Chapter 586-590: A Brand-New Shock (6k+ words)

"A cultivator's body is full of treasures. It's not strange that someone has the same idea as me. After all, peeking into the laws of heaven and earth, there's no quick way to plunder ready-made Golden Cores directly."

"But if it can be considered a big deal..."

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Fan's mind. "Buying a large number of cultivator corpses, what is he planning?"

Li Fan didn't have the intention to delve into the other party's motives. However, with such secretive actions and Zhang De Biao still not returning, things probably didn't bode well.

Although in the Xuan Huang Realm, due to the existence of the phenomenon of falling skies, it might be challenging to kill a cultivator silently. However, making someone evaporate from the mortal world, disappearing without a trace, there were numerous methods for that.

For example, Zhou Qing'ang was a living example. He was still lying at the bottom of the Cong Yun Sea until now!

Just when Li Fan was hesitating whether to spend some contribution points to continue inquiring about Zhang De Biao's information, a stranger, an unfamiliar cultivator, took the initiative to come.

Because Li Fan had been operating in Tian Ling Prefecture these days using a completely new identity to avoid arousing suspicion, he went by the name Yu Ji.

So, Li Fan immediately knew the purpose of the other party looking for him. It must be related to the missing Zhang De Biao.

"Interesting, let's see what he wants."

In the private courtyard of the Dao Discussion Tower, Li Fan met the visitor.

He was a gray-robed cultivator, short and frail, with deep wrinkles on his face. He walked with a limp, appearing extremely weak, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

As the other party approached, Li Fan faintly smelled a rotten, foul odor emanating from him.

"Hehehe..."

"Dao Friend Yu, I heard that you are looking for Zhang De Biao? Does he have something you need?"

The gray-robed cultivator got straight to the point, asking with a strange tone.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the other party.

Although the other party appeared to have only Golden Core cultivation, Li Fan could almost be certain that this was just a disguise.

The intermittent sense of danger surging in his mind reminded Li Fan that the gray-robed cultivator in front of him was not simple.

"How should I address Dao Friend?" Li Fan didn't answer directly but instead arched his hand and inquired about the other party's name.

"Daoist Xiu Mu." The gray-robed cultivator was also straightforward and concise.

After scanning his memory, Li Fan had never heard of this person before.

After pondering for a moment, Li Fan lowered his voice and nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes, I need some cultivator's Golden Cores. The more intact and the higher the grade, the better."

"Price is not a problem." After saying this, Li Fan added, "The more intact, the better. The higher the grade, the better."

Xiu Mu's eyes flashed with a gleam. He reached out and produced a green and red intertwined Golden Core from somewhere, handing it over.

"Dao Friend Yu, take a look at the quality of this Golden Core."

Li Fan's heart stirred as he received the Golden Core and carefully examined it.

It looked as if it had just been extracted from a cultivator's body, with traces of blood still visible.

Upon sensing it, Li Fan discovered that the Golden Core contained insights related to wood and fire laws.

Using "Still True" for probing, he indeed received a prompt indicating that absorption was possible.

"What's the price?" Li Fan asked.

"Thirty thousand contribution points," Xiu Mu said solemnly.

Perhaps afraid that Li Fan would find it expensive, he continued, "I also have some single-element Golden Cores over there, which are cheaper, only fifteen thousand contribution points. Of course, if you need a larger quantity, we can negotiate the price."

"By the way, the transaction is in equivalent spirit stones. I don't accept direct transfer of contribution points." While Li Fan was contemplating and hadn't answered yet, Xiu Mu added.

Li Fan wasn't concerned about the price but found the appearance of Xiu Mu a bit suspicious.

Moreover, selling cultivator's Golden Cores, which was a taboo, was spoken about so openly. It seemed like dealing with something prohibited was as common as trading regular goods.

More importantly, Li Fan was currently using an identity of an unknown origin. Xiu Mu had no idea about Li Fan's background.

Yet, Xiu Mu remained so unabashed...

He isn't afraid that Li Fan might be someone from the Wanxian Alliance, coming to investigate or enforce the law secretly?

"Twenty-eight thousand is also acceptable." Daoist Xiu Mu, seeing that Li Fan hesitated, took the initiative to lower the price.

