"Something's not right, this giant python is definitely not simple! It might not just be a high-level demonic beast, but a second-tier beast comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage!"
Just thinking about spending the past few days in the same place as such a dangerous existence made his back break out in a cold sweat.
The cultivation realms for cultivators are divided into nine stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Elixir, Elemental Infant, Soul Departure, Soul Splitting, Body Fusion, Tribulation Crossing, and Great Ascension!
Each realm is fraught with peril and incredibly difficult to advance. However, once you do advance, your power increases dramatically.
As the saying goes, "Each realm is a new heaven," and that's exactly how it is.
In the Zhao Kingdom where the Cloud Song Sect is located, Golden Elixir cultivators are rare, and Elemental Infant ones are as rare as phoenix feathers. The realms beyond that exist only in legends.
Reluctantly glancing at the seven fruits hanging on the tree, Su Shi'er took a deep breath and decisively retreated.
He was well aware that he struggled against even the sixth level of Qi Refining, and the Foundation Establishment stage was far beyond his reach.
No matter how good something is, preserving one's life is more important!
Besides, his current harvest was already incredibly rich, so he didn't feel any regret.
With this thought, Su Shi'er's mood lightened considerably.
But before he could retreat far, the entire Spirit Plant Garden suddenly experienced an unusual fluctuation of spiritual power.
"Not good, could it be... she's here?!"
Realizing the situation was dire, Su Shi'er immediately reacted.
He quickly took out a concealment talisman and stuck it on himself, then swiftly moved to an area with piled boulders not far away.
Hiding between the crevices of two large rocks, he pushed the Minor Zhou Tian Concealment Technique to its limit, completely masking his presence.
Whether this concealment technique could block the probing of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Su Shi'er wasn't sure. But he had experience that the Peak Lord of Heavenly Melody Peak, with her sealed power, couldn't detect him.
Almost at the same time Su Shi'er hid, a graceful figure descended from the sky.
Shen Miaoyin held a disc in one hand and formed a seal with the other, tearing open a gap in the formation and gracefully landing in a corner of the Spirit Plant Garden.
As the Peak Lord of Heavenly Melody Peak, Shen Miaoyin was also the foremost formation expert of the Cloud Song Sect.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
This place was a death trap for others, but for her, suppressing her cultivation to participate in a trial was still manageable.
As soon as she landed, her gaze quickly swept across the entire garden.
She saw vast stretches of barren land, with a few withered or dying spirit plants faintly visible on the ground.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and then she turned her gaze to the two areas that Su Shi'er hadn't yet collected.
One area was filled with boulders, with stone-colored flowers growing on them.
The other area featured a towering tree over a hundred meters tall, standing out conspicuously.
"Hmm? So many places are barren? Could it be... because too much time has passed?"
"Fortunately, there are still some spirit plants over there. The ones growing on those boulders should be top-grade second-tier spirit herbs, at least five hundred years old Dendrobium flowers! As for this tree..."
Thinking to herself, Shen Miaoyin gracefully moved to the vicinity of the hundred-year Vermilion Fruit tree.
Seeing the Vermilion Fruit tree before her, even with her usual calm demeanor, a smile appeared on her face.
Shen Miaoyin's red lips parted slightly, and she exclaimed, "Hundred-year Vermilion Fruit?! This thing is really here!!"
"Wait... this Vermilion Fruit has grown for at least a thousand years. Just one could equal twenty years of hard cultivation!"
"If I could consume two Vermilion Fruits, even without going to Thunder Drum Peak, I could confidently form a Golden Elixir within ten years!"
She whispered, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes shining with intense excitement!
A hundred-year Vermilion Fruit was already enticing enough, but a thousand-year one was something even Golden Elixir and Elemental Infant cultivators desired!
Especially for Shen Miaoyin, it was an enormous temptation.
Her cultivation technique was unique, and if she couldn't break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment and form a Golden Elixir within ten years, she would have to disperse her cultivation and start over.
And with her technique, each time she dispersed her cultivation, the difficulty of breaking through realms would increase exponentially.
Hidden in the crevice between the boulders, Su Shi'er was also shocked upon hearing Shen Miaoyin's voice.
"What? That's actually a thousand-year Vermilion Fruit? Just one can increase cultivation by twenty years?"
"Unfortunately, I can't possibly be a match for that second-tier beast. I should find a chance to escape later!"
With this thought, Su Shi'er quickly dismissed any unrealistic ideas and patiently waited for an opportunity to escape.
At this moment, he was very grateful for his extra caution. Otherwise, if she discovered someone had gotten there first, she would definitely search thoroughly.
Shen Miaoyin's excitement quickly subsided, and her expression returned to calm.
She swiftly approached the Vermilion Fruit tree, ready to pick the fruits.
Suddenly, she felt a jolt of unease, and without thinking, she leaped into the air, retreating backward.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
The branches and leaves of the Vermilion Fruit tree swayed as a giant python over ten meters long swiftly emerged.
The python's body was covered in mottled patterns, reflecting a shimmering light under the sun. Its sheer size was astonishing.
Sensing the presence of a stranger, the python flicked its tongue, its massive body twisting like a long whip, lashing fiercely at Shen Miaoyin.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
Before the attack even landed, a gust of wind had already disheveled Shen Miaoyin's clothes.
Sensing the danger, Shen Miaoyin silently cursed, and before landing, she changed direction in mid-air, sliding to the side.
"Boom!"
The python's body slammed heavily onto the ground, creating a crack nearly a hundred meters long.
The incredible power of the impact made the earth tremble.
Hidden in the crevice between the boulders, Su Shi'er felt a tingling sensation all over, lying flat on the ground, not daring to move an inch.
Such an attack was something he couldn't possibly withstand. Even being grazed by it would mean instant death!
The python, having missed its target, opened its massive maw in anger, releasing a foul stench.
Then, spatial energy fluctuated,
A towering flame spewed from the python's mouth. The dark red fire, not only extremely hot but also filled with toxic sand, surged towards Shen Miaoyin.
"It's actually a mid-second-tier Fire Cloud Python? Looks like... there's no choice but to take a risk today."
Feeling the crisis approaching again, Shen Miaoyin frowned deeply. A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but she quickly made up her mind.
A mid-second-tier demonic beast was not easy to deal with, but for her, it wasn't too difficult. She just needed to release the restriction on her power.
But doing so would mean facing the backlash of the ancient restrictions here. At best, she would be severely injured; at worst, she could perish.
But with the thousand-year Vermilion Fruit right in front of her, such a reward was worth the risk.
As for leaving, Shen Miaoyin didn't even consider it.
With a flash of cold light in her eyes, Shen Miaoyin wasted no time.
With a thought, her slender fingers swiftly formed seals, quickly creating a hand seal.
A spiritual power pattern interwove between her hands, forming a complex design, which then abruptly merged into her body.
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