338: Item [Crystal of the Ages]

In this special area, the number of guards each Martial Demon Realm cultivator brought was the same.

Each had ten guards.

Now, the ten guards belonging to this young man, after Xiao Shi killed him, immediately underwent a change in allegiance.

They switched to become Xiao Shi’s guards.

As a result,

Xiao Shi’s guard count went from ten to twenty!

Xiao Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly at this.

He could feel that the increase in guard numbers would definitely give him some advantage in this place… but at the current stage,

He hadn’t yet experienced the benefits these guards brought.

“Since killing this person makes his guards my guards, then what about his Demonic Body Clone…?”

Xiao Shi couldn’t help but focus his gaze on the box sealing the opponent’s Demonic Body Clone.

As he watched,

He clearly saw black smoke emanating and gushing from the opponent’s box. This black smoke was precisely the Demonic Body Clone inside the opponent’s box.

When Xiao Shi killed this Martial Demon Realm youth,

His Demonic Body Clone transformed into this black smoke.

The numerous black smoke plumes, as they gushed out, all surged towards the box sealing Xiao Shi’s Demonic Body Clone, ignoring the chains and seals on the outside of the box, and directly entered the box.

Xiao Shi quickly checked the Demonic Body Clone inside the box.

He found that the black smoke was swirling around his Demonic Body Clone, moving back and forth across various parts of the Demonic Body Clone’s body.

Soon,

As the black smoke swirled and moved, it coalesced and transformed into a completely black, fist-sized bead.

It rotated around the Demonic Body Clone’s neck.

Xiao Shi’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

Although he could clearly see this bead through his Soul Consciousness, he couldn’t fully perceive its specific function.

Presumably, he would only know the bead’s effect after the seal on the box was removed and the Demonic Body Clone awakened.

At the same time,

As the opponent’s Demonic Body Clone transformed into this bead, once there was no Demonic Body Clone inside the box, the entire large box also turned into dust and vanished into thin air.

“In other words…”

“After killing these Martial Demon Realm cultivators, their guards will become my guards, and their Demonic Body Clones will transform into these strange beads of unknown function.”

Xiao Shi understood.

Of course,

His gains were far more than just these.

In addition to the items dropped from killing the opponent, he also successfully obtained the opponent’s exclusive item from clearing the previous stage.

He knew very well.

Although these exclusive items were powerful and extraordinary, even Saints could not evade them.

However, these exclusive items also had limitations.

Besides being restricted to use only within this area, the number of uses for these exclusive items was also limited.

Therefore, before setting up his plan, he had already considered preventing the opponent from using exclusive items to the greatest extent possible.

Once the opponent was given a chance to use an exclusive item,

Even if he could withstand the opponent’s exclusive item and forcibly kill him, the value of the exclusive item would decrease due to the opponent’s use, even if he obtained it.

At this moment, Xiao Shi carefully examined the items dropped after killing the youth, as well as the exclusive item the youth obtained from clearing the stage.

【Name: Bewitching Martial Vine】

【Type: Evil Vine (Area Exclusive Item)】

【Grade: Saint Grade】

【Description: This is an evil vine that grew 100,000 years ago, belonging to the Xie Wu Era, now extinct. When the vine pierces the body, it will rapidly grow within the target, and as it continues to grow, it will reduce the target’s movement and speed to the lowest point within ten seconds, even Saints cannot avoid it.】

【Note 1: This item is an exclusive item of this area and can only be used within this area; it cannot be taken out of the area.】

【Note 2: This item can only be used once.】

【Note 3: All martial artists below the Upper Three Realms cannot evade it, including Saints.】

...This exclusive item was clearly the youth’s reward after clearing the previous stage.

Like the Bewitching Martial Evil Flower Xiao Shi received when he cleared the stage, it was a special plant from the Xie Wu Era 100,000 years ago.

However, compared to the Bewitching Martial Evil Flower,

The Bewitching Martial Vine could only be used once.

This made Xiao Shi feel a surge of relief.

