122: Assembly

Currently, the numerous Taiyin Qi Vortexes filling Xiao Shi’s body had brought the Taiyin Qi Strength within him to an extremely abundant level.

“It’s a pity these ninety-nine Taiyin Qi Vortexes haven’t all reached their limit, otherwise…”

When Xiao Shi thought about the state of his ninety-nine Taiyin Qi Vortexes all reaching their limit, his heart couldn’t help but burn with excitement and anticipation.

At this moment, although he had already broken through the ninety-ninth Qi Lock.

He still held a mass of Grand Yin Qi in his hand.

Xiao Shi immediately had the idea of trying to open the last Qi Lock.

He naturally knew that with this single mass of Grand Yin Qi, it would certainly be impossible to open the last Qi Lock.

He mainly wanted to see… what would the opening of the last Qi Lock be like?

Although he had long anticipated that the opening of this last Qi Lock would be very difficult, Xiao Shi wanted to know exactly how difficult it would be.

Thinking of this.

He immediately used the mass of Grand Yin Qi in his hand to impact the last Qi Lock.

When this mass of Grand Yin Qi collided with the Qi Lock.

The entire Qi Lock did not even show a trace of vibration.

Immediately, the entire mass of Grand Yin Qi disintegrated in the collision.

Xiao Shi frowned tightly.

He had intended to test the waters with this mass of Grand Yin Qi.

But he found that he couldn’t even test its effect!

The opening of the last Qi Lock was far more difficult than he had imagined.

He shook his head.

Xiao Shi simply decided not to think about the problem of opening the last Qi Lock for now.

Now that he had reached the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage.

His overall strength had greatly increased.

“The current me…”

“Should be enough to kill a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection, right?”

Light gleamed in Xiao Shi’s eyes.

However, he also knew that.

There were also differences in strength among Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection cultivators.

A Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection who had opened one hundred Qi Vortexes was merely the weakest type of Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection.

After all, Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection not only required opening all Qi Vortexes.

But also combining and condensing all the Qi Vortexes within the body!

It could be said that this was the most important step for a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection.

A Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection who had completed the Qi Vortex combination and condensation.

Would be far stronger in terms of strength than a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection who had only opened one hundred Qi Vortexes.

Furthermore, depending on different cultivation techniques.

Different combinations and condensations would also result in differences in strength.

Xiao Shi had not yet fought against a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection who had completed the Qi Vortex combination.

Therefore, he did not understand the strength of such Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection cultivators.

However, he was cautious by nature.

He mused that if he encountered such a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection later.

He still needed to be careful.

He couldn’t underestimate them.

Otherwise, he might very likely suffer a setback.

However, Xiao Shi speculated that even if he was no match for a Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection who had completed the Qi Vortex combination, it would still be unrealistic for the opponent to kill him.

Soon.

As the Sequence Contest approached.

Cheng Tianhao grew anxious, having not received a reply from Xiao Shi for a long time.

Currently, he had successfully found the other three Protectors.

Only Xiao Shi remained.

“No!”

“I must go find him again and ask.”

For Cheng Tianhao.

Xiao Shi was an indispensable link.

Extremely important.

He wasn’t worried that other competitors would poach Xiao Shi.

He didn’t believe others could offer better conditions than him.

He was only afraid that Xiao Shi wouldn’t be interested… Regarding this.

He came to find Xiao Shi again.

And extended an invitation.

“If Brother Nie feels that one Shadow Seed is not enough, I can continue to raise the stakes!”

Cheng Tianhao said with a sincere expression.

Xiao Shi looked at him deeply.

“I need to know the reason.”

Cheng Tianhao knew what reason Xiao Shi was referring to.

Regarding this.

He did not conceal anything.

He answered directly and straightforwardly.

“The Sequence Contest is a very secretive matter for many people, especially the specific details of the contest, which most people don’t know.”

“To show my sincerity, I can first tell Brother Nie all the information I know.”

Cheng Tianhao said with a serious expression.

“I believe Brother Nie should know that our entire Tree Shadow City is actually built on an ancient, long-standing, and mysterious ancient tree.”

“All the trees in Tree Shadow City are extensions of this ancient tree.”

“And the Tree Shadow Sequence must obtain the recognition of this ancient tree, so the Sequence Contest will take place inside the ancient tree!”

“As long as one can obtain an ancient tree crystal inside the ancient tree, one can inherit… the Tree Shadow Sequence!”

