Chen Mobai gave it some more thought and realized that he might indeed be the first one.

Other disciples of the Divine Wood Sect, when practicing the Dual Aspect Technique, had already linked the two methods, and after transformation, the two streams of spiritual power had each acquired some unique characteristics.

Unlike him, who used the Critical Method to separate the Longevity Spiritual Power and the Pure Yang Spiritual Power, effectively cultivating two different types of spiritual power from two different methods.

With this realization, Chen Mobai no longer harbored any doubts.

After plucking the purple fruit in front of him, he once again left the canopy of the Treasure Tree.

If it weren’t for the limited time in the Divine Tree Secret Realm, he would have liked to try cultivating other types of spiritual power to see if he could ascend again and obtain another fruit.

“First, I’ll check out the other two Divine Trees. If there’s extra time at the end, I’ll come back here and experiment,” he decided.

After making up his mind, Chen Mobai observed the locations of the other two Divine Trees.

Having confirmed that his was the Treasure Tree, and based on the records left by the predecessors of his sect, he could now distinguish the remaining two Divine Trees.

Without any hesitation, Chen Mobai flew towards the Talent Tree.

The trials of the Dao Tree were not something ordinary people could pass; those who went there usually fell unconscious and woke up back at Giantwood Ridge.

The Talent Tree, much like the Treasure Tree, soared into the clouds, its top invisible.

The method of obtaining fortune, however, was slightly different from that of the Treasure Tree.

In addition to channeling his spiritual power into it, Chen Mobai also dropped a bead of blood and let his consciousness leave his body to pass through the Talent Tree.

After infusing his essence, energy, and spirit into it, Chen Mobai sat down at the base of the tree and quietly waited.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a beam of green light descended from the sky and entered his brow’s sea of consciousness. This was the Talent Tree’s evaluation of him and the fortune it bestowed.

[Practicing Wood Spiritual Power, containing a faint trace of pill poison, evaluation ‘Superior’.]

[Four-attribute mixed spiritual root, innate vital energy more abundant than ordinary people, Fire Spiritual Root is the best, recommended to switch to Fire Attribute cultivation methods, overall evaluation ‘Inferior’.]

[Consciousness surpasses ordinary Foundation Establishment early stage, Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness stable, not stimulated by violent methods for growth, evaluation ‘Superior’.]

[Overall evaluation, above-average talent, awarded one secret technique.]

After interpreting the message in his mind, a secret technique for opening the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness abruptly emerged in his thoughts. It had no name, as if it was a section taken directly from some vast classic and imprinted in his heart, allowing him to comprehend it.

“To cultivate this secret technique, one needs the Green Wood Spirit Core…”

Chen Mobai reviewed the secret technique in his mind and slightly furrowed his brow.

He opened his storage bag and cracked open the emerald fruit he had plucked from the Treasure Tree.

Sure enough, inside was a walnut-sized green gemstone, which according to the books he had read before entering, was indeed the “Green Wood Spirit Core.”

“I wonder if the senior sister who obtained this spiritual item thirty years ago also received this secret technique.”

Muttering to himself, Chen Mobai stored the Green Wood Spirit Core in a jade bottle, then took out the purple fruit.

However, due to being unprepared when opening it, his right hand was burned.

A wisp of purple flame burned in mid-air, emitting astonishing heat.

Considering that Chen Mobai had already established his Foundation and his body had undergone transformation, ordinary flames could not damage the spiritual light on his skin.

The fact that this purple flame could harm him meant it was at least over a thousand degrees.

“Could this be…”

Seeing the purple flame, Chen Mobai had a guess in his heart, and then he placed his burned hand on the Talent Tree, repeating the previous steps.

This time, however, he infused Pure Yang Spiritual Power instead.

The previous Longevity Spiritual Power, due to the consumption of Foundation Establishment Pills and the short time, still contained pill poison that had not been purged, but the Pure Yang Spiritual Power was different.

It was cultivated through genuine hard work, never having been enhanced by pills.

As expected, this time the first evaluation regarding spiritual power was off the charts.

[Practicing Fire Spiritual Power, pure without pill poison, solid foundation, evaluation ‘Immortal Grade’.]

[Four-attribute mixed spiritual root, innate vital energy more abundant than ordinary people, Fire Spiritual Root is the best, in harmony with the cultivation method, overall evaluation ‘Medium Grade’.]

[Consciousness surpasses ordinary Foundation Establishment early stage, Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness stable, not stimulated by violent methods for growth, evaluation ‘Superior’.]

[Overall evaluation, superior talent, awarded one set of secret techniques.]

