Sister, I don't want to be a furnace anymore. I'm about to become an immortal.

Chapter 20: Great Opportunity

Hearing the other party's surrender, Xiao Yichen ignored it and continued to move forward. He was also trying to provoke the other party because he didn't know whether the strange tree could leave this area. If it could, it would be useless even if he really burned this place down. However, after hearing the other party's anxious voice, he knew that he had made the right bet. The strange tree could not leave this place easily for some reason.

Seeing Xiao Yichen still moving forward, the strange tree became anxious: "Little kid, how about I give you a chance? Please don't embarrass me anymore. I know I was wrong."

He still ignored him and continued walking. He would not believe that guy's nonsense anymore. He just wanted to burn the place down.

"Don't go. The fate I talked about is real. Haven't you noticed that among so many trees in this area, I am the only tree that has developed intelligence?" The big tree shouted loudly. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen actually stopped, obviously attracted.

Seeing that Xiao Yichen no longer moved forward, the strange tree also breathed a sigh of relief. Although it could move freely in this area, it was just as Xiao Yichen had guessed. It could not stay too far away from here. If Xiao Yichen really set fire to this area, it would have nowhere to hide.

"Go on." Xiao Yichen said coldly.

Hearing his cold tone, the tree appeared beside him and said in a somewhat flattering voice, "Young man, although my true form is the Lingshu Fruit Tree, it is still far from being able to generate spiritual intelligence. All of this is because of the lake."

"Lake water? That ghost water you just mentioned?" Xiao Yichen had forgotten what the other party had just said.

"It's the Yin Spring. Legend has it that it's a branch of the Yellow Spring. It looks no different from an ordinary spring, but you just experienced it yourself. It can instantly drain the energy of any creature that falls into it."

Before it could finish, Xiao Yichen interrupted it, saying, "What a ridiculous fortune! You're not trying to trick me into jumping in, telling me there's some treasure underwater, are you?"

Seeing Xiao Yichen's anger, the strange tree quickly explained, "No, no, there's no treasure down there. The real treasure is the spring water itself. People only know that this spring water will drain the physical strength of living beings, but they don't know that in ancient times, the Yin and Yang Spring was called the Divine Spring by those who practice physical cultivation, and the reason for this is exactly the characteristic I just mentioned."

"Explain it more clearly, I don't understand." Xiao Yichen said a little irritably.

"Young man, you will understand if I ask you a question. Under what circumstances will your cultivators' strength improve most significantly? I'm talking about strength, not the kind of rubbish you get by taking medicine every day." The big tree asked with a smile.

When Xiao Yichen heard this question, he thought about it and answered without hesitation: "Actual combat is the best way to improve a person's strength."

Hearing this, the tree nodded. The leaves on its trunk kept falling down, as if it was going bald. Then it replied, "Yes, but it's still too superficial. What can truly unleash a person's potential is being in a desperate situation. Think about it, young man. If you now have such a treasure that can quickly put you in the weakest state of your body, then in this state, even moving a finger would be considered breaking through the limit, right?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yichen suddenly realized that it was indeed true. In this case, the lake water was indeed a rare treasure.

Thinking of this, white light began to slowly gather in his hands. Suddenly, he made a move and sent a huge force towards the trunk of the strange tree in front of him. The strange tree had no time to react and was hit hard head-on.

There was a sound of the trunk snapping, accompanied by a miserable cry, and its entire body was broken.

"You... why do you still want to attack me? I have already told you the secret." The strange tree was very angry, and an expression of extreme pain appeared on its face.

In response, Xiao Yichen just chuckled: "I'm showing mercy by not killing you directly. Besides, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Are you going to wait until I'm at my weakest to attack me?"

"I... I didn't." At this moment, the breath of the strange tree was getting weaker and weaker. Its roots were broken by Xiao Yichen's punch, and it could no longer use the magic to escape. It couldn't even move and could only stay here and wait to die.

Xiao Yichen glanced at the lake behind him, then at the swamp, and suddenly said to it, "Do you want to survive?"

