Chapter 192 - Arc 12: Ruyi Xianzhuang | Chapter 192: Contest
Translator: Lynn
Yun Lie noticed the grip of his hand, the five fingers strong and white, standing out due to the force applied. He extended his hand, placing it on the shoulder of the young man in green, and reassured, “Don’t panic, just observe.”
Xu Ziqing felt a warmth in his heart hearing this. So what if his senior brother didn’t fully grasp his feelings? To have this concern for him was more than satisfying. With this in mind, he loosened his grip on Yun Lie a bit but still held on. He lifted his head, continuing to observe the transformation of the Immortal Sacred Tree.
It turned out that just before the lightning struck, countless white auras had already gathered on the canopy of the Immortal Sacred Tree.
They swiftly transformed into dozens of forces, and in the darkness, several fist-sized light clusters ascended. Each light cluster seemed to incubate something extraordinarily strange and brimming with energy.
These light clusters were continuously forming, and some began to show clear prototypes visible to the naked eye.
Everyone recognized these as the Immortal Fruits condensing and ripening!
However, it was at this very moment that the thunderbolt was about to reach the top of the sacred tree, threatening to knock down all the Immortal Fruits before they could mature!
Suddenly, a slender woman materialized beside the Immortal Sacred Tree.
Her hair was as fluffy as a cloud, yet her aura was cold and expansive. Her garments fluttered, resembling a jade statue of a goddess, or simply an ordinary, powerless mortal. She stood there quietly, as if she never existed, yet eternally present.
In the blink of an eye, the woman moved.
She extended a bare hand, fingers slender and white, so perfect they hardly seemed real.
Yet, with this extremely petite and beautiful hand, the moment it stretched out, it transformed into a palm that reached for the sky and abruptly seized the thunderbolt!
“Crackle, boom!”
The thunderbolt was crushed to pieces by the snow-white palm in an instant.
Countless lightning fragments scattered in all directions, morphing into numerous thin lightning lines. Though the power was still significant, it was not as devastating as before!
Many cultivators on the sidelines immediately brought out their magic weapons, shattering the lightning or collecting it.
One person held a black gourd aloft, absorbing numerous tiny lightning bolts. The thunderbolts streamed into it, transforming into a fused thunderous fluid…
Various techniques were employed to handle this thunderous calamity.
However, all the cultivators who attended the Immortal Fruit Conference lusted after the Immortal Fruit, knowing not everyone could obtain it. Nevertheless, the fair held many other valuable benefits, ensuring they left with rich rewards!
After the thunderbolt passed, the thunder and lightning in the clouds seemed to sense the woman’s prowess. However, as it was a thunder tribulation, it wouldn’t retreat so easily.
In the next moment, five more lightning bolts descended together, all crushed by the giant hand, and the thunderbolts were seized by many cultivators around, collecting them to refine their magic weapons.
This was already the second lightning strike.
An immortal cultivator goes against the natural order in seeking immortality. If they aspire to become celestial beings, they challenge the heavens and undergo trials.
Among these, the forty-nine heavenly calamities are the most common set of trials for immortals.
The Immortal Sacred Tree can produce thirty-six Nascent Souls, and not all may have the potential to become immortals. Hence, the number of calamities it endures aligns with the most common number for immortals.
The so-called forty-nine heavenly calamities include four thunder calamities. The first is one thunder, the second is five, the third is twelve, and the fourth is eighteen.
Each time, the thunder grows denser and more potent, increasing nearly tenfold or a hundredfold.
That’s what makes it so formidable.
Soon, the second thunderstorm arrived, followed by a third.
The woman clearly couldn’t effortlessly grasp the twelve thunderbolts with one hand. So, she extended her other hand, encasing those thunderbolts in her palm, and crushed them one by one. Then came the fourth round, the eighteen thunderbolts. She abruptly conjured a massive curtain and drew them all in!
She emitted an enigmatic chant, and the curtain instantly transformed into a small package, palm-sized, hurled into her hand in an instant.
Indeed, during the fourth thunder tribulation, the most formidable thunderbolts were absorbed by the woman herself.
Thus far, the thunder calamity had safely passed, and the woman stood aloft in the sky, possessing a solemn treasure. Her whole being was impeccably harmonious, devoid of any flaws.
The formidable energy exuding from her seemed ordinary at a glance. However, upon closer scrutiny, it seemed akin to an ancient giant beast, possessing the power to almost engulf the sky!
Many people could clearly see her features now. She was undeniably beautiful and dignified, emanating a pure aura between her brows and eyes that made people feel an affinity for her. However, they dared not draw too close due to the magnetic allure she emanated.
When Xu Ziqing saw this, he arched his eyebrows slightly.
The woman’s appearance bore a striking resemblance to Mu Ronghua, albeit with exceedingly slender and long black eyebrows, imparting a softer aura. Unlike Mu Ronghua’s splendor, she exuded an air of dignity and a hint of heroism. Undoubtedly, she was the owner of Ruyi Xianzhuang, Mu Wuxin.
The stratus clouds in the sky gradually extended outward and dissipated, leaving everything clear and pristine once more, with the winds blowing brisk and bright.
