Cultivation: I have an equipment slot

Chapter 149 Intercepting the Daoist Rhyme
"It's simply my duty."

Zhang Yan spoke with a smile.

His assigned task was to stop these forest deer.

Although the number of forest deer that broke through was slightly higher due to the other party's actions, it was not a major problem. After all, his strength happened to be higher than the other party had estimated.

"If it weren't for my junior brother, we wouldn't have been able to distribute them," Mu Sen joked, watching Zhang Yan capture all the forest deer.

Zhang Yan captured a forest deer.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The previous agreement can now proceed smoothly.

Bo Xiuran took the forest deer away as agreed.

Mu Sen, Zhang Yan, and the others each received a Wood Spirit Fruit.

"Thank you very much, Junior Brother Zhang. This time, I might be the one who comes out on top," Bo Xiuran said to Zhang Yan with a smile.

They had previously misjudged Zhang Yan's strength.

I think catching one Foundation Establishment stage forest deer and a few Qi Refining stage forest deer would be a pretty good harvest.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan managed to stop all the forest deer.

Although the strength of the forest deer is relatively weak among those in the Foundation Establishment stage, their sheer numbers make up for it, and the forest deer also possess some special effects in certain aspects.

Bo Xiuran obtained so many forest deer, and their value is indeed no less than that of the Wood Spirit Fruit.

"It can only be said that Senior Sister Bo was lucky. I just happened to be able to learn some auxiliary supernatural abilities. Otherwise, it would be hard to say."

Zhang Yan smiled but didn't take credit for himself.

Instead, they followed Mu Sen and the others into the dense forest. As soon as they entered, they saw the Wood Spirit Fruit Tree.

The Wood Spirit Fruit Tree doesn't look very big, only two or three meters tall, and its appearance is unremarkable, but the fruit it produces shines brightly.

You can even smell a faint fragrance.

Even before getting close, Zhang Yan could sense the strong wood-attribute spiritual energy.

This feeling is very strange.

In addition, he could also sense special rhythmic fluctuations.

"This is……

Daoist charm?

Zhang Yan's eyes widened in disbelief.

He never expected that he could sense the presence of Daoist energy next to the Wood Spirit Fruit Tree. You must know that Daoist energy is something that has already transcended the Foundation Establishment stage. Only the Golden Core stage can fully grasp its mysteries.

Moreover, the Daoist essence has a special effect on those of them who are building their foundation in magic. You should know that the reason why their magic can be successfully transformed into supernatural powers is only because they comprehended a trace of the Daoist essence when they were building their foundation.

By harnessing the power of Daoist principles, they elevated their spells into supernatural abilities. Normally, one can only comprehend Daoist principles after continuously studying supernatural abilities and reaching the Golden Core realm.

Right now, there's a strong Daoist aura emanating from the tree of the Wood Spirit Fruit, and Zhang Yan senses it very clearly. He even feels that he can capture it normally.

If he could capture and comprehend all these Daoist principles, Zhang Yan believed that he could quickly advance his wood-based supernatural abilities to a high level, or even perfection.

Think of this.

His breathing quickened.

Mu Sen and the others did not notice anything unusual about him and thought that Zhang Yan had become nervous because he saw the Wood Spirit Fruit.

Mu Sen patted Zhang Yan on the shoulder: "How about it, junior brother? With the Wood Spirit Fruit, I reckon your supernatural abilities will also increase."

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother Mu. This is indeed a great opportunity!"

Zhang Yan took a deep breath and spoke to Mu Sen. He suddenly realized that Mu Sen was his lucky star. It was true that whatever he lacked, Mu Sen would give him.

This feeling……

It's really great!

The first time, he lacked spirit stones and various other resources.

Musen gave it to him!
He lacks the understanding of the Daoist principles.

And Musen gave it to him again.

He, really, I cried my eyes out.

……

"This Wood Spirit Fruit isn't fully ripe yet, so we'll need your help, Junior Brother," Mu Sen said, leading Zhang Yan to the Wood Spirit Fruit tree.

"Okay, leave it to me!"

Zhang Yan nodded.

It takes decades or even centuries for a Wood Spirit Fruit tree to mature. These three Wood Spirit Fruits are almost ripe, but not yet fully ripe.

The reason we didn't wait until they were fully ripe was because the ripening time of the Wood Spirit Fruit is difficult to control. If there is even the slightest mistake, the Wood Spirit Fruit will end up in the mouth of the forest deer.

