49: The destruction of the five internal organs

Two hours later, Gu Changsheng opened his eyes.

In front of him, two porcelain bottles were already filled.

At the mouth of the bottles, a wisp of five-colored light emanated.

It was precisely Five Elements Evil Qi.

“Not bad, this amount is enough for me to cultivate the Five Elements Heaven Evasion Divine Light and refine the grade of my True Core.”

Gu Changsheng put away the porcelain bottles and looked around.

The entire Lake Heart Island was ablaze, with blood Qi permeating and rising, much more intense than during the previous Pill Appreciation Assembly.

Faintly, cries and wails could still be heard.

“After this battle, not only will Lake Heart Island be destroyed, but even the Five Viscera Temple is in danger of being annihilated...”

Gu Changsheng looked towards the core area of the five qi gathering tree.

With several great Sects jointly attacking, the Grand Elder of the Five Viscera Temple was in grave danger.

The highest combat power of a Sect determines the Sect's upper limit.

If the Sect's Old Ancestor suddenly perishes, the decline of the Sect is inevitable, and it can only seal its mountain gate and develop stealthily, hoping for a future.

Furthermore, during this period, there is a high possibility of being attacked by hostile forces and annihilated.

Just like now.

“Indeed, choosing to cultivate stealthily in the beginning was the correct choice.

If I had joined a Sect, even if I became a Sect Master and Old Ancestor, acting domineeringly, I would also be exposed, with the risk of being ambushed in secret.

Unlike now, no matter how the world's great trends change, I remain unmoved.”

Gu Changsheng made up his mind to continue cultivating stealthily upon his return.

However, before leaving, he still needed to obtain some benefits.

His gaze fell upon the five qi gathering tree, whose vitality was gradually dissipating.

“The five qi gathering tree, ranked among Earth Grade Heaven And Earth Treasures, is a rare treasure tree in the world.

If I can pick a sub-plant and bring it back to cultivate, there is hope of activating the Sword Planting Technique, allowing the longquan sword to transform into a Magic Treasure.

At the very least, I can extract Yi Wood Qi (Yimu Qi) and attempt to cultivate Yi Wood Green Light (Yimu Azure Light)...”

Currently, the longquan sword has given birth to an Azure Dragon Sword Spirit, but its grade is too low.

For Gu Changsheng, it was gradually becoming a mere trifle.

If it were to transform into a Magic Treasure, it would be much more useful.

Gu Changsheng roamed Lake Heart Island, searching for living root systems.

The higher the grade of Heaven And Earth Treasure, the more difficult it is to cultivate.

Although the five qi gathering tree had thousands of roots, very few possessed reproductive capabilities.

On the other side, in the core area of the five qi gathering tree.

The Void Realm was covered with strange silver patterns, and the entire area was sealed, preventing even a bird from flying out.

Suddenly.

Chirp—

A black Poison Dragon claw pierced through Deacon Qian's back, its tip carrying a pulsating heart.

The next moment, the Poison Dragon claw clenched, and the heart exploded, splattering juices.

Deacon Qian's eyes widened, and he died on the spot.

“White Bone Temple, Shadow Gate, Poison Dragon Island... you betrayed Ancestor Yin, aren't you afraid that Great Shang will annihilate your Sects...”

Grand Elder Lu Pingsheng of the Five Viscera Temple said with difficulty.

At this moment, his face was dark, and his lips were purple, clearly indicating severe poisoning.

Most critically, a long, narrow saber wound stretched from his right shoulder to his thigh, almost severing a large portion of his body, and he was barely holding on with the powerful vitality of a True Core Cultivator.

“Heh... Ancestor Yin?

Old Ghost Lu, you probably still don't know, do you?

Ten years ago, the stabilizing force of Great Shang, Cave Profound Ancestors Yin Tianxu, already passed away.

Great Shang has kept it a secret.

Three days ago, Duke Yansheng forcefully entered the Imperial Court and finally confirmed it.

Great Shang... its destiny is exhausted!”

Suddenly, black Qi swirled in the Void Realm, forming a scholar Cultivator clad in yellow, holding a talisman.

It was Guan Ping, the Carefree Scholar, second-in-command of the Yellow Turban Army.

He was intelligent and talented, having read scriptures thoroughly by age three and composed poetry in seven steps by age five.

Before reaching adulthood, he had already passed the imperial examination for a scholar.

