After Hai Bodong accepted the request, Xiao Hua and the others left the Tager Desert and set off toward the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
With their speed, they should have reached the mountain range in the blink of an eye. However, since Qing Lin had never left the Tager Desert before, they decided it might be a good idea to take their time and let her experience the outside world.
Because they lingered in the larger cities to let Qing Lin enjoy the sights and scenery, a journey that should have taken no time at all ended up stretching into eight days.
Of course, it wasn't just Qing Lin who enjoyed the detour. Zi Yan and the Little Fairy Doctor also took the opportunity to stroll around, looking for anything that might catch their interest—partly to entertain themselves, and partly to make sure Qing Lin wouldn't feel guilty for delaying their journey.
From Xiao Hua's perspective, he could clearly tell that both of them genuinely enjoyed the detour, especially the Little Fairy Doctor. Having never left Qingshan Town before, this was her first time experiencing the vibrant life of the big cities.
Watching them brought an involuntary smile to Xiao Hua's face. As long as they didn't cause any trouble, he was content to let them do as they pleased.
Once everyone had their fill of sightseeing, they finally arrived at the small valley where Xiao Hua, Little Fairy Doctor, and Zi Yan had once stayed for a long period.
"So this is the valley Sister Zi Yan mentioned? It's incredible!" Qing Lin's eyes swept across the valley, her gaze landing on the thick mist formed by the dense spiritual energy. She was stunned by the sight.
If she trained here for a while, her strength would definitely grow by leaps and bounds.
"The energy wasn't this dense when we first arrived," Zi Yan explained with a proud smile. "But after Xiao Hua placed the Spirit Life Flame here, the spiritual energy has only grown richer."
As if to affirm her words, Zi Yan patted her small chest and nodded proudly at Qing Lin's astonished expression.
"Really, the air here smells so much better than outside!"
As she spoke, she scrunched up her nose and took a deep breath of the mist that blanketed the small valley. A look of unrestrained joy appeared on her face as whiff after whiff of fragrant, medicinal fog filled her lungs, causing her heart to race with excitement.
Even Qing Lin was stunned by the countless rare medicinal plants flourishing throughout the valley. The rich medicinal aroma in the air left her feeling refreshed with every breath.
Although she wasn't well-versed in alchemy, she still recognized the value of many of these herbs. Some were ingredients that could fetch an astronomical price in the outside world, while many others she didn't even recognize—yet instinctively knew they were priceless.
Zi Yan and Qing Lin ran around the valley, their faces lit up with childlike joy as they examined every corner. Their eyes sparkled as they passed by each patch of medicinal plants, chattering excitedly as they explored.
Xiao Hua watched the two excited girls with a helpless smile and shook his head. Then, turning to the Little Fairy Doctor—who was chuckling softly at the scene—he spoke gently:
"Little Fairy Doctor, I'll go search for a quiet cave slight far away to practice pill refinement. Please keep an eye on them—especially Zi Yan. Make sure she doesn't turn this place into a barren wasteland."
"Fufu, I doubt she'd ever do something like that—she's truly grown to love this place. But if it ever comes to that, I'll make sure to stop her." The Little Fairy Doctor let out a soft, melodic chuckle, her voice carrying both amusement and warmth at Xiao Hua's concern.
She lifted her elegant face, her beautiful eyes shimmering like moonlit water as they gazed at him. A tender smile touched her lips, filled with quiet emotion. "You must be careful too. When you're ready to face the ninth trial… promise me you'll let us know first."
"I understand," Xiao Hua replied with a light nod.
Then, without another word, he turned away. In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared into the distance, leaving the small valley behind with breathtaking speed.
Yet her gaze remained fixed on the spot where he had just stood, her eyes filled with serene trust and profound affection. She knew his retreat would take time—perhaps a long time—but her heart had already decided.
She would wait. No matter how many days or years passed, she would wait for him.
Because to her, nothing held greater meaning than Xiao Hua… and this quiet valley where her feelings had first taken root—where love had gently bloomed like the first flower of spring beneath a silent snowfall.
...
After finding a suitable cave, Xiao Hua entered and began walking deeper inside. To his satisfaction, the cave extended downward rather than spreading wide—something he preferred. After descending for nearly three miles, he finally arrived at an enormous underground chamber.