Fortunately, he hadn’t given the opponent a chance to use it earlier; if it had been used, he wouldn’t have been able to acquire it.

Although it could only be used once,

The Bewitching Martial Vine’s effective time was shorter than that of the Bewitching Martial Evil Flower.

Even with all three petals of the Bewitching Martial Evil Flower used simultaneously, it would take a minute for the target’s internal power to completely drain.

However, the Bewitching Martial Vine only needed ten seconds to reduce the target’s movement and speed to the lowest point.

“Looking at it this way, the rewards for everyone who passes the first checkpoint are mostly special plants from the Xie Wu Era 100,000 years ago.”

“Different plants have different effects.”

“One thing is for sure…”

“These plants all possess powerful effects capable of influencing Saints!”

Xiao Shi summarized in his mind.

Following that, he looked at the items dropped after killing this Martial Demon Realm youth.

Based on his past experience,

What dropped after the opponent’s death wasn’t necessarily an exclusive item; there was also a certain probability of dropping ordinary Martial Demon Grade items.

From the current situation,

Xiao Shi naturally hoped for an exclusive item to drop.

After all, exclusive items were key to whether he could refine this special area.

Under Xiao Shi’s focused gaze,

Relevant item information immediately appeared in his vision.

【Name: era crystal】

【Type: Crystal (Area Exclusive Item)】

【Grade: Saint Grade】

【Description: To create this strongest area, the Martial Emperor extracted the lingering breaths of five ancient eras, thereby endowing this area with powerful items and forces from five different eras.】

【Note 1: This item is an exclusive item of this area and can only be used within this area; it cannot be taken out of the area.】

【Note 2: Through the era crystal, one can exchange for an exclusive item from any one of the five eras.】

【Note 3: You can choose an era, but you cannot select a specific exclusive item. After choosing an era, you will randomly acquire one exclusive item from that era.】

...Xiao Shi’s heart stirred at this.

Indeed!

The Martial Emperor had combined the creation of this area with past eras.

This was consistent with what he had thought before.

However, Xiao Shi hadn’t expected the Martial Emperor to extract the lingering breaths of five ancient eras at once.

Such a method… perhaps only an existence like the Martial Emperor, standing at the pinnacle of martial arts, could achieve it!

And now, the era crystal allowed him to exchange for exclusive items from five eras within this area.

However, he could only choose an era and not select specific exclusive items from that era.

This made Xiao Shi feel that using this item might require a certain amount of luck.

If his luck was strong, he would have a chance to obtain the best exclusive treasures of that era.

If his luck was weak, he might only get the most ordinary exclusive item of that era.

However, from the current situation,

Xiao Shi felt that the exclusive items they obtained after passing the first checkpoint should be the most ordinary exclusive items from the Xie Wu Era.

According to his speculation,

All exclusive items within this special area should be of Saint Grade.

In other words,

Even the most ordinary exclusive items would not be below Saint Grade.

This meant he didn’t need to use the ring of lucky sacrifice to boost his luck.

After all, the ring of lucky sacrifice could only be sacrificed three times in total.

And after sacrificing his lifespan last time,

Xiao Shi currently didn’t have enough lifespan for a second sacrifice.

In addition to this,

Xiao Shi also thought of a second possibility.

“Perhaps the key doesn’t lie in the quality of the exclusive items from the five eras, but rather in the choice of these five different eras.”

“Perhaps there’s no distinction of good or bad among the exclusive items of these five eras.”

“For example, in the Xie Wu Era, there are only different special plants, and no better exclusive items exist.”

“If I choose an exclusive item from the Xie Wu Era, I will only randomly acquire one from among the many different special plants…”

After Xiao Shi reread the relevant information for the era crystal,

He found no mention of good or bad differences among the exclusive items of each era.

Relatively speaking,

He leaned more towards the latter of these two possibilities.

However, this required him to verify it.

After a brief period of thought,

Xiao Shi decided not to rush to use the era crystal. He planned to first understand what exclusive items were available in these five different eras before making a decision.

