Chapter 529: Chapter 529

The saying "Every encounter is destiny," is something that Zhouyang believes in.

Whether it was meeting Jiang Fengxian again in the Kunxu Realm, or being saved by Lu Xuanji at this critical moment, both are acts of fate.

Though he has some doubts about Lu Xuanji generously allowing them to choose three additional treasures, he agrees with the old saying that one should not refuse the grace offered by elders.

No matter what Lu Xuanji’s intentions are, as juniors, they find it isn’t proper to decline.

After expressing their gratitude, the two of them began to pick out their preferred treasures from the relics of the Wood Demon.

The relics of the Wood Demon included quite a few Tier Six Spiritual Objects, but Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian knew their limits and did not touch those things, instead selecting desirable items among the Tier Five Spiritual Objects that they could use.

Zhouyang first chose a fist-sized piece of golden Spiritual Gold among them. This item, called "Geng Metal," is a rare spiritual object that, when added to any flying sword, can enhance its sharpness by several levels.

For the remaining two treasures, he skipped over the spirit elixirs and magical artifacts, and instead examined the jade scrolls stored in the storage ring.

The Wood Demon once was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and trapped in the Kunxu Realm for more than two thousand years, he had killed many cultivators who entered the realm seeking treasures. His storage ring contained numerous jade scrolls.

Zhouyang even discovered several complete high-tier techniques and many divine techniques cultivation methods that caught his eye among them.

"Hmm, this is... Well, there’s truly no effort in finding it when you least expect it!"

Suddenly, Zhouyang’s Divine Sense stopped on a certain jade scroll, and he grasped it tightly, his eyes full of surprise.

It turned out the secret technique recorded in this jade scroll was none other than the complete version of "Great Derivation Sword Technique"!

The complete "Great Derivation Sword Technique" consists of four layers, usable up to the Nascent Soul Stage. Zhouyang learned the "Great Derivation Sword Technique" from the Purple Mansion cultivator Jia Yunzhen of Zhenyue Immortal City, but it was only a partial fragment, containing only the first two layers, missing the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Stage’s third and fourth layers.

Back then, when he was taught the sword technique by Jia Yunzhen, he also attempted to find the remaining half upon her request, but over the years he had no success.

He even consulted Master Cyan Yang, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, on this matter, but even with Master Cyan Yang’s knowledge, he couldn’t offer any help.

Now, his cultivation has reached the Golden Core Stage, and the incomplete "Great Derivation Sword Technique" has become essentially useless, offering little help in his magical combat.

Zhouyang had even planned to find a new sword technique to cultivate after leaving the Kunxu Realm.

Unexpectedly, in such circumstances, he found the complete version of the "Great Derivation Sword Technique" among the Wood Demon’s relics. Isn’t this truly a case of effortless gain when least expected!

Afterward, he continued searching through the storage ring and discovered six Tier Five Lower Grade flying sword spiritual artifacts and twelve Tier Four Upper Grade flying swords that complement the "Great Derivation Sword Technique."

The difference is that these six Tier Five Lower Grade flying swords and those Tier Four Upper Grade flying swords are all wood attribute flying swords, not suitable for a cultivator like him who practices Extreme Yang Attribute Techniques.

Thus, he regretfully passed over these items and selected a secret technique named "Green Blood Soul-Burning Technique" among the many cultivation techniques and secrets.

The "Green Blood Soul-Burning Technique" serves a similar purpose to the demonic secret technique "Blood Boiling Technique" he used before, as both involve burning essence blood and the divine soul to temporarily enhance cultivation and magical power.

The difference is "Green Blood Soul-Burning Technique" is only cultivable by Golden Core Stage cultivators, and its side effects are considerably less severe compared to "Blood Boiling Technique".

Being suppressed so easily by the Wood Demon left Zhouyang with significant psychological trauma. As soon as he saw the "Green Blood Soul-Burning Technique," he immediately decided to acquire it.

With this secret technique in hand, should he encounter a similar situation in the future, he’d rather burn all his essence blood and divine soul to fight the enemy to the death than leave his fate in the enemy’s hands, subject to slaughter.

At this moment, Zhouyang turned to look at Jiang Fengxian.

She chose completely different treasures, first taking the cyan-black crystal left after the Wood Demon’s death, then selecting a Tier Five High-grade Demon Pill and a Five-color Cloud Grass Tier Five Spirit Elixir.

Sensing Zhouyang’s gaze, Jiang Fengxian glared at him fiercely, coldly storing the items and turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile, knowing she was still upset about what happened a few days ago.

In this matter, he felt helpless and very aggrieved.

Is it his fault that his physical body is strong?

Who knew the silver poison refined by the Wood Demon would be so potent!

Of course, these things are certainly not what Jiang Fengxian would think, since it was she who got hurt after all.

Lu Xuanji saw the young pair exchanging looks but didn’t care in the slightest.

After Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian finished picking their items, he collected the rest of the storage rings and asked Zhouyang, "There’s still more than a year before the Kunxu Realm closes, where do you plan to go next?"

