123: The shadow of the tree

The moment the rift appeared, the tall and burly Meng Que led four guards into the rift, disappearing without a trace.

The young girl, Lin Ying, followed closely behind.

Cheng Tianhao gestured to everyone with his eyes.

Then he also stepped into the rift.

The moment Xiao Shi entered the rift, a beam of light swept over him. Upon touching his body, Xiao Shi immediately felt a huge suction force, and his body uncontrollably flew towards this light.

From the outside, the light didn't seem large.

But now, experiencing it firsthand, it felt like a vast ocean of light.

Under this suction force, very quickly, he saw the end of the ocean of light, which turned out to be an incredibly huge sphere.

And looking around, there were many such spheres.

Xiao Shi vaguely saw that the others, just like him, appeared outside different spheres and were soon swallowed by them.

Xiao Shi's vision blurred.

When everything became clear, he found himself in a strange world.

The sky here was a dark green, like a vast and enormous leaf forming the canopy of this world.

The ground was still made of indescribably thick tree roots, but there was no longer the feeling of standing on a primordial beast; the pressure was much less.

They had now entered the ancient tree's interior.

However, besides the five of them, no one else was seen here.

It seemed that the locations where others appeared after entering here were not the same as theirs.

Cheng Tianhao closed his eyes and began to perceive the rules of this place.

All five sequence contenders, upon entering here, could perceive the rules.

Soon, he understood the rules of this place, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"Brother Nie," he turned to Xiao Shi.

"According to the previous promise, I will first give you the Shadow Seed..."

According to the conditions he had agreed upon with Xiao Shi, he would hand over the Shadow Seed to Xiao Shi upon entering the ancient tree's interior.

As he spoke, a black bead appeared in Cheng Tianhao's hand.

The entire bead was only the size of a fingernail, completely black, faintly glowing with a luster.

It was precisely the Shadow Seed!

The moment Cheng Tianhao took out this Shadow Seed, the eyes of the several guards around him all focused intently on the bead, their gazes incredibly fervent.

They all had an extremely strong desire for the Shadow Seed.

However, forming a Shadow Seed was incredibly difficult.

Not to mention the entire Tree Shadow City, even within the entire Rapid Shadow Palace, not many people could form a Shadow Seed.

Usually, the Shadow Comprehension Talisman, which merely allowed one to comprehend a Shadow Seed, was already incredibly valuable.

Let alone the Shadow Seed itself.

They were all extremely envious that Xiao Shi could directly obtain a Shadow Seed from Cheng Tianhao.

Although they were also the top-ranked individuals on various rankings in Tree Shadow City, the value and significance of their rankings were far less than Xiao Shi's Tree Spirit Kill Ranking.

Naturally, they couldn't receive such treatment.

Xiao Shi took the Shadow Seed from Cheng Tianhao's hand.

Although he knew the astonishing value of the Shadow Seed, his understanding of it was limited.

He didn't know its specific usage.

At this moment, Cheng Tianhao took out another jade slip and handed it to Xiao Shi along with the Shadow Seed.

The jade slip contained a detailed introduction to the Shadow Seed.

The Shadow Seed was a powerful ability unique to the Rapid Shadow Palace.

Although there were many ways to form a Shadow Seed, the most promising way to succeed was to cultivate the designated cultivation method of the Rapid Shadow Palace.

Furthermore, once a Shadow Seed was formed, besides being used by oneself, one could also choose to gift it to others.

However, historically, not many people did this.

Because most people who formed a Shadow Seed could only form it once in their lifetime.

Those who could form it two or more times were extremely rare.

This also led to many people who craved a Shadow Seed finding it difficult to obtain, even if they wanted to exchange it for treasures of equal value.

Now, according to the information in the jade slip, the key to mastering this Shadow Seed primarily lay in refining it.

Through a special refining method, it would become a part of the body, just like transforming it into an organ inside the body.

Coincidentally, such a refining method was recorded in the jade slip.

This also made Xiao Shi realize that the jade slip itself clearly possessed considerable value.

After all, this refining method was not something one could easily acquire.

Xiao Shi immediately began to refine the Shadow Seed in his hand according to this method.

Under his refining, the entire Shadow Seed transformed into tiny specks of light, merging into his body. As it became a part of his body, a shadow also appeared behind Xiao Shi.

However, this appearing shadow was not his own shadow, but the shadow of a tree!