Another beam of green radiance fell, entering Chen Mobai’s brow’s sea of consciousness, but this time the amount of information received was somewhat overwhelming, and it took him a while to come back to his senses.The secret technique he had acquired this time finally had a name, called “Pure Azure Mantra,” a spell capable of continuously enhancing the power and grade of the flame seed.

It was through this that Chen Mobai learned that the purple fruit he had obtained from the Treasure Tree contained the seed of the Qingyang Fire.

However, this flame seed had not yet matured. Only when the purple flame transformed into the azure flame would it truly approach the might of a third-grade “Qingyang Fire.”

And the Pure Azure Mantra was a set of secret techniques specifically for elevating the purple flame seed into the complete “Qingyang Fire.”

“This Talent Tree is quite intelligent.”

After reading through the two secret techniques, Chen Mobai muttered to himself.

He withdrew his burnt hand from the Talent Tree and then executed the Pure Azure Mantra’s technique for retracting the flame, resealing the Qingyang Fire seed and placing it into his storage bag.

Just as he was about to get up and leave, Chen Mobai hesitated.

He checked the time and felt he should be able to make it to the Dao Tree, so he turned around and sat down again.

He took out a talisman that had been lying at the bottom of his storage bag, one he thought he would never use in his lifetime—a seemingly useless Wood Spirit Talisman!

After using it, Chen Mobai could transform into a Heavenly Spiritual Root for one hour.

Just as he was about to try again, his brow suddenly furrowed as he looked towards the eastern sky.

He sensed a spiritual light flying towards this place, causing fluctuations in the nearby heaven and earth’s spiritual energy.

Not wanting to risk exposure by continuing to use the Wood Spirit Talisman, Chen Mobai put the talisman away. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, a familiar spiritual light descended from the sky.

“Eh, Senior Brother Chen actually arrived before me.”

The person who arrived was Yan Jinye. She had left the Treasure Tree earlier than Chen Mobai, but since her spiritual power was not as profound as his, and she had been delayed by some matters on the way, she ended up arriving later.

“Did Junior Sister encounter the other two?”

Chen Mobai stood in place with a smile, his demeanor open and honest.

Since there were only four of them in this secret realm, and each person had their own opportunities, there was no need for competition, and everyone maintained a good demeanor.

“I didn’t meet them on the way; they probably reached the Dao Tree first.”

Yan Jinye answered truthfully. She noticed Chen Mobai’s burnt right hand and couldn’t help but show a look of surprise and doubt.

“I obtained the seed of the Qingyang Fire from the Treasure Tree, and it turned out like this when I activated it.”

The Qingyang Fire seed could be combined with the Crimson Flame Sword Art, greatly increasing its power. It was bound to be impossible to keep it a secret. Moreover, every strand of fire seed born from the spontaneous combustion of the Qingyang Spirit Tree in the Giant Wood Ridge was recorded, and Chen Mobai couldn’t afford to buy one.

He might as well inform the sect directly that he had obtained a strand of Qingyang Fire seed in the Divine Tree Secret Realm.

“Senior Brother’s fortune is profound.”

After hearing this, Yan Jinye’s face showed envy. The Qingyang Fire seed was worth at least ten thousand spirit stones.

“What fortune did Junior Sister acquire?”

Chen Mobai asked presumptuously, but Yan Jinye just smiled slightly without answering. He did not pursue the matter further and tactfully took his leave.

Yan Jinye let out a sigh of relief only after confirming that this sword cultivation genius, who was known as one of the two unparalleled talents of the sect along with Senior Brother Honghe, had left.

She had obtained a very troublesome spiritual item.

It was precisely because she had opened the fruit on the way and saw what was inside that she was so shocked and delayed on the road.

“Ah, I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse?”

After sighing, Yan Jinye reached out to touch the Talent Tree.

A long while later, she got up and flew towards the direction of the Dao Tree.

Chen Mobai originally planned to return to the Talent Tree after half a day, use the Wood Spirit Talisman to transform himself into a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and see if he could exploit another bug to obtain two more secret techniques.

However, he later thought that the secret techniques given by the Talent Tree seemed to be meant to complement the fruits harvested from the Treasure Tree.

Since he already had matching secret techniques for his Verdant Wood Spiritual Heart and Qingyang Fire seed, trying again—even if his spiritual root underwent a qualitative change and he obtained more secret techniques without the corresponding spiritual items—would be a waste of the Wood Spirit Talisman.

Moreover, if he rashly returned and was encountered by Yan Jinye, wouldn’t that make her suspicious?

After thinking it through, Chen Mobai decided to head to the Dao Tree first.

