Chapter 429: Chapter 425: The Tree Spirit’s Cultivation Method

The Bull Demon King kept up his frantic stabbing for five minutes, and finally, the Tree Spirit’s pain reached its peak.

SNAP...

A Vermilion Spirit Fruit, pale with a blush of red, fell with a plop.

Tu Xiao’an’s eyes lit up. The freshly fallen Vermilion Spirit Fruit, as if it had a mind of its own, flew directly to him.

He caught it in one hand and took a bite as if it were an apple. Tu Xiao’an grinned and said, "Hey Bull, just five more minutes of hard work, and you’ll get one to eat too."

"Tsk tsk, no problem. I like this kind of work." He resumed his frantic stabbing with the Flying Knife, this time fighting for his very own Vermilion Spirit Fruit.

When the Tree Spirit heard it was going to be stabbed for another five minutes, it nearly lost its mind. Its despair level instantly shot to the maximum.

PLOP...

A second Vermilion Spirit Fruit fell right before the Bull Demon King’s eyes.

The Bull Demon King snatched it with sharp eyes and quick hands, but he didn’t look happy at all. Instead, he pouted and said, "Why’d this fruit fall so fast? I hadn’t had my fill of stabbing yet."

"Master, do you want another one?" the Bull Demon King asked Tu Xiao’an.

The Tree Spirit burst out cursing, "Bull Demon, fuck you!"

’It had really had enough. Can’t they just quit while they’re ahead? Just leave a poor tree like me a way to live!’

Tu Xiao’an contentedly finished the Vermilion Spirit Fruit, gaining a cool five hundred Evolutionary Energy. He could eat fruits like this all day and never get tired of it.

But seeing the Tree Spirit’s half-dead, withered state, he dismissed the thought. He had, after all, promised to treat it well.

"Charlie, your master wants to know how you cultivate," Tu Xiao’an asked, leaning against its trunk.

The Tree Spirit seemed to realize something. "Master, could it be that you want to help Charlie evolve?"

’One evolution and I could become a Dragon!’ This tree had dreams, too.

Tu Xiao’an coughed awkwardly. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak; he was out of Faith Points.

He was afraid to reject the Tree Spirit outright for fear of hurting its feelings, so he said, "Your Level isn’t high enough. That’s why your master wanted to first ask how you increase your power, and then I can help you."

"Charlie’s Cultivation is very simple. I just need to absorb Wood Element Energy."

"Absorb Wood Element Energy?" Tu Xiao’an didn’t quite understand.

"Master, watch closely." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The roots beneath the Tree Spirit’s trunk moved like spider legs, scurrying swiftly until it stood before a massive tree several times its own size.

Three vines suddenly shot out from its body like sharp spears, piercing directly into the majestic tree’s trunk.

Tu Xiao’an and the Bull Demon King were stunned. The majestic tree began to wither at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if all its moisture was being drained away. Its leaves rustled down, and in an instant, it was completely bare.

After three minutes, the majestic tree was completely withered and dead. Not a single leaf remained. You could chop it down and use it for firewood.

In contrast, the Tree Spirit looked as if it had just eaten a full meal. Its dense leaves now glistened with a healthy sheen.

"Damn, it’s a vampire tree."

The Tree Spirit had absorbed all the essence and nutrients from the other large tree, causing it to wither and die.

This was what it meant by absorbing Wood Element Energy.

"Master, that was just an ordinary tree, so even though I absorbed it, the benefit wasn’t very significant," the Tree Spirit continued. "If I could absorb a Spirit Tree, my Realm would increase. The better the Spirit Tree, the greater the effect. So, Master, all you need to do is get me a Spirit Tree."

Tu Xiao’an’s face twitched. He gave the Tree Spirit a strange look, utterly speechless.

’Where am I supposed to find a Spirit Tree for it? A First-rank Spirit Tree bears First-rank Spirit Fruit, and a Second-rank Spirit Tree bears Second-rank Spirit Fruit.’

