Chapter 104: The Number One Golden Core, the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit
You followed the Old Monster’s guidance and arrived at a small Secret Realm outside the Void City.
Within the Secret Realm, suppressed by special Heavenly Dao rules, all cultivators who entered were suppressed to the Golden Core stage. Thus it was controlled by the Profound Heaven Holy Land and developed into a training ground exclusively for Golden Core cultivators.
“Have you heard? That Jun Xiaoyao, the one they call the number one below the Nascent Soul stage, is in this very Secret Realm!”
“Hisss, you mean that monstrous prodigy who, just after entering the Golden Core stage, killed a Nascent Soul stage cultivator across realms?”
“That’s him! He killed a Nascent Soul teacher from the Deer-Chasing Academy, and now he’s hiding inside!”
“The Deer-Chasing Academy has already sent quite a few high-ranking cultivators into the Secret Realm to kill him!”
“Come on, let’s go in and watch the fun.”
Outside the Secret Realm’s entrance, you heard the surrounding cultivators talking.
Using Golden Core power to strike down a Nascent Soul? Interesting. You spoke in a low voice, then paid your spirit stones to the Profound Heaven Holy Land and entered the Secret Realm.
The moment you entered, your cultivation at the peak of Nascent Soul was suppressed to the Golden Core stage, and your physical body’s strength was likewise drastically suppressed. Not even a tenth of your full power remained.
You didn’t mind. After all, you had only come here to test out this Martial Dao Golden Core.
Just after entering the Secret Realm, you appeared in a plaza filled with numerous cultivators.
“Fellow Daoist, judging by your appearance, this should be your first time here?” A young cultivator came up to you and asked.
You nodded, sized the other party up, and said, “First time. Does Fellow Daoist have some business with me?”
Zhang Wei cautiously glanced around, then sent you a voice transmission. “It’s like this. I discovered a Marrow-Cleansing Fruit Tree and wanted to invite Fellow Daoist to come along.”
“There are quite a few Golden Core stage demonic beasts guarding that Marrow-Cleansing Fruit Tree. With only myself, it’s truly difficult to seize it!”
“Marrow-Cleansing Fruit?” The fruit’s effects immediately surfaced in your mind. It could wash away impurities in the body, improve one’s bone structure, and there was even a slight chance of raising the grade of one’s spiritual roots!
Of course, you knew the part about raising spiritual root grade was just a rumor. To this day, no one had been able to confirm it.
However, washing away impurities and improving bone structure were real. It was just that each cultivator could only consume one in their lifetime; a second would have no effect whatsoever.
You thought it over, then agreed. “Alright. When do we set off?”
“Please wait a moment. I’ve contacted some others as well. Once everyone’s gathered, we’ll go!”
You followed Zhang Wei to a tavern and sat by the window, waiting.
“The Deer-Chasing Academy has lost another three Golden Core experts!” Not far from you, a passerby took a sip of wine and chatted with his friend.
“I witnessed that great battle with my own eyes. This Jun Xiaoyao truly lives up to being the number one below the Nascent Soul stage. With just three moves, he killed a Golden Core, ninth layer cultivator from the Deer-Chasing Academy!”
“What cultivation is that Jun Xiaoyao at now?”
“Golden Core, fourth layer!”
“Hisss, killing across five minor realms. That’s truly terrifying!”
“It’s not as exaggerated as they say.” Zhang Wei, sitting across from you, curled his lip upon hearing this.
“Oh? Fellow Daoist knows that Jun Xiaoyao?” You sized up Zhang Wei. Golden Core, seventh layer. Not bad at all.
Zhang Wei smiled awkwardly. “We’ve met once. I happened to be present at that great battle. To kill those three Golden Core, ninth layer cultivators, Jun Xiaoyao is now gravely wounded.”
“I saw him vomit blood with my own eyes!” Zhang Wei said with great seriousness.
You smiled and nodded, saying no more.
Before long, three more cultivators arrived one after another and took their seats.
You sized up the three who had just arrived — two men and one woman.
The female cultivator was named Wang Qiuyu, at Golden Core, seventh layer, carrying a Mystic-rank middle-grade great bow on her back.
Of the two male cultivators, one had the air of a scholar and looked rather like a disciple of the Deer-Chasing Academy. His cultivation was hidden, and you couldn’t see through it.
The last man… was better called the Little Monk! A monk at Golden Core, seventh layer!
You could not help but glance at the little bald monk a few more times. Having been in this world so long, this was your first time seeing a Buddhist cultivator.
You remembered that Buddhist cultivators basically all came from the western part of the Heaven Mystery Continent. That place was a paradise for Buddhist cultivators!
You looked at the four people before you. Three were at Golden Core, seventh layer, so you silently suppressed your own cultivation to Golden Core, seventh layer.
“Let’s go!” After eating and drinking their fill, Zhang Wei led you all toward the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit Tree’s location.
You casually took out a Mystic-rank middle-grade flying sword and followed behind the group, silently trailing along.
“Amitabha. Where is Fellow Daoist from?” The bald Little Monk came to your side and asked casually.
You looked at the little monk beside you, who appeared to be sixteen or seventeen with delicate features, treading on a Zen staff with one hand held before his chest. At such a comical sight, you could not help but chuckle lightly.
“Little Monk, how old are you this year?”
“Ennnn, eighteen.” The Little Monk thought for a moment, then replied.
Hearing this, you were stunned. An eighteen-year-old cultivator at Golden Core, seventh layer? Really?
You had thought your own cheat-powered cultivation speed was already fast, but you never imagined there was another powerhouse!
“Fellow Daoist, you still haven’t answered my question!” The Little Monk, seeing you fall silent, could not help but speak up.
You snapped back to your senses, glanced at the Little Monk in surprise, and answered, “From the northern part of the Heaven Mystery Continent. Currently residing in the Void City.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Nothing.” The Little Monk shook his head. “I just felt Fellow Daoist looked somewhat familiar.”
Familiar? You smiled. There were plenty of people in this world who looked alike. You didn’t mind it.
Besides, you hadn’t left your home in nearly a hundred years. There was no way you could have seen this Little Monk before.
“Stop. We’re almost there.” Zhang Wei halted his sword flight and brought you all down into a forest.
“Another hundred li ahead is our destination.”
The only female cultivator in the group, Wang Qiuyu, looked toward the depths of the forest and stared at Zhang Wei in disbelief. “Are you insane? That’s an unknown region! Are you trying to get us killed?”
Zhang Wei didn’t stop his steps, speaking as he ran, “I’ve already scouted that place. There’s no danger.”
“If you’re afraid, then please go back!”
You followed silently behind Zhang Wei. To obtain the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit, how could there possibly be no risk?
Beside you, the Scholar and the Little Monk also said nothing, following behind Zhang Wei.
Wang Qiuyu watched your departing backs, gritted her teeth, steeled herself, and hurried to catch up.
“We’re here!”