Free Web NovelChapter 69: Chapter 69: Bodhi Fruit
Shen Daoxing felt the Primordial Energy in his body surge like a great, roiling river, flowing without end.
The Seven-Colored Profound Platform within him glowed brilliantly, radiating a supreme divine light.
It felt as if every cell, every fiber of his being, held inexhaustible power.
When he activated his Sword Body again, it shimmered with a crystalline brilliance.
Shen Daoxing looked at his palm and thought, ’Just based on my physical strength now, I’m already on par with a Grotto Heaven Body Refining Martial Cultivator.’
Seeing Shen Daoxing awaken, Lin Ke’Er quickly asked, "Shen, how are you feeling?"
Having absorbed the Spirit-Seizing Grass and all of Chen Zhihe’s Celestial and Earthly Treasures and elixirs, Shen Daoxing’s strength had undoubtedly grown by leaps and bounds. As a Pill Master with a cultivation level lower than his, Lin Ke’er naturally couldn’t discern the full extent of his new power.
Shen Daoxing cupped his fist. "Thank you for standing guard for me, Miss Lin."
"Shen, there’s no need to be so formal between us."
A blush crept onto Lin Ke’Er’s face as she said softly, "You can just call me Ke’er."
"Alright."
Shen Daoxing looked at the adorable Lin Ke’er before him and couldn’t help but smile. "You’ll see soon enough. Let’s get ready and head toward the core region."
The two packed up quickly and continued toward the core of the True Dragon Nest.
They hadn’t been far from the core region to begin with, but had moved away so Shen Daoxing could break through after his great battle with Chen Zhihe.
Soon, the two entered the core region once more.
Suddenly, Lin Ke’Er closed her eyes. Her delicate nose twitched as if she were sniffing out a scent. A look of wild joy spread across her face. "Shen, I think something incredible has appeared."
Shen Daoxing murmured, "Something incredible!?"
"Bodhi!"
Lin Ke’er’s voice trembled. "It’s a first-grade supreme treasure, a Bodhi Tree! There’s no mistake, it has to be a Bodhi Tree!"
...
「The Core Region of the True Dragon Nest」
Here, towering trees stood amidst giant, bizarre bones. The dense Primordial Energy had condensed into a mist—a mist the color of blood.
From the hazy gloom, a golden light drifted forth.
It was a small tree, about two men tall. Its trunk was gnarled like a coiling dragon, exuding an air of ancient vicissitude.
The tree’s branches were lush with leaves, among which grew golden flowers and, next to them, golden fruits.
At this moment, countless geniuses from the Six Kingdoms were gathered around it.
They stared at the golden fruits, their eyes glinting with greed.
"My heavens! I can’t believe this sacred tree of the Buddhist Sect still exists!"
"Legend says the Bodhi Tree blooms once every five hundred years and bears fruit once every five hundred years. A figure from the Buddhist Sect is said to have achieved enlightenment and attained Buddhahood under this very tree. If you eat a Bodhi Fruit, you can achieve enlightenment instantly! It’s a supreme, first-grade Celestial and Earthly Treasure... and it was rumored to have gone extinct long ago!"
"If this tree ever made it to the outside world, it would probably spark a war among the Six Kingdoms!"
"All these geniuses are going to go crazy for it!"
...
Everyone’s blood was pumping, the fiery passion in their eyes almost tangible.
Beside the Bodhi Tree, several figures were locked in a tense standoff.
They were none other than Zhu Kai, Chen Baxian of the Overlord Bloodline, the leader of the Four Heroes Mo Yunlei, and other top-tier geniuses.
Zhu Kai’s face was ecstatic. "I never expected to find a Bodhi Tree! This is a heaven-sent opportunity! If I consume a Bodhi Fruit, I could comprehend my seventh path of Spear Intent overnight and perhaps even touch the threshold of the eighth!"
The Bodhi Fruit was a supreme treasure for achieving enlightenment.
