262: Chapter 262 A withered tree comes back to life, a divine medicine is born!

"Junru's mastery of musical arts is truly extraordinary, a seamless match with mine," Gu Changsheng praised with a smile.

"It's Changsheng's domineering zither notes that are the main force; I merely added a finishing touch," An Junru replied with a light smile.

Both were deeply astonished by each other's talent and mastery in the art of music.

After dealing with all the 'flies,' the two moved, flying towards that fragment of Immortal Dao Origin floating in mid-air.

"Changsheng, the greatest merit in this battle lies with you. This Immortal Dao Origin fragment should rightfully be collected by you."

An Junru took the initiative to speak.

Although she was also quite moved by this Immortal Dao Origin fragment, she understood clearly.

If not for Gu Changsheng's intervention, obtaining this fragment would have inevitably required a bitter struggle, even risking the exposure of their trump cards.

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng shook his head.

He looked at the crystal emitting seven-colored radiance and said calmly, "I bear the Ancient Heavy Pupils, which grant an extremely high compatibility with Immortal Dao Origin. I have also devoured Immortal Dao Origin before at the emperor aura immortal stele."

"This Immortal Dao Origin fragment is of little use to me now."

He turned to look at An Junru, a sincere smile appearing on his face.

"But for you, Junru, if you can refine this fragment, you will likely touch the threshold of the Guixu Realm before long."

Hearing this, warmth blossomed in An Junru's heart.

She knew Gu Changsheng spoke the truth, but the sentiment of willingly yielding such a supreme treasure filled her with immense gratitude.

She did not refuse again, offering Gu Changsheng a solemn bow.

"Then... thank you, Changsheng."

With that, she extended her jade-like hand, carefully storing the Immortal Dao Origin fragment away.

Watching her joyful expression as if she had obtained a priceless treasure, Gu Changsheng felt quite satisfied.

This An Junru possessed not only peerless talent and breathtaking beauty but, more importantly, decisive killing intent and a Heart-Nature quite similar to his own.

Such a woman was worthy of being his friend, and even... a Dao Companion.

Having stored the Immortal Dao Origin fragment, the two continued their journey through this vast and boundless Small World.

Emperor Qiren truly lived up to being the last Great Emperor in ten thousand years; his strength was likely infinitely close to that of the legendary Immortal.

The Small World he created was incredibly stable, with complete Laws, almost no different from the outside Xuantian True Domain.

Gu Changsheng even secretly speculated in his heart about this Emperor Qiren.

Whether in terms of accumulated spiritual power or compatibility with the Immortal Dao, he had probably already reached the standard for Immortal Ascension.

Yet, in the end, he still failed, stopping at the Great Emperor realm.

"It has been nearly a million years since anyone in the Xuantian True Domain has been able to achieve Immortal Ascension."

Gu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back in the Void Realm, gazing at this vast, boundless world, countless thoughts swirling in his mind.

"Countless exceptionally talented individuals ultimately stalled at the Great Emperor barrier, unable to advance a single step further."

"There must be some unknown secret hidden within this."

He had a premonition that he might find some answers within this Tomb of Emperor Qiren.

Opportunities were scattered everywhere across this Small World.

Along the way, they encountered many more emerging treasures, each time attracting hordes of powerful experts to fight and vie for them.

When Gu Changsheng and An Junru made their move, they naturally showed no mercy.

Anyone who dared to contend with them, regardless of their background, was basically annihilated by their combined efforts.

Gradually, their fearsome reputation also spread throughout this Small World.

Everyone knew there was a Holy Son of Daoxuan, dressed in snow-white robes, and a similarly white-robed Holy Maiden of Yaochi. Together, their combat power was peerless; wherever they passed, not a blade of grass remained.

Gradually, whenever Cultivators saw the two of them appear, they would actively retreat to a safe distance, no longer daring to harbor any covetous thoughts.

Gu Changsheng and An Junru had effectively become the unrivaled overlords of this Small World, whom no one dared to provoke.

On this day, Gu Changsheng brought An Junru to the air above a vast, boundless withered forest.

All the trees in this forest had died, their branches and trunks showing an eerie grayish-white color. Not a single blade of grass could be seen on the ground, filled with an aura of lifelessness.

This place seemed like a forsaken land abandoned by heaven and earth.

"Changsheng, why have we come here?"

An Junru looked at the lifeless withered forest below, a flicker of confusion passing through her beautiful eyes.

Even with her Divine Thought, she could not sense the aura of any treasure in this area at all.

Gu Changsheng, however, smiled mysteriously, pointing confidently at the withered forest below. "Don't be impatient, just watch. A rare treasure is about to emerge here."

An Junru was half-convinced, half-doubting.

Yet, the moment Gu Changsheng's words fell...

*Hum...*

An incredibly dense, concentrated aura of life suddenly erupted from the center of the withered forest, soaring into the sky!

That aura of life was like a spring breeze turning into rain. Wherever it passed, a miracle occurred.

The vast withered forest below actually began to rapidly regain its vitality at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Withered, yellow branches sprouted tender green buds.

Bare ground gave birth to colorful exotic flowers and rare grasses.

In just a few breaths, this originally lifeless withered forest transformed into a paradise on earth, filled with birdsong, floral fragrance, and vibrant Spiritual Qi.

Even the newly sprouted medicinal herbs, nurtured by that immense life aura, rapidly grew into thousand-year, even ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine!

"This... what is happening?"

An Junru was utterly stunned by the miraculous scene before her eyes.

She turned to look at Gu Changsheng, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and inquiry.

Gu Changsheng merely smiled, offering no explanation.

He naturally would not tell her that he had sensed the anomaly here in advance, relying on his Luck that far surpassed ordinary people.

Such a startling phenomenon naturally attracted the attention of all Cultivators within a radius of tens of thousands of miles.

In an instant, hundreds of streaks of light raced from all directions towards this newly revived forest.

Even in the distant Void Realm, several faint, extremely subtle, yet powerful auras were quietly lying in wait.

Those were the great experts of the Guixu Realm!

Although they had not revealed themselves, the terrifying aura they emitted was enough to intimidate the masses.

However, Gu Changsheng paid this no mind.

Now, he was already at the Late Stage of the Myriad Laws Realm, had fused with the Tiangang Raging Flame, and possessed an Immortal Dao Divine Platform unique throughout all ages.

He believed his own strength was invincible below the Quasi-Emperor level.

Even these old monsters lurking in the shadows did not cause him the slightest apprehension.

Right at that moment...

*Rumble!*

The Void Realm at the forest's center trembled violently once more.

A majestic palace, entirely constructed from emerald-green divine jade and exuding a vast aura of life, slowly manifested from the Void Realm.

The moment the palace appeared, an aura of life a hundred times denser than before swept out in all directions like a tidal wave.

Some Cultivators of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm with weaker cultivation, who had just arrived, couldn't even react before being assimilated by that immense life aura.

Their bodies, in full view of everyone, rapidly stiffened, their skin turning into bark.

Their limbs transformed into branches. Finally, they directly became trees of various forms, taking root right where they stood.

The entire scene was eerie to the extreme.