113: Chapter 113 The King of Longevity

"Is that the wood marrow lotus?"

Mo Zixing lowered his voice.

With a thought, he opened the System panel and scanned the flower bud on the statue's chest.

[Item: wood marrow lotus (About to mature)]

[Introduction: A rare object born at the intersection of Yin and Yang. Its budding period is extremely long, and it requires a massive amount of vitality to bloom. It possesses a weak sentience and will actively hunt surrounding organisms to absorb their life force. It can serve as the core material for a Golden Core Breakthrough to the Spirit Gathering Stage, nourish the Divine Soul, eliminate hidden ailments in the dao base, and significantly improve physical constitution.]

"Isn't this thing's appearance a bit too bizarre?"

After reading the introduction on the panel, Mo Zixing glanced at the bud again and frowned.

"A perfectly good flower doesn't grow in the dirt, but instead insists on growing on a statue's chest like some kind of tumor."

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion or not.

That giant dark green bud seemed to be constantly trembling at a slow, steady pace.

The black stems also tightened further around the statue, emitting faint cracking sounds.

"It... should be."

Liu Qingyan also felt a bit creeped out and stepped back slightly.

"I've only seen written records in ancient books; I've never seen the real thing. I didn't expect it to be this sinister."

"It must be it."

Sect Master Bai Ruotong stared at the bud, smacked her lips, and knit her small brows again.

"But with so many stems wrapped around it and so many Disciples guarding it, how are we going to get our hands on it?"

Mo Zixing pulled the door crack open a bit wider.

His gaze swept across the entire hall.

The hall was densely packed with about thirty or forty Qingyun Sect Disciples.

According to the panel, most of their cultivation levels were at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

There were also six or seven at the Early Stage of Crystallization and two at the Middle Stage of Crystallization scattered around.

All of them were alertly watching the wood marrow lotus.

That was quite a lot of people.

However, the most important one wasn't any of them.

It was the person with the highest cultivation, the Qingyun Sect's Sect Master.

Sect Master Kang Qiao.

Where was she?

Mo Zixing's gaze quickly swept through the crowd.

It finally stopped near a stone pillar far to the left of the statue.

Standing there was a middle-aged woman dressed in a green robe of the Qingyun Sect style.

Her face was ordinary, yet she carried a natural Aura of authority that commanded respect without anger.

The spiritual power fluctuations around her were unfathomable, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding Disciples.

[Name: Sect Master Kang Qiao]

[Gender: Female]

[Race: Human]

[Cultivation: Golden Core Ninth Level]

[Personality: Sect-oriented, Power-hungry]

[Innate Luck:]

1. Descendant of Longevity (Blue): Possesses a lineage of longevity. Normal Lifespan is longer than average, and the extra Lifespan gained with each major Realm Breakthrough is also greater.

2. Everlasting Body (Purple): Naturally possesses a decent wood attribute Spiritual Root, and Lifespan is longer than average.

3. Hardworking and Resilient (Blue): Has been a person of resilient Heart-Nature since childhood. Spiritual power consumption is reduced when used, though Comprehension Ability is slightly decreased.]

[Acquired Luck:]

1. Immovable Minor Wisdom King (Purple): Once received a certain degree of protection from the Wisdom King. Physical constitution is greatly improved, and defense against external attacks is moderately increased.]

Mo Zixing's mouth twitched as he read.

What kind of traits were these?

This was completely a legendary 'King of Longevity'!

Low Comprehension Ability didn't matter as long as one's Lifespan was long enough.

While others lived for a hundred years, she lived for three hundred and fifty. By slowly grinding, she could reach the Golden Core Ninth Level.

As long as she could outlive everyone else, she would be the strongest.

Coupled with the personality combination of [Sect-oriented] and [Power-hungry]...

For the interests of the Sect and her own power...

Backstabbing Sect Master Bai Ruotong, whom she might have once considered a true friend, would carry absolutely no psychological burden.

Just then.

A Disciple quickly ran to Sect Master Kang Qiao's side, bowed, and said:

"Sect Master!"

"The blooming speed of the wood marrow lotus has suddenly accelerated!"

"At this rate, it will be in full bloom within half an hour at most!"

"Oh?"

Sect Master Kang Qiao gave a cold laugh and flicked her sleeves.

"That means it has absorbed fresh vitality again."

"It seems someone has broken in."

She tilted her chin up, her tone indifferent yet majestic.

"You, take five people and go check outside."

"If you find any intruders, kill them on sight."

"Yes!"

The Disciple responded.

He turned and called five people to form a squad, and they ran toward the exit of the hall together.

Sect Master Kang Qiao watched their retreating backs and slowly closed her eyes.

The spiritual power fluctuations around her became even more subtle.

"Hmph, it's her!"

Seeing Sect Master Kang Qiao, Sect Master Bai Ruotong's eyes instantly turned red. She clenched her small fists and said through gritted teeth:

"That despicable and shameless person!"

"To think she's still not dead after all these years!"

"Shh!"

Mo Zixing reached out to cover her mouth, blocking her unspoken words, his brow furrowed tightly.

No.

Something was wrong.

He had a bad feeling.

Why do Cultivators close their eyes?

Either to regulate their breathing...

Or...

To use their Divine Sense to investigate!

The next second.

Sect Master Kang Qiao snapped her eyes open.

Her cold gaze shot straight toward the small pavilion where they were hiding!

Her Divine Sense swept over, instantly locking onto the positions of the three!

"Found you."

Sect Master Kang Qiao said softly and waved her hand.

A surge of powerful wood attribute spiritual power swept toward them.

The small wooden door was instantly ripped away.

Spinning in the air...

It smashed directly toward the three of them!

"She's discovered us."

Mo Zixing's eyes narrowed.

He raised his hand and condensed a Flying Sword, slashing directly at the incoming wooden door.

Boom!

Wood chips flew everywhere.

Amidst the dust...

Sect Master Kang Qiao's figure had already appeared less than ten steps from the pavilion.

"Who has come?"

Her gaze slowly swept over the three of them, finally stopping on Sect Master Bai Ruotong's face.

Sect Master Kang Qiao's brow furrowed slightly.

"This little one looks familiar; she somewhat resembles an old acquaintance of mine."

Mo Zixing took a step forward, shielding Sect Master Bai Ruotong and Liu Qingyan behind him.

The pressure of a Golden Core was indeed strong.

Mo Zixing didn't want to waste energy on bickering, so he simply raised the Flying Sword in his hand slightly, watching the woman before him warily.

"Forget it, it's not important. That person never had the chance to bear children anyway."

Sect Master Kang Qiao's gaze fell back onto Mo Zixing, a mocking smile touching the corners of her mouth.

"Regardless of who you are, since you've broken in here, you surely don't have good intentions."

"Just as well, the wood marrow lotus is only missing the last bit of vitality to fully bloom."

"The three of you can obediently become the fuel for its maturation."

As she finished speaking...

Sect Master Kang Qiao slammed her hand onto the ground.

Countless thick wooden spikes erupted from the ground one by one, stabbing toward the three of them!

"Watch out!"

Mo Zixing grabbed Sect Master Bai Ruotong with one hand and wrapped his other arm around Liu Qingyan's waist.

With a surge of spiritual power under his feet...

He activated Thousand Machine Shadows and instantly dodged the attack.

The wooden spikes slammed into where the three had just been standing, riddling the hard stone floor with holes.

The attacks of the Golden Core Stage were indeed extraordinary.

Even a casual strike possessed such terrifying power.

The surrounding Qingyun Sect Disciples also reacted.

They drew their longswords one after another and closed in on the three of them together.