’Even if he found one, Tu Xiao’an wouldn’t be willing to waste a heavenly treasure like that. This damn thing’s path to power was paved with gold!’

Any desire Tu Xiao’an had to nurture the Tree Spirit was instantly extinguished. ’What a unique Tree Spirit, one that truly marches to the beat of its own drum. You have to love it and hate it at the same time.’

"Charlie, Spirit Trees are considered Heavenly and Earthly Treasures; they’re not something you can just find whenever you want. Look, the Yaoling Mountain Range is covered in trees. Just go and absorb them as you please. The effect might be weaker, but every little bit helps, right?"

The Tree Spirit replied, "Master, I can’t absorb too many ordinary trees, or it will negatively affect my potential. Absorbing Spirit Trees is the only true path."

’Trees have ’potential’ too?’ Tu Xiao’an’s worldview was completely shattered.

"Charlie, where do you expect your master to find a Spirit Tree for you?" An idea suddenly popped into Tu Xiao’an’s head: the White Demon King’s Centennial Ice Divine Fruit. That came from a Second-rank Spirit Tree. Perhaps it could be the solution for the Tree Spirit.

However, they hadn’t even reached the Azure Bamboo Forest yet, so Tu Xiao’an couldn’t be sure of the situation. Besides, the core of the tree that bore the Centennial Ice Divine Fruit was already spoken for.

The Tree Spirit said, "Master, the Yaoling Mountain Range is vast and rich in resources. Nature’s spiritual energy converges here, so there must be plenty of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. Let me follow you, and I can sense any such treasures within a five-kilometer radius."

At these words, Tu Xiao’an’s eyes lit up. He wanted to give the Tree Spirit a big kiss. "You treasure! You have an ability like this? Why didn’t you say so sooner?"

’It’s a walking treasure detector!’

Tu Xiao’an was absolutely in love with this tree. It turned out the real prize from his trip to the Demon Management Bureau wasn’t that Blackbird, but this Tree Spirit. It was a genuine treasure through and through.

"Let’s go! Time for a treasure hunt!" Tu Xiao’an climbed onto the Tree Spirit, found a comfortable-looking branch, and sat down.

The Tree Spirit was instantly dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"

Tu Xiao’an chuckled. "You have to walk anyway, so you might as well give your master a ride."

’Fuck! I’m a tree, and you’re using me as a mount?’

"Master, you’re so clever! I’m coming up too!" the Bull Demon King exclaimed, starting to climb onto the Tree Spirit. But Tu Xiao’an kicked him right off. "You’re supposed to be leading the way. What are you climbing up here for? You lazy bum!"

The Bull Demon King pouted. ’Talk about lazy,’ he thought.

"Hey Bull, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your clan’s noble tradition."

"To be hardworking and uncomplaining, is that it?" The Bull Demon King nearly lost his temper.

Tu Xiao’an blinked. "Nope. It’s to endure hardship and work hard. You can’t let yourself get lazy."

’If you weren’t my master, I’d beat you to a pulp.’

And so, the Bull Demon King led the way, followed by a large, self-walking tree. As it moved, its dense canopy of leaves swayed in the wind, each one catching the sunlight and glistening like a tiny, twinkling star.

Nestled within, Tu Xiao’an found the dense leaves shielding him from the elements. It was incredibly pleasant.

’In this whole world, who the hell is as stylish as me? The era of using animals as mounts is so *out*. Using a plant—now *that’s* truly awesome.’

’It feels as comfortable as riding in a luxury van.’

It was only then that Tu Xiao’an noticed how unusual the Tree Spirit’s leaves were. There were shades of deep red and dark red, colors that weren’t quite red or green, with red interspersed with green and green showing hints of red. In short, they contained every imaginable shade of red and green. Despite the multitude of colors, they blended in perfect harmony. A touch more would have been gaudy, a touch less would have been dull. They were just like magnificent feathers.

Tu Xiao’an reached out, plucked a leaf, and held it between his lips. Its sap was faintly sweet, with a pleasant fragrance.