And beyond that.

There are so many dreams in the long night!
This is the Tianmu Mountains.

In the past, there might have only been the natives of the Tianmu Mountains, but now, in addition to the natives of the Tianmu Mountains, there are also a large number of Qingheng Sect disciples and people from those small families.

They didn't take the Wood Spirit Fruit away sooner.

Who knows, someone else might see it and pick it first.

Moreover, another reason why Mu Sen wanted to bring Zhang Yan along was because Zhang Yan had studied the Wood Element Technique.

Wood element techniques have the effect of promoting the growth of spiritual plants.

Now that Zhang Yan's Wood Element Technique has advanced to a divine ability, its effects are definitely stronger than before.

Zhang Yan didn't waste any more words.

The ripening process was directly accelerated on the wood spirit fruit trees.

Under the powerful magic, everyone could clearly see that the Wood Spirit Fruit had changed from being shriveled at the beginning to being round and plump now.

The speed was so fast that it caught everyone off guard.

"Junior Brother's understanding of magic and supernatural powers is still so strong." Seeing this, Mu Sen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said with shame.

He had always believed that he was a genius, until that year when he met a young, inexperienced boy.

I initially thought it was a story of a gentle senior brother mentoring a useless junior brother, but...

Backfired.

That's the damn useless junior brother?

That was a nightmare!

Since he started sponsoring Zhang Yan, Zhang Yan's strength has improved day by day. At first, he didn't take it to heart, only thinking that Zhang Yan was talented and had a good temperament, even though his spiritual root compatibility was not high.

However, the result was that he watched helplessly as Zhang Yan's strength and status soared to a level that was unattainable for him.

Now it seems that the other party deserved it all.

He's only been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a short time, yet he's already so adept at using supernatural powers. One can only admire him.

"Senior brother, it's done."

After the Wood Spirit Fruit was ripened, everyone smelled a refreshing fragrance, the scent of grass and trees, which was very enticing.

“Alright, since they’ve already ripened, let’s stick to our previous agreement and each of us will take one. Eat and refine them quickly. Once the Wood Spirit Fruit is ripe, it will start to continuously leak its spiritual energy.” Mu Sen said, reaching out to pick a Wood Spirit Fruit and stuffing it into his mouth. Then he sat down on the ground and said to Bo Xiuran, “I’ll trouble Junior Sister Bo to help protect me.”

“That’s natural.” Bo Xiuran nodded gently.

Zhang Yan and the other person didn't hesitate either, immediately picking up the Wood Spirit Fruit and stuffing it into their mouths.

The Wood Spirit Fruit melted upon entering his mouth and upon contact with his saliva, transforming into a warm and nourishing power that flowed into his limbs and bones.

"Is this the Wood Spirit Fruit?"

Zhang Yan closed his eyes tightly, his divine sense fully mobilized. He could clearly feel that after eating the Wood Spirit Fruit, his perception of the wood element Dao rhythm was more pronounced.

"Then can I try to directly capture the Daoist essence?"

An idea popped into Zhang Yan's mind: he could clearly sense a powerful wood-elemental Dao aura surrounding the Wood Spirit Fruit Tree.

But it's a pity.

These Daoist rhythms are rather chaotic and not a complete Daoist rhythm, making them somewhat difficult to capture.

However, Zhang Yan was not impatient. Instead, he silently began to capture the essence. It must be said that there is a fundamental difference between Daoist charm and supernatural powers. As soon as Zhang Yan's divine sense touched those Daoist charms...

I just felt a mental fog.

Suddenly, a vast, desolate world appeared in his mind, a world of ruin and devoid of any life.

After an unknown amount of time, a touch of green suddenly appeared in the gray world. Then, the world seemed to come alive, lush with greenery and full of vitality. A sapling suddenly broke through the soil, took root, sprouted, and grew into a towering tree.

This towering tree, standing tall and upright, appears from afar as a connection between heaven and earth, a bridge between immortals and mortals, and a support between life and death.

It seems that this tree is everything.

Everything is this tree.

Even a single leaf from this tree seemed capable of suppressing the entire world. Just as Zhang Yan was about to continue observing...

"Crack~"

There was a crisp sound.

He immediately withdrew from it and looked around blankly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you're finally awake!"

"You scared me to death! I thought something had happened to you!" The moment Zhang Yan opened his eyes, the voices of Mu Sen and Bo Xiuran immediately came from around him.

