Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 690 Lightning Strike Fruit

"Hurry up! Everyone, get to it! The raindrops are about to start falling!"

The caravan leader, Li Bana, roared urgently and hoarsely, his voice echoing along the mountain path, drowning out the approaching rumble of thunder.

Sweat mixed with dust streamed down his dark, thin face, leaving several muddy streaks.

A pair of shrewd eyes glanced anxiously at the ever-gathering, churning, inky clouds in the sky, then quickly swept over the winding procession.

The wind suddenly became violent!
The mud, sand, and gravel swirled up and lashed against the moving caravan, making a crackling sound and blinding the riders.

The mules pawed restlessly on their wet, slippery hooves, snorting anxiously.

Li Ba suddenly leaped onto a protruding black rock by the roadside, and roared in a hoarse voice, his voice almost torn apart by the howling wind:

"Everyone, push forward as hard as you can! If the rain comes down, the road will be a mud pit!"

"The mule slipped and broke its hoof! Everyone will have to lose their livelihood!"

"Keep it up! Charge into Yaoshui City! Double the wages! Plenty of live pigs and sheep! I'll treat you to the top courtesan in the best brothel!"

A chorus of responses, a mixture of exhaustion and excitement, immediately rose from the ranks.

"Ouch!"

The harsh howl instantly drowned out the gale!

This huge caravan, consisting of hundreds of mules and horses carrying boxes and bundles, and strong and burly men, was instantly injected with a powerful stimulant!
The sound of whips whistling through the air, the shouts of drivers, and the muffled thuds of mules and horses bulging as they were propelled together created a turbid current of desperate sprinting along the narrow mountain road!

The cargo was violently rocked on the backs of mules and horses, causing the pier to creak and groan, but no one dared to relax their vigilance for even a moment!
In desperate circumstances, money and women are always the most potent liquor! They can instill the most reckless and ruthless brutes!

At this moment, their eyes were fixed on the city in the distance!

The Southern Continent is inhabited by various ethnic groups, most of which are located in remote areas with underdeveloped production. Only a handful of forces are capable of gathering manpower and resources to build decent cities.

The city nestled along the wide Yao River ahead, though far less grand and prosperous than the major cities of the Central Plains, is a magnificent wonder in the heart of this mountainous southern region.

Especially in the center of the city, there is a towering ancient tree that looks like a giant umbrella supporting the sky and is even taller than the surrounding mountains. It is a spectacle that is hard to imagine in the Central Plains!
The caravan's final destination was this peculiar city-state called "Yaoshui".

Yaoshui is not a single city, but a city-state with this giant city at its core, surrounded by numerous villages, tribes, and small settlements that depend on it like stars around the moon.

The people worship the incredible giant tree in the city and regard it as a "sacred tree" that protects the area.

It is said that at the beginning of the founding of the country, the founding monarch wanted to name the country after "wood" or "tree". However, after coming into contact with the culture of the heartland of Daqian, he learned the custom of "avoiding taboos". In order to show his utmost respect for the sacred tree, he changed the name of the country to "Yaoshui", the mother river that nourished the sacred tree.

Today, the Yaoshui Kingdom, with its unique geographical location, powerful military force, and status as an important commercial hub in the Southern Continent, has always considered itself the leader of all ethnic groups in the Southern Continent.

It does indeed possess considerable appeal and strength, and is the center where various forces converge.

Therefore, caravans like Li Ba would brave hardships to regard Yaoshui City as the ultimate destination and intelligence gathering point for in-depth trade in the Southern Continent.

Li Ba slipped off the rock and stumbled into the center of the group. He lowered his voice and said to a "gang member" who wore a tattered wide-brimmed bamboo hat and deliberately hunched over his tall frame:

“Master… once we pass the mountain pass ahead, we will reach Yaoshui City! This is the crossroads of information from the Southern Continent, a melting pot of all sorts of people.”

His beady eyes gleamed with a shrewd, mercenary light.

"Every rustle of wind or grass within a thousand miles, from east to west, north to south, is known to the people of Yaoshui! As long as we are willing to spend money and inquire diligently, we can find Master Beiyi and that other..."

His voice was barely audible, carrying an ominous undertone:
"We will surely be able to find out the whereabouts of the Great Teacher!"

Wow!

Beneath the bamboo hat, rough fingers parted a sliver of the brim.

