Chapter 299: A Sword Comes From the West
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The energy reserves of the Strange Locust Tree were, to exaggerate a bit, estimated to be greater than those of a late-stage Aperture Tempering realm cultivator. The only difference was that the concentration of power in the Strange Locust Tree was not high.
In the mid-stage of Aperture Tempering realm, one could directly mobilize all thirty-six acupoints as a whole, and even a casual strike could rival the finishing move of an early-stage Aperture Tempering realm cultivator. With a bit more effort put into their techniques, they could easily dominate their opponents.
In the late stage of Aperture Tempering realm, when seventy-two acupoints could be activated, the concentration of power reached an even higher level, making their combat abilities even more remarkable.
Hence, the Strange Locust Tree, although it possessed a vast amount of energy, appeared somewhat bloated in comparison.
At his current level of cultivation, Chen Fei had leaned more towards the core soul energy. This was because if his core soul energy was not sufficient to control the acupoints, any increase in power would not only fail to enhance his combat abilities but also become a burden.
However, at this moment, the Strange Locust Tree had condensed all its power, completely enveloping itself, becoming a defensive structure similar to a turtle shell.
With this move, the tree’s immense energy advantage was showcased. Moreover, due to the complete focus on defense, the concentration of power after compression had increased significantly.
Compared to offense, the Strange Locust Tree’s defensive stance undeniably raised the efficiency of power utilization by a significant margin.
If attacks were unable to break through the tree’s defense, the battle would eventually turn into a contest of energy depth. However, a Aperture Tempering realm cultivator in the early stage would be far from able to outlast the Strange Locust Tree.
Chen Fei raised the Qianyuan Sword and lightly tapped the ground. In the next moment, the Zhongyuan Sword Formation enveloped the Strange Locust Tree, and the sixty sword pearls soared into the sky.
However, compared to the agility and nimbleness displayed when killing Chang Shiwan earlier, the operation of the sword formation at this moment seemed somewhat strained and sluggish.
The chilling aura surrounding the Strange Locust Tree constantly resisted the force field of the sword formation while consuming the power within the sword pearls.
“Bang, bang, bang…”
The sword pearls slammed into the Strange Locust Tree. At this moment, there was no need to consider any sword techniques or maneuvers. A direct thrust would fully unleash the power of the sword pearls.
However, when the sword pearls were less than two meters away from the Strange Locust Tree, they encountered a gray-white barrier. The sword pearls collided violently with the barrier, creating a dull sound.
Although the gray barrier trembled continuously, with the continuous infusion of power by the Strange Locust Tree, it ultimately withstood the attack of the sword pearls.
Continuing like this would only lead to the depletion of energy reserves, which was disadvantageous for a cultivator.
Refine the sword into threads!
The Thousand Thread Technique was pushed to its extreme, and a faint light emanated from Chen Fei’s eyes. The sixty sword pearls were distributed in all directions, transforming into sword threads that encircled the Strange Locust Tree.
“Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!”
The power of the sword threads, compared to the sword pearls, had undoubtedly increased significantly.
At this moment, the power of the sword threads, infused with the immense strength of the Giant Spirit Sword, was thick and filled with overwhelming force. Each sword thread caused the gray barrier to tremble violently.
In the blink of an eye, the gray barrier shattered instantly. The sword threads approached the Strange Locust Tree to within one meter. However, at this point, the sword threads and the Strange Locust Tree once again locked in a battle of attrition.
However, compared to its previous indifference, the sword threads were gradually, step by step, getting closer to the Strange Locust Tree’s core. Around the Strange Locust Tree, massive bursts of elemental energy erupted ceaselessly.
Watching the sword threads steadily approaching, the Strange Locust Tree began to tremble violently. The dense energy within it stirred, and beneath its roots, it drew something in, causing the tree’s power to suddenly surge.
This explosive force was beyond the Strange Locust Tree’s control. Even though the sword threads had not yet reached its core, the tree’s trunk showed numerous cracks, and many branches shattered.
