Chapter 346: 352.Chapter 352 Transaction

352. Chapter 352 Transaction

Should we take the Heaven Shuttle?

This isn't a problem; no need to spend time thinking about it.

Because Lin Ke currently lacks this ability.

The Heaven Shuttle can be shrunk, but after shrinking it must be placed in the manufacturer's original container.

Otherwise, the Heaven Shuttle will automatically restore its size and weight, likely crushing Lin Ke to death.

Moreover, there are other important matters to consider now.

He ordered the Tower Spirit to shut down all nonessential functions, conserve energy, and power the security and defense systems; Lin Ke then stepped out of the Heaven Shuttle.

"Junior Brother, how are you?"

Seeing Lin Ke, Senior Brother Shi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stepped forward to ask.

"Senior Brother, don't worry, I'm fine."

Lin Ke didn't give a perfunctory reply; he answered while opening his arms to both sides.

This action certainly couldn't let Senior Brother Shi immediately gauge Lin Ke's physical state; it was merely a gesture.

Its effect is akin to a psychological placebo.

Indeed, seeing this, Senior Brother Shi fully relaxed.

As for what's behind the door, Senior Brother Shi had no intention of asking.

If he could talk, the junior brother would say so willingly.

Not speaking up means some things cannot be elaborated on.

But not everyone knows Lin Ke's temperament and habits like Senior Brother Shi does.

Curious Xu Huiyun hurried over, blinking her big eyes, and asked eagerly: "What's behind the door? Secret manuals? Treasures?"

Faced with her curious yet somewhat repressed hopeful gaze, Lin Ke shook his head and said: "There are no secret manuals, no treasures—just some things not of this world, and the origin records of the Valley of the Dead."

"Oh, is that so!"

Xu Huiyun claimed she wasn't disappointed—but that was impossible.

Having long stayed in the Bright Heart Sword Sect, she rarely left the mountain; besides cultivation, her companions during those dull days were only storybooks.

Chivalrous and righteous, seeking treasure and exploring mysteries, the youths of the jianghu, forgetting each other in the jianghu.

Now that I'm delving into mysteries, how could there be no treasure hunt?

Utterly disappointed!

Xu Huiyun slumped her head and returned to Mother Min, whose lips were pursed.

If she doesn't obediently return, Mother Min will start nagging again.

Lin Ke couldn't help but smile, then turned his gaze to Hu Suqi and said: "There are also no texts on ancient witchcraft inside; if there were, I'd definitely bring them out for you."

"Mm, I trust you."

Hu Suqi gave a slight nod, her tone quite firm.

She was certain that although Lin Ke had previously sought such secret manuals, he held ancient and evil witchcraft in low esteem.

If such manuals truly existed, he would certainly not keep them all to himself.

"As for what exactly is inside, I still can't say; please understand."

Lin Ke thought for a moment and gave this explanation: "All I can say is that it has little to do with this world and no impact."

How could Senior Brother Shi, Hu Suqi, Min Ruohua, and Xu Huiyun respond?

Of course, it's nothing to worry about.

"What should we do next?"

Senior Brother Shi kept the atmosphere from turning awkward by speaking up.

"Wait."

"Wait? Wait for what?"

"Wait for the fog outside to clear."

Just as they were speaking, thick fog rolled in, enclosing the entire area around the roots of the Longevity Peach Tree.

The few corpses that had been visible before were now all hidden in the mist.

Including the volume of the Supreme Secret Canon of Evil Witchcraft that Hu Suqi had found but not touched.

"This fog?"

Hu Suqi sensed it for a moment, and her face showed utter astonishment.

This fog actually blocked her psychic perception—truly strange.

"Don't worry, it's nothing."

Lin Ke said while walking into the fog: "You wait here; I'll be right back."

The four wanted to call out to stop him, but they didn't get the chance.

After entering the fog, Lin Ke turned to face the enormous Longevity Peach Tree, resembling a hundred-story building, and remained silent.

The Ruowosuosi Academy's full name is the Ruowosuosi Institute of Biology and Medicine.

Wizards originating from it necessarily have some accomplishment in biology and medicine.

Some high, some shallow—nothing more.

The wizard apprentice recorded in the navigation log, although interested in runic formations, is also not lacking in biological knowledge and ability.

This Longevity Peach Tree, as well as the strange plants in the Valley of the Dead, are all his handiwork.

