145: Chapter 145 On the Dao!

The herb garden was shrouded in a massive, translucent light barrier. Countless profound runes flowed ceaselessly across its surface, emitting a powerful aura.

Through the light barrier, one could see what a staggering sight lay within the garden.

Spiritual Qi, so dense it had liquefied, gathered into small streams on the ground, gurgling and flowing.

Countless rare flowers and exotic herbs, long extinct in the outside world, were as common as cabbages here, visible everywhere.

Three-thousand-year-old Purple Blood Dragon Sunflower, five-thousand-year-old Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Grass, and even the legendary 'Stellar Tears' that supposedly took ten thousand years to bloom and bear fruit...

Any single one of them would be enough to cause a bloodbath in the outside world!

And at the very center of the herb garden, the place where the Spiritual Qi was most concentrated,

grew a ginseng that was crystal clear throughout, shaped like a fair and chubby infant, with even its facial features clearly visible.

It had nine natural orifices around its body, which were currently breathing in and out massive amounts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"The... the nine-orifice exquisite ginseng!"

Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace's breathing instantly quickened, and his eyes widened to the size of saucers.

He stared fixedly at that human-shaped ginseng, his voice trembling.

This was a legendary supreme Saint Medicine!

It was said that even a single root hair could bring a dying Cultivator back to life and reshape their Dao foundation!

If one could refine the entire plant, there was even hope of glimpsing a sliver of the secret to immortality!

However, at this moment, dozens of figures had already gathered outside the herb garden.

To a man, these people were the top Prodigies of various major powers.

Among them were no lack of powerful existences from the Central Continent.

They had clearly arrived a step before Chu Xiao and his companion. Currently, their eyes were bloodshot as they joined forces in a frenzy to attack that protective Restriction.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The lights of various Magic Treasures and earth-shattering Divine Abilities and techniques bombarded the light barrier like a violent storm.

However, that seemingly thin light barrier was indestructible.

All attacks that landed on it were like clay oxen entering the sea, completely useless!

"Damn it! What kind of Restriction is this? With so many of us joining forces, we can't even shake it in the slightest!"

A Central Continent Prodigy roared in exasperation.

"This Restriction was likely set up by an ancient powerhouse. It's said to be able to withstand the full-force onslaught of a Returning Void Realm expert! There's no way we can break it!"

Another person's face showed despair.

"Are we really going to just watch this garden full of Opportunity and be unable to obtain it?"

The faces of the crowd were filled with unwillingness.

Just then, Chu Xiao led Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace and walked over leisurely from behind.

His appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.

The crowd automatically parted to form a path. Everyone's gaze converged on him, their eyes complex to the extreme.

"It's that native from the Eastern Wasteland!"

"He's here too!"

"Hmph, so what if he's here? Even we can't break this Restriction. How could a guy from a barbarian land like him have a way?"

Several Central Continent Prodigies discussed in low voices, their words filled with disdain and hostility.

Chu Xiao glanced at those people's futile attacks, then at the solid light barrier. He yawned out of boredom and gave a light evaluation:

"Too slow."

The clamor in the square instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at him blankly, as if they had been choked by the throat.

"What did you say?!"

The Central Continent Prodigy who had been roaring earlier turned red in the face and glared at Chu Xiao: "You say we're slow? If you're so capable, you come and break it!"

"Exactly! It's easy to talk when you're just standing there! I want to see what kind of earth-shattering methods you, a native, have!"

In an instant, many Prodigies from other regions joined in.

Their gazes were filled with mockery and ridicule.

They didn't believe Chu Xiao could do something that dozens of them combined couldn't achieve.

However, facing the crowd's provocation, Chu Xiao gave a light chuckle.

Then, under everyone's horrified gazes,

he took a step forward and walked straight over with a leisurely pace.

There was no spiritual power fluctuation, nor did he use any Divine Ability.

He just walked over like that.

And then, he passed through.

The indestructible light barrier seemed like non-existent air before him.

Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace, who was behind him, hesitated for a moment before also stepping forward, passing through just as unhindered.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Outside the herb garden, the mockery and ridicule on the faces of those dozens of Prodigies completely solidified.

Their eyes were wide, and they were completely stunned!

"This... how is this possible?!"

"He... he just walked right in?!"

"An illusion! This must be an illusion! That's a Restriction that even the Returning Void Realm can't easily break!"

After a moment of dead silence, a mountain-toppling uproar erupted.

Everyone felt like their brains weren't enough to process this.

Meanwhile, Chu Xiao had already reached the center of the herb garden.

