[Effective immediately, strict entry and exit control will be enforced in Ten Sun Cave-Heaven. All military personnel must report to the military realm for any movements.]
[No member inside Ten Sun Cave-Heaven is allowed to leave Yang City without permission, except for exploration officers.]
[Any treasure obtained by exploration officers must be turned over.]
[Cave-Heaven's birth as a blessed land comes with many dangers. All exploration officers are advised to proceed cautiously…]
Zhao Xing looked at the various decrees and restrictions flashing on his Earth Mirror and frowned. "How did they issue restrictions on the tenth day? This is happening faster than I expected."
He remembered that in his past life, the spiritual blessings of Ten Sun Cave-Heaven hadn't started until later in the month.
Moreover, back then, the military realm had been slower to react, allowing many people to enter before restrictions were imposed.
Even the confirmation of Cave-Heaven's ascension to a blessed land had been more cautious.
But now, things were happening earlier, as if preparations had already been made in advance.
"The experiences of my past life can't be fully relied upon. Thankfully, with Liu Tianning's help and my early preparations, I'm not left out in the cold," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
"Zhao Xing, did you see the messages?!" A figure flew over from afar and landed on the Kirin Airship—Xia Jing and Chen Shijie had arrived.
They were currently in the Inverted Peak Mountain Range, where all the mountain peaks floated upside down in the sky.
Zhao Xing and his group of five had arrived at the Inverted Peak Mountain Range in advance, using the pretext of "exploring the celestial phenomena of the mountain range."
This mission was one Zhao Xing had submitted himself.
"I saw them."
With the issuance of the decrees and the strange phenomena happening, it was impossible for anyone not to take notice.
"I didn't expect Ten Sun Cave-Heaven to be elevated! It seems like a massive surge of spiritual blessings and great treasures is on the way!" Xia Jing said, brimming with excitement.
Chen Shijie, too, was glowing with excitement—he had never expected to stumble upon such a fortuitous event.
"Don't get too excited just yet. The ascension of Cave-Heaven will bring immense changes to the heavens and earth, and we must be on guard for danger during this process," Zhao Xing cautioned. "Where are Ji Ziyun and Long Xiao?"
"They're on their way back," Xia Jing replied.
The group wasn't here for leisure; upon arriving, they had immediately begun searching for treasures.
However, when the strange phenomena started, Zhao Xing had sent word for them to return quickly.
The initial phase of Cave-Heaven's ascension was fraught with unknown dangers, and only after it stabilized would it be safe to explore more thoroughly.
Zhao Xing, having experienced this before, knew the importance of caution. That's why he had Xia Jing and Chen Shijie explore together—combining the abilities of a mage and a martial artist greatly enhanced their ability to handle emergencies.
Ji Ziyun was a sorcerer, and Long Xiao a sword cultivator, making their team composition equally well-balanced.
"Alright, once they're back…" Before he could finish, a loud explosion erupted.
"Boom!"
Twenty li away, the sky was suddenly torn apart by a massive thunderclap!
"Crack! Crack!"
The thunderbolt was so thick that its diameter exceeded twenty meters, forming a lightning pillar that instantly split one of the floating mountains in two.
"Rumble!"
The mountain cracked open, and soon after, it caught fire. The mountain rapidly shifted and compressed, ultimately transforming into a floating, active volcano in the sky!
"Rumble~~~~"
A terrifying pressure began to brew in the air.
"Which direction are they in?!" Zhao Xing grabbed Xia Jing suddenly. "Is it over there?"
"Yes," Xia Jing's voice trembled slightly. At this point, sending them a message was futile—they could only hope Ji Ziyun and Long Xiao had dodged the danger in time.
"Let's go!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing activated the Kirin Airship, its protective barriers flaring to life as it sped away in the opposite direction of the volcanic eruption.
"Boom!"
They had expected a volcanic eruption, but just fifteen minutes into their escape, the entire mountain exploded!
"Boom!"
First, a circular shockwave swept across the surrounding area, shattering several nearby mountains.
Next, a mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and fiery rocks rained down in all directions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Enormous rocks, twenty to thirty meters in diameter, covered in flames, shot out in all directions. Each boulder packed the power of a Fifth-Rank cultivator's full-force attack.
