Ling Tian Sword God-Chapter 655 - 653 Longevity Fruit_1

"That serious?"

Ling Chen frowned. He suddenly remembered that Gu Qingfeng had died three months after returning to the Myriad Dao Sect. The sect had announced to the public that he died due to a martial arts training accident, but now, it seemed there was more to it. Gu Qingfeng’s death was likely related to the task he undertook for the Barbaric Temple. Just what kind of perilous task could cause an expert at the Sixth Layer of Sky Apex to perish after merely three months?

"Gu Qingfeng was extremely confident in his abilities at the time, which is why he accepted the task without hesitation. If he had known he would die an unnatural death because of it, I suspect he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly. You need to consider this matter carefully," Wutugu said calmly.

"There’s no need to consider it."

Ling Chen shook his head. "Even if it means risking my life, I want to try. I hope Clan Leader Wutugu can help."

Giving up before even trying wasn’t Ling Chen’s style. Besides, he had promised to help Xu Ruoyan recover from her injuries, and he was determined to fulfill that promise.

"What? You still want to try?"

Wutugu was taken aback. He had already explained the dangers to such an extent, yet Ling Chen was still unwilling to give up. However, upon seeing the resolute expression on Ling Chen’s face, Wutugu sighed and then nodded. "Alright, since you’ve said as much, I will tell you."

Surprise was one thing, but Wutugu still greatly admired Ling Chen’s courage. After all, ordinary people would likely hesitate and weigh the pros and cons upon hearing such things, yet Ling Chen made his decision with almost no hesitation. Even he himself might not have been able to do the same, let alone for someone else.

"Let’s go; this isn’t the place to discuss matters. Brother Ling Chen, why don’t you return to the village with me first? Once we reach my home, I’ll explain this matter to you in detail," Wutugu said.

"Then I shall impose."

Ling Chen cupped his fists. After some interaction, he found Wutugu to be an honest and upright person. He reckoned Wutugu wouldn’t resort to duplicity or dirty tricks like luring him into a trap.

Following Wutugu and Nina, Ling Chen entered the Barbarian Tribe’s village openly for the first time. Although he had infiltrated it several times before, he had always done so stealthily, remaining undetected. However, to avoid trouble this time, Ling Chen put on Barbarian Tribe clothing and disguised himself slightly. Outwardly, he looked little different from an ordinary tribesman.

As the Clan Leader, Wutugu resided in the center of the village. There stood a relatively "magnificent" wooden house, considerably taller than the other dwellings and quite conspicuous.

"My home is humble, not comparable to your Five Country Territory. Please, make yourself comfortable, little brother."

Inside the wooden house, Wutugu gestured for Ling Chen to enter, smiling faintly as he spoke.

"Clan Leader, you’ve been to the Five Kingdoms before?" Ling Chen was slightly surprised.

"Naturally, I have." Wutugu nodded. "Although the journey to the Five Country Territory is perilous and long, with our strength, entering and leaving it isn’t difficult. However, these Hundred Thousand Mountains are our foundation, and this place is also more suitable for my people’s survival. The last time I went to the Five Kingdoms was three years ago."

"So that’s how it is."

Ling Chen showed a pensive expression. Indeed, the Barbarian Tribe possessed naturally robust physiques. The miasma in these Hundred Thousand Mountains not only couldn’t harm them but instead served as a natural environment for their Body Refining. Leaving here would be tantamount to voluntarily giving up such advantageous conditions.

After taking a sip of water, Ling Chen asked, "Clan Leader, can you now tell me what exactly the Barbaric Temple asked Gu Qingfeng to do back then?"

"It’s a long story." Wutugu pondered for a moment before saying, "The Deer Reviving Grass is a sacred offering to the Barbaric Temple. It’s said that this item has the power to bring the dead back to life and turn decay into wonder. To obtain it, one can only exchange it for something the Barbaric Temple needs even more."

"Something the Barbaric Temple needs more? What is that?" Ling Chen’s eyebrows rose.

"The Longevity Fruit." Wutugu slowly uttered the name, his expression turning solemn. "You should be somewhat aware that for us warriors of the Refined Body School, the further we advance in our cultivation, the harder it is to improve. The difficulty is much greater than for you warriors who cultivate True Qi."

"That is indeed true."

Ling Chen nodded. In the Five Kingdoms, Body Refining is an extremely difficult path. To reach a higher Martial Realm through Body Refining, one first needs exceedingly harsh cultivation conditions and, more importantly, vast amounts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Therefore, the further one progresses, the harder it is to improve.

"Among the Barbarian Tribe, the clan leaders of our various tribes, myself included, possess strength roughly equivalent to what you call the Fifth Level of Sky Apex Realm. However, the most powerful individual in the entire Barbarian Tribe is the High Priest of the Barbaric Temple."

"That High Priest’s strength is likely equivalent to your Seventh Realm of Sky Apex. It’s already very difficult for him to advance his realm further, let alone aspire to the legendary Saint Realm. However, his lifespan is nearing its end. And the Longevity Fruit, an exceptionally rare treasure in this world, has the effect of defying heaven and changing fate; it can grant an additional fifty years of life to those whose allotted time is almost up."

"Increase lifespan?" A look of shock suddenly appeared in Ling Chen’s eyes. Such a heaven-defying item actually existed in this world? A person’s lifespan is determined by heaven; heavenly fate cannot be defied. Yet this Longevity Fruit, capable of increasing lifespan, undoubtedly altered heavenly fate.

Wutugu continued, "Back then, Gu Qingfeng ventured deep into the Demon-Burying Cave and retrieved a Longevity Fruit for the High Priest in exchange for the Deer Reviving Grass. Now, the High Priest’s lifespan is nearing its end once more. If you are willing to retrieve another Longevity Fruit for him, I believe there should be no problem exchanging it for the Deer Reviving Grass."

"If this High Priest desires the Longevity Fruit, why doesn’t he retrieve it himself?" Ling Chen asked, somewhat puzzled.

The High Priest’s strength was clearly not inferior to Gu Qingfeng’s. If the latter could obtain it, the High Priest should not be unable to do so.

"It’s not that easy." Wutugu shook his head with a smile, a sharp glint in his eyes. "The Demon-Burying Cave is fraught with all sorts of perils. Anyone below the Sky Apex Realm who enters will surely die. Even for Top Sky Apex Strong who enter, the probability of perishing is extremely high. I heard that Gu Qingfeng contracted a bizarre Ancient Demon Poison after entering the Demon-Burying Cave back then. It was incurable, and he ultimately succumbed to it."

Hearing this, Ling Chen finally understood. No wonder the High Priest didn’t go to retrieve the Longevity Fruit himself. He would most likely perish in the Demon-Burying Cave before he could even obtain it.