Tianhai Fairy Journey

Chapter 1342 An unexpected gain
In the central battlefield deep within the heavens and earth.

An unimaginable torrent of spiritual energy crashed against the heavens and earth like a monstrous wave, distorting the space in the core area.

Even in such a cruel environment.

Countless figures continued to move about, vying for the torn fragments of fifth-tier Dao-possessing artifacts.

At the center of the two collapsing Dao-based minor worlds, each transformed into a battlefield.

Apart from the few late-stage Nascent Soul experts who left due to injuries, the remaining group of even stronger late-stage Nascent Soul experts began to fight fiercely over the fifth-order Dao-possessing artifact fragments.

Various ancient supernatural powers and secret techniques were revealed to the world.

Almost every appearance of a fifth-order Dao essence light would trigger a frenzied scramble.

In one of the battlefields.

A crimson aura of spiritual energy was rapidly enveloped by a large expanse of purple clouds.

Before the purple clouds could be swept away, two round moon-shaped magical treasures surrounded them, and a vast crimson blade instantly erupted, cutting through the heavens and earth, and the purple clouds vanished in an instant.

At the same time, a crimson giant of flames stepped out into the air.

"I want this fifth-tier fragment!"

A majestic and domineering voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

The next moment, the Flame Giant suddenly raised its palm and slammed it down, unleashing streaks of crimson lightning that instantly forced a purple-robed figure back.

Just as the Flame Giant was about to seize the crimson spiritual light,

Two figures, one in black and one in white, appeared simultaneously.

"Yin Yang Slash!"

Two massive black and white swords converged and slashed horizontally towards the Flame Giant.

"Damn it, it's the Yin Yang Ancient Hua Sect!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, the middle-aged man inside the Flame Giant's expression changed drastically, but he ultimately retreated quickly, still unwilling to give up.

With the two members of the Yin-Yang Ancient Hua Sect joining forces, their combat power is undoubtedly among the best on the entire battlefield. It is likely that only the experts from the Dao Ling Sect and the Reincarnation Palace can contend with them.

Just then, the Flame Giant withdrew on its own initiative.

Suddenly, I saw a battlefield nearby.

Several late-stage Nascent Soul experts engaged in fierce combat, vying for a fragment of a fifth-tier Dao-attribute artifact.

And at this crucial moment of their struggle.

Suddenly, a golden light burst forth from a corner of the battlefield, and countless golden mounds fell simultaneously, instantly forming a golden passage that swept away the fifth-order Dao artifact fragment.

"Leave!!"

A series of angry roars rang out simultaneously.

Several late-stage Nascent Soul experts instantly reached a consensus and launched an attack on the golden light simultaneously.

An ancient golden mask appeared between heaven and earth, directly blocking numerous massive attacks, and then quickly escaped.

"It's that rogue cultivator on the Heavenly Ranking!"

The middle-aged man inside the Flame Giant shook his head secretly, then accelerated and rushed in another direction.

In this struggle for fragments of fifth-tier Dao artifacts, although strength is still paramount, it is not just a test of direct combat power, but also involves various other methods and trump cards.
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A corner of the battlefield's outskirts.

A figure in cyan robes descended silently, its aura concealed.

Streaks of blue light rippled out and then completely merged into the world.

The entire area resembled a silent abyss, devoid of any sign of life.

Li Qing sat up cross-legged.

The Tianshui ship was rapidly turning around.

The surging water-based spiritual energy continuously gathered, rapidly transforming into pure mana to replenish the nearly depleted dantian.

At this moment, the disputes in the outside world have nothing to do with him anymore.

During the process of killing two major source spirits in succession, he had already consumed most of his mana due to the continuous use of the power of the Sea-Suppressing Pearl. In the fierce battle to kill True Monarch Hanqing, his mana was almost completely exhausted.

Even his soul became increasingly weak due to the use of the Heavenly Curse Crystal.

Even if new opportunities arise from the outside world, he is no longer able to participate in the competition in his current state.

Of course, he has already gained a lot from this operation.

If it weren't for the tremendous changes in the world, he wouldn't even be qualified to peek at the Dao Source Stones, let alone obtain three Dao Source Stones.

Furthermore, the greatest gain naturally came from all of Han Qing Zhenjun's wealth.

"What went unnoticed has unexpectedly yielded a fragment of a fifth-tier wood-type artifact!"

A faint smile appeared on Li Qing's face.

This also explains, from another perspective, why Han Qing Zhenjun's injuries were so severe.

Clearly, he also paid a heavy price when he fought for the fragments of the fifth-order Dao artifact.

Unbeknownst to him, the gains he made on this trip far exceeded those of most late-stage Nascent Soul experts who had entered the Sealed Heaven Realm.

The value of that fifth-order wood-type artifact fragment alone is unimaginable.

