Xiaoxiao.

The Zhu Guo, also known as the Millennium Zhu Guo, shines like a bright pearl on the pages of the "Compendium of Materia Medica".

According to records, it took three hundred years of budding, three hundred years of gestation and growth, three hundred years of maturation, and a full thousand years before it finally came into its own.

It is hailed as the first immortal fruit of Penglai Planet. Although calling it "immortal" is a slight exaggeration, the miraculous effects of the Vermilion Fruit have been highly praised by medical masters, eminent monks, and even true cultivators throughout history.

The Zhu Guo fruit is renowned as the finest fruit from Penglai, hence it is also known as the "Fruit of Immortals" or "Immortal Fruit".

Unlike mystical and supernatural things like ginseng or he shou wu that are thousands of years old, the vermilion fruit truly exists in the world.

According to historical records, Shennong was the first to taste the Zhu fruit, and legend has it that he lived to be 1,800 years old after eating it.

Peng Zu thus enjoyed a long life of 1,200 years!

Lü Chunyang was originally a cowherd. One day, he fell asleep in a crevice in the rocks because he was tired and accidentally lost the landlord's cow.

Fearing punishment, he dared not return home and, by a twist of fate, accidentally ate a red fruit deep in the mountains.

After that, he not only acquired all sorts of wondrous methods and supernatural powers, but later even ascended to heaven, creating a legendary tale that has lasted for thousands of years.

The most recent example is Zhang Sanfeng, a master of Tai Chi. With the help of the Vermilion Fruit, he lived to be 1,500 years old, becoming a terrestrial immortal.

Kuang Zheng and others have all visited Zhang Sanfeng's mausoleum. Although Zhang Sanfeng has been gone for decades, his resting place is still visited by cranes and white apes that offer fruit every day, and by black tigers and golden lions that guard it every night.

Exotic flowers and rare herbs vie for beauty before the tomb, while people and horses with sesame-like hair appear and disappear within the hut.

Given time, this place may evolve into a blessed land similar to the ancestral temple of Taoism, Chunyang Temple, who knows?

It should be known that Chunyang Temple, the leading Taoist temple today, is like a bright pearl, located next to the cenotaph of Lü Chunyang on Lüzu Mountain.

The cenotaph is like a mysterious treasure trove, continuously releasing powerful yang energy, making the concentration of yang energy on Mount Lüzu ten times that of other places!

This abundant yang energy not only caused all kinds of evil spirits to flee at the mere sight of it, but also made the Taoist priests in the temple progress in their cultivation of Taoist arts as if they were on a rocket, making rapid progress.

Chunyang Temple is renowned for its strict requirements in accepting disciples, which results in almost every Taoist priest possessing unique skills.

They roamed the martial world like tigers descending from the mountain, dedicated to eliminating demons and monsters from all sides. Chunyang Temple thus gained widespread fame, establishing its revered position as the leader of the Taoist sect.

Thanks to the nourishment of the Vermilion Fruit, Zhang Sanfeng's tomb has become so miraculous in just over thirty years. Given time, it may not be a pipe dream for it to become the next Mount Lüzu.

After all, Mount Lüzu is already a gem, so what's so strange about another blessed land?

The Vermilion Fruit not only has a maddening effect on mortals, but it is also a rare treasure for cultivators.

In the cultivation world, it has an even more peculiar name—the Marrow Cleansing Pill!

It, along with the Void Stone and the Purple Thunder Vine, is known as one of the three great treasures of the cultivation world.

The Void Stone is like a magical key that can expand the boundaries of the sea of ​​consciousness.

When forming a sea of ​​consciousness during the Nascent Soul stage, if one can obtain the assistance of a Void Stone, there is a very high probability that one can form a sea of ​​consciousness twice the size of others.

The sea of ​​consciousness can be considered the nerve center of a cultivator. A powerful sea of ​​consciousness can greatly enhance perception, comprehension, and agility, like a gentle spring breeze.

It should be noted that the sea of ​​consciousness of a Nascent Soul cultivator is only twice the size of that of a Divine Soul cultivator, while a Divine Soul cultivator can possess the sea of ​​consciousness of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Their spiritual power is so strong that it is enough to instantly kill cultivators of the same level.

How incredibly audacious is this?

Moreover, Void Stone is an unparalleled remedy for healing mental and spiritual injuries.

The Purple Thunder Vine is said to be a body-refining spiritual treasure born from the erosion of purple lightning during heavenly tribulation, and its effect on strengthening the physical body is extremely abnormal.

This treasure is a rare and precious item that cultivators who cultivate their bodies dream of. After being carefully refined by alchemists, it can also be used by ordinary cultivators.

You must know that in this vast world of cultivation, body-refining pills infused with Purple Thunder Vine are extremely rare treasures that are hard to come by.

Purple thunder vine is even more miraculously effective at reviving the dead and healing bones.

The most magical of all is the Vermilion Fruit. Although the other two rare treasures are hard to find, traces of them can be occasionally discovered.

However, the Zhu Guo is known as the Thousand-Year Zhu Guo, and just by hearing its name, one can tell that it is no ordinary thing.