Bei Kong's square face, etched with sorrow, worry, and a sense of vicissitude, was revealed.

He gazed into the distance at the faint outline of the enormous city deep within the leaden clouds, where a dark, colossal pillar connecting heaven and earth stood prominently in the city's center!

"Amitabha……"

He uttered only a low chant of the Buddha's name, heavy as a mountain, and then fell silent, pulling his hat brim down heavily.

It's not just about sadness and emptiness.

The dozens of demon-slaying masters mixed in with the caravan all had eyes as solemn as iron.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

That scene in the valley...

The figure of Liang Jin, the Great Teacher of Virtue, whose yellow robes fluttered, seemed slow but was actually fast, his palm flashing out like lightning...

“Puff!”

Like squeezing tofu, he actually cracked half of Bei Yi's head, which had become as hard as iron after being corrupted by demons!
Red and white things splattered!

But before the crowd could even cheer—

The corpse, missing half its head, was...

—It moved!
In a bizarre, inhuman way, under the furious gazes of the crowd, it transformed into a monstrous shadow, trailing a trail of blood and gore...

It fired deep into the dense forests of southern Xinjiang!

The Great Teacher frowned slightly, his robe sleeves fluttered, and he moved like a ghost, drifting along with the red-haired demon monkey, disappearing into the treetops...

Fast! Too fast!

They were so fast that even the dust in their backs couldn't catch up with them!

One person, one corpse, and one monkey vanished into the boundless primeval forest of Nanzhou at a speed that was beyond their reach.

The group was terrified and wanted to give chase, but they couldn't even catch a glimpse of their pursuers. Moreover, the heart of the Southern Continent was fraught with danger, with poisonous insects, miasma, and ferocious barbarians everywhere, so they dared not venture too far.

Left with no other choice, Li Ba, who was familiar with Nanzhou, took the lead and united several merchant guilds with which they often had dealings to form this sizable caravan. They had Bei Kong and other experts from the Demon Extermination Conference disguise themselves as guards or shop assistants, using the trade as a cover to travel south in search of clues.

Unfortunately, the journey has yielded little reward.

Occasionally, fragmented news could be heard from some remote mountain dwellers or traveling merchants: some said that a few days ago, they saw two figures streak across the sky like shooting stars, their direction indistinguishable; others rumored that some experts from the Southern Continent, who were confident in their lightness skills, tried to track them down, but were not even worthy of being left behind, and were left far behind...

This information was vague and difficult to verify, so the caravan could only rely on a general direction and grope their way forward like headless flies.

All hope was ultimately placed on the well-informed city of Yaoshui.

"Boss! There are travelers blocking the road ahead!"

The piercing sound of the messenger tore through the tension before the storm!

Upon hearing the words "block the road," the atmosphere in the group instantly became tense.

Everyone's hands unconsciously reached for their weapons.

The mountains and forests of the southern state are rife with bandits, and various barbarian tribes that rely on plunder for survival are as numerous as hairs on a cow. They have already encountered several attacks along the way, and although they have escaped unscathed each time, their nerves have remained on edge.

Now that we are about to reach the relatively safe Yaoshui City, are there any fools who would dare to rob us at the city gate?
Everyone cautiously looked in the direction the man in front pointed.

At the bend in the mountain road ahead, under a crooked old tree, stood a figure standing quietly.

The man was wearing a slightly oversized yellow robe, which seemed ill-fitting and made his thin frame appear even more prominent.

He looked extremely poor and weak, even struggling to stand. One of his long, slender hands was gently supporting his weight on a nearby tree trunk as he breathed heavily.

However, what is most striking is that on his slightly thin shoulder, a monkey with fiery red fur and exceptionally bright eyes is perched steadily!

"Yes...yes, the Great and Wise Teacher!"

"Oh my God! It's really him!"

"We searched everywhere for him, but we never expected to find him waiting for us here!"

An incredulous gasp and ecstatic shouts erupted from the crowd.

Everyone immediately recognized this unique duo—it was none other than the missing Master Liang Jin and his companion, the Jade-Faced Fire Monkey!
Who would have thought that we would meet again in this way on this desolate mountain road where a thunderstorm was about to break!
Overjoyed, everyone rushed forward, expressing their concern and questions all at once.

"Quick! Quick!"

Li Ba was so excited that the wrinkles on his face were trembling:

"Aren't you going to offer the master a seat? Can't you see he doesn't look well?"