As long as he didn’t insist on the harvest from the Dao Tree and didn’t faint, he should have time to return to the Talent Tree later and give it another try.

With his mind made up, Chen Mobai no longer hesitated and flew at top speed towards the direction of the last Divine Tree.

When Yan Jinye landed, there was no one around the Dao Tree.

She hesitated for a moment, then stepped towards the last and most mysterious Divine Tree.

One step, two steps, three steps…Spiritual sense began to feel an inexplicable pressure, as if a thousand catties were weighing down upon one’s head, consciousness started to grow dim, eyelids drooped slightly, and an irremovable fatigue surged to the heart.

Finally, as she took the fifth step towards the Dao Tree, she lost all consciousness and collapsed onto the ground.

Afterward, a flash of silver light twinkled, and her entire being vanished from the spot.

Approximately two days later, Yuan Chiyi and Wu Zeyang also descended.

They glanced at the Dao Tree and nodded to each other, walking towards the massive trunk.

Yuan Chiyi similarly fainted on the fifth step, while Wu Zeyang managed the sixth step but collapsed just a moment later.

After witnessing the disappearance of three people, a puppet jumped down from a nearby tree.

It was the formless puppet controlled by Chen Mobai.

The cultivators of the Tianhe Realm were generally very cautious. If Chen Mobai’s true body were nearby spying, it was very likely they would detect something amiss.

However, a puppet without the fluctuations of a living being, especially one crafted using the techniques of the Immortal Gate, went completely unnoticed by the three when Chen Mobai’s spiritual sense entered it.

“It probably takes thirteen steps to make contact with the Dao Tree itself.”

Chen Mobai’s true body flew over, estimating the range of the Dao Tree’s domain that could induce unconsciousness.

According to E Yun, he had taken seven steps, Zhou Wangshen had taken seven and a half, and before the two of them fainted, they saw Honghe take the ninth step.

It was unclear what the Dao Tree’s criteria for judgment were, and to what extent one needed to reach to gain the related opportunity.

Chen Mobai took out his mobile phone and first measured the spiritual energy value nearby.

It wasn’t very high, merely a second-order spiritual vein.

However, he guessed that this might be because most of the spiritual energy within the secret realm was suppressed by the three divine trees.

“Let’s test with the formless puppet again.”

Chen Mobai murmured to himself. He had already walked the path once with his true body, and by the fourth step, he felt he could no longer bear it.

Knowing that if he took another step, he would probably faint, he immediately had the formless puppet, which was outside the range of the Dao Tree, pull his immobile self out.

Then, while finding a place to recuperate, he noticed Yan Jinye flying over.

Using the remaining strength to control the formless puppet, he observed while recovering his completely depleted spirit, also wanting to see if they could obtain the opportunity of the Dao Tree.

Unfortunately, the test of this divine tree was somewhat harsh, and no one gained its favor.

Dividing his mind to control the puppet, he stepped into the domain of the Dao Tree.

Instantly, a strange and indescribable sensation emerged upon his spiritual sense, nearly causing him to lose control and collapse.

“Spiritual Barrier, activate.”

However, this puppet was the pinnacle creation of Che Yucheng, naturally equipped with means to resist spiritual attacks. Chen Mobai immediately activated all functions of this feature.

A transparent membrane appeared out of thin air around the puppet’s head, enveloping the spiritual sense that Chen Mobai had attached.

Instantly, he felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, feeling refreshed in body and mind.

With joy, Chen Mobai controlled the formless puppet and took another step forward.

The transparent Spiritual Barrier twisted slightly but remained intact.

Two steps, three steps… until the seventh step, the Spiritual Barrier finally began to struggle, starting to deform severely.

Chen Mobai had a feeling that if he took one more step, the Spiritual Barrier would shatter.

However, in order to conserve the spiritual energy within the high-grade spirit stones, he had always operated the formless puppet with the minimum necessary functions. Now, for the opportunity of the Dao Tree, he could not care about the consumption of spirit stones.

Glancing at the spiritual energy progress bar on the top right corner of the display, it showed a figure of 67%.

This represented the amount of spiritual energy in the high-grade spirit stone that had not yet been used.

Although the progress bar was not full, Chen Mobai knew that this was equivalent to 67 medium-grade spirit stones, which for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was an enormous amount of spiritual energy.

“Full power consumption, activate the Spiritual Barrier!”

After issuing the command, Chen Mobai saw the original 67% of the spiritual energy bar instantly drop by 2%, changing to 65%.

But the effect was astonishing; the nearly shattered Spiritual Barrier returned to normal, and he took two more steps.

Then, he took the tenth step!