Indeed, this is true. While saying it happens once in a thousand years is a bit of an exaggeration, saying it happens once in a hundred years is by no means a lie.

Unlike Void Stones and Purple Thunder Vine, Void Stones have a certain probability of forming as long as there is a Tribulation Transcender. By waiting patiently, it is not difficult to find them.

But precisely because it is so widely known, quite a few people have found it.

Therefore, the difficulty lies not in discovery, but in acquisition. After all, what you can think of, other cultivators can think of as well.

Rare treasures are always in short supply; otherwise, wouldn't they be as common as grass?

Therefore, many people discovered it, and everyone wanted to possess it, which naturally led to a surge in those who tried to seize it.

Therefore, every time the Purple Thunder Vine appears in the world, it triggers an earth-shattering battle of cultivation.

Void Stones are much harder to obtain, as they are often found alongside powerful soul-type beasts.

Soul-type alien beasts are incredibly powerful, capable of easily annihilating other alien beasts of the same level. Even cultivators of the same level are as vulnerable as chickens and dogs in their presence.

Not to mention that these kinds of strange beasts are naturally agile, their soul attacks alone can kill any covetous person. Soul attacks are always a nightmare-like existence for cultivators.

The lairs of these strange beasts are like mysterious treasures hidden in the mist, almost impossible to find in front of them, yet they leave behind some clues in the dark.

After all, even the most powerful beasts have a limit to their territory.

If you search diligently within this boundary, there is a high probability that you will find it.

Unfortunately, the time and cost involved are beyond what most people can bear, so despite the existence of methods, those who can obtain Void Stones are still as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

First, the territory of these strange beasts is vast and boundless.

Secondly, Void Stones can only be conceived in the territory of adult demon beasts, and once these beasts are fully formed, their cultivation level is basically comparable to that of human cultivators in the Tribulation Transcending stage.

This would undoubtedly be a nightmare for any cultivator, which is why it is listed as the second greatest treasure in the cultivation world.

If the second great treasure is already so remarkable, then the first great treasure needs no further explanation.

First, it takes nearly a thousand years to develop; second, the Vermilion Fruit actually possesses sentience!

Yes, you heard right, the Vermilion Fruit seems to have its own soul!

Each Vermilion Fruit is a spirit of heaven and earth, possessing the magical ability to penetrate everything from the moment it is born.

It is not only immune to attacks, but also cannot be bound by any formation or magical artifact.

Moreover, it can also change its shape and become invisible.

These abilities have reached their peak since their inception, making them virtually untouchable.

Fortunately, fate left a glimmer of hope, ultimately giving people a chance to live.

That is, whenever the Vermilion Fruit is about to ripen, it must find a suitable host to complete its cycle of reincarnation, which is why people are able to discover it.

However, this wondrous thing is like a mysterious passerby; it must be consumed within its three days of maturity in order to complete a cycle.

Therefore, a legend has been passed down in Penglai: the Penglai planet has only one Vermilion Fruit.

Since Shennong, the cycle has repeated four times.

It is said that after ten reincarnations, it can be promoted to a celestial fruit, thus completing its transformation.

However, such matters are shrouded in mystery, and no one can be certain whether they are true or false.

After all, each maturation takes thousands of years, and the long years are like an endless river; who can witness it with their own eyes?

Even though the ripe Vermilion Fruit is destined to be devoured, the choice is still in its own hands. Because of its abnormal characteristics, it can be devoured by humans or animals as it pleases.

However, in the long search, people have also discovered some patterns: as long as you follow its scent closely, you can easily absorb it when it appears.

However, due to its thousand years of growth and its inherent intelligence, it remains the most magical of the three great treasures.

After obtaining the miraculous inheritance, the seven Kuang Zheng spent a great deal of time comprehending their respective inheritances, and also read through a large number of documents from the three great empires.

Ultimately, all the answers pointed to the Vermilion Fruit like a guiding light; it could be said that only the Vermilion Fruit could perfectly solve the problem they faced.

But when they thought of the properties of the Vermilion Fruit, they felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, and were filled with despair.

From Shennong to Zhang Sanfeng, the Vermilion Fruit appeared a total of four times.

There are only three confirmed records of Shennong, and due to the great antiquity of the era, many documents contradict each other, making it difficult to distinguish between true and false.

Moreover, the timing of each occurrence is completely unpredictable.

There was a gap of 3,500 years between Shennong and Pengzu.

Five thousand years passed between Peng Zu and Lü Chunyang.

It has been 2,300 years since Lü Chunyang was born.

Even the shortest timeframe, from Lü Chunyang to Zhang Sanfeng, is over two thousand years.

But Zhang Sanfeng had only been dead for thirty years; no matter how you look at it, they wouldn't live to see the appearance of the Vermilion Fruit. That's why they say hope is despair.

Even so, no one gave up easily.

Even if the hope is as faint as the stars, they will never give up on that tiny, delicate chance.

His Majesty the Emperor of Qin issued a special decree for this purpose, and in an instant, officials from all over the country flocked to present auspicious omens.

Even more extreme, some studious individuals would put cow horns on dogs and solemnly assure His Majesty the Emperor that these were Qilin (mythical creatures).