"Bring me my sedan chair! And bring my fox fur coat! You fool! Use it to block the wind!"

Several burly men hurriedly carried a small sedan chair covered with thick, soft padding forward.

The crowd practically swarmed around the yellow-robed figure, carefully ushering him in, afraid that if they used too much force, they would crush this "weak" peerless master.

Everyone knows that this great and wise teacher has a strange characteristic: when he is not using martial arts, his body appears unusually weak, as if a gust of wind could blow him over, and even walking becomes a problem.

The blood-red monkey also obediently squatted on top of the sedan chair pole, its tail drooping down and sweeping.

Bei Kong and the others surrounded the sedan chair, their faces full of eagerness and anticipation.

The impatient martial artist couldn't help but ask:
"Great and wise teacher! May I ask if that evil demon Bei Yi has been completely eradicated by you?"

"Yes, yes! The Great Teacher is all-powerful; surely he has already eradicated that scourge?"

"That's hard to say! Didn't you see? That Bei Yi could still fly even with half its head gone, it's practically a monster! The Great Teacher of Wisdom is indeed powerful, but he probably went through quite a bit of trouble..."

"Hey! Why are you trying to boost their morale? Haven't you seen the Great Teacher's lightness skill? He's as fast as lightning! How could he lose to that demon?"

……

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, some expressing confidence in Liang Jin, while others harbored deep apprehension about Bei Yi's strange state.

The scene became somewhat noisy for a moment.

Bei Kong raised his hand and gestured for everyone to be quiet.

He walked to the sedan chair, clasped his hands together, and spoke respectfully, though a hint of nervousness was undeniable:
“Great and virtuous teacher, on behalf of all my fellow practitioners, I thank you for your righteous intervention in pursuing the demon.”

"I wonder... what has become of that wretched boy, Bei Yi? Could you please tell us the details so that we can be at ease?"

All eyes were focused on Liang Jin's face.

He slightly opened his half-closed eyes, glanced at everyone, and a faint, elusive smile seemed to curl at the corner of his lips. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Rest assured, everyone, that demon Bei Yi has been personally annihilated by me."

"Now it has long been shattered to pieces, its body and soul destroyed, and it can no longer bring harm to the world."

Once the news was confirmed, a deafening cheer erupted from the team, and everyone's face beamed with relief and joy.

The huge weight on their hearts was finally lifted, which meant that the demon-slaying mission that had lasted for many days was successfully completed, and they no longer had to grope around in the dangerous southern land with their hearts pounding.

Li Ba was also overjoyed and loudly announced:

"Alright! Once we enter Yaoshui City and successfully sell this shipment, I, Li Ba, will treat everyone to three days of celebratory drinks! We won't leave until we're completely drunk!"

These words brought the atmosphere to a climax, and the crowd cheered. Even the tired mules and horses seemed to feel the relaxed atmosphere and their steps became lighter.

However, amidst the jubilation, a trace of doubt remained on the face of the monk Beikong.

He hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself, stepped forward, and bowed to Liang again, his tone even more cautious:

"Great and virtuous teacher... Amitabha Buddha."

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but… it’s just that this matter is of great importance. It’s a tragedy that he has fallen into the demonic path, and everyone in the temple is heartbroken.”

"This humble monk needs to bring back a definite certificate in order to explain to the abbot and the monks in the temple, and also to appease the doubts of the martial arts community."

"I wonder... when you eliminated that demon, did you... did you leave any tokens? Or any traces that could prove that he was indeed defeated?"

The question was phrased tactfully, but the meaning was clear: words alone are insufficient; we need evidence.

After all, if the Great Teacher could easily solve Bei Yi's problem, why would he delay the emergence of so many geniuses?
No one has seen Bei Yi's body. What if... it's just an excuse?

As the cheers subsided, everyone's attention returned to Liang Jin, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Yes, exorcising demons is a big deal, and it's difficult to put everyone at ease with just a few words.

Liang Jin looked at Bei Kong with a half-smile, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through one's heart:
"Oh? Master Beikong, you don't trust me?"

An embarrassed look immediately appeared on Bei Kong's face, and he waved his hands repeatedly:
"No, no! This humble monk had absolutely no such intention!"

"However...this matter is of great importance, and I hope that the wise and virtuous teacher will understand..."