The chamber was at least fifty feet wide and thirty feet tall. Judging by the faint traces left behind, it had clearly been abandoned for a long time. Still, Xiao Hua couldn't help but wonder who had once used this place—and for what purpose.
He glanced around again, taking in the size of the chamber. Its scale hinted at some unknown significance, but he chose not to dwell on it for now.
Instead, he turned his focus inward and seated himself cross-legged in the center of the room. Once settled, he called out to one of the ladies residing in his spiritual sea.
"Sister Xie Yue, could you help me conceal the cave and suppress any disturbances that might occur?"
As his voice faded, a soft white glow emerged from his body, radiating a chilling coldness. The light gradually took form, revealing the graceful figure of Lady Xie Yue.
Clad in flowing white garments, she possessed an otherworldly beauty—refined and serene. Her slender figure was elegant and graceful, her long, snow-white hair cascading like silk to her waist, tied up with a delicate ornament shaped like intricately carved snowflakes. Her swan-like neck gleamed with a soft luster, smooth and unblemished.
Her dark, arched brows framed eyes as deep as mist—intelligent, yet distant, like drifting clouds veiled in mystery. Crimson lips accentuated her cold elegance. She exuded an aura of detachment, untouched by the mortal world, as though nothing in this realm could stir her heart.
Ethereal and pure, her presence was like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens—so immaculate that not even the slightest impurity would dare approach.
"If Sister Azure is a blooming lotus that captivates the heart, then Xue Yue is the untouched snow atop a sacred peak—distant, untrodden, and revered in silent awe." Seeing her, Xiao Hua could only shake his head helplessly and mutter these words in his heart.
Though he felt no romantic attraction toward them, he knew full well that their beauty was bound to attract unwanted trouble. As the saying goes, beauty invites disaster—even if not a calamity, it still stirs unrest.
To him, their bond was more akin to that of older sisters and a younger brother. Yet, should anyone dare to dishonor them or speak to them with vulgar desire instead of sincere respect, he would show them a wrath fiercer than heaven's own fury.
"Rather than relying on protective formations, it's better to create a spatial seal and enclose the entire cave," Xue Yue said. Her voice was cold and distant, yet when speaking to Xiao Hua, it carried an unmistakable trace of warmth.
Hearing her calm, crystalline voice, Xiao Hua snapped out of his thoughts and focused on her words. He scratched his cheek awkwardly and responded with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I know... but there are people who recognize my aura. They might come just to watch..."
With the second technique of the Four Mysterious Body, Boundless Dance of the Phoenix, Xiao Hua could manipulate the surrounding spatial energy as naturally as breathing.
However, there was one problem—he sensed that Xiao Yan and Yao Chen were on their way here. The moment they detected his aura, they would undoubtedly seek him out.
If possible, he didn't want them arriving while he was practicing his pill refinement. The moment he activated the Spatial Lock, the fluctuations in his Dou Qi would definitely draw their attention.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it. Just focus on whatever you're planning to do," Xue Yue said calmly. She shook her head, then turned and left the cave without waiting for a response.
Watching her figure disappear into the mist, Xiao Hua let out a faint smile. Shaking his head, he shifted his attention to the matter at hand.
He activated the System, and a blue-colored panel—visible only to him—appeared before his eyes. Glancing at his ACP balance, he noted the current amount: 326,260 ACP.
Apparently, he had earned a considerable amount from the Gacha draws. However, it still wasn't enough to purchase the Bodhisattva Tree or upgrade his ACP Rate. After some thought, he decided to take a chance and performed ten Gacha draws in a row.
[You have received…]
[…]
[ACP Reward: 349,515ACP]
As he waited for the System to sort through the rewards, his eyes fell on the ACP gain—another large reward. However, a problem soon revealed itself. His ACP increased passively every hour, but it is because of that… a restriction had been placed.
He discovered that his ACP storage had a maximum capacity—a hard limit of 350,000 ACP. Considering his current balance of 326,260, receiving the 349,515 ACP reward would clearly push him beyond that limit.
Unfortunately, the System didn't allow the reward to be deferred. He had to claim it within a week, or it would vanish. Which meant—helplessly—he would have no choice but to watch the excess ACP dissolve into nothingness.
