Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1158 - 345: Just a Bit Luckier

Imagine a common wooden barrel; when filled with water, it reaches its capacity, and any additional water overflows.

The Divine Tree Juice, however, enables you to pour more water into that existing barrel.

But as for this root...

It possesses the power to shatter limits, to expand the barrel itself once it's full, thus accommodating a greater volume!

Chen Yan’s countenance shifted to one of seriousness upon hearing this explanation.

"It's hardly surprising that fellow from the Gu Family fails to grasp this—their focus lies solely on Combat Techniques, lacking acumen in Elixirs; the entire family are essentially brutish warriors!

Ah, but one cannot truly fault them.

The Fierce Beast Race constitutes a primary adversary to our Domain Realm, and the Divine Tree has perpetually resided within their sacred domain. The environment of Evil Land Mountain is exceptionally hostile, a desolate expanse devoid of Primordial Qi.

Regardless of a cultivator's might, they can barely muster a tenth of their usual strength there, which explains why the Domain Realm has never succeeded in subjugating the Fierce Beast Race.

While Divine Tree Juice is a rare commodity, we occasionally manage to procure small quantities through successful raids.

However, the root of the Divine Tree remains elusive; consequently, even the esteemed Alchemy Masters of the Domain Realm are likely unaware of its true effects."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan couldn't suppress his curiosity and inquired, "Then how is it that you are aware?"

Shi Lu cast a chilly glance at Chen Yan, retorting, "In my youth, I ventured into Evil Land Mountain. Although I never breached the inner sanctum of the Fierce Beast Race's Holy Land, I spent several years within its formidable mountains, enduring extreme cold. I even allowed myself to be captured intentionally, serving as a slave for a period of three years.

During those three years, while I never had direct contact with the Divine Tree, I observed it from a considerable distance.

Through careful deduction, comparing its traits with those of the Evil Spirit Tree, I conducted numerous experiments to ascertain its various characteristics.

I even courted great risk to procure two leaves from the Divine Tree, subjecting them to meticulous study and validation.

If there is anyone in the Domain Realm who possesses the most profound understanding of the Fierce Beast Race's Divine Tree, I stand as second; none would dare claim the title of first!"

Chen Yan's comprehension dawned!

He gleaned two crucial insights from the plump old man's discourse.

Firstly, this venerable gentleman is undeniably formidable! He willingly ventured into a region where Primordial Qi was unusable, infiltrated an enemy race, and endured servitude merely to gather intelligence.

Chen Yan himself had previously set foot in Evil Land Mountain and experienced a brief period of enslavement under the Fierce Beast Race.

The term "harsh" scarcely begins to encapsulate the nature of those days.

The mere fact that this elder managed to survive such an ordeal and escape alive is nothing short of astounding!

As for the second point... it appears that the Divine Tree's root, and its purported effect of breaking a cultivator's physical limitations, is merely the elder's own hypothesis!

"This root shall be mine! I intend to utilize it to substantiate certain theories I hold. Should my experiments prove successful, I shall repay you with an elixir capable of shattering physical limits!"

Shi Lu declared, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "Furthermore, young one, you fail to appreciate that this root holds far greater potential applications beyond its use in concocting medicine!"

"Oh?"

"The Divine Tree itself is an exceedingly rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasure. The tree is a marvel of rarity, possessing the ability to absorb the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, thereby creating a 'dead zone' devoid of such vital energy.

The primary reason for the Fierce Beast Race's enduring strength and their immunity to Domain Realm conquest lies in the fact that their territory is a realm utterly lacking in Primordial Qi! Despite the immense power wielded by cultivators in the Domain Realm, they are incapable of penetrating the heartland of the Fierce Beast Race and consequently cannot bring about their destruction.

Evil Land Mountain is devoid of Primordial Qi due to the presence of the Evil Spirit Trees, and these Evil Spirit Trees are, in essence, progeny of the Divine Tree.

The Divine Tree serves as the central nexus of this entire phenomenon. With the Divine Tree flourishing, so too do millions of Evil Spirit Trees, which collectively siphon the Primordial Qi from the land, establishing a Primordial Qi-less dead zone.