Zhouyang, upon hearing this, quickly suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and respectfully replied, "I dare not deceive you, Elder. After entering the Kunxu Realm, the two of us luckily acquired a map from a group of evildoers, which led us to learn about the existence of the Holy Infant Valley. This time, we ventured through the Celestial Rift Canyon in hopes of trying our luck there!"

"The Holy Infant Valley is something I am familiar with as well. The Holy Infant Fruit inside is indeed a rare object in this realm. However, the thing guarding the Holy Infant Fruit is not easy to deal with. It’s quite difficult to obtain such a treasure from its hands!"

Lu Xuanji shook his head, saying the word "difficult" three times. From his words, it was clear that he knew quite well about the situation in the Holy Infant Valley.

Upon hearing his words, Zhouyang would certainly not pass up the chance to gain insider information and quickly seized the opportunity to ask for advice.

Lu Xuanji did not hide anything from him and immediately explained the situation to him.

It turned out that the Holy Infant Fruit in the Holy Infant Valley was a treasure deliberately left by the Celestial Immortals to bless future generations.

However, the Holy Infant Fruit is extremely precious. To prevent such a treasure from being wasted in the hands of the inept, those Celestial Immortals specifically left behind means to test the cultivators picking the fruit and placed a formidable being to guard the fruit tree, preventing any cultivator from taking the fruit tree out of the Kunxu Realm.

According to Lu Xuanji, the being guarding the Holy Infant Fruit, although also at the Nascent Soul Stage, possesses the formation control power of the Holy Infant Valley. Even if all the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators entering the Kunxu Realm attacked simultaneously, they would not be able to break the grand array to defeat it.

Moreover, because of this guardian’s presence, Nascent Soul Stage cultivators dare not step into the Holy Infant Valley even half a step.

Listening to Lu Xuanji’s words, Zhouyang felt his heart grow cold.

Although he knew that such a treasure as the Holy Infant Fruit would surely be difficult to acquire, he had not expected this kind of inside story to exist.

"But you need not be too disappointed. As I know, each time the Holy Infant Valley opens, the methods for testing cultivators are different. Although you and this young girl have low cultivation, your talents are high. If it involves tests of cultivation talent and aptitude, you might have a chance of passing!"

Perhaps detecting Zhouyang’s concern, Lu Xuanji contemplated for a moment before offering him a word of comfort.

Hearing this, Zhouyang showed no sign of happiness.

Talent is not something that those who reach the Golden Core Stage lack.

Moreover, the concept is rather broad. Speaking of cultivation talent, Zhouyang’s Qianyang Treasure Body cannot compare to Jiang Fengxian’s Green Wood Spirit Body, but when it comes to talent in magical combat, it might be a different story.

Regardless, hearing Lu Xuanji’s words, Zhouyang still harbored a glimmer of hope in his heart.

He glanced at Jiang Fengxian not far away.

Moreover, even if his own talent is slightly lacking, even if it is not for himself, just for Jiang Fengxian, Zhouyang would not give up the journey to the Holy Infant Valley.

So, he collected his thoughts and solemnly bowed to Lu Xuanji, saying, "Thank you, Elder Lu, for dispelling my doubts. I truly don’t know how to repay you. As I have said before, if you ever need assistance, I will never refuse!"

"Since you say so, I won’t hide it from you. After leaving the Kunxu Realm, I do indeed have something that requires your help!" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net

"Elder Qingyang should have mentioned something about this to you before. Am I right?"

Lu Xuanji looked at Zhouyang with an indifferent expression.

Upon hearing his words, Zhouyang was momentarily taken aback, then replied calmly and firmly, "Elder Lu, you are correct. Elder Qingyang indeed told me that after forming my core, I should visit him for a task."

"That’s right. Now I ask you, are you willing to help me with this task?"

Lu Xuanji slightly nodded, directly requesting Zhouyang to state his stance.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang’s expression changed slightly.

Lu Xuanji is a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Stage Half-Step True Immortal. That even he needs help with must be extremely difficult and risky.

With Zhouyang’s mere First-Layer Golden Core cultivation mingling in such matters of the elite, it is hard to believe there would be no life-threatening danger.

In the face of such a life-and-death matter, it would be strange if his expression didn’t change.

Lu Xuanji did not question him on this but simply looked at him calmly, waiting for his response.

"Elder Qingyang has enlightened me and even bestowed treasures to save my life. And now, Elder Lu has similarly saved my life. Without the help of these two elders, I would have perished long ago!"

"Though I am not talented, I understand the gratitude for even a drop of kindness should be repaid with an overflowing spring. Since I have received the favors of these two elders, I must spare no effort and be willing to serve them, even unto death!"

"Therefore, Elder Lu, if you do not mind my low cultivation, I am willing to serve at your convenience!"

Zhouyang looked at Lu Xuanji with a steadfast gaze, declaring his stance with fervor and a resounding voice.