That was a heavenly opportunity that would cause a group of late-stage Nascent Soul experts to fight each other to the death.

It seemed like he had thought of something.

A peculiar meaning flickered in Li Qing's eyes.

Besides the direct spoils of war, this move had another significance for him.

This was the first time he had directly killed a true late-stage Nascent Soul expert using his own strength.

Before this, although the Zheng family patriarch of the Bianyu Sea had also fallen at his hands, it was more due to the power of the Zhenhai Pearl than to his personal strength.

This encounter also gave him a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Even though he hasn't broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage, with the blessing of the Sea-Suppressing Pearl and his own various methods, his true strength is enough to fight a typical late Nascent Soul stage expert head-on.

Although Han Qing Zhenjun had already suffered severe injuries before his death, his strength was still far beyond that of ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

"This battle can be considered a perfect ending to my current cultivation level!"

Li Qing felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

This should be his last all-out battle before entering the late Nascent Soul stage.

Without a doubt, he has once again gained the ability to challenge opponents of higher levels.

They crossed the insurmountable gap in cultivation realms, as rumored in the outside cultivation world.

In fact, he valued the significance of this battle more than the superficial spoils of war. He valued his path of cultivation more than external possessions.

Li Qing reached out and waved.

Two blue beams of light and one cyan beam of light appeared simultaneously.

During this brief respite, he was finally able to properly examine the three Dao Source Stones he had obtained.

It is no coincidence.

The shapes of the three Dao Source Stones are similar to the shapes of the Source Spirit nurtured inside the Dao Light Cluster.

The first obtained Dao Source Stone is in the shape of a normal spirit fish.

Countless subtle, dark blue Dao patterns intertwined to form the mark of the Origin Spirit, constantly wandering within it. The radiant Dao essence, almost tangible, flickered continuously.

Li Qing's heart stirred slightly, and his divine soul power actively enveloped the Dao Source Stone.

In an instant, he felt as if he had entered a vast and endless blue ocean.

The fish-shaped mark transformed into an unimaginable behemoth, swimming in that vast ocean.

At this moment, Li Qing fully understood the significance of the Dao Source Stone.

As the colossal spirit fish swam, it began to reveal various vast powers of the Water Dao, its power more directly and nakedly exposed before him. The situation was similar to when he entered the illusory Water Dao of the Sea-Suppressing Pearl to comprehend it, but compared to that, the Water Dao power inside the Dao Source Stone was more refined and subtle, and various insights into the Water Dao automatically flooded into his mind.

"That's a bit of a pity!"

Li Qing forcibly broke free from his state of enlightenment and gently shook his head.

As rumored, Dao Source Stones can indeed help late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators accelerate their comprehension of the Great Dao, but their effectiveness is less than he expected.

Just as cultivators comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, the branches of the Great Dao power within each Dao Source Stone are also different.

Unless one can obtain a large number of Dao Source Stones, or happen to obtain Dao Source Stones that perfectly match the Dao that the cultivator cultivates, only then can they provide tremendous assistance.

As if he had thought of something, Li Qing smiled and shook his head.

Those at the late Nascent Soul stage are already among the strongest in this world, and their greatest pursuit is to reach the Great Cultivator realm, which represents the limits of heaven and earth.

For powerful individuals at this level, most opportunities and treasures in the world are meaningless.

The Dao Source Stone is already one of the few treasures that can help them accelerate their cultivation.

From this perspective, the Dao Source Stone is absolutely worth the frantic competition among late-stage Nascent Soul experts.

After putting away the three Dao Source Stones.

Another treasure shaped like a green sapling fell down.

It originated from the small grotto world of True Monarch Hanqing.

A powerful surge of divine consciousness rapidly entered it.

"Besides that fifth-tier Dao artifact fragment, there are also three wood-type Dao source stones, which is not a bad haul."

Immediately afterwards, Li Qing also began to thoroughly investigate the background of Han Qing Zhenjun.

Inside the small grotto-heaven world, there were a large number of rare wood-type spiritual objects, as well as three high-grade wood-type magic treasures, each with considerable depth. Of course, what attracted Li Qing's attention even more was the various ancient secret manuals and cultivation techniques stored inside.

"Azure Wood Transformation Technique - Earth Rank Low-Grade Inheritance!"

"Not bad, there's even a Wood-type Earth-rank inherited cultivation technique. It seems to be one of the Hanqing True Monarch's own collection techniques!"

A smile appeared on Li Qing's lips.

In this way, the Thousand Waters Spirit Control Sect has collected all the other five elemental inheritances except for the metal-type earth-rank inheritance.

At this moment.

A cyan spiritual cloud barrier in the center of the small grotto-heaven world caught his attention.

Beneath this specially arranged barrier, a unique deep blue spirit tree was growing.

