Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 497 - 58: Seeking Treasure in Dao Feng Mountain, Gathering the Elite at the Entrance of Grotto Heaven! (6K)_3

Chapter 497: Chapter 58: Seeking Treasure in Dao Feng Mountain, Gathering the Elite at the Entrance of Grotto Heaven! (6K)_3

Because the Giant Spirit Tree was of the Sixth Rank, it could cultivate miraculous plants within a very short time!

After bustling about for two hours, the two of them finally stopped.

They then waited for another two hours.

Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing harvested the ripe fruits and Lingzhi, returning to the middle of the trunk.

In the end, they obtained six Purple Ganoderma and eighteen fruits.

As the things nurtured by the Giant Spirit Tree broke free from their original constraints, Zhao Xing did not know what these were called.

He could only use the "Five Elements Observation" and "Heavenly Eye Skill" to roughly determine their effects.

"Meow~" The Mountain Cat smelled the good stuff and wanted to eat it, but Long Xiao pulled it back.

"Zhao Xing, you divide," Long Xiao said.

Before setting off, they had agreed that all benefits would be divided by Zhao Xing, and he would have priority in choice.

"Brother Xia, you try the poison first." Zhao Xing smiled and handed a purple fruit to Xia Jing.

Xia Jing practiced the Gluttonous Eating Skill, giving him high poison resistance, which was the role of a martial artist in the scout team—to test for poison.

Through Xia Jing’s refining process, Zhao Xing used the "Five Elements Observation" to further judge the effects.

"Alright, let me eat it," Xia Jing said without hesitation. He immediately took the fist-sized fruit, eating it up in three to five bites, not even leaving the core.

Because in some fruits, the peel and core were the essence, it was uncertain.

With the fourth layer of the Gluttonous Eating Skill, he had nothing to fear.

After eating, Xia Jing’s eyes brightened: "Good stuff! My vitality surged, and a part of my left arm transformed into a golden bone."

Zhao Xing, who had been observing Xia Jing, saw through his body and discovered that a bone in Xia Jing’s left arm, originally at the "silver bone" level, had now transformed into a light gold color.

"No discomfort?"

"None."

"I’ll take the second one." Zhao Xing then consumed the fruit. He had a panel to sense its effects too.

Of course, it was wise to first let Xia Jing test such unknown objects.

[You have consumed "Unknown Fruit" (Sixth Rank). Gathering Essence increased by one rank, lifespan extended by three years.]

[Your right index finger bone, "iron bone grand success," transformed into "silver bone preliminary form."]

The panel displayed two records.

"One fruit raises a rank, extends lifespan by three years, and causes bone transformation?"

The effect was surprisingly good.

It was known that Zhao Xing was now in the Heavenly Gang Realm, where Gathering Essence stage advancement became gradually slower.

Going from Rank 43 to Rank 44 was several times harder than going from Rank 1 to Rank 43.

The same applied to lifespan. Zhao Xing’s extended lifespan had now reached 160 years.

The increase in lifespan also meant an increase in one’s fated lifespan.

This fruit could add three years, which was quite potent.

The third effect was also quite wonderful. The Minister of Agriculture was a mage, and his physical constitution at the same realm was inferior to that of a martial artist.

For instance, though both Xia Jing and he were Sixth Rank, Xia Jing’s physique was "half-body golden bone and half-body silver bone," with boundless vitality circulating perpetually.

Poison resistance, endurance, and recovery were far superior to other occupations.

Normally, someone like the Minister of Agriculture, without special training, would need to reach Fifth Rank to have the physique of a Sixth Rank martial artist.

Thus, Zhao Xing now had only "copper skin and iron bones." However, during the reserve training period, Xia Jing had already attained this.

Why the disparity? Because Zhao Xing cultivated the Seasonal Order, Earth Return, and other secret texts.

Xia Jing practiced the "Gluttonous Eating Skill," "Azure Dragon Body Refining Skill," and "Seven Spirits Mixed Yuan Technique."

Both utilized Primordial Energy, but differing cultivation techniques led to different professional paths.

"No poison. Everyone eats one first," Zhao Xing said. "After eating, let me observe the effects."

Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Ji Ziyun heard this, and quickly consumed the unnamed Sixth Order fruit consecutively.

After a while, having finished consuming, they looked at Zhao Xing.

"Mr. Ji, your effect was the weakest, probably because you have consumed similar treasures before. Moreover, your cultivation art seems to conflict with this fruit."

"You won’t eat the second one. In the next round of treasure discovery, if there’s something suitable, you will receive more. Is that alright?"

Ji Ziyun nodded: "Alright, if the effect is weak, it’s wasteful to continue. I’ll follow your plan."

"Xia Jing, eat the second one for me to observe."

Following the instruction, Xia Jing consumed the second fruit.

