125: Semi-saint puppet!

Chapter 125: Half-Saint Puppet!

Finally, after leaving a winding, silver snake-like trail of gray-white marks, Lu Chuan had burned a small path through the ancient forest.

Before him appeared a hundreds of feet deep mountain ravine, shrouded in poisonous mist, its end not visible. Beyond this ravine, towering peaks stretched endlessly, forming a continuous mountain range that coiled like a giant dragon, exuding an ancient and vast aura.

And that was the true Desolate Ancient Region.

It was there that Lu Chuan looked up, his expression becoming a bit more serious. He could sense the presence of several powerful auras within that mountain range, worthy of his solemn attention.

“The fierce beasts here have been passed down from ancient times; their strength is terrifying. Although their intelligence is not comparable to the magical beasts of the outside world, their combat capability is far beyond what outside magical beasts can match,” Lu Chuan explained.

Hearing this, the women all perked up, each standing ready. In this perilous land, any accident could mean the loss of a life.

“Let’s go,” Lu Chuan stepped forward, his foot lightly pressing on a boulder, transforming into a black streak. In a blink of an eye, he traversed the hundred-zhang ravine, heading towards the true Desolate Ancient Region.

“Be careful!”

Just then, a black shadow descended from the sky with a force of ten thousand jun, pouncing towards Lu Chuan. Its sharp claws gleamed with cold light, like iron pillars, heavy and powerful. The women’s exclamations rang out.

Lu Chuan’s expression remained unchanged, and when he reappeared, he was already on the opposite side of the ravine.

“Caw!”

The sound waves shattered trees, making people’s eardrums ache. The owner of the black shadow, filled with rage, continued to pursue Lu Chuan. Its beak was black and glossy, with a hooked tip that could easily take a life, tearing open a chest.

“Seeking death!”

Lu Chuan snorted coldly, not holding back. As a Dou Saint, it took him no effort to deal with a small fierce beast.

Dou Qi energy surged out from his body like a tsunami, condensing into a hundred-zhang energy palm in the air. It descended from the sky like an ancient mountain range, pressing down on the bird-shaped fierce beast with an unstoppable momentum.

“Bang—”

The shockwave swept through the surroundings, cracking the earth into spiderweb-like dark fissures that spread and fractured. Trees shattered, and dust filled the sky.

The surrounding fierce beasts trembled. In the center, a bottomless pit had appeared, and the fierce beast was utterly annihilated.

“It’s alright now, let’s go.”

Lu Chuan glanced at the fierce beasts lurking around, and only by releasing a wisp of his aura did he manage to intimidate them.

“Okay,” the women readily agreed, their figures moving without hesitation, showing no shyness. Under Lu Chuan’s protection, no incidents of fierce beasts attacking occurred along the way.

As they delved deeper into the perilous land, the number of fierce beasts grew, eventually reaching a shocking level, with visible hordes of beasts everywhere.

A towering, ten-thousand-foot peak stood on one side of the main path. On its mountainside, a black giant python coiled, its scales the size of a washbasin, overlapping like tiles. Sunlight reflected off the scales, refracting a crystalline gleam, with a hint of malevolence within the black.

The giant python was several hundred feet long, its body wrapped around the mountain. With a clanging sound, it seemed to sense an enemy invading its territory. Its lantern-sized eyes suddenly opened, and a ferocious and sinister hiss emanated from its mouth.

“Hiss!”

Lu Chuan looked up at the mountain peak. The black giant python was exceptionally conspicuous, and he recognized what kind of fierce beast it was.

“An Ancient Sky Demon Python. Although it can’t compare to the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python, one of the three great magical beast families, it can be considered an ancestor of some magical beasts, and its strength is terrifyingly formidable.”

“Its physical body is not inferior to the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python, but because of its poor intelligence and extreme bloodlust, it often sinks into slaughter.”

“Its flesh and blood can also temper a cultivator’s physical body.”

At the end, Lu Chuan looked at the Sky Demon Python a few more times. With his strength, he wouldn't need these things, but they would be just right for his women.

At the very least, they could be used to refine elixirs.

“You all wait here, don’t wander off,” Lu Chuan instructed.

“Be careful, Lu Chuan, stay safe,” the women could only nod in agreement.

As the distance closed, Lu Chuan continued towards the Sky Demon Python. When he entered several hundred meters into its territory, its massive body became even more striking, filled with a sense of power.

“Hiss!”

The Sky Demon Python flickered its forked tongue, its snake eyes staring emotionlessly in Lu Chuan’s direction, seemingly a warning. But those who truly understood this species would recognize it as a prelude to the Sky Demon Python’s attack.

