The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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14. Sticking a Straw into the Demon Tree King’s Territory

“Will it be okay?”

In Deok looked at Kang Hyeon with an anxious expression.

“The Demon Tree King has rooted itself in the forest, and the Fire Dragon doesn’t leave the volcano crater, so it should be fine.”

“Still…”

Kang Hyeon ultimately decided to confirm the existence that possessed powerful wood attribute spiritual energy.

After that, he would decide whether to cultivate with the help of that energy or leave for distant lands.

So after leaving Yang Won Chil’s cave dwelling and traveling for about three months, they finally discovered the Demon Tree King and Fire Dragon.

“I need the wood attribute spiritual energy coming from the Demon Tree King’s forest. Of course, if we enter the forest that is the Demon Tree King’s territory, we might face terrible consequences.”

“So shouldn’t we abandon our greed?”

“That’s why I’m suggesting we establish ourselves at the boundary between the Fire Dragon’s territory and the Demon Tree King’s territory. Moreover, if it’s this far from the center, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And I have no intention of entering the Demon Tree King’s forest directly.”

“Then? Huh? Don’t tell me you’re planning to send the monster tree?”

In Deok asked with sparkling eyes, as if he had suddenly guessed Kang Hyeon’s scheme.

“That’s right. Exactly that. I’ll send Trent into the Demon Tree King’s forest to blend in with the demon trees under the Demon Tree King.”

“Won’t it be discovered?”

“It’s fine. From what I’ve confirmed, not all the trees in the forest are the Demon Tree King’s limbs. They’re under its command, but they’re not connected to each other.”

“Really?”

“Definitely. Moreover, the demon trees in the forest often fight and devour each other.”

“Huh? It’s the Demon Tree King’s forest, but they devour each other there?”

“That’s why there’s an opening. It seems the Demon Tree King doesn’t manage the forest trees separately.”

“Then what’s this huge forest for?”

“That’s how it can maintain dense wood attribute spiritual energy. It’s better to form groups like this rather than the Demon Tree King being alone. Besides, it’s currently fighting the Fire Dragon from the volcano.”

“Ah, I understand. The Fire Dragon attacks the Demon Tree King using the volcano’s power, so the Demon Tree King is gathering the trees’ power to counter it?”

“The compatibility isn’t good. Wood attribute is absolutely disadvantageous against fire attribute. But seeing them fight evenly, I think the Demon Tree King might be stronger than the Fire Dragon.”

“Or maybe it’s barely holding on because there are many trees in the forest.”

“Well, that’s possible too. But that’s not my concern.”

“You’re planning to send your monster tree into the forest to absorb wood spiritual energy and simultaneously devour other demon trees?”

“Right. With just 4th layer Qi Refinement Stage power, it has to move from the outskirts. Well, if it devours some small demon trees, it should be able to grow quickly.”

“Meanwhile, we’ll be at the volcanic region’s outskirts?”

“Yes. The Fire Dragon won’t pay attention to us if we don’t do anything there. The Demon Tree King won’t even know we’re there.”

“Hmm, then it seems worth trying. It won’t be too dangerous.”

Eventually, In Deok also agreed to Kang Hyeon’s plan and nodded.

After that, Kang Hyeon and In Deok dug a cave at the volcanic region’s outskirts and built a cave dwelling.

***

Trent is Kang Hyeon’s summoned creature.

This was received as compensation for his previous life’s karma, comparable to an innate divine ability that one is born with.

In fact, In Deok also calls Kang Hyeon’s Trent a monster tree and knows it as an innate divine ability.

Grooooan! Grooooan!

Trent carefully penetrated into the Demon Tree King’s forest.

The Demon Tree King’s forest is full of vitality, overflowing with wood spiritual energy.

So precious spirit herbs are abundant everywhere, and absorbing them would allow rapid growth.

However, none of the forest’s spirit herbs are without owners.

Demon trees are trees with demon characteristics that can use spiritual energy and are capable of their own thinking, different from ordinary trees or spirit herbs.

Among spirit herbs, there are occasionally those that protect themselves according to survival instincts, but demon trees possess much more definite intelligence.

Having the ability to think and judge, they are no different from demon beasts or magical beasts.

Thus, in the Demon Tree King’s forest, such demon trees occupy their own territories and manage the spirit herbs growing in the forest.

Though called management, it’s closer to waiting for the right time to take them.

Among demon trees, there are occasionally cases where they help spirit herbs grow well, but lower-grade demon trees haven’t developed their thinking to that extent.

They merely watch until it’s suitable for devouring and ward off external threats at most.

Grooooan Grooooan!

Given this situation, Trent, newly entered into the demon tree forest, has nowhere proper to go.

Even when mouth-watering spirit herbs are visible, they have owners so they can’t be devoured carelessly.

But one can’t just loiter around the outskirts and watch forever.

After observing for several days, Kang Hyeon finally picked out one demon tree that looked manageable and had Trent approach it.

Grooooan, Grooooowl!

Kruuung Kruuuu Kruung!

When Trent revealed its presence and entered that demon tree’s territory, the demon tree that had been still as if sleeping showed a reaction.

Its branches extended and transformed like vines, moving toward Trent.

Meanwhile, Kang Hyeon also grasped through Trent’s senses that the demon tree’s roots were secretly approaching underground.

‘It’s an unavoidable fight anyway. The opponent has at most early Qi Refinement Stage energy, so Trent should be able to handle it without difficulty, but we must be cautious.’

It’s a demon tree.

So it might possess some special abilities.

Therefore, Kang Hyeon didn’t move Trent hastily and responded to the opponent’s attacks with counter-responses.

Grooowl Grooowl!

Trent also extended its branches like vines and drove the roots it had pulled above ground back underground.

Above ground and below ground.

Eventually, each other’s branches and roots met and became entangled on both sides.

It was a battle of strength against strength, and a battle of absorption power sucking each other’s energy.

‘Hmm?’

But it’s unexpectedly easy.

The opposing demon tree’s vines and roots are fragile compared to Trent, and crucially, its power to absorb energy is no match.

‘This isn’t even like arm wrestling with a child.’

It felt unfair that he had moved so cautiously out of needless worry.

‘The difference in absorption power is too extreme. No, the demon tree’s absorption power is negligible. In the end, is that difference due to the True Body Technique obtained from the Heaven and Earth Laws?’

Kang Hyeon had felt Dharma Bliss and communicated with the Heaven and Earth Laws four times in total: once each when reaching the Spiritual Energy Technique initiation, 2nd floor, and from 2nd to 4th floor.

However, except for the first time when he obtained a fragment of the Heaven and Earth Laws, the remaining three times he only felt the immeasurable presence of the Heaven and Earth Laws, failing to obtain anything substantial from them.

So he had inwardly regretted his lack of fortune and talent, but seeing Trent fight the demon tree now, he realized that obtaining the Absorption True Body Technique initially was already a stroke of heaven’s fortune.

‘Because I had been using it passively all this time, I didn’t know Trent’s absorption was so remarkable. But seeing it now, I had obtained an incredible treasure without even knowing it.’

Kang Hyeon reflected on himself and strengthened his consciousness link with Trent even more, spurring on the battle.

Kuuuung kuuuuuuung!

But in fact, the battle was already over from the start.

The demon tree, caught by Trent’s branches, vines, and roots, rapidly lost strength as its energy was absorbed.

At this, Kang Hyeon brought the roots above ground to make Trent approach the demon tree.

The two had started fighting at roughly a hundred zhang distance, but now Kang Hyeon had nothing to fear.

The roots left underground continued attacking the demon tree’s roots, while on the surface here and there, Trent’s branch vines wrapped around and crushed the demon tree’s branch vines, continuing to advance.

On top of that, even Trent’s main body was moving boldly toward the demon tree, while the demon tree could do nothing but helplessly take the beating.

Kuuuung kuung kuung.

In the midst of this, the demon tree pushed back by Trent made a strange crying sound and bloomed red flowers on the short branches of its trunk, then the flowers quickly withered and bore fruit.

Red fruit.

‘It’s not a Spirit Fruit?’

Kang Hyeon could tell through his senses connected to Trent that the fruit was not a Spirit Fruit condensed with wood spiritual energy.

But it definitely contained strong energy.

‘It’s not wood spiritual energy, so what is it?’

Kang Hyeon decided to observe the unfamiliar energy without immediately touching the fruit.

The fruit that the demon tree had borne by giving up much in a situation where the battle’s outcome was almost decided.

It contained an ominous feeling.

But right at that moment.

Snap!

‘What, this guy?’

Trent moved on its own and wrapped its vines around the dark red fruit hanging on the demon tree’s branch.

And.

Auuuuung auauaung!

Sluuuuurp! Sssssip!

‘What the hell…’

Trent absorbed the energy contained in the demon tree’s fruit in an instant.

It was absorption hundreds of times faster than when absorbing energy from the demon tree’s branches or roots.

‘How is this…’

Kang Hyeon once again focused on his consciousness connected to Trent, trying hard to read Trent’s will.

As a result, he was able to read a strand of will being conveyed to Trent.

Auuuuuung!

‘Frustrating! This is really!’

Kang Hyeon realized it was Trent’s complaint.

Somehow Trent was appealing its dissatisfaction to its master, Kang Hyeon.

So Kang Hyeon strengthened his consciousness connection with Trent even more, and as a result, he realized that the absorption he had been doing through Trent until now was not proper spell manifestation.

‘The absorption True Body Technique from the Heaven and Earth Laws had a separate system for understanding and activating incantations. But I had merely requested absorption from Trent, failing to consider this and guide it to use proper spell arts.’

Kang Hyeon was greatly dismayed upon realizing this fact.

This was Trent that he had skillfully commanded from the other world, but in This Place, he had failed to recognize Trent’s changes and was bound by preconceptions from Earth.

– The True Body Technique of absorption is a very powerful spell art. While I cannot use it directly, through Trent it enables rapid absorption of any energy, and Trent, as the subject of the True Body Technique, never harms itself from the energy it absorbs.

‘This is insane. So no matter what energy or how much Trent absorbs, there’s no danger to Trent? The core of the Absorption True Body Technique is that any energy can be refined to bear fruit or used for Trent’s own growth?’