He leaned down and casually pulled the nine-orifice exquisite ginseng—which was enough to drive the outside world mad—out of the soil. He tossed it in his hand and blew the dirt off it.

At that exact moment, two figures emerged from the teleportation light not far away. It was Princess Ji Ziyue, who had been randomly teleported nearby!

The moment Princess Ji Ziyue saw Chu Xiao, her eyes lit up. She ran over with a face full of surprise: "Brother Chu Xiao! I finally found you!"

Chu Xiao smiled upon seeing her, and then, without even looking at the Saint Medicine in his hand, he casually handed it over.

"Ziyue, are you hungry?"

"Gnaw on this like a radish; it should taste pretty good."

Princess Ji Ziyue stared at the human-shaped ginseng being handed to her, which was still waving its limbs and making "yiya" sounds, and she was completely dumbfounded.

Outside the herb garden, the group of Prodigies felt a mouthful of old blood stuck in their chests, nearly spitting it out on the spot.

nine-orifice exquisite ginseng... gnawed on like a radish?

What the hell... is there no justice left in this world?!

A sense of humiliation stronger than being slapped ten times in public made their faces turn the color of pig liver.

Princess Ji Ziyue's fair face flushed, but she didn't take the Saint Medicine.

She knew how precious this thing was and that she couldn't take it.

Seeing she didn't want it, Chu Xiao didn't mind and casually tossed it into his storage ring.

Then, as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard, he led Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace, who had followed him in, and began wandering around the herb garden.

"This ten-thousand-year-old Fire Spirit Ganoderma looks decent; I'll take it."

"Hmm, this patch of Heavenly Heart Grass is growing well too; pull it all up."

"That... Ziyue, go pick all the Stellar Tears fruits over there. We'll use them to brew tea later."

Chu Xiao critiqued as he walked, directing Princess Ji Ziyue and Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace to harvest the oldest batch of Spirit Medicines in the garden.

The people outside the garden watched their locust-like sweeping of the area.

Their eyes were bloodshot, and they were nearly driven mad by jealousy.

Finally, a youth dressed in the imperial robes of a Prince of the Tianyuan Holy Dynasty could no longer hold back.

Pointing at Chu Xiao's back, he roared sternly:

"Chu Xiao! You are being far too overbearing!"

"The Opportunity here is ownerless; everyone present should have a share! If you dare to swallow everything alone, aren't you afraid of inciting public wrath and becoming a target of everyone?!"

His words immediately resonated with everyone.

"That's right! Hand over the Spirit Medicines!"

"You can't keep it all for yourself!"

Chu Xiao finished picking the last Spirit Medicine that caught his eye before slowly turning around.

He looked at the indignant crowd outside the garden with a hint of surprise on his face.

As if he had only just noticed them.

"Oh? You guys want some too?"

He said indifferently.

Without waiting for their answer, he gave a casual wave toward the light barrier.

Snap!

A soft sound rang out.

That powerful Restriction that had left dozens of Prodigies helpless shattered at his command, turning into countless spots of light that dissipated in the air.

Chu Xiao looked at the dumbfounded crowd with an easygoing smile.

"What's left is my gift to you."

"No need to thank me."

With that, he ignored them and led Princess Ji Ziyue and the other away, turning to leave.

The entire scene was dead silent for a full three breaths.

Then, the crowd went completely wild!

"Grab them!"

"That Seven-Leaf Ink Lotus is mine!"

"Get lost! I'll kill anyone who tries to snatch it from me!"

Everyone lost their reason, rushing in like mad dogs.

They fought tooth and nail for the leftovers that Chu Xiao didn't care for.

The scene instantly became bloody and chaotic.

And in a dark corner where no one noticed, an Elder of the Dayan Holy Dynasty was watching all of this coldly through an ancient mirror.

When he saw the scene of Chu Xiao breaking the Restriction with a wave of his hand and leaving, not only was there no anger in his eyes,

but a flash of killing intent instead.

He took out a transmission jade slip and sent out a cold Divine Thought:

"The bait has been set. As expected, he is arrogant and looks down on everything."

"Notify everyone to prepare to close the net!"

...

Deep in the jungles of the Valley of Destiny, danger lurked everywhere.

However, for Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace and Princess Ji Ziyue who followed behind Chu Xiao, this journey felt as relaxed and pleasant as an outing.

Every powerful Yao Beast that jumped out to assert its territorial sovereignty was, without exception,

instantly killed by that fuzzy little black ball on Chu Xiao's shoulder.

From initial heart-pounding fear to later numbness, and now to being accustomed to it,

Xiao Fan felt his nerves had been tempered to be thicker than a city wall.

A Middle Stage Returning Void Realm Yao Beast?