Fortunately, Zhao Xing and his group had taken cover behind several mountains, shielding themselves from the impact.
Still, the sight left the three of them awestruck.
"I've never seen such terrifying heavenly power," Xia Jing said, eyes wide with shock.
"Thunder splitting mountains, mountains exploding and tearing the sky apart—this is truly beyond the power of man," Chen Shijie added, deeply moved.
Zhao Xing, however, closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Xia Jing asked, puzzled.
"He's contemplating," Chen Shijie explained. "As a Shennong, Zhao Xing oversees the power of heaven and earth. Now that he has witnessed such heavenly power firsthand, it's only natural that he gains insight."
Xia Jing nodded, but then asked, "Why don't you...?"
He realized his mistake as soon as the question left his mouth.
Chen Shijie sighed. "I don't have his level of talent, just some vague insights."
"Uh… my bad," Xia Jing apologized awkwardly.
"No worries. A person should have self-awareness," Chen Shijie said. "Still, this is a rare opportunity. If I observe a few more times, I might make a breakthrough."
Just then, Long Xiao arrived, following the coordinates they had given him.
"Did you guys see that?! That was a massive bolt of lightning! It blew up the whole mountain!" Long Xiao shouted as he landed, still buzzing with excitement.
"Good thing we ran quickly, or we'd have been toast."
"Where's my cousin?" Xia Jing asked.
"Oh, Ji Ziyun is on his way back from another direction. Don't worry, he's fine," Long Xiao said, walking over. Noticing Zhao Xing meditating, he asked, "Hey, what's up with him?"
"He's gaining insight," Chen Shijie explained. "As a Shennong, he oversees the powers of heaven and earth. He's likely contemplating the laws of volcanoes or lightning."
"Oh, so why didn't you gain any insights?" Long Xiao asked innocently.
"Cough cough…" Xia Jing nearly choked on his laughter.
Chen Shijie: "..."
Chen Shijie was speechless. First Xia Jing had poked at his wound, and now Long Xiao was twisting the knife?
"My talent isn't as good as his, okay?"
"Hahaha, my bad…" Long Xiao laughed, trying to cover his embarrassment.
Hearing the hearty laughter, Ji Ziyun descended from the sky. "Cousin, General Chen, General Long, are you all alright?"
"We're fine."
"That's a relief," Ji Ziyun said, but then his eyes fell on Zhao Xing, who was sitting with his eyes closed and brows furrowed. "What happened to Zhao Xing?"
Chen Shijie: "..."
Xia Jing: "..."
"I'm going to scout the area," Chen Shijie said, his mouth twitching as he left.
Ji Ziyun was left scratching his head, utterly confused. What was going on?
"He's fine, everyone's fine," Xia Jing quickly changed the topic. "Cousin, did you and Long Xiao discover any strange places?"
Ji Ziyun thought for a moment and said, "At first, we didn't see anything unusual, but once the strange phenomena began, odd sights were everywhere."
"There was a pack of beasts with grass growing on their heads, leaping between the floating mountains."
"There was fire flowing in the water, and a grove of trees that looked like they were bearing baby-like fruits. Long Xiao and I split up to chase those strange phenomena."
"Baby-like fruits?" Xia Jing was puzzled. "What kind of strange plant is that? I've never heard of it. Did you manage to collect anything, Cousin?"
"No," Ji Ziyun said regretfully. "Just as I approached, lightning struck the mountain, and the strange tree withered in an instant, turning into a pile of yellow vines."
"What you saw was likely a sixth-tier plant, 'Phantom Demon Vine,'" Zhao Xing said, rising from his meditative state. "The Phantom Demon Vine releases a fragrance that causes hallucinations, often reflecting a person's deepest desires and yearnings."
"You saw the 'Baby Fruit Tree,' which extends life. Perhaps this hallucination was brought on by your regret at not seeing your elders one last time."
Ji Ziyun was stunned. "Such a plant exists? Ten Sun Cave-Heaven is truly full of wonders."
Zhao Xing explained, "When human martial artists break through from the Earth Fiend stage to the Heavenly Gang stage, they must temper their bodies with the Heavenly Gang Wind."
"During this process, the gang wind will rage across a hundred li, and the cultivator's blood and qi will roar like dragons and tigers."
