Chapter 562: Spirit Crane Pear
Azure Sky Saint shook his head and said, "I have heard a little about this matter as well, but I don't think it's a good thing. How could a figure like the Nine Emperors be cultivated merely by piling up resources?"
"Moreover, for the sake of the Realm Son matter, the various great clans and aristocratic families have already begun open and covert struggles. Even the Taiji Dao, Ten Thousand Buddha Dao, and Confucian Dao have all sent their most outstanding heirs to travel the world, competing for the Realm Son quotas. The entire Kunlun Realm has been stirred up by an undercurrent, and it's hard to say whether this is a blessing or a curse."
Xuanji old man said, "The fact that you can see this step shows that you have truly matured and can stand on your own. But is the Holy Academy's interior not also churning with undercurrents?"
Azure Sky Saint instantly understood Xuanji old man's intention and said, "Could it be... Master also wants the Little Junior Brother to compete for the Realm Son quota?"
Xuanji old man nodded and smiled, "Once he becomes a Realm Son, he will receive a vast amount of cultivation resources, and he might even leap to become the Empress's personal disciple. In the future, he would have the opportunity to succeed the Empress's throne and become the ruler of the Kunlun Realm. If we miss such an opportunity, when will the next one come?"
"Besides, your Little Junior Brother has just reached the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, and he is at the peak of his popularity. Even if he doesn't go to compete for the Realm Son quota, someone will definitely come to him."
Azure Sky Saint's expression turned serious, and he said, "Speaking of the Little Junior Brother, there is another matter that the disciple must report to Master."
"What is it?" Xuanji old man asked.
Azure Sky Saint said, "Some time ago, the Ruins Realm Altar of the Wood Essence Ruins Realm was destroyed by the Demon Sect's Copper Beard Half-Saint. I thought the matter had come to an end. However, after recent investigations, intelligence has been sent up from the Ministry of War. Before the Ruins Realm Altar was destroyed, the Little Junior Brother was in the Wood Essence Ruins Realm and had visited the Ruins Realm Altar."
"As for the specific details of the entire incident, they have been recorded in the top-secret archives by the Censorate, and even I am not very clear. Now, that archive has been sent back to the Kunlun Realm and delivered before the Empress."
Upon hearing this, even Xuanji old man showed a solemn expression. After pondering for a moment, he said, "The Holy Academy has long conducted a detailed investigation into your Little Junior Brother's identity. It is quite clean, and he is certainly not an undercover agent planted by the Demon Sect. There is no need to worry about that."
"Moreover, given his cultivation level at the time, it would have been quite unlikely for him to destroy the Ruins Realm Altar."
"Besides, even if your Little Junior Brother is indeed related to this matter, the Empress should not severely punish him over such a trivial issue. After all, your Little Junior Brother's current status is no longer what it used to be. If the Empress wants to deal with him, she will inevitably offend the Holy Academy and the Eastern Domain Holy King Manor. She must have a certain sense of proportion regarding what is more important."
Azure Sky Saint was quite cautious and said, "Should we first ask the Little Junior Brother about this matter? Once we know the ins and outs of the situation, we can prepare in advance. If the Empress blames him, we will be better able to respond."
Xuanji old man thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "It's better not to ask, so as not to cause him unnecessary pressure."
Azure Sky Saint and Xuanji old man continued to discuss some other important matters before leaving the meteor and returning to the Green Grain Hall.
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The Green Grain Hall was the hall of the Senior Brother Azure Sky Saint and also the place where the Ministry of War dispatched personnel and handled official business. Therefore, after Zhang Ruochen gathered with his senior brothers and sisters, he temporarily stayed at the Ten Thousand Realms Tavern.
Entering the room, Zhang Ruochen immediately took out the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and entered the Scroll World.
As for the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, it hung on the wall like an ordinary scroll. No one would ever guess that it contained an independent inner world.
