Chapter 245

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

The Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree, and the Dragon Pattern Spirit Fruits it bears — even if placed in the Cultivation World, they are treasures capable of stirring up bloody storms.

"What a pity, what a pity — it is of the Wood attribute," and their family of five, aside from Shen Yao who has Mixed Spirit Roots, none of the others can make use of it.

Or they could force themselves to use it, but the effect would be greatly discounted. Dragon Pattern Spirit Fruits: when demon beasts consume them they purify their bloodline; when humans consume them they improve their aptitude.

"Before seeing this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree, I thought the best this place could produce was Grass and Wood Essence Source," but it turns out I was thinking too conservatively — compared to the Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree, what treasure is Grass and Wood Essence Source?

Shen Yao carefully examined this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree; the Dragon Pattern Spirit Fruits it bore were the size of green apricots, their surfaces covered in dense, intricate dragon-shaped patterns — clearly they were already mature.

"System, can this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree be dug up and taken away?"

Shen Yao couldn't restrain herself — encountering such a rare Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, one truly cannot blame her for being greedy.

"Host, this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree is tied to the fortunes of this world; digging it up is not a problem, but can you withstand the backlash of Fortune?"

The System hesitated, afraid the Host was underestimating the cost, so it simply laid out the pros and cons involved.

Simply put, this world is currently advancing from low martial to high martial; the World Consciousness, for the sake of the living beings of this world (and also for its own future development), will produce items of utmost Fortune at certain locations.

These Fortune items are automatically defaulted as the property of the Children of Fortune, and the Children of Fortune are the protagonists born in response to this world's tribulation.

The experiences of protagonists often influence the trajectory of the entire world; they are bound to the World Consciousness and can be said to be its incarnations.

"So to sum it up, if I take this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree, I have to shoulder part of the Child of Fortune's responsibility, to help the World Consciousness achieve the outcome it desires."

It sounds rather troublesome, especially since some of the entanglements involved might very well affect their plan to return to the Cultivation World.

"Host, I advise you to give it up — this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree is precious, but we are not without other treasures; there is no need to insist on…"

The System was like a duck with its neck pinched shut, its beak clamping closed abruptly.

Zzzt— zzzt—

Garbled static appeared in her mind; after a long while, the System spoke again, "Host!"

It had just said that digging up this Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree meant the Host would have to bear part of the Child of Fortune's responsibility. Being a Child of Fortune is that easy? Not to mention crises and opportunities go hand in hand — one careless moment and you'd be smashed to pieces.

The most critical point of all is that if an accident occurs under these circumstances, they would receive no compensation whatsoever!

Shen Yao turned a deaf ear and continued digging up the tree, conveniently plucking the Dragon Pattern Spirit Fruits growing on it and storing them inside a Seal Ban Box.

Even if they can't be used, there's no worry — keeping them will surely come in handy one day.

"I've thought it over and roughly figured out what the World Consciousness wants.

System, a world that can produce Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures even at the early stage is not easy to come by," as long as it's not a matter of life and death, she's willing to give it a try.

Of course, even life-and-death matters can be negotiated — didn't she previously rely on blowing herself to smithereens to complete a mission? As long as the price is right, it can be discussed.

System: …

The System shut down, with nothing to say.

Shen Yao spent time storing the Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree into her space, and she didn't forget to walk a few circles around the surroundings; after encountering Grass and Wood Essence Source, she hurriedly scooped it into her pocket as well.

Strike it rich, strike it rich — I never expected there to be so many treasures beneath the Broken Cliff.

Shen Yao's money-grubbing nature took over; looking at the scene, she wished she could dig three feet deep all around.

It's just that she still had to consider the World Consciousness's intentions; otherwise Shen Yao truly wouldn't want to hold back.

It's really giving too much, too much!

"Host, we can't return to the Cultivation World; your karmic line has deepened with this world," the System's voice trembled; its inner petty person was rolling and wailing — did it still have to accompany the Host selling herself for several more decades? No, please don't.

"Not afraid — you yourself said the karmic line has deepened; just find a way to sever this karmic line."

Shen Yao remained calm; she glanced at her glittering golden Merit, her eyes turned, and she dragged the System into a little meeting.

"I have a method — originally I was thinking of letting us earn some Merit.

But that was then, this is now; we can't earn Merit, but it should be enough to offset this stretch of karma."

Shen Yao rubbed her palms, and amid the System's increasingly uneasy mood she spat out the idea she had come up with.

System: … Fine, it gets it — in the end it's still harvesting wool.

Two noodle-wide tears fell silently; the System agreed miserably, and stated this method was a one-time thing, there would be no next time.

Shen Yao: … Even if there really were a next time, could she refuse? She'd just handle it easily~

…………

Ren Chengzhou looked at the hazy white mist before him, not knowing where this was; he had clearly fainted.

