Chapter 860
Measuring the Chen Family's Resources
Myriad Palace has been developing the East Sea for many years and occupies the most resource-rich and fertile coastal area in the Great Qian Cultivation World. It also has the ability to build fourth-tier celestial ships and most likely has a channel to obtain [Deep Sea Celestial Crystals].
He still had the treasures that Yi Tianzheng had promised him, and as long as there were any in stock, Wanxiang Palace should not refuse his request.
However, that would disrupt his original plan. The number of treasures he could choose from was limited, and he had carefully considered everything beforehand. Adding a [Deep Sea Crystal] would mean giving up another treasure, which was undoubtedly a difficult choice. Therefore, he still hoped to gain something from the small world ahead.
Reaching the top of the altar, the waist token was placed in the center. It shimmered with light, and the originally flawless altar cracked open from the center, revealing a spatial gate flowing with seven-colored fluorescence.
On the surface, this altar appears to be a teleportation altar, but in reality, it is also the only entrance to the small world.
If one did not possess the relevant memories, an ordinary person would not be able to find it. If the altar is destroyed, the spatial passage will also be destroyed.
The altar showed no signs of having been opened, indicating that no one had come here since the fall of the Chen clan.
While feeling a slight sense of regret, Song Changsheng was also filled with anticipation for the small world.
Through the deep spatial passage, a lush green world appeared before him.
"Such abundant spiritual energy..." Song Changsheng's first reaction was astonishment.
He has entered quite a few small worlds, most of which have relatively thin spiritual energy. Few can compare to the main world, and even fewer can surpass it.
The present is an exception.
It is said that when the Chen family discovered this small world, a fourth-order spiritual vein and several third-order spiritual veins had spontaneously formed within it. These veins gathered together and, over the long years, nourished a large area of spiritual soil, making it a natural medicinal garden.
After Chen took over, he purged the demonic beasts inside and then spent a huge amount of money to transform the environment. He also upgraded the original fourth-order spiritual vein to the fifth order to meet the growth conditions of various spiritual plants.
This is also the main reason why Chen planned it as a last resort.
For a force to make a comeback, there are several essential elements.
Genius, legacy, wealth.
Genius is mostly a matter of probability. Inheritance and wealth are all in this small world. All kinds of important scriptures and classics are backed up. The fifth-order spiritual vein can meet the cultivation needs of Nascent Soul cultivators. The herb garden also grows a large number of rare spiritual herbs.
Even if the Chen family loses everything, as long as they come here, they will have the resources to make a comeback.
Song Changsheng looked up at the azure sky. In the very center, there was a sphere that continuously emitted light and heat. To be precise, it should be a golden disc with a lifelike three-legged golden crow pattern on it.
It is the "sun" of this small world, with its yin and yang aspects creating the day and night of this world respectively.
The reason it was noticed first was because it was a low-grade Law Treasure called the [Night-Shining Divine Bird], which possessed both Yin and Yang power and was the natal treasure of a certain Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Chen Clan who cultivated the [Great Dao of Yin and Yang].
For Song Changsheng, this was undoubtedly the most valuable treasure in the entire small world.
A high-quality magic weapon can significantly enhance a cultivator's strength. With the Jade Cleansing Sword protecting her, Zhuang Yuechan can hold her own even against a Golden Core cultivator.
Song Changsheng's strength has increased significantly several times, and the spiritual treasures he possesses can no longer keep up with the speed of his power increase. Even the [Jinghong Sword] given to him by True Monarch Longxiang, which is ranked among the top-grade spiritual treasures, cannot unleash his full power.
The only usable one right now is Kongsang Xiruo's cave dwelling, but it's a cave-heaven type of magic artifact, which is ultimately lacking in combat effectiveness. Besides, it's not his, and after Kongsang Xiruo awakens, it will have to be returned to its rightful owner. Therefore, he urgently needs a suitable magic artifact.
The [Night-Shining Divine Bird] in front of you is a good choice. Not only is it well-balanced in all aspects, but its attributes also perfectly match Song Changsheng's own [Yin-Yang Law].
However, the spirit of this supreme treasure was quite powerful, and it would probably take some effort to make it willingly submit to him. He decided to save it for last to avoid the aftermath of the battle affecting the herb garden.
Using the [Shrinking Earth to an Inch] technique, Song Changsheng's brows suddenly furrowed after taking only a few steps. There were actually humans active in this small world, and quite a few of them.
From afar, one can see a large town built around the medicinal garden, with newly sprouted spirit rice on the outer edge, resembling a sea of surging green waves when the breeze blows.
After observing carefully for a while, Song Changsheng's brows immediately relaxed again.
Although there are millions of humans living in the town, most of them are mortals, and there are only a thousand or so cultivators. The strongest among them are only a few Purple Mansion cultivators, all of whom are of mediocre talent and obviously could not have escaped from the Chen clan's territory.
These people are most likely the offshoots of the Chen family who left behind to look after and manage the herb garden. They gradually took root and multiplied in the small world. However, even so, their strength is far too weak. It is a herb garden with a fifth-order spiritual vein, yet it doesn't even have a single Golden Core cultivator.
Although his strength was not great, it was enough for him to manage the herb garden. Even from a great distance, he could clearly see the thriving spiritual plants in the garden.
"No, there's still another aura... [Insightful Eye], activate!"
After scanning the area, Song Changsheng had a clear understanding of the situation and murmured softly, "So that's how it is. No wonder they were so confident."
He stepped into the sky above the town and deliberately released his aura. In an instant, the entire town was shrouded in his terrifying pressure, and people were filled with fear.
Two figures soared into the sky and stood in front of Song Changsheng. One was a man and the other a woman, both of whom looked quite old. One was at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion Realm and the other was at the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. They were the two strongest people in the town.
Besides them, there were three other cultivators of the Purple Mansion realm scattered throughout the town.
For a small clan with only a thousand or so cultivators, this ratio is already very high. They bowed respectfully and said, "Elder, we are sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive us."
Song Changsheng's lips curled into a meaningful smile: "Elder? I am not surnamed Chen, nor am I an elder."
You should know better than I how many years the Chen family has been destroyed. Keep your self-righteous cleverness to yourself.
"This..." Neither of them expected him to be so direct, and their hearts tightened immediately.
"From the moment I entered this small world, you should have already received the news, right? Why are you pretending not to know? Could it be that you want to lure me into a trap?"
"Then I'm rather curious where your confidence comes from. Is it from the one above, or... this one below?" Song Changsheng pointed his finger at the town below, his eyes gleaming with an all-knowing light. The matter was now completely out in the open, and the two could no longer feign ignorance. The leading cultivator, a Grand Perfection Purple Mansion cultivator, looked at Song Changsheng with suspicion and asked, "You... how did you know? Who exactly are you?"
"You don't need to know who I am. You just need to know that I'm just here to find treasure. Your Chen family's blood feud has nothing to do with me. In fact, I even helped you get rid of an enemy."
I came here seeking wealth, not to shed blood.
Therefore, I advise you not to even think about taking action. Neither the [Night-Shining Divine Bird] above nor the stone spirit hidden below can give you the confidence to act.
"Once a fight breaks out, I can't guarantee how many people in this town will survive." Song Changsheng's tone was calm, but it sounded like a thunderclap to the ears of the Chen couple. Their greatest reliance had been so easily seen through.
"Rumble..."
Suddenly, the ground shook violently below, and an ordinary-looking stone mountain rose up from the ground, shaking off countless soil and stones. Amidst the flying dust, it gradually evolved into a faceless giant that was hundreds of feet tall.
"Human, you are too arrogant."
The giant's voice boomed like a bell, and his face formed blurry features, but his anger was so clear.
"It is indeed rare to find a fourth-tier top-grade Earth Spirit Clan member, but since I knew of your existence and still dared to come alone, I must have something to rely on. If you want to make a move, feel free to try."
"Death!"
Although the intelligence of the earth spirit is no less than that of an adult, its personality is not as complicated as that of the human race. It is always straightforward. If Song Changsheng says to give it a try, then let's give it a try.
With his feet firmly planted on the ground, he continuously drew upon the earth's power and unleashed a punch. The surrounding space resounded with a violent explosion, and the earth elemental power surged forth. The power that erupted in an instant turned the faces of the two Chen clan elders deathly pale.
