Chapter 521 - 517: Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Guarded by a Demon

Chapter 521: Chapter 517: Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Guarded by a Demon

It was an exceedingly faint fragrance, barely there, mingling with the damp scent of decaying leaves and the fresh aroma of plants and trees.

The scent was identical to the Spirit-Nurturing Flower from before—gentle, mellow, and carrying a refreshing coolness that permeated the soul.

’Could it be a Spirit-Nurturing Flower?’

Fang Han suppressed the surging anticipation in his heart and executed the Wind God Step. His body transformed into a faint cyan streak of light, silently flitting toward the fragrance’s source.

The further he went, the clearer the fragrance became.

It was no longer barely there, but had coalesced into a warm, refreshing current. Inhaling it seemed to make the Inner Qi in his body circulate a little faster.

The fragrance grew clearer, and ever more familiar to Fang Han. The Spirit-Nurturing Flower from yesterday had smelled just like this.

After passing through a dense thicket of thorns, the terrain ahead suddenly dipped, forming a natural depression.

In the center of the depression grew a plant with unfurled blue leaves and blooming blue flowers. Within its core, a ball of pale golden mist slowly swirled.

It was a Spirit-Nurturing Flower.

’First, I need to check for danger!’

Fang Han did not rush forward.

He stopped in the shadow of an ancient tree at the edge of the depression, activating his Thousand-Mile Soul Lock with full force.

He sensed the auras in the air, drawing every wisp of presence within a several-mile radius into his perception.

Meanwhile, the Divine Treasure between his eyebrows grew slightly warm. His Spiritual Perception spread out like an invisible net, meticulously combing the area for dozens of yards around the depression.

There was no aura of a Demon, no lurking fluctuations, nothing out of the ordinary.

There was only the Spirit-Nurturing Flower, blooming quietly in the afternoon sun.

Fang Han waited another moment. After confirming that his senses detected no changes, he finally stepped out from the shadow of the ancient tree and strode toward the Spirit-Nurturing Flower.

He walked at a measured pace, each step exceptionally steady.

The gentle, unique fragrance of the Spirit-Nurturing Flower was so rich it felt tangible. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, illuminating the nine pale blue petals. Under the light, the fine golden threads at the petals’ edges seemed to shimmer with a faint, precious glow.

Fang Han took a Cold Jade Box from his Storage Ring. He squatted down, carefully plucked the Spirit-Nurturing Flower, placed it inside, closed the lid, and returned the box to his Storage Ring.

He wasn’t attacked at any point. Just as his senses had told him, there was no danger nearby.

’The second Spirit-Nurturing Flower is mine.’

Fang Han straightened up and let out a long sigh. With these two Spirit-Nurturing Flowers, both of his parents could break through to the Inner Qi Realm.

Martial Dao Cultivation extended one’s lifespan. Even someone in the Inner Qi Realm could live ten or twenty years longer than an ordinary person.

If they could advance even further, into the Middle Three Grades or even the Upper Three Grades, living past a hundred wouldn’t be an impossible dream.

’Time for lunch.’

Finding a shady spot nearby, Fang Han took out dry rations and water and began to eat.

After eating lunch and resting a bit, Fang Han continued his exploration.

He continued to make small finds, discovering a fist-sized chunk of purple-gold ore and a few quite old medicinal herbs.

However, these were all minor finds, amounting to a total value of only 30,000 gold.

’Another Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure!’

Fang Han was making his way through a dense, ancient forest, planning to find a safe place for a short rest, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked off in a new direction.

In the air, a unique fragrance wafted over.

Drawing on his experience, he immediately determined that the scent very likely came from a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

HUMMM—

Fang Han didn’t rush toward the scent. Instead, he first activated his Thousand-Mile Soul Lock to carefully sense the direction it was coming from.

His perception stretched out to the southeast. Then, his expression shifted slightly.

At the source of the fragrance, there was also an extremely formidable aura.

The aura was cold, violent, and heavy, carrying the ferocious pressure of an apex predator.

’A First-Grade Demon! This has to be a First-Grade Demon!’

This Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure had already been discovered and was now being guarded by a First-Grade Demon.

’This is no ordinary First-Grade Demon!’

Fang Han pushed his Thousand-Mile Soul Lock to its absolute limit, repeatedly sensing the Demon’s aura.

A moment later, his expression grew even more grim.

Even among Demons of the same Grade, there could be vast differences in strength.

When his senses had touched upon the Mole Antelope Demon yesterday, he had felt pressure, but it was nowhere near as intense as what he felt now.

This Demon’s aura was stronger than that Mole Antelope Demon’s.

Like Martial Artists, the gap in strength between Demons of the same Grade could be enormous.

An ordinary First-Grade Demon’s combat power was roughly equivalent to a Martial Artist who had just entered the First Grade. In a one-on-one fight, he could reliably suppress it with the power of his Spiritual Weapon, the Wind Shocking Sword.

A top-level First-Grade Demon, however, possessed combat strength comparable to a top-level First-Grade Martial Artist.

Even with the Wind Shocking Sword, he wasn’t confident he could contend with it.

’Do I have to give up?’

Fang Han stood on the spot, his brows tightly furrowed.

’It isn’t worth risking a fight to the death with a First-Grade Demon over one Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, especially one that is likely even stronger than the Mole Antelope Demon from yesterday. This Secret Realm is filled with treasures. I can just give up on this one and find another.’