But from the size of this Tree Shadow, it seemed to be just a small sapling.

Xiao Shi looked at the Tree Shadow on the ground with a strange gaze, feeling as if this Tree Shadow was like his own limbs, capable of being controlled by his own will.

At the same time, this Tree Shadow seemed to be able to inherit all of his power.

If used in battle, to some extent, it would be like two of him attacking together!

And most importantly, the entire Tree Shadow would continuously grow!

The Tree Shadow Xiao Shi had formed was currently only in its initial stage, its weakest period.

It would continuously grow stronger with its development.

"Usually, people who possess a Tree Shadow don't have much difference in the initial stage," Cheng Tianhao patiently explained to Xiao Shi.

"But with the cultivation of the Tree Shadow, there will be many different developmental paths."

"For example, some people will cultivate the Tree Shadow towards a binding type, making the entire Tree Shadow possess powerful binding capabilities."

"Others will focus on strengthening the piercing sharpness of the Tree Shadow, thereby forging it into an undetectable and deadly weapon!"

"Some will cultivate the Tree Shadow's defense, using it to block powerful and fatal attacks at critical moments."

"And some will cultivate the Tree Shadow's vitality. When cultivated to a certain extent, it can even give them a second life!"

"Different cultivation approaches will lead to different paths."

"You can choose the path that suits you for cultivation."

Xiao Shi nodded. This was also why the Shadow Seed was coveted by countless people.

It possessed extremely strong growth potential and could be cultivated in different directions according to one's own needs.

However, now was not the time to consider the direction of cultivation.

Xiao Shi looked at Cheng Tianhao. "So, what are the rules here?"

Although their guards couldn't perceive the rules, Xiao Shi had already realized from Cheng Tianhao's demeanor that the rules of this place would definitely require his involvement.

According to Cheng Tianhao's initial plan, he should have only given him the Shadow Seed, but not the jade slip.

After all, the jade slip itself also had considerable value.

The reason he was so generous as to give out the jade slip as well was clearly because he would need his help next.

So he offered benefits in advance.

"Inside this ancient tree, there are different checkpoints, and each checkpoint contains an important item."

"This is currently the first checkpoint."

"Although the rules don't require us to pass every checkpoint, we can choose to give up and leave directly. But if we give up, we won't be able to obtain the important item within the checkpoint."

"This way, when it comes to the final contention for the ancient tree crystal, we will be at a huge disadvantage."

Cheng Tianhao solemnly said to everyone.

"In other words, each checkpoint here is actually a process of accumulating advantages. The more checkpoints we pass, the greater our advantage will be in the final contention for the ancient tree crystal?" one of the guards asked.

"Precisely!" Cheng Tianhao nodded.

"Therefore, when we reach the core area for the final contention for the ancient tree crystal, we must pass as many checkpoints as possible and obtain the important items within each checkpoint to maximize our advantage."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The strength difference between their five teams was not significant.

If they were to immediately contend and fight, it would be hard to say which team would win.

And with every team having to go through these checkpoints, it would depend on which team passed more checkpoints and acquired the most important items; that team would have the greatest advantage in the final stage.

"Then this first checkpoint..." Everyone looked at Cheng Tianhao.

Cheng Tianhao, in turn, looked at Xiao Shi. "The first checkpoint might have to rely on Brother Nie."

As Cheng Tianhao spoke, a multitude of Tree Spirits suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

These Tree Spirits included weak ones comparable to the Qi Martial Realm Initial Stage, as well as powerful ones comparable to the Qi Martial Realm Late Stage.

"The first checkpoint requires us to kill these hundred Tree Spirits!" Cheng Tianhao said.

Everyone was stunned by this.

With their strength, killing these Tree Spirits was more than sufficient and posed no difficulty.

But the problem was that after killing these Tree Spirits, they would all be eroded by the Tree Spirit's Qi Strength, thereby experiencing a weakening of their cultivation.

If it was severe, all of them at the Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection would be weakened to the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage.

This would have a huge impact on their entire team.

For a moment, everyone turned their gaze to Xiao Shi.

Only then did they understand why Cheng Tianhao said that the first checkpoint would require Xiao Shi's reliance.

As the top-ranked individual on the Tree Spirit Kill Ranking, Xiao Shi had already been eroded by the Tree Spirit's Qi Strength.