Seeing their tense expressions, Zhang Yan asked, somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"What else is wrong!"
Do you even realize that several days have passed already?

"It's been ten days since you ate the Wood Spirit Fruit!" Mu Sen rubbed his temples. Ten days.

My junior brother has been meditating for ten days.

Although ten days is not a long time for a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, but!

While others digest the insights gained from eating the Wood Spirit Fruit in a few hours at most, he was considered quite strong, taking almost a whole day.

Zhang Yan actually managed to comprehend the Wood Spirit Fruit for ten days.

If he hadn't been able to sense Zhang Yan's pulse and the fact that his magical power was relatively stable, he would have suspected that Zhang Yan had been pulled into some kind of environment.

"Ten days?"

"Has it really been that long?"

Hear what the other person is saying.

Zhang Yan was stunned. He never expected that so much time had passed since he saw that scene.

He quickly checked himself.

It doesn't matter if you don't look at it, you will be shocked when you look at it.

Zhang Yan could clearly feel the changes in his body. For one thing, he could feel that his affinity with wood-type spiritual energy had increased.

Although he had previously devoured wood-attribute spiritual objects to strengthen his spiritual root, it did not reach a very high level.

but now……

His wood-type spiritual root compatibility has reached a terrifying 90% or more. With each breath, wood-type spiritual power is directly absorbed into his body.

The increased compatibility with the Wood element is a good thing no matter what, but that's not the biggest change.

But...

Supernatural!
Within the Purple Palace.

A huge star, emitting a pale green light, occupied the very center, like an absolute king, suppressing everything else.

Needless to say.

This forest-green star is none other than a wood-based magical ability, the Wood Spirit Technique.

It was only at this moment that Zhang Yan realized that his mastery of the Wood Spirit Technique had reached a level close to perfection.

So scary?
Zhang Yan was somewhat taken aback.

Can a single Wood Spirit Fruit really have such an effect?
Zhang Yan found it hard to believe.

"It must be because of that giant tree." Zhang Yan thought of that giant tree that connected heaven and earth; it was the most extravagant tree he had ever seen.

"Moreover, it seems that we also intercepted a wisp of Daoist essence..."

Zhang Yan attracted the enormous star in the Purple Mansion, and then an ancient and weathered feeling, as if he had experienced countless years, emanated from him.

Behind him appeared the phantom of a towering tree.

"Junior Brother Zhang!"

Mu Sen's face turned pale, and he suddenly spoke to Zhang Yan.

"Crack~"

The illusory image shattered, and Zhang Yan returned to normal.

Mu Sen and the other two looked at Zhang Yan with serious expressions, their eyes filled with fear.

This is……

A true disciple?
I never imagined it would be this terrifying.

Although the phantom behind Zhang Yan only appeared for a moment, everyone felt a pressure and trembling from their very souls.

It's an innate sense of fear.

"Junior Brother Zhang..."

Musen paused for a moment, unsure how to continue.

"I had some insights and gained quite a bit," Zhang Yan said with a slight smile.

Musen: "..."

Seeing Zhang Yan say that.

Everyone wisely kept quiet.

In the world of cultivation, no matter how close your relationship with someone is, never pry into their privacy and secrets.

Even if they are Daoist partners, or even father and son, it is not allowed.

This is absolutely forbidden!
"Now that Junior Brother Zhang has finished comprehending the Wood Spirit Fruit, let's go back. We still have to complete the sect's mission."

Mu Sen chuckled softly, then addressed everyone.

"good!"

……

The group tidied up quickly.

Then set off quickly.

It didn't take long before they returned to their base at Muling Peak.

After informing Zhuge Wan, everyone returned to their respective teams.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you're finally back."

Zhang Yan had just returned to his post when Lei Wanbao came over.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother Lei?"

"We've wasted almost all of our time. When are we going on a mission?"

Lei Wanbao stared longingly at Zhang Yan.

He'd had enough of this base and now all he wanted was to leave and go to the Tianmu Mountains.

"Haha, senior brother, please wait a moment. Let me rest for a day, and we'll set off tomorrow," Zhang Yan said immediately when he saw how anxious Lei Wanbao was.

"Alright, then let's do as my junior brother says."

Upon hearing Zhang Yan's words, Lei Wanbao immediately beamed with joy.

……

Day two.

It was still dark.

Zhang Yan, Lei Wanbao, and Senior Sister Jia then left the base.

They've been on the front lines for so long, it's finally time for them to show their skills!
(End of this chapter)