"If humans cause such an uproar when they break through, imagine the upheaval when a Cave-Heaven ascends."
"In the days to come, we will witness all kinds of miraculous events. Some will be beneficial, and others dangerous. We must remain cautious."
Both Xia Jing and Ji Ziyun nodded in agreement. Just then, Chen Shijie returned. "What did you gain from your contemplation?"
"My progress in volcano techniques has improved to six transformations, and I've gained some insights into lightning techniques… Why do you look upset?" Zhao Xing asked, noticing Chen Shijie's sour expression.
Chen Shijie simply walked away without a word, his face impassive. "I'm mad."
"???"
Zhao Xing was bewildered by his friend's reaction.
Before he could ask for clarification, they heard Long Xiao shouting from behind them, "Everyone, come quick! I found some treasure!"
"Oh?" Zhao Xing's interest was piqued, and he immediately flew toward the direction of the shout, with Chen Shijie, Xia Jing, and Ji Ziyun following closely behind.
After flying about three thousand meters, they saw Long Xiao and Ao Tian, his mountain cat, crouched beside a large fallen tree.
While waiting for Zhao Xing to finish his contemplation, Long Xiao had gotten bored and decided to take Ao Tian for a walk around the unnamed mountain.
Not far from the Airship, they had stumbled upon a towering tree that had fallen to the ground.
The tree emitted a faint purple glow and, even after falling, stood at five or six meters tall and stretched nearly a kilometer long.
Its trunk was covered in purple Lingzhi mushrooms, and numerous small green trees had sprouted from it, bearing brightly colored fruits.
"Meow~" Ao Tian waved its tail proudly as Zhao Xing approached, as if to say, Look, I found this first!
"What kind of tree is this?" Ji Ziyun and Xia Jing asked, turning to Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing. With the myriad strange plants and trees in the world, they couldn't recognize everything—this was a job for the experts.
"It's a Giant Spirit Tree!" "A Life Tree!"
Both Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing spoke at the same time.
The others were baffled. Xia Jing asked, "So what is it, exactly?"
Chen Shijie laughed, "No difference. I gave the scientific name, and Zhao Xing used the colloquial one. The Giant Spirit Tree is commonly known as the Life Tree."
Zhao Xing chuckled. "You're more precise."
Long Xiao, however, didn't care about all that. "Whatever you want to call it, can we eat the little trees' fruits and the Lingzhi growing on it?"
"Yes," Chen Shijie explained. "The Giant Spirit Tree doesn't bear fruit during its lifetime and has no particular use. Only after it dies does it become valuable."
"When it dies, its body can remain standing for a thousand years, becoming a fertile ground for rare plants. Any seeds that land on its trunk will quickly grow into flowers and fruit, breaking through their natural limits."
"The Lingzhi and fruit trees growing on it can be consumed, extending lifespan, boosting energy, and strengthening blood and bones."
Long Xiao finally understood. "So it's like a giant tool tree?"
"You could say that," Zhao Xing scanned the area. "The upheaval of the heavens and earth has accelerated this Giant Spirit Tree's maturation, pushing it into its death phase prematurely. At least two types of treasures have already grown on it."
"However, there are also some poisonous plants taking up nutrients."
"Chen Shijie, this Giant Spirit Tree has entered its final phase, but we still have at least a day to work with. Let's remove the poisonous plants and maximize the benefits."
"Understood." Chen Shijie flew to the tree's crown while Zhao Xing worked on its base.
In a flurry of motion, they pruned away the poisonous plants, leaving only the beneficial ones.
The Giant Spirit Tree was a sixth-tier entity, but the effects of its fallen trunk far exceeded what Zhao Xing's powers could produce.
In less than an hour, the pair had finished clearing the tree.
After waiting for two more hours, the fruits and Lingzhi mushrooms had matured, and they began harvesting them.
By the end, they had collected six purple Lingzhi mushrooms and eighteen fruits.
Since the Giant Spirit Tree broke through natural barriers, Zhao Xing didn't even know what to call some of the treasures they harvested.
He had to use his Five Elements Observation and Heavenly Eye techniques to determine their general properties.
"Meow~" Ao Tian sniffed the air around the freshly harvested treasures and made a move to eat one, only to be pulled back by Long Xiao.
