# Chapter 1658: Pitiable Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi
Under the suppression of the supreme power, the hand seals struck by the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi did not hold for long before being torn apart, and the purple sacred ancient sea suspended above its head turned into wisps of purple mist.
"You actually used a battle artifact... this is unfair..."
The metal demon crown suddenly descended, suppressing the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi that had been trying to escape.
"Old fellow, where do you think you're running this time?"
Xiang Chunan laughed loudly, charged over, and swung the metal demon crown wildly, smashing it repeatedly against the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's body, shattering a large area of the ground in the process.
From the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's mouth came miserable howls: "Wonderful, truly wonderful."
"Still saying wonderful? Old fellow really isn't afraid of pain."
Xiang Chunan's entire body's muscles bulged as he grabbed the demon crown with both hands and struck downward.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful... save me, you're beating this poor Daoist to death, save me..." Seeing that calling for help was useless, the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi put on a pitiful look and said, "We have no past grievances or recent enmity, why must you juniors bully an elder like this?"
"No past grievances or recent enmity? No enmity and you sneak-attacked Grandpa Xiang? Dare you say that kick to my ass wasn't you?" Xiang Chunan made the demon crown shrink, wearing it on top of the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's head, suppressing it so it couldn't move.
Zhang Ruochen stood to the side, carefully observing the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi, marveling inwardly. After being savagely beaten by a supreme sacred artifact, its body showed not a single injury.
He couldn't tell if it was because Xiang Chunan had held back, or if the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's defensive power was truly that formidable.
After beating the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi some more, Xiang Chunan clapped his hands and stood up, saying, "Brother Ruochen, this hundred-thousand-year ancient sacred medicine has actually cultivated into human form and developed intelligence. Eating it would feel rather awkward. How about you eat it?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Eating it like this would indeed be awkward. Moreover, it would definitely harbor great resentment, which would accumulate inside its body and actually be detrimental to our cultivation."
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi crouched in the corner and roared, "That's right! This poor Daoist's resentment is immense. You show no respect for your elders. If you eat this poor Daoist, you will suffer heavenly retribution!"
Xiang Chunan said, "Look at that arrogant face. Eating it would make me sick. How about we refine it into pills and then swallow them?"
"We could actually negotiate with it and have it cut off two of its legs for us to eat." A strange smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face.
Xiang Chunan immediately became excited. "Right! First cut off its two legs, and when it grows new ones, we cut them off again. That's much better than directly refining it into pills!"
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi had been eavesdropping on Zhang Ruochen and Xiang Chunan's conversation, and its face instantly turned pale. "Wonderful, truly wonderful... my legs also have resentment, very heavy resentment."
"It said 'wonderful,' so it seems it agrees!"
Xiang Chunan borrowed a three-radiance ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifact-grade heavy sword from Zhang Ruochen, pinned down the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's neck, and was about to cut off its legs.
"Wait, I have something to say." The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi shouted loudly.
Xiang Chunan said, "Don't try to stall for time. It's useless."
Zhang Ruochen stopped Xiang Chunan. "Let it speak."
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi lay on the ground, speaking frantically, "I can pick two Wonderful Sacred Fruits for you. You should have seen them outside the Daoist temple. The preciousness of that kind of sacred fruit definitely exceeds my two legs."
"You mean the purple-blue sacred fruits on the ancient sacred tree?"
"That's right."
Zhang Ruochen and Xiang Chunan exchanged glances, both feeling tempted.
However, Zhang Ruochen quickly adopted a cautious expression. "Outside the Daoist temple are all ancient ferocious creatures, and even a half-ancient great saint. Even if your cultivation is very strong, I'm afraid you can't pick the sacred fruits right under their noses. You're not planning to use this opportunity to escape, are you?"
"How could that be? By heaven and earth, this poor Daoist swears to heaven that I am absolutely sincere in wanting to help you two young heroes pick the sacred fruits, with no ulterior motives. As for those ancient ferocious creatures, you two young heroes need not worry. This poor Daoist grew up here, and my body contains yin energy of the same origin as theirs. Even if I pass right by them, they won't attack me." The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi spoke with great conviction.
Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen didn't believe it at all. "If you can give me half of your sacred soul, then I'll believe you."
"Why does this poor Daoist have to give you half of my sacred soul?" The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi asked, puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "As long as you dare to run, I'll destroy half of your sacred soul. That way, you'll definitely become mentally deranged, and your entire cultivation will be ruined."
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's upper teeth chattered against its lower ones, whether from anger or fear, it was hard to tell. "Wonderful, truly wonderful. You're too wicked!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Since you've cultivated into human form, you have already attained the Dao. As long as you don't actively harm us, we naturally won't eat you. But you deliberately led us to this deadly place, not only causing us to nearly die but also trapping us here. You have to pay some price, don't you?"
"Pick all the Wonderful Sacred Fruits from the ancient sacred tree and give them to us. Our grievances will be settled once and for all. After we leave this forbidden zone, I'll return your sacred soul and set you free. How about that?"
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi showed a contemplative expression, clearly pondering whether Zhang Ruochen was deceiving it.
Xiang Chunan slapped the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's head. "What's there to hesitate about, dammit? We've already forgiven you, and you're still acting reluctant."
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi was very depressed. It was clearly these people who had intruded into its cultivation site and destroyed its Daoist temple, yet now they were acting like victims, leaving it, the true victim, with no place to complain.
But what could it do?
