Chapter 191: Awakening!

As he slowly opened his eyes, a strange fluctuation suddenly spread in the space filled with the aura of life. 

At this moment, a profound, all-seeing clarity filled Jiang Yun's eyes, containing infinite wisdom. Deep within his gaze, the mysteries of life and death swirled, resembling the most fundamental forces of the universe. 

His aura was completely restrained, not a bit leaked, making him appear just like an ordinary person. 

After a long while, Jiang Yun exhaled a breath of stale air, and a familiar liveliness gradually emerged in his mysterious eyes. 

"What a wondrous journey!" A slightly hoarse and ancient-sounding voice drifted out from Jiang Yun's mouth. 

The next moment, he lowered his head to gaze at the soft, tender body in his arms. The figure with bright eyes, white teeth, and skin like congealed fat showed infinite tenderness on her face as he softly said, "But it's good to have you with me!" 

"Jiang Yun..." Xiao Yixian looked up at Jiang Yun's face with a gentle smile, but this time she held his arm even tighter.

The two of them had trained with different identities in the hundred reincarnations but always ended up together, inseparable. This bond was deeply etched into their memories. 

At this moment, the greenish trunk of the Bodhi Ancient Tree fluctuated, and their bodies passed through the exceedingly hard tree as if moving through liquid.

"Thank you for your assistance, Senior!" 

After coming out, they turned to the Bodhi Ancient Tree with clasped hands, expressing their gratitude.

Their gains from this journey were immense. Jiang Yun's strength had already broken through to the peak of Semi-Saint, and his soul realm had reached the mid-phase of the Heaven Realm, an ascent to the heavens. Additionally, there was still a Bodhi Heart within him that hadn't been refined yet. Once refined, becoming a Dou Saint would no longer be an obstacle.

Compared to the increase in his strength, his advancements in alchemy, formation arts, and the Dao of Life and Death were even greater. Jiang Yun was now exceedingly confident that, once his strength increased, he could refine any pill in the Dou Qi Continent.

In formation arts, he was a trailblazer, and if he had a formation diagram, he would dare to challenge Master-level spirit arrays. 

In just half a month, he had undergone a complete transformation!

However, while Jiang Yun had reaped significant benefits, Xiao Yixian's gains were even more terrifying. Favored by the Bodhi Ancient Tree, even though they both underwent the hundred reincarnations, she received more care than Jiang Yun.

With the Bodhi Ancient Tree's help, Xiao Yixian had fully refined the Bodhi Heart. At this moment, she was already a two-star Dou Saint and had just obtained the Flame of Life, which bore her complete imprint. With just a full refinement, she would have complete mastery over the Flame of Life.

By then, her strength would increase once again, rendering the seal Jiang Yun prepared obsolete before it even had a chance to function.

If news of this spread, it would evoke the envy of countless people. In just half a month, Xiao Yixian had gone from a nine-star Dou Zong to a two-star Dou Saint, an unheard-of leap.

Additionally, her alchemy skills probably matched those of the Elder Shen Nong. 

Listening to their gratitude, the Bodhi Ancient Tree's branches swayed, its leaves rustling in response to their thanks. 

Then a wave of brilliant green light burst out from the Bodhi Ancient Tree. Numerous tiny muffled explosions ensued, shooting out one emerald green glow after another, eventually suspending in mid-air within the space. 

"Bodhi Seeds!"

Jiang Yun and Xiao Yixian naturally recognized these items. However, looking at more than ten Bodhi Seeds in front of them, they weren't as shocked as before. These objects were no longer of much use to them.

But why were there only fifteen seeds? Weren't there more than twenty in the original story?

Could it be that more Bodhi Seeds were used this time?

Rustle, rustle~~~

The Bodhi Ancient Tree swayed and conveyed some information, informing Jiang Yun and Xiao Yixian that they had been in the hundred reincarnations for half a month. 

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun was slightly stunned and then asked, "Ancient Tree Brother, can you show me the outside world?"

The Bodhi Ancient Tree swayed slightly. One after another, densely packed light orbs floated out from its body, filling the sky. 

"So lively?"

Jiang Yun and Xiao Yixian looked closely and saw that these light orbs were filled with various figures, some of them even familiar.

Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er, Gu Qingyang, and others, more whom Jiang Yun didn't recognize, but judging by their actions and the similar family markings on their foreheads, it was clear they were all geniuses from the imperial families. 

Many were famous geniuses from the Central Plains.

After witnessing ten days of prior battles, the top geniuses had given tacit agreement to cease fighting and gathered near the Bodhi Ancient Tree, seeking its favor! 

However, now that the Bodhi Ancient Tree had recovered, even those possessing Heavenly Flames like Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er couldn't gain its recognition.

"Ancient Tree Brother, how do you plan to handle them?" Withdrawing his gaze, Jiang Yun curiously asked the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Hearing Jiang Yun's question, Xiao Yixian also looked over curiously.

Now that the Bodhi Ancient Tree had recovered and was no longer influenced by negative emotions from the Dou Emperor, it wouldn't turn these people into puppets as it might have in the past.

Upon hearing Jiang Yun's question, the Bodhi Ancient Tree trembled for a moment. Before the people outside could react, a brilliant beam of golden light burst from the tree trunk, enveloping everyone within it.

"Not good." 

The sudden change caused panic among the high-ranking members like Gu Nan Hai. In a few flashes, they appeared in front of the Bodhi Ancient Tree. 

"What's happening?" Seeing the disappearance of everyone, their faces grew anxious. These were the top-tier geniuses of their clans; if something happened to them, they would be held accountable.