’But what if this is a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that’s incredibly useful to me?’

Fang Han turned around, took a step, but stopped again.

’What if that Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure is something I desperately need?’

Once the thought took root, he couldn’t push it down.

There are many types of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, with various effects.

Some could raise one’s Cultivation, some could improve one’s Root Bone, some could temper the flesh, and others could strengthen the spirit.

’If it turned out to be something of little use to me, then giving up wouldn’t be a great loss.’

’But what if...?’

’What if it’s a treasure that I really need?’

"I’ll just sneak over and take a look," Fang Han muttered to himself.

His Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill had already reached the Realm of Perfection. While it couldn’t fool the senses of a Grandmaster Demon, deceiving a First-Grade Demon wouldn’t be difficult.

’I’ll sneak over, see what kind of treasure it is from afar, and then decide.’

HUMMM—

His mind made up, Fang Han no longer hesitated. He pushed his Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill to its absolute limit.

The Stealth Secret Technique, at its Realm of Perfection, was fully unleashed. His aura was instantly suppressed until it was nearly nonexistent.

His heartbeat slowed to a long, drawn-out rhythm. His skin temperature matched his surroundings, and his breathing became nearly silent.

He became like a piece of deadwood or a weathered stone, completely blending into the forest.

He began to move in the direction of the aura.

His steps were exceptionally light and steady. The soles of his boots made only the faintest, almost imperceptible rustle as they landed on the decaying leaves.

He deliberately chose paths concealed by bushes, keeping his figure hidden within the shadows of the canopy, never exposing himself to direct sunlight in open clearings.

The closer he got to the aura, the richer the unique fragrance became.

It was no longer faint, but had coalesced into a rich, fragrant breeze. With every breath, a ball of aroma seemed to surge through his nostrils and into his lungs.

’It’s just ahead!’

Fang Han stopped behind a dense thicket of bushes and looked ahead through the gaps in the branches and leaves.

Before him was a relatively open swamp.

The stagnant water was murky. Large patches of duckweed and dead leaves floated on the surface. Occasionally, a string of bubbles would rise and burst in the sun, releasing a faint smell of sulfur.

In the center of the swamp was a raised islet of mud.

The islet was not large, perhaps several yards square, and its surface was covered in a layer of dark green moss.

In the very center of the islet grew a peculiar plant, about a foot tall and entirely black.

Its stalk was as thick as a thumb, its surface covered with fine, scale-like patterns that glinted with a metallic luster in the sunlight.

At its tip grew three heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges. Faint black patterns seemed to flow across the leaves’ surfaces, as if a liquid were slowly coursing through their veins.

The most eye-catching thing was the fruit at its tip.

The fruit was about the size of a walnut and was jet black. Its surface seemed to swirl with a faint dark light, making it look like a black gemstone.

That rich, unique fragrance was emanating from this very fruit.

’Is this... a Secret Technique Fruit?’

Fang Han’s gaze fell on the plant, his pupils constricting slightly.

Secret Technique Fruit.

He had seen records of this Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure in the Sect’s archives. Legend had it that this particular treasure could only grow when nourished with demon blood, and its fruit contained Demon Blood Essence.

It could drastically improve the consumer’s Secret Technique Talent, making the Cultivation of Secret Techniques feel as natural as a fish swimming in water.

’It’s actually a Secret Technique Fruit!’

A fiery glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.

His Secret Technique Talent was the only one of his five Talents that he hadn’t yet enhanced with a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

He had been searching for a similar Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, and now, a Secret Technique Fruit that could improve his Secret Technique Talent was right before his eyes.

’The guardian Demon...’

Fang Han’s gaze moved from the Secret Technique Fruit and fell on the other side of the mud islet.

There, a Demon lay entrenched.

It looked like a crocodile magnified countless times over. Its body was over thirty feet long, and as it lay prone on the edge of the islet, it resembled a moss-covered log.

Its entire body was covered in dark green scales. Each scale was the size of a millstone, with edges as sharp as knives, glinting with a cold, heavy luster in the sun.

Its head was massive and its snout was broad. A mouthful of menacing white teeth interlocked, and viscous saliva seeped from between them. It dripped onto the mud with a SIZZLING sound, burning fist-sized, charred pits into the ground.

Its pair of eyes were dark yellow, with pupils vertical like a snake’s. At this moment, they were half-open, half-closed, as if it were dozing.

The aura it exuded was enough to strike terror into the heart of any prey.

It was a cold, brutal, and heavy aura, mingled with the swamp’s own stench of decay.

It was like a volcano covered by a thin layer of earth—seemingly dormant, but containing terrifying ferocity within.

Judging by the oppressive feeling of its aura, its strength was definitely greater than the Mole Antelope Demon’s from yesterday.

’Should I try to snatch it?’

Fang Han pulled his gaze away from the Crocodile Demon and looked back at the Secret Technique Fruit.

’The guarding Crocodile Demon is likely stronger than the Mole Antelope Demon from yesterday. Should I really try to take the Secret Technique Fruit?’

’I have to get it, but I can’t fight it head-on!’

After some consideration, Fang Han decided to take the Secret Technique Fruit.

The guarding Crocodile Demon was indeed a First-Grade Demon, and its combat strength was likely even greater than the Mole Antelope Demon’s from the day before.

But he didn’t need to fight this Demon to the death; he only needed to pluck the Secret Technique Fruit and immediately flee.