Cleverly Obtaining the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch, Quietly Making a Fortune

The tense atmosphere brought by the Demon Tribe's sky-patrolling scouts had loomed over the Houtu Tribe like dark clouds for several days. The number of patrolling warriors had doubled, and the defensive fortifications around the tribe had been reinforced. The air was filled with a sense of impending storm. Lin Xuan could clearly feel the suppressed anger and vigilance emanating from the Witch Tribe warriors; even their usual sparring sessions were less boisterous and more solemn, filled with the gravity of actual combat.

In this atmosphere, Lin Xuan knew that improving his own strength was a matter of urgency. Relying on the tribe's protection was only temporary; only by becoming strong himself could he secure a foothold in the potential turmoil that was about to come. He turned his gaze to the increasingly clear "Primordial Great Map" in his mind.

On the map, in addition to marked dangerous areas and known resource points, there were also some marginal areas flashing with faint, unconfirmed cursors. One of these, located about a hundred miles southwest of the Houtu Tribe in a deep valley, caught Lin Xuan's attention. The marker there was quite peculiar: "[Moon Shadow Valley: Suspected Spirit Plant containing Taiyin Star Power, faint aura, accompanied by weak spatial fluctuations. Risk: Medium-High (Natural Illusion Array and Moon Essence Erosion present).]"

"A Spirit Plant containing Taiyin Star Power?" Lin Xuan's heart stirred. Taiyin Star Power was extremely yin and cold, yet it was also a supreme power for tempering the soul and harmonizing yin and yang. For cultivating a body-refining technique like the "Nine Revolutions Profound Technique," which was extremely yang and rigid, it might have unique auxiliary effects. Moreover, the description of "weak spatial fluctuations" made him think of the Chaos Bead.

"[System, analyze detailed information of 'Moon Shadow Valley.']" Lin Xuan silently chanted in his mind.

"[Instruction received, consuming a small amount of energy for deep scan... Scan complete.]" The System's response was swift. "[Moon Shadow Valley: A place where Taiyin Star Power accidentally descended in ancient times, forming a special field. At the center of the valley, a 'Moon Laurel Spirit Branch' is gestating, a branch formed from a sliver of the Innate Moon Laurel Tree's origin, containing pure Taiyin essence. Surrounding it is a natural 'Taiyin Illusion Array' that can bewilder the mind and distort perception. The Moon Laurel Spirit Branch is nearing maturity, and the spatial fluctuations it emits are its instinctive absorption of Taiyin Star Power.]"

"[Warning: The illusion array has a strong disruptive effect on divine senses below the Golden Immortal level. Moon Essence erosion can cause frostbite to the soul. It is recommended that the Host's cultivation reaches Refining Spirit to Void (Second Revolution of Nine Revolutions Profound Technique) before attempting. Forcing entry currently carries a risk factor of 78%.]"

Refining Spirit to Void? That was still a long way off. But the words "nearing maturity" made Lin Xuan's fingers itch. Opportunities don't wait; once it fully matures, it might attract even more powerful beings, or it might mutate on its own.

"I can't force my way in, but perhaps I can outsmart it..." Lin Xuan stared at the map, his mind racing. He carefully zoomed in on the Moon Shadow Valley area, observing the terrain, the approximate range of the illusion array (faintly marked on the map based on energy flow), and the System's estimated location of the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch.

He discovered that the illusion array did not cover the entire valley. Its energy flow had a relatively thin area on the southeast side of the valley floor, and it was close to the mountain wall, with complex terrain that was conducive to concealment. The Moon Essence erosion was also not evenly distributed; at noon each day, when the True Sun Fire was at its peak, the Taiyin Star Power would be naturally suppressed, and the erosion effect would be weakest.

A plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He found Houyi and Kuafu, frankly stating that he needed to go out for some experience and find some spiritual items helpful for his cultivation, and promised to only stay within the safe zones around the tribe, not venturing into dangerous areas. The Houtu Tribe now regarded him as a brother, and though they were a little worried, they did not stop him. They only repeatedly warned him to be careful and gave him a Witch Tribe bone flute for emergency contact.

After making his preparations, Lin Xuan quietly left the tribe. He fully activated the "Breath Concealment Technique," moving like a ghost. Following the map's guidance, he avoided several monster lairs and dangerous areas, stealthily heading towards Moon Shadow Valley.

A hundred-mile journey in a dangerous place like Buzhou Mountain, even with map guidance, took Lin Xuan most of the day. When he approached Moon Shadow Valley, it was already noon the next day.

From afar, the entrance to Moon Shadow Valley was shrouded in a faint, rippling moonlight, giving it a cold and desolate feeling even in broad daylight. The scenery inside the valley was distorted and blurry, making it impossible to see clearly, and a power that seemed to bewilder the mind emanated from it.

Lin Xuan did not rashly enter. Following his plan, he circled around to the southeast side of the valley and found the spot marked on the map as the weak point of the illusion array. This was a steep slope covered in rubble, with sparse vegetation. He took a deep breath, adjusted himself to his best state, and silently activated the Chaos Bead (fragment) in his sea of consciousness.

Buzz!

The Chaos Bead emitted a barely perceptible gray ripple, enveloping him. This was not powerful spatial teleportation, but rather using a trace of the Chaos Bead's innate spatial origin characteristic to "neutralize" or "adapt" to the surrounding abnormal spatial fluctuations and energy interference to a certain extent.

