Journey to the West: A clone sacrifices to the heavens, possessing boundless magical power.

Chapter 108 The Incident

Shen Feng activated the "Green Wood Nourishing Spirit Technique," and the newly comprehended essence of decay and prosperity flowed throughout his body. His aura instantly merged with the surrounding vegetation, so that even if someone scanned the area with their divine sense, they would only perceive it as a piece of withered wood.

Shen Feng took out the two ginseng fruits wrapped in clothing and stuffed them into his pocket.

He stood up and walked along the secluded path in the herb garden toward the outer gate.

The outer gate of Wuzhuang Temple.

Because of Sun Wukong's rampage a few days ago, the mountain-protecting formation was damaged, and the mountain gate was not completely closed at the moment, leaving only a gap several feet wide.

Several gatekeeper disciples were gathered together, discussing the grand occasion in the front hall in hushed tones, unaware of the commotion outside the gate.

Shen Feng stepped outside into a shady spot and stopped.

Under an ancient pine tree stood a Taoist priest in a gray robe with an ordinary face.

This is a clone that Fan Yuanxin has created.

Shen Feng didn't say anything, and simply threw the package in his arms.

The gray-robed clone caught it with his hand, then turned and left, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the vast forest.

Shen Feng watched his clone disappear into the distance, then turned and walked back to Wuzhuang Temple to continue his menial tasks.

The two did not exchange any words or even make eye contact throughout the entire conversation.

Three hundred li to the west of Longevity Hill.

In a hidden underground cave.

Fan Yuan sat cross-legged, sharing the gray-robed clone's vision through the connection of the [Primordial Myriad Appearances Mirror].

He calmed his wildly beating heart.

Ginseng fruit.

This is a rare and unique treasure, a one-of-a-kind treasure from the primordial era.

Once he obtains these two fruits, his lifespan will undergo a dramatic transformation.

But he was not blinded by greed.

The Wuzhuang Temple is filled with powerful beings, including Guanyin Bodhisattva and Zhenyuan Daxian, each capable of overturning rivers and seas with a mere thought.

presence.

Therefore, after releasing Ying Lingzi, his main body fled far away, leaving only this gray-robed clone outside the Wuzhuang Temple to provide support.

"No rush."

"Only when the clone takes the fruit out of the Wanshou Mountain area and completely leaves the Wuzhuang Temple's territory, can the main body reunite with it and consume it, thus ensuring that nothing goes wrong."

Fan Yuan controlled his gray-robed clone, rapidly traversing the mountains and forests, covering approximately eighty miles.

Ahead lies a rocky forest with strangely shaped stones.

The gray-robed clone had just swept into the sky above the stone forest.

"Buzz!"

The air around them suddenly tightened.

Twelve black array flags burst forth from the ground, instantly forming a light curtain that completely sealed off the space within a hundred feet.

The gray-robed clone suddenly stopped and landed on a stone pillar, his hand pressing against the magical artifact at his waist.

"Since you're here, show yourself," the gray-robed clone said coldly.

"They are quite vigilant."

A deep voice came from outside the formation.

Ripples appeared on the light screen as five figures stepped into the formation.

The leader, dressed in a purple-gold robe, with a dignified face and eyes like lightning, was none other than Zhao Ji, the head of the Zhao family.

The four people behind him were all dressed in black, holding magical artifacts, and exuding a deep aura; they were all cultivators at the Refining Spirit stage.

Zhao Ji himself has even reached the late stage of the Refining Spirit realm.

Zhao Ji stared at the gray-robed figure, his gaze icy: "Who are you? Why are you in such a hurry to leave Wuzhuang Temple?"

The gray-robed clone remained expressionless: "What's it to you?"

"It's better not to say anything."

Zhao Ji sneered, "A few days ago, my good-for-nothing nephews Zhao Teng and Zhao Yuan, along with several elite members of my Zhao family, died on the outskirts of Wanshou Mountain. I examined the bodies, and although they were disguised as the work of rogue cultivators, I still feel something is amiss."

Zhao Ji stepped forward, and his spiritual pressure surged toward the gray-robed clone like a tidal wave.

"I followed the clues and found out that it was related to a servant named Shen Feng at Wuzhuang Temple. Zhao Yuan had only had a conflict with this person recently. I wanted to go and ask him, but Wuzhuang Temple was closed due to an emergency."

"I waited outside the mountain gate for several days."

Zhao Ji pointed at the gray-robed clone, "Just now, I personally saw that Shen Feng hand you a package. He was just a temporary servant. If he had no accomplices, how dare he kill a member of my Zhao family?"

"Since you accepted his gifts, you must be his accomplice."

Zhao Ji raised his hand, and lightning crackled in his palm.

"Capture him, dead or alive, I will search his soul to make him pay for the death of my Zhao family members!"

Upon receiving the order, the four black-clad cultivators simultaneously dispersed, occupying four positions and blocking all escape routes for the gray-robed clone. The magical artifacts in their hands shone brightly, their killing intent locked on him.

The formation activated, increasing gravity.