Just a matter of one dragon breath.

A pack of Peak Soul Transformation Realm Yao Beasts?

One swipe of a claw, and even their monster cores would be crushed to powder.

He

now only needed to do one thing: after Little Black finished the battle, step forward to skillfully pick up the monster cores and Materials that Chu Xiao didn't care for, and then sincerely praise in his heart: "Senior Chu is awesome!"

As for Princess Ji Ziyue, she acted completely like a fangirl, her bright, beautiful eyes

never leaving Chu Xiao's body.

Brother Chu Xiao is so handsome!

Brother Chu Xiao's spirit pet is so powerful!

Even Brother Chu Xiao's walking posture is so elegant!

In this strange yet harmonious atmosphere, the three people and one beast crossed the vast jungle and arrived at an open plain.

At the end of the plain, in the heart of the Valley of Destiny,

a thousand-foot-tall black ancient tablet stood quietly, like a sharp sword piercing the heavens.

The ancient tablet was pitch black, made of an unknown material.

Its surface was covered with countless profound and obscure Law imprints, each emitting a heavy aura.

As if telling the story of the world's Origin.

This was one of the greatest Opportunities within the Valley of Destiny—the Ancient Tablet of Enlightenment!

It was said that this ancient tablet had existed since the dawn of time.

Imprinted upon it were the Origin traces of the three thousand Great Daos. Any Cultivator who could comprehend even a little here would gain immense benefits and see their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds.

At this moment, over a hundred figures had already gathered beneath the ancient tablet.

They were all Prodigies who had rushed from various parts of the Valley of Destiny. Each sat cross-legged with a solemn expression, eyes closed in concentration, trying to comprehend their own Dao from the ancient tablet.

Among them, a figure in green stood out particularly.

He didn't sit cross-legged to meditate like the others. Instead, he stood with his sword on his back, quietly positioned before the ancient tablet. He was like a sharp sword with its edge restrained,

yet seemingly ready to slash through the firmament at any moment.

It was none other than Li Mu of the Taiyi Sword Sect.

When he saw Chu Xiao's figure appear, his eyes instantly lit up.

A surging Battle Intent rose from within him!

He ignored Princess Ji Ziyue and Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace who were behind Chu Xiao, and stared intently at Chu Xiao as he walked over step by step.

"Brother Chu!"

Li Mu's voice drew the attention of everyone present.

The Prodigies who were meditating also opened their eyes one after another.

They looked over curiously.

"Since our parting at the Heaven-Ascending Staircase, I have reflected day and night, and my heart has been itching for another encounter."

Li Mu gave a solemn bow to Chu Xiao, his eyes showing no hint of resentment.

There was only a pure heart for seeking the Dao and respect for the strong.

"Today, let us use this Ancient Tablet of Enlightenment as our topic and have a discussion on the Dao, shall we?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place broke into an uproar.

"It's Li Mu of the Taiyi Sword Sect! He actually wants to challenge that malevolent star?"

"I heard that at the Heaven-Ascending Staircase, Li Mu's Dao Heart was crushed by a single word from this person. I didn't expect him to recover so quickly; his aura even seems more condensed than before!"

"This is going to be good! Li Mu is the number one in the Way of the Sword. His Sword Heart is clear, and he's best at comprehending things like this!"

"Though that Chu Xiao is terrifying, enlightenment isn't something that can be achieved through brute force alone!"

For a moment, everyone's gaze converged on the two of them, filled with anticipation.

Seeing this, Xiao Fan, Young Master of the Pill King Palace couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Li Mu.

Brother Li, oh Brother Li, you really can't see past things, can you?

Of all the people to compete with, why choose Senior Chu?

You're using your hobby to challenge someone's profession!

Chu Xiao glanced at the battle-ready Li Mu, then scanned the massive black stone tablet, an interested expression appearing on his face.

"Very well."

He nodded indifferently.

Having received Chu Xiao's agreement, Li Mu took a deep breath and said no more.

He turned toward the Ancient Tablet of Enlightenment and sat cross-legged ten zhang away from it.

Hum~!

The moment he sat down, the ancient longsword behind him emitted a clear sword chime and automatically unsheathed itself, hovering above his head.

Man and sword as one, Sword Heart clear!

A sharp Sword Intent soared into the sky!

At this moment, Li Mu's entire aura

seemed to merge with the sword Dao Laws of heaven and earth.

He was the sword, and the sword was him!

The surrounding Prodigies felt this incredibly sharp Sword Intent, and their faces turned pale.

They felt as if their skin were being cut by sharp blades, experiencing waves of stinging pain, and were forced to circulate their power to resist.