It offered almost no boost to one’s cultivation level, but for comprehending concepts like Sword Intent and Spear Intent, it was an unparalleled treasure.
It wasn’t just Zhu Kai. The other two could hardly conceal their excitement, almost losing their composure.
After all, the Bodhi Tree was simply too precious. For several generations, geniuses entering the True Dragon Secret Realm had failed to find even a single first-grade treasure.
If this tree were brought to the outside world, it would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar.
Shen Daoxing and Lin Ke’er also rushed to the scene. The moment Lin Ke’er saw the fruit, she became incredibly excited. "It really is the Bodhi Fruit!"
Shen Daoxing’s heart jolted. ’The Bodhi Fruit!?’
There were only so many Celestial and Earthly Treasures in the East Continent classified as first-grade; it would be difficult for him not to recognize it.
The Bodhi Fruit was the fruit of enlightenment. Legend said that consuming one would instantly plunge a person into a profound state of enlightenment, and their comprehension ability would be greatly enhanced upon awakening.
Lin Ke’er clenched her fists. "If you get this, Shen, you’ll definitely be able to comprehend a new Sword Intent."
Shen Daoxing nodded, a fervent glint appearing in his eyes as he gazed at the Bodhi Fruit.
This Bodhi Fruit was critically important to him.
Attaining an epiphany to comprehend a new Sword Intent was incredibly difficult; it required the perfect convergence of timing, location, and circumstances. With this Bodhi Fruit, however, he could instantly enter a state of enlightenment and might even comprehend a new Sword Intent on the spot.
Lin Ke’er’s brows furrowed. "But they’re all here."
"Zhu Kai is a peerless genius who has comprehended the Six Paths Spear Intent, Chen Baxian possesses the extraordinary Overlord Bloodline, and Mo Yunlei... he’s the leader of the Four Heroes and the second-ranked prodigy at Celestial City Academy."
"Right now, they’re all eyeing that Bodhi Fruit like hungry tigers. If it were just one of them, you might still have a chance to compete for it."
"But facing so many top geniuses at once... trying to get the Bodhi Fruit is like snatching food from a tiger’s mouth."
"It’s fine."
Shen Daoxing waved his hand dismissively and sneered. "Mo Yunlei is a dead man walking. Chen Baxian is my servant. As for that Zhu Kai... if he’s smart enough to scram right now, I might just let him live."
Now that his cultivation had soared to the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Profound Platform realm, he had no fear of them, even if all three joined forces.
Lin Ke’er was taken aback by Shen Daoxing’s incredibly domineering words.
"You wait for me here."
With that, Shen Daoxing strode forward.
Snapping back to her senses, Lin Ke’er quickly called out a reminder, "Shen, the Bodhi Fruit isn’t fully ripe yet! You have to wait until the flowers have all withered to pick it. If you pick it too early, it will just become a Bodhi Seed, and its effects will be drastically reduced!"
"I know."
Shen Daoxing nodded.
The Bodhi Fruit was a supreme, sacred item; timing the harvest was crucial. It wasn’t ripe yet, and picking it rashly would undoubtedly damage the Celestial and Earthly Treasure.
This was precisely why everyone was only staring at the Bodhi Fruit, and no one had yet made a move.
Shen Daoxing strode toward the Bodhi Tree as if no one else existed, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. A wave of murmurs immediately broke out.
"Who is that guy? Is he blind?"
"With three peerless geniuses right there, does he really think he can get his hands on the Bodhi Fruit?"
"Some people in this world really have a death wish."
"I know who he is. He’s Shen Daoxing from the Martial Kingdom’s Sword Institute. Zhang Lei lost to him."
"The Sword Institute?! Weren’t they wiped out by Celestial City Academy?"
"He’s got some nerve, showing his face in front of Mo Yunlei. Does he have a brain?"
"Zhang Lei is nothing compared to those three geniuses!"
"The last remnant of the Sword Institute... looks like he’s going to die here today."
...
The murmurs swelled like a tide as everyone stared at Shen Daoxing as if he were a fool.