Frowning, he recalled the previous memories, and Ren Chengzhou's whole demeanor was dazed.

Broken Cliff, woods, fainting…

Right, it was a small tree, entirely emerald jade, not even as tall as a person.

The moment he saw that small tree, he lost all consciousness.

Yao'er?!

How was Yao'er after he fainted? Ren Chengzhou tried hard to recall Shen Yao's situation, but alas his mind was blank with no results.

"Young friend, please come and have a chat with this old man."

An ancient, ethereal voice came from within the white mist; the white mist filling his vision parted like water waves to both sides, leaving only a narrow path for one person to walk.

Ren Chengzhou: …

Ren Chengzhou hesitated somewhat, but he didn't even know where he was.

Forget it — take it one step at a time; as someone who has experienced all manner of strange events, Ren Chengzhou stepped onto the path with firm strides.

"Why hasn't she woken up yet? System, do you actually know how to do this or not?"

Outside, Shen Yao, who had already finished rearranging the surroundings, half-crouched before Ren Chengzhou, her gaze constantly sizing up Ren Chengzhou with his tightly furrowed brows.

The System was given a headache by Shen Yao's urging, "The System always executes according to the Host's requests.

Ren Chengzhou not waking is because he has his own logic; once the logic sorts itself out, he will be fine."

Familiarity breeds ease; the System has even done things like pretending to be an immortal, so nowadays merely impersonating a cultivation senior who passed away many years ago is simply effortless, without any difficulty.

Seeing the expression on Ren Chengzhou's face gradually grow peaceful, Shen Yao also understood this was a sign he would wake soon.

No longer idly chatting nonsense with the System, she turned back to her own spot, closed her eyes, and lightly floated into a faint.

……

Ren Chengzhou opened his eyes; what met his sight was that very emerald jade small tree that had left a sufficient impression on him.

Hand lightly placed at his forehead, Ren Chengzhou borrowed the force to rise, first scanning the surroundings, and upon seeing Shen Yao had fainted, hurriedly stepped forward to embrace her and shout to wake her.

Shen Yao looked at everything around her with bewildered eyes, "What happened to me? I remember a white light flashed," and when she opened her eyes again it was Ren Chengzhou right before her.

"We accidentally triggered the forbidden restriction here, no need to worry, Yangyao and the others are fine."

The periphery is not as troublesome as the center; according to the elder in the dream, once they obtain the relic, they can leave smoothly."

Supporting Shen Yao to stand, the two placed their gazes on that small tree, entirely of emerald jade, straight ahead.

"This is" Shen Yao reached out to touch the branch trunk, "jade texture."

Ren Chengzhou explained, "It is a Jade Rong Tree; its branch trunks and leaves made into jade slips can transmit for a thousand years without decay."

Finished speaking, Ren Chengzhou bowed toward this tree, "Senior, please forgive me; this junior rashly disturbed the senior's dwelling place, please do not blame me, Senior."

Shen Yao stood obediently beside Ren Chengzhou, not opening her mouth to ask anything, until Ren Chengzhou dug out a jade-made long box from the tree roots.

Once the long box emerged, the originally motionless emerald jade small tree began to sway up and down.

Piece after piece of green leaves, no larger than a palm, fell down covering the top of the long box.

Until the lush small tree became completely bare, Ren Chengzhou once again thanked the senior for the generosity, then turned, picked up the long box and Shen Yao, and left.

"Chengzhou had a fortuitous encounter?" Once the two slowly walked out from the center, Shen Yao spoke.

With an "Mm," Ren Chengzhou explained the dream he had after fainting.

"This senior is a figure from ten million years ago; never imagined that one day, this world would see Spiritual Qi Revival again.

Inside the long box is placed the legacy left by the senior; per the senior's entrustment, it should be spread out."

This is the prerequisite for them to be able to cultivate techniques; those Jade Rong Tree leaves and branch forks are the price this senior paid.

"Chengzhou wants to establish a Daoist hall in the capital?" Shen Yao looked at the Jade Rong Tree similar to the Dragon Pattern Treasure Tree, and in her heart said a 'fortunately'.

Looks like next time she must also collect more treasures; as long as she lives long enough, there will always be a time they come in use.

"This senior is a capital native," reopening the hall at the senior's home, Ren Chengzhou felt this senior's spirit in heaven would also be happy.

Shen Yao: ……

Don't know if the fabricated senior is happy or not, but Shen Yao is very satisfied with the System's arrangement.

Looks like despite saying 'not good, not good' with its mouth, the System is actually tsundere.

Opening the hall in the capital, then borrowing Ren Chengzhou's Imperial Clan Relative identity, perhaps the recruitment news can spread even more widely.

Not only that, but also the few families in this world that originally had inheritances; she should find a chance to visit them, and conveniently achieve her own desired purpose through this.