Even if he killed more Tree Spirits, it probably wouldn't have much of an impact on him.

If Xiao Shi could take action to kill these Tree Spirits and clear the checkpoint, it would undoubtedly be the most advantageous situation for their team.

Xiao Shi was not surprised by this. From Cheng Tianhao's previous actions, he had already realized that the other party needed him.

In this situation, it was difficult for him to refuse.

After all, taking someone's help meant being indebted.

Although the Shadow Seed was a reward that the other party had promised early on, it did not include the jade slip for refining the Shadow Seed.

Moreover, as Cheng Tianhao's guard, he also had a responsibility to assist the other party in clearing the checkpoint.

Both emotionally and logically, he couldn't refuse.

"I'll take care of the first checkpoint." Xiao Shi readily agreed.

Anyway, this posed no difficulty for him. On the contrary, after killing these Tree Spirits, he could also obtain the items they dropped upon death.

"Thank you, Brother Nie!" Cheng Tianhao said gratefully.

The others also felt much more balanced.

Previously, they had been somewhat unbalanced in their hearts about Xiao Shi receiving such good treatment from Cheng Tianhao.

Now, after seeing the situation of this checkpoint, they felt that Xiao Shi deserved such treatment.

After all, when faced with such a problem, Xiao Shi would step forward to solve it.

At the same time, a thought occurred to them all.

"Are the checkpoints faced by the other teams the same as ours?"

"If they are the same..."

"Then how will they pass this checkpoint?"

They had Xiao Shi, the top-ranked individual on the Tree Spirit Kill Ranking, who could deal with these Tree Spirits for them.

The other teams did not have a figure like Xiao Shi.

If they were to force their way through this checkpoint, they would have to face the erosion of the Tree Spirit's Qi Strength, leading to a decrease in their strength.

Once the Qi Warrior Realm Great Perfection members of the other teams were consequently reduced to the Qi Warrior Realm Late Stage, that would be extremely advantageous for them.

This also made everyone once again feel the immense role of Xiao Shi within the team.

He directly allowed them to pass the first checkpoint without any losses.

"Then, this checkpoint is entrusted to Brother Nie." Cheng Tianhao thanked Xiao Shi again.

Considering the speed of clearing the checkpoint, Cheng Tianhao decided to first take the others to the next checkpoint.

This way, they might be able to quickly pass two checkpoints.

After all, even if they stayed here, they would only be watching Xiao Shi's performance, which was not very meaningful.

It was better to go to the next checkpoint first.

If they could clear the first two checkpoints simultaneously with Xiao Shi, their checkpoint progress would be much faster.

Xiao Shi nodded. He was also happy to do so.

If these people were all present, it would be somewhat inconvenient for him to pick up the dropped items after killing the Tree Spirits.

Immediately, Cheng Tianhao and the others quickly rushed to the next checkpoint.

Since there were no mandatory rules for passing these checkpoints, there were no restrictions that required passing one checkpoint before moving on to the next.

They could leave whenever they wanted.

After everyone left, Xiao Shi's gaze focused on the many Tree Spirits in front of him.

At the same time, he looked down at the Tree Shadow beneath him.

"Then..."

"Let's first test the power of the Tree Shadow."

With a thought from Xiao Shi, the black Tree Shadow beneath him immediately moved.

The entire Tree Shadow rapidly extended and lengthened. The branches of the Tree Shadow seemed to transform into black tentacles, and after extending to a Tree Spirit, whoosh!

The entire branch instantly covered the Tree Spirit.

In an instant, the entire Tree Spirit let out a mournful scream.

Its body seemed to have been struck by some powerful force, and more than half of it was silently obliterated!

This made Xiao Shi's eyes narrow slightly.

He hadn't expected the combination of Taiyin Qi Strength and the Tree Shadow to have such an effect!

"If used for a sneak attack... ordinary people would likely find it extremely difficult to detect!" Xiao Shi thought, his heart stirring.

Especially in the dark, the Tree Shadow itself was extremely difficult to detect.

Coupled with the concealment of the Taiyin Qi Strength, it would undoubtedly achieve an excellent effect.

"However, in terms of destructive power, further testing is needed." Xiao Shi looked at a Tree Spirit in the distance, comparable to a Qi Martial Realm Late Stage practitioner.

He manipulated the Tree Shadow, causing it to spread and extend towards it.