Chapter 1625 (Raw 1607): Danger after Danger
After collecting so much Life Juice Source, Xiao Chen had gained an understanding of the tribes of these Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
The strongest one, the chief, possessed the best Tree of Life. Following that were about twenty elder-level Black Star Sawtooth Sharks with a slightly inferior Tree of Life each.
Needless to say, the sap released by the chief’s Tree of Life would be the best. It might even be several levels better than what the other Trees of Life provided, a great temptation.
Clearly, Xiao Chen would not be able to harvest the other ten better Trees of Life in the remaining hour.
At best, he could harvest only one more before having to leave.
During this last bit of time, Xiao Chen could play safe, setting aside the silver Trees of Life, or take a risk. He felt somewhat hesitant.
Three seconds later, he decided to go with safety and leave right away.
Xiao Chen already gained a lot today: two and a half tons of Life Juice Source without any impurities.
However, just as he was about to leave, the nearby water surged. A strong asphyxiating aura came from below the largest Tree of Life.
Shocked, Xiao Chen quickly grabbed the branches of the tree he was on, desperately suppressing his own aura.
This asphyxiating aura felt unblockable. He closed his eyes and played dead.
A long time later, he felt the source of the aura go far away, so he immediately got back up.
Xiao Chen opened his eyes and saw a Black Star Sawtooth Shark several kilometers long swimming slowly. While its progress looked very gradual, it was actually extremely fast. Now, it was rapidly leaving the Black Star Sawtooth Shark nest.
This...
Why is the chief leaving?
Just as Xiao Chen was about to give up, the strong Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief, which could easily kill any of the other Black Star Sawtooth Sharks, suddenly left the nest.
Although he did not understand why, he felt that it was normal. This Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief could not possibly remain there, without moving, all the time.
Xiao Chen checked his Veritable Essence Energy. The Veritable Essence Energy shield that previously could have lasted one hour would last for only fifteen more minutes now.
There was still a small chance, but should he take the risk?
Risk it!
The blood that flowed in Xiao Chen’s body gave him never-ending courage from his hot-bloodedness. After making up his mind, he no longer delayed.
He silently executed the Fish Dragon Art, becoming as unremarkable as a little fish before those gargantuan Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
The fluctuations that his movements triggered in the water were so slight that they were negligible.
Aside from caution and the Buddhist pendant that hid his aura, the most crucial factor in his being able to move freely among the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks without being discovered was the Fish Dragon Art. This Movement Technique really helped Xiao Chen a lot in the water.
If it were another person moving quickly in the water, the commotion they caused would definitely be immediately discovered by the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
Xiao Chen’s actions were something no one else—even a peak Major Primal Core cultivator—would dare to imagine.
Hot-bloodedness flowed in his body. Xiao Chen had not felt this for a long time already: the thrill of dancing on a knife’s edge, treading the line between life and death.
Despite his anxiety, he felt a small thrill and excitement.
I’ve arrived!
Without spending too much time, Xiao Chen successfully avoided the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks standing guard at the foot of the largest Tree of Life.
He gently pushed off the tree branch and continuously climbed higher. He only stopped when he reached a height that was a considerable distance from Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
At that moment, he felt extremely anxious. However, he still kept his cool and methodically took out a dagger.
“Dang!”
There was a soft ‘clang.’ Xiao Chen was surprised to find that the dagger could not stab in.
This is problematic.
Xiao Chen had actually expected this scene. It was just that previously, he still held anticipation but now ended up disappointed.
He reached out and touched the bark, confident that if he infused his Great Dao Energy, he would be able to cut it open.
However, right now, Xiao Chen was in the middle of the Black Star Sawtooth Shark nest.
Using Great Dao Energy now would expose him. Such an action would be akin to suicide.
Time crawled, depleting the Veritable Essence Energy in Xiao Chen’s dantian until not much was left!
Don’t panic.
At this moment, Xiao Chen’s past experiences and mental state were on full display. He closed his eyes and entered deep thought. Countless ideas flashed in his mind like sparks of electricity.
After a while, he opened his eyes.
The instant he did, his hands started forming hand seals. Magic Energy burned in his sea of consciousness as he executed the Life Bestowal Spell.