Its serpentine muscles tensed, clanging as its hundred-zhang body accumulated power. A snake’s cry rang out, causing the mountain wind to tremble. The hundred-zhang snake body, with a whooshing sound of air being torn, rapidly attacked in Lu Chuan’s direction.

It was a world-shattering strike; if it hit a person, it would undoubtedly shatter them to pieces.

“Humph!”

Lu Chuan snorted coldly. Facing this behemoth, he did not hold back his strength. The aura belonging to a Dou Saint erupted, tearing apart the heavens and earth.

Along the way, nothing major had happened. When a few fierce beasts appeared, they were quickly turned into minced meat by the women.

Lu Chuan and his group finally arrived at a resting point in this perilous land.

Before their eyes, the ancient domain platform was filled with an ancient aura, as if one could vaguely see the shadows of blades and swords!

Legend had it that this was an ancient battlefield, and passing through here allowed entry into the deeper parts of the ancient domain. Over time, it became the safest resting point in this perilous land.

“Everyone, the beast tide is ahead. Now is a good time to charge. Since I proposed the alliance, the people at the forefront will be led by my group. However, after we pass through this tribulation, we will need others to take over.”

Hun Yu, the Soul Clan’s prodigy, spoke clearly, and everyone nodded in agreement.

Soon after Lu Chuan arrived at the ancient domain platform, it was surrounded by the beast tide. To escape the danger, everyone could only band together.

Not long after, as the formation took shape, the clash between the crowd and the beast tide erupted instantly. The sound of bones shattering, bodies turning into bloody mud, and being trampled beyond recognition filled the air.

There were also fierce beasts whose heads were cut off, their blood staining half of the cultivator’s face, making him look particularly ferocious and terrifying.

At this moment, only by fighting desperately could they survive!

A thousand-zhang distance, flashed by in an instant.

Lu Chuan protected the women as they charged out of the beast tide. Even he, if exposed to the beast tide and facing the assault of so many fierce beasts, could not guarantee that there wouldn’t be a Dou Saint-level fierce beast hidden among them.

Therefore, he mingled with the crowd and charged towards the outside.

Soon after, a particularly unfamiliar forest of hundred-zhang trees appeared before their eyes.

Of the cultivators who arrived here, nine out of ten were already gone, suffering heavy losses.

Just one beast tide had caused about ninety percent of these cultivators, who were considered strong in the outside world, to perish!

Passing through this forest, the scene before them was extraordinarily shocking.

Before their eyes was an endless grassland, with rippling green waves and vibrant emerald hues. In the very center of this grassland, a colossal ancient tree, thousands of feet in size, with its canopy spreading out and covering the sky, stood majestically between heaven and earth.

The ancient tree’s canopy was enormous, shaped like a giant umbrella, blocking the sunlight and casting a vast shadow over the earth.

The ancient giant tree’s trunk was like a colossal pillar connecting heaven and earth, its shade spreading outwards, each leaf large enough to cover a small city. A pure aura emanated from the ancient tree. Powerful vitality surged forth, and dense pure energy permeated this world, occasionally forming various wondrous sights.

“This is the Bodhi Ancient Tree…”

Everyone’s eyes were filled with awe. Looking up, this ancient tree, which had endured countless years, exuded a majestic sense of oppression, imbued with the aura of time.

Soon, a flicker of eagerness appeared in everyone’s eyes. It was well known that the Bodhi Ancient Tree was a treasure from head to toe. The Bodhi Seed, in particular, was one of the raw materials for refining the Bodhi Pill. With this Bodhi Pill, one could increase their chances of entering the Half-Saint realm.

Besides the Bodhi Seed, the bodhi heart was an extremely precious treasure. It could be called the treasure of treasures!

With this item, even entering the Dou Saint realm would not be difficult. Not only that, but one’s future potential would be infinitely expanded.

If one were to enter the Dou Saint realm by consuming elixirs, then that person, relying on elixirs to become stronger, would remain at the early Dou Saint stage for life.

However, by relying on devouring the bodhi heart to enhance one’s potential and personally stepping into the Dou Saint realm, their potential would not be exhausted, and they would still have room for progress in the future.

This clearly showed the preciousness of the bodhi heart; compared to the Bodhi Seed, which could be used to refine Bodhi Pills, it was infinitely more valuable!

Of course, these things were merely icing on the cake for Lu Chuan.

At this moment, figures transformed into countless streaks of rainbow light, heading towards the Bodhi Ancient Tree. They were all powerful cultivators who had fought their way out of the beast tide, and none of them were pushovers.