Anyway, he currently had two exclusive items from the Xie Wu Era, which was enough for now.

Immediately,

Xiao Shi led his guards and continued along the official road towards the Holy Land.

As he traveled,

He also kept an eye on the map in his hand.

From the information on the map,

Next, he needed to pass through a checkpoint before rejoining the official roads belonging to other Martial Demon Realm cultivators.

This made Xiao Shi realize that

The subsequent checkpoints would no longer be single-person checkpoints, but rather multi-person checkpoints!

In fact, the second checkpoint he was about to reach was already a multi-person checkpoint.

But after Xiao Shi killed that Martial Demon,

He would have to pass the next checkpoint alone.

“The difficulty of the second checkpoint must be greater than the first checkpoint.”

“The first checkpoint was not fatal, but this second checkpoint… might involve a life-or-death crisis!”

Xiao Shi’s expression was solemn.

He dared not show the slightest slack or carelessness.

Besides ensuring his own safety, he also had to prevent the death of his guards.

These guards could not be killed by them, but they could still die within the checkpoint.

Once these guards died, there would be no way to transport the Demonic Body Clone.

Therefore, the survival of these guards was equally important.

And so,

After a period of travel,

Xiao Shi finally led his guards to the second checkpoint.

What now appeared before them was a vast, open ground formed by ice and frost. The entire surface was smooth as a mirror, reflecting the clear blue sky, looking very beautiful and refreshing.

However, for Xiao Shi,

He had no leisure to appreciate the beautiful scenery before him.

He knew that as the second checkpoint,

It was bound to be fraught with danger.

To prevent any accidents to these guards,

Xiao Shi decided to enter this checkpoint first to investigate the situation.

Since the heaven officiant robe had been worn for a day, Xiao Shi no longer had the field formed by the heaven officiant robe.

He needed to wait three days before he could wear it again.

Therefore, he had to first investigate the dangers of the second checkpoint.

Only then could he figure out how to ensure the safety of these guards.

To prevent them from dying within the checkpoint.

Crack!

When Xiao Shi stepped onto the icy ground, the entire surface immediately let out a sound like stepping on shattered ice.

At the same time,

A layer of frost instantly condensed on Xiao Shi’s feet.

Fortunately, this layer of frost was not too solid.

Xiao Shi exerted a little force,

And shattered all the frost.

However, when Xiao Shi took another step forward,

New frost appeared on his feet again.

“It seems that every step forward here causes frost to condense on my feet…”

Xiao Shi pondered this thoughtfully.

The main effect brought by this kind of frost was on movement.

If it was just slow, step-by-step progress, the impact wouldn’t be significant.

But if one were to run at high speed here, they would be restricted by this frost.

Of course,

Xiao Shi knew that the danger of this checkpoint was definitely not just the condensation of this frost.

This frost condensation alone couldn’t even be called a danger.

Xiao Shi advanced step by step.

This ice plain was vast and empty, with nothing in sight.

And after Xiao Shi had walked a considerable distance, he still didn’t encounter any danger.

This made him frown.

One thing was certain… this checkpoint was definitely harder and more dangerous than the first checkpoint.

Yet, so far, besides the frost condensation with each step, no other situation had arisen.

This was very peculiar.

“Could it be because those guards didn’t follow me, so I can’t trigger the dangers within this checkpoint?”

Xiao Shi had a guess in his mind.

Regardless of whether this was the reason, he could no longer proceed alone.

There was a limit to the distance between these Martial Demon Realm cultivators and their guards.

They had now reached their maximum distance.

Because of this,

Xiao Shi could only return.

He led these guards and stepped onto this ice plain together.

Like Xiao Shi, when these guards stepped onto the icy ground, a layer of frost would condense on their feet.

However, this didn’t have much impact on them.

After all, they didn’t need to escape this place by running at high speed right now.

Soon,

As their group advanced for a while,

Crack!

As their footsteps landed on the icy ground, the entire mirror-smooth and bright surface suddenly rippled like water.

“It’s here!”

Xiao Shi’s eyes instantly sharpened.