The effect was immediate! The original feeling of mental disturbance and blurred sense of direction was greatly reduced. Although the scenery before his eyes was still somewhat distorted, the general path could be discerned.

"It actually works!" Lin Xuan rejoiced inwardly, not daring to delay. Taking advantage of the peak yang energy at noon, when the Moon Essence erosion was weakest, he infiltrated the valley like a nimble ape.

The temperature inside the valley was noticeably lower than outside, and the light was dim, as if it were separate from the Primordial Era. Strange rocks were scattered about, with bizarre shapes, and a faint layer of frost had condensed on the ground. Relying on the Chaos Bead's protection and the map's guidance, Lin Xuan carefully navigated through the gaps in the illusion array, avoiding the core areas with chaotic energy.

Several times, he almost stepped into an illusion, seeing various phantoms before his eyes, either treasures scattered everywhere or lurking dangers. He held firm to his mind each time, relying on the real-time position of his cursor on the map to correct himself and forcibly break free.

Finally, after nearly an hour, he reached the center of the valley. There was a relatively open depression, and in the middle of the depression, a small tree about three feet tall, crystal clear like white jade, grew quietly. The tree had sparse branches and leaves, with an ancient and simple form. Each leaf seemed to be condensed from moonlight, emitting a cool and soft radiance. It was precisely the "Moon Laurel Spirit Branch"! The space around the spirit branch rippled slightly, slowly absorbing the Taiyin Star Power that descended from the heavens.

And not far from the spirit branch, on the edge of the depression, lay three beastly creatures that resembled leopards and wolves, entirely silver-white! They were not large, their auras around the mid-stage of Refining Essence into Qi, but pure Taiyin power flowed around them, clearly cultivating here by borrowing the energy dispersed from the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch.

"[Moon Shadow Wolf, Taiyin attribute demon beast, keen senses, adept at coordinated attacks.]" The Insight Technique provided the information.

Lin Xuan's pupils contracted. As expected, there were guardians! A direct confrontation was out of the question; he had to outsmart them.

He carefully observed the terrain and environment. The Moon Laurel Spirit Branch grew in the center of the depression, with nowhere to hide. Directly picking it would surely alert the Moon Shadow Wolves. His gaze fell upon the faint spatial fluctuations around the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch, and then he looked at the Chaos Bead in his sea of consciousness.

A bold idea emerged.

He quietly retreated a distance, finding a large rock to use as cover. Then, he concentrated all his mental energy and fully activated the Chaos Bead! This time, it was no longer simple aura shielding, but an attempt to stimulate a trace of its spatial power!

The target was not long-distance retrieval, as that would consume too much energy and cause obvious fluctuations. His goal was—directly above the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch, to briefly create a micro-spatial distortion within a very small range!

This process was extremely difficult and consumed a great deal of mental energy. Cold sweat broke out on Lin Xuan's forehead, and the Chaos Bead vibrated violently in his sea of consciousness. Finally, just as he was about to collapse—

Directly above the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch, the air twisted ever so slightly, like a ripple on the surface of water. This minuscule spatial disturbance was just enough to interfere with the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch's connection to the earth's spiritual veins and the surrounding Taiyin formation at that moment!

Now!

Lin Xuan shot out from behind the boulder like an arrow loosed from a bow! He unleashed the speed of the first revolution of the "Nine Revolutions Profound Technique" to its limit, and simultaneously threw a specially made stone powder, mixed with potent paralyzing herbs and scent-disrupting powder, with skillful force towards the three Moon Shadow Wolves, who had been startled by the sudden spatial ripple and had just raised their heads!

The stone powder spread, temporarily disrupting the Moon Shadow Wolves' senses and movements.

The next moment, Lin Xuan had already rushed before the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch! He didn't use his hands to pull it, but instead, with fingers like a knife, imbued with the power of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, he precisely and swiftly cut towards the base of the spirit branch, which had become slightly more fragile due to the spatial disturbance!

"Ch!"

With a light sound, the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch snapped! Lin Xuan grabbed it and instantly stored it in the Chaos Bead's space! The entire process took less than a second!

"Awooo!"

The three Moon Shadow Wolves finally reacted, letting out angry howls, their eyes flashing with ferocious moonlight, and pounced towards Lin Xuan!

But Lin Xuan did not stop after succeeding; he turned and fled towards the valley exit! He pushed the Breath Concealment Technique and his movement skills to their limit. Relying on the path he had noted upon entering and the map's guidance, he charged out without looking back!

Howls echoed behind him as the Moon Shadow Wolves pursued relentlessly. But Lin Xuan had the advantage of being first and was familiar with the path, quickly gaining some distance. The moment he rushed out of the weak point of the illusion array and saw the daylight again, Lin Xuan let out a long sigh of relief, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He did not stop, continuing to flee towards the Houtu Tribe. Only after completely shaking off his pursuers did he find a hidden cave to conceal himself.

He took out the Moon Laurel Spirit Branch and felt its pure, cool Taiyin essence. Lin Xuan's face broke into a satisfied smile. Although it was risky, the reward was immense! This Moon Laurel Spirit Branch was an invaluable treasure, whether for aiding his cultivation or for future artifact refining.

[Ding! Successfully acquired the Innate Spiritual Item "Moon Laurel Spirit Branch," Fortune Value +100. Host used wisdom and existing resources to avoid risks, Evaluation: Excellent. Reward: Stealth Talisman (Intermediate) x1, can temporarily shield divine sense probes below Refining Spirit to Void.]

This "covert operation" concluded perfectly.