A hundred days passed, and the Desolate Ancient Battlefield was about to close.
Xu Mu sat cross-legged under the shade of a Heavenly Tree, a saber resting on his knees. Countless phantom statues, ferocious and varied in their poses, surrounded him. The weapons in their hands differed, the rhythmic beat of drumsticks and the resonant strumming of zithers mingling with the sharp clash of swords and sabers, emitting a terrifying aura that spread outwards, causing the space to tremble.
Qiongqi crouched tens of meters away from Xu Mu, gazing intently at the ancient statues floating in the space. He had a feeling that as Xu Mu's cultivation grew stronger, these statues would multiply, becoming increasingly lifelike, perhaps even rivaling the size of divine manifestations, and eventually awakening to life.
"This saber dao inheritance is not quite what I initially imagined," a voice said.
The Wine Immortal Daoist appeared behind Qiongqi at some point, casually stroking the latter's not-so-smooth fur. Qiongqi purred contentedly, not resisting. After these hundred days of interaction, he and the Wine Immortal Daoist had become quite familiar due to Xu Mu, even discussing cultivation together.
"Although those statues are all different, and the pressure they exude varies, they are all actually derived from the saber dao."
"I've never seen such a miraculous saber dao inheritance. I truly wonder which ancient predecessor created it and what its true power is," the Wine Immortal Daoist sighed. He knew many powerful saber users, with all sorts of strange abilities, but generally, the ultimate path of saber techniques led back to the essence of the saber itself. In his experience, the simpler and more direct the saber, the more powerful it was. He had never encountered a saber technique that, based on the saber dao, evolved into other great daos for attack. Putting aside its power, the sheer difficulty of such a transformation was akin to climbing to heaven.
Yet, climbing to heaven did not seem to pose a problem for Xu Mu. After a hundred days of cultivation, he had progressed from manifesting a single phantom to eight stable and solid phantoms, clearly reaching a minor accomplishment.
"His talent, I was indeed right about him," the Daoist praised.
"But this is likely the slowest he has ever learned," Qiongqi, however, shook his head. He clearly remembered that when Xu Mu first learned the Space Great Dao, he had grasped it after just one demonstration. Learning a saber technique in a hundred days was hardly commendable.
The Wine Immortal Daoist chuckled and took a sip of wine. His depleted origin energy had recovered somewhat over these hundred days. Now, he was simply waiting for the Desolate Ancient Battlefield to close automatically so he could take Xu Mu back to the White Cloud Daoist Temple.
"Although the journey was perilous, the outcome is good."
Xu Mu had just finished his cultivation. He opened his eyes, his gaze clear. "I only fear that upon returning to the temple, my performance might disappoint Senior."
Seeing Xu Mu awake, the Wine Immortal Daoist beamed. "Bringing you back, my senior brother would be so overjoyed he'd do ten thousand somersaults in the clouds. How could there be any disappointment?"
"You'll find out when the time comes. Among the many Daoist priests in the White Cloud Daoist Temple, less than one in ten have disciples. When they see I've found a successor like you, hehe, they'll be green with envy!"
Xu Mu couldn't help but chuckle and didn't reply. He had always been confident in his talent because he knew he was quite intelligent and capable of being anyone's disciple.
"Hoo."
Xu Mu exhaled a breath of stale air, still maintaining his seated posture. He lowered his gaze to the saber resting on his knees. That saber was a transformation of the Demonic Sword, its size and weight replicating the feel of the hunting knife from before.
"My saber's edge, its ultimate craftsmanship is simple and unadorned."
"If I ever have the chance, I will personally reforge you, just like other divine artifacts. But for now, I'm sorry I cannot use you."
Xu Mu mused with a touch of melancholy about the hunting knife that Charles had forged twice. Although that knife was exceptionally tough, comparable to many weapons refined by power users, it was still far inferior to the Demon God's Horn, and it lacked a weapon spirit.
"There's still half a day until this space closes. That's just enough time for us to go to the Mountain God in the stone cave to exchange for treasures."
Xu Mu rose from the ground, the phantoms surrounding him retracting into his body.
The Wine Immortal Daoist said, "Half a day is more than enough to go to the first or second stone cave, but the third one would be a bit rushed."
Xu Mu nodded. "Then let's go to the second stone cave. While the items there might not be as good as those in the first stone cave, at least we won't have to worry about being ambushed by Yan Huo and his group."
"Yes, that's for the best, to avoid any further complications," the Wine Immortal Daoist agreed.
The Spirit of the Heavenly Tree, overhearing their conversation, spoke hesitantly, "The Mountain God in the stone cave... can he exchange treasures?"