Liang Jin said no more. He gently flipped his right hand, and as if by magic, something appeared in his palm.

That was a bone with an eerie, dark luster—the jawbone of the "Uncorrupted Corpse of Return to the Void" obtained from the body of Bei Yi!
There seemed to be some ominous aura still lingering on the bones.

"Can this be used as proof?" Liang Jin asked calmly.

Upon seeing the jawbone, Bei Kong's pupils contracted sharply. He gasped, then his face lit up with immense joy and relief, his voice trembling with excitement.
"It's it! That's right! It's this evil bone! It was this very thing that caused my senior brother's mind to become unstable back then! Once the evil object leaves the body, the demonic body will surely be destroyed!"

"Great Master! You...you have truly succeeded! On behalf of Wanfo Temple and the entire martial arts world, this humble monk thanks Great Master for his grace in eliminating evil and protecting the righteous path!"

As he spoke, he actually began to bow down.

With the confirmation of the eminent monk Beikong from Wanfo Temple, the last trace of doubt in everyone's hearts completely vanished, and their admiration for Liang Jin reached its peak.

However, just as Bei Kong was emotionally agitated and subconsciously reached out as if to touch the jawbone, Liang Jin flipped his wrist, and the jawbone instantly disappeared, its whereabouts unknown.

"Master, what does this mean?"

Liang Jin asked, feigning surprise.

Bei Kong's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, a hint of unease flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his composure and solemnly said:

“Great wise teacher, this thing is extremely evil and is the source of disaster. My fellow monk, Bei Yi, may have been bewitched by it and thus fallen into the demonic path.”

"Such evil things, if left in the world, will always be a hidden danger. The Buddha is merciful and spared this mortal body and impure bones to deliver the world from suffering and ignorance. This is truly the benevolence that this humble monk sought and obtained!"

"I earnestly request the Great Master to entrust it to this humble monk. This humble monk is willing to guarantee with his life that he will bring it back to Wanfo Temple and imprison it under the Demon-Subduing Pagoda forever. With the boundless power of Buddhism, he will wear down its evil spirit day and night, and will never allow it to harm the common people again!"

His tone was earnest, carrying a resolute air of "If I don't go to hell, who will?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the empty valley, sounding somewhat abrupt.

After laughing, he looked at Beikong and shook his head, saying:

"Master's compassionate vows are profound and earth-shaking; I admire them greatly."

"However, since I have received this item, I shall naturally dispose of it as I see fit."

"Master, you don't need to trouble yourself."

Beikong wanted to argue further:
"Great and wise teacher, this thing..."

At this moment, the surrounding martial artists began to echo Liang Jin's sentiments:
“Master Beikong, since the Great Teacher of Virtue was able to subdue this demon, he can certainly suppress this evil creature as well! It would be most appropriate to leave it to him to handle!”

"The Great Virtuous Teacher possesses the skill to exorcise evil, naturally preventing any evil from invading! The Great Virtuous Teacher's suppression of this thing is foolproof! The most foolproof method!"

"Yes, yes! Although Wanfo Temple has profound Buddhist teachings, it couldn't do anything to this guy before, could it? But the Great Virtuous Master is well-versed in the mysteries of Buddhism and must have a wonderful solution!"

"That's right! We've witnessed the Great Teacher's abilities firsthand! We trust him completely!"

……

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, clearly displaying blind trust in Liang Jin.

After all, everyone had clearly seen that although Master Beikong was powerful, he was helpless against the evil spirit Beiyi.

On the contrary, the Great Teacher can eliminate evil spirits with a single move.

It's already quite clear which is more profound, Buddhism or Taoism.

After all, they didn't want to deal with that kind of bizarre and unpredictable evil creature again.

Seeing the crowd's reaction, Bei Kong knew that saying anything more would be pointless, so he could only sigh helplessly, put his hands together, and remain silent.

However, his gaze would still inadvertently sweep over Liang Jin's palms and cuffs, a barely perceptible hint of inquiry and resentment flashing deep in his eyes.

After the brief interruption, the group continued on its way.

As they got closer to Yaoshui City, the number of pedestrians on the road gradually increased.

There were mountain people dressed in various ethnic costumes and carrying baskets on their backs, other caravans of mules and horses, looking weary from their journey, and warriors wearing peculiar bone ornaments and with wary eyes.

