Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 108 - 86 Major Discovery! [First Update, Ask for Monthly Pass!]

Chapter 108: Chapter 86 Major Discovery! [First Update, Ask for Monthly Pass!]

"Too arrogant!"

Far away on Mingtang Mountain, Chen Jichuan frowned as he watched Tushan Ji laughing recklessly.

The Martial Alliance had been established for a month.

Biqing Cliff lingered nearby without taking any substantial action, possibly gathering strength.

Now, with Tushan Ji so smug and out of control, it likely meant war was imminent.

The Martial Alliance didn’t have much time left.

But Tushan Ji indeed had reason to be arrogant—

With the help of the Golden Crowned Divine Eagle, he could remain airborne during battle and take down enemy experts and commanders with arrows from above.

By then, the army would lose its leaders, and the enemy forces would descend into chaos.

"If they attack the Martial Alliance—"

Chen Jichuan furrowed his brows even deeper.

Originally, even if Biqing Cliff launched an attack, he was confident he could hold them off for a few months. After that time, his strength would have grown, and he wouldn’t fear the experts of Biqing Cliff.

But now, with Tushan Ji acquiring the Golden Crowned Divine Eagle, the Martial Alliance would be unable to resist if war broke out.

The Martial Alliance would fall.

Both the Black Prison and the Water Mansion would also be handed over, something Chen Jichuan could not tolerate.

"Strike first to gain the advantage?"

A thought flashed through Chen Jichuan’s mind, but he immediately shook his head.

This Tushan Ji had mastered the "Beast Taming Technique," clearly an Immortal art. Who knew if he had a powerful master behind him? He was proficient in all kinds of killing techniques—fast or slow, righteous or wicked.

But if Tushan Ji truly had someone backing him—

To recklessly use a magic spell and suffer backlash was a small matter. Being tracked down and killed would be catastrophic.

This could not be ignored.

"Better wait and see."

Countless Daoist spells flashed through Chen Jichuan’s mind, but in the end, he dared not use any of them.

...

Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Chen Jichuan’s thoughts turned to Yangg Qiu’s "Talismanic Skill" and Tushan Ji’s "Beast Taming Technique," and he felt a clawing curiosity: "Where did they learn these from?"

These were true Immortal arts.

Unlike martial arts like the Divine Pouncing Saber or Yin Yang Chaos Blade, they transcended the realm of the mundane. By comparison, Chen Jichuan’s Daoist skills were somewhat inferior.

This made Chen Jichuan even more cautious but also curious—

"Could there be hidden Immortal Cultivation Sects in this world, unknown to others?"

"Or could the two of them have stumbled upon an Immortal cultivator’s legacy by chance?"

If it were the latter, there was no need to overly fear Yangg Qiu or Tushan Ji.

If it were the former, Chen Jichuan would have to lay low!

But regardless of the truth—

This world was not safe.

"It would be best to find a backer."

Leaning on a big tree provides shade.

Under a great tree, one could gain protection, conceal oneself, and also gain a broader perspective to view the world from higher ground, acting with insight rather than ignorance.

After much deliberation—

"Oh?"

A sudden thought struck Chen Jichuan as he pulled out a Yellow Talisman, which spontaneously combusted in his hand, turning to ash.

"Wusheng City?"

Chen Jichuan looked southeast. "Could it be a new spirit stone mine discovery?"

He quickly grabbed a copper mirror and set off straight for Wusheng City.

...

Forty miles outside Wusheng City—

Chen Jichuan activated the "Thousand-mile Eye" and the "Sharp-Hearing Ear" to carefully scan the area in and around Wusheng City.

After confirming he hadn’t been deliberately lured into a trap, he emerged in his "Yangg Xiu" guise and ran the forty miles to Wusheng City.

"What happened?"

Upon entering the city, Chen Jichuan’s heart sank as he saw Mu Junxiong’s appearance.

When Wusheng City had sent out its summons, Chen Jichuan had assumed it was news of a new spirit stone mine found in the Black Prison. He had been faintly delighted on the way there.

But upon seeing Mu Junxiong, his heart sank halfway to the bottom.

Mu Junxiong’s hair was slightly disheveled, and his delicate face bore several narrow, bloody scratches, fresh and oozing crimson.

It appeared he had just engaged in a fierce battle and had suffered a minor defeat.

Yet, strangely, his face did not show frustration or anger. Instead, he seemed somewhat excited. Upon seeing Chen Jichuan, he quickly exclaimed, "My Lord, as per your previous instructions, I dispatched men to scour the Black Prison in search of a new spirit stone mine. Eight days ago, ten men went missing, and when I sent a second group to investigate, those ten vanished as well. Realizing something was amiss, I requested Vice Alliance Leader Chuu to lead a team to probe the area, and unexpectedly, we made a major discovery!"

