Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 117 - 94: Withered Tree Meets Spring, the Secret Realm Gate Opens! [3rd update, 800 monthly votes for additional release!]

Chapter 117: Chapter 94: Withered Tree Meets Spring, the Secret Realm Gate Opens! [3rd update, 800 monthly votes for additional release!]

Nightfall.

Moonlight cascaded down, illuminating the snow-covered ground, turning the world into a vast expanse of shimmering white.

Chen Jichuan’s physical body sat cross-legged in his room, while his soul emerged and sat atop the roof.

He faced the bright moon and practiced the ’Taiyin Refining Body Technique,’ nurturing and tempering his soul.

He had long reached the Eighth Layer of Daoism.

In recent days, he gained many insights into cultivation from Qizhenzi’s Dao Fruit, deepening his understanding of the Soul Emergence Realm.

Cultivating felt smoother than ever.

It filled him with quiet joy.

While cultivating in the Soul Emergence Realm, one could feel in tune with nature, almost merging with heaven and earth. Within a radius of dozens of meters, every rustle of leaves or blade of grass fell sharply into his senses. Even further away, faintly, he could sense faint traces of vitality and powerful auras.

"Once my Daoist level rises and reaches the legendary Night Travel or Day Travel stages, I might finally gain the so-called ’Divine Sense.’"

"With Divine Sense, a sweep could encompass hundreds or thousands of miles."

Chen Jichuan mused quietly to himself.

He continued cultivating.

Threads of Source Power seeped into his soul—moonlight enveloping from the outside, Source Power nourishing within—sustaining and enhancing his soul.

Tonight’s moon seemed particularly brilliant.

His soul grew visibly stronger at an astonishing pace, mesmerizing him.

Inside and around the courtyard, old trees began sprouting new buds, adding a touch of vibrant green to the pristine white earth.

In the distance, subtle changes seemed to ripple outward.

A night.

Passed swiftly.

...

At early dawn the next day.

Chen Jichuan pushed open the door and saw Chen Shaohu squatting in the courtyard, glancing here and there, his morning antics baffling.

He didn’t even notice his fourth brother emerging.

"The morning sets the tone for the day’s endeavors."

"Why aren’t you practicing cultivation? What are you fiddling with here?"

Chen Jichuan stepped forward, addressing Chen Shaohu in a firm tone.

No matter what era or circumstances.

Cultivation remained the foundation. Even the nurturing of medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines should not interfere with cultivation.

Seeing Chen Shaohu tinkering with his medicine garden early in the morning made Chen Jichuan furrow his brow and feel somewhat displeased.

"Ah—"

"Fourth Brother."

Chen Shaohu turned his head, surprised to see that his fourth brother had already risen.

Oblivious to the dissatisfaction in his brother’s tone, he excitedly stood up, grabbed Chen Jichuan’s arm, and crouched down again. Enthusiastically, he exclaimed, "Fourth Brother, take a look at these herbs. Just overnight, their growth rivals what they normally achieve in two or three months. Look at this Orchid Heart Grass; it was only seven inches tall yesterday, but this morning, it’s almost a foot! And this Birthwort..."

He kept tugging Chen Jichuan around, pointing out plant after plant, eagerly showing him the changes from yesterday to this morning.

Chen Jichuan, familiar with the art of nurturing herbs, had initially dismissed his brother’s remarks out of frustration for neglecting morning cultivation. However, as he listened, he started to sense an oddity.

Take the Orchid Heart Grass, for example.

It typically grew only an inch a month, taking two years to reach over two feet, at which point it was ready to be used in medicine.

Growing three inches overnight?

"Are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

"Could it be that you mixed up this medicine garden with the one in Hidden Peach Valley?"

Staring at the robust-looking herbs, Chen Jichuan turned to Chen Shaohu with a questioning glance.

"Impossible!"

"I spent ages working here just yesterday!"

Chen Shaohu responded confidently, returning to inspect the herbs with even greater diligence.

At this, Chen Jichuan stopped prying further.

He stood up.

After casting another glance at the medicine garden, his gaze shifted to the date tree in the courtyard. It was then that he noticed, although snow had fallen just yesterday, today the date tree was already sprouting fresh buds.

"How peculiar."

