Vol. 1 - Ch. 322 - Serpent Nether Fruit

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The letter's courier was said to belong to a special family that specialized in such business.

However, the jade coins required to send letters were too expensive for ordinary people.

This time, in addition to the letter, there was a sealed iron box.

Chen Xingzhen did not rush to open the box. Instead, he first broke the seal on the envelope and began to read its contents.

"Qingyu has been away from the clan for a long time..."

As Chen Xingzhen read, Ji Yang’s consciousness brushed against the envelope.

After regaining his awareness, Ji Yang had tried to sense Chen Qingyu’s location through the Incense-Leaf of the Sacred Locust. He even tried to project his image and condition through the incense's aura.

But the distance was too great, and countless unknown energies blocked the way. Ji Yang’s attempt failed.

Unless he fully mastered the Golden Body of Incense technique, the Incense-Leaf could only provide faint impressions.

Since Chen Qingyu only sent letters back every year or two, Ji Yang eventually ceased his attempts.

The letter itself contained little, only a brief note stating that Chen Qingyu was in Qianshan and assuring the clan that he would return once he broke through to the Qi Manipulation Realm.

Chen Qingyu also mentioned that he had obtained a rare heavenly treasure called the Serpent Nether Fruit and sent it back with the letter.

After finishing the letter, Chen Xingzhen opened the iron box and saw several Serpent Nether Fruits inside.

"Ah, this child Qingyu... He likely doesn't know the clan's current situation. These things should have been kept for himself!"

Though his words carried a hint of reproach, Chen Xingzhen’s face radiated joy.

After years away from the clan, Qingyu still cared about its well-being—truly a good son.

Unfortunately, the clan could not determine Qingyu’s exact location, nor could they send him letters. Each time he wrote, he was in a different place.

It seemed Qingyu intended to return only after breaking through to the Qi Manipulation Realm.

Given his current cultivation, that day might not be far off.

"Let me see, let me see!"

After Chen Xingzhen handed the envelope to the gathered youths, they crowded around it, jostling and craning their necks to see what it said.

"Wow, Brother Qingyu is truly amazing."

"So this is the Serpent Nether Fruit? It looks so strange."

Chen Xingzhen only smiled silently. Since the fruit had been sent back, it wouldn't hurt to let the clan use it.

According to the letter, the fruit increases the chances of Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists breaking through to the Innate Realm. It was indeed something the clan could put to good use.

After all, the Divine Tree’s power only allowed them to glimpse the path toward the Innate Realm; the Serpent Nether Fruit, however, was like a hand pushing them forward and speeding up their progress.

…

Two days later, Ji Yang carefully examined his current state:

【Name: Ji Yang】

【Race: Netherworld Locust Tree】

【Vitality: 1700】

【Divine Abilities: Eye of Insight, Reverse Pill Path, One Leaf Veils the Eye, Soul Coagulation, Carapace, Scorched Earth, Spirit Awakening, Withered Wood Revives, Soul Capture, Soul Requiem, Qi Observation, Branches Flourish, Mist Array】

【Techniques: Lunar Eclipse, Gather Yin, Golden Body of Incense, Spirit Consumption, Solar Eclipse.】

【Combat Techniques: Taizu Long Fist, Seven Emotions, Six Extinction Sword (Fragment), Taiyi Seal Big Dipper, Seven-Star Fist Five Venoms, Yin Wind Palm Remnant, Nine Severing Clouds (can transfer power twice)】

【Vital Energy (Qi and Blood): 145 (can be converted into Life Force)】

【Spiritual Power: 2】

【Deduction Points: 61】

【Cannot be deducted】

【Status: Absorbing Solar Essence】

After two rounds of tenfold deduction, Ji Yang still had a significant amount of Deduction Points remaining. Over the past month, several younger clansmen, including Chen Qingcheng, had entered the Body Tempering Realm. With Chen Tianyu’s breakthrough, the accumulation of Deduction Points accelerated.

In contrast, the once abundant spiritual power now seemed somewhat lacking. The greatest consumption of spiritual power came from awakening the clansmen’s spirits.

Recently, Ji Yang had deliberately awakened several Ancient Trees around Chaotic Burial Mountain. Despite having the Spirit-Devouring technique, his reserves still seemed insufficient.

To replenish spiritual power, aside from the Spirit-Devouring method, one way is through sacrifice.

The higher the realm of the beast sacrificed, the greater the spiritual power obtained.

However, within Chaotic Burial Mountain, nearly all the beasts in the Body Tempering Realm had been hunted down by the clan in recent years. For unknown reasons, the amount of spiritual power that Ji Yang could draw from these beasts had also steadily decreased.

Another option was to sacrifice other spirit-bearing objects, like the Liu family’s Totem Green Bamboo.

The bamboo had been dormant and incomplete for ages, yet it still provided Ji Yang with more than twenty points of spiritual power. Had it been whole and active, it surely would have offered far more.

In recent years, the clan had kept a close watch for news of spirit-bearing objects, but their efforts yielded nothing. To find such objects, one would likely have to search the ancestral halls of other families.

Given the clan’s circumstances, the best course of action was to continue sacrificing large numbers of ferocious beasts. Even if the spiritual power gained was minimal, it could still add up.

Ji Yang had already given instructions to Chen Tianjing, the current clan leader, in hopes that Yong’an City might produce results.

Just as Ji Yang’s thoughts lingered, a prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes:

【Clansman Chen Tianquan has broken through to the Innate Realm. Deduction points: +3.】

Ji Yang’s consciousness instantly enveloped the clan, and he quickly sensed Chen Tianquan’s presence in a secluded chamber.

If his memory served him correctly, Chen Tianquan must have used the Serpent Nether Fruit because otherwise, such a breakthrough would have taken longer.

Upon entering the Innate Realm, Chen Tianquan’s face glowed red with excitement. He muttered aloud, his voice trembling with joy:

“Father, did you see? I’ve reached the Innate Realm!"

He never imagined that, despite his level of talent, he would have the chance to reach the Innate Realm.

However, as his thoughts turned to the clan’s current state, Chen Tianquan quickly calmed down.

Thanks to the clan’s steady supply of resources and the power of the Divine Tree, most of the newborn clansmen were likely to break through to the Innate Realm in far less time. This signified that the clan was steadily growing stronger.

Just as Chen Tianquan prepared to report this news to the clan leader, a sudden stream of memories surged into his mind.

"Nine Severing Clouds? A Heaven-tier combat technique?”

Chen Tianquan’s face lit up with excitement once more. He was no stranger to Heaven-tier techniques—the central combat technique pattern on the Divine Tree itself was one such art.

But back then, he had not reached the Innate Realm, so he could not comprehend it. He could only gaze upon it from afar.

Now, with a single breakthrough, fortune had descended upon him. The Nine Severing Clouds unfolded in his mind as if he had studied it countless times; its intricacies were already clear to him.

Realizing the source of this gift, Chen Tianquan immediately offered a solemn prayer to the Divine Tree. Then, unable to contain his excitement, he left the chamber at once, eager to share the news with his father and the clan.

In the ancestral hall, Chen Xingzhen prayed silently.

Another clansman’s breakthrough allowed him to glimpse the clan’s rise to power. Though he was no longer the clan leader, the sight filled him with deep comfort. His aged face, lined with years, seemed to regain vitality, glowing with renewed spirit.

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