The withered leaf in Yan Zhaoge's hand was something that most people would not be able to recognise.
This was because it was already a near-mythical existence.
It was said that there was a miraculous fruit tree that was a spirit root formed by the heavens and earth.
It bloomed every three thousand years, bore fruit every three thousand years, and only ripened after another three thousand years.
In a short ten thousand years, it would only bear thirty fruits.
Those who were fated to smell it would live three hundred and sixty years; those who ate it would live forty-seven thousand years.
The fruits it bore would fall upon contact with gold, wither upon contact with wood, melt upon contact with water, burn upon contact with fire, and sink upon contact with soil.
This fruit was known as the Ginseng Fruit, a rather famous spirit fruit in the legends of Journey to the West.
The owner of the fruit tree was the legendary ancestor of the Earthly Immortals, the Primordial Suppressing Zi who only worshipped the heavens and earth and not the Three Purities.
While it was said that he only worshipped the heavens and earth, he actually only worshipped the heavenly dao. The addition of 'earth' meant that the heavens and earth were in harmony.
In other words, in the eyes of this bigwig, the 'heavens' were worthy of his worship, while the 'earth' was not.
To be fair, this Primordial Suppressing Immortal was indeed one of the few peak bigwigs in the entire history of Daoism, a true legendary bigwig.
However, he and the Ginseng Fruit Tree had not appeared in the world for a very long time. Even before the Great Calamity, there had not been any news of them for many years, as they were completely akin to figures of legends.
While Five Manor Locale, the dao arena of Primordial Suppressing Zi, still existed, there were only a few members of it.
After the Great Calamity, it had completely vanished without a trace. The people of the World beyond Worlds could not be sure whether Five Manor Locale still existed.
However, in the current World beyond Worlds, the foundation of a peak bigwig originated from a portion of Primordial Suppressing Zi's legacy.
Whether he was a true direct descendant or someone who had unearthed legacies and become a successor, no one knew.
This bigwig was one of the Five Emperors, the Primordial Heaven Emperor.
While he had not obtained all of Primordial Suppressing Zi's legacy, he still commanded the world, comparable to the likes of the Brocade Emperor.
Seeing the Heaven Earth Divination Formation laid down by Daoist Shi, Yan Zhaoge felt that it had some resemblance to Five Manor Locale's legacy.
It was just that Five Manor Locale's legacy was rather special, and the records in the Heavenly Court's Divine Palace that year were limited.
However, having found this wilted Ginseng Fruit Tree leaf in Daoist Shi's luggage, Yan Zhaoge no longer had any doubts.
The one who had incited King Xuanwen, Daoist Shi, Shen Lingzi and the others to come to the Royal Reed Sea and establish the Heaven Bearing Efficate Formation in search of the Earth Queen was none other than the Heaven Emperor.
It was no wonder that the Southeastern Exalt had tacitly agreed to their actions earlier.
"Those who are able to reach that realm are indeed people who have accumulated a lot of experience and strength." Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, thinking, "Before this, there were probably few who knew that this Emperor possessed the Aeon Light Heavenly Scripture of the Jade Clear direct lineage as well as the legacy of Five Manor Locale."
An ancient metal seal appeared in his hand. It was long and rectangular like a prism. It looked like a dagger, but it didn't have a sharp point.
The tip of the dagger was flattened, and a seal was engraved on it. The lines were simple and mysterious.
It was the high-grade Sacred Artifact he had obtained from Shen Lingzi, the Light Yin Sword Seal.
The ancient sword-shaped seal emitted an ancient and desolate aura, as if it had passed through the ages and continued to this day.
Yan Zhaoge smiled.
With the Peerless Heavenly Scripture and the incomplete version of the Aeon Light Heavenly Scripture that he had previously obtained, he was very confident of being able to derive the complete Aeon Light Heavenly Scripture now.
While it would definitely contain the personal insights of the Heaven Emperor and Shen Lingzi within, no longer being as pure as before, it was already sufficient.