Song Changsheng's robes fluttered, and his fingers pointed like swords. An extremely sharp sword aura burst forth, tearing apart the earth elemental power and severing one of its arms, stirring up a large cloud of dust on the ground.
"I'll take your arm as punishment. If you attack me again, the next sword strike will shatter your core in the chest," Song Changsheng said calmly, pointing to Tu Ling's left leg.
With the blessing of the [Insightful Eye], he could easily see through the core of the Earth Spirit. The core of the Earth Spirit is equivalent to the heart of a mortal. It is the key to condensing the power of the Earth Spirit. It is usually only the size of a fist and can be hidden anywhere in the Earth Spirit's body.
As long as the core remains, even if it is shattered to pieces, it can draw power from the earth and recover to its original state in a short time. This powerful regenerative ability is what the Earth Spirit race is most proud of.
The core location is the secret of all earth spirits, and no one will be told it, but it has nowhere to hide in front of Song Changsheng's [Eye of Truth-Seeing].
"how do you know."
The earth spirit's severed arm reformed, and its heart was filled with shock.
The two sides had only been in contact for less than fifteen minutes, yet he had already discerned his core strength, which was simply unbelievable.
"Of course, it's based on my eyes. What, are you planning to make a move?"
The Chen family is quite powerful. If we can subdue them, along with Panshi City, the situation within the Tianshan Mountains will be initially established.
Especially this stone spirit, whose strength is only slightly weaker than a Golden Core cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, is much more useful than a puppet for guarding the house. The main advantage is that this thing does not require much effort to find energy, and it also has growth potential and an extremely long lifespan.
"As long as you don't attack them, we won't fight," the earth spirit said in a deep voice. Their race was straightforward but not blind to the situation. Song Changsheng's strength far exceeded his; the two were simply not on the same level.
Most importantly, the other party knows the location of its core, which is what it fears most.
"I came here to seek wealth, not to shed blood. If you hadn't insisted on fighting me, the town wouldn't have suffered the slightest damage." Song Changsheng glanced at the collapsed and blown-down houses below. Although he had tried to avoid them, he had still injured several mortals.
"Take whatever you want." Tu Ling made the decision for the Chen family without hesitation, only remembering to ask at the end, "You don't have any objections, do you?"
The two Chen elders were trembling with fear and had no objections. With Song Changsheng's strength, it wouldn't take much effort for him to kill them all. They hurriedly said, "Take whatever you want, Master. This old man can even guide you."
"No rush. Before that, I have a few questions for you."
"I will certainly answer all your questions without reservation," Elder Chen replied, behaving very cooperatively.
When was the last time someone from the Chen family came here?
"About two hundred years ago, when I was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I harvested a large number of spiritual herbs and also mobilized the elite troops stationed here, totaling three Golden Core cultivators, fifteen Purple Mansion cultivators, and fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators. Not long after that, I received the news of the destruction of my family."
"You are the first person to enter in two hundred years." Elder Chen's voice was filled with bitterness.
As a backup plan prepared by the Chen family, the small world required tokens from the family's higher-ups to enter and exit in order to prevent leaks. Without the tokens, they could not leave at all. Upon learning of the family's destruction, they felt as if the sky had fallen.
For over two hundred years, they lived in this small world.
If no one opens the exit, they will never be able to breathe the air of the Eastern Heaven Cultivation World again in their lifetime.
Therefore, Song Changsheng's arrival was like a timely rain after a long drought for them. Whether he was one of their own or an enemy, he represented hope for getting out.
"You mean, a batch of herbs has already been harvested from the herb garden?" Song Changsheng frowned sharply.
The herbs planted in the herb garden are at least fourth-grade spiritual herbs, with an extremely long growth cycle. If a batch was harvested two hundred years ago, the situation would be quite dire.
Seeing this, Elder Chen quickly said, "Although a batch has already been harvested, many have grown in the past two hundred years. In addition, there is a scripture pavilion here, where all of the Chen family's scriptures and classics are copied. It will surely satisfy the True Person!"
...(End of chapter)