At this juncture, the thirty-six light clusters finally took on a discernible form.
In the pitch-black canopy, faint glimpses of white fruits were visible, enshrouded in a light mist, obscuring their true appearance.
An extremely delicate yet timeless fragrance wafted through the air, lingering. The present cultivators couldn’t help but take a gentle sniff, and immediately, a refreshing breeze filled their nasal passages, permeating their chests and granting an overall sense of comfort.
At this moment, it seemed their cultivation and realm had all been elevated.
Those grappling with a bottleneck, long stuck at a certain stage and unable to break through, felt a fissure in that barrier.
This was the power of the Immortal Fruit. Just witnessing its ripening could be beneficial.
Many cultivators had finally waited for the Immortal Fruit to mature, and now they were all set to make their move.
Considering their status, this was their first time participating in this Immortal Fruit Conference, and they were uncertain about how to distribute the fruits. Should they compete for them, engage in a free-for-all, or perhaps there was another approach?
Many also wondered if it would be unfair if the estate owner distributed them all on their own.
Xu Ziqing took a deep breath. He knew that a low-ranking cultivator like him had no connection to this Immortal Fruit, but at this time, the wood energy was exceptionally potent and pure. Thus, he could absorb more and place it in his dantian, absorbing it slowly.
After all, it was a sacred tree that had existed for tens of thousands of years, and the wood energy it contained was a tremendous tonic for him. It wasn’t much inferior to the essence of Ethereal Wood he had absorbed.
Moreover, the Ethereal Wood was categorized a second wood; yin, and the first wood was yang. This towering sacred tree represented a type of first wood.
It was immensely beneficial for him to harmonize the yin and yang in his body…
While Xu Ziqing was engrossed in utilizing his exercises to absorb wood energy, Mu Wuxin, positioned in the void, moved once more.
She extended her plain hand, revealing an exquisite box in her palm. It had the appearance of gold but wasn’t quite gold, resembling jade yet not entirely so. It exuded an ancient and substantial aura.
Mu Wuxin delicately parted her red lips, softly reciting a few words, and then waved her sleeves. The Immortal Fruits on the sacred tree transformed into thirty-six luminous spots and rapidly flew toward her.
Swiftly, Mu Wuxin opened the box, promptly ingesting all the Immortal Fruits, and then securely closed the box.
This was a harvesting of all the fruits.
Numerous cultivators gazed up at Mu Wuxin, a sense of eagerness apparent in their expressions.
As Mu Wuxin turned around, she had already entered the swiftly opening crack in the void.
At this moment, another female cultivator from the Golden Core Formation stage leaped up and declared loudly, “Per the rules of Ruyi Xianzhuang Immortal Fruit Conference, I invite all the cultivators to gather at the sacred tree to ingest the sacred tree seeds. Among them, the eighteen Daoists who collect the most sacred tree seeds will receive the Immortal Fruits of our Ruyi Xianzhuang.”
“Three breaths have passed, please proceed!” As she finished speaking, she gracefully moved aside.
It turned out that while everyone was captivated by the lightning calamity and the soon-to-be-formed whirling fruits, numerous sacred tree seeds had silently sprouted on the crown of the tree.
These divine tree seeds, occurring once every ten thousand years, wouldn’t form until just before the thunder calamity.
The so-called Immortal Fruit was also based on the sacred tree seeds, amassing the essence of the sacred tree and the quintessence of the five elements. However, in the vast array of seeds, only thirty-six sacred tree seeds could bear fruit, and after a while, the rest withered away.
At this point, many heroes adhered to Ruyi Xianzhuang’s rules, striving to seize as many seeds as possible within this brief moment. Ultimately, the victor would be determined by quantity. This would preserve harmony and prevent the antagonization of Ruyi Xianzhuang, offering these heroes additional benefits.
Even if they didn’t secure the Immortal Fruit in the end, these seeds would serve as compensation—though not as extraordinary as the Immortal Fruit, the sacred tree seeds were still exceptional wood-type spiritual items. Acquiring more of them would allow Golden Core to form easily.
Once the female cultivator fell back, many cultivators sprung into action.
Xu Ziqing hastily released Yun Lie and took a few steps backward. In the next moment, Yun Lie ascended into the sky, heading towards the sacred tree.
Suddenly, innumerable cultivators leaped into the air. Compared to the massive sacred tree, their figures seemed minuscule, resembling moths drawn to the flame!
Soon, the mid-air became a dense mass of cultivators.
Witnessing this spectacular sight, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel astonished.
Previously, encountering a Golden Core Daoist, he had sensed an overwhelming and unattainable presence. Yet now, he saw hundreds, even more Golden Core Daoists, appearing like raindrops, innumerable in number.
He observed these real people employing various techniques, offering countless magic weapons mid-air, knocking down their adversaries and leaving them behind. Some skillfully avoided the attacks around them, using their agility or expending spells to increase their speed and approach closer.
This vast formation was truly dazzling, and the dexterity displayed by the countless real people was truly astonishing.
However, Xu Ziqing merely cast a cursory glance and didn’t dwell on them. His entire focus was fixed on a white figure at the forefront.
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