Lu Chuan looked up towards the Bodhi Ancient Tree, his brows slightly furrowed. He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but amidst that majestic vitality, he vaguely felt a hint of unease.

Within this seemingly vibrant pure energy, there were wisps of gray energy, more akin to human negative emotions. If exposed for too long, it could even cause one to fall into madness.

Initially, contact with this gray energy would only make people irritable and prone to anger… but over time, they might fall into the demonic path, turning into monsters that only knew slaughter.

“Everyone be careful, the Bodhi Ancient Tree is not as simple as it appears on the surface. This pure energy can drive people mad,” Lu Chuan warned.

The women nodded slightly, each becoming more vigilant, their expressions quite solemn. In such a perilous place, even they could perish if they were not careful.

“Whoosh!”

Several figures in the air transformed into black streaks, accompanied by whooshing sounds, then landed in an area not too far from the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

“How did you all get here, and why did you stop so suddenly?” Jiu Feng asked with a smile, leading his people.

“Hehe, since everyone’s goal in coming here is the Bodhi Ancient Tree, then we will naturally wait for you all to go together.” Hun Yu, the leader in front, turned around, his previously furrowed brows relaxing as he said with a smile.

Everyone sneered inwardly. Don’t be fooled by Hun Yu’s benevolent appearance; this person was extremely ruthless behind the scenes. In the previous beast tide, countless people were used as scapegoats by him.

Hun Yu didn’t care about the insincere reactions of the crowd. He slowly stepped forward, extended his hand, and pointed at the Bodhi Ancient Tree before them with a smile: “This is our goal. Although we’ve broken through the beast tide, the real difficulty lies with the Bodhi Ancient Tree…”

“Oh?” At these words, everyone turned their gaze to Hun Yu’s face, wanting to hear what he had to say.

“In ancient times, our Soul Clan also had a senior who came to this place…” Hun Yu smiled, “Although I don’t know what happened to him, by the time the strong members of our clan received the message and rushed over, that senior had already perished here.”

“Furthermore, that senior’s strength at the time was that of a Half-Saint.”

“Half-Saint?”

Everyone frowned, feeling a bit startled and uneasy.

A Half-Saint perished here, which showed how dangerous this place was.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree, which symbolized auspiciousness, now appeared somewhat sinister in everyone’s eyes, sending chills down their spines.

“Therefore, everyone, do not underestimate this Bodhi Ancient Tree. Perhaps if one is not careful, everyone will perish here.”

Hun Yu smiled, taking in everyone’s reactions.

“So, you guys don’t dare to go up alone?”

Gu Qingyang glanced at Hun Yu and said.

Hun Yu smiled and did not refute. Under the temptation of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he wasn’t afraid that the others wouldn’t take the bait.

Sure enough, seeing Hun Yu lead the Soul Clan forward with slow steps, everyone exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, or cursed inwardly, but no matter what, they followed behind Hun Yu and the others.

They clearly couldn’t resist the temptation of the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

“Wait a moment,” Lu Chuan paused, reaching out to stop the women, and said.

As Hun Yu and his group moved further forward, the Bodhi Ancient Tree, originally at the very center of the grassland, underwent a new change. A hundred-zhang light mass, like a living heart, faintly emitted powerful thumping sounds.

All eyes turned to the trunk of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, accompanied by the exclamations of Hun Yu and the others.

“Oh no! Retreat quickly!”

From the luminous mass, shaped like an energy heart, five figures arrived in unison. Their auras were no weaker than Half-Saints. As soon as they appeared, their powerful and domineering presence pressed down on everyone, making them unable to lift their heads.

And the few figures who managed to stand felt that terrifying pressure, and their faces all became solemn.

“These are just puppets, not true Half-Saints, but even so, their combined strength could probably overwhelm two or three Half-Saints.” Hun Yu’s face was grim, especially when his gaze turned to a gaunt figure among the Half-Saints, which made his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

Because that figure was their missing Half-Saint from the Soul Clan.

“It seems now that to resist the attacks of these puppets, everyone can only join forces,” Gu Qingyang said solemnly, his face grave.

As his words fell, several more people stepped forward, clearly agreeing with Gu Qingyang.

“Tsk, how miserable,” Xiao Yu’s expression changed from initial solemnity to nonchalance, and finally, she complained to Lu Chuan.

The women’s expressions varied. As a Dou Saint, Lu Chuan naturally didn’t need to worry about these puppets.

“These puppets have been refined by the Bodhi Ancient Tree, and their physical bodies are already extremely powerful, even slightly stronger than average Half-Saints.” Lu Chuan shook his head, having figured out why the crowd was being routed.