking Ling Xiao’s method to breach the cloud and enter the herb garden.
As a Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, once she grasped the method, it wasn’t difficult.
After her, Dantai Lingzi, Ming Tian, Shen Tianlin, Li Zonghao, Wu Yang, Qin Wu, and others—ten in total—entered.
Except for Ming Tian, all were above Mortal Realm Seventh Stage.
Ming Tian’s situation was odd.
A strange inscription appeared on his forehead, its meaning unclear. Once merely arrogant and volatile, he now exuded a chilling, fearsome aura.
Leng Hao, Dai Yuling, Shangguan Lei, and others could only wait outside, unable to enter.
Inside the herb garden, the atmosphere was strangely silent.
Upon entering, Ling Xiao didn’t act rashly but activated his “True Essence Sphere” to survey his surroundings.
Though the Longevity Fruit was less than a hundred metres away, he knew haste wouldn’t help.
One wrong move could cost him his life, and that would be truly tragic.
“Pulse-Strengthening Grass!”
Ling Xiao suddenly sped up.
About four or five metres away grew four or five peculiar herbs, vivid green, without flowers, each with exactly nine leaves—no more, no less—also called Nine-Leaf Grass.
In the secular world, people unaware of its value saw it as a mere symbol of beauty.
But they didn’t know that each of its nine leaves resembled a martial artist’s pulse, even mimicking the flow of spiritual energy within.
If sold at the Moonlight Sect market, one stalk could fetch tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones. Refined into Pulse-Strengthening Pills with auxiliary materials, the price could rise tenfold!
Up to a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
More importantly, it was something money couldn’t always buy.
For martial artists in the Mysterious Realm, the nine pulses were fundamental.
If a pulse was damaged, one might lose the ability to use true essence or, worse, become a cripple.
The beauty of Pulse-Strengthening Pills lay not only in repairing pulse damage but also in strengthening them, making them less prone to breaking.
“Tch, to think I’d find thousand-year Pulse-Strengthening Grass here. It’s enough to refine low-grade Yellow-Rank pills. Another entry-level pill to craft—nice, nice.”
Though Ling Xiao’s pulses were stronger than most, they were still fragile, as pulses were every martial artist’s weakness.
Yet they were also the most critical.
Like a mortal’s heart—fragile yet vital.
Once damaged, the consequences were dire.
Got it!
Ling Xiao waved his hand, collecting the five stalks of Pulse-Strengthening Grass into his Mountain and River World for cultivation.
After the trial, he’d gather materials to refine Pulse-Strengthening Pills.
With the All-Spirit Cauldron, not only would the success rate be higher, but the pill quality would be superior.
Just after collecting the grass and preparing to move forward, he heard exclamations behind him.
“I didn’t realise before coming in, but every herb here is no less valuable than the Longevity Fruit!”
“Indeed, they’re dazzling with spiritual light!”
Bai Feifei and the others had followed, thrilled by the sight, their faces beaming with joy.
“Hurry, don’t let that kid Ling Xiao grab the Longevity Fruit! Get it first!”
Three Mortal Realm Seventh Stage disciples exchanged glances, their greed overwhelming them, heedless of Bai Feifei and the others.
They leapt toward the Longevity Fruit tree.