Li Fan then pretended to hesitate and nodded, "Deal."

Pretending to put it away in the storage ring, Li Fan actually absorbed it directly using "Still True."

On the "Still True" panel, the progress of unlocking the anchor point increased by 0.5%.

"In this case, it will take two hundred intact Golden Cores. This is considering the absorption of the dual-element Golden Core just now. If it's just ordinary single-element Golden Cores, I'm afraid I'll need even more."

"Conventional methods won't work."

"Unless I dare to defy the world, turn into a demon, and recklessly slaughter Golden Core cultivators..."

This thought flashed in Li Fan's mind for an instant, only to be abandoned.

"Daoist Xiu Mu," Li Fan coughed lightly and didn't directly request another transaction. Instead, he inquired about his doubts.

Unexpectedly, Daoist Xiu Mu didn't take it seriously. "Dao Friend, rest assured, we are not like that insignificant fellow Zhang De Biao."

"The Golden Cores we provide have a safe and secure source, absolutely without any worries."

"Even if the Alliance investigates, there won't be any problems. Dao Friend, you can rest assured!"

He patted his chest, guaranteeing with confidence.

The strength of this assurance made Li Fan suspect that he might be able to pat himself to pieces.

"Really?"

However, the answer given by the other party was far beyond Li Fan's expectations. He immediately showed an expression of disbelief, "The Golden Core I just received was clearly recently dug out from a cultivator's body..."

"Such inhumane behavior, not to mention our Wanxian Alliance, even the Five Elders would probably not ignore it, right?"

"If it weren't for my special reasons and urgent needs, I wouldn't do such a conscience-disturbing thing!"

Li Fan spoke with righteousness.

Daoist Xiu Mu sneered but didn't bother to refute Li Fan's nonsense.

Instead, he asked inexplicably, "What if these Golden Core cultivators are all voluntary?"

"Voluntary? How is that possible?"

Li Fan suddenly froze.

"Voluntary! How could that be?"

The words spoken by Daoist Xiu Mu did shock Li Fan somewhat. He pretended to look horrified, widened his eyes, and stared straight at the other party.

"If there is demand, there will naturally be a market."

"Since the reconstruction of order in the Xuan Huang Realm all these years, the birth of those doing our line of work is not really something new."

Daoist Xiu Mu shook his head, explaining to Li Fan.

"Like Zhang De Biao, extracting Golden Cores from cultivator corpses is indeed too inefficient."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 587: If Wood Steams Human Life

"Let's not talk about whether there are so many corpses of fallen Golden Core cultivators."

"After a cultivator dies, they return to the heavens. Although the Golden Core is the condensation of a cultivator's comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth, it still needs extraordinary materials as its foundation."

"After returning to the heavens, if the extraordinary materials lose their uniqueness, the foundation of the condensed Golden Core will be lost. Not only will the quality of the Golden Core be greatly reduced, but over time, there will be a risk of dispersal, making it impossible to preserve for an extended period."

As if entering his professional field, Daoist Xiu Mu spoke with great expertise. His face even showed a rare hint of color, and the tightly stretched wrinkles relaxed in a casual moment.

"But all these problems and troubles can be easily solved as long as the cultivator volunteers."

"When a cultivator is alive, extracting the Golden Core won't trigger the malicious mechanism of heaven and earth. With extraordinary materials as the core, the Golden Core can be preserved for a long time."

"Although the cultivator will lose all their cultivation and become no different from an ordinary person, it's only the Golden Core realm. With sufficient resources, they can recondense a new Golden Core in just ten years."

"Well, although the production cycle is still a bit long, with the current number of cultivators, we can harvest hundreds of Golden Cores every year."

Daoist Xiu Mu calmly spoke, revealing chilling words.

"Long-term, stable, and harmless. Can that insignificant guy Zhang De Biao compare to us by sheer luck?"

"He can't!"

"So, if Dao Friend has a demand, you must prioritize us!"

Daoist Xiu Mu looked at Li Fan, a hint of eagerness flashing in his eyes.

Li Fan obviously wouldn't be easily convinced by such simple words. He shook his head repeatedly, "Dao Friend, don't try to deceive me. Which cultivator would willingly have their Golden Core dug out, only to go through this cycle every decade? Just thinking about it, I can feel the horror..."