When something abnormal happens, unseen factors are at play.

Chen Jichuan scanned his surroundings, trying to identify the cause, but found no clues.

He stepped out of the courtyard to investigate further.

He noticed many trees in the mountains were also sprouting new buds, with some even producing tender leaves. Snow had not yet melted, yet the mountains were already brimming with signs of life.

A truly bizarre phenomenon.

A rise in temperature after snowfall.

A drop in temperature after thawing.

These were natural occurrences.

But for it to feel "as though spring had come overnight," it was too exaggerated to ignore.

Throughout the morning.

For once, Chen Shaohu didn’t rush back to the Drug Department but stayed in the courtyard, meticulously inspecting his herbs.

At times, he frowned; at others, he jotted down notes.

Meanwhile, Chen Jichuan wandered the mountain paths.

By noon.

He suddenly sensed something and pulled a Yellow Talisman from his waist. The talisman ignited.

"Mu Junxiong is summoning me?"

Chen Jichuan flicked the talisman, scattering its ashes, his brow furrowed as he returned to the courtyard.

Before taking many more steps.

Two more Yellow Talismans burned—one from Wang Quan, the other from Xue Zhong.

"Summoning me all at once?"

Chen Jichuan flicked aside the ashes, growing increasingly perplexed.

Back in the courtyard.

"Fourth Brother."

Chen Shaohu, legs sprinting, dashed over excitedly before Chen Jichuan could speak. Overcome with enthusiasm, he blurted out, "I’ve confirmed all the herbs have indeed grown as if months had passed. I’m not sure why it happened, but I plan to go back to Hidden Peach Valley to check how the herbs there have fared."

He wanted to determine whether this anomaly was due to local soil and climate or if it was a widespread phenomenon.

To pinpoint the direction for his research.

"Alright."

"Be careful on the road."

Chen Jichuan nodded without adding much more.

These days, except for external threats, Shi’an County itself remained peaceful. With Chen Shaohu’s abilities, including the ’Thousand-mile Eye’ and ’Sharp-Hearing Ear,’ as long as he didn’t encounter an ambush by an Innate Master, he should be safe.

Chen Shaohu departed.

Chen Jichuan tidied up briefly before heading to Muhua County.

...

Along the way.

The air was brimming with the vitality of green growth.

Villagers stepped outside their homes, some indifferent as if it were a regular day, while others, noticing the oddities, marveled but didn’t delve deeper.

Chen Jichuan arrived at the County Government.

In the back office.

Mu Junxiong, Wang Quan, and Xue Zhong had already gathered.

"Mr. Chen."

The trio stood to greet him upon his arrival.

"Enough with the formalities."

"You summoned me together—what urgent matter do you have?"

Chen Jichuan cut straight to the point.

The three were anxious as well and quickly explained, "Sir, you may not yet know, but this morning, the entryways to Black Prison, Water Mansion, and Hidden Peach Valley suddenly expanded. Black Prison’s original entrance now encompasses half of Wusheng City. Additionally, another Black Prison entryway was discovered in Centipede Mountain, but those who stumbled into it mysteriously disappeared, prompting nearby villagers to report it to Wusheng City."

And it wasn’t just Black Prison.

Water Mansion and Hidden Peach Valley were experiencing similar changes.

In the case of Water Mansion, no additional portals had been found yet, but the initial portal had greatly widened.

Hidden Peach Valley, situated near Lingui County, frequently saw farmers entering to cultivate its fertile land, so its surroundings were crowded. This morning, reports surged in, revealing the discovery of seven new entryways, all within close proximity.

Mu Junxiong, Wang Quan, and Xue Zhong, unable to discern the cause, recognized the gravity of the situation and hastened to report to Chen Jichuan.

"Expanded and multiplying entryways?"

Chen Jichuan was momentarily stunned.

At first, he suspected this might be related to the widespread vitality and plant growth, but he hadn’t expected it to involve the Martial Alliance’s three Secret Realms.

"First, send people to stabilize the situation."

Chen Jichuan instructed the three.

"We’ve already stationed guards at the new entryways to prevent idle wanderers from entering. Before departing, I also ordered Vice Alliance Leader Chuu to conduct a grid search around Centipede Mountain to identify and secure all potential Black Prison entry points."