It was only about ten feet tall, and its seemingly thin trunk appeared to be teeming with a vast life force of wood.

Around it, nearly a hundred top-grade wood-element spirit stones were connected to form a special magic array.

Unimaginable wood-elemental spiritual energy continuously converged towards that deep blue spiritual tree under the effect of the great formation.

After Li Qing continued to probe deeper with his divine soul power, he quickly noticed something different.

But what they saw was that seemingly unremarkable dark blue spirit tree, which had actually extended its massive and dense roots into every corner of the small cave treasure.

What's even more special is that each root is like it's cast in gold and jade, shining with unparalleled brilliance, and exuding a domineering aura.

Within the space where the deep blue spirit tree was located, there was also a round platform on which an ancient jade slip was placed.

"The Myriad Earth Elemental Wood: The Method for Cultivating Natal Spiritual Wood"

Li Qing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise and delight.

"The Secret Technique of Wood Transformation!"

"I never expected that there would be such a legacy in Evergreen Valley!"

What truly surprised him was not the Myriad Earth Origin Tree, but the contents recorded in the jade slip.

Besides the various methods and secret techniques for cultivating the Myriad Earth Elemental Wood, the jade slip also mentioned another hidden secret.

That is the secret technique of wood incarnation passed down in Evergreen Valley.

Once one cultivates that secret method, one can choose a type of spiritual wood to fuse with oneself, using the vitality of the spiritual plant to nourish oneself, thereby achieving the goal of prolonging life.

That Myriad Earth Origin Tree was precisely what True Monarch Hanqing had prepared for himself.

The Myriad Earth Origin Wood is a legendary ancient spiritual wood. Its greatest value lies in its ability to nurture almost unimaginable wood-based life force.

"Common origin and common birth, the tree perishes and the Tao vanishes!"

Li Qing said slowly and softly.

Unexpectedly, True Monarch Hanqing brought him another new surprise.

"In this way, Ziyu will no longer need to forcefully break through to the Nascent Soul realm on her own!"

Once she cultivates this secret technique, coupled with the special power of the Myriad Earth Elemental Wood, it should be enough to extend Mu Ziyu's lifespan to a thousand years, forcibly crossing the lifespan limit of the Golden Core realm.

Of course, such methods will also have other limitations.

Once one practices these secret methods, it means that one will be forever inseparable from one's natal spirit tree.

As the saying goes, "A person thrives when they move, but a tree dies when it's moved."

After cultivating, Mu Ziyu can only move within the area where her natal spirit tree grows.

"Compared to forcibly attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, this secret technique is more suitable for Zi Yu!"

Li Qing gently shook his head.

Mu Ziyu was not naturally gifted, and later, in order to enter the Golden Core realm, she damaged her Dao foundation, making her hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage extremely slim.

More importantly, even if he were to find a treasure to refine her talent in the future, it would be difficult to help Mu Ziyu enter the Nascent Soul realm.

Because Mu Ziyu had long since lost her true heart for cultivation.

The emergence of the Wood Incarnation Secret Technique can be considered as helping Mu Ziyu obtain the lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator through another means.

"This can be considered as finding a new path for it!"

A thoughtful look appeared in Li Qing's eyes.

Although we received this news, there is another important matter.

The jade slip did not record the secret method of the Wood Incarnation; only the Evergreen Valley possessed that inheritance.

However, the Wood Incarnation Secret Technique is a very core inheritance even within Evergreen Valley, and it is impossible for it to be leaked.

"Evergreen Valley!"

Li Qing looked thoughtful.

According to the agreement he made with True Monarch Hanqing before his death, their past grievances had long been wiped clean.

Obtaining this inheritance is probably not easy.

It should be noted that there is a powerful cultivator presiding over Evergreen Valley.

"There's no rush!"

"Right now, Ziyu is still far from reaching the end of her lifespan. It's not too late to make plans after I break through to the late Nascent Soul stage."

Li Qing's expression returned to calm.

A streak of azure light slowly appeared.

It was that fragment of a fifth-tier Dao-entrusting artifact, the very opportunity that True Monarch Hanqing had risked his own serious injury to seize, yet now it had become a scapegoat for him.

"This seems more like a fragment of a wooden core. It appears that the fifth-order Dao-inheriting artifact nurtured within the azure Dao-infused small world is indeed a wooden core!"

Li Qing slowly opened his palm.

A piece of wood core then fell, almost the size of a palm.

The seemingly broken pieces of wood did not feel broken at all; instead, they were perfectly integrated, exuding an ancient aura.

"Ancestor Cangyu once said that to break through to the Great Cultivator realm, one needs a fifth-order spiritual object of heaven and earth as a vessel to support one's Dao, so that it can withstand the erosion of the power of the Great Dao. I wonder if this fifth-order fragment of heaven and earth comprehension can serve the same purpose."

(End of this chapter)