Spirit Root Tree

"It really is a Spirit Root Tree." After examining the photo, Liu Wenyin confirmed it.

She then explained everything she knew about Spirit Root Trees.

A Spirit Root Tree could take root in soil or rock. Very little of it was exposed above ground. From the outside, it might look like a small sapling or even a clump of grass, while the vast majority of its body remained hidden beneath the surface.

Its roots spread extremely far and could extend hundreds of meters underground. It not only absorbed nutrients from the soil but also attacked living creatures, making it a carnivorous spiritual plant.

"A Spirit Root Tree is valuable all over. Its bark, leaves, and roots can all be used in medicine, while its extracts are a primary ingredient in making Saint-grade evolution medicine. Its wood is also an excellent material for defensive gear. Given its massive size, the value of an entire Spirit Root Tree is immeasurable. Of course, its most precious part is the 'Tree Marrow' within its main trunk.

"The trunk of a Spirit Root Tree is hollow and stores liquid Tree Marrow inside. That is the essence of the Spirit Root Tree. After humans consume it, it can not only heal all kinds of injuries but also extend one's lifespan."

At that, Liu Wenyin looked toward Aunt Yun, and Su Ze immediately thought of her as well.

Aunt Yun only had around two months left to live. If they could obtain the Spirit Root Tree's Tree Marrow, she might have a chance to attempt a breakthrough to Saint-grade.

Aunt Yun shook her head. "Forget that my strength is currently damaged. Even at my peak, I wouldn't dare entertain such thoughts. Even Saint-grade experts covet that thing. How could we possibly compete for it?"

Su Ze and Liu Wenyin knew it was unrealistic. They had merely been thinking about it.

Once news of the Spirit Root Tree was exposed, it would not just be Luofan Kingdom and Mu Kingdom fighting over it. Even the Netherworld Organization would likely get involved.

The wisest choice for Su Ze and the others was to flee Mengka City while the fighting broke out and return to Dongli Kingdom as soon as possible.

After news of the Spirit Root Tree spread, it caused an uproar online. Countless people joined the discussion, with netizens from Luofan Kingdom and Mu Kingdom especially excited, since it was right on their doorstep.

Netizens from other countries were also quite interested. For example, netizens from Peninsula Kingdom cited classics and discussed both ancient and modern history before reaching one conclusion: the Spirit Root Tree had been planted by their ancestors and belonged to Peninsula Kingdom.

The official sides of Mu Kingdom and Luofan Kingdom also responded swiftly.

Mu Kingdom official: "The Black Rock Mountain Range has been an inseparable part of our nation's territory since ancient times. All resources within it belong to our country, including but not limited to mineral veins, Exotic Beasts, and spiritual plants."

Luofan Kingdom official: "The Black Rock Mountain Range has been our nation's inherent territory since ancient times. Without permission, no one may enter!"

Mu Kingdom and Luofan Kingdom had originally maintained a fairly good relationship, but in the face of profit, they began bickering.

When effort had been required, neither country had acknowledged the Black Rock Mountain Range as its own territory. Now that there were benefits to be gained, both scrambled to claim it as part of their borders.

That was only the information visible online. No one knew what exchanges or negotiations the two countries had conducted in private.

The situation took a turn the next day. Mu Kingdom and Luofan Kingdom reached an agreement, recognizing that the Black Rock Mountain Range would be jointly governed by both nations.

In addition, each country would dispatch another Saint-grade expert. The two nations would cooperate, gathering four Saint-grade experts in total, and prepare to make a move against the Spirit Root Tree soon.

This outcome had long been expected by many.

If the two countries remained deadlocked, the other four nations of Linhua Continent would likely start getting ideas, especially Guan Kingdom, which loved snatching resources everywhere.

Moreover, the Spirit Root Tree possessed formidable Combat Strength and would not be easy to deal with. They also had to stay on guard against people from the Netherworld Organization at all times. Neither Mu Kingdom nor Luofan Kingdom could easily swallow it alone, so cooperation was inevitable.

The Saint-grade experts dispatched by the two countries arrived in Mengka City and Black Rock City that very day. With more than five Saint-grade experts gathered in and around the Black Rock Mountain Range, the situation became increasingly tense.

Su Ze and the others also felt the urgency, though it did not come from those Saint-grade experts.

Over the past two days, Zhang Fantie had led a group of people searching from the north of the city, investigating every rental unit without exception.

Su Ze had not gone out for several days. Every day, Aunt Yun went out to buy groceries and gather information along the way.

That morning, Aunt Yun discovered a wanted poster bearing Su Ze's photo just two streets away from where they lived.

Su Ze had frequently appeared around the area before, and quite a few people had seen him, though no one knew his address.

But even if others did not know, the landlord who rented them the house and the agent who had shown them the place definitely did. They could not stay any longer.

"Let's go."

Su Ze took the driver's seat and urged Liu Wenyin and Aunt Yun to get into the car quickly.

They had rented this car. To Su Ze's surprise, Liu Wenyin, the top student who seemed capable of anything, could not drive. Aunt Yun, a Butterfly Transformation Stage expert, was the same. She said she failed at the theory test every time she took the driver's license exam.

Thus, the task of driving fell to Su Ze.

"You're still underage and don't even have a license. Can you really drive?" Liu Wenyin asked worriedly once more.

"Don't doubt my driving skills," Su Ze said confidently. "Back in my hometown, I considered myself the second-best driver."

"Who was first?"

"A man named Takumi."

The car slowly pulled away and headed south, in the direction of the Black Rock Mountain Range.

They had no plans to enter the mountains yet. They merely wanted to hide for a few days near a village close to the Black Rock Mountain Range.

However, Luofan Kingdom had too large a population, making it difficult to find a truly deserted place. They drove around the Black Rock Mountain Range before finally finding somewhere to stop at random.

It was a stretch of wasteland, though two villages lay not far away, and people still passed by from time to time. In the rural areas of Luofan Kingdom, where private cars had not become widespread, a sedan parked there was still quite conspicuous.

Su Ze and the others could not worry about that anymore. If anything happened, they could only immediately enter the mountains to hide.

If they could hold out another three or four days, Aunt Yun's Combat Strength should recover as well.

As early as two days ago, Su Ze had completely digested the Immortal Salamander extract in his body. Every aspect of his physical ability had reached a new peak.

After the extract had been fully digested, improvements to his physical fitness were no longer as obvious. Still, taking Body Strengthening Pills every day along with Swan Dance allowed him to progress far faster than before, though it consumed quite a few Body Strengthening Pills.

Su Ze used to swallow four pills a day. Now he needed eight.

Put simply, it just cost more money. No big deal.

After digesting the Immortal Salamander extract, Su Ze could actually begin considering the second tube of extract for his Pupal stage.

He had asked Liu Wenyin for her opinion on the matter.

Liu Wenyin's answer was that he now possessed the Regenerative Body skill, so his ability to preserve his own life was already sufficient. Next, he needed to make his strengths even stronger.

Su Ze knew that his strongest aspect was his offensive ability, so his next skill should further enhance his attack power.

"Ant Strength" combined with "Needle Strike" was an extremely powerful single-target attack combo. Su Ze realized that he lacked methods for dealing with multiple opponents, so his next skill would ideally make up for that with an area-of-effect attack.

There were many Tier 2 Exotic Beasts with area-of-effect attack skills, including quite a few S-rank ones. Su Ze planned to look for ways to acquire one after his situation became a little more stable.