Jiang Chen sat beneath the Canxia Treasure Tree, feeling the towering tree before him. Spiritual objects like the Canxia Treasure Tree generally possessed spiritual awareness.
Though such spiritual awareness might not coalesce into a spiritual form, careful communion with it could forge a faint, intangible connection.
Jiang Chen had once consumed a Canxia Crimson Fruit, and it seemed as though elements of the Canxia Treasure Tree had merged into his very flesh and blood. It was as if his body and spirit had suddenly formed a strange bond with this towering tree — a bond unlike the connection of flesh, yet more profound and subtle.
Grand Ancestor Qianye's impassioned words could not shake Jiang Chen's Dao Heart, nor could they brainwash him. Yet, without realizing it, Jiang Chen's emotions had begun to merge with the Canxia Treasure Tree.
Of course, this was not because of Grand Ancestor Qianye's words, but because Jiang Chen had unconsciously established a bridge — a form of communication — with the Canxia Treasure Tree during his meditation.
And this communication proved immensely beneficial, greatly advancing his mental cultivation.
Time ticked away, second by second. Jiang Chen sat cross-legged, like an old monk deep in meditation, entering a state of profound mysticism.
He did not know how long had passed before he suddenly snapped his eyes open, only to find the sky scattered with stars, spread across the heavens like a chessboard — it was already night.
The senior and mid-level members of the Treasure Tree Sect who had been around him were long gone.
"Heh heh, Jiang Chen. You're finally awake."
Grand Ancestor Qianye's voice suddenly came from the other side of the Canxia Treasure Tree, and moments later, his figure emerged.
"Grand Ancestor." Jiang Chen rose and bowed.
Grand Ancestor Qianye waved his hand dismissively. "Jiang Chen, from now on, there's no need for formalities when you see me. You've earned that right, and I've never been one to stand on ceremony."
Jiang Chen could sense the sincerity in the Grand Ancestor's tone and smiled faintly. "Grand Ancestor, I sat here for a whole day — I must have given everyone a laugh."
"Ha ha ha!" Grand Ancestor Qianye burst out laughing at this, then looked up at the vast starry sky and said with an amused smile, "Jiang Chen, you think you sat here for a day?"
"More than a day?" Jiang Chen was surprised. He had been so immersed in that state that, like an immortal in seclusion, he had lost all sense of time — mountains knew neither sun nor moon.
Grand Ancestor Qianye held up three fingers.
"Three days?" Jiang Chen was somewhat startled.
"Thirty days — exactly one month. When you entered this garden, that night was a waning moon. One month later, now there's nothing but stars filling the sky again — another waning moon."
Thirty days!
Jiang Chen could hardly believe it — he had never imagined he would sit for thirty full days. But upon reflection, he understood.
After thirty days of meditation, Jiang Chen had clearly felt his mental power surge dramatically, and his state of mind had grown considerably more tranquil.
Inspiration in the martial arts came to him in an endless stream.
"Jiang Chen, you must share a deep affinity with this Canxia Treasure Tree. Otherwise, meditating beneath it for an entire month would have been impossible."
Grand Ancestor Qianye handed him a token. "This is the entry token for the Canxia Treasure Tree Garden. With it, you may come here to cultivate whenever you wish. Remember — do not approach the Canxia Divine Fruits. Every single one is protected by a powerful restriction. If you try to take one without first dispelling the restriction, you'll be attacked by its defensive formations."
Though the Canxia Divine Fruit was precious, Jiang Chen had no need for it at this stage — unless the fruit could be evolved into a Purple Fruit.
"Rest assured, Grand Ancestor. I am not a greedy man. I've already consumed one Crimson Fruit and have an Azure Fruit on hand — I would never stoop to pilfering what I'm entrusted to guard."
Grand Ancestor Qianye laughed heartily. "Good. I truly haven't misjudged you, Jiang Chen."
After a month of meditation, Jiang Chen had gained enormously. Leaving the Canxia Treasure Tree Garden, he returned to his villa. His retainers had not been overly worried.
They had all heard that Jiang Chen was cultivating inside the Canxia Treasure Tree Garden, so when they saw him return, every one of them was thrilled.
Clearly, over the past month, they had heard far too many heroic tales about their young master. That Heaven Sect envoy had been supremely arrogant, defeating the experts of three great sects one after another. At the critical moment, when even the Grand Ancestors had been at a loss, Jiang Chen had burst forth from seclusion, turning the envoy's own methods against him, crushing his arrogance in a single blow and turning the tide.
It could be said that over the past month, every level of the Treasure Tree Sect had been talking about Jiang Chen — about this genius whose strength rivaled only the two Grand Ancestors.
That battle had made things crystal clear. Sect Master Xie Tianshu had been no match for the Heaven Sect envoy Gu Xiong, yet Gu Xiong had been effortlessly crushed by Jiang Chen in the end.
What did that prove?
It proved that within the Spirit Realm, Jiang Chen's strength was unmatched — sufficient to crush any Spirit Realm martial artist. He was an absolute Spirit King.
"How has life in the Treasure Tree Sect been for all of you?" Jiang Chen swept his gaze across their faces one by one.
Judging by their expressions, his retainers were clearly quite satisfied with life in the Treasure Tree Sect — they had been living well.
"Not bad. None of you have disappointed me."
Jiang Chen was genuinely somewhat surprised. After a month, Guo Jin, the Qiao brothers, and Wen Ziqi had all broken through to the Spirit Realm, becoming true Spirit Realm powerhouses.
Xue Tong had even broken through to the third level of the Spirit Realm.
Gouyu had made even more astonishing progress, entering the fourth level of the Spirit Realm and becoming a true Earth Spirit Realm powerhouse.