This bustling scene amazed the demon-slaying warriors from the Central Plains. They had originally thought that the Southern Continent was a wild and uncivilized land, but they never expected that there would be such a densely populated and commercially vibrant city.

Finally, just as the dark clouds pressed down from the horizon and large raindrops began to pelt down, the caravan safely entered the city gate of Yaoshui City, which was built of huge logs and stones.

Li Ba was clearly very familiar with the area. He led his team through the slightly muddy but fairly well-planned streets and soon settled down in the backyard of a large, familiar business.

Unloading, settling accounts, and arranging accommodations were all done in an orderly manner.

Despite the torrential rain and thunder outside, the warriors, relaxed after completing their mission, excitedly gathered by the window on the second floor of the inn, curiously observing this uniquely styled city.

Rainwater washed over the roof covered with thick tree bark, dripping down from the huge leaves, and the air was filled with a peculiar smell of earth, rain, and a faint, fresh scent of grass and trees.

Some frivolous martial artists even chuckled softly as they watched the occasional Southern State woman in a brightly colored tube skirt running by on the street:

"Hehe, I've long heard that the girls in Nanzhou are passionate and fiery, and many villages even have the custom of 'trial marriage,' where if you hit it off, you can spend the night together!"

"We've come all this way, so once the rain stops, we really need to go out and see what's happening!"

This remark immediately drew a knowing, lewd laugh.

However, some cautious and experienced companions spoke up to offer a reminder:
"You bunch of lecherous scoundrels, don't you dare do anything reckless! The various tribes of Nanzhou have countless rules and regulations, which are completely incomprehensible to outsiders like us. If you accidentally violate any taboos, it could mean a fight to the death!"

"And those women... such good fortune isn't so easy to enjoy. I heard that if they get serious and you try to back out, be careful you don't get 'love potion,' which is more potent than any poison and will make you wish you were dead!"

Upon hearing the words "love potion," the martial artists who had been eager to try immediately turned pale and dared not say another word.

They were skilled in martial arts and unafraid of death, but they had a natural fear of the mysterious, intangible, and formless Gu techniques.

Along the way south, I heard many strange rumors about Gu worms.

“Boom-ka-!!!”

A blinding bolt of lightning tore through the dark sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that nearly shattered eardrums!

The entire wooden inn seemed to tremble slightly, and dust fell from the roof.

Liang Jin also stood by the window, his gaze piercing through the rain, looking at the giant tree in the center of the city.

He could clearly see that one after another, ferocious bolts of lightning, like whips from the heavens, struck the highest branch of the divine tree, the electric light swirling and illuminating the massive canopy with flickering light.

With each lightning strike, his extraordinary sense of smell detected that the strange fragrance of rare and precious herbs in the air seemed to become even richer and more vibrant!

At the same time, a deep, rhythmic sound of drums and horns seemed to rise from within the city.

Groups of people dressed in colorful, intricately patterned robes and wearing ferocious masks, carrying various strange magical implements, were seen braving the rain as they crossed the streets and converged towards the roots of the giant tree.

Along the streets, many local residents also came out of their homes, their faces filled with awe and reverence, and followed the procession.

Liang beckoned to Li Ba, who was arranging things, and pointed to the scene outside, asking:
"Chief Li, what are they doing?"

Li Ba glanced at it and explained:
“Great wise teacher, this is the ‘Thunder Sacrifice’ of Yaoshui City.”

"Whenever there is a severe thunderstorm like this, they hold a sacrificial ceremony to appease the thunder god, thank the sacred tree for its protection, and pray for peace. It is one of the most important ceremonies in the area."

Liang Jin showed interest:
"Can outsiders watch?"

Li Ba nodded:

"of course can."

"This is a city-wide event, and as long as you don't trespass into the core altar area, it's fine to watch from the sidelines."

"I thought you all had a long journey and it had just rained heavily, so you weren't interested in going to see it."

His words immediately piqued the curiosity of the martial artists nearby.

Now that the evil spirits have been eliminated, a great weight has been lifted from my heart. With nothing else to do, witnessing the unique rituals of this southern tribe is undoubtedly an excellent pastime.

"Let's go take a look!"

"It'll be a good opportunity to see the customs of these barbarians!"

Everyone agreed.

After a short rest, the group, guided by Li Ba, left the inn and headed towards the giant tree in the city in the rain.

The closer you get to the giant tree, the more awe-inspiring it becomes.

The tree canopy was so large that it blocked out the sun. When you walked under the tree, the rain actually lessened, with only water droplets dripping from the gaps in the branches and leaves.

The area under the tree was already packed with people and incredibly noisy.

The ground around the roots of the giant tree was covered with large, flat, and sturdy fired terracotta slabs, forming a huge plaza, clearly for fire prevention.

Many local residents stood barefoot on the outskirts of the square, each clutching a sandalwood stick wrapped with copper wire. The ends of the sticks dangled from copper nails on the ground, seemingly some kind of simple lightning rod or lightning rod.

Liang Jin and his group of outsiders were unprepared and could only stand on the periphery and observe.

"Look! There's someone hanging from that tree!"

A sharp-eyed martial artist suddenly pointed to a high place and exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone who looked in that direction gasped in shock.

Several people were seen hanging from thick iron chains among the branches of the giant tree, which were dozens of feet high!
They were several young women, wearing peculiar sacrificial robes that were as thin as cicada wings but adorned with countless small copper coins.

Whenever lightning strikes the top of the tree, a powerful current is conducted down the branches and chains, instantly flowing through their bodies!
In that instant, their bodies became transparent in the lightning, emitting a pale light, and their violent convulsions were clearly visible.

"It's...it's human sacrifice!"

The knowledgeable martial artist spoke in a dry voice.

This wild and desolate land is filled with all sorts of bloody and cruel human sacrifices.

Everyone frowned slightly upon seeing this scene.

If it were a human sacrifice performed by barbarian tribes deep in the mountains who had no language or writing system and lived like primitive people, then perhaps the general public could understand it.

Yet, in such a prosperous and clearly highly civilized city, a human sacrifice was performed in full view of the public.

Of course, in the heart of the Great Qian Dynasty, human sacrifices also occurred.

For example, there were live human sacrifices such as "driving a live stake", "the River God taking a wife", and "offering sacrifices to the flag".

But it is far less bloody and cruel than that of Nanzhou, and far less common.

Liang Jin's eyes instantly turned icy cold.

He abhorred this practice of human sacrifice.

If these women who were used as sacrifices were still alive, he wouldn't mind helping them.

Unfortunately, they had long since lost their life force, their bodies charred, twisted, and torn apart by repeated electric shocks.

It was too late to save them!

His gaze swept coldly toward the magnificent building in the tree—it must have been a temple or palace where sacrifices were performed.

A priest dressed in the most magnificent robes and wearing a mask carved with thundercloud patterns was seen on a high platform, performing a frenzied dance and prayer towards the lightning and the sacred tree.

Liang Jin's gaze continued to search upwards.

Finally, high up, on a few particularly thick branches near the top of the tree, he saw his target!

Those were three oddly shaped fruits!
Each one is the size of an adult's head, with a dark gold color, a smooth outer shell, a metallic luster, and an appearance of extreme hardness.

Most remarkably, these fruits seem to have an extremely strong attraction to lightning, or even an ability to absorb it!
Whenever lightning strikes nearby, the current will actively coil around the fruit, as if it were being devoured.

As the electric light washes over the fruit, tiny cracks will quietly appear on its dark golden shell, and the alluring, exotic aroma will emanate from these cracks!
The aroma grew stronger with each lightning strike!
"I see……"

Liang Jin suddenly realized.

In his previous life, that giant cedar tree also attracted lightning from the heavens, which ignited a wildfire. The high temperature of the wildfire then cracked the outer shell of the fruit, allowing the seeds to be successfully sown.

It seems that this giant tree in front of us has a similar effect.

But this divine tree has an even more peculiar and domineering mechanism; it actually relies on absorbing the energy of heavenly lightning to catalyze the ripening and cracking of its fruit!
"This fruit is the rare and precious treasure that has drawn me here!"

"It draws sustenance from thunder, and is the essence of creation!"

at this time.

Li Ba, standing nearby, seemed to recognize the fruit as well. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly in a low voice:
"My God! That...that could be the legendary sacred object of Yaoshui Kingdom—the Lightning Strike Fruit?!"

"It is said that it blooms once every thousand years and bears fruit once every thousand years, and can only mature after being tempered by heavenly lightning in a thunderstorm!"

"This is the most precious treasure of Yao fruits! No wonder... no wonder it has such a unique fragrance!"

(End of this chapter)