The gray-robed clone's knees sank, and the stone pillar beneath his feet cracked inch by inch. The Four Spirit Refining stage cultivators had joined forces to set up the Four Symbols Earth Locking Formation, which was by no means something that a mere Qi Refining stage clone could escape.

Fan Yuan, far away in the underground cave, had a somber expression.

There is no way to retreat.

Fan Yuan's mind raced. This hastily crafted gray-robed clone was of low cultivation and unable to use some of the moves of his original body. It was originally a pawn used to transfer the ginseng fruit, and now that it had been intercepted by the Zhao family, it had no chance of fighting back.

If it falls into Zhao Ji's hands, death is certain, and the ginseng fruit will also be lost.

"Since we can't take it with us, we'll just eat it!"

A resolute glint flashed in Fan Yuan's eyes.

The gray-robed clone burned his life essence and, under immense pressure, opened the package, revealing two crystal-clear fruits shaped like newborn infants in his palm.

Ginseng fruit!

As soon as the fruit was presented, an intensely rich, fresh herbal fragrance instantly filled the entire venue.

Zhao Ji's pupils shrank suddenly, and his breath stopped abruptly. Although he had never seen the actual object, how could he, as the head of a cultivation family, not know the characteristics of such a rare treasure?

"This is... the Herbal Elixir?!"

Zhao Ji exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with a mixture of greed and disbelief, "How could you, a lowly servant's accomplice, possess the Wuzhuang Temple's most prized treasure?!"

The gray-robed clone ignored him.

Under Fan Yuan's control, the clone opened its mouth and without hesitation stuffed the ginseng fruit in its left hand into its mouth, swallowing it whole.

boom!

The ginseng fruit melts in the stomach.

The immense essence of Yi Wood surged forth like a river bursting its banks, crashing into the meridians of the clone.

"what!"

The gray-robed clone let out a long howl, and its body expanded at a visible speed, almost bursting out of shape.

Zhao Ji and the others were stunned and momentarily forgot to make a move.

Just as the clone raised its right hand, preparing to swallow the second ginseng fruit as well.

"You wretched child, how dare you waste such precious resources!"

A cold shout, like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploded in everyone's ears.

A streak of azure sword light descended from the clouds at incredible speed, instantly severing the gray-robed clone's right arm.

The severed arm, clutching the ginseng fruit, flew high into the air.

A fair hand reached out from nowhere and caught the ginseng fruit steadily.

The newcomer was dressed in a Taoist robe, with a clear face and a restrained aura of spiritual energy that made everyone present feel suffocated.

Xuanfeng Daoist, the outer elder of Wuzhuang Temple.

"Greetings, Elder Xuanfeng!" Zhao Ji was terrified when he saw the person's face. He quickly removed the formation and knelt down first. The four black-clad cultivators also knelt down beside him, trembling with fear.

Xuanfeng Daoist didn't look at Zhao Ji, but stared coldly at the gray-robed clone.

"How dare you!"

Xuanfeng Daoist's tone was icy, "My master had long suspected that Shen Feng's actions were suspicious, and that Daoist who called himself Ying Lingzi was also of unknown origin. How dare you plot against the Ginseng Fruit and even take it out of Wuzhuang Temple? He specifically ordered me to secretly investigate, but I never expected that you would ruin such a precious fruit!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji was filled with shock and disbelief.

This servant not only stole the ginseng fruit, but also successfully smuggled it out of the temple?

He hurriedly kowtowed: "Elder, please understand! I am Zhao Ji, the head of the Zhao family on the outskirts of Wanshou Mountain. A few days ago, my son and nephew were tragically killed. I was investigating the real culprit when I unexpectedly encountered this person here. He accepted Shen Feng's package, and I was about to apprehend him for interrogation when I had no idea that the package contained—it contained immortal fruits!"

"I have no business with the affairs of your Zhao family."

Xuanfeng Daoist remained expressionless. "But this person, I must take back to Wuzhuang Temple and hand him over to my master for judgment."

Having said that, Xuanfeng Daoist flicked his whisk.

A golden light flew out, transforming into a rope, intending to bind the gray-robed clone and suppress the rampaging spiritual power within his body.

However, Xuanfeng Daoist was careless.

Fan Yuan, who was far away in the underground cave, was well prepared.

"burst."

In the stone forest, the moment the rope was unleashed, the gray-robed clone's eyes suddenly lost focus.

Immediately afterwards, a strange wave of destruction erupted from the depths of his soul.

"not good!"

Xuanfeng Daoist's expression changed drastically.

Boom!

The gray-robed clone, along with the massive, undigested Yi Wood essence within it, exploded instantly.

A violent energy storm swept around, blasting a crater tens of feet deep into the ground. Zhao Ji and the others were thrown away by the shockwave, spitting out blood.

Xuanfeng Daoist waved his whisk to block the aftershocks, his face ashen, his breathing still uneven.

He was ordered by his master, the Immortal Mingyue, to give chase. He sped along the way, his heart filled with doubt and unease. How could anyone dare to touch the ginseng fruit of Wuzhuang Temple?

What surprised him even more was that the thief acted so decisively and ruthlessly that after swallowing the ginseng fruit, he did not hesitate to explode and die.

The person died, and the trail went cold.