Chapter 2326: Nine Heaven Treasure Tree

The Wu family head's complexion was complex; he explained, his heart full of bitterness.

He didn't want to do this either, but the matter concerned the family's safety; moreover, even if they handed over this witchcraft holy insect now, it was already too late.

The Wushen Palace won't just pretend nothing happened.

As for this, Ye Zhangqing merely laughed lightly.

"Wu family head, feel free to try."

As his words fell, Ye Zhangqing's body was already surrounded by rising strands of spiritual power; facing the Wu family's threat, he didn't care, for the Wu family's strength posed no great threat.

Even though Huang Lao didn't come this time, Ye Zhangqing still bore Huang Lao's external incarnation token; destroying the Wu family would not be difficult.

Feeling the spiritual power pressure from Ye Zhangqing, the Wu family head's mood grew ever heavier.

How could his Wu family dare to oppose the present-day Yāoniè? Is the ancestor crazy?

He lamented inwardly, but just then the Wu family ancestor rushed from the secret chamber and appeared on the scene.

Looking at Ye Zhangqing, the Wu family ancestor respectfully performed a salute.

"Young Master Ye, don't blame us; my Wu family is willing to exchange a shocking secret for the family's safety."

The Wu family ancestor got straight to the point as soon as he spoke, fearing that Ye Zhangqing would act directly, which would make things irreparable.

As for this, Ye Zhangqing merely said lightly.

"A secret? Let's hear it."

"Please, Young Master Ye, first agree to our Wu family's request."

"If you're unwilling to speak, then forget it."

Ye Zhangqing couldn't be bothered with more nonsense; his spiritual power grew ever more violent. The Wu family ancestor is a cultivator of the Immortal Venerable realm, though one major realm above him, Ye Zhangqing already held Huang Lao's external incarnation token in his hand.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing about to act, the Wu family ancestor didn't dare hesitate any longer, and immediately gritted his teeth and said.

"Young Master Ye, this secret concerns the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree; such a treasure, there is only one in the entire Immortal Realm—if you obtain it, you will surely make great use of it."

"Nine Heaven Treasure Tree?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhangqing indeed froze for a moment; he had seen the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree in a book before.

It is a legendary treasure; there is only one in the Immortal Realm, and it has been discovered before.

As for such a legendary treasure, its effects are absolutely heaven-defying.

The Nine Heaven Treasure Tree, as its name suggests, can help one ascend straight to the nine heavens.

Its effect is singular, yet it is overwhelmingly domineering.

Below the Ancient Immortal Realm, no matter one's cultivation, eating a single fruit allows a direct breakthrough of a minor realm, with no side effects, and it can even consolidate the foundation.

However, the fruit of the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree is also hard to mature; according to the book, it blooms once every hundred years and bears fruit once every hundred years.

That is, it takes two hundred years for a single fruit to mature.

Even so, this effect absolutely makes people envious.

So, upon hearing the Wu family ancestor mention the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree, Ye Zhangqing also couldn't help but startle.

As that old fellow said, if I could obtain this Nine Heaven Treasure Tree, it would absolutely benefit the cultivation of Qi Xiong, Hong Zun, including Xu Jie, Zhao Zhengping, and others.

Originally, their aptitude and foundations weren't high; after arriving in the Immortal Realm, as their cultivation rose, everyone's training became increasingly difficult.

Even this time, Qi Xiong and the others' breakthrough into the Immortal Realm was fraught with difficulties.

Without the treasures and pills provided by Ye Zhangqing, Qi Xiong and the others would probably be unable to break through now.

This is the limitation of aptitude; there's no way around it—even if one wants to improve, finding such treasures is extremely difficult, depending on fate, not something money can buy.

But the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree can ignore a person's aptitude and foundations, directly granting improvement, with no prerequisites and no side effects.

The spiritual power around him gradually subsided; Ye Zhangqing gazed at the Wu family ancestor and asked.

"Since your Wu family knows of the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree's news, can you remain unmoved?"

"Young Master Ye, you jest; a single witchcraft holy insect has already left my Wu family terrified—how could such a legendary treasure as the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree be something my petty Wu family dares to covet?"

"Although my Wu family wishes to develop, we can still distinguish priorities."

The Wu family ancestor spoke with a sincere expression; this is no lie—such a legendary treasure as the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree is indeed not something the Wu family can lay hands on.

Even the Dao One Immortal Sect would likely face enormous risk.

However, because of Ye Zhangqing's presence, with the Cooking King Immortal City behind him and Huang Lao, the Dao One Immortal Sect can also be considered a renowned power in the Immortal Realm today.

Thus, it is indeed possible to contend for it; moreover, this treasure is already at our lips, and given Ye Zhangqing's nature, he naturally would not want to miss it.

"Better to be bold and starve than timid and starve; since I've learned of this thing's existence, there's no reason not to take it."

Being able to hear these words today shows that this Nine Heaven Treasure Tree is fated with me.

"Speak."

Having heard the Wu family ancestor's explanation, Ye Zhangqing gestured for him to elaborate on the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree's situation.

Accordingly, the Wu family ancestor respectfully invited Ye Zhangqing into the main hall, dismissed the others, leaving only the Wu family head and the Grand Elder.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and even the formations around the main hall were all activated; everyone appeared cautious.

Only after confirming there were no issues did the Wu family ancestor slowly speak.

"Young Master Ye, don't conceal it—the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree actually exists together with that witchcraft holy insect; that insect was born alongside the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree back then."

"Back then, the Grand Elder unintentionally discovered it, but knowing the Wu family couldn't handle such a great opportunity as the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree, he took only that witchcraft holy insect; as for the Nine Heaven Treasure Tree, it likely remains undiscovered to this day."

"Otherwise, if such a treasure surfaced, the entire Immortal Realm would surely get the news—it couldn't be kept secret."

The Wu family ancestor spoke slowly.

That Nine Heaven Treasure Tree is also in the Western Frontier, merely located within an independent space surrounded by space turbulence.

That space should be an abandoned place, ancient in age, and with space turbulence all around, so no one has discovered it.

Back then, the Wu family Grand Elder also entered this place by sheer chance and coincidence, and then discovered this great opportunity.

After returning, he also told the old ancestor about the Nine Heavens Treasure Tree.

Although the Wu family's old ancestor felt a stir of desire, it was only a fleeting moment before he directly gave it up.

Such a treasure, if the Wu family were to take it, would bring no benefit at all; holding it in hand is practically no different from a death talisman.

Those major powers of the Immortal Realm will surely leave not even a bone of the Wu family uneaten.

Therefore, regarding the news of the Nine Heavens Treasure Tree, the three Wu family elders have kept their lips sealed these years, not revealing a single word to the younger generation.

Today, too, in order to preserve the family, they have no choice but to disclose this news, exchanging it for a heavenly oath from Ye Zhangqing to safeguard the secret of that Gu poison holy worm.

All of this is a helpless measure.

The Wu family elder recounted the full details of the Nine Heavens Treasure Tree to Ye Zhangqing, exactly as they are.

Having spoken, he respectfully took his place at the lower seat, quietly awaiting Ye Zhangqing's response, daring not to show the slightest disrespect.