Cultivation Begins From The Desert

Chapter 647 - 632: Transformation Elixir!

"Are you willing to accept the legacy test of Master Donglai?"

Zhouyang, of course, was willing!

But he wasn’t a three-year-old child; how could he believe everything just because someone said so?

Although he couldn’t discern the origins or history of the green-haired elder before him, nor knew his exact cultivation realm, he thought he probably hadn’t achieved Immortal Ascension in the Tribulation Crossing.

Thus, the other party, just like him, would be a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator or a Tier Six Demon King.

And among Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, is there really anyone who wouldn’t be tempted by the legacy of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal?

Moreover, the other party had just avoided answering his questions, not even willing to reveal his name, which itself was a sign of insincerity.

"Senior, please understand, it’s not that I doubt you, it’s just that the matter of legacy is too significant to be taken lightly."

With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands towards the green-haired elder and asked deeply, "Senior keeps saying you were entrusted by Master Donglai to find a successor for his Daoist lineage. What proof do you have?"

"What proof are you seeking?"

The green-haired elder cast a casual glance at him, seemingly half-smiling.

"Since Senior is entrusted with guarding Master Donglai’s Daoist legacy, he must trust you greatly. In that case, you should be able to control the arrays on this Immortal Island, correct?"

Zhouyang looked at the green-haired elder, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes, and said, "If you want me to believe you, it’s not difficult. Just show me your authority to control the island’s arrays."

When the green-haired elder heard this, he looked at him with a half-smile and said, "What if I say I don’t have that authority?"

"Then I’ll have to pretend I didn’t hear what you said before, Senior!"

Zhouyang said firmly.

"You are quite courageous."

The green-haired elder chuckled softly and suddenly waved his hand.

In an instant, mountains and rivers reversed, and in the blink of an eye, Zhouyang and he appeared beneath a towering giant tree reaching a thousand feet high.

"Now, do you believe me?"

Under the giant tree, the green-haired elder looked at the shocked Zhouyang with a smile, seemingly enjoying his astonishment.

"Shrinking Inches? No, this is true spatial shifting technique!"

Zhouyang exclaimed, somewhat losing his composure, then looked at the green-haired elder and the towering giant tree next to him, seemingly having guessed the elder’s origins.

"It seems you have figured it out. Yes, this is my true form. In your cultivation terms, I should be a Tier Six Top Grade Tree Demon King."

The green-haired elder smiled indifferently, unconcernedly revealing his roots and origins.

"Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Wood, Cyan Cloud Wood. To think Senior’s true form is this kind of Spirit Wood!"

Zhouyang stared at the towering giant tree for a long while before exhaling deeply and revealing the green-haired elder’s real origins.

Cyan Cloud Wood is a low-tier Spirit Wood with extensive uses.

The living Cyan Cloud Wood can gather spiritual qi and improve the environment. Many low-tier cultivators plant one or two Cyan Cloud Woods around their residences to gather spiritual qi and increase its concentration, and some spirit fruit gardens specifically plant this kind of Spirit Wood to gather spiritual qi, benefitting other fruit trees.

The dead Cyan Cloud Wood serves as excellent material for construction and furniture. It’s hard in texture, can resist decay for a thousand years, is termite-resistant, and has no peculiar odor.

Under normal circumstances, a Cyan Cloud Wood, even if it grows for ten thousand years, remains a Tier Two Spirit Wood and cannot advance to Tier Three.

It should be noted that most Spirit Woods do not have their tiers increased simply by growing older.

Those that can advance in grade over time are rare, and many cultivators are not inclined to plant them extensively.

The reason is simple: high-tier Spirit Wood also consumes a significant amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to maintain life. The annual qi consumption of a Tier Five Spirit Wood cannot compare to a thousand Tier Two Cyan Cloud Woods.

These high-tier Spirit Woods, unlike Spirit Fruit Trees that provide uniquely beneficial fruits for cultivators, have little utility for cultivators without being cut down and annually consume a lot of spiritual qi.

Thus, when planting Spirit Wood, cultivators often prioritize Spirit Fruit Trees and special Spirit Woods with particular value, followed by economic Spirit Woods like Cyan Cloud Wood, which can be harvested once they reach a certain age, then finally those that can improve in grade with age.

However, everything in this world is not set in stone. Spirit Woods like Cyan Cloud Wood might evolve under certain circumstances.

The evolution of Spirit Wood has two routes. One is a chance mutation, transforming into another type of Spirit Wood.

The second route is like the original form of the green-haired elder, who developed self-awareness and became a Tree Demon.

Demons can grow and cultivate, and Tree Demons are no exception.

The cultivation realm of a Tree Demon corresponds to the tier of Spirit Wood its original form represents.