Though he felt a sharp sting in his heart, Xiao Hua still moved forward. He used the remaining ACP to upgrade his ACP Rate, which now granted him 180 ACP every 12 hours.
While the output had decreased compared to what he could've gained from the ACP Rate, at least there were no storage restrictions. He truly despised that limitation, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Noticing that he still had enough for one more Gacha draw, he decided to take the gamble once more. This time, however, he folded his hands together and sincerely prayed to Xun Er, his lovely future wife and his precious Goddess of Luck, hoping for a miracle.
[You have received…]
[…]
[4 ACP Rewards: 774,525 | 589,350 | 3,989,475 | 345,980]
Xiao Hua's mind went completely blank, as if struck by lightning. He stood there frozen, eyes locked on the blue panel, unable to believe what he was seeing.
For several minutes, he remained stunned and speechless.
'The System did say Xun Er possesses infinite luck… is this what it meant?'
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Xiao Hua finally returned to his senses. He rubbed his chin, falling into deep thought.
Unfortunately, no answer came to him, no matter how long he pondered. Shaking his head, Xiao Hua shifted his attention and opened the Shop Panel within the System. Without hesitation, he purchased the Bodhisattva Tree, which cost a staggering 4,000,000 ACP.
Thanks to the recent Gacha rewards, he was able to afford it easily—and still had a massive balance left over.
The moment the purchase was made, a spatial crack—about four feet wide and ten feet tall—began to tear open in front of him. Xiao Hua instinctively lifted his head, his gaze drawn deeply into the rift.
Beyond the crack, he saw an enormous, lush green ancient tree standing tall and alone within a vast, empty void. The void was pitch-black, an endless sea of nothingness, yet the tree radiated a gentle, sacred light—like a beacon that illuminated the darkness.
Though the ancient tree seemed tens of thousands of feet away, Xiao Hua could clearly sense the pure, tranquil air flowing from it. The ethereal aura drifted down, sometimes forming into various mystical shapes, each one brimming with mystery and awe.
"Is that… the legendary Bodhisattva Ancient Tree?"
Even from afar, Xiao Hua could sense its colossal presence. Its shadow stretched endlessly across the void, casting a veil over the ground like a slumbering ancient beast that stood between heaven and earth. A timeless aura, heavy with wisdom and age, radiated from the tree, evoking reverence and awe.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward into the void, a trace of hesitation flickering in his heart—uncertain if the tree would reject his approach. However, when nothing happened, and no resistance came, he relaxed slightly and quickened his pace.
With a thought, Xiao Hua activated his Dou Qi, surging it fiercely through his meridians. In a flash, two pairs of wings unfurled from his back—one pair vibrant and radiant, the other majestic and crimson shimmering like burning flames.
His figure turned into a streak of light, soaring through the vast void at astonishing speed. He didn't slow down, his eyes locked onto the ancient tree as it grew ever larger in his vision, its divine silhouette becoming clearer with every breath.
A faint sense of fear and reverence rose in Xiao Hua's heart. No one could remain calm in the presence of such a divine existence—one that had likely stood for countless eras, untouched by time.
Within just a few minutes, Xiao Hua's speed had carried him tens of thousands of feet across the void. After several more minutes of relentless flight, he finally closed the distance to around a thousand feet from the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. His pace gradually slowed—he didn't want to exhaust his energy should anything unexpected occur.
If something did happen, Lady Azure and the nine Lightning Beasts slumbering within him were ready to respond at a moment's notice.
He retracted his wings slightly and lifted his gaze. Now, at such close range, the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree appeared even more awe-inspiring. It resembled a celestial pillar rising into the void, its towering trunk radiating an ancient and sacred aura—one that seemed capable of supporting the heavens themselves.
The branches of the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree were vast—each one large enough to cover half a city. Wave after wave of rich, fresh air spread outward from the tree, causing the surrounding void to shimmer with mysterious phenomena. At times, strange visions would flicker across the sky, as if glimpses of a higher realm were bleeding into reality.
A dense, overwhelming lifeforce radiated from the ancient tree, causing Xiao Hua's heart to tremble slightly in awe. The only time he had ever felt such vitality was when he encountered one of Lady Azure's counterparts—specifically, the one who wielded the Primordial Life Spirit Flame.