However, this explosive force also greatly increased the Strange Locust Tree’s defense. The sword threads, which had been closing in, came to a halt once again, plunging into another standoff.
Compared to the previous standoff, the pressure on the Strange Locust Tree was immense at this moment. While the explosive force could resist the sword threads, it also inflicted damage on the tree’s core.
Chen Fei observed the surging energy on the Strange Locust Tree and glanced down at the area beneath its roots. There had to be something there, causing the tree’s power to surge.
When the Strange Locust Tree relocated to this cave, it probably had a close connection to whatever was beneath its roots.
However, due to the tree’s root coverage, Chen Fei could only sense the presence of an extremely chilling energy underground, but he couldn’t discern the nature of the treasure.
Suddenly, the Strange Locust Tree’s trunk split open, creating a massive fissure that reached a depth of two to three meters. Even considering the tree’s massive trunk, this depth extended to its core.
Chen Fei’s expression shifted slightly. He had somewhat overestimated the Strange Locust Tree’s adaptability to this energy. At this rate, even in a battle of attrition, it seemed that Chen Fei would come out as the victor.
However, Chen Fei had never considered engaging in a passive power-draining stalemate with a demonic plant. Even if he were to eventually win, it would consume too much of his strength.
“Buzz!”
Chen Fei’s body swayed slightly as a phantom figure emerged from within him. The phantom figure stepped onto the ground, resembling a dragon, and floated forward. The Qianyuan Sword trembled and leaped into the phantom figure’s hand.
With the Qianyuan Sword in hand, Chen Fei’s doppelganger, like an exiled immortal, appeared before the Strange Locust Tree and thrust forward with a sword.
The Phantom of the Soaring Heaven Technique, a perfect-grade Soaring Heaven Technique, allowed Chen Fei to create a doppelganger with roughly one-tenth of his own power. Although its combat strength was not high, it possessed the same speed as Chen Fei, thanks to being split from the Soaring Heaven Technique.
They also shared their field of vision. If the doppelganger was destroyed, it would take some time to reconstitute, and it couldn’t stray too far from the main body, or it would disperse.
There were advantages and disadvantages, but when combined with the Primordial Sword Scripture, it was quite suitable.
Inside the sword formation, the sword threads swirling around the Strange Locust Tree suddenly converged, all connecting to the tip of the Qianyuan Sword. With a single sword strike, the power of the sword formation concentrated entirely on the Qianyuan Sword.
At a glance, it looked as if a dark thunderstorm had gathered on the Qianyuan Sword, causing ripples in the air and elemental energy fluctuations.
Chen Fei had only acquired the complete first two layers of the Primordial Sword Scripture, with the third layer being incomplete. However, due to the circumstances, Chen Fei had managed to cultivate some of it, similar to how he had deduced the Astonishing Symbol Art from an incomplete manual back in Pingyin County.
Chen Fei had directly incorporated The Phantom of the Soaring Heaven Technique into the Primordial Sword Scripture. Because it was incomplete, it couldn’t be seamlessly integrated like the Qianyuan Sword and the Giant Spirit Sword, but it still enhanced the overall power of the sword formation to some extent.
The Strange Locust Tree, in this completely defensive form, was the perfect target for testing sword techniques, and Chen Fei naturally wanted to give the Primordial Sword Scripture a good try.
“Sizzle!”
The defensive barrier that had perfectly blocked the sword threads just moments ago was now being sliced through by the Qianyuan Sword, like cutting through bamboo, unstoppable!
The addition of the Phantom of the Soaring Heaven Technique to the Primordial Sword Scripture was like the final straw that broke the camel’s back. It wasn’t that the straw had much weight, but rather that the Strange Locust Tree’s defense had already reached its limit.
Any increase in attacking power could potentially breach the Strange Locust Tree’s defenses.