Had he not taken a detour during his apprenticeship, delaying his promotion, his achievements in all areas would surely not be low—how could he have ended up selling himself to the academy?

All we can say is: one misstep leads to another.

As for this longevity peach tree, Lin Ke didn't notice anything unusual about it while lurking outside.

In the Wizard World, there are countless methods for extending the lives of wizards below Sage Rank.

Essentially, life extension for wizards below Sage Rank does not prolong natural lifespan, but repairs bodily hidden injuries, helping them live out their natural lifespan.

The fruit of this longevity peach tree works the same way.

Repair hidden injuries, replenish vitality—nothing more.

Thus, the fruit is unimportant; it is the longevity peach tree itself that Lin Ke focuses on.

After staring silently for a long time, Lin Ke suddenly spoke: 'Lead me here—why don't you show yourself?'

The huge longevity peach tree made a rustling sound, extending a thin branch from the clouds down to Lin Ke.

Moments later, a stooped, white-haired, wrinkled old wizard apprentice phantom silently appeared.

After locking eyes with Lin Ke for a moment, the wizard apprentice phantom spoke in a hoarse voice: 'You are Linke Grand, right? Owner of the Heavenly Shuttle.'

Yes.

Lin Ke nodded, answering frankly.

Can you tell me what happened back then? Why did we crash onto this planet while you didn't, and now you appear?

Do you really want to know? What good would it do?

Just give me peace of mind.

Lin Ke weighed his words and briefly said: 'The Lukia family betrayed the academy, leaking the coordinates of the Paro Sage Legion's rear base; the Flame and Metal Trading Company and the White Tower Alliance, to demonstrate against the academy, bombed the teleportation gate, accidentally causing a spacetime turbulence. Everyone near the gate at the time was likely affected and swept into the turbulence.'

Spacetime turbulence?

Hearing this, the wizard apprentice phantom pondered, then asked: 'I remember you were in it too, right? How did you escape the spacetime turbulence?'

Just a coincidence.

Then why are you appearing on this planet now?

I don't know the details either; I can only tell you I was carrying out a mission issued by the Supreme Council.

Upon hearing the words 'Supreme Council,' the wizard apprentice phantom suddenly became agitated.

The phantom swayed a few times before stabilizing.

'Supreme Council, Supreme Council, Supreme Council...' muttering repeatedly, the wizard apprentice phantom's eyes blazed with intense hope as he cautiously asked: 'Has the Supreme Council taken notice of this place? Do I have hope of returning to the Wizard World?'

Facing one who, to survive, had merged body and soul into the longevity peach tree, draining massive human vitality every few centuries to prolong life—a ruthless person—Lin Ke felt no fear, yet did not wish to provoke him needlessly.

Better to avoid trouble if possible.

After thinking, Lin Ke replied seriously: 'I can't promise you, but this hope exists—and it's not small.'

The entire Wizard World is focused on Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke's trial, awaiting the opening of a passage to the parallel universe behind the special ruins planet, eager to draw nutrients from that parallel universe to grow strong and then scatter the ashes of the World of Gods.

It's quite possible to simply incorporate the planet where the young wizards who helped Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke pass their trial underwent the test into the Wizard World's territory.

By then, establishing a teleportation gate or the arrival of a star fortress would allow this wizard apprentice to return to the Wizard World.

Ah! Finally, finally...

? c〇

The wizard apprentice phantom let out a long sigh, murmured a few sounds, then fell silent.

Deep sorrow welled up in his eyes, like an avalanche triggered by a blast—unstoppable.

Lin Ke waited patiently.

He still had some questions needing answers.

After a long while, the wizard apprentice phantom sighed 'What a pity,' finally composing himself.

My name is Luolun Bende, I want to make a deal with you.

What deal?

To survive, my life form has completely changed—I am no longer human but a tree demon. I do not beg to return alive to the Wizard World; I only wish to scatter my ashes in my homeland, hoping for a chance at reincarnation.

Where is your homeland?

Storm Sea, Liste Archipelago.

Hearing that name, some seemingly ancient memories surfaced in Lin Ke's mind.

Storm Sea, Quete Archipelago, Holledi Viscounty.

A blacksmith couple.

Mo Li...

Quickly adjusting his emotions, Lin Ke replied: 'I need to think about it.'

How long?

Before I leave this planet.