At twenty, he was implicated by his words, offended a county magistrate, and suffered the tragic fate of his family's destruction.

He himself barely escaped death, but by a twist of fate, he was rescued by the current Heavenly Master of the Yellow Turban Army—Duke Zhang Liang, who took him as a Disciple and imparted Dao techniques.

Now, his cultivation has reached the True Core Realm.

“So... it was all your plotting behind the scenes...”

“Too bad, you found out too late.”

Whoosh—

The Carefree Scholar Guan Ping threw a bright yellow talisman, which ignited without wind, and a sky-covering palm print descended from the Void Realm, instantly crushing Lu Pingsheng into dust.

The surrounding True Core Cultivators were all horrified.

“Divine Ability—Myriad Convergence Great Hand Seal, Major Achievement!

Duke Yansheng has actually cultivated this Divine Ability...”

“This power rivals a True Core Perfection Cultivator; no wonder he could kill Old Ghost Lu with one blow.”

“Great Shang is completely finished...”

Seeing Guan Ping appear, the Island Master of Poison Dragon Island cupped his fists and stepped forward: “Military Advisor.

Although Old Ghost Lu is dead, the Holy Maiden of White Lotus, Xuan Xin, sensed the danger earlier and escaped with a considerable amount of Five Elements Evil Qi.

This old man is incompetent and failed to pursue her.”

Guan Ping waved his hand: “No matter.

Currently, the White Lotus Sect is in internal turmoil, and the White Lotus Holy Mother is missing. In due time, my Yellow Turban Army will surely annihilate them.

You all performed very well in this battle.

When I return to Ding Province, I will report each of your merits.

Now, according to our agreement, you may freely plunder the Relics (relics) of the Five Viscera Temple.”

Hearing this, the Island Master of Poison Dragon Island and the others were overjoyed, assented, and transformed into streaks of light, fleeing into the mountain gate of the Five Viscera Temple.

The Carefree Scholar watched them leave with cold eyes, then pulled out a bronze mirror, chanted incantations, and shot out a mysterious beam of light, devouring the Five Elements Evil Qi.

Gradually, a greenish light mass the size of a millstone floated out from the main trunk.

Inside, Five Elements Evil Qi intertwined with vitality, so dense that it almost materialized.

“The thousand-year tree heart of the five qi gathering tree... Thus, the main ingredient for the ‘Profound Cave Pill’ is secured.”

The Profound Cave Pill can increase a Cultivator's chances of Breakthrough to the Dongxuan Realm.

It was an ancient great pill.

Even with Guan Ping's firm resolve, he couldn't help but feel his mind waver at this moment.

Suddenly, the tree heart being absorbed by the mirror light trembled violently, the Five Elements Evil Qi surged and expanded, and a blurry phantom appeared above the tree heart.

The next moment, the tree heart exploded with a boom.

Hundreds of green light shadows shot out, flying in all directions.

“Damn it, Old Ghost Lu actually left a contingency plan in the five qi gathering tree, pulling a fast one before his death...”

Guan Ping quickly cast incantations, and the mirror light dispersed into hundreds of golden great hands, absorbing the scattered tree heart essence.

Three breaths later, most of the tree heart essence was absorbed by the mirror light and re-condensed into a mass.

However, its volume was a circle smaller than before.

“Only seventy percent of the tree heart essence remains; the rest must be quickly recovered...”

Guan Ping's face was grim.

He then transformed into a streak of light and departed.

On the other side.

Gu Changsheng looked at a withered yellow root in his hand, his face grim.

This root was shriveled, as if burnt, completely devoid of vitality.

“The Cultivator who destroyed the five qi gathering tree actually used poison-type Divine Abilities to extinguish its vitality.

Truly insidious.

These roots are all dead.

Even if I were to infuse vitality with the Spring Breeze Transforming Rain Technique, there would be no possibility of revival.

I can only try my luck elsewhere...”

The five qi gathering tree's main body was enormous; even with the poison's erosion, there should still be a slight chance of preserving a living root section.

Suddenly, Gu Changsheng caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye: a rapidly flying emerald green light streaked across the sky, leaving a long, narrow green tail flame of rich vitality.

“What is that...”

Gu Changsheng instinctively sensed it was a treasure and immediately transformed into a blood-red light, darting towards it at high speed.

Ten breaths later.

Plop—

An emerald green light mass, the size of a pebble, fell into his palm, and rich vitality surged directly into his body.