Xiao Shi remained silent upon hearing this.

This was still not what he wanted to know.

Cheng Tianhao continued to explain.

“The main reason I want Brother Nie to be my Protector is that as the top of the Tree Spirit Kill Ranking, Brother Nie is covered in numerous Spirit Tree Qis.”

“In fact, there is a very subtle relationship between Tree Spirits and the ancient tree.”

“The Spirit Tree Qis that Brother Nie is covered in can play a very good role inside the ancient tree.”

“Since I am also entering the ancient tree for the first time, I am not very clear about the specific situation inside the ancient tree. I only know that someone covered in numerous Spirit Tree Qis will be of great help to me in contending for the Tree Shadow Sequence.”

“Therefore, I hope Brother Nie can assist me and become my Protector!”

Cheng Tianhao said with a sincere expression.

“It really is Spirit Tree Qi…”

Xiao Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

This was consistent with his expectations.

Although the martial emperor mask made him immune to the erosion of Spirit Tree Qi, these Spirit Tree Qis still clung to him, merely being blocked by the martial emperor mask.

Therefore, his current situation still met Cheng Tianhao’s requirements.

However, no one knew what someone covered in Spirit Tree Qi would encounter inside the ancient tree.

There might be great dangers involved.

Xiao Shi thought for a moment.

“It’s fine if you want me to be your Protector, but I need you to give me the Shadow Seed first.”

According to Cheng Tianhao’s original promise.

He would give Xiao Shi the Shadow Seed afterwards.

But Xiao Shi felt that his situation entering the ancient tree was unclear, and he needed the other party to give him the Shadow Seed first before he would take this risk.

Moreover.

If Cheng Tianhao died inside, wouldn’t he be working for nothing?

“This…”

Regarding Xiao Shi’s request.

Cheng Tianhao hesitated a little.

After all, a Shadow Seed was not something he could just casually produce.

However, when he thought about Xiao Shi’s importance.

He finally gritted his teeth.

“Alright!”

“But I can only give it to you when we enter the ancient tree.”

He did this.

Mainly to prevent Xiao Shi from getting the Shadow Seed and then going back on his word, refusing to enter the ancient tree with him.

Xiao Shi nodded in agreement.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement.

In addition.

Xiao Shi also made a request.

Before entering the ancient tree, he needed to know the information of other individuals qualified to contend for the Rapid Shadow Sequence, as well as the intelligence on their respective invited Protectors… Two days later.

Xiao Shi, Cen Qingci, and others gathered in a teahouse.

“How have you all been recently?”

Cen Qingci looked at everyone with concern.

Ever since they began performing tasks in Tree Shadow City, they had to separate and couldn’t always stay together.

Now, they could only meet once every few days.

Although they were Cen Qingci’s attendants.

They should prioritize Cen Qingci.

But under the rules of Tree Shadow City… they first needed to establish themselves firmly in Tree Shadow City before they could assist Cen Qingci.

Otherwise, if they didn’t even have enough contribution points to stay in Tree Shadow City.

Not only would they be unable to help Cen Qingci, but they would become a burden instead.

Wang Luo and Yang Zhen both looked exhausted, as if their bodies had been hollowed out.

They had been continuously performing tasks of converting the Qi Strength in their bodies into Spirit Tree Qi, always in a state of Qi Strength deficiency.

This made them look somewhat listless and seemingly thinner.

Compared to the two of them.

Slit-Eyes and Fan Li were slightly better off.

They had already started performing some relatively higher-level tasks.

They didn’t have to do such “manual labor.”

However, the most comfortable one was Cen Qingci.

As a hostage… she now enjoyed some extra contribution point growth every day.

Even if she did nothing.

Her contribution points could maintain her living situation.

After all, as a hostage.

The Rapid Shadow Palace would not possibly watch her contribution points become insufficient and allow her to be expelled from the city.

In any case.

The Rapid Shadow Palace would keep her in Tree Shadow City, ensuring her safety.

But Cen Qingci’s attendants did not have such treatment.

They could only rely on their own efforts to establish themselves in Tree Shadow City.

Xiao Shi didn’t expect everyone to be doing so poorly.

He thought for a moment.

He felt that after this Rapid Shadow Sequence ended, perhaps he could, through another identity, give them a hand.

After everyone chatted for a few sentences.

They soon had to part again due to their respective tasks.

