BTTH: DISCIPLE CASHBACK SYSTEM

Chapter 563: The Ancient Forest!

At the same time, the dozen or so puppets with Dou Venerate-level strength that had been seated cross-legged suddenly moved, launching attacks toward Gu He, who was in the midst of absorbing the remains of the Dou Saint.

Facing the assault of these puppets, Gu He remained unfazed. He accelerated his movements, and in an instant, the Dou Saint’s remains were drawn over and stored into his system space.

Only after all of this was done did the attacks from the puppets fully activate. Gu He, with his back turned to them, simply walked out of the hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the grand hall’s doorway, the puppets suddenly seemed to lose their target. One by one, they returned to their original positions, resuming their cross-legged postures atop their mats.

…

By now, nearly all the treasures in the grand hall—pills, battle techniques, cultivation methods—had been looted by Gu He.

What remained to be found was the primary goal of this expedition: the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit.

According to the map he had previously obtained, Gu He passed through more than a dozen corridors and finally arrived at the end of the last passage. There, he found an extremely ancient stone gate, densely covered in moss. The greenish hue gave off a sense of the ages gone by.

Rumble!

With a wave of Gu He’s sleeve, a deep grinding sound echoed as the moss-covered, heavy stone gate slowly creaked open. A thick wave of medicinal fog, sealed for countless years, poured forth, invigorating Gu He’s spirit.

Smelling the rich fragrance, a gleam of delight flashed in Gu He’s eyes. He exerted more force and fully opened the stone gate.

In the instant the gate opened, dazzling light burst out from within, so intense that Gu He had to narrow his eyes. Only after the brilliance faded slightly did he open them again.

Behind the stone gate—where there should have been a stone chamber—instead appeared a vast forest: an ancient forest composed entirely of rare medicinal herbs!

Everywhere he looked were massive patches of herbs that were incredibly rare in the outside world. Even Gu He, with his experience, had never seen such abundance.

As Gu He stepped into the forest, he didn’t try to harvest everything indiscriminately. Instead, he carefully selected the herbs before beginning to pick.

The age of the herbs here was also generally much older than those found outside.

…

This expansive ancient forest was filled with drifting fragrances, and a faint mist hovered in the air. Occasionally, small beasts darted out from the underbrush. The peaceful atmosphere resembled that of a celestial realm.

Moreover, after countless years of evolution, this ancient forest had developed into a world of its own. It harbored many magical beasts, most of which were ancient species with formidable combat strength.

For over twenty minutes, Gu He continued harvesting herbs without encountering the forest’s end—proving how grand the handiwork of that ancient Dou Saint truly was.

Along the way, Gu He spotted many magical beasts within the forest. However, using his soul power to mask his presence, he avoided being discovered and did not kill a single beast.

As he continued deeper, it wasn’t long before a lake nearly ten zhang across appeared in his vision. The lake water was exceptionally clear, yet its bottom could not be seen. In the center of the lake was a small patch of floating land, like a tiny island. Atop that island stood a very peculiar-looking small tree.

The tree was entirely silvery-gray. Its entwining branches resembled vines, twisting into strange arcs. From a distance, the shape of the plant looked like a large, pregnant woman with a swollen belly. And within the belly-shaped structure formed by those branches, a radiant golden light faintly shimmered.

"So there really is a Soul Infant Demon Tree here!"

Seeing the oddly shaped plant, Gu He spoke joyfully.

The Soul Infant Fruit nurtured by this tree was a rare treasure for tempering the soul. It not only benefited humans but also had powerful effects on magical beasts.

Because of this, such a treasure was almost always guarded by some beast.

As Gu He began approaching the Soul Infant Demon Tree, the once-calm lake suddenly erupted with massive waves.

From within the water, a giant shadow swiftly surfaced. With a loud splash, it broke through the lake's surface, revealing enormous eyes that stared at Gu He with ferocity.

The creature was shaped like a serpent. Its long, lean body was covered in cyan-colored scales. Though only a small portion was above the water, it was clear the beast was massive.

On top of its head was a long jet-black horn. Strange patterns marked the horn, and faint blue light flickered along its surface.

A Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon.

This ancient magical beast was something Gu He had only seen recorded in ancient texts.

In the distant past, it was well-known for its strength.

It was said that the Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon carried the bloodline of the dragon race. If it could wash away impurities and survive multiple lightning tribulations, it might eventually evolve into a being with the bloodline of a Primordial Void Dragon.

But in today’s Dou Qi Continent, such creatures were practically extinct.

"To think it’s actually a Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon," Gu He said with a light smile as he looked at the massive beast.

Then he added, "Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon, I’m taking the Soul Infant Fruit. For the many years you’ve spent guarding the Soul Infant Demon Tree, if you want any form of compensation, feel free to ask."

After speaking, Gu He unleashed the full force of his aura—one that only a Dou Saint could possess.

The Sky-Piercing Flood Dragon was only at the peak of the seventh rank. The moment it felt Gu He's power, the fierceness in its massive pupils vanished.

In its place appeared a very human-like mix of reluctance and fear.

A second later, the creature lowered its head and quietly sank back beneath the surface of the lake.

Seeing it submit so easily, Gu He retracted his aura and stepped onto the small island at the lake’s center, coming to stand beside the Soul Infant Demon Tree.

Up close, Gu He noticed that nestled within the belly-like formation of overlapping branches were two golden fruits, each about the size of a fist.

They looked just like infants—remarkably lifelike, almost as if they were real.

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted from them, filling Gu He's soul with a subtle joy and comfort.

Without wasting time, Gu He cut off a thick branch from the Soul Infant Demon Tree and quickly carved two rough wooden boxes.

The Soul Infant Fruit was extremely special—it couldn’t be stored in any ordinary container.

If placed in anything else, it would gradually evaporate.

The only material that could store it safely was the very wood of the demon tree itself.

(End of Chapter)

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