In the process of cultivation, Yan Zhaoge could slowly adjust it with the help of the Peerless Heavenly Scripture.
Still, the Light Yin Sword Seal was a high-grade Sacred Artifact at the end of the day, with the sword-intent of the mid Immortal Bridge Martial Saint Shen Lingzi still remaining within.
If he wanted to subdue and refine it before extracting the concept contained within, he would still have to spend some time and effort.
Still, Yan Zhaoge was not in a rush.
Keeping the Light Yin Sword Seal, his gaze fell once more on that wilted leaf of the Ginseng Fruit Tree, "A pity that its life force has been severed …"
The Ginseng Fruit Tree was a spiritual seed of the heavens and the earth, possessing spiritual power that was one of the best amongst all treasured heavenly trees.
Conversely, however, if its life force had been severed, even a god would be hard pressed to save it.
This was a fallen leaf in Yan Zhaoge's hand that had already wilted. While he possessed the Life Creation Heavenly Scripture, he was unable to think of anything for the time being.
Yan Zhaoge kept the fallen leaf first, continuing to ponder over his other gains.
Rather unexpectedly, Guan Lide of the ninth level of the Martial Saint realm, the late Immortal Bridge stage, was exceptionally poor.
Yan Zhaoge could not help but feel rather puzzled by this.
With Guan Lide's cultivation base and status, having fought hard in the World beyond Worlds for so many years, even his accompanying belongings should be abundant.
From the looks of it now, however, he was even poorer than the likes of Gu Zhang and He Dongcheng of the seventh level of the Martial Saint realm.
Besides the high-grade Sacred Artifact, the Morning Star Prime Sun Crown, and a few accompanying mid-grade Sacred Artifacts, there was nothing else of value on him, leaving Yan Zhaoge greatly disappointed.
"It is said that while Guan Lide is a loner, he also has descendants and disciples."
Yan Zhaoge pondered, "The few times he has come to the Royal Reed Sea, he has always personally gone into battle, yet no disciples or followers have been seen. It looks like his disciples and followers are doing some things for him, such as watching over his pill furnace or helping him set up formations and forge artifacts."
In this way, Guan Lide might be planning to obtain a great treasure.
Most of his previous savings might have been spent on this.
Yan Zhaoge smacked his lips. Just based on Guan Lide's actions of profiting from a burning house and bringing much danger to Broad Creed Mountain, Yan Zhaoge felt that even getting rid of him would not be considered done for. He would even have to return the favor by attacking Guan Lide's home.
Still, with Guan Lide already dead, the Southeastern Exalt would most likely have to protect his descendants.
With the dead already dead, however dissatisfied the Southeastern Exalt was with Guan Lide, it was already over. At this time, that bit of former friendship with him would instead be more useful.
Yan Zhaoge could understand this as he shrugged, his thoughts turning to other matters.
"When Shen Lingzi, Daoist Shi and King Xuancheng left the Royal Reed Sea back then, it should have been because the Heaven Emperor had a new mission for them. What could it be?" Yan Zhaoge pondered, "This Emperor has many ideas."
While many thoughts flashed through Yan Zhaoge's mind, it was not just about organising his gains from this great battle.
He was selecting and choosing from the various treasures he had obtained this time, perfecting a concept of his own.
That was, how to completely destroy a wound of the sky.
This was not a joke. Yan Zhaoge was indeed very seriously considering this question.
As if to prove the necessity of Yan Zhaoge considering this question, a piece of news was quickly transmitted back from the border.
Despite not having fallen into a clear disadvantage, the attacks of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory had instead slowed.
Slowing was not retreating.
On the contrary, after slowing, they seemed to intend to advance deeper into the flanks.
It was as if they were preparing to invade the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory on a large scale even as they made way for a certain existence.
Yan Zhaoge's first reaction upon hearing this news was that the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen was going to personally make a move. (To be continued.)
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