I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 177 The Essence of Jiamu
Ying Chan followed Lan Zhizi on a tour of Lingzhao Mountain. They did not see the sea of ​​clouds, but they did see several other spectacular sights.

It must be said that Lingzhao Mountain is indeed a place for quiet cultivation. Even if it cannot compare to a fairyland, it can still be considered a blessed land.

Unfortunately, Ying Chan's purpose in leaving the mountain this time was to travel the world, and he would not stay here for long.

After enjoying himself to the fullest that day, he bid farewell to Lanzhizi and left Lingzhao Mountain.

In the blink of an eye, the moon and stars shifted, and suddenly a thunderclap exploded.

It was the sound of spring thunder.

Ying Chan then realized that half a year had passed since he left the mountain.

After the first spring thunder, a sudden downpour followed.

Soon, the world was shrouded in mist and rain, and many sounds were drowned out by the sound of the pouring rain.

However, Ying Chan could also sense that in this stillness, all things were awakening and bursting with life.

He was currently in an unnamed mountain forest, where inspiration was scarce.

But it was precisely because of this that Ying Chan noticed this extremely subtle change and benefited from it.

At this moment, Ying Chan had completely forgotten himself, as if he had merged into this mountain forest, feeling the vitality brought by the changing seasons. The Green Wood Longevity Talisman in his Dharma Aperture also seemed to have produced a different kind of brilliance.

Among the Five Elements, Ying Chan excels in water and fire, is slightly less proficient in metal, and is roughly equal in wood and earth.

However, after today, his understanding of the wooden method should have improved to some extent.

After the rain stopped, Ying Chan set off again.

He spent two days walking through these mountains and forests, and to have gained this insight, the trip was worthwhile.

Therefore, he had already decided to leave, and so he rode the wind and tried to escape.

However, he paused mid-air as he saw flames flickering on the mountaintop not far away.

Ying Chan changed his mind and flew towards the mountaintop, where he soon saw the whole view.

It turns out that there was a giant tree on the mountaintop that had been struck by lightning and caught fire. The fire was raging and had spread to every branch.

However, amidst the raging flames, this giant tree gleamed with a hazy blue light, desperately resisting the burning.

It turned out to be a giant tree that had come to life.

It is extremely difficult for trees to become spirits, far beyond the reach of birds and beasts, and only below inanimate objects like gold, iron, jade, and stone.

It is truly rare to encounter a giant tree that has come to life in this otherwise ordinary mountain forest.

Moreover, judging from his cultivation, he has clearly already achieved a certain level of prowess.

As Ying Chan looked at the giant tree, he couldn't help but think of the 'Tree Brother' in the Taoist academy.

I wonder how Brother Shu is doing? And how are the old friends from the Taoist academy doing?

Unfortunately, to prevent interference with the cultivation of the disciples in the Taoist academy, disciples who have already joined the sect are usually not allowed to have contact with the disciples in the Taoist academy.

Although this rule is not strict, just like their contact with Feng Xufeng at the Yunfang Dharma Assembly back then, there is still room for negotiation.

However, in our opinion, there is no need to try to find a way to bypass it.

Therefore, since he joined the sect, he has not seen his friends from the Taoist academy for a long time.

Ying Chan's thoughts drifted for a moment before returning to the present.

Such a giant tree, it's not easy for it to become a spirit, it's a pity that it was destroyed by lightning and fire.

But this is also an opportunity for them. If they can overcome this tribulation, their future cultivation will be much smoother.

Therefore, Ying Chan had no intention of helping it extinguish the thunder and fire.

For cultivators, however, lightning-struck wood is a rare and precious material. A giant tree like this, if transformed into lightning-struck wood, would be even more valuable. Ying Chan naturally disdained to destroy this giant tree's cultivation of hundreds or even thousands of years for this purpose, but others might not feel the same way.

"That's all."

Looking at the giant tree in the raging fire, Ying Chan thought to himself, "It just so happens that I am passing by; perhaps it is fate that brought you here."

"Today I will protect you."

With a flick of his sleeve, he released a cloud of energy, then took out his personal Taoist book and sat down cross-legged on the cloud, quietly reading the book and waiting.

Unexpectedly, this "guarding" lasted for several days and nights.

By the second day, the thunder and lightning had almost died down, but unexpectedly, spring thunder accompanied the rain again.

Whether it was simply bad luck or because it grew too high and its wood energy was too strong, this giant tree once again attracted a bolt of lightning.

The thunder and fire that had been extinguished reignited and burned fiercely once more.

This time, the giant tree's aura could no longer be resisted; many branches and leaves were burned, and its trunk was charred and cracked.

However, Ying Chan sensed its vitality and it never died out, so he patiently waited for it.

During this period, some monks also passed through this mountain forest.

Ying Chan did not want to test human nature, nor did he want the giant tree to still suffer calamity after he left, so he used illusion magic to conceal the scene.

Those cultivators were not particularly skilled, and as expected, they did not notice anything unusual.

Thus, after three days and three nights.

The lightning finally went out, leaving only a few withered branches and not a single leaf on the giant tree, its trunk charred and cracked in many places.

Fortunately, it still retains vitality and its wood energy is pure, indicating that it has survived this ordeal. It is expected that within a year or two, it should be able to be reborn and quickly regain its towering and lush appearance.

Upon seeing this, Ying Chan nodded secretly, quite pleased, feeling that his three days of waiting had not been in vain.

He thought for a moment, then flew down from the clouds and landed in front of the giant tree. He smiled and said, "I've protected you for a while, so please don't take offense at my small reward."

As he spoke, he tore off a large piece of charred bark from the trunk of the giant tree.

This item has been refined by thunder and fire and wood energy over a long period of time, making it a superior talisman paper.

Of course, for this giant tree, it was something that was destined to shed its shed form, so it should be extracted, and there is no shame in doing so.

He collected the bark, feeling that his business here was done, and prepared to set off again.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, a blue light suddenly emerged from the giant tree, so dense it seemed to drip water.

Ying Chan's heart stirred, and he quickly raised one hand. He saw the cyan light completely detach from the tree trunk and fly into his palm with a 'whoosh,' transforming into a clear, amber-like cyan bead.

"This is……?"

Ying Chan pondered, "The essence of Jia wood?"

The essence of Jia wood, formed from the condensed essence of a giant tree that has cultivated for a thousand years, is naturally a treasure.

For Ying Chan, it would be of great use whether for cultivating spells or refining magical artifacts, and could also be used to refine the form and quality of the Qiankun Bow...

His Qiankun Bow was originally forged from lightning-struck wood, and later refined with the essence of a hundred-year-old tree. If this Jia wood essence were added, it would be enough to refine it into a high-grade magic weapon.

Ying Chan knew he couldn't refuse, but since the essence of the Jia wood had already been condensed, it wasn't certain that the giant tree could reclaim it.

Therefore, he simply stroked the giant tree lightly, infusing it with a wisp of green wood's life-giving energy, and said, "Thank you."

A faint blue light emanated from the giant tree, vanishing in an instant, as if in response.

Upon seeing this, Ying Chan smiled slightly, put away the Jiamu Essence, and with a flick of his sleeve, flew away on the wind.

(End of this chapter)