Under Xiao Hei's leadership, and with the hard work of three Fish-Dragon Realm cultivators, the first city in the Scroll World had begun to take shape.
Fish-Dragon Realm cultivators were indeed excellent laborers, extremely efficient at doing hard work. One person could do the work of hundreds of ordinary people.
The entire city was almost entirely built from giant stones, stacked into halls, streets, and towers. On some mountains with abundant spiritual energy, dozens of cave dwellings had been dug out, and nearby water sources had been diverted to form waterfalls dozens of feet high.
According to Xiao Hei's plan, the first step was to build a small city capable of accommodating fifty thousand people, so the workload was not too great.
Now, it was only in its initial stages. To truly form a city, a great deal of time would be needed for polishing and carving.
Zhang Ruochen was a little puzzled and asked, "Xiao Hei, I'm curious, why are you building a city in the Scroll World? Do you want to bring many people in here to cultivate?"
Xiao Hei seemed very excited but did not tell Zhang Ruochen the reason. He just chuckled and said, "It's not just about building one city. In the future, I plan to build many more. Oh, by the way, I used the scales of the Black Bone Flood Dragon King to forge two sets of Flood Dragon Armor and gave them to those two girls."
Xiao Hei pointed forward.
In the direction his claw indicated, Ao Xinyan and Orange Moon Star Envoy, wearing crimson Flood Dragon Armor, flew over and landed below the city.
Their injuries had already healed.
Zhang Ruochen rubbed his chin and smiled, "Why did you only forge armor for the two of them?"
Xiao Hei said, "Because the two of them are going with me to the Ruins Realm Battlefield, while you and your fiancée are returning to the Kunlun Realm, so you won't need armor for now."
Zhang Ruochen said, "You're going to the Ruins Realm Battlefield?"
Xiao Hei nodded and said, "Do you still remember the altar we discovered in the Wood Essence Ruins Realm? That altar has a faint connection with another Ruins Realm. This matter is of great importance, and I feel it is necessary to investigate it thoroughly."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I'll go with you."
"No need. You're in the spotlight right now, and all the major forces are watching your every move. If you come with us, it will only cause unnecessary trouble." Xiao Hei added, "I'm taking those two girls with me because I also want them to gain some experience on the Ruins Realm Battlefield."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on Orange Moon Star Envoy, and he was a little worried, saying, "Are you sure you can control them?"
"Are you worried about that girl from the Black Market? Don't worry. I have already accepted her as my disciple and am teaching her several ancient secret arts. Even if she has other ideas, as long as she hasn't fully mastered these secret arts, she should still be patient and won't turn against me immediately."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Alright. Since you have a plan, I won't say any more. When do you plan to leave?"
"Right now," Xiao Hei said.
Xiao Hei, Ao Xinyan, and Orange Moon Star Envoy walked out of the Scroll World and set off for the Ruins Realm Battlefield that very day.
Huang Yanchen had already awakened, and most of her injuries had healed. She walked out of the Scroll World together with Zhang Ruochen.
Also on that day, under the leadership of Xuanji old man, the Second Senior Brother Zhu Hongtao, the Third Senior Brother Wan Ke, the Fifth Senior Sister Lingshu, along with Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen, boarded a Ruins Realm ship, passed through a wormhole, and returned together to the Eastern Domain Sacred City.
After returning to the Eastern Domain Sacred City, they naturally went back to the Holy Academy first.
In the heart of the Holy Academy stood a tall and majestic Sacred Mountain.
The Sacred Mountain was not a solitary peak but a mountain range, with dozens of strange peaks and deep valleys. Only those who had reached the Half-Saint realm could open cave dwellings on the Sacred Mountain.
Xuanji old man's cave dwelling was located in the Spirit Crane Pear Garden on the Sacred Mountain.
In the garden, three thousand six hundred Spirit Crane Pear trees were planted.
It was the season of blooming flowers. A clear breeze blew, making a "rustling" sound, and the pure white petals fell to the ground like snowflakes.