Chen Fei’s doppelganger held the Qianyuan Sword and advanced, causing the Strange Locust Tree to continuously shake. It tried to resist, but to no avail, until the entire Qianyuan Sword was submerged into the trunk of the Strange Locust Tree.
The trembling tree body of the Strange Locust Tree came to a sudden halt, creating a stark contrast to its previous trembling appearance.
The Qianyuan Sword was only a little over three feet long, much smaller compared to the massive body of the Strange Locust Tree. However, at this moment, the insertion of the Qianyuan Sword caused the Strange Locust Tree to completely stop in its tracks.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, within the trunk of the Strange Locust Tree, a massive sound erupted. Countless sword energies pierced through the Strange Locust Tree. At this moment, the entire Strange Locust Tree seemed to have transformed into a giant cactus.
Chen Fei’s main body stood at a distance, his right hand making a virtual gesture, as the sword formation closed in, completely enveloping the entire Strange Locust Tree.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Within the sword formation, a deafening roar erupted, and the entire cave continued to tremble, as if it would collapse completely at any moment. Fortunately, the sword formation constrained all the power within the formation, so the resulting shockwaves were not too severe.
The sword formation gradually rose, with power circulating within it. The vitality of the Strange Locust Tree had already been completely extinguished, and the closing of the sword formation was more about Chen Fei extracting the essence of the Strange Locust Tree.
With the Strange Locust Tree being so massive, Chen Fei couldn’t possibly take it all with him. Therefore, refining the entire tree trunk became the only choice.
As the sword formation soared, the contents beneath the Strange Locust Tree were finally revealed.
Chen Fei’s figure flashed, and he arrived beneath the sword formation, gazing at the contents in the tree pit with a slight change in expression.
With a gentle wave of his right hand, the contents in the pit floated up lightly.
“Profound Spirit Stone?”
Chen Fei looked at the stone in his hand, emitting a chilling aura. This was an extremely rare spiritual material that couldn’t be used by cultivators to improve their cultivation. However, when added during the forging of spiritual weapons, it could enhance the quality of the weapon.
The size of the Profound Spirit Stone in Chen Fei’s hand was hard to estimate in terms of value because in the market, you wouldn’t come across such a large piece of Profound Spirit Stone available for sale.
No wonder the Strange Locust Tree had broken through to the second-tier monster level after absorbing this Profound Spirit Stone.
Chen Fei reached up with his right hand, and the Qianyuan Sword descended from the sword formation, flying into his hand. If he absorbed this entire Profound Spirit Stone, the spiritual awareness of the Qianyuan Sword could potentially skyrocket.
After further nurturing for a period, there was a good chance that the Qianyuan Sword could become a middle-grade spiritual weapon. When that happened, the power of the sword formation, enhanced by a middle-grade spiritual sword, would undoubtedly increase significantly.
Within the Primordial Sword Sect, there were only a few middle-grade spiritual weapons, indicating their exceptional value.
Chen Fei raised his head to look at the sky. The speed at which the sword formation was operating was gradually decreasing. After a while, the sword formation dissipated, and the enormous Strange Locust Tree had long disappeared, leaving only a dark green fluid floating within it.
Chen Fei extended his finger, and a strand of the fluid was extracted and brought in front of him. A faint scent of plants and wood wafted into Chen Fei’s nose.
When Chen Fei’s fingertip made contact with it, a chilling sensation burst forth. If an ordinary person touched it, they would likely be frozen stiff.
As he ingested the fluid, Chen Fei’s spiritual state suddenly sharpened, making his perception of his surroundings much clearer.
“Consuming some daily can enhance the speed of cultivation in spiritual techniques. If combined with other spiritual herbs during refinement, it can also improve the quality of elixirs.”
A faint smile appeared on Chen Fei’s face as he stored both the Profound Spirit Stone and the tree sap in his storage space. Just as he was about to leave the cave, his brow suddenly furrowed. Outside the cave, he sensed several auras.
Apparently aware of Chen Fei’s presence, those individuals stopped outside the cave, remaining hidden from view..