I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World-Chapter 212 - 184: Thousand-Year-Old Spiritual Fruit Tree
Jiang Yuebai suspiciously scrutinized Monk Ruosheng. This corner was indeed ahead on the path she intended to take, so it couldn’t really be said that he was following her.
It was just that his appearance was too uncanny, leaving no trace before and after, which suddenly reminded her of Shen Huaxi’s concealment techniques, making her nerves tense up.
If it weren’t for the Wind Net capturing all movement-induced wind patterns, this monk would be as indistinct as a rock under her Divine Sense probing.
Jiang Yuebai silently retreated a step, signaling for him to take his own path.
However, Ruosheng did not move, his phoenix eyes falling on Jiang Yuebai’s featureless pure white mask.
"I recall there’s an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment six-winged centipede in the nest over there. Seeing you emerging unscathed from that direction, you must have slain it. Your abilities are extraordinary, I admire that, but you look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
Jiang Yuebai remained expressionless. Since entering the Quicksand Domain, she had concealed her face, suspecting the monk might be trying to trick her.
"Master, what guidance do you have?"
Ruosheng’s phoenix eyes smiled, his demeanor enthusiastic, "Meeting is fate. Would the donor be willing to accompany this humble monk? The creatures deeper within the Insect Nest exceed the Foundation Establishment Stage. This monk seeks to retrieve something from the lowest level, but is inadequate alone. If you accompany me, apart from that item, I won’t take anything else and am willing to swear on the Buddha."
"A Buddha oath? Does that have any binding effect on you?" Jiang Yuebai’s eyes swept Ruosheng’s red robes. She’d never seen such a flamboyant monk.
Ruosheng was indifferent, "This humble monk was born and raised in a monastery, born a member of the Buddhist Sect. You shouldn’t discriminate against this humble monk for liking bright colors. All appearances are illusory; if you see that all forms are non-forms, you see the Buddha."
Jiang Yuebai adjusted her mask, "Are you saying that your external appearance isn’t your true appearance, and it’s my Realm that’s insufficient?"
"Amitabha Buddha, the donor is wise. By the way, this humble monk knows a shortcut to reach the underground river faster."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuebai straightened up, "Now, that’s more convincing than what you said earlier."
Zhong Shanhu and Yu Tianlie had likely partnered up and reached the Scorpion King ahead of her; she needed to quicken her pace.
The most valuable thing in this Insect Nest was undoubtedly the Scorpion King.
However, recalling how Moh Baichun had suddenly ambushed her earlier, Jiang Yuebai grew more cautious.
"You’ll lead the way ahead of me. If you accept, let’s proceed."
"Amitabha Buddha, as the donor wishes."
With that said, Ruosheng clutched his prayer beads and led the way, while Jiang Yuebai discreetly retracted Little Green and followed behind.
After rounding several bends, Ruosheng paused before a cobweb-covered rock wall and tossed up his bead string.
Golden light transformed into several Buddhist characters, striking the web, revealing a narrower passage behind it, winding downwards, with the rustling sounds so intense it made one’s scalp tingle.
"The path is steep, and the Earth Scorpions are plentiful inside, so be cautious of your footing."
Ruosheng stepped into the cave, immediately causing a multitude of ordinary fist-sized scorpions to scatter in alarm.
Like Jiang Yuebai, Ruosheng didn’t need illumination to see in the dark. Encountering low-level small Earth Scorpions, he would cut them down with his prayer beads, not bothering Jiang Yuebai.
But they hadn’t traveled more than a hundred zhang when they encountered many Earth Scorpions as large as children, blocking the narrow passage ahead.
Ruosheng continued to slay those in front, while many emerged behind Jiang Yuebai, making advancement or retreat impossible.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuebai retrieved a purple Elixir Bottle, grabbed a pill and smashed it on the ground.
A purple smoke instantly spread, its pungent odor causing the Earth Scorpions around to disperse like a tide.
Ruosheng covered his nose and mouth, "What is this poison smoke?"
Jiang Yuebai shook the bottle, "Insect Repelling Smoke, harmless to cultivators, just pungent, and capable of repelling beasts below the Foundation Establishment Stage."
She had acquired this item from Xue Liuzhi’s Alchemy Room.
Besides the repellent, there was a potent Insect Attracting Incense. Fearing things might backfire, she hadn’t dared use it herself before.
Ruosheng continued forward, unable to resist asking, "You don’t seem to be a poison cultivator. So young yet possessing Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, excelling in both martial and magical techniques, are you a Sect disciple out for training?"
Jiang Yuebai remained silent, vigilantly observing her surroundings. It seemed she heard the sound of running water; this path indeed led to the underground river.