This very dead zone then acts as an insurmountable natural bastion for the Fierce Beast Race, presenting an intractable problem for the Domain Realm.

However, if this 'dead zone' were to cease existing..."

Chen Yan, endowed with quick wit, immediately grasped the implication: "So, when you infiltrated the Fierce Beast Race's territory, your objective was... to study the Divine Tree itself!"

"Precisely!"

Shi Lu elaborated with measured words, "Should we be able to meticulously study the Divine Tree, to truly comprehend its essence, its behavioral patterns, its inherent characteristics, and the intricate process of its growth.

Understanding its preferences, the optimal methods for nurturing it, those elements it abhors, and those it actively avoids...

If we can unravel these mysteries, it may pave the way for discovering a method to effectively restrain the Divine Tree!

And if we can achieve such restraint..."

Chen Yan's understanding solidified.

To restrain the Divine Tree would mean neutralizing its fundamental characteristics!

Should its capacity to absorb Primordial Qi be nullified, the desolation of Evil Land Mountain's dead zone would vanish instantly!

Are the Fierce Beast Race truly so powerful? Not necessarily! Their current might is merely a product of their reliance on this dead zone as a defensive perimeter.

No matter an individual cultivator's might, venturing into Evil Land Mountain compels them into mere physical confrontations with the Fierce Beast Race.

Though Body Cultivators might possess a slight edge, they too rely on Primordial Qi to unleash their full capabilities.

This would hold true, absent the existence of the 'dead zone' acting as a deterrent.

Relative to a cultivator, the Fierce Beast Race would present no greater threat than insignificantly tougher insects.

"It's a deal!

This segment of the Divine Tree's root shall be divided equally: half for my research and medicinal preparations. Should I succeed in crafting an Elixir, the entirety will be yours.

The remaining moiety is for my own studies, to ascertain if cultivating a Divine Tree is feasible!"

"A-okay, understood!

Chen Yan acknowledged this without a moment's hesitation.

Master Alchemist Shi Lu harbors grand aspirations; this is his ultimate ambition.

Should he manage to cultivate a Divine Tree, he could meticulously study its enigmatic ways during the growth period and, if a method to control it is discovered...

In epochs to come, should Evil Land Mountain be pacified and the Fierce Beast Race subjugated, he would undoubtedly be hailed as the Domain Realm's paramount hero—an individual etched into the annals of history.

At that juncture, the perpetual conflicts at Snow Cliff Pass would cease, potentially preserving countless lives across the Domain Realm.

Yet, for the Fierce Beast Race, such an outcome might signify utter ruin...

Upon contemplating this, Chen Yan promptly halted his further reflections.

He possessed no inherent altruism, nor was he intrinsically tied to the Domain Realm; thus, excessive concern for the existential fate of these races was unwarranted.

An entrenched animosity has persisted between the Fierce Beast Race and the Domain Realm for far too long, marked by profound hatred and immense bloodshed.

Such deep-seated antagonism can only be eradicated through the complete subjugation or annihilation of one side.

Sentiments of cheap pity or selfless benevolence are merely hollow platitudes.

The very last item Chen Yan produced was the Heavenly and Earthly Treasure acquired en route to the Black Wood Tribe: the Glazed Purple Treasure Vine.

On this occasion, Shi Lu's reaction lacked its previous dramatic flair.

The portly elder simply arched an eyebrow, betraying a hint of surprise, though not the pronounced astonishment elicited by the Divine Tree's root. He accepted it with a casual gesture, scrutinized it in his palm, delicately plucked a single purple fruit between two fingers, and emitted a sigh.

"A fine specimen, its age is commendable, but..."

Shi Lu directed his gaze back to Chen Yan, his eyes now filled with a more profound curiosity. "Youngster, what is your innate destiny or constitution? How do you continuously come across such a plethora of treasures?"

Chen Yan offered a disarming grin. "Perhaps I’m just a trifle luckier than most, I suppose."