As Mu Junxiong recounted the story, Chen Jichuan felt a wave of excitement rising within him.

After listening to the whole narration—

He was even more eager, barely able to contain himself.

Forcing down the urge, Chen Jichuan withdrew his thoughts into the Da Liang World, where he pondered for six minutes, replaying every word from Mu Junxiong’s account.

After ensuring there were no obvious flaws and that it did not seem like a trick, he returned and said to Mu Junxiong, "Take me to see it."

"Follow me, my Lord."

Mu Junxiong, equally excited, led Chen Jichuan into the Black Prison.

A year and more had passed—

Chen Jichuan re-entered the Black Prison, where the atmosphere remained the same: "murky and sunless, shrouded in damp and chilling mist."

He had no time for nostalgia or sentiment. Riding alongside Mu Junxiong, he headed straight for the area Mu Junxiong had mentioned.

Since the Wusheng Sect merged into the Martial Alliance and the Alliance took control of the Black Prison, many of its mine slaves had been freed, and new miners had been recruited from the populace.

In the past, while in the Black Prison, Chen Jichuan had thought of numerous ways to improve mining efficiency and reduce accident rates, intending to offer them to the Lishui Gang.

But at the time, he was young and insignificant, so he had passed his ideas to his father, hoping he would present them.

However, Mr. Chen, a seasoned man well-versed in the intricacies of Great Chu’s social norms, staunchly refused.

He even scolded Chen Jichuan harshly.

At the time, Chen Jichuan felt dissatisfied. But a few days later, he saw other clerks and their kin, just like the Chen Family, trying to flatter mine supervisors. Some were rewarded with lashings, while others who proposed ideas were publicly reprimanded and given heavier tasks thereafter.

From then on—

Chen Jichuan understood that those people bore deep resentment against clerks and their families.

No matter how brilliant your ideas might be—

Not only would they yield no benefit, but they would also attract suspicion of scheming, leading to beatings and oppression.

Thus, Chen Jichuan cooled his ambitions, opting to wait for the right moment.

And that moment was now—

Now he controlled the Martial Alliance and could dictate matters concerning the Black Prison.

With the Martial Alliance’s resources and manpower, paving tracks throughout the mines was beyond reach for now. But roads connecting the mines to the Black Prison’s exits were already under construction.

Chen Jichuan and Mu Junxiong rode hard for half an hour before reaching their destination.

"Here we are, my Lord."

"It’s in this valley."

Mu Junxiong dismounted first and pointed toward the valley ahead.

"Lead the way."

Chen Jichuan dismounted as well.

The two walked forward a few steps and saw a few newly constructed wooden huts outside the valley. Similar to most Black Prison outposts, they were rather rudimentary.

The arrival of Chen Jichuan and Mu Junxiong quickly brought a few men out of the wooden huts. Leading them was none other than Yann Building’s "Divine Strategy Military Advisor" Sheng Dayang!

"Alliance Hierarch."

"Lord Yangg."

Sheng Dayang’s sleeves bore six gold stripes; he was now a governor of the Martial Alliance’s Three Mountains Army, commanding 1,200 troops.

In the Three Mountains Army, only four commanders ranked above him.

As a governor, Sheng Dayang held a significant position and wielded considerable power.

He was undoubtedly one of the rising stars of the Martial Alliance.

But in front of Mu Junxiong and Chen Jichuan, Sheng Dayang remained respectful.

These two individuals—one a Martial Alliance leader, the other a master of White Jade City’s Liang Building Earth Evil Sequence—clearly stood far above him.

"Where’s Vice Alliance Leader Chuu?"

Chen Jichuan gave Sheng Dayang a slight nod, offering no special acknowledgment to this first member from White Jade City. Looking around and not seeing Chuu Sanyang, the former Great Elder of the Wusheng Sect, he inquired.

"The Vice Alliance Leader is inside."

Sheng Dayang replied and led Chen Jichuan and Mu Junxiong inside the valley.

As they moved, he explained, "This place is highly unusual. Twenty brothers ventured in at first, but none returned. When the Alliance Leader and Vice Alliance Leader arrived, we brought in chickens, ducks, and pigs in batches. They were all killed by invisible sword qi from nowhere. Hundreds of them died before the invisible sword qi was finally exhausted."

