The branch appeared to be nothing more than a rotten, decaying piece of wood dug out from the earth. At first glance, it looked brittle and ready to crumble. Yet, paradoxically, it radiated a force of immortality—a wood that would never truly rot. Even after a thousand or ten thousand years, it would remain unchanged, retaining its original state. This was truly a case of decayed-yet-undecayable wood—a treasure born from miracles.
Such miracle items (奇物) were rare and precious, each one infused with the power of miracles and possessing intrinsic value that could not be measured by conventional standards. For powerful cultivators, their importance was undeniable.
Most importantly, these miracle items could be used to construct a Dao Platform (道台)—a profound and mysterious stage of cultivation.
"This is a fine treasure.
This decayed wood would be extremely helpful in building a Dao Platform.Even more so for those cultivating a wood-attribute Dao.
I wonder what Dao Lord would like in exchange for it?"Pure Yang Sword Immortal asked, his eyes flashing with interest.
"Recently, I've reached a critical juncture in my cultivation and require some Reincarnation Sacred Liquid (轮回圣液) to comprehend a thread of reincarnation law.
If someone can offer enough, this branch is theirs."The Longevity Dao Lord responded with a smile.
His Longevity Dao was forged through the fusion of various laws, smelted into one and elevated to a higher form. He wanted to infuse a trace of reincarnation into his Dao, which would deepen his foundations—so he naturally desired this rare treasure born of reincarnation.
"Reincarnation Sacred Liquid is no ordinary item.
It only exists in the Underworld, produced by sites like the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, Endless Nether River, or the Pool of Rebirth.
Even there, its production is excruciatingly slow and extremely scarce.
It's a top-tier cultivation resource that powerful beings fight over. How could it be so easily acquired? It's... difficult. Very difficult."A rugged man dressed like a woodcutter shook his head.
Despite his plain, middle-aged appearance, the axe at his side and the immense power exuding from his body revealed his true status. Clearly, this was no ordinary woodsman. No one who could sit in this gathering of supreme beings was ordinary.
He gave his name only as Li the Woodcutter (李樵夫)—nothing more.
"Indeed. I don't have any either.
Entering the Underworld is no simple matter."Another cultivator, dressed like a farmer, added.
Yi Tianxing looked at the farmer and felt a flicker of surprise.
"It's him." He knew this man—and hadn't expected to see him here.
"If it's Reincarnation Sacred Liquid you need, I do have some."Yi Tianxing spoke up calmly."How many drops would Dao Lord like to trade for?"
While this substance was indeed rare and valuable to most, Yi Tianxing was different.
Thanks to the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, and with a Reincarnation World constructed inside the Heavenly Emperor Pagoda, he had created a closed reincarnation system—continuously cycling souls, especially those harvested from Eternal Night demons in battle.
Some souls were consumed by the White Bone Nethercrows, but many were guided into Great Yi's reincarnation flow—causing its population to skyrocket. Though his influence touched only a portion of the reincarnation cycle, even that fragment yielded substantial benefits.
Most notably, it produced a steady flow of Reincarnation Sacred Liquid, which he had quietly accumulated over time.
Now that he had reached the True Spirit Realm, with his status and strength recognized, he no longer needed to hide it. In fact, revealing it strategically could elevate his standing even more.
Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned it, every gaze turned toward him, filled with astonishment.
"You actually have Reincarnation Sacred Liquid?
That's an Underworld treasure!"Pure Yang Sword Immortal exclaimed in surprise and intrigue.
"Great Yi has already established a connection to the Underworld.
The two realms can now exchange treasures and communicate freely."Yi Tianxing said with a calm smile, though he did not disclose the exact origin of the liquid.
Still, the others all nodded in understanding. In their minds, the source was clear:
It must have come from the Underworld.
And this elevated Great Yi's strategic value in their eyes once again.
The ability to bridge life and death, yin and yang, was a power beyond estimation—far more significant than mere wealth or cultivation.
"Excellent. If you truly have it, ten drops is all I ask in exchange for this Undecaying Rotwood."The Longevity Dao Lord said without hesitation.
Reincarnation Sacred Liquid was priceless. It could:
Accelerate cultivation
Deepen comprehension of natural laws
Bring one closer to Dao resonance
Grant a year's worth of enlightenment in a single drop
Strengthen the soul
Help refine divine weapons and spiritual treasures
Even nourish and cultivate rare materials
It was the ultimate all-purpose elixir—and ten drops, though seemingly few, were already extremely generous.
"Alright. Ten drops."Yi Tianxing nodded and retrieved a jade bottle containing exactly ten drops.Under a wave of invisible power, it floated to the Longevity Dao Lord.
"Indeed... true Reincarnation Sacred Liquid."The Dao Lord confirmed with a smile of satisfaction, then passed the Rotwood branch to Yi Tianxing.
The transaction was now complete—final and irrevocable.
Yi Tianxing was pleased.Though he had yet to break into the Dao Platform Realm, reaching the True Spirit Realm meant it was time to lay his foundations by collecting all kinds of unique miracle items.
"Reincarnation Sacred Liquid is truly a treasure.
Fellow Daoist Yi, do you have any more?
I have a blueprint you may find useful—something you'll surely benefit from."Pure Yang Sword Immortal asked eagerly.
"What kind of blueprint?"Yi Tianxing inquired.
Blueprints, after all, represented knowledge—skills, techniques, or constructions at the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
"This one's for a Resource-Mining Energy Vehicle (采矿能源车).
Once built, it can automatically gather ore, crystals, metals—any spiritual minerals it detects.
The efficiency is astounding.
For a ruler like you, this could transform your empire."Pure Yang Sword Immortal replied with a grin.
It was indeed a rare treasure. Mining was notoriously difficult—finding useful ore within a vein was time-consuming and labor-intensive.
But with this vehicle, things would change entirely. It could self-operate, detect spirit ores, and harvest them at astonishing speeds.
Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up.
"Indeed a valuable item.
How many drops do you want in exchange?"
Great Yi's territory contained countless mineral veins, but mining was slow and inefficient, even with kobolds doing the digging. A vehicle like this would be a game-changer.
Still, it was just a blueprint—constructing it would still require time, resources, and skilled artisans, likely from the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion (天工阁).
"Three drops. Just three drops of Reincarnation Sacred Liquid, and it's yours."Pure Yang Sword Immortal said after brief thought.
It was a fair deal.
"Done."Yi Tianxing agreed.
He took out another jade bottle with three drops, exchanged it, and received the blueprint.