Only when all people move can they push Spiritual Qi Revival, can they satisfy the World Consciousness.

Shen Yao does not feel there is anything wrong with her utilizing Ren Chengzhou. One sip one peck, while Shen Yao obtains, she also pays out what she ought to pay.

The two came out from within the forest, hearing Ren Yangyao and the other two's shouts. No injuries, no danger, only the two guards were still unconscious.

In the end it was Ren Chengzhou who handed the long box to Shen Yao, and personally helped the two guards leave.

Until they left the Broken Cliff position, the two guards only then slowly woke, completely without memory of their own unconsciousness, only remembering the situation before descending the cliff.

This, "No matter, let us go back."

The dense forest behind them has already been fully explored; they should leave the grassland, continue westward.

……

The carriage sped across the grassland; the horses originally pulling the carriage had been swapped for captured demonic-transformed horses.

At the edge, new green shoots have already appeared; a bit farther are the indistinct shapes of villages, towns, and cities.

Whipping the horses hard for several days, they finally emerged from the depths of the grassland.

Everyone on the carriage let out a breath of relief, "Wangye, Wang Fei Niangniang, in another half day we can reach Xifeng Cheng."

The servant's voice sounded from outside the carriage compartment, seemingly asking whether to continue forward.

Lifting the window curtain to glance at the sky outside, Ren Chengzhou nodded, "Continue; once we reach Xifeng Cheng we can rest for a longer period."

Jiang Guo's western region environment is harsh, even more chaotic compared to the eastern and northern regions.

Holding the treasure, Ren Chengzhou was mentally tense all the way; compared to simply resting in the wild, he wanted even more to find a safe place to relax.

When the sky was turning dark, the carriage successfully entered Xifeng Cheng.

Found an inn in the city to settle in; Ren Chengzhou did not forget to have someone take his handwritten letter to visit the current local Prefect.

"Those demonic-transformed horses differ greatly from ordinary horses; relying on just our people to send them back to the capital is difficult, still have to trouble the Government Office people."

The Government Office people might have ulterior motives, but long before coming to Xifeng Cheng, Ren Chengzhou had already organized the general information on the western cities.

He selected cities managed by the Emperor's trusted confidants, maximizing the protection of their safety.

Shen Yao had no objection to this; these few days the two researched the jade slip techniques placed in the long box the most.

Jade slips occupied the most, followed by several manuals that underwent special processing.

Even on them were methods to test spiritual roots; the simplest and most convenient is naturally testing with Spirit Stones.

Coincidentally the stone box had a few pieces; after the people in the team tried one by one, their family of five smoothly stood out.

Corresponding to the related arts recorded on the jade slips, each person found a suitable cultivation method; daily even sitting in the carriage on the journey was not boring.

"Best to still borrow Jiang Guo's momentum, directly convene a Cultivation Assembly.

Within Jiang Guo, Buddhist temples, Daoist sects, and other factions all possess corresponding inheritances.

The two sides exchange what they have and lack, which benefits the entire world's forward development."

Shen Yao's suggestion was very good, but Ren Chengzhou did not feel the Emperor would agree.

"For the sake of political stability, it will most likely still proceed privately first," only after the imperial clan seizes every advantage can the opening be relaxed to let the bottom commoners drink some soup.

"This is a matter of time sooner or later; the general trend of Tianxia is unavoidable," and as for imperial family members, just their own Dragon Qi issue is difficult to resolve.

For this Shijie to become a true Cultivation World, the ultimate trend is none other than the Cultivation World and the Mortal World each having a set of their own order, neither side disturbing the other.

The evolved form is the imperial clan gradually reduced to a link connecting cultivators and ordinary commoners, assuming the role of managers.

However these are all later matters; right now Shen Yao using Ren Chengzhou's handwriting to establish inheritances is giving Jiang Guo an opportunity for priority development.

If the Jiang Guo Imperial Family can grasp it, they will naturally gain endless benefits.

Not only some cultivators' miraculous methods and by-products like talisman paper and alchemy medicine, but the Other Countries surrounding Jiang Guo will all become Jiang Guo's bag-contained objects.

Bag-contained objects?

"What a pity We as Emperor cannot cultivate," otherwise how happy he would be.

When Jiang Chengyu received Ren Chengzhou's letter, time had already passed one month and more.

Accompanying this letter were also several spirited and handsome demonic-transformation horses and two bottles of delicate small alchemy medicine and a thick stack of protection talismans as well as a piece of spirit-testing stone the size of an infant's fist.

After careful inspection according to Ren Chengzhou's instructions, confirming no one had privately tampered with the package given to him, Jiang Chengyu felt satisfaction in his heart along with some regret.

However regret was only an instant; more prevalent were sudden clarity and carefree ease.

No Spiritual Root, unable to cultivate — so what, he is the Emperor!