This Treasure Is Fated with Me, You Have No Objections, Right?

"Roar!" A silent roar detonated within his sea of consciousness. It stirred up surging golden waves, violently jolting his divine soul without pause. In a single instant, Luo Chen felt as if struck by lightning. His body lost all control, plummeting toward the ground. Yet in the next breath, a shudder ran through him, and he ground to a dead halt right in midair. "Phew..." A scorching exhalation hissed from his lips, faintly tinged with a vibrant crimson. It was not blood, but origin power! A thin film of origin power diffused outward, enveloping his entire body. Luo Chen slowly turned his head, his hawklike gaze settling upon Taisui behind him. That single look was steeped in boundless murderous intent! Under that gaze alone, Taisui's remnant soul began to tremble uncontrollably. "Fellow Daoist... listen to my explanation!" He cried out aloud, his voice taking on a shrill edge. "I didn't expect remnants of the demon-fiend echo to linger here either! It was an inadvertent oversight that caused you to fall victim to it. "However, this echo poses little real danger to humans; enduring it for just a moment is enough. "I certainly had no intention of putting you in harm's way!" Blocked outside the formation, Cave Master Moyun had no idea what had just occurred within, staring blankly at the scene. Yet he could faintly sense the towering murderous intent directed at Taisui. He ventured tentatively, "Is there some misunderstanding?" Seizing the excuse, Taisui hastily said, "Yes, it's a misunderstanding! We swore an oath beforehand; how could I deliberately frame Fellow Daoist? Besides, I still need you to undo the formation restricting my true body..." Watching him panic like this, the silent Luo Chen slightly narrowed his eyes. "I hope there will not be a next time for something like this." The moment those words were spoken, Taisui visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "There won't be another time. This was merely an oversight." "Humph." Luo Chen gave a soft snort, then pointed down at the ten-foot-tall sapling below. "Its details are obscure, but you understand it better than I do. You retrieve it!" Taisui wiped away nonexistent sweat and flew downward. Upon landing before the Demon-Fiend Concentric Tree, he cast techniques to unearth its roots while explaining to Luo Chen the methods for subsequently transplanting the tree and utilizing its fruits. In his heart, however, he was filled with doubts and shock. *There is no third person!* *From start to finish, not another hint of an aura appeared on him.* *Old Ghost and the others couldn't have lied to me!* *Under that demon-fiend echo, a Nascent Soul aura could never be fully concealed. But... how did he break free from the suppression in an instant and return to normal?* *The foundation of his divine soul is definitely not that profound. Could it be his desolate beast physique?* Luo Chen hovered high in the air, eyes narrowed as he watched the busy figure below, murderous intent still surfacing at the corner of his eyes from time to time. Great Dao oaths were not entirely foolproof. The residual demon-fiend echo on the Concentric Tree was not lethal, so this did not count as violating the Great Dao oath. Yet by doing this, Taisui had nearly exposed Han Zhan's existence. Had Luo Chen not cultivated a desolate beast physique comparable to a Tier 4 Demon Sovereign or a Nascent Soul True Person, and had he not quietly mastered the Thicket Clearing Art before coming here with the aid of his second primal core and system achievement points, he would likely have been paralyzed by that echo, unable to break free for a long time. Indeed, on the system panel at this moment, the Tier 4 Thicket Clearing Art had already reached the beginner stage, and its formula was even engraved upon his second primal core! Under normal circumstances, no matter how talented Luo Chen was, it was impossible to master a Tier 4 spell instantly. Nor would the Land of the Fallen Demon grant him ample time to practice spells. Therefore, to give himself an additional trump card, he had directly expended the massive achievement points accumulated on his panel over many years to instantly bring the Thicket Clearing Art to the beginner stage. Because of this, even when his main body's soul was shaken, he could rely on the passive spell formula inscribed on his second primal core to snap awake in an instant. *That roar did me little real harm, so why would Taisui risk antagonizing me over it?