Upon hearing this—

Chen Jichuan nodded slightly; this was consistent with Mu Junxiong’s report. The sword scars on Mu Junxiong’s face were caused by remnants of the lingering sword qi.

However, that was because he had ventured too far forward.

Now, as long as they didn’t go too deep, there wasn’t much danger.

They continued walking deeper in.

Along the way, they indeed saw traces of blood and occasional tufts of chicken feathers and duck feathers scattered across the ground.

"Sword Qi."

Chen Jichuan’s heart filled with anticipation.

Biqing Cliff and Iron Leaf Island were powerful threats. Tushan Ji had his divine eagle, and Yangg Qiu mastered talismanic skills, making them formidable foes. A misstep could mean doom for the Martial Alliance, and the Black Prison would be lost as well.

The situation was critical and life-threatening.

This newfound area could hold the key to turning the tides. It might also unravel Chen Jichuan’s burning questions, revealing the deeper mysteries of this world.

With boundless hope, they pressed forward.

Before long—

They arrived at the heart of the valley.

Here, a chaotic stone forest stood tall, with rocks resembling blades and swords, some upright, some inverted, scattered across the ground at intervals about five or six paces apart. At first glance, the layout seemed sparse.

Such terrain would hardly attract attention under ordinary circumstances.

The Black Prison was vast.

Whether under the Lishui Gang or the Wusheng Sect, no detailed exploration had been conducted here beyond basic mining.

Only under Chen Jichuan’s orders, in the quest for more spirit stones, did Mu Junxiong meticulously survey the Black Prison.

Mu Junxiong, in turn, issued strict commands, forcing his men to execute a grid search, which finally led to the discovery of this peculiar location.

Entering the stone forest—

They soon found Vice Alliance Leader Chuu Sanyang, trudging ahead with difficulty, as though bearing the weight of a thousand pounds. His steps were slow and labored.

Swoosh!

Swoosh, swoosh!

From time to time, sword qi would whistle through the air, forcing Chuu Sanyang to retreat step by step, unable to break free from the stone forest or reach the depths of the valley.

"From this point on, even chickens, ducks, and pigs cannot proceed. Brothers of the Third and Fourth Rank who dared enter managed only three to five steps before the oppressive force left them breathless, unable to advance further."

Sheng Dayang, leading the way, patted a nearby stone pillar and explained to Chen Jichuan.

Beside him—

Mu Junxiong added, "Vice Alliance Leader Chuu has profound skills and can manage twenty steps. I can force myself to go thirty steps."

Chuu Sanyang was Sixth Grade.

Mu Junxiong had reached the Innate level.

Chen Jichuan, being even stronger, should have no trouble surpassing thirty steps.

"Let me try."

Chen Jichuan’s thoughts stirred; he was brimming with anticipation. Taking a step forward, he crossed the threshold and headed toward the valley’s depths.

Boom!

Upon entering, he felt a distinct heaviness.

But it wasn’t the weight of something tangible, like carrying or lifting a load. Rather, it was as if every part of his body bore an invisible burden.

It reminded Chen Jichuan of his weak younger self, facing an Innate-level opponent in the Da Liang World, intimidated by their oppressive aura.

"Aura oppression?"

Chen Jichuan mused as he continued forward.

Ten steps.

Twenty steps.

He easily surpassed Chuu Sanyang.

"Lord Yangg."

Chuu Sanyang greeted Chen Jichuan with a bow. Chen Jichuan noticed that his face was flushed, and more sword scars had appeared on his face and body. He was clearly struggling just to hold on.

Chen Jichuan gave him a glance and advised, "If you can’t take it, you should fall back."

"Thank you, Lord Yangg."

"However, I’ve been stuck at the Sixth Grade for some years. Here, I feel my bottleneck loosening slightly. I want to see if I can use this opportunity to break through to the Innate level."

Chuu Sanyang struggled to speak, a glimmer of excitement flickering in his eyes.

At over sixty years old, his potential was nearly exhausted.

While Mu Junxiong could rely on spirit stones to achieve the Innate level, Chuu Sanyang had long failed to make a breakthrough. Now, faced with an opportunity and a glimmer of hope, how could he not seize it?

"Hmm."

Chen Jichuan nodded, understanding why Chuu Sanyang endured such hardship here.

Breaking through to the Innate level typically extended one’s lifespan to 120 or 130 years. How could Chuu Sanyang not be tempted?

So, Chen Jichuan no longer tried to dissuade him.

He continued onward.

Thirty steps.

Forty steps.

Chen Jichuan gazed ahead; just as the pressure started to grow intense, his vision suddenly cleared, and he had exited the stone forest.

...