Mu Junxiong responded.

Wang Quan and Xue Zhong also confirmed that swift measures had been taken to maintain control.

"Good."

"You’ve done well."

Chen Jichuan nodded approvingly before adding, "Sudden changes of this kind always harbor mysteries. I’ll report to the Lord Commander to see if they have any insights. In the meantime, all of you return to your posts and remain vigilant. Particularly for Black Prison and Water Mansion, ensure no unauthorized individuals can access them. Any further developments, no matter how minor, must be recorded and eventually relayed to me."

His connections with ’White Jade City’ gave him confidence.

Moments like this called for calm—not panic—by consulting the guidance of the ’Liang Building Master.’

"Understood!"

Hearing mention of the Lord Commander, the trio’s concerns eased, a glimmer of reassurance in their hearts.

Although Mr. Chen rarely brought up White Jade City, they knew its hierarchy was unparalleled—five transcendent cities, twelve prestigious towers, and the fabled ranks of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha below.

This Mr. Chen and Yangg Xiu hailed from the Earth Evil Series.

Their superior, one of the twelve Commanders overseeing Liang Building, must undoubtedly possess extraordinary power. With such a figure presiding, no calamity seemed insurmountable.

The trio parted ways to oversee their respective responsibilities.

Chen Jichuan, feigning urgency, exited Muhua County—but instead veered directly into Mingtang Mountain.

...

The five cities were eerily deserted.

The twelve towers lay empty.

Within White Jade City, there was neither City Lord nor Commander—there was only Chen Jichuan.

He had no one to consult regarding the anomalies.

Fortunately, there was still the ’Circular Light Skill.’

"With the Heavenly Emperor’s banner, celestial truths unfold; the nine skies cast their multicolored blessings down; golden brilliance cleanses heaven and earth under its light. May all deities be summoned to this rite, descend upon the Dharma Platform of declarations true: through the Heavenly Emperor’s scroll shall Divine Spirits now reveal, by this decree of urgency and illumination!"

Chen Jichuan ascended the platform and performed the rite. A copper mirror hung high above, his offering igniting the Circular Light Skill to inquire about the world’s transformations.

This was not to probe geomantic anomalies, illnesses of yin nature, or disturbances from spirits, calamities, or malevolent forces.

It was to investigate changes in the mortal realm—the waxing vitality of all creation, the burgeoning of life energies, and the mysterious unveiling of Secret Realms’ portals.

The heavens hear, the earth answers.

Upon the Dharma Platform, the copper mirror radiated brilliance.

Chen Jichuan gazed into it and saw the heavens aflame with falling stars, the earth cracking open with yawning chasms, rivers surging wildly, and mountains crumbling—a vision of utter apocalypse.

The scene stirred a sense of déjà vu in Chen Jichuan.

Startled, he remembered and muttered to himself, "Eight years ago?!"

Eight years prior.

Falling stars, collapsing mountains.

Hordes of demons running rampant.

Banditry spilling through the land.

The formidable Chu Kingdom was splintered overnight.

That year.

Shi’an County’s Yongning County was overtaken by marauding thieves.

Its walls bore new banners of conquest.

Officials and personnel of Yongfeng’s County Government were thrown into dungeons; their families and relatives, implicated and punished indiscriminately.

...

That was the beginning of the Chen Family’s tribulation, as well as six years of torment within Black Prison for both Chen Jichuan and Chen Shaohu.

"Could today’s transformations be linked to that upheaval?"

A thought struck Chen Jichuan, and he continued watching.

A tide of luminous waves surged into view.

Like ebbing waters, they swept across the vast earth, rolling towards destinations unknown.

A majestic force—unknowable, unstoppable, inevitable.

Chen Jichuan scrutinized closely.

In the midnight visions, he saw shadows rise upon rivers. Amid waves, a black silhouette emerged, unveiling a hint of palatial grandeur.

A palace beneath the waters.

Could it be the Dragon Palace?

Chen Jichuan gasped, focusing intently.

The locale seemed familiar. Reflecting for a moment, he recognized it: "Lishui?!"

The moment this realization struck—

The copper mirror’s visions vanished, its radiance extinguished, leaving it cold and silent once more.

...