* Doubt naturally welled up. Reflecting on their journey so far, Luo Chen's thoughts suddenly halted on the glance Taisui had cast toward his chest back in the Hundred Crows Ghost Forest. *That's it!* *He must have been probing for Han Zhan's presence!* *Those two in the Hundred Crows Ghost Forest were close to Taisui. Since the Duskvine Crow Ancestor could pull Han Zhan into the illusion as well, there was no way he didn't know about Han Zhan.* *Given Taisui's temperament, he would surely want to eliminate all unexpected variables and keep everything firmly under his control...* In mere moments, a calm Luo Chen unraveled the whole picture. Even if minor details differed, the overall logic was undoubtedly sound. When Taisui returned to Luo Chen's side carrying the bizarrely shaped sapling enveloped in cyan light, Luo Chen held out his hand without the slightest courtesy. Reluctant to part with it, Taisui babbled on: "The fruit borne by this tree contains the heartblood of demons and fiends. Consuming it over a long period will greatly strengthen a body cultivator's internal organs. However, nurturing this tree is quite troublesome, requiring the flesh and blood of both demonic beasts and fiend beasts, preferably their hearts... Desolate beasts might also work, but the True Monarch didn't test that back then; he only proposed the hypothesis." *Swish!* A flash of spiritual light, and the Demon-Fiend Concentric Tree vanished. Luo Chen turned and walked away. A gloom flickered deep in Taisui's eyes. Once they exited the cavern, the gloom was gone, replaced by eager enthusiasm. "Demonic Lord Qingyang, on this Wood Sky Plain, I also know the locations of several high-grade spiritual herbs. All of them were treasures collected by the True Monarch back then!" Seeing Luo Chen completely ignore him, he gritted his teeth and said, "Herbs that even a Void Refining True Monarch painstakingly cultivated are at least Tier 6, or perhaps even..." Luo Chen's footsteps paused. At the sight of this, joy flashed across Taisui's eyes. *Is he tempted?* Unexpectedly, Luo Chen resumed walking, this time without the slightest hesitation. "Spiritual herbs may be fine, but the protective formations guarding them must be all the stronger. I, Luo, have not the fortune to enjoy such treasures. There is no need for further words, Taisui. Let us proceed directly to the place where your true body is trapped!" Taisui opened his mouth, disbelief written across his face. Tier 6 spiritual herbs, or perhaps even Tier 7—was he truly not tempted at all? Cave Master Moyun followed along beside them, not daring to breathe too loudly. He had already figured it out. Just now, an invisible clash had unfolded between the two of them in a manner he could not comprehend. And the outcome, quite clearly, had once again ended in Demonic Lord Qingyang's resounding victory. Yet looking at their current posture, they were heading straight for their final destination. What, then, was to become of the Nascent Soul breakthrough resources he desired? Cave Master Moyun moved his lips as he trailed behind, wanting to speak up yet not daring to. The surging murderous intent Luo Chen had unleashed just moments ago, along with that terrifying, nonhuman aura, truly left him afraid to cross the man. Two days later. Luo Chen, flying at the front, suddenly reined in his escape light and landed on a mountain peak. Confused, Cave Master Moyun and Taisui followed him down. With just a glance, they understood what was happening. Below in the mountain range, within a hollow, an intense battle was raging in full swing. The opposing sides numbered seven on one side and three on the other. Yet the battle was completely one-sided. The side of seven was falling back in defeat, several of their number already dead. The side of three held the decisive upper hand, fanning out in formation to vaguely block the exit of the hollow. "It's the Old Angler and his group!" Cave Master Moyun exclaimed in a low voice. Not just the Old Angler. Within sight, there was also a young woman in purple robes and a large-headed boy. It was none other than Zihou and Ghost Spirit Child. The Myriad Immortals Association's three Eight-Star Demon Hunters were all gathered on Wood Sky Plain! "They vanished earlier, and as expected, they entered this Land of the Fallen Demon." Cave Master Moyun's expression turned somber. These three were not only top Golden Core experts of the Myriad Immortals Association, but also part of the echelon standing at the very pinnacle of the Golden Core stage in the Northern Sea cultivation world. Their capabilities were by no means inferior to the core disciples of any major sect or the powerhouses of prominent clans. For an enemy to warrant their joint efforts... Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the seven individuals, some fighting and some already fallen, especially upon the otherworldly male cultivator fighting alone against the Old Angler. White robes, a high coronet, wielding a feather fan. "Yu Gao... Penglai Immortal Sect!" "Why are they fighting?" Although the Myriad Immortals Association was reputed to be one of the four hegemons of the Northern Sea today, its power was definitively the weakest among the four, and it usually maintained a neutral stance. The Penglai Immortal Sect was different. Not only was it a great sect with millennia of heritage, but it was currently allied with the Moluo Stream. Behind them, there was even the shadowy backing of the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Under normal circumstances, why would the two sides wage such a bloody struggle? "It's the Divine Iris!" Taisui's leisurely voice drifted over. As Luo Chen looked toward him, Taisui pointed into the depths of the hollow. "If I remember correctly, deep inside lies a herb garden dedicated to growing Divine Iris. After a thousand years of accumulation, it has likely produced many high-grade Divine Irises." High-grade Divine Iris! *Gulp!* The sound of swallowing saliva came clearly from Cave Master Moyun's throat. This item provided immense aid for forming a Nascent Soul, being one of the most renowned auxiliary resources for Nascent Soul breakthrough in today's cultivation world. This was especially true for aging Golden Core cultivators like him. Because of their advanced age, their physical condition inevitably declined, with deteriorating blood vitality and weakened constitutions. Even if they reached late Golden Core and realized that forming a Nascent Soul required a formidable physical body, it was too late to start cultivating the body from scratch. Under such circumstances, the Divine Iris was the premier auxiliary spiritual herb for fortifying the body. The cultivator in the high coronet with the feather fan was unequivocally the strongest among the seven in white, a tough nut to crack. Yet the Old Angler still chose to take him on one-on-one, demonstrating how determined he was to claim this patch of Divine Iris. "Shall we..." Cave Master Moyun fidgeted eagerly, turning his gaze toward Luo Chen and Taisui. The latter shrugged. "Divine Iris is useless to me, but if you want it, I don't mind lending a hand." Luo Chen shifted slightly, stepping forward half a pace. His determination to seize it was plain to see. Yet in the end, he did not strike directly. Rather than wading into a three-way brawl, it was better to wait patiently and reap the fisherman's spoils. ... The battle within the hollow gradually drew to a close. When yet another Penglai Immortal Sect Golden Core cultivator fell to Zihou's flying needles, only two remained. The battle was lost! "Second Senior Brother!" the one being battered by Ghost Spirit Child cried out shrilly. Yu Gao's face twisted with fury. "Go!" He exhaled a puff of cloud qi to force the Old Angler back, leaping into the depths of the hollow. In the next instant, he soared straight into the sky. Such a seemingly roundabout detour obviously had a purpose. Sure enough, when his figure reappeared, beneath his feet was an octagonal pavilion gleaming with brilliant spiritual light! The instant the octagonal pavilion appeared, Cave Master Moyun blurted out from the mountain peak: "The Penglai Octagonal Pavilion!" Curious, Luo Chen inquired, "What is that?" Cave Master Moyun replied with palpable excitement, "One of the Penglai Immortal Sect's legendary ancestral True Artifacts! It's one of the rare five-attribute magic treasures under heaven. No, in fact, it's an eight-attribute magic treasure! Look at the eight upturned eaves of the pavilion; it can draw in eight different attributes of spiritual qi into its interior. It is the finest portable spiritual herb garden in the world!" A five-attribute magic treasure was already exceedingly rare and difficult to forge. One that incorporated the three additional attributes of ice, wind, and lightning alongside the five elements was truly a rarity among rarities. What was more, this magic treasure had advanced to the rank of a True Artifact! A True Artifact was a magic treasure, but not all magic treasures were True Artifacts. An ordinary magic treasure could only amplify a cultivator's own magic power. Once a treasure reached the True Artifact rank, however, it could directly draw upon and even manipulate the external spiritual qi of heaven and earth, much like a Nascent Soul