Although that counterpart's lifeforce far surpassed even what this ancient tree emitted, the tree still held the second most potent life aura he had experienced since arriving in this world.
Having come this far, Xiao Hua had no intention of backing down. His expression steady, he slowly approached the colossal Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Around him, his Dou Qi began to circulate quietly, ready to respond at a moment's notice.
As he drew nearer, Xiao Hua paused, sensing the clear air brimming with life emanating from the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. To his surprise, it held no trace of dark or chilling miasma, nor the slightest hint of negative emotions—the kind often found in creatures tainted by human malice or resentment.
"Is this a different Bodhisattva Ancient Tree from the one in the novel—where Xiao Yan ventured into the Ancient Wasteland Region to claim its treasures and ascended to Dou Sheng?" he wondered, furrowing his brow.
Though he lacked any unique physiques or celestial eyes, Xiao Hua possessed the Heavenly Astral Lightning, capable of detecting even the most subtle fluctuations of energy. Additionally, the Heavenly Judgement Lightning within him could perceive the faintest traces of negative emotions. Yet, in front of this ancient tree, he felt nothing amiss.
Instead, from the Heavenly Mortal Lightning, he could faintly sense the immeasurable age of the tree from the energy it emitted—it had undoubtedly existed for countless eras.
Reassured, Xiao Hua resumed his advance, his steps growing more confident. As he neared, the colossal Bodhisattva Ancient Tree loomed before him in its full majesty. Its vast, lush canopy stretched across the sky of the void, casting an awe-inspiring shadow over everything below.
Xiao Hua lifted his head, his eyes locked onto the colossal Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Its sprawling branches stretched thousands of feet across the void, and near the center, a radiant light cluster glowed brilliantly. Roughly ten feet wide, it pulsed with a steady, powerful rhythm—like the heartbeat of a living entity.
"The Bodhisattva Heart!" a voice within him cried out in excitement, his gaze fixated on the luminous core partially obscured by the tree's vast trunk. His own heart pounded fiercely in response, echoing the rhythm of the glowing cluster.
From a point roughly a thousand feet above the ground, circular waves of radiant light emanated from the tree's body. Each wave carried an overwhelming surge of life force, thick and tangible in the air.
There was no doubt about it—the Bodhisattva Heart was hidden within the ancient tree.
With careful, deliberate steps, Xiao Hua continued his approach. Though there were no signs of Ban Sheng puppets or lingering Dou Di resentments like in the novel, he didn't dare lower his guard. In a place like this, complacency could lead to death.
Sha... sha...
Soft ripples echoed beneath his feet, like the sound of water being gently disturbed, as he walked across the luminous ground surrounding the tree's base. Eventually, he reached its roots and looked up.
If he had previously only sensed the Bodhisattva Tree's presence, now he was immersed in it. Towering before him, the ancient tree exuded a boundless and awe-inspiring aura, the weight of countless years pressing down upon the air itself.
Chi!
Boom!
The moment Xiao Hua reached a certain distance from the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, a brilliant light suddenly burst forth from its trunk—about a thousand feet above the ground.
The explosion of light shook the entire endless void, and in that instant, Xiao Hua felt as if he were a fragile wooden boat, violently tossed about in a raging ocean during a storm.
The intense spatial turbulence threw him off balance. No matter how he tried, he couldn't stabilize his body—his form rocked uncontrollably back and forth. At the same time, the radiant light condensed into a blinding pillar that enveloped him.
"Shi—!"
The sudden turn of events made his heart lurch in alarm. Instinctively, he attempted to unfurl his two pairs of wings and circulate his Dou Qi, but to his shock, both had mysteriously vanished. His strength, his wings—everything was gone.
Swoosh!
With a sharp sound, the light pillar contracted swiftly, pulling back into the tree at lightning speed. As the beam of light disappeared into the massive trunk, so too did Xiao Hua—vanished without a trace.
When the light faded, the violent spatial ripples gradually calmed. Within minutes, the endless void returned to its usual serene, silent state, as though nothing had ever happened—as if everything just now had been no more than an illusion or a fleeting dream.
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