Kang Hyeon trembled in the Formation Position of the Training Room in his Cave Dwelling.

Even if he had known this fact earlier, he would have had to be mindful as a trainee of the Great Unity Festival, but he could have done much more.

However, Kang Hyeon was trembling now not because of such regret, but because he anticipated the future benefits to be gained in the Demon Tree King’s Forest.

‘Then I need to completely change my plan. It’s not about the mid-to-late Qi Refinement Stage, but from here I could even aim for Foundation Establishment, or even Core Formation, couldn’t I?’

The power of the True Body Technique that had revealed its true nature was so tremendous that from his current Mid Qi Refinement Stage, he could even imagine realms he wouldn’t dare dream of.

‘If I can just avoid moving too hastily and drawing the Demon Tree King’s attention, I can really expect rapid growth. Good! Let’s do this!’

Kang Hyeon steeled his resolve once more and began focusing on his consciousness connection with Trent.

***

Thud thud thud!

“It’s out!”

In Deok cheered at seeing the tree roots sprouting from the ground.

And he pulled up from the ground a large mass well wrapped in fine rootlets.

“Ehihihihi.”

Unable to hide his bursting laughter, he leaped up and disappeared into the interior of the Volcanic Region.

Where In Deok had disappeared, there remained a hole where tree roots had dug up from the ground, but the roots that had been filling that hole were nowhere to be seen.

The owner of those roots was Trent.

But now that Trent had its roots planted fifty li deep inside the Demon Tree King’s Forest.

From there, it had sent Spirit Fruit wrapped in roots underground all the way to the outskirts of this forest.

Kang Hyeon had to maintain his consciousness connection with such Trent, so he had sent In Deok to receive the Spirit Fruit that Trent had sent.

“Ehihihit, Kang Hyeon!”

In Deok rushed into the inner part of the cave dwelling, into the cultivation chamber, calling out to Kang Hyeon.

Kang Hyeon opened his eyes while maintaining a thin consciousness link with Trent and welcomed In Deok.

“You went and came back well? Nothing happened?”

“Yeah, there’s still no particular changes within the volcanic territory.”

“These days, monsters and demonic beasts have been gradually coming in.”

“It’s fine. Even so, they’re only ones with faint spiritual energy. They can’t really be called proper monsters or demonic beasts. They’re things that haven’t even formed inner cores.”

“Still. If such prey increases, stronger ones might come chasing after them.”

“Would there really be any big ones bold enough to come into the Fire Dragon’s territory?”

“Well…”

Kang Hyeon’s thoughts weren’t much different from In Deok’s, so he nodded slightly.

Small and weak creatures might enter the volcanic territory without fearing the Fire Dragon, but those with some power couldn’t do so.

Only those who know something can be afraid of it.

It’s different from young monsters and demonic beasts who know nothing.

“Still, you never know. I doubt anything as strong as the Fire Dragon would come this way, but there might be some fool drawn by the fire energy who tries to serve as the Fire Dragon’s minion.”

“Would that foul-tempered Fire Dragon really accept subordinates? It would just swallow them in one gulp.”

“There might be fools who don’t know that and approach. So when you go outside, always be vigilant and careful of your surroundings.”

“Yeah, I got it. I understand, so stop nagging and let’s open this.”

In Deok seemed more urgent about opening the large bundle in his hands than listening to Kang Hyeon’s nagging, so he urged him on.

At this, Kang Hyeon also stopped nagging and received the container made from Trent’s intertwined roots from In Deok.

From the outside, it looked like a bundle of small roots, but inside it contained four spirit fruits.

“Now, let’s see.”

Kang Hyeon looked expectant as he infused wood attribute spiritual energy into the root bundle in his hands, moving the small roots.

Just like Trent moving its own roots, Kang Hyeon skillfully untangled the intertwined roots.

Then the top surface slowly opened, revealing the spirit fruits inside.

“Wow, this is crazy. This one contains poison energy, this one is earth attribute, this one is metal, ehehehehe. And this one is wood attribute?”

The four spirit fruits contained within each held different attribute energies.

The spirit fruits that came this time contained poison, earth, metal, and wood attributes, and among them, the one containing metal energy went to In Deok, while Kang Hyeon took the rest.

However, among those three, the only one Kang Hyeon would use was the spirit fruit containing wood attribute spiritual energy.

The poison and earth attributes weren’t particularly helpful for Kang Hyeon or In Deok’s cultivation, so they were for separate storage.

With the Trent spiritual root, absorption wasn’t a problem, but their spiritual energy accumulation wasn’t slow enough to require doing so.

“I’m going to challenge the 7th level of the Spiritual Energy Technique while absorbing this. What about you, In Deok?”

“Me? My lightning energy is a bit lacking… It’s still too much for me.”

In Deok answered with a regretful expression, then immediately brightened up.

“When you challenge realm advancement, I can protect you, so it’s actually better. Don’t worry and challenge the advancement. I’ll be guarding you.”

Pat pat!

In Deok beat his chest and showed a resolute expression.

At this, Kang Hyeon sent a trusting gaze to In Deok.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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