The Item Is Obtained

Mu Qian finally understood why this Earth King had been able to grow to the eighty-thousand-year level.

He had seen this type of fruit in the Extreme North Core, and the Snow Maiden had picked quite a few for him to eat as snacks.

The growth conditions for a Star Fruit Tree are extremely harsh; it requires the absorption of dark elements from space to grow, while simultaneously needing to absorb a massive amount of Star Power to produce fruit.

The maturation of a single Star Fruit often requires the consumption of an incredibly vast amount of Star Power.

Even in the Far North, they only appear during the polar night.

"I always thought this thing only existed in the Far North; I never expected to see it here." Mu Qian looked up at the northern sky.

The Star Fruit Trees he had seen in the Far North were not only found in vast, dense groves, but each tree stood at least twenty meters tall, and the number of fruits ripening on them was enough for Mu Qian to eat as a staple food.

While the Star Forest did indeed provide the massive Star Power required for a Star Fruit Tree to grow, it still paled in comparison to the dark elements and the polar night conditions of the north.

It was no wonder this Star Fruit Tree had grown so stunted, to the point where it could only condense a single Star Fruit.

Wait, there was a trace of another Star Fruit having grown on the branch, but unfortunately, it looked as though it had been consumed a long time ago.

The one who consumed that Star Fruit was, in all likelihood, this Earth King.

Mu Qian couldn't help but shift his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing, a brilliant idea forming in his mind...

Faced with his strange look, a hint of confusion flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes: "Mu Qian, do you recognize this fruit?"

Mu Qian nodded and smiled: "Zhuqing, you might have always wondered how I was able to possess a ten-thousand-year soul ring. I can give you the answer now: it's because I've eaten many, many of these fruits."

Mu Qian wasn't exactly lying; in fact, the Star Fruit did indeed have the effect of strengthening one's physical constitution and increasing the maximum age of soul rings a soul master could withstand.

Moreover, the effect was quite significant!

Others might not be aware of this, but Mu Qian, who had once eaten Star Fruit like snacks—to the point of getting a bit tired of them—knew it very well.

"Zhuqing, it seems we must face this Earth King. With the Star Fruit, we can greatly enhance your capacity to withstand your second soul ring."

"By then, it should at least help you obtain a thousand-year second soul ring!" Mu Qian said with some excitement.

He understood the principle that only sincerity could be exchanged for sincerity, and he genuinely wanted to help this strong-willed girl become even stronger.

"Really?" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened, and caught up in Mu Qian's excitement, she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

"Of course it's real," Mu Qian said. "This fruit is rare and hard to come by. Given the massive Star Power conditions within the Star Forest, it could only produce one; you can see just how harsh its growth conditions are."

"We must secure it today. If we miss this chance, you won't find a second tree in the entire continent outside of the Far North."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Mu Qian's radiant expression, a strange light flowing through her beautiful eyes.

Is he really going to such lengths just to help me...

"But, that Earth King..." After the joy and emotion subsided, Zhu Zhuqing looked at the powerful soul beast sleeping not far away, and she couldn't help but feel how difficult the path to becoming stronger truly was.

"It's fine, leave it to me. But Zhuqing, I hope you can keep what you see in a moment a secret," Mu Qian said mysteriously.

"What do you take me for? I wouldn't betray a companion," Zhu Zhuqing stared at him gloomily, seemingly dissatisfied with Mu Qian's lack of trust in her.

"How could that be? Of course I trust you," Mu Qian patted Zhu Zhuqing's head.

A girl had disregarded the views of the world to follow him; what reason could he have not to trust her?

Since he had decided to act, Mu Qian calmed his mind and began to devise a strategy.

If only he had asked the Snow Maiden for some trump cards to save his life before leaving the Far North, he wouldn't be in a position where he couldn't face an eighty-thousand-year soul beast head-on.

Mu Qian sighed softly; it was too late for regrets now.

As he sized up the Star Fruit Tree in the distance, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him, and he had an idea.

Under Zhu Zhuqing's puzzled gaze, Mu Qian crossed his hands and continuously changed his hand seals, then suddenly swung his arms out.

A purple-gold light erupted from his body, flickering through the forest before vanishing.

After doing this, Mu Qian immediately turned back to wrap his arms around Zhu Zhuqing's waist.

A dense surge of soul power emerged from his body, and the surrounding wood-attribute energy was frantically mobilized to completely mask their presence.

Mu Qian's eyes emitted a faint cyan-gold glow, and his mental power surged out, forming an invisible barrier to protect his and Zhu Zhuqing's bodies.

At the same time, an earth-shattering roar erupted; the terrifying mental pressure felt as if it came from the depths of one's bloodline, and an unparalleled tide of mental power instantly rippled outward.

The roar did not come from the Earth King, but from the shadows of the dense forest nearby.

"Another soul beast?" Zhu Zhuqing leaned naturally into Mu Qian's embrace, her long black hair fluttering in the wind, a hint of fear appearing in her expression.

Mu Qian shook his head and said confidently: "Don't worry, Zhuqing, stay calm."

Looking at the boy's composed face, Zhu Zhuqing's anxious heart settled down once more.

The massive commotion instantly awakened the sleeping Earth King. The pressure from the bloodline filled its small eyes with terror; its body paced back and forth, and its large pincers trembled uncontrollably.

"Roar~" The Earth King let out a difficult hiss, its eyes darting around as if it were engaged in human-like contemplation.

In the end, its desire for the Star Fruit overcame its inner fear; it suddenly sprang up and bolted toward the direction from which the sound had come.

The temptation of the Star Fruit was simply too great for it.

The Star Fruit could increase its growth rate while simultaneously strengthening its body to cope with the heavenly tribulation that might one day arrive.

The first Star Fruit had allowed it to grow to its current age; if it consumed a second fruit, it would gain a glimmer of hope of becoming a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

"Now is the time!"

Mu Qian let out a low growl, his dragon wings unfurling once more behind him. In an instant, the mysterious runes shifted to a vibrant green, and the wood elements within the forest were whipped into a frenzy.

The Star Fruit Tree also belonged to the wood element, and under the control of Mu Qian's soul power, it was uprooted and instantly brought before the two of them.

With a flash of light, he stored it away into the Starry Sky Ring.

The Starry Sky Ring was of a very high grade; beyond its vast internal space, it was even capable of housing small living things.

At this moment, Little Flower was being kept inside the Starry Sky Ring by Mu Qian.

"Let's go!" Mu Qian shouted softly, pulling Zhu Zhuqing into his arms as they shot away.

His sharp dragon wings sliced through the trees in the forest, and the towering ancient trees that had stood for who knows how many years were severed without a sound, leaving behind only clean, neat cuts.

By now, the Earth King had finally recovered its senses.

In the forest, there was no longer a trace of the enemy to be found.