Xu Mu paused. "Yes, Fu Xi himself said we can use points to exchange for treasures at the Mountain God in the stone cave. The higher the ranking of the stone cave, the better the treasures available for exchange."
"I see. However, I might know one of the Mountain Gods you mentioned," the Spirit of the Heavenly Tree said earnestly. It wasn't strange for a tree rooted in the earth to know a Mountain God. But the Mountain God it was referring to was no ordinary one. That being always bragged to it that all the mountains in the Desolate Ancient Battlefield were under its dominion.
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. "Brother Tree Spirit, are you sure that Mountain God can exchange treasures, just like the Mountain God in the stone cave?"
The Spirit of the Heavenly Tree replied uncertainly, "I don't know for sure. He only told me that all the mountains in this entire Desolate Ancient Battlefield belong to him. But he dislikes being constrained, so he wanders around, delegating his authority to other Mountain Gods."
"I don't know if he's telling the truth or not, but if it is true, then he should definitely be able to exchange treasures there."
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal Daoist exchanged a glance, then Xu Mu asked, "Where is that Mountain God?"
The Spirit of the Heavenly Tree: "There are many mountains around the Heavenly Tree Tomb. But the Mountain God's favorite is a small hill in the southeast. He always appears there and talks to me from afar when he's bored."
"Shall we give it a try?"
Xu Mu's eyes lit up. If that Mountain God truly controlled all the mountains in the Desolate Ancient Battlefield, as the Heavenly Tree suggested, then if other Mountain Gods could exchange treasures, he certainly could.
...
Xu Mu and his companions, led by the Heavenly Tree's chieftain, arrived at another side of the Heavenly Tree Tomb and then saw a small hill in the distance. As the saying goes, a mountain tires out a horse. Although the hill was visible, it was only because the terrain ahead was vast and flat, and it just happened to protrude slightly, appearing at the limit of vision. Based on the Wine Immortal Daoist's calculations, it would take them about an hour to reach it if they traveled at full speed.
The Heavenly Tree chieftain stood at the boundary of the Heavenly Tree Tomb, his branches trembling, scattering brilliant radiance. He called out three times in a loud voice, "Brother Mountain God." It was a very simple way of calling. After he finished, he stood quietly, waiting.
Xu Mu was not in a hurry. He held a pile of precious spiritual medicines given to him by the Heavenly Tree chieftain, which were worth about three hundred thousand points. Combined with his existing points, he would have around a million.
"Heavenly Tree, didn't you say you were too lazy to chat with me? Haven't spoken for just a few hundred years, and you can't stand the loneliness anymore?"
Not long after, a voice, not particularly deep but quite ancient, echoed in space. Upon hearing it, the Heavenly Tree immediately recognized the Mountain God who had bragged to him about his past exploits.
The Spirit of the Heavenly Tree: "It's not me who can't stand the loneliness. I'm about to leave."
"I'm here this time mainly because a friend has something to ask you, and secondly, to see you one last time."
The Mountain God was silent for a moment, then spoke, his tone devoid of its previous teasing, replaced with a more formal air. "You're leaving?" He directly ignored the main point the Tree Spirit mentioned.
The Spirit of the Heavenly Tree: "Don't say such ominous words. Leaving? It's going out!"
The Mountain God was speechless again. After a considerable pause, he spoke again. "Alright, then what does your friend want to ask?"
"Let me be clear, I won't reveal any secrets left by my Lord Fu Xi."
"Don't worry, it has nothing to do with that," Xu Mu transmitted his voice. "May I ask Senior Mountain God, can treasures be exchanged here with points?"
The Mountain God replied, "Yes."
"However, although the things I have are good, they are all quite expensive. I doubt you can afford the price."
Xu Mu thought, how expensive could they be? He had a million points in total.
"Expensive has its benefits. Whether the price can be afforded depends on what the Mountain God's inventory has," he replied confidently.
After two seconds of silence, the Tree Spirit emitted a powerful and vibrant energy that surged into Xu Mu's mind with almost irresistible force.
Buzz!
Xu Mu was startled but felt no threat from the energy, so he accepted it entirely. The content it contained was a list of exchangeable treasures. He looked at the items and murmured, "Fallen Saint Sword, King-level weapon, forged from the explosion generated when the universe and stars were destroyed. It is the natal sword of the Sacred Feather Wing King."
"Exchange points: Only requires one hundred million..."
Xu Mu's mind roared, and after a long silence, he exclaimed in disbelief, "Ten billion?!"