"Zhao Xing, you do the honors and divide the spoils," Long Xiao said.
Before their journey, the group had agreed that Zhao Xing would distribute any treasures they found, with Zhao Xing getting the first pick.
"Xia Jing, you test for poison first," Zhao Xing said with a playful smile, picking up a purple fruit and handing it to Xia Jing.
Xia Jing practiced the Gluttony Technique, making him highly resistant to poison. This was one of the benefits martial artists brought to exploration missions—they tested for poison.
By observing Xia Jing's reaction as he processed the fruit, Zhao Xing could further assess its properties using Five Elements Observation.
"Alright, it's my honor," Xia Jing said, taking the fruit without hesitation. He ate it in three or five bites, not even leaving the pit behind.
In some fruits, the peel and pit held the true essence, so Xia Jing made sure not to waste anything.
With the Gluttony Technique already at the fourth level, he wasn't afraid of a thing.
After a moment, his eyes lit up. "This is amazing! My qi and blood have surged, and a piece of gold bone has formed in my left arm."
Zhao Xing, having observed Xia Jing's body with his Heavenly Eye, noticed that a section of bone in Xia Jing's left arm had undergone transformation—from Silver Bone to a faint golden hue.
"No adverse effects?"
"None."
"I'll take the second one, then," Zhao Xing said, promptly consuming a fruit. His status panel could help him discern the effects.
Still, it was safer to let Xia Jing test it first.
[You have consumed an 'Unknown Fruit' (Sixth Tier). Essence Gathering has increased by one level, lifespan extended by 3 years.]
[Your right index finger bone, 'Iron Bone Perfection,' has transformed into 'Silver Bone Beginner.']
Two notifications appeared on his panel.
"One fruit increases a Essence Gathering level, extends lifespan by three years, and transforms bone quality?"
The effects were better than expected.
It should be noted that Zhao Xing was now in the Heavenly Gang stage, where the increase of Essence Gathering levels slowed down significantly.
Raising his Essence Gathering level from forty-three to forty-four was several times harder than going from one to forty-three.
The same principle applied to lifespan. Zhao Xing's extended lifespan had already reached 160 years.
The increase in lifespan meant a rise in one's inherent destiny.
For this fruit to add three more years was quite remarkable.
The third effect was also noteworthy. As a Shennong, Zhao Xing's physical body wasn't as robust as a martial artist's at the same stage.
For example, Xia Jing, who was also at the Sixth Rank, had a body half composed of Gold Bone and half Silver Bone, with qi and blood surging through him like an ocean, endlessly circulating.
His poison resistance, stamina, and recovery abilities far surpassed those of other professions.
Without special training, a Shennong would typically need to reach the Fifth Rank to match the physical strength of a Sixth Rank martial artist.
Thus, Zhao Xing's body was currently at the Copper Skin, Iron Bone level, a physique Xia Jing had already attained during his pre-military training.
Why such a difference? The techniques they practiced were different. Zhao Xing trained in the Seasonal Qi Command and Return to Earth techniques, while Xia Jing practiced the Gluttony Technique, the Azure Dragon Body-Forge Technique, and the Seven Souls Unity Technique.
Though both professions relied on Yuan energy, their training methods sent them down entirely different paths.
"No poison detected. Everyone can have one fruit first," Zhao Xing said. "After you've eaten, I'll observe the effects."
Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Ji Ziyun each took a fruit and ate it.
After some time passed and they had all consumed their fruit, they looked back at Zhao Xing.
"Ji Ziyun, your results were the weakest. You may have taken similar treasures in the past, and the techniques you practice seem to have conflicted with the fruit."
"There's no need for you to eat a second fruit. If we find something better suited to you next time, I'll make sure you get a larger share. Is that agreeable?"
Ji Ziyun nodded. "I agree. Since the effect was weak, I won't waste another fruit."
"Xia Jing, you eat a second one so I can see."
Xia Jing promptly ate a second fruit.
For martial artists, the fruit had excellent effects. Xia Jing's second fruit triggered the transformation of another section of his bones into Gold Bone.
With his Heavenly Eye, Zhao Xing could see the subtle changes in Xia Jing's destiny. His luck seemed to be improving as well.
Zhao Xing then ate a second fruit himself, followed by Long Xiao and Chen Shijie.