cultivator. This Penglai Octagonal Pavilion had clearly been crafted by a peak artifact-refining grandmaster taking advantage of this very property, intentionally forging it into a portable herb garden! Hearing Cave Master Moyun explain its origins and functions, Luo Chen could not help feeling intrigued. Yet out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Taisui wearing a dismissive expression. Luo Chen grew thoughtful. His gaze fell upon the earth beneath his feet. If this Land of the Fallen Demon was truly nothing more than a portable palace of Heaven Refining Demon Lord back in the day, then Wood Sky Plain was undoubtedly a supreme portable herb garden that utterly eclipsed the Penglai Octagonal Pavilion. Viewed in that light, it made complete sense why the Cave Master was so thrilled while Taisui remained unimpressed. During their brief exchange and contemplation, the battle below shifted once more. Seeing Yu Gao attempting to flee with the Penglai Octagonal Pavilion, how could the Myriad Immortals Association's three Eight-Star Demon Hunters just stand by? Forced back earlier, the Old Angler snorted coldly. With a flick of his black-gold fishing rod, the Tiancan Line shot through the air. *Snap!* The void trembled with a crisp whip-crack as the Tiancan Line lashed tightly around the octagonal pavilion. "The person may leave, but the pavilion stays!" Seeing this, Yu Gao snarled a harsh threat: "Does your Myriad Immortals Association truly wish to fight my Penglai Immortal Sect to the bitter end?" Hearing this, Zihou, having freed her hands, bounded into the air. "Then the person shouldn't leave either!" Several needles as fine as ox hair shot forth, melting into the void before abruptly reappearing and piercing instantly through Yu Gao's tattered robe. *Ch-ch-ch!* Yu Gao convulsed violently as countless jets of blood spurted from the puncture holes across his body. Right at this moment, the hollow's final clash was decided. Ghost Spirit Child walked out holding a severed head whose eyes remained wide in death. Witnessing this, Yu Gao's eyes nearly tore at the corners. "One day, I will personally lead my sect's armies to flatten the Myriad Immortals Association!" Accompanying those words was a flash of white radiance as his body fractured inch by inch in midair, dissolving into a flurry of white feathers. By the time the white light reappeared, it was already dozens of li away, flickering continuously as he pushed that bizarre escape technique to the utmost. Zihou intended to give chase, but before she had flown even a li, the Old Angler called her back. "Don't bother. That is the Penglai Immortal Sect's Feather Ascension Flight Technique. Without the specific means to counter it, you won't catch him." Zihou was reluctant. Leaving a tiger wounded only invited endless future trouble. The Penglai Immortal Sect was a colossal behemoth. The Old Angler, however, thought nothing of it. High-tier rogue cultivators like them were not afraid of being hunted by major sects. Besides, they had undertaken this trip on the orders of Yue Sanren. If there was any retaliation later, Yue Sanren would bear the brunt of it. And according to what he knew, Yue Sanren was suspected of having originally hailed from the Penglai Immortal Sect! "With the Penglai Octagonal Pavilion in hand, our hopes of forming a Nascent Soul are within reach!" The Old Angler smiled faintly and yanked his fishing rod, drawing the octagonal pavilion slowly toward them. Right at this moment, a colossal claw reached down from the clouds, abruptly seizing one of the upturned eaves. Empowered by titanic force, with a single wrench, it shattered the bonds of the Tiancan Line. Watching the octagonal pavilion fly upward, Zihou's expression changed drastically, but the distance was too great for her to catch up. The Old Angler, suffering backlash from his magic treasure and thrown into chaotic magic power, was also unable to act in time. Only Ghost Spirit Child, being both close at hand and having finished his fight while remaining on high alert, reacted. "Leave it behind!" He shot skyward. Only to crash back to earth before a thunderous silhouette. "So fast!" "So strong!" Two gasps of awe escaped simultaneously from Zihou and the Old Angler, laden with dread. Luo Chen looked down at the puddle of mashed flesh and blood on the ground, slowly retracting his right leg. Another Eight-Star Demon Hunter of the Myriad Immortals Association had fallen. Cradling the octagonal pavilion in his palm, he swept a cold gaze across the old man and the woman. "This treasure is fated with me. You have no objections, right?"