Therefore, the towering giant tree Zhouyang sees now is actually a rare Tier Six High-Grade Spirit Wood!

"Originally, I was just an ordinary Cyan Cloud Wood. Through a lightning strike, I developed self-awareness and became a Tree Demon. Master Donglai discovered my talent for improving Spirit Vein gatherings of Spiritual Qi, and with great divine techniques, he transplanted me here. The rich spiritual energy of Donglai Immortal Island is due to my original form being rooted here!"

"You must also know the weakness of us Tree Demons. Even like me, a Tier Six High-grade Tree Demon King, the original form cannot be easily moved. That’s why Master Donglai entrusted his Dao Field to my management, to help him find a true inheritor for his Dao lineage!"

"Now, do you have any questions about what I said earlier?"

The green-haired elder looked at Zhouyang with indifference, answering the previously avoided question.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang fell silent, weighing the truthfulness of his words.

After quite some time, he looked at the green-haired elder and asked, "I have one question. Is Senior the only one on this Immortal Island now?"

"No, that’s not the case."

The green-haired elder shook his head slightly and waved his hand, saying, "But don’t think about me telling you about other Daoist friends now. You are still not qualified to know this unless you pass the test and inherit Master Donglai’s Dao lineage!"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang felt inexplicable coldness, sensing something amiss.

He quickly realized where this unsettling feeling came from!

Regardless of whether the green-haired elder was truly entrusted by Master Donglai to find a lineage heir, Zhouyang was already within the effective attack range of his original form and separated from Jiang Fengxian and her daughter.

In such a situation, if the green-haired elder wanted to harm him, he could easily suppress or kill Zhouyang without the aid of Donglai Immortal Island’s grand array.

Thinking of this, he quickly said, "If Senior is truly the Guardian of the Dao designated by Master Donglai, I am willing to accept the test."

Having stated his attitude, he didn’t wait for the green-haired elder to speak before expressing apprehension, "But I am already at the Nascent Soul Stage, and changing my main cultivation technique now seems too late to meet the test conditions set by Senior Master Donglai!"

The green-haired elder heard this and casually waved his hand, unconcerned, "There’s no need to worry about that. Master Donglai, such a being, chooses a Dao lineage inheritor based on affinity and potential, and character."

"You coming here after Donglai Immortal Island has been sealed for ten thousand years is destiny. As for potential, I see your age shouldn’t exceed 700 years, very promising. Regarding character, as long as you aren’t a major villain, there shouldn’t be much problem!"

Sounds reasonable!

Zhouyang nodded slightly, accepting the green-haired elder’s explanation.

He then continued to ask, "I have another question for Senior, can Senior clarify the contents of the test? How dangerous is it?"

"This question I cannot clarify for you because the test area is inaccessible to me; only human cultivators can enter!"

The green-haired elder revealed a hint of displeasure as he answered Zhouyang’s question.

"Is that so?"

Feeling a stir in his heart, Zhouyang looked at the displeased green-haired elder and quickly understood the source of his discontent.

The setup by Master Donglai evidently indicated a lack of complete trust in the green-haired elder, fearing he might seize the lineage for himself.

Considering if he were in the elder’s position, guarding a True Immortal’s inheritance for ten thousand years but unable to enter, he too would harbor resentment.

Thinking this, he nodded and said, "I understand, but accepting the test is a significant matter. I kindly ask Senior for leniency, allowing me to inform my wife and children so they are mentally prepared."

"As long as you are willing to accept the test, these are minor issues."

The green-haired elder waved his hand and vanished from before Zhouyang.

Moments later, Jiang Fengxian and Jiang Yufeng were brought together by the green-haired elder to reunite under the tree with Zhouyang.

"Zhou Lang, who is this Senior..."

On seeing Zhouyang under the tree, Jiang Fengxian first rejoiced, quickly pulling her daughter to his side, then eyed the green-haired elder warily, casting a probing gaze at him.

"Fengxian, don’t worry, this Senior bears us no ill will. I requested this Senior to bring you here."

Zhouyang gently held the beautiful woman’s jade hand, patting the back of her hand to soothe her, and then said to the green-haired elder, "Senior, please forgive me. I have some things to privately explain to them."

"No problem, feel free to explain."

The green-haired elder waved his hand, and his figure moved, transforming into a green light and merging into his true body.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Fengxian’s pretty face changed, already understanding the origin of this green-haired elder.

Zhouyang lightly patted her jade hand and immediately used telepathy to explain the situation to her and her daughter Jiang Yufeng.

This time, he didn’t hide anything, telling them about his conversation with the green-haired elder, some of his speculations, and his plans.

