The Tree That Would Not Leave Him Alone

The Phoenix, a divine beast whose fame resounds throughout the Three Realms and Six Paths, is renowned for its unparalleled power of Flame and its beauty. How much is Phoenix cub worth? Without a doubt, it is priceless and immeasurable.

The appearance of such a mythical beast, even if it is just a cub, is enough to attract the attention of the Large Sect. For Zhuge Xiang, possessing a Phoenix would indeed be more of a disadvantage than an advantage.

Ying Shuang was willing to offer three hundred high-grade Spirit Stone and a damaged Lingbao in exchange. Although it seemed like Zhuge Xiang was at a disadvantage, considering everything, it wasn't. Three hundred high-grade Spirit Stone stones were enough for Zhuge Xiang to purchase all the resources he needed to safely advance his cultivation to the Peak Spirit Transformation Stage.

However, holding the Little Fire Phoenix in his arms, Zhuge Xiang firmly shook his head and said, "You don't need to say so much. No matter what price you offer, I won't give this Little Fire Phoenix to you. Didn't you hear it call me father? Who would sell their own child?"

"You..." Zhuge Xiang's words startled Ying Shuang slightly. She looked at Zhuge Xiang in surprise, clearly not expecting that the reason he rejected her was for this reason.

Looking at the Little Fire Phoenix with reluctance, Ying Shuang desperately wanted to keep it by her side, for the same reason as Zhuge Xiang. However, it was clear that Zhuge Xiang wouldn't let go. Should she forcibly take it? Ying Shuang didn't think she could succeed.

"Hmph, if I miss it today, I'll definitely snatch it back next time..." After being rejected time and time again, Ying Shuang lost her patience. She glared angrily at Zhuge Xiang, snorted, and turned to leave. Since she couldn't get the Little Fire Phoenix, she had no intention of wasting any more time staying.

Watching Ying Shuang storm off, Little Fire Phoenix called out loudly, but Ying Shuang gritted her teeth and hardened her heart, refusing to turn back. Watching her departing figure, Little Fire Phoenix said aggrievedly, "Father, why did Mother leave? Does she not want me anymore?"

"She had to leave in a hurry. She'll come back when she's done. Besides, your father is with you now, isn't he?" Zhuge Xiang said with a smile, affectionately patting the Little Fire Phoenix's head to comfort it. He then took it away to find Qin Qing and the others.

"Father, wait! This eggshell is very nutritious for me, we can't waste it," the Little Fire Phoenix said as Zhuge Xiang was about to leave.

Zhuge Xiang collected all the dark red eggshells, which were the size of a water vat. These eggshells contained rich Flame essence, and like other Flame- related materials, they were highly nourishing for the Phoenix.

After devouring a whole palm-sized portion of the eggshell, the Little Fire Phoenix let out a satisfied burp. After reviewing the Little Fire Phoenix's information, Zhuge Xiang added it to his Second Pet Interface. With this, Zhuge Xiang had already used two of his three pet slots.

In the Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland, surrounded by countless Fierce Spirit and Zombie, Zhuge Xiang continued forward after discerning his direction. He passed through the area shrouded by Zhao State Zombie. The mere dozen or so Zombie posed no threat to Zhuge Xiang all, and they all turned into his essence.

They fought their way forward, and after about half a day, the number of Zombie and Fierce Spirit around them gradually decreased. Clearly, Zhuge Xiang had passed through the area where the Zombie and Fierce Spirit were most concentrated.

Along the way, Zhuge Xiang easily killed Zombie and Fierce Spirit by using the attribute conversion of the Appearance Ring. The Zombie and Fierce Spirit he killed gave Zhuge Xiang a considerable amount of Experience Points, bringing his cultivation level closer and closer to the Fifth Layer of Spell Control Stage.

After traveling for about an hour, it became difficult to see any more Zombie or Fierce Spirit. However, in the distance, a dense cloud of spiritual energy, almost solidified into smoke, appeared before Zhuge Xiang. Occasionally, a dragon-shaped creature could be seen "revealing" a scale or claw in the area shrouded in the smoke.

The phenomenon of spiritual energy transforming into a dragon is a manifestation of Spirit Mine is so high that it transforms into the shape of a dragon, it is very likely that the Spirit Mine has already formed Spirit Vein. The fact that this concentrated spiritual energy has the extraordinary phenomenon of spiritual energy transforming into a dragon shows just how abundant the spiritual energy in this area is.

The Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland, an area of about ten miles in circumference, is shrouded in smoke all year round, with visibility less than ten meters. Seeing this smoke means you are approaching the Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland.

Within the smoke, one could often see tiny crystals scattered on the ground, most as small as grains of sand, but some as large as a thumb. These were the purpose of entering the Hundred Emperors Tomb: Dragon Qi Crystal!

The spiritual energy transformed into smoke, and in the area it enveloped, many Cultivators were already collecting Dragon Qi Crystal and absorbing this spiritual energy to cultivate. Cultivator had reached the Deity Transformation stage or the Refining Qi to Spirit stage possessed the ability to draw upon the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy to aid their cultivation. The spiritual energy was so dense that it could be seen with the naked eye. One day of cultivation here was equivalent to about half a year of cultivation outside.

"Ding! Entered Special Zone. Meditate and cultivate. Experience Points gain speed increased by 100 times!"