Of course, some pear trees had already borne crystal-clear Spirit Crane Pears, emitting an enticing fragrance.
At this moment, only Zhang Ruochen and Xuanji old man were in the Spirit Crane Pear Garden.
The old and the young sat facing each other.
Xuanji old man looked at a spot seventeen zhang away. There stood a Spirit Crane Pear tree as thick as three men could encircle, bearing seven emerald-green Spirit Crane Pears.
Suddenly, one of the Spirit Crane Pears seemed to come to life. It began to rapidly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, gradually turning a golden-yellow color, and the fragrance it emitted became even richer.
"Haha! One of the Spirit Crane Pears has ripened today."
Xuanji old man laughed, raised an arm, and grabbed it through the air.
The next moment, the ripe Spirit Crane Pear appeared in his hand.
Xuanji old man opened his palm and handed the Spirit Crane Pear to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "The Spirit Crane Pear tree blooms for three hundred years, bears fruit for three hundred years, and ripens for three hundred years. Taking one Spirit Crane Pear not only enhances cultivation and opens the mind but also increases a cultivator's lifespan by thirty years."
"Even if a Half-Saint comes to beg for one to extend their life, I, your master, might not necessarily give it. Today, you are in luck. Take it and have a taste."
The Spirit Crane Pear lived up to its name, looking just like a spirit crane. It had a long, curved crane neck and a plump crane belly. If one looked closely, one could even see the crane's wings, beak, eyes, and legs.
Without even tasting it, just one sniff of the sweet fragrance lingering in the air was enough to make one swallow saliva.
Setting aside its other effects, the mere fact that it could "extend life by thirty years" showed how precious it was. No wonder even Half-Saints wanted to get their hands on one.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Spirit Crane Pear, then reached out with both hands and took it from Xuanji old man's hand.
Afterward, Zhang Ruochen carefully placed the Spirit Crane Pear into a jade box, then closed the lid to prevent the essence of the pear from dissipating.
Xuanji old man was slightly surprised and said, "Usually, whenever a Spirit Crane Pear ripens, your Second Senior Brother would definitely steal and eat it first. Why aren't you tasting it now?"
Zhang Ruochen looked up and smiled, "I want to take it back and give it to my mother."
Xuanji old man suddenly understood and thought to himself, "What a filial child."
Zhang Ruochen's mother had not awakened her Divine Martial Mark and was just an ordinary person. Taking the Spirit Crane Pear would indeed bring her countless benefits.
Although letting an ordinary person consume a Spirit Crane Pear was a great waste, that filial piety was priceless and could not be bought with a thousand pieces of gold.
A look of admiration appeared in Xuanji old man's eyes, and he grew even fonder of this youngest disciple. He asked, "Do you know why I wanted to see you alone?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Disciple does not know."
Xuanji old man stood up, looked at the blooming pear blossoms, and said, "I have heard that you have cultivated a very powerful sword technique called 'Instant Without Trace.' Could you demonstrate it for me?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart was startled, and he was momentarily at a loss.
Instant Without Trace was a Time Sword Art, infused with Time Imprints, representing the power of time.
Others might not be able to detect the power of time, but Xuanji old man was an extremely powerful expert. Even the slightest fluctuation of time could not escape his perception.
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(Announcement: Every Saturday, Xiao Yu will select some valuable book reviews and answer them uniformly on the WeChat public account. Today, the first batch has been updated. Everyone can go and follow it. Maybe your book review will be selected. If it isn't selected, don't worry. Next Saturday, another batch of book reviews will be selected and answered uniformly.
Also, today on the WeChat public account, Xiao Hei's origins were revealed.
One more thing: The side story event has ended, and Xiao Yu has received multiple side stories. They will be published on the WeChat public account tomorrow. I hope everyone will go and follow it. WeChat public account: 5. Or directly search for "Feitian Yu".)