After hearing his words, both women’s expressions were very grim.

According to Zhouyang’s original plan, it would be best if they gained something on the Immortal Island. If not, as long as they found a way to leave the island, it would be fine.

However, now he had to accept the challenge set by a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, risking unknown dangers, a change indeed hard to accept.

But circumstances were stronger than people, Zhouyang’s worries were not without reason. If he didn’t accept the challenge, the green-haired elder, a Tier Six High-grade Demon King, would definitely not let them leave Donglai Immortal Island easily.

Faced with such an ancient demon who’s lived for over ten thousand years, even if he and Jiang Fengxian combined forces, they wouldn’t be enough to match him. Confrontation was not advisable.

The best strategy was to comply with the other’s wishes first, and then look for an opportunity to escape.

"Senior, we have informed my wife and daughter,"

About half an hour later, Zhouyang stopped the telepathy with Jiang Fengxian and her daughter, bowing respectfully to the huge tree beside him, indicating he was ready.

A green light flashed, and the figure of the green-haired elder flew out from the giant tree again.

As he emerged, he nodded slightly at Zhouyang and said, "Since you are ready, follow me to the place of the test."

Jiang Fengxian saw this, and suddenly, with a sincere expression, interjected, "Senior, my daughter and I wish to see Zhou Lang off. Please, Senior, grant us permission to accompany him."

"Please, Senior, grant me permission to see off my father."

Jiang Yufeng also hurriedly saluted, her tone filled with pleading.

Seeing this, the green-haired elder’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing back and forth between Zhouyang and the two women, then suddenly smiled and said, "Very well, in case this young man fails, you can also try."

"Thank you, Senior, for your grace."

Under the guidance of the green-haired elder, the three of them left the base of the towering tree, climbing toward the mountainside where the massive tree stood.

At the foot of the mountain was a stone staircase leading straight to the top. Even though tens of thousands of years had passed, these stone steps were still as if newly built, not overtaken by the lush vegetation on either side.

Zhouyang and his companions climbed the stone steps, looking around at the myriad of exotic flowers and rare herbs, many of which were rare Spirit Elixirs seldom seen outside.

Upon passing a Spirit Medicine Garden, Zhouyang, Jiang Fengxian, and her daughter almost cried out in surprise.

In that Spirit Medicine Garden, they saw a white rabbit transformed from Spirit Ginseng and a Ganoderma Horse transformed from Reishi!

Whether it was the white rabbit with green ginseng leaves on its head or the Ganoderma Horse with red reishi leaves on its flanks, both had a common name, "Transformation Elixirs."

These "Transformation Elixirs," to put it in mortal terms, were Spirit Elixirs that had gained essence and awakened spiritual wisdom.

Regardless of what "Transformation Elixir" it was, it had to be a Tier Six Spirit Elixir, used for refining Tier Six Spirit Pills that enhanced Nascent Soul Stage cultivation.

Outside, such "Transformation Elixirs" had almost disappeared, and could only be seen in places rarely visited by people and in the Spirit Medicine Gardens of some top major sects.

If anyone knew where a wild "Transformation Elixir" appeared, Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators would fight to the death to compete for such a Spiritual Object.

Zhouyang, considered well-traveled, was seeing such "Transformation Elixirs" for the first time and saw two at once, stunned beyond words.

For a moment, the three of them stopped in their tracks, eyes glued to the distant "Transformation Elixirs," filled with longing.

"These little fellows are quite fortunate. The transformation of Spirit Elixirs is even more difficult than Spirit Wood Demon transformation. Without Donglai Immortal Island being sealed for thousands of years, they would have long been turned to ashes in a Pill Furnace, not enjoying such freedom as today!"

Seemingly hearing the green-haired elder’s words, the Ginseng Rabbit, cuddling a half-root of thousand-year Spirit Ginseng in the garden, suddenly opened its pale golden eyes and glanced over, dropping the Spirit Ginseng in fright and vanishing underground in an instant.

At the same time, the Ganoderma Horse resting on a Spirit Fruit Tree was startled by the Ginseng Rabbit’s movements, transforming into a green light and merging into the Spirit Fruit Tree, hiding using the mysterious "Wood Escape" technique.

Though such "Transformation Elixirs" didn’t possess much combat ability, they mastered Earth Escape and Wood Escape techniques, requiring Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators to put in considerable effort to catch them, with a chance they might escape.

"Senior, are there many such Transformation Elixirs on the Immortal Island?"

Zhouyang pursed his lips and couldn’t help but ask the green-haired elder about this matter.

Before coming to Donglai Immortal Island, he had fantasized about using the island’s resources of Spirit Elixirs to help him shorten the cultivation time of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Unfortunately, since he ascended the island, although he harvested many rare Spirit Elixirs, he hadn’t yet encountered a genuine Tier Six Spirit Elixir.