Too long.

You've endured thousands of years already—what's a little more?

That's different.

What's different about it?

It just is!

The wizard apprentice phantom grew agitated, his voice rising to near a roar.

The thick fog trembled with the wizard apprentice's roar, and some aggressive phantasms flickered in and out.

Lin Ke remained unfazed, feeling no fear even on the opponent's home turf.

Even if the wizard apprentice is a genius among geniuses in runic formations.

You're not afraid I'll kill you?

The wizard apprentice phantom's eyes gradually revealed a murderous hue, killing intent coalescing.

The whole expanse of thick mist responded to the phantom's movements, like a rope around the neck being pulled tight, constantly releasing pressure toward Lin Ke.

Feeling a faint pressure, Lin Ke suddenly laughed.

Do you really think that by relying on a wizard-world rune formation unseen by the warriors of this world, and using it to slaughter them indiscriminately, you can also pin him down?

The rune grand formation shrouding the entire Dead Person Valley is said to be of fifth‑grade level, but it is merely a facade.

Even though Lin Ke has never specially studied rune formations, he had some exposure to them while learning alchemy.

Luolun Bend has at most been exposed to first‑grade rune knowledge, whereas Lin Ke's study covers first through fifth grade.

He is the kind of person who, relying on a damaged insectoid mother nest, built a starship with his own hands.

Lin Ke considers his proficiency in rune formations not inferior to that of Luolun Bend, that half‑self‑taught individual.

Trying to break the Dead Person Valley's fifth‑grade rune grand formation, which has developed through the power of time into an almost seamless whole, might be somewhat difficult.

However, guaranteeing that I can move freely within the formation without restriction is no problem at all.

Luolun Bend's phantom twitched suddenly a few times.

Yet Lin Ke, growing impatient with the other's incessant, unwelcome threats, made a small counterattack.

"Hmph!"

The phantom let out a muffled grunt, his face grim as he asked, "You've entered this planet—what level have you reached?"

"Third‑grade wizard."

"Third‑grade wizard? No wonder……"

Lin Ke, regardless of what Luolun Bend might be thinking, straight out stated his decision: "I can take your ashes back to the wizard world, but not right now. In exchange, I need all your knowledge of this planet."

"Very fair."

Luolun Bend's phantom immediately agreed.

A palm‑sized leaf fluttered down slowly, hovering before Lin Ke.

"Everything you want is in here; I think you can definitely read the information inside."

"Of course."

Lin Ke waved his hand, using the spatial secret technique he had been inspired by aboard the Heaven Shuttle and refined further, to move the leaf away.

Throughout, he made no contact with it at all.

"I hope you keep your word."

Luolun Bend gave Lin Ke, who showed no concealment of his wariness and distrust, a deep look, and the phantom vanished.

The thick mist surrounding the Longevity Peach Tree also gradually dissipated.

The four waiting near the tree roots saw Lin Ke's figure gradually become clearer, and they all let out a sigh of relief.

Pull one hair and the whole body moves.

The confrontation that took place in the thick mist, though brief, had a great impact.

This manifested as the four waiting near the tree roots feeling an extremely strong threat to their lives;

Hu Songqi, who had found a heretical witchcraft manual in the Peach Forest‑Cliff Area, went astray in his cultivation;

Meanwhile, large numbers of Returning Unity Realm martial artists advancing from different directions to assault the Longevity Peach Tree kept dying, their life force continuously drained to nourish the gigantic Longevity Peach Tree.

"It's fine. I said you don't need to worry."

Lin Ke spoke up to comfort the four who were somewhat frightened, especially Hu Suqi, whose perception was the keenest.

"Really, it's okay?"

Hu Suqi frowned, feeling a lingering fear.

"Rest assured, it's really okay."

Lin Ke put on a convincing smile, infusing his voice with a minor cognitive secret technique that made people unconsciously relax.

"What's going on?"

Outside Dead Person Valley, in the military camp.

The Angel, watching the monitor, saw a large number of Returning Unity Realm martial artists suddenly killed or wounded, and felt resentful anger.

If it were beyond the already‑explored first quarter, the Angel wouldn't care even if many more died, as long as there was some gain.

But in the very first quarter that the lower ranks claimed had been explored, the initial batch of martial artists who entered the valley have already suffered casualties amounting to nearly half.

How the hell can that be called explored?

They're all useless!