"Bodhi Ancient Tree." The fiery-tempered Lei Chen stared at the Bodhi Ancient Tree, with black lightning flickering in his palm and a fierce presence, causing others to secretly shudder.

"Don't rush to act, do you want to get everyone killed?" Suddenly, Gu Nan Hai stopped Lei Chen, speaking in a deep voice. 

Hearing Gu Nan Hai's words, everyone calmed down, realizing the seriousness of dealing with the Bodhi Ancient Tree. Upon its appearance earlier, they had investigated it, nearly losing their lives due to some constraints. The Bodhi Ancient Tree was far from harmless as the world believed.

"I think they've entered the test of the Bodhi Ancient Tree. If they pass, they should receive ample rewards!" someone thoughtfully added.

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up. After exchanging glances, they decided to wait and watch.

This illusion realm originated from the hundred reincarnations, meant to temper the mind rather than ensnare it. 

Its power was less than a hundredth of the true reincarnation but ample for mental training. With the Bodhi Ancient Tree's restored state, controlling the strength of the environment to avoid losing those seeking opportunities was easier.

If someone with outstanding talent passed the Bodhi Ancient Tree's test, they would be rewarded; if not, the experience of the illusion would still be valuable.

"I see." Inside the ancient tree space, seeing everyone within the bubbles undergoing training in the illusionary realm, Jiang Yun quickly realized why they were given fewer Bodhi Seeds. They were to be used here. 

Having understood, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yixian watched the illusions take place. In the end, the Bodhi Ancient Tree distributed ten seeds, with Xiao Yan being among the recipients.

"Boom——"

With a loud noise, to the delight of Gu Nan Hai and others, spatial gaps opened up in front of the Bodhi Ancient Tree and numerous disheveled figures were spat out.

Suddenly appearing in this strange space, everyone's expressions changed, some still showing traces of fear, clearly understanding that what they had experienced was all but an illusion.

"Such a terrifying Bodhi Ancient Tree..." Even the usually composed Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan couldn't maintain their calm, recalling the illusion and feeling cold sweat. 

"Xun'er."

Gu Nan Hai and others' ecstatic voices brought everyone back to reality. Some individuals felt the items at their chests and showed a slight joy, but quickly returned to feigned confusion.

In the ancient tree space, where Jiang Yun no longer paid attention to the outside, he asked, "Ancient Tree Brother, what are your plans? You and Xiao Yixian seem to have a good connection. How about leaving with us?"

Seeing Jiang Yun trying to persuade the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Xiao Yixian chimed in, "Indeed. Traveling with us, you'd see the magnificent scenery of the continent."

The Bodhi Ancient Tree gently swayed, making a rustling sound, politely declining their offer. 

"Alright then. Perhaps we'll visit you again someday, Ancient Tree Brother!" Knowing not to press the matter, Jiang Yun cupped his hands in farewell. 

After speaking, a dark spatial rift appeared behind them. Jiang Yun cupped his hands towards the Bodhi Ancient Tree and pulled Xiao Yixian towards the spatial passageway, ensuring they reappeared far away from the current location to avoid meeting the others.

Just as they were about to disappear, a hidden light—a tower-shaped gleam unnoticed by the Bodhi Ancient Tree—covertly fell into Jiang Yun's palm.

As Jiang Yun and Xiao Yixian left, the Bodhi Ancient Tree outside began to tremble violently. A circle of green light spread from beneath the Bodhi Ancient Tree, making the ground liquefy, allowing it to gradually sink into the earth.

Once the Bodhi Ancient Tree was underground, not even a nine-star Dou Saint could locate it. Without special means, it would only be seen again at its next emergence, likely hundreds or thousands of years later.

"Boom!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Bodhi Ancient Tree finally submerged into the earth. With the last trace of green light vanishing, the plain again became deserted.

In the far void, as the Bodhi Ancient Tree submerged, blood-red eyes filled with killing intent suddenly opened in the dark universe, scanning the world coldly.

A figure with blood-red hair appeared in the darkness, looking extremely handsome despite the destructive rage emanating from him, causing even the surrounding void to tremble in fear.

His handsome face showed no emotional fluctuations, and his bloody eyes scanned mercilessly.

Around him, countless blood-red gales howled.

An indescribable pressure spread all around; in this dark void, blood clouds gathered, transforming into a blood-red storm around the man.

"Such abundant life force…" His gaze fixed in a direction, a deep voice echoed in the void. "I didn't expect such an unexpected gain from this trip."

Thinking this, the man with blood-red hair turned into a blood-red stream, speeding forward.

Returning to Gu Dragon Island, the power structure had drastically changed. Intense auras lay dormant within the dragon island, making Jiang Yun guess that the island's strength now rivaled the Flame and Thunder Clans.

"Every time I meet you, it amazes me. It seems like ordinary bottlenecks don't exist for you?" Zhu Kun looked at the peak Semi-Saint Jiang Yun and couldn't help but comment with a hint of jealousy.

"Heh, just lucky to have the Bodhi Ancient Tree's favor." Jiang Yun laughed mildly, showing no pride.

"Your luck is more than good!" Zhu Kun, feeling a bit annoyed, looked at Xiao Yixian and then at Jiang Yun, speaking with a sigh.

The emergence of the Bodhi Ancient Tree hadn't escaped Zhu Kun's notice, but given their plans, the Gu Dragon Clan remained in seclusion. Nonetheless, Jiang Yun had given him a huge surprise!

Hearing this, Jiang Yun merely smiled at Zhu Kun.

Seeing this, Zhu Kun threw several light balls of varying sizes, "Here, even I envy you. These fine items, even I haven't enjoyed. Treat Zi Yan well in the future." 

(End of the chapter)