Chapter 1019

The white ape's voice still echoed faintly in his ears, but Li Luo's expression had already become dazed, his mind replaying: "Ninth Rank! Ninth Rank! Ninth Rank!"

Heaven knows how much Li Luo longs for a Ninth-Rank Affinity—no, perhaps this is the ultimate longing of every cultivator of affinity power.

Though Li Luo himself possesses three affinities, which in a sense is not inferior to a Ninth-Rank Affinity, still, the Ninth-Rank Affinity ultimately stands at the pinnacle of affinity ranks, the most coveted tier.

And Li Luo has also been exhausting every effort to cultivate his affinity to Ninth Rank, but he deeply understands just how difficult this is.

Over these past few years, if the spirit-water strange light he has refined and absorbed were instead taken by a normal person, his spirit palace would likely have long since solidified from the impurities accumulated by the spirit-water strange light, hindering affinity improvement countless times... and precisely because he has absorbed too much spirit-water strange light, he understands all the more how arduous it is to elevate a single affinity to Ninth Rank.

The amount of spirit-water strange light required for this can be described as oceanic.

More importantly, once affinity evolves to Eighth Rank, ordinary spirit-water strange light loses its effect; at minimum, one needs Seventh-Rank quality to have even a slight boosting effect, Eighth Rank naturally works better, but the price of that Gao Ang—even if Li Luo, as the eldest direct descendant of the Dragon Tooth Pulse, cannot maintain his previous consumption frequency.

As for Ninth-Rank spirit-water strange light... Li Luo has, up to now, hardly ever seen any.

Yet now, this so-called "Creation Divine Elixir" before him can actually match such a vast quantity of spirit-water strange light, so even with Li Luo's temperament, he is utterly shaken.

Such a divine object—its effect far surpasses that of Ninth-Rank spirit-water strange light!

After the shock, Li Luo's eyes burned with fervent intensity, his gaze seeming to want to melt the golden cauldron before him.

How could one possibly pass up such a divine object that saves countless resources and allows one to ascend to heaven in a single step?!

Give it to me! Give it to me! Hurry and give it to me!

And as Li Luo trembled with excitement, the white ape scratched its pointed mouth, somewhat troubled, saying: "This 'Creation Divine Elixir' is indeed a top-tier treasure medicine, but refining it is truly too difficult—we have expended countless materials, yet still failed to complete it fully."

"In its current state, it is not yet fully refined; it can only be called a semi-finished product. To say nothing of raising affinity rank, refining it would instead, due to medicinal imbalance, damage one's own affinity."

Upon hearing the white ape's words, Li Luo's fervor instantly vanished, nearly spitting out a mouthful of old blood; he stared at the white ape with eyes blazing, the immense sense of disparity nearly making him unable to restrain a torrent of curses.

Does this semi-finished divine medicine not only have no effect, but is actually a poison?!

Damn it, truly disappointing!!

Li Luo's emotions surged, his vision darkening slightly.

"My lord Holy Envoy, what's wrong?" The white ape saw Li Luo swaying and hastily extended its paw, supporting his arm, asking with concern.

"Don't touch me, I want to be quiet." Li Luo wearily sighed, his eyes dull as he spoke.

The white ape scratched its face, saying: "Back when we were here, there was a little acolyte named Jingjing."

Li Luo spoke numbly: "Senior White Ape, the sect entrusted you with such a great responsibility, consuming countless precious materials—how could the final result be this? You let me down."

Upon hearing this, the white ape's monkey face flushed red, and it hurriedly defended: "This, this divine medicine is truly too hard to refine; after all, a divine medicine with such effects, throughout ancient and modern times, is probably rarely seen, and moreover, it's not entirely without success—this 'Creation Divine Elixir,' though still a semi-finished product now, according to my deductions, it should be just one step away from success!"

"Between here and there, only one step remains missing; if we can add a substance containing extremely ancient and pure life energy, it should neutralize the medicinal properties and finally allow the 'Creation Divine Elixir' to truly take form!"

Li Luo startled, saying: "Ancient and pure life energy? There should be some top-tier heavenly treasures possessing such energy, right?"

"Ordinary top-tier heavenly treasures are not enough; one needs something truly rare in the world!" the white ape said.

It suddenly produced an ancient tome from its bosom, handed it to Li Luo, pointing at something on the page: "For example, this."

Li Luo looked and saw that on the ancient tome appeared what seemed to be a towering tree impossible to describe, this great tree blocking sky and sun, exuding ancient and weathered airs, yet simultaneously surging with vigorous vitality.

Gazing at this ancient tree, he felt a sense of familiarity.

After a few breaths, his mind flashed with insight, and he cried out: "Is this not the Affinity Tree?!"

When he was at the Saint Xuan Star Academy, the Affinity Tree he saw seemed to be just like this, only in scale and antiquity, it fell far short of the one depicted here.