The fruit was quite effective for martial artists; even the second one transformed another portion of Xia Jing’s bone into golden bone.

Zhao Xing, with his Heavenly Eye, saw the slight fluctuation in Xia Jing’s qi fortune, indicating an increase in his destiny too.

Next, Zhao Xing himself took the second fruit, followed by Long Xiao and Chen Shijie.

After three rounds, Xia Jing’s effect diminished, stopping after the third fruit.

Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, however, consumed the fourth fruit. Given their rough upbringing, their foundations were weaker than Xia Jing’s. Thus, the effect only diminished after the fourth fruit.

Zhao Xing also consumed four fruits, with the fourth showing lesser effect. His Gathering Essence level did not increase, his lifespan increased by only 0.5 years, but another portion of his thigh bone transformed.

"Perfectly used up sixteen, maximizing the effect," Zhao Xing said with a smile.

"Meow~~" The Aotian Cat meowed pitifully, feeling neglected.

"Be good, let the uncles and elders eat first. This time there are plenty of treasures," Long Xiao said, rubbing the Aotian Cat’s head.

Zhao Xing added: "Don’t feel bad; there are still some Fifth Order fruits on the tree. I’ll pick some for you to fill your stomach."

Zhao Xing and his companions had high standards. During this cave world’s spiritual beauty eruption, they planned only to consume Sixth Order fruits. The Fifth Order ones were plenty, to avoid accumulating resistance and toxins in their bodies.

"I’ll go. You divide the Lingzhi," Chen Shijie suggested.

"Alright."

....

While Zhao Xing and his group hunted treasures fervently, various flying boats and warships gathered at the entrances of the Ten Suns Cave Heaven.

"What? We’re not allowed in?!"

"Do you know who my father is?"

A chubby man in Chinese clothing yelled angrily at the gatekeeper soldiers from the prow: "My father is Marquis Wucheng! He was ennobled in the year 325 of the Dingxin Calendar. How dare you stop this princely heir from entering a minor Ten Suns Cave Heaven?!"

The chubby man in Chinese clothing shouted: "Open the Mystic Sect, or don’t blame me for being rude!"

The gatekeeping soldiers, wearing masks, showing no expressions, pointed their sharp spears forward.

The chubby man took a step forward, and immediately, the squad of armored soldiers gathered their blood energy, unhesitatingly aiming their spears at him.

"What?!" The mage behind the chubby man quickly pulled him back.

Withdrawing to a safe distance, the spears formed from blood energy no longer advanced and were retracted.

"Bastards! Bastards!" The chubby man, frightened, collapsed to the ground. "You bastards, damn you!"

"My lord, stop cursing," the mage behind him advised, helping the spoiled young master up. "If they form an array with no explanation, this ban must be of a very high order. We should find out more before proceeding."

"I traveled all the way from Yangtai County and can’t even get in?!" The young man in Chinese clothing was still furious. "Find out who issued this order!"

With so many noble clans gathered, obtaining information was easy.

Quickly, the son of Marquis Wucheng learned the source of the ban.

"My lord, the investigation is complete. It is a joint decree from Luo Hou King, Lingde King, and King Heavenly Destiny of the Military Realm."

"The nine entrances to the Ten Suns Cave Heaven are heavily guarded with strict controls on entry and exit. Many people are now stuck outside," the servant reported.

"What? A decree from three kings?" The son of Marquis Wucheng sobered up a bit.

Lingde King was not much of a concern, but Luo Hou King’s fame was widespread!

King Heavenly Destiny was even more mysterious.

Even if the Marquis himself came, it might still be difficult to negotiate entry.

"What should we do? Is there any way to get in?" The son of Marquis Wucheng became anxious; his father did not have much time left.

In this era, lifespan calculations were fairly accurate. The expected years for each rank were known.

His father, the Marquis of Wucheng, had lived over 500 years, and his natural lifespan would likely end within the next twenty to thirty years.

The son of Marquis Wucheng seemed incompetent, which he indeed was.

Having suffered on the battlefield, his father, an elder parent, wished to spare him hardship. Now, this princely heir was merely at the Earthly Evil Realm.

"The Marquis mentioned before departure, if encountering obstacles, seek Marquis Mingwu inside the Ten Suns Cave Heaven with a letter of introduction," the servant added.

"Why didn’t you say this earlier? I was scared to death!" The princely heir glared at the servant.

The servant remained silent. Delivering this introduction was no simple matter. The Marquis of Wucheng had paid a great price! The love of parents was evident, yet this princely heir had no idea what his father had done, thinking it was just a casual trip for benefits.

But even if he gained entry, could he truly transform and uphold the family legacy as his father hoped?

Watching the young master boasting on a nearby flower boat, the servant sighed inwardly.