Ancient Texts

After successfully discovering part of the method for activating the secret weapon, Mu Chen and his companions were not satisfied. They knew full well that to unleash this weapon's greatest might in battle against the Black-Robed People, they needed more detailed and accurate information. Thus, they once again turned their attention to the clan's ancient texts, as vast as a sea of mist. The clan's archive was steeped in the scent of old paper and the passage of years. Mu Chen and the others moved between towering bookshelves, the spiritual energy lamps in their hands illuminating small patches of their surroundings. They carefully leafed through the ancient books one by one, overlooking not even a strand of spider silk or a horse's hoofprint that might lead them to the secret weapon. Tang Qian'er held an ancient parchment volume whose pages had yellowed and grown brittle. She carefully opened it and read softly, "The might of a divine artifact cannot be mastered by strength alone. One must unite the spirit of heaven and earth and blend the wisdom of past and present..." "What does that mean? Could we need some other special spiritual energy of heaven and earth, besides the conditions we found before?" Tan Qingshan scratched his head, his face full of confusion. Mu Chen frowned in thought. "It's possible. We can't confine ourselves to our earlier line of thinking. Keep looking. There may be an even more crucial clue." After a lengthy search, they discovered a new clue in a dust-covered ancient book. The book was made of an unusual material, seemingly the bark of some ancient tree, and its words appeared to have been branded onto it with spiritual energy, shimmering with a faint light. It recorded a legend about a divine artifact similar to their secret weapon. According to the legend, this kind of divine artifact had been born when heaven and earth first opened and contained the primordial power of the universe. To activate it, besides Five Elements Power, the Spiritual Thought Key, and Star Guidance, one also needed to find a "Heaven and Earth Spirit Root" that shared the artifact's origin. Heaven and Earth Spirit Root was a mysterious substance that grew in a special spiritual energy environment. It could resonate with the divine artifact and supply it with an endless stream of energy, fully awakening its power. "Heaven and Earth Spirit Root? That won't be easy to find. Does the book mention where it might be?" one companion asked anxiously. Mu Chen continued leafing through the ancient book and found some vague descriptions in its later pages. It stated that Heaven and Earth Spirit Root often grew where yin and yang converged and spiritual energy formed vortices, with strange celestial phenomena and guardian beasts nearby. Such places might exist near the clan's territory, but they were exceedingly well hidden and fraught with danger. "No matter how dangerous it is, we have to find Heaven and Earth Spirit Root. It may be the key to defeating the Black-Robed People," Mu Chen said firmly. To find Heaven and Earth Spirit Root, they began a wide-ranging search around the clan's territory. They split into several teams and set off in different directions, following the ancient book's descriptions of the environment in which it grew. Mu Chen's team headed toward the mountains east of the clan's territory. Clouds and mist shrouded these mountains year-round, and the spiritual energy fluctuations were abnormal. They advanced cautiously through the mountains, remaining alert to any danger that might appear while watching for surroundings that matched the characteristics of Heaven and Earth Spirit Root's habitat. As they ventured deeper into the mountains, they encountered a Spiritual Power Vortex. Like an enormous flower of spiritual energy, it revolved slowly in a valley, its powerful energy distorting the surrounding air. A barely discernible thread of light lay at its center, like a mysterious passage connecting heaven and earth. "This could very well be the place we're looking for! Be careful, everyone," Mu Chen said quietly. However, as they approached the Spiritual Power Vortex, roars suddenly rang out from the surrounding mountain forest. A pack of wolf-like guardian beasts charged out from every direction. Their eyes gleamed green, and powerful spiritual energy radiated from their bodies. They had clearly come to protect this special place. "Prepare for battle!" Mu Chen shouted. He was the first to unleash his new spiritual technique. Star Power shone around him, transforming into silver beams that shot toward the guardian beasts. Wielding his heavy axe, Tan Qingshan charged into the pack. Each attack drove a guardian beast back, but there were so many that they soon surrounded the team. Tang Qian'er used support skills from the rear, healing her teammates and strengthening their spiritual energy. As she waved her spiritual energy staff, rays of gentle light fell upon her wounded companions, allowing them to keep fighting. Amid the fierce battle, Mu Chen noticed that the guardian beasts seemed to share some connection with the Spiritual Power Vortex. Whenever the team attacked the beasts, the Spiritual Power Vortex's fluctuations grew more violent, as though it were supplying them with energy. "We can't keep fighting blindly like this! We have to find a way to break their connection to the Spiritual Power Vortex!" Mu Chen shouted. He carefully observed the spiritual energy fluctuations of the guardian beasts and the Spiritual Power Vortex and discovered a thin thread within each beast's spiritual energy core that connected it to the vortex. If they severed those threads, they might be able to weaken the beasts. Mu Chen gathered his power and attacked one guardian beast's spiritual energy core. Unleashing a fierce sword technique, he concentrated Star Power at his sword's tip and thrust precisely at the thin thread within the beast's core. The instant the sword tip touched the thread, it snapped. The guardian beast let out a roar of pain, and its body weakened. Seeing this, the other companions followed Mu Chen's example. Through their efforts, the guardian beasts gradually lost their strength. After a grueling battle, they finally drove the beasts back. The Spiritual Power Vortex still revolved in the valley. Mu Chen and the others cautiously approached it, knowing that Heaven and Earth Spirit Root might lie at its center. They struggled forward against the vortex's powerful suction and surging spiritual energy. When they finally reached its center, they discovered a plant radiating five-colored light. Its roots burrowed deep into the ground, and intricate patterns covered its leaves. Those patterns gave off spiritual energy fluctuations similar to the runes on the secret weapon. "This must be Heaven and Earth Spirit Root!" Mu Chen said excitedly. They carefully harvested it, then swiftly left the dangerous place and hurried back to the clan. They knew that with Heaven and Earth Spirit Root in hand, they were one step closer to fully activating the secret weapon, and the clan's hope of resisting the Black-Robed People had grown stronger.