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!" Daoist Xiu Mu hurriedly interrupted Li Fan.

"We have already achieved painless and harmless extraction. Those cultivators not only won't feel pain but also experience a different kind of comfort. I even know a guy who, in order to continuously experience the pleasure of having his Golden Core removed, immediately resumes cultivation every time his Golden Core is taken out."

"He is now our most efficient cultivator, cultivating a dual-element Golden Core every three to four years on average."

Daoist Xiu Mu seemed entirely unbothered by what he said, enthusiastically explaining to Li Fan.

Even someone as indifferent as Li Fan couldn't help but feel a trace of chill looking at the current Daoist Xiu Mu.

"So, Dao Friend, all your concerns are completely unnecessary."

"We have passed the examination of the Wanxian Alliance and received official recognition. Think about it; we have to provide a certain amount of materials to the Alliance every year. If there were quality issues with these things, the Wanxian Alliance would be the first to come looking for us! So, Dao Friend can rest assured!"

Li Fan squinted his eyes, "Does the Wanxian Alliance know about what you are doing? But why have I never heard of it?"

Daoist Xiu Mu muttered quietly, "It's because our philosophy is too advanced. The Alliance said that if it were made public, it would definitely cause public misunderstanding."

"So, it's kept secret."

"They're all just ordinary people; it's normal for them not to understand. But someone like Dao Friend should be able to understand our approach, right?"

Daoist Xiu Mu looked at Li Fan, filled with expectation.

"Understanding is possible, but for a while, it's still a bit difficult to accept." Li Fan said half-truthfully.

Daoist Xiu Mu, as if discovering a rare like-minded individual, applauded, "I knew it, I didn't read you wrong! Dao Friend is a person with great wisdom!"

He suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth excitedly, saying, "Injury by the same kind is a law of nature. It's normal that Dao Friend temporarily cannot completely change his views; however, I believe that when you personally visit our place, you will quickly change your mind!"

"How about it, Dao Friend, want to come and visit?"

Without thinking, Li Fan was about to refuse directly.

Unexpectedly, something beyond expectations happened.

Somehow, looking at this old and weak cultivator in front of him and thinking that there might be countless Golden Cores waiting for him, Li Fan inexplicably changed his mind.

"Alright! There's no harm in taking a look!"

He nodded in agreement.

The moment the words were spoken, Li Fan's heart was filled with shock.

He suddenly understood.

This gray-robed cultivator in front of him was definitely much more dangerous than he had imagined!

Just wanted to buy some cultivator's Golden Cores, how did he end up in such a mess! Luck is really too unlucky!

Li Fan cursed silently in his heart, murmuring to himself, "Still..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

Suddenly, he felt that it wasn't such a big deal after all.

Perhaps it hasn't reached the point of direct danger?

After all, the other party had been certified by the Wanxian Alliance. It shouldn't involve plotting for wealth and lives.

Moreover, the layout of this world has been in place for a long time, and it has finally developed into the current situation.

Once something goes wrong, everything will have to start over, which would be quite troublesome, right?

...

Many thoughts surfaced in Li Fan's mind in an instant.

They made Li Fan persuade himself, changing his mind.

"Daoist Xiu Mu, I don't know how to address your group and how to get there?" Li Fan now had an expression of genuine interest, asking.

Daoist Xiu Mu slapped his head, somewhat regretful, "Oh, almost forgot to introduce it to Daoist Yu."

"In our place, it's called..."

"Jian Ren Shou."

Whether it was Li Fan's illusion or not, when Daoist Xiu Mu said the last sentence, his tone and expression instantly became somewhat sinister.

Just a moment later, Daoist Xiu Mu returned to his previous enthusiastic expression.

"As for how to get there..."

"Daoist, just grab onto me!"

Li Fan naturally grabbed Daoist Xiu Mu's sleeve, going along with the flow.

"Daoist, stand steady!"

Daoist Xiu Mu shouted, chanting something under his breath, "Heaven and earth are like wood, day and night consume life..."

As if a thick smoke rolled in, in the blink of an eye, the surroundings became a vast expanse of gray.

Apart from constantly distorting light and strange sounds whistling by, nothing else could be clearly seen.

However, at this moment, Li Fan felt no sense of danger in his heart.

Even looking at the surrounding mist enveloping him, an inexplicable sense of belonging surged within him.

As if he originally belonged there.

After who knows how long, the mist disappeared.

The surrounding scenery also became clear.

"Daoist Yu, we've arrived!"

With Daoist Xiu Mu's call, Li Fan also saw the scene of Jian Ren Shou.

A towering tree, yellowed all over with spots, stood before his eyes.

Countless cultivators hung on the branches.

Like fruits on a tree.

A new year brings Li Fan a brand new shock.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 588: The Vast Eternal Huanheng Wall

A gentle breeze passed by, carrying a faint smell of decay in the air.

Dry leaves rustled, and a few pieces floated down from the treetops, disappearing before they reached the ground.

Li Fan clearly saw on the leaves the fleeting, twisted, and agonized faces.

According to common sense, anyone witnessing such a bizarre scene would inevitably feel horrified.

But at this moment, in Li Fan's eyes, this place called "Jian Ren Shou" was inexplicably wonderful.

He took a deep breath, and the foul air entering his lungs felt oddly sweet.

So, he greedily took a few more breaths.

Observing the cultivators on the tree, he found that all of them had pitch-black eyes with no visible pupils, and they wore a strange smile.

Their hair was intertwined with the branches, serving as hanging ropes.

Some cultivators' clothes were still intact, while others seemed to have been hanging there for quite some time, their clothing corroded and looking ragged.

Decayed branches wound around their bodies, covering exposed areas and deeply piercing into their flesh.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Without Daoist Xiu Mu's introduction, Li Fan had already understood everything about the operation of this place upon entering Jian Ren Shou.

Facing this creepy scene, Li Fan not only felt no alertness or fear but even applauded.

There was a hint of envy in his tone.

As if cultivators in the world should naturally be hanging from branches.

And being penetrated by the withered tree into their blood and flesh was an unimaginable honor!

"How about it, Daoist Yu, my words weren't empty, right?" Daoist Xiu Mu seemed to weaken further, coughing for a long time before recovering and asking.

"Sincere are Daoist's words!" Li Fan nodded in agreement.

"It truly is the creation of a great existence! I wonder, what should this tree be called?" He stared at the withered giant tree, a look of fascination in his eyes.

"Originally called 'Ruo Mu,' but now..." Daoist Xiu Mu also looked up, a strange expression on his face.

"It's called 'Genhuan Huanheng Yuan.'"

This was an extremely tongue-twisting term, but the moment Daoist Xiu Mu said it, Li Fan understood its meaning.

"Since ancient times, it has appeared and will continue to exist eternally. Standing above the river of life, supporting the sky like a wall."

"No, I still prefer its original name." Li Fan shook his head.

Daoist Xiu Mu emitted a gloomy laugh, not minding, "A name is just a code. As time passes, with each new generation of beings, the way they address it keeps changing."

"But it won't have any impact on its existence."

For some reason, while saying this sentence, a hint of gloom flashed in Daoist Xiu Mu's cloudy eyes.

Li Fan agreed, "Although that's true, the present is different from the past."

In every moment spent here, many images spontaneously entered Li Fan's mind.

So Li Fan naturally knew a lot of related information.

He showed a hint of nostalgia, chanting to himself, "When creatures are born in this world, the wood will shorten their lives. Extracting life and extending lifespan, consuming it can grant immortality."

In Daoist Xiu Mu's clouded eyes, a trace of radiance appeared upon hearing the poem from Li Fan's mouth.

After a long silence, the two continued their conversation.

"Daoist Yu, you are indeed a person with great wisdom!" Daoist Xiu Mu sighed and said suddenly.

"In the past, there have been tens of thousands of cultivators who visited here, but someone like Daoist, with such a rapid change of thought, is truly rare."

Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "It's not that I have great wisdom, but they are inherently ignorant."

"What fundamental difference is there between the cultivators here and other living beings?"

"Trees bear fruit, flowers produce nectar. Beasts give birth, birds lay eggs."

"People consume them for sustenance, considering it a normal thing. Why should it be difficult to accept when the one being consumed is oneself?"

"Do they really think they are the spirits of heaven and earth, masters of all things?"

Li Fan sneered.

Daoist Xiu Mu, who had prepared a speech, was unexpectedly preempted by Li Fan. For a moment, he was somewhat dumbfounded.

"I see it as nothing more than the law of the jungle."

"Now, devouring others feels delightful. If one day, I am consumed by others, I won't complain. The heavenly dao is fair, and retribution is inexorable!"

Li Fan shook his head and swayed his body, deeply immersed in his thoughts.

Chapter 589: Unusual Events in Jian Ren Shou

Daoist Xiu Mu stared at Li Fan for a while, suddenly understanding.

"So, it's not a change of perspective but an inherent belief."

"Unfortunately, unfortunately!" Daoist Xiu Mu shook his head slightly.

Li Fan, however, remained indifferent, as if he hadn't heard the old man's words at all. He continued to gaze at the withered Ruo Mu in front of him, as if something deeply attracted him.

"But it's unexpected for such an anomaly to be born among cultivators..." Daoist Xiu Mu frowned, seemingly pondering something.

*Cough, cough...*

He suddenly erupted in a fit of violent coughing, and traces of green blood could vaguely be seen flowing from the corners of his mouth.

The Ruo Mu above also swayed without wind, and countless withered leaves fell.

"Good, good!"

Apparently witnessing something, a sinister expression flashed across Daoist Xiu Mu's face.

Then, he burst into a wild laugh, "Indeed, the heavenly dao is fair, and evildoers have their own torment!"

"This child is useless staying here; it's better to return and cause trouble!"

"Retribution, everything is retribution!"

...

After going mad for a while, Daoist Xiu Mu gradually returned to calmness.

He became just like when he met Li Fan in the outside world.

"Daoist Yu, since you have seen it on-site, I believe you have an idea of the quality of our product."

"Shall we continue our previous transaction?" He asked with a strange smile.

"Transaction?" Li Fan turned his head, somewhat dazed.

"Oh, that thing! No hurry!" Waving his hand, he unexpectedly refused the proposal.

*Hehe...*

Daoist Xiu Mu let out an unpleasant laugh again, "Although this place is good, it's not where you should stay."

"The Xuan Huang Realm outside is more suitable for you."

Just as Li Fan was about to refute, Daoist Xiu Mu grabbed his shoulder.

Rolling gray mist surged from the ground, seemingly about to envelop him again.

"Why are you in such a hurry to make me leave?" Li Fan hurriedly asked.

Daoist Xiu Mu smiled and remained silent.

"If you want a Golden Core, so be it. Since I'm a good person to the end, this time I'll give you some for free!"

The mist completely obscured the vision, and Li Fan vaguely heard Daoist Xiu Mu saying this in his ear.

His vision blurred, and Li Fan stumbled, returning to the Tian Ling Prefecture's Dao Discussion Pavilion courtyard.

Daoist Xiu Mu, Genhuan Huanheng Yuan, and the countless cultivators hanging from the branches had disappeared in an instant.

Everything seemed like a hallucination to Li Fan.

Only the quietly placed yellowish tree branch on the table was proof of something.

Without the influence of Ruo Mu, Li Fan had returned to his normal thoughts.

Recalling his recent experience, he felt like he had fallen into a cold winter.

But fearing that Daoist Xiu Mu might still be spying nearby, he forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart and pretended to be calm.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 589: The Divine Tree Condenses Eternal Life

This was already the sixth cup of spiritual tea that Li Fan had consecutively drunk.

The tea was named "Warm Spring Day," and it cost 800 contribution points per cup.

It was said that this tea tree needed to be cultivated in a perennial, rainless paradise, planted to face the sun. It sprouted every three years, and its yield was rare.

After drinking it, a warm flow would surge within the body, making one feel as if bathing in sunlight, with effects lasting for several days.

However, even with this widely popular tea, it still couldn't dispel the chill in Li Fan's heart.

This marked Li Fan's third encounter with a true powerhouse since entering the cycle of reincarnation in the Xuan Huang Realm.

The first time was when his clone was exposed by the Heavenly Doctor. Following the induction, the Heavenly Doctor directly intruded into his private space within the Heavenly Mirror.

The second time was when he was comprehending the "Great Five Elements Annihilation Sword" in Tian Yu Prefecture. The Old Fisherman was attracted by the ominous aura contained in it and appeared unexpectedly.

Compared to the previous two encounters, this time was more astonishing and caught him off guard.

It was also more dangerous.

At least the Old Fisherman himself was crazy, mentally unclear, and had no ill intentions towards Li Fan. On the contrary, he even gave him a great opportunity.

In the case of the Heavenly Doctor, Li Fan was enticed by the 100,000 contribution points reward and took the initiative to provoke him. Although he didn't understand the principle of restraining one's mind in front of powerhouses at that time, which led to the other party sensing something, at least Li Fan's true consciousness was clear, and coupled with the true protection, it was actually a dangerous yet safe encounter.

Only this time...

Daoist Xiu Mu's arrival was extremely abrupt and almost impossible to defend against.

His methods were also terrifying, and now, recalling it, Li Fan still felt genuinely frightened.

"Different from the mind-reading ability of the Heavenly Doctor, Daoist Xiu Mu, or rather, Ruo Mu, can directly distort and change the thoughts and cognition of cultivators."

"But the cultivator himself won't perceive anything abnormal..."

"No wonder Daoist Xiu Mu said earlier that the cultivators whose Golden Cores were taken were all 'voluntary.'"

Recalling his thoughts and reactions at that time, Li Fan felt a chill in his heart.

He took another sip of "Warm Spring Day" to calm his nerves.

"Hurting others in the same line is the law of nature."

"But when I followed him and saw the scene named 'Jian Ren Shou,' I didn't feel any danger or sorrow. On the contrary, I felt it was quite reasonable."

"I even wished to sacrifice myself for it..."

Li Fan squinted his eyes, and the scenes in front of Ruo Mu were constantly replayed in his mind.

Now that the influence of Ruo Mu had disappeared, even though Li Fan viewed sentient beings as tools, seeing the cultivators hanging like fruits still instinctively caused palpitations.

This was the normal reaction one should have.

"In Daoist Xiu Mu's place, my perspective was distorted and seemed to have undergone some kind of guidance, becoming extremely extreme."

"I can almost say it was a bit crazy."

Li Fan wouldn't deny that deep in his heart, perhaps there was indeed a similar thought.

However, humans are complex spiritual aggregates, and sometimes they may even contradict themselves.

Of course, occasional thoughts flashing in the mind shouldn't be considered as one's worldview.

"This Daoist Xiu Mu is really strange."

"It seems he harbors extreme hatred toward the cultivator community."

Li Fan naturally didn't believe that, with Ruo Mu's cultivation, selling Golden Cores was just to obtain contribution points.

Kidnapping cultivators and making them part of the production line in Jian Ren Shou was secondary.

The primary goal was probably to spread its ideology of "Cultivators can also be harvested."

Such heresy would certainly not be tolerated by the cultivator community. The Immortal Alliance should also monitor and restrict it accordingly, so Daoist Xiu Mu couldn't make a big move openly.

"Revenge, huh..." Li Fan's eyes flickered.

"When creatures are born in the world, their lives are shortened by the wood. Extracting the life essence can prolong one's life."

During the time when his mind was controlled by Ruo Mu, many scenes kept appearing in Li Fan's mind.

It was a towering tree, completely different from the current withered trees.

Standing tall and vibrant, full of vitality.

No cultivators were hanging from its branches.

On the top of the tree, there were only several crystal-clear, peculiar fruits that alternated between purple and gold.

Vague patterns could be seen on the surface of the fruits.

There were trees, mountains, and exotic beasts.

On the patterns of the purple-gold fruits, each was unique, with no repetitions.

In the fleeting scenes, Li Fan also saw that, subsequently, humans occasionally visited.

Initially, it seemed they had no cultivation and were dressed as ordinary people.

Only a very small number of lucky ones could climb the treetops and successfully take away the purple-gold fruits.

But later on, human visits became more frequent.

Their strength also grew stronger.

Some could even climb towering giant trees as if walking on flat ground.

Naturally, the number of purple-gold fruits being picked also increased.

As a result, Ruo Mu, who used to allow the outside world to take as they pleased, changed accordingly.

Many monsters evolved on the tree, serving as a defense system to deter those who wanted to take the fruits.

After that, it became quiet on Ruo Mu for a long time.

But the peace didn't last.

When humans returned, their strength had undergone earth-shaking changes.

In groups, dressed in peculiar clothing, they could fly, control energy in the air, and engage in battles.

The monsters evolved by Ruo Mu were no match for them.

They occupied Ruo Mu, claiming it as their own.

They assigned guards and, at regular intervals, came to pick a certain quantity of fruits.

...

"The Profound Heaven Sect?"

The clothing style of those humans in the scene was very distinctive and easily recognizable.

It was quite similar to what Li Fan had seen on the corpse of the Law King of the Profound Heaven Sect in Senior Sister Zhao's illusion.

The Profound Heaven Sect ruled this place for a long time.

When the scene changed again, the cultivators of the ten immortal sects appeared on Ruo Mu.

"The Fruit of Eternal Life?"

Li Fan's gaze swept past the piece of withered wood on the table, and his heart stirred.

After contemplating for a long time, he recalled it again.

During the time when the Ten Immortal Sects occupied Ruo Mu, the production of the purple-gold fruits at the top of Ruo Mu seemed to gradually decrease.

Every time someone came to pick the fruits, it seemed to be cultivators from different sects.

After that, who knows how much time passed...

One day, dozens of cultivators emitting powerful auras suddenly invaded.

After easily killing the guarding cultivators, they didn't directly plunder the purple-gold fruits.

Instead, they looked at the Ruo Mu in front of them, seemingly discussing something.

There seemed to be a fierce argument.

But in the end, they reached a consensus.

The following scenes made Li Fan's pupils suddenly contract.

They set up a huge formation, trapping Ruo Mu within.

Black chains, like long needles, pierced into various parts of the tree.

Then, a continuous stream of life force was drawn out and gathered into a green light sphere in the air.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 590: The Thousand-Year Change of Eternal Life

The once lush green trees visibly aged as the faint green light continuously faded away.

During this period, Ruo Mu did consider resisting.

The trees trembled, generating numerous monsters that fiercely attacked the cultivators.

Even Ruo Mu itself threw out branches like swords.

However, the cultivators who arrived here had truly terrifying cultivation bases.

All resistance was futile and instantly suppressed.

Even the final blow from Ruo Mu, which left it severely injured, caused all the top-tier purple-gold fruits to wither, but these people somehow saved them.

Unable to resist, Ruo Mu could only watch as its life essence was wantonly extracted.

The leaves slowly turned yellow, falling like rain.

Amid thunderous roars, many branches of the trees snapped.

Cracks began to emerge on Ruo Mu's trunk.

However, these people showed no signs of stopping.

It seemed like they wouldn't cease until Ruo Mu was completely drained.

Fortunately, at a critical moment, another group of cultivators seemed to arrive.

A skirmish ensued, and the extraction was forcibly halted.

They successfully took out the green light sphere in the air. As they withdrew, they didn't forget to launch a joint attack on the already battered Ruo Mu.

The damage inflicted in this attack seemed even more significant than the forced extraction of life energy just now.

Giant cracks extended upward from the bottom of Ruo Mu's trunk, and large sections of branches fell in all directions.

The rescuing cultivators, witnessing the situation, gave up pursuit and hurriedly began healing Ruo Mu.

Through their efforts, they managed to prevent Ruo Mu from completely dying.

However, the damage it suffered was too severe to reverse.

From then on, aging and withering accompanied it.

Until several years later, a humanoid cultivator emerged within Ruo Mu.

...

The scenes seen in "Life Extraction" were fragmented, but the information was substantial.

Li Fan replayed the scenes over and over through the Dao Stone, gradually forming speculations.

"The cultivators who harmed Ruo Mu are probably those who advocated abandoning the Xuanhuang Realm and escaping when the great calamity struck all those years ago."

"Judging from their displayed strength, there were probably experts at the Longevity Realm among them."

"Five hundred years ago, for some unknown reason, this group of people wanted to return to the Xuanhuang Realm, leading to a great war."

"Sima Changkong once said that the world showed extreme hatred towards these cultivators, far surpassing even us, who plunder and seize across heaven and earth."

"Traitors, stealing something... Could it be the Ruo Mu that can produce the 'Fruit of Eternal Life'?"

"Hmm... judging by the methods of these people, there may be something else."

"Thousands of years have passed, and they returned. Did they ultimately fail to escape from the Immortal Domain, or was there another reason?"

Li Fan frowned.

The existence of the Immortal Domain was not a secret to the Ten Immortal Sects.

These people acted so ruthlessly, leaving no room for escape.

Clearly, they were confident enough to successfully leave the Xuanhuang Realm.

But it's unknown what happened that forced them to come back.

There is too little known information; for now, let's not dwell on it.

Regardless, Li Fan finally knew why Ruo Mu harbored such resentment towards cultivators.

Whether it was humans plundering its fruits or the near-death experience later on, the enmity between it and cultivators could be described as endless.

If Li Fan were treated in such a way, the retaliation might be several times more brutal.

"The Supreme Being preached and established new laws, and after that, the Fruit of Eternal Life lost its longevity properties."

"This might be a good thing for Ruo Mu."

"In a sense, the transmission of the law could be considered its savior."

"Otherwise, even if Ruo Mu were stronger, it would still be difficult to escape the fate of being plundered."

"Considering its attempt to reverse 'injury to a kind,' it seems it hasn't reached the Longevity Realm. It's just that, having lived for who knows how long, with such an incredible creation, its strength cannot be measured simply by the Unity Dao."

"Yet, on the Unity Dao, without attaining Longevity... The gap between the Unity Dao and the Longevity Realm is somewhat too wide."

Li Fan saw Tianyi, the fisherman, and this figure of decay. All three powerhouses were in this realm.

Although it was a coincidence, it could also illustrate the difficulty of "defying the laws of heaven and earth to attain longevity."

While there are many heroes and talents in the world, those who achieve the new law of longevity are still very few.

Li Fan's eyes were deep, silent for a long time.

After summarizing the gains from this experience, Li Fan began to reflect.

"Being seen by Ruo Mu this time, almost losing my life, overall, it was really bad luck."

"Even though I just broke through the realm, and there might be a bit of arrogance in my heart..."

"But there isn't."

"This is Tian Lingzhou City, and this is a branch leased by the Luntan Building. Safety is absolutely guaranteed."

"Who could have expected that a cultivator engaging in underhanded business, selling golden pills, would turn out to be a powerful being with malicious intent towards humanity?"

Thinking of this, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.

He couldn't just stay hidden forever, relying solely on his avatar for action.

After all, the avatar is just an avatar, unable to unleash many divine abilities.

Moreover, it's a small realm lower than the main body. Wanting to reach the Longevity Realm through it is like a fool's dream.

"It's like walking on the street and suddenly being struck by lightning. A completely improbable event, not worth giving up everything for."

"Many things can only be done by the main body without leaving a trace."

"However, the ability of decay by Ruo Mu, which can distort and change one's thoughts, still needs to find a way to guard against."

"If it didn't harbor hatred towards cultivators and seemed to glimpse into what I would do in the future, wanting to use me to retaliate against cultivators, it wouldn't have let me go."

"I'm afraid if I didn't know how long I would be lost in the treetops before waking up."

"I pride myself on having a firm will, but I still have no resistance..."

"But in the world of cultivation, there are countless miraculous items and techniques. There will certainly be a way to find a solution."

"Don't seek complete resistance, just keep me slightly conscious, which is enough to compensate for my shortcomings."

Li Fan firmly kept this matter in mind and placed it in a top priority position.

He planned to focus on investigating information in this regard in the future.

After a long time, when his thoughts settled, Li Fan finally picked up the dried branch of Ruo Mu that had been placed on the table all along.

Gently caressing it, Li Fan suddenly felt a hint of familiarity.

Not because he had once been in close contact with the true form of Ruo Mu.

But because...

This branch seemed somewhat similar to the material Jiao Xiuyuan used to make avatars.

(End of this chapter)