"Affinity Tree?" The white ape scratched its head, somewhat bewildered.

Li Luo blinked, then realized he had forgotten—the No-Phase Holy Sect is extremely ancient; back in that era, perhaps the Academy Alliance had not yet arisen?

Moreover, the Affinity Tree is clearly a later renaming.

Perhaps the high-level Affinity Trees of Saint Xuan Star Academy are not ancient enough, but those original Affinity Trees in the ancient academies might suffice.

That is to say, by using those original Affinity Trees from the ancient academies, he could truly complete this "Creation Divine Elixir"?

Li Luo's heart, which had just died, instantly stirred with some vitality again.

Though he could guess what would complete the "Creation Divine Elixir," and for the Affinity Tree this would certainly be important, still, this is ultimately a hope.

Li Luo fell silent for a few breaths, then faced the white ape and showed a gentle smile, saying: "Senior White Ape, the sect does have some news about that ancient tree you mentioned; let it be this: you hand over the unfinished 'Creation Divine Elixir' to me, I will take it back to the sect to complete it."

As he spoke these words, Li Luo's heart rose to his throat, his gaze fixed firmly on the white ape, awaiting its reply.

After all, opening the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven is no easy feat; the next opening will be years away, and for Li Luo, that time is too distant, so he must take the "Creation Divine Elixir" with him this time.

But he is also uncertain whether this white ape will allow him to take the "Creation Divine Elixir."

"You want to take it away?"

Upon hearing Li Luo's words, the white ape's eyes flickered with some reluctance, after all, it had poured too much heart and blood into this "Creation Divine Elixir."

"Senior White Ape, our purposes are the same—both to make the 'Creation Divine Elixir' perfect; you have poured countless efforts into it for its sake, and the sect knows this, so when I came, I already proposed to the sect: if this object is ultimately perfected, then we shall rename it the 'White Ape Creation Divine Elixir'!" Li Luo spoke with earnest conviction, full of persuasion.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, the white ape's eyes instantly brightened, and it chuckled: "Holy Envoy Sir, this proposal is not bad."

"Then, since that is the case, Holy Envoy Sir, take this 'Creation Divine Elixir' with you; anyway, lacking that final ingredient, leaving it here is useless."

The white ape finally agreed.

Li Luo's heart surged with wild joy, and he solemnly said: "I will surely not disappoint Senior's trust."

The white ape smiled, then clasped its paws together, forming seals that shifted and changed; as its seal transformations proceeded, the enormous golden cauldron before them began to gradually shrink.

After just a few breaths, the ten-zhang-tall cauldron had become palm-sized.

The white ape extended its hand; the golden small cauldron floated over and landed in its grasp.

"Take it; this golden cauldron has the effect of preserving the 'Creation Divine Elixir'; as long as you later find the final main ingredient and pour it in, the golden cauldron will itself help you complete the final step." The white ape said.

Li Luo hastily reached out and took hold; the golden small cauldron in hand, his whole hand trembled slightly, and compared to this object, previous fortunes like the Golden Dew Platform or the Heavenly Gang Wheel's opportunities seemed utterly insignificant.

For this represents Ninth-Rank Affinity!

Li Luo drew a deep breath, suppressed his inner turmoil, and carefully placed the golden small cauldron into his spatial sphere.

The white ape watched, also feeling somewhat disinterested, waved its hand, and prepared to leave.

As Li Luo was about to follow, he noticed some familiar objects in the cauldron beside him; a glance revealed they were all "Origin Profound Heart Fruits," though most of these Origin Profound Heart Fruits were scorched and broken, with only faint traces of energy remaining.

Evidently, the power of these Origin Profound Heart Fruits had been largely extracted, leaving behind remnants.

Li Luo blinked, these original profound heart fruits, though merely remnants, still retained a trace of medicinal potency; though casually discarded by the white ape, they still held considerable value.

After all, outside the thatched hut, a group of people had never even smelled the scent of original profound heart fruits.

Thus Li Luo quickly said: "White Ape Senior, may I take these things?"

The white ape glanced at him, surprised: "Just some trash... Holy Envoy my lord is frugal."

It waved its hand: "Do as you please."

Li Luo hastily waved his hand, gathering the numerous remnants of original profound heart fruits within the cauldron, briefly selecting them, and thus left behind some dried fruits still retaining medicinal residue.

Only then did he reveal a satisfied smile.

This harvest... so abundant that he even felt a bit guilty.

Thus Li Luo clasped his hands together, making a prayerful gesture: "Forebears of the Formless Holy Sect, it is not the junior deceiving, but merely to uphold and glorify the sect's renown in the future—do not blame me."

After the prayer, he then smiled and followed the white ape's steps out of the main house.

But when he stepped out of the main house, his expression suddenly changed, for he saw that the sky outside the thatched hut had turned blood-red at this moment.

A torrential blood river reflected in his pupils, causing the smile on Li Luo's face to suddenly freeze.