"Do you know about the Vajra Platform in Muyun Domain? I heard it’s the only remaining Buddhist Holy Land in the world."
Jiang Yuebai casually replied, "You have legs, right? Muyun Domain is just north of the Quicksand Domain, a single Kongque River away, not far."
"A single Kongque River, and that’s quite a distance. I actually didn’t want to be a monk, but alas, I can’t grow hair, sigh..."
Jiang Yuebai: ......
Ruosheng said no more, and the two of them sped along with the Insect Repelling Smoke, enduring a few small yet intense skirmishes, reaching the end of the passage after over two hours.
Jiang Yuebai caught up from behind, finding that the passage ended on a cliff face, below which lay a vast underground space and a large lake.
The water was a clear green, resembling a flawless emerald resting in the darkness, mesmerizing.
What truly caught Jiang Yuebai’s attention was a three-zhang tall tree on a small island at the lake’s center.
The tree bore over a dozen fruits, green mixed with red, nearly ripe.
Jiang Yuebai squinted, scrutinizing the tree’s shape and leaves to make a guess.
"Is that a Snake Shedding Fruit? Able to rejuvenate and give one a new lease on life, saving thirty years of Body Refining Hard Work with just one fruit?"
Ruosheng replied, "Indeed, this tree has been here for over a thousand years. The lake bed is littered with the corpses of insect beasts that fought over the fruit tree."
Jiang Yuebai looked towards the tree’s base, not spotting the False Elixir Realm Scorpion King, though it was surely nearby.
"What are you here to retrieve?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Ruosheng brought his palms together, speaking profoundly, "Buddha said, indescribable. The time for retrieval has not yet come. Should obstacles arise, I hope the donor can assist."
Jiang Yuebai didn’t agree outright, donning the Hidden Sky Robe. As long as Ruosheng wasn’t after the spirit fruit tree, there would be no conflict, and aiding him depending on her mood wouldn’t be out of the question.
Concealing her presence, Jiang Yuebai spread the Wind Net, preparing to stealthily cut down the tree and carry it back, leaving just the root for the local insect beasts.
Such a large Thousand-Year-Old Spiritual Fruit Tree would surely impart more energy than spirit grass once consumed.
"Donor, hold on!"
Jiang Yuebai hadn’t moved yet when Ruosheng stopped her, and her Wind Net also detected the sounds of intense combat.
After only a few breaths, the fighting subsided, and two male cultivators emerged from a passage below the cliff.
They were Zhong Shanhu and Yu Tianlie!
Jiang Yuebai and Ruosheng hurriedly crouched down, observing from the shadows.
The two men reached the lakeside, delighted to see the Snake Shedding Fruit Tree in the distance.
Yet, they remained relatively calm, refraining from rushing to harvest the fruits, cautiously surveying the lake and its surroundings.
"Any sign of the Scorpion King?" asked Zhong Shanhu, who was in the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.
Yu Tianlie, at the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, shook his head, "Could it be gravely injured and dead, its body consumed by other insect beasts?"
The two exchanged glances.
"Head to the island."
Yu Tianlie went ahead, with Zhong Shanhu following. After several steps, Zhong Shanhu suddenly raised his hand and hurled a talismanic light toward Jiang Yuebai’s hiding spot.
Bang bang bang!
The Continuous Fire Bomb Talisman instantly blasted the cliff into fragments, with flames devouring the entrance, dyeing the underground river fiery red.
Jiang Yuebai Sky-Breaking Flashed to the lakeside, frowning at her fringe, now singed and curling, emitting a burnt odor.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, so it’s you!" Zhong Shanhu recognized Jiang Yuebai’s black outfit beneath the Hidden Sky Robe.
Jiang Yuebai stood, noticing the absence of Monk Ruosheng, inwardly cursing.
He fled quite swiftly once trouble arose. And he still expected her help? Help, my foot!
"Our previous interaction was rather pleasant, why the sudden hostility?" Jiang Yuebai asked, seemingly smiling, yet not quite.
Zhong Shanhu and Yu Tianlie exchanged glances, Yu Tianlie grinning wickedly, "I’ve long suspected you of being a wealthy Sect disciple. Since we’ve crossed paths here, leave your life and your Magic Artifacts behind!"
As he finished speaking, the two seamlessly moved apart, attacking Jiang Yuebai from both sides with lethal intent.
Only then did Jiang Yuebai realize these two weren’t strangers at all, likely seasoned veterans pretending to be unfamiliar, mingling within the Demon Hunting Team, lying in wait to kill for treasure!