Such examples are numerous and numerous, making the Tang and Han dynasties laugh their heads off.

Even so, Ying Ao did not dampen the enthusiasm of his subordinates.

Even those officials who called a deer a horse were not reprimanded by His Majesty the Emperor.

Of course, a good impression is out of the question.

The Dragon Flame Brigade mobilized its entire force, drawing attention from the other two countries.

They feared that the Qin Dynasty might be up to some trick.

For a time, tensions rose along the borders of the three kingdoms, and the sounds of battle were incessant.

Fortunately, the Qin Dynasty had no such intention; otherwise, who knows how many more troubles would have arisen on the border.

However, even after exhausting the empire's resources and spending two whole years, they still gained nothing.

The team members died one after another like candles flickering in the wind, leaving Kuang Zheng heartbroken.

He wrote to the emperor, which brought the massive nationwide treasure hunt to a close.

Long Yan left behind only a few loyal subordinates to continue searching for news of the Vermilion Fruit, while Kuang Zheng himself continued on the long journey to find the spiritual object.

Originally, they thought they had no hope in this life, but now they have received the news that the Vermilion Fruit has appeared in the world. How could the three of them not be overjoyed?

In fact, it wasn't just Kuang Zheng who was pursuing it; the martial arts community of the entire Penglai planet never stopped searching for the Vermilion Fruit.

After all, the effects of the Vermilion Fruit are simply astonishingly miraculous; who wouldn't want to possess it for themselves?

Not only them, but ever since Shennong discovered the Zhu fruit, people of that time have never stopped their arduous pursuit of it.

Throughout history, money has been able to corrupt people's hearts, and the Vermilion Fruit is an even rarer treasure that can elevate one to the highest level in an instant. Who in the world wouldn't covet it?

In fact, the Qin royal family had been secretly searching for the whereabouts of the Vermilion Fruit, and those in charge of this matter were the most trusted descendants of the emperors of the Ying clan throughout the ages.

Not only the Qin Dynasty, but also the Han and Tang Dynasties had similar institutions, but they were always hidden in the shadows.

It was precisely because Kuang Zheng realized this situation that he decisively stopped the emperor's actions.

If it is not found, that would be fine, but if it is found, who can guarantee that it will belong to the Ying clan or the Kuang clan?

The human heart is the most vulnerable to temptation; placing one's hopes on others often only leads to endless despair.

Therefore, Kuangzheng never tests anyone, because the beginning of a test means the creation of a rift.

Although his relationship with the Ying royal family was closely intertwined, the Ying family was, after all, a large group.

Even if one can ensure that the emperor is of high moral character, behind the emperor are not only ministers and common people, but also numerous relatives.

The emperor is like a patriarch, behind whom is a huge interest group.

Faced with this massive group, his personal character was completely unprotected, which is why Kuang Zheng always maintained a distant relationship with the Ying royal family.

In this way, the connections between them will not be too deep, and there will naturally not be too many entanglements.

In this way, their relationship can remain pure, and Ying Yue will not be caught in the middle.

Although she was his wife, she was ultimately a member of the Ying clan.

If a conflict were to arise between the two sides, Ying Yue would undoubtedly stand firmly by her side, but ultimately she would be heartbroken. Because the enemy on the other side was none other than her closest kin!

To prevent such a tragedy from happening, Kuangzheng always maintained a distant relationship with the Ying royal family.

This is why His Majesty the Emperor trusted him so much, and this behavior also won him the favor of other members of the royal family.

After all, interests are the most important thing. Who wouldn't like someone who is capable of bringing benefits to everyone and is also good at dealing with people?

Kuang Zheng was like this initially because he had no interest in it; all his enthusiasm was poured into fighting alongside Long Yan and risking his life together.

Later, I still couldn't muster any interest. Firstly, my life was precarious, and I couldn't even predict how long I would live. What was the point of chasing after those illusory fame and fortune?

Secondly, although the miraculous inheritance drove them to the brink of despair, it ultimately broadened their horizons.

This is the power to cultivate immortality. Although the path ahead seems uncertain, it ultimately possesses extraordinary power.

Therefore, their vision was no longer limited to the Penglai planet, but rather extended to the celestial realms beyond.

The third is Ying Yue, this innocent and naive woman who abandoned her noble status as a princess for her own sake.

How could I remain unmoved by such deep affection!

That is why Kuang Zheng has always been seen as humble, polite, grateful, and knowing when to advance and retreat in the eyes of others.

But if you think he's easy to bully, he'll make you, your people, and even those connected to you regret ever being born...

A single vermilion fruit, like a spark of hope, instantly ignited the desire in the hearts of Kuang Zheng and his companions. It was also like a powerful torpedo, causing a huge uproar on the Penglai planet.

In an instant, the wind and clouds changed color, and the four directions were in turmoil. All sects, powerful families, and imperial relatives, as well as those with even a little strength, sent out their elite core forces like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey.

Their strength grew like a snowball, and their numbers increased like a tidal wave.

And everyone, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, marched bravely toward the same direction and the same goal—Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan!