C2636 Pressure and Temptation
C2636 Pressure and Temptation
Wan Chengfeng recognized the herb type immediately, but the energy it emitted was at least three times stronger than any he'd encountered before. Jiang Fann harvested it and handed it to Wan Chengfeng.
"Notice anything different?" Jiang Fann asked.
Wan Chengfeng nodded quickly. "The same herb, but the difference is astounding."
"Exactly. That's the distinction between this place and others. Even now, some unique spots in our world still have immortal roots, which are long gone elsewhere. I don't need to explain further, do I?"
Wan Chengfeng replied, "Even though you say that, it's hard for me to connect your abilities with this vast world. It's hard to imagine such a world could produce someone like you."
"You just don't know what I've been through. I've improved not only here but also in other worlds. I've visited three major realms and gained something from each."
"I'm even more eager to visit your Myriad Clouds Mountain now, to see if it's truly as you describe."
...
In the vast world, atop the Mountain of Gods, a purple figure had landed and never left. It had been residing there for some time, its presence immense.
At this moment, the Elder of the God Clan was descending from the sky, accompanied by several restrained cultivators of various appearances. These individuals were once royalty before their awakening, but now they were compliant, not daring to resist. Clearly, they had been captured and brought here.
The Elder landed directly on the mountaintop, glanced at a resting figure nearby, and then entered the palace.
"Chief, I've brought the people you asked for. These individuals were involved in the past invasion of the Nine Desolations. They were key players, so they must know what we want to ask."
Outside, a figure on the plaza gradually shrank, eventually returning to the size of a regular golden eagle, its feathers shimmering like amethyst. It was a master from the Purple Jade Eagle clan.
Upon entering the palace, it approached, first surveying the injured cultivators, then addressing the Elder of the God Clan, "Why bring them back? If they were on my territory, we'd have captured them all for food."
The Chief replied, "You're too hasty. Before we decide their fate, we should see if they cooperate. If they make the right choice, I wouldn't mind having them follow us. I happen to need more servants, and they fit the bill."
Hearing this, the cultivators quickly knelt, expressing their gratitude to the Chief for sparing their lives.
"We will cooperate fully, sir. Whatever questions you have, we will answer them all..." The leader of the God Clan was straightforward, but he didn't ask about Jiang Fann.
"Why did you choose to invade the Nine Desolations in the first place? I can't believe such a vast world wasn't enough for you to live in. There must be a reason behind it."
Hearing this, the group of cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. This matter was the greatest secret of the royal family back then, known only to the strongest among them. They felt the cold gaze of the God Clan upon them and understood the consequences of not cooperating. In front of the Ancient God Clan, their lives were as insignificant as grass, and their strength as feeble as ants. Trying any tricks would end disastrously.
Sensing their fear, the Purple Jade Eagle added fuel to the fire. "Even now, you still think you can play games? The most useless among you will be executed immediately."
This prompted the group to speak up at once, none daring to waste any more time.
"Sir, I'll speak!"
"Sir, I will too!"
"I know the most..."
They all rushed to speak, clearly not wanting to lose their lives there. The leader of the God Clan quieted them down and pointed to the cultivator with the highest rank. "You speak."
"Reporting, sir. Back then, the various clans sought to completely free themselves from the control of the Ancient God Clan. They tried every method and eventually learned that a supreme treasure would emerge in the Nine Desolations, one that could completely change the balance of power. Unfortunately, after invading the Nine Desolations, they never found the treasure. So, every now and then, they would invade again, but they never succeeded in finding it. No one knows where the treasure is now, or if it has even appeared. Due to the last failure, the clans no longer have the resources to invade the Nine Desolations again."
"What treasure? What are you talking about? You all are leaders of your respective clans, don't tell me you know nothing. Useless people have only one fate."
Several people spoke up almost simultaneously.
"It's a plant!"
"A plant? What kind of plant?"
One of them replied, "We're not exactly sure what it is right now. It could be a fruit, or maybe a seed..."
This revelation left the three Ancient God Clan members present quite surprised.
The elder continued, "How do you know about this?"
"There was a prophet who calculated it using his lifespan. The clan leaders firmly believe him because he has never been wrong. He predicted that this treasure could change the fate of all clans..."
Hearing this, the clan leader addressed everyone, "You can leave now. Without my order, you are not allowed to descend the mountain."
The cultivators finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Understood."
With that, they hurriedly left the hall, not daring to linger for fear of angering the clan leader.
After the God Clan elder and the others had left, he spoke, "Could it be that legendary item? But how could such a treasure appear in a world like ours?"
The expert from the Purple Jade Eagle Clan asked, "What are you thinking?"
The clan leader replied, "If their description is accurate, it could very well be the legendary Innate Dao Fruit... I can't believe such a thing would actually exist!"
The expert from the Purple Jade Eagle Clan exclaimed, "An Innate Dao Fruit! Does this really exist?"
"Of course it exists. Although I've never seen it myself, our ancestors encountered it on other high planes. It's said to be a mystical tree hidden within chaos, bearing all sorts of fruits, each representing a unique law of the heavens. These fruits are equivalent to the highest heavenly techniques. It's rumored that consuming one grants you the corresponding heavenly power, elevating you to godhood in a single step!"
The clan leader grew increasingly excited, clearly shaken by the message left by their ancestors.
The expert from the Purple Jade Eagle Clan questioned, "If it's truly that powerful, then countless masters should have arisen in the Nine Desolations. How could they have been successfully invaded multiple times by those weaklings? I doubt it's true."
The clan leader nodded, "It's wise not to believe everything, but I do recall something about that prophet they mentioned. He had some real skills. Besides, even if it's not for this reason, we must venture to the Nine Heavens. You need to reclaim your spiritual bodies; they're there."
The expert's eyes flashed with a cold determination. "I thought you'd forgotten about this. Jiang Fann must die to restore my honor. Do you have a way to reach the Nine Desolations?"
The elder of the God Clan replied, "That's not difficult. We just need those guys to open the passage between the realms again. We only need a temporary opening, so it shouldn't be too hard for them."
"I'll go with you guys. When are we leaving?"
The leader said, "I'll first arrange for them to set up the formation. Both of you need to suppress your power a bit. According to what they said, their world suppresses power levels, so you must keep your aura below the Reincarnation Stage. It's best to bring more people along. Last time, they sent a cultivator who was nearly at the Reincarnation Stage. It might not be a threat to you, but it's better to be cautious. As for the rest of their situation, take advantage if you can, but if there's no benefit, don't bother. They can't affect our world anyway."
The elder replied, "I'll arrange for a few clan members to come with me. It's best if you stay here at the Mountain of Gods to keep things steady. With all the clans returning, we need to have strong leaders here."
A skilled member of the Eagle Clan hesitated but eventually turned to leave, saying he'd gather a few clan members to join them. This way, they wouldn't be caught off guard, given the uncertainty of the situation over there.
After the two left, the leader instructed the royal members to return and gather people to set up the formation. The materials would be provided by the Mountain of Gods, and he ordered that this matter must remain confidential, under penalty of severe consequences.
Finally, the leader was alone in the great hall. At that moment, a young man from the God Clan appeared in the inner hall. Though he looked only in his twenties, his aura had already reached the fifth level of the Mortal Separating Stage, which was quite impressive.
"Father!"
The clan leader was pleasantly surprised to see him.
He immediately said, "You're finally awake. Among your peers, you were one of the last to wake up. Fortunately, the years of being sealed haven't affected you. Your potential far surpasses mine. Make the most of this time as the world is just beginning to recover—it's the easiest period for breakthroughs. Don't worry about anything else. Go out and gain some experience."
The young man from the God Clan smiled, "No rush. Back then, there were only a few who could threaten my position. I wonder how they've fared over the years. But now isn't the time for me to venture out. I think I heard you mention the Innate Dao Fruit earlier."
"We can't confirm its existence yet, and you don't need to handle this. The elder will personally lead a team to search for his Spiritual Body. Focus on your own cultivation and don't overthink it."
"It's not a big deal to wait a bit longer. I want to go with the elder. While he searches for his Spiritual Body, I'll try my luck and investigate whether the Innate Dao Fruit truly exists."