After three rounds, Xia Jing's effects started to diminish, and he stopped after consuming a third fruit.
Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, however, ate a fourth fruit, as their foundations were slightly weaker than Xia Jing's due to their rough childhoods. They continued to experience the benefits until their fourth fruit.
Zhao Xing also consumed four fruits. After the fourth, the effects began to taper off—the Essence Gathering level didn't increase, lifespan only extended by half a year, though another bone in his thigh did transform.
"Sixteen fruits consumed with the effects fully maximized," Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Meow~" Ao Tian whimpered, feeling left out. How could you forget about me?
"Don't be sad. There's plenty more treasure to come," Long Xiao patted Ao Tian's head, reassuring the mountain cat.
Zhao Xing added, "Don't worry, there are still some fifth-tier fruits on the tree. I'll go pick a few for you as a snack."
The group's sights were set high. During this surge of spiritual blessings in the Cave-Heaven, they aimed to consume only sixth-tier treasures. Fifth-tier fruits were plentiful, but they avoided them to prevent any potential buildup of resistance or toxins in their bodies.
"I'll go. You focus on dividing the Lingzhi," Chen Shijie offered.
"Alright."
While Zhao Xing and his group were eagerly collecting treasures, the entrances to Ten Sun Cave-Heaven were becoming congested with Airships and warships.
"What? We can't go in?!"
"Do you know who my father is?"
A portly man dressed in luxurious robes stood at the bow of a boat, shouting angrily at the soldiers guarding the gate. "My father is Marquis Wu Cheng! He was ennobled in Year 325 of the Reformation Era, and you dare to stop the son of a marquis from entering a mere Ten Sun Cave-Heaven?!"
The portly nobleman roared, "Open the Mystic Gate, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
The soldiers guarding the gate wore full helmets, their expressions hidden, but they raised their sharp spears in unison, pointing directly at the nobleman.
As he took a step forward, the soldiers instantly activated their battle aura, mercilessly thrusting their spears toward him.
"What?!" The nobleman's mage companion quickly pulled him back to safety.
Once they had retreated a safe distance, the spears—formed by the soldiers' battle aura—retracted.
"You… You filthy bastards!" The portly nobleman, visibly shaken, collapsed to the ground. "You dare act like this?!"
"Lord, let's not antagonize them further," his mage advisor cautioned, helping the nobleman to his feet. "If they are this aggressive without even offering an explanation, then this decree must be of the highest level. We should gather more information before proceeding."
"I traveled all the way from Yangtai County just to be stopped at the door?!" the nobleman raged. "Find out who gave this order!"
With so many nobles and families gathered, it didn't take long for the truth to be uncovered.
"Lord, I've found out who issued the decree. It was a joint order from King Luohou, King Lingde, and King Tianyan from the military realm."
"All nine entrances to Ten Sun Cave-Heaven are heavily guarded, with strict control over entry and exit. Many are being turned away," reported the steward.
"What? A decree from the Three Kings?" The nobleman finally sobered up.
While King Lingde was formidable, King Luohou's reputation was far more intimidating!
And King Tianyan was even more enigmatic.
Even a marquis would have a hard time challenging an order issued by these three.
"What should we do? Is there any way to get in?" the nobleman asked, now worried. His father didn't have many years left to live.
In this era, a person's lifespan could be roughly calculated. There were specific limits for each rank.
His father, Marquis Wu Cheng, had already lived over five hundred years. He only had another twenty or thirty years left at most.
Though this nobleman appeared to be nothing more than a wastrel, he was actually quite aware of his situation.
The family steward offered advice. "Before departing, the marquis said that if we encountered obstacles, we should seek out Marquis Ming Wu inside Ten Sun Cave-Heaven and present this letter of introduction."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?! I nearly had a heart attack!" the nobleman yelled, glaring at the steward.
The steward remained silent. Handing over this letter wasn't a small matter—Marquis Wu Cheng had paid a steep price for this favor. The nobleman had no idea what his father had done to secure it. He believed this trip would be a simple errand, bringing back some benefits with ease.
But given his current attitude, even if he did manage to get inside, could he really live up to his father's expectations and revitalize the family's fortunes?
The steward sighed inwardly, watching as the nobleman strutted over to a nearby pleasure boat, bragging and boasting once again.