A system notification rang in Zhuge Xiang's mind. As Zhuge Xiang stepped into the heart of this territory, the sound delighted Zhuge Xiang.

Amidst the spiritual mist, many Cultivators could be seen wandering around, collecting Dragon Qi Crystal. Some Cultivator sat cross-legged, seizing the time to cultivate. The opening of the Hundred Emperors Tomb was time-limited. Once the Phoenix Fruit ripening and the Undying Great Roc consuming the Phoenix Fruit and left, it would be ten years before they could enter again.

Boom boom boom...[

Where there are people, there is conflict; where there is profit, there is slaughter. The Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland is no exception. To collect Dragon Qi Crystal, one must have the ability to defend it. Sure enough, Zhuge Xiang had only been in the Hundred Emperors Tomb for a short time when the sounds of fighting and killing rang out in front of him. Looking around, he saw a monk fighting with a Demonic Path Cultivator.

"You bastard, you demonic villain, how dare you deceive me!" The monk, spitting blood, clearly in serious condition, roared angrily. His attack was truly ruthless, unleashing a powerful and potent Buddhist Power.

However, although the monk's cultivation was strong, the demonic cultivator was not weak either. More importantly, the opponent was unharmed. After a fierce battle, the demonic cultivator emerged victorious and killed the monk. He then retrieved the dozen or so Dragon Qi Crystal from the monk's pocket and put them into his own.

Dragon Qi Crystal is formed from rich dragon-shaped spiritual energy. Because of the obsession of the royal family members in the Hundred Emperors Tomb, this crystal also carries a trace of obsession, so much so that it cannot be stored in the storage space like a living being.

The Demonic Path Cultivator, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was a tall and thin man. After killing the monk and seizing his Dragon Qi Crystal, the man took out a kasaya and draped it over his body. His entire appearance changed drastically, and in an instant, he transformed into a kind-faced monk, radiating an extremely powerful and masculine Buddhist Power.

"This guy is amazing..." Zhuge Xiang was initially surprised when he saw him fight the monk and kill Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Divine Ability Stage of the Divine Ability Stage Fifth Layer with only the cultivation level of the fifth level. Now, seeing this scene, Zhuge Xiang realized that this Demonic Path Cultivator actually had a kasaya that could disguise him Buddhist Sect disciple.

Camouflage?

Watching the monk, a disciple of the demonic path, depart, Zhuge Xiang used the power of the Appearance Ring to transform his own aura into the purest and most yang Buddhist Power. He walked out, caught up with the Cultivator ahead, and said, "Master, please wait a moment. May I ask which temple you belong to? I am a lay disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple, my Dharma name Mi Nan."

"A lay disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple?" Zhuge Xiang called out to him. Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's words, the monk who was actually Demonic Path Cultivator looked Zhuge Xiang up and down.

Seeing his powerful and masculine Buddhist Power, he had no doubts. He bowed in return, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and said, "Amitābha Buddha. So you are a lay disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple. I am Fa Wu from Fahua Temple. Since we are both connected to Buddhism, why don't we travel together?"

"That's wonderful, I think so too. Although I am a lay disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple, if I weren't the only son in my family, I would have become a true Buddhist Sect monk long ago. It is fate that I can meet you today, Master," Zhuge Xiang said happily after hearing the words of the monk who was using the pseudonym Fa Wu.

The two Demonic Path Cultivator disguised themselves as Buddhist Sect disciples to deceive each other and find an opportunity to seize the Dragon Qi Crystal from the other. As for who will have the last laugh, that depends on their respective methods.

On the other side, Qin Qing and the others, led by Lu Yuling, had also arrived at the Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland. The surrounding area was filled with spiritual energy so dense it was almost tangible, and the smoky spiritual energy severely affected visibility.

"With our vision obstructed in this hinterland, how will we meet up if Zhuge Xiang comes looking for us?" Qin Qing's cultivation had not yet broken through to the Deity Transformation stage, and the abundant spiritual energy was hardly helpful for her cultivation. What she cared about was news of Zhuge Xiang.

"Don't worry, this hinterland comes from all directions, and as we go deeper, we'll eventually converge at the foot of that imperial mausoleum tower. Just keep going."

With a flick of her finger, she froze a Cultivator was maliciously trying to steal a Dragon Qi Crystal into an ice pillar, then took the Dragon Qi Crystal from his arms. Lu Yuling said calmly, and then the group continued to venture deeper inside.

Besides human Cultivator, other life forms also entered the Hundred Emperors Tomb, such as a tree...

The space rippled, and then a colossal divine tree appeared, its thousands of vines waving wildly, blotting out the sky. The faces painted on its trunk were filled with intense killing intent and rage.

"You bastard! It's all because of you! I devoured the Ginseng Man and Ginseng Horse I had painstakingly cultivated but were not yet fully mature. Once I seize the Phoenix, I will make you wish you were dead..." The tree trunk's face, filled with intense anger, said this before throwing itself into the Hundred Emperors Tomb hinterland.

After the battle against the Zhao State's Zombie Army, if Zhuge Xiang were to do it again, he would be astonished to find that this Four-Star High-Grade Ascending Heaven Divine Tree had not only remained unaffected, but had actually reached the level of Five-Star tree... (To be continued.)