Chapter 699

Chapter 699: Return to Medicine King Valley

The fire poison Ye Yun had endured earlier burned slowly, causing immense suffering but no immediate threat to his life. However, the Cleansing Body Thunder Tribulation would violently unleash the Thunder Spirit Qi within him in an instant—far more dangerous than the fire poison.

Thankfully, the Heart of Immortals and Demons, a divine artifact, allowed even the Thunder Tribulation to pose only minimal risk. Instead, it could strengthen his body. This was why the Ancestor of the Sword Path had assured Ye Yun that once the Sun and Moon Dual Souls entered him, thunder tempering wouldn’t be necessary.

Luckily, Ye Yun secured the Sun and Moon Dual Souls in the second layer. Any mishap would have subjected him to repeated Thunder Tribulations, forcing him to either enhance his physique enough to withstand his true qi and spiritual power or face death and spirit dissolution.

To endure the explosive surge of energy from his shattered Golden Core, Ye Yun’s current body—even with the Heart of Immortals and Demons—would see his true qi and spiritual power devoured. Advancing to the Nascent Soul stage might leave his strength barely surpassing his current seventh-level Golden Core stage.

This outcome was unacceptable. Ye Yun resolved to maximize his physical refinement before attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough, avoiding reckless advancement without confidence.

Yet in life-or-death crises, he’d have no choice but to consume the Nascent Soul fruit, channel the Essence of the Thick Earth, and forcibly amplify his body’s endurance to briefly contain the surging energies.

If the Sun and Moon Dual Souls activated beforehand, Ye Yun could relax. As the Ancestor explained, their full integration would elevate his physical limits from the foundation upward, transforming his cultivation.

Once achieved, Ye Yun could merge the true qi and spiritual power of Born as a Sword into an unrivaled force. Even Du Jianyin’s Myriad Sword Tribulation could be crushed through raw power rather than trickery.

“But are you truly bringing Golden Ling’er and Jin An to the World Tree? Harsh as it sounds, they’re useless at best, burdens at worst,” grumbled the Ancestor of the Sword Path, watching Ye Yun teleport via spatial laws.

Golden Ling’er’s aid was negligible, and Jin An—a second-layer Nascent Soul cultivator—would only court death there. Having already gained fortune in the Xumi Treasure, their priority should be survival, not greed. Accepting reality might be cruel, but it ensured living. Those blind to truth, chasing slim chances, were either fools or madmen.

As for Jin An’s group? Mere cannon fodder for stronger cultivators. Ye Yun scorned alliance leaders who manipulated the deluded into believing themselves destined for the Xumi Treasure.

“Ye Yun, retrieve something for me at the World Tree,” the Ancestor abruptly said as they neared the forest where Golden Ling’er hid.

Noting the Ancestor’s solemnity, Ye Yun grinned. “Name it. I’ll get it.”

“Ever heard of the Drunken Berry?” The Ancestor coughed, uncharacteristically sheepish.

“No. Does it aid your spirit?” Ye Yun frowned.

“Well… it lets me taste wine again,” the Ancestor admitted.

Ye Yun chuckled. “And you’re certain it’s in the World Tree?”

“Absolutely. Likely in plain sight,” the Ancestor insisted.

“You’ve mapped the World Tree?” Ye Yun pressed.

“Using my soul’s origin, I saw the ancient tree in the canyon’s depths. Ninety-three layers: lower thirty for low-grade heavenly materials, middle thirty for mid-grade, upper thirty for high-grade, and the top three hold superb treasures,” the Ancestor revealed.

Ye Yun gazed at the distant giant tree. “Such dense life energy… secrets lie within.”

“Focus on claiming the superb treasures. Expect guardians rivaling that black puppet from the stone tablet’s Deceptive Array,” the Ancestor warned.

Ye Yun nodded. The Mysterious Crescent Blade from that battle had nearly cost him victory. The puppet’s iron body and speed matched his own, requiring the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique’s rapid recovery to outlast it. In reality, he’d have triumphed easily.

Winning secured the blade. Had he lost, another genius might’ve claimed it.

“Ancestor!” Golden Ling’er cried, sensing spatial ripples after a day of concealing her aura. Ye Yun emerged before her, and her eyes lit up.

"Senior, how was your trip to Medicine King Valley? Ling’er missed you terribly," Jin An smiled as he observed Ye Yun returning unharmed, glancing at the excited Golden Ling’er beside him.

"Matters delayed me, but all’s well. In two days, Medicine King Valley will head to the treasure burial site in the World Tree’s third layer. I came to ask if you both wish to join," Ye Yun replied, smiling at the blushing Golden Ling’er while awaiting their decision.

"Ling’er will always stay with Senior. I’m going," Golden Ling’er declared firmly, stroking the Water Spirit Python coiled around her finger. The serpent briefly opened its eyes, showing faint gratitude toward Ye Yun before resuming its nap.

"Coming to the Xumi Treasure without proper adventure would be wasteful," Jin An agreed readily, already imagining acquiring treasures like supreme Immortal artifacts at the World Tree.

Ye Yun nodded. He’d protect them if possible, but unavoidable dangers would test their own fortunes. He believed in aiding close allies when feasible.

"First, I must use this soul power." Ye Yun lifted the glowing orb, channeling true qi to levitate it above his palm. Thick life energy swirled inside.

"What happens if Senior puts it in those giant trees?" Golden Ling’er leaned forward curiously.

Ye Yun pressed the soul power against a giant tree’s bark, linking them with true qi. The tree shuddered violently as if attacked. The soul power swelled slightly, absorbing wisps of green energy from the trunk.

"Disappointing," Ye Yun muttered. The minimal growth didn’t match his expectations. Worse, the orb now siphoned his own true qi without gaining strength.

He realized only the trees could properly nourish the soul power. Devouring all third-layer trees might bring great rewards, but time was short with the World Tree’s opening imminent. Besides, the Heart of Immortals and Demons could heal injuries just as well. If needed, he’d feed the soul power to it later for energy feedback.

Abandoning the experiment, Ye Yun teleported the group back to Medicine King Alliance’s canyon. His spirit perception noted Yao Hongchen recuperating nearby. A chuckle escaped him when he spotted Qiu Xiao sparring with Wan Sha – their eased rivalry surprised him after their previous tensions.

"Senior." The fighters paused, eyeing Ye Yun’s two Nascent Soul Third Level companions curiously.

Golden Ling’er bristled under their gaze. "What? Think you can bully me just because you’re Fourth Level?"

The men quickly bowed. "We meant no offense, fairy! Your beauty simply stunned us!"

"Really?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Absolutely!"

Jin An wiped sweat. Without her Seventh Level Nascent Soul Water Spirit Python, provoking two Fourth Levels would’ve been disastrous.

Their luck since meeting Ye Yun astonished him – supreme Immortal artifacts, unimaginable treasures, even casually using Immortal Spirit Stones for cultivation. Yet he vaguely recalled an old saying: Heaven’s gifts come and go. Clinging to undeserved fortune always exacted a price.