For them.

Although Tree Shadow City offered opportunities to improve their strength and cultivation, living there was also more tiring than before.

Xiao Shi also felt that everyone was like office workers now.

Only he was living a relatively comfortable life.

It was just that due to the risk of exposure, he couldn’t help them easily.

However, from the current situation, it seemed that the Rapid Shadow Palace probably wouldn’t pay too much attention to these attendants.

As long as Cen Qingci’s contribution points didn’t show a surprising increase, there shouldn’t be a big problem.

After parting ways with everyone.

Xiao Shi returned to his treehouse.

Cheng Tianhao had already sent over the information on the other Sequence Contest qualifiers and the intelligence on their respective invited Protectors.

After Xiao Shi carefully reviewed it.

He found that among the five Sequence Contestants and twenty Protectors this time, the weakest were all at the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage.

And only six of them were at the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage.

The rest were all Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection.

Of course.

Among these Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection cultivators, there would also be clear distinctions in strength.

But even Cheng Tianhao could not fully understand the true backgrounds of these people.

He could only get a general idea.

However, it was worth noting that… the other four Sequence Contestants, like Cheng Tianhao, were not simple.

They needed to be strictly guarded against… Soon, the day for the Rapid Shadow Sequence to begin arrived.

Early in the morning.

Xiao Shi met with Cheng Tianhao.

Besides Cheng Tianhao, there were three other Protectors by his side.

These three were all skilled practitioners from various rankings in Tree Shadow City.

All of them were Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection.

Standing beside Cheng Tianhao.

Among the three, there was an old man and two young people.

Upon seeing Xiao Shi, they all focused their gazes on him.

Although the aura fluctuations emanating from Xiao Shi were only those of the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage, these three Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection cultivators showed no trace of disdain or underestimation towards him.

They all clearly understood… that as the top of the Tree Spirit Kill Ranking.

He himself had been eroded by numerous Spirit Tree Qis, which had somewhat weakened his strength.

The strength he displayed now was not his true strength.

At the same time, they all knew Cheng Tianhao’s level of importance placed on Xiao Shi.

This also made their attitude towards Xiao Shi much more polite.

After meeting up.

Cheng Tianhao led the four Protectors to an area in Tree Shadow City.

This area belonged to a forbidden zone within Tree Shadow City.

Under normal circumstances.

This area would not be open to the public and remained sealed.

It would only officially open when the Sequence began.

Now, upon entering this area.

Everyone saw… that it was a gray-black area.

The ground of this area was formed by an unimaginably thick tree root, and the intricate patterns on the tree root could be clearly seen.

“Is this the mysterious ancient tree…”

A look of shock also appeared in Xiao Shi’s eyes.

He felt as if he was standing on the body of a primordial giant beast.

Regarding this mysterious ancient tree… although he didn’t know much.

He understood that this mysterious ancient tree was extraordinary.

The numerous Spirit Tree Qis in Tree Shadow City actually originated from this mysterious ancient tree.

At the same time.

In front of Xiao Shi and the others.

There were two other groups of people standing.

One group was led by the young woman Lin Ying, who had previously tried to recruit Xiao Shi.

The other group was led by a cold, unsmiling young man.

Through the information Cheng Tianhao had provided earlier, Xiao Shi knew that this young man in front of him was named Qin Long, and he was one of the five individuals qualified to contend for the Rapid Shadow Sequence.

As Xiao Shi and his group arrived.

The gazes of these two groups also converged on them.

Xiao Shi even felt several gazes falling on him.

Not long after.

The remaining two groups also arrived one after another.

Respectively, a team led by the tall and burly Meng Que.

And a team led by a young man with wild, messy hair who looked somewhat sleepy, as if he had just woken up.

After everyone arrived.

Although there was strong vigilance and hostility among them.

No one spoke here.

It seemed there was some taboo in this place.

Making them all dare not speak easily.

They merely took out an object, held it in their hands, clasped their hands together, and reverently bowed towards the enormous tree root beneath them.

As they bowed.

A huge crack suddenly appeared in the ground, from which a rich aura emanated, along with waves of coldness. Looking down, the light within the crack was dazzling, like a gaping maw waiting to devour flesh and blood, causing a shock in one’s heart upon seeing it.

But if one looked closely, one could find that the light within the crack was somewhat different.

It seemed that within these lights, there existed world after world.

Once touched, one would be pulled into the world within.