“Whoosh!”
A Jiao Snake suddenly materialized in the water, perfectly replicating Senior Jiao Snake’s aura. The instant it appeared, it attracted the attention of all the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks.
“Rumble…!” A foreign ferocious beast was in the nest. What an outrage!
No oceanic creature would permit such a situation.
Rumbling thundered out incessantly. Much of the heavy debris at the bottom of the sea and various corpses surged up with the fluctuations of the water.
All the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks rushed towards that Jiao Snake. They kept roaring and projected their auras.
This instantly complicated the situation in the water.
Right now, there was only an opening of one second. So, Xiao Chen brought out his Great Dao Energy and infused it into the dagger.
“Crack!”
The dagger entered as Xiao Chen expected. With the infusion of Great Dao Energy, the dagger slid in easily and cut open a hole.
“Chi!” Immediately, golden sap streamed out of the tree.
It’s golden! Xiao Chen’s face filled with joy. Indeed, the quality was much better.
The Jiao Snake puppet did not last for long. It was instantly killed the moment after it appeared.
However, when the chaos was over, Xiao Chen had already dismissed his Great Dao Energy and avoided this calamity.
Alright, that’s enough. I can’t be too greedy. He collected only five kilograms before wisely choosing to give up. During this time, he could leave easily.
Five kilograms of the highest-quality Life Juice Source. Its value was already quite heaven-defying.
One had to know when to stop. Amid such a frenzied adventure, one ultimately had to maintain one’s rationality.
“Boom!”
However, just as Xiao Chen put away the jade bottle and wanted to leave, that asphyxiating aura that required him to fake death reappeared.
It was the chief of the Black Star Sawtooth Sharks!
The earlier commotion had drawn it back soon after it left.
Xiao Chen immediately paled.
How can I leave? If I leave now, that Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief will definitely discover me. Xiao Chen already felt the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief’s gaze on the Tree of Life.
However, the Tree of Life was too big, and the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief did not discover him.
However, it would be hard to say if he moved.
Xiao Chen felt a huge pressure. The seawater thrust forward from the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief’s direction.
“Whoosh!” Xiao Chen’s body got plastered to the tree, pushed by the seawater.
It’s coming!
The Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief looked like it moved very slowly, but in reality, it was swift. In a few breaths, it reached the bottom of the Tree of Life.
Then, its gaze swept up the Tree of Life.
With such a small target, the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief did not discover Xiao Chen, who was concealed by some leaves.
However, the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief still appeared worried. Its strong Mental Energy turned into a visible golden pulse radiating out in the water.
The Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief checked the entire nest without delay.
The current stopped. When Xiao Chen saw this scene, he eased his bated breath somewhat. Fortunately, he was above.
“Whoosh!”
After the golden light scanned the entire nest and withdrew, it surrounded the base of the Tree of Life and swept upwards.
I’m in trouble now.
Xiao Chen’s expression changed wildly. The light ring that represented the Black Star Sawtooth Shark chief’s Mental Energy rose inexorably. It was like a countdown to his death.
At this moment of life and death, Xiao Chen hastily wielded the dagger stabbed into the tree in a circle, without a thought about being noticed.
Then, he thrust the fingers of his left hand through the ring, deep into the core. Many splinters stabbed into his fingertips.
His five fingers, even his heart, hurt like hell.
A look of determination flashed on Xiao Chen’s face. At that moment, he thought about many things.
Why did I push so hard? Why was I willing to risk my life adventuring? Many scenes flashed in his head.
The many friends who died in the Kunlun Realm’s Demonic Calamity, the many comrades in the Dragon’s Gate, the expectations of the old Dragon Horse in the Azure Dragon Palace, also…Liu Ruyue, who had to be waiting for him.
I must become strong!
“Crack!” Xiao Chen forcefully pulled out a circular chunk of wood with his hand.
Without much thought, he entered the hole in the tree in a flash. Then, he reset the circle of bark that he cut out with the dagger.
Xiao Chen did all this very smoothly. Soon, the golden light covered this area.
Then…the golden light continued sweeping upwards.
Xiao Chen was not discovered!