Now, seeing this Ginseng Rabbit and Ganoderma Horse, his heart was once again filled with excitement.

"How could there be many! It’s difficult for Spirit Elixirs to achieve Transformation. Even if Donglai Immortal Island has been sealed for ten thousand years, providing an excellent growth environment for the myriad Spirit Elixirs on the island, there aren’t many Spirit Elixirs with the fortune to achieve Transformation. The total does not exceed the fingers of one hand."

The green-haired elder said, glancing at Zhouyang as if understanding what he was thinking, and continued, "However, there are quite a few Tier Six Spirit Elixirs on the Immortal Island. The old man has transplanted them all into a dedicated Spirit Medicine Garden on the mountain. If you can pass the trials left by Master Donglai, it may not be impossible to gift these Spirit Elixirs to you."

"Is what the senior said true?"

A flash of excitement crossed Zhouyang’s eyes, and he looked at the green-haired elder with a face full of surprise, exclaiming in disbelief.

"Why would the old man deceive you? With my cultivation, do I still need those Spirit Elixirs?"

The green-haired elder looked displeased as he glanced at him, and his words left Zhouyang speechless.

Indeed, unlike Zhouyang, the green-haired elder had no children or juniors to support. With his cultivation and background, Tier Six Spirit Elixirs were of no practical use to him.

However, for the green-haired elder to casually give away many Tier Six Spirit Elixirs, Zhouyang was somewhat skeptical.

Even if he couldn’t use these Spirit Elixirs, he could exchange them with other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and Demon Kings for needed items or simply use them to build rapport.

Of course, these doubts he would certainly not voice in person now; doing so would clearly indicate distrust in the other.

Thus, he quickly expressed his apologies to the green-haired elder with a hint of embarrassment: "Senior, please forgive me. I had no intention of doubting you. I was momentarily overwhelmed and misspoke."

"Alright, there’s no need to say more. Just follow me and continue up the trail."

The green-haired elder waved his hand and then continued to ascend the stone steps.

On the way up, Zhouyang saw many rare Spirit Elixirs and Spirit Fruit Trees on either side of the path. However, due to the presence of the green-haired elder, they couldn’t afford to linger for close observation but instead had to follow him upward silently.

After climbing for half a day, they finally reached a large square near the mountaintop.

This mountaintop square was vast, nearly two thousand yards long and over fifteen hundred yards wide, forming a quadrilateral shape, with a nine-yard high circular Daoist podium at the center.

Standing on this mountaintop square, one could overlook the main body of the green-haired elder whose tree crown was still nearly a thousand yards below the mountaintop square.

However, due to the enveloping Spiritual Mist on the mountain, it was challenging to see the mountaintop square from below.

"This was where Master Donglai used to preach. During the grandest Daoist conference here, three Tribulation Crossing True Immortals debated the Dao. At that time, over three hundred Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators attended, more than three thousand Golden Core Stage Cultivators, and those brought by these Cultivators, the Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, numbered no less than ten thousand!"

The green-haired elder uncharacteristically spoke proactively, introducing the square’s function and its past glories to Zhouyang and the others.

His words were filled with a sense of longing, and his eyes slightly unfocused, as if recalling the magnificent scenes of the past.

Listening to his words, Zhouyang and the others were equally shocked, faces full of boundless yearning.

True Immortals preaching publicly was something hardly seen in today’s Cultivation Realm; over ten thousand years, occurrences of such events could be counted on one hand.

Scenes of three Tribulation Crossing True Immortals discussing the Dao together had never been heard of before.

Seeing the three looking visionary, the green-haired elder nodded in satisfaction, then said to Zhouyang, "That Daoist conference was fully recorded with the Magical Artifact Profound Light Shadow Mirror by Master Donglai. This item likely resides in the Daoist Palace at the mountaintop. If you pass the trial, you might glimpse such a grand spectacle through this Magical Artifact!"

After speaking, he pointed to a row of stone stairs leading further up from the square.

"From there, ascend nine hundred ninety-nine yards, and you will reach Master Donglai’s place of legacy, the Donglai Daoist Palace. As long as you can enter the Donglai Daoist Palace, you can inherit Master Donglai’s legacy and become the new master of this Immortal Island!"

Zhouyang looked in the direction the elder pointed, seeing only a few visible stone stairs; everything beyond was shrouded in an array’s dense mist, leaving nothing clear about what lay above.

"Go, and I hope you succeed."

The voice of the green-haired elder again rang out, now carrying a hint of urging.

ps: Let’s see if I can update more tomorrow!