Hearing this, the strange tree desperately shouted: "I want... Of course I want it. As long as you throw me into the Yin Spring, I can live. No matter what the conditions are, I am willing to accept them."

"Of course, but you have to wait. How long can you hold on?" Xiao Yichen said lightly.

"One... one hour. My roots are broken and my life force is constantly dissipating. I can only hold on for one hour at most. Young man, please save me. I don't want to die yet." The strange tree answered weakly.

"Okay, I'll go and try whether the spring water has the effect you said. If it does, I'll spare your life." After Xiao Yichen finished speaking, he walked towards the lake, ignoring the shouting of the strange tree behind him.

Coming to the water, he took a deep breath, slowly squatted down, and inserted one hand directly into the water. The next moment, his physical strength was quickly absorbed into the water along his palm. Feeling this change, Xiao Yichen's face became very solemn. In just less than three or four seconds, he almost collapsed to the ground.

"It's really magical. Apart from the loss of physical strength, there are no other side effects. The energy in the body is not affected at all. It seems that guy is not lying." He pulled his hand out, staggered back to the strange tree, and sat down. He really didn't have any extra strength.

Before he could speak, the strange tree asked anxiously, "Young... Young man, you tried just now. What I said is true. After you have rested... can you save me?"

"Hand over your original power." Xiao Yichen was also very tired at this moment. After leaving this sentence, he lay on the ground to rest.

The strange tree was also shocked when it heard that it had to hand over its original power. This original power is equivalent to the inner elixir of a cultivator in the Jindan realm, and is even more important than the inner elixir. The inner elixir only contains all the cultivation of the cultivator, while the original power also contains all its life source. Handing it over is equivalent to handing over one's life to the other party.

Seeing that the strange tree didn't make a sound, Xiao Yichen didn't bother to pay attention to it. He barely propped himself up and slowly walked towards the dark spring. He had to have some protection. If there was any danger around, he would definitely not let himself be in an absolutely weak state.

He wanted the strange tree to help keep an eye on the monsters around. After all, there were not only the two of them in this area. There were also a bunch of monsters in the swamps and forests outside. Who knew if they would suddenly go crazy and break in here? But if he wanted the strange tree not to have other ideas, he had to keep its life firmly in his own hands.

Seeing Xiao Yichen walking further and further away, the strange tree knew what he was thinking. It made up its mind and shouted at Xiao Yichen in front of it: "I'll give..."

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An hour later, Xiao Yichen slowly stood up. His strength had almost recovered. Looking at the strange tree soaking in the water, he saw that the roots that he had broken were slowly being repaired.

"It's truly miraculous. For living beings with flesh and blood, it deprives them of their physical strength, but it can restore the vitality of these plants. This world of cultivation is truly wonderful."

When the strange tree reappeared in front of him, an hour had passed. Looking at the strange tree that had completely returned to its original appearance, Xiao Yichen's eyes were full of surprise.

"Master, I have fully recovered." The tree said to him respectfully.

Hearing this, he simply hummed a yes, then instructed, "I have only one request. During my retreat, any intruders will be killed. Do you understand?"

"I understand. Don't worry. My life is now tied to you, my master. If you die, I will not be able to live."

After hearing what it said, Xiao Yichen did not delay any longer. He took off all his clothes, leaving only the loincloth, then took a deep breath and jumped down.

A minute later, his body slowly floated up, face down and constantly spitting bubbles in the water.

Seeing this, the strange tree turned him over with its branches, allowing him to breathe fresh air.

"Huh... I almost... I almost suffocated to death. Well done." After saying that, he stopped talking. Now it was very difficult for him to move his lips. When the last bit of strength in his body was drained away, he felt extremely tired. When he was about to fall asleep, a branch hit him hard on the belly, instantly pulling his consciousness back.

He turned his eyes to the strange tree that was staring at him with a smile. He didn't know what to say. Although the other party seemed to be taking revenge, it was indeed helping him. He raised his eyelids and tried to move his limbs, but he felt extremely tired without moving at all.

"That guy is right. In this extreme situation, any slight improvement is immense. This can be considered as constantly breaking through my own limits. I actually got this incredible opportunity."