When in a subordinate position, one must bow one's head.
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi said, "Fine, this poor Daoist can temporarily hand over half of my sacred soul, but I can only pick two Wonderful Sacred Fruits for you."
"No, no, you have to pick all of them." Xiang Chunan shook his head.
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi smiled. "If this poor Daoist picks all the Wonderful Sacred Fruits, I'll lose my value. I'm afraid you'll turn around and refine me into pills."
"Damn, you're just a sacred lingzhi, and you have so many schemes. Do you think we're the kind of people who go back on our word?" Xiang Chunan was hot-tempered and pulled out the heavy sword again, preparing to cut off the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's legs.
Zhang Ruochen pressed down on Xiang Chunan's shoulder and said to the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi, "Three. Pick three Wonderful Sacred Fruits and bring them back to us."
"Fine, it's settled!"
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi split off half of its sacred soul, condensed it into a ball of sacred light, and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Stepping out of the small world within the painted wall, Zhang Ruochen and Xiang Chunan waited inside the Daoist temple, while the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi changed its form, becoming a purple-gold sacred lingzhi that rushed out of the temple, sometimes moving its steps, sometimes stopping to remain still.
Clearly, it was also somewhat afraid of those ancient ferocious creatures. It was only because its body indeed contained ancient yin energy, allowing it to merge with the surrounding environment, that those ancient ferocious creatures automatically ignored it.
"This old fellow has ancient yin energy in his body. Even if we used him to refine pills, the result would be poison pills that can't be eaten at all." Xiang Chunan was somewhat troubled.
Seeing that the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi hadn't fled and was indeed heading toward the ancient sacred tree, Zhang Ruochen relaxed and asked, "How strong is the artifact spirit of your supreme sacred artifact?"
Xiang Chunan took out the metal demon crown, held it in his palm and played with it, puzzled. "Artifact spirit?"
"The artifact spirits of supreme sacred artifacts are all quite powerful. It might even be able to suppress that half-ancient great saint." Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiang Chunan shook his head and said, "I don't feel like there's any powerful artifact spirit inside it. Could it be because the gem on the iron hat fell off?"
"Can you lend it to me for a look?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiang Chunan directly handed over the metal demon crown. "Of course, look all you want."
Zhang Ruochen held the extremely heavy metal demon crown, sensing a surging demonic qi within it, as if what he held in his hand was not a headpiece but a metal demon mountain.
The material used to refine the demon crown was also quite special. Zhang Ruochen had never seen anything like it before. It was definitely, like the Creation Divine Iron, one of the top-tier refining materials in the world.
"There's only a wisp of artifact spirit consciousness."
Zhang Ruochen frowned, carefully examining the demon crown. At the top of the crown was a fingertip-sized recess, where the gem Xiang Chunan had mentioned was once embedded.
"What a pity. It's just an incomplete supreme sacred artifact. Otherwise, we could have used it to fight our way out."
Zhang Ruochen returned the demon crown to Xiang Chunan, resting his chin as he considered other ways to escape.
"Look, that old fellow really has some skills. He's already picked three Wonderful Sacred Fruits." Xiang Chunan licked his lips, somewhat excited.
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi on the ancient sacred tree, a smile also appearing at the corner of his mouth.
After picking the three Wonderful Sacred Fruits, the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi immediately rushed back into the Daoist temple, handing the sacred fruits to Zhang Ruochen. "Junior, now you should fulfill your promise and return this poor Daoist's half of the sacred soul, right?"
"No rush. Once we leave this forbidden zone, I'll definitely return it to you."
Zhang Ruochen handed one Wonderful Sacred Fruit to Xiang Chunan, kept one for himself, and put away the remaining one, planning to save it for Mu Lingxi.
Xiang Chunan held the Wonderful Sacred Fruit, took a deep breath, swallowed his saliva, bared his white teeth, and was about to take a big bite.
"Wait a moment."
Zhang Ruochen said cautiously, "The Wonderful Sacred Fruit has been growing here for a long time. It might have been contaminated by ancient yin energy."
"Right!"
Xiang Chunan was startled and glared at the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi. "You were so eager to help us pick the Wonderful Sacred Fruits. Do you know this fruit can't be eaten and wanted to trick us to death?"
"By heaven and earth, how could this poor Daoist do something so despicable?"
The Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi quickly added, "Did you see those purple-blue mists surging from deep within the palace complex? Those mists can purify yin energy. The Wonderful Sacred Tree has been wrapped in purple-blue mists all year round, so yin energy can't get near it. Trust this poor Daoist's words. You can eat them without worry."
One must always be wary of others. Zhang Ruochen didn't fully believe the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi. Instead, he took out the Yi Emperor Bone Staff and activated the power of the Buddha Emperor Relic on the staff.
"Whoosh."
Golden Buddha light radiated out, shining on the Wonderful Sacred Fruit.
Seeing this, the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi immediately changed its tune. "Two days ago, the purple-blue mists covering the Wonderful Sacred Tree dispersed for an hour. It's possible that yin energy invaded the sacred fruit."
"Sizzle."
Under the purification of the Buddha light, wisps of yin energy began to escape from the Wonderful Sacred Fruit.
Xiang Chunan's expression changed drastically. He slammed the metal demon crown onto the Spiritual Sacred Lingzhi's head, and his fists fell like raindrops, pounding it relentlessly. "You old bastard, you're truly cunning. If my brother hadn't been cautious, we would have been tricked by you!"