Primordial Star Scripture

"I never expected that this seemingly ordinary mountain hollow would hide treasures inside."

After searching around the hollow for a while, Ye Chen, through his own sensing and the help of the greenish copper piece in his hand, finally pinpointed the direction of the treasure's aura.

In a flash, Ye Chen burst forth, flying deeper into the hollow, and after a dozen breaths, he stopped beside a large tree at the very end of the hollow.

"This large tree..."

Ye Chen scrutinized the towering tree before him, which was dozens of feet tall with luxuriant branches and leaves. He circled around it, and eventually, he still came to a stop in front of this large tree.

"The aura of the treasure is most concentrated here at this large tree, weaker everywhere else. Could it be that the treasure is hidden inside this tree?"

Watching the greenish copper piece in his hand turn into a dazzling green light as he neared the tree, Ye Chen fell into deep thought.

Then, in an instant, a blinding golden light appeared in Ye Chen's hand, which was unmistakably one of the Five Great Divine Arts—the Golden Light Divine Slash!

With a "boom," Ye Chen flicked his finger fiercely, and the Golden Light Divine Slash's killing power directly cleaved towards the large tree.

Then, something astounding happened.

As soon as the Golden Light Divine Slash touched the tree, waves of strange air fluctuations came from the area it struck. Amid the powerful surge of the divine slash, these air fluctuations violently boiled and suddenly expanded outward in all directions.

The large tree Ye Chen had slashed at was instantly enveloped by the violently boiling air and then, with a thunderous "bang," the tree tens of feet tall vanished into thin air, leaving behind an entrance to a treasure cave about thirty feet in circumference directly in front of Ye Chen.
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The large tree disappeared, revealing the entrance to the treasure cave.

Looking at this, the previous tree was evidently a sort of illusionary enchantment, and by breaking it, the true form of the actual treasure cave was revealed!

Seeing the entrance to the treasure cave emerge, Ye Chen allowed himself a slight smile.

"Indeed, the large tree was concealing an enchantment, and inside it was the entrance to a treasure cave."

"Fortunately, when I was in the Forbidden Ancient Lands, I had experience breaking this kind of enchantment that concealed secret entrances, otherwise, I might have been fooled by the tree's illusion."

Ye Chen's figure burst forward, shooting into the interior of the treasure cave entrance.

Within the entrance of the treasure cave was a small space, thousands of feet across.

Ye Chen took in the entire space at a glance.

He only saw that in the middle of this space was a small earthen platform, and on the platform rested a small green box glowing with a phosphorescent green light.

"This treasure cave space is so small; it seems the treasure here might not be that precious, probably not reaching the value of the 'Void Sky Quintessence Fruit' I encountered in the Forbidden Ancient Lands."

Although he had a premonition that the treasure might not be very precious, Ye Chen was not the least bit disheartened.

Even if it wasn't extremely valuable, the treasure could still be of the Saint Grade, which would be greatly useful to him. And based on the sensing from the greenish copper piece, it was likely a Wood Element Secret Treasure.

Ye Chen cultivated the Five Great Divine Arts, and for the Wood-Attribute Divine Art, he needed to absorb and refine Wood Element Secret Treasures. Even a Saint Grade Wood Element Secret Treasure would be very useful to him.

Moreover, this was the first treasure cave Ye Chen had found on his own, unlike the previously discovered ant-mutated bug egg treasure cave in the dirt mound or the lakebed treasure cave with the Nine Suns Spirit Ginseng, which were discovered through clues from the Three-Eyed Skeleton and Ding Xiaojia.

Just the existence of a treasure within this first treasure cave he had found made Ye Chen very happy.

It represented a promising start—the day's treasure hunt was far from over, and who knew, perhaps at this second treasure site, he might find a significant haul!

Ye Chen looked at the small box on the earthen platform radiating phosphorescent green light and stepped towards it.

When Ye Chen approached the small platform, ten feet away, a voice suddenly transmitted: "Treasure Hunter, do not come within three feet of this treasure, or you will face my attack."

"If you really want to obtain it, you must kill me first."

"Of course, if you wish to take the treasure but are not strong enough and are defeated by me, this treasure cave will expel you directly, and you will no longer be allowed to enter here."

"If you don't have the strength, then leave early."

As the voice echoed, a wood puppet over thirty feet tall, covered in green vines, suddenly appeared in front of the small earthen platform.

"A guardian puppet?"

Ye Chen looked at the wood puppet, sensing that it exuded the aura of a late-stage Heavenly Saint level.

This wood puppet did not attack Ye Chen immediately but rather prevented him from getting close to the treasure. Only by approaching within three feet of the treasure would it trigger the wood puppet's attack.

Ye Chen could see the situation clearly; this wood puppet was specifically meant to protect the treasure—the small box glowing with green light on the small earthen platform.

"This wood puppet can speak?"

"It must be left by the owner of the Divine Heritage Cave; this puppet is much stronger and far more mystical than the Combat Puppet summoned by the Holy Light Heavenly Spirit Mirror I once encountered. The puppets evoked by the mirror, they don't speak, much stiffer."

"After passing through the challenges of the life-and-death path, it seems that the treasure hunting ground was much safer, except for the little trouble encountered when taking the treasure. It's interesting that this wood puppet even warned me not to try if my strength is insufficient."

Ye Chen looked at the wooden puppet covered in verdant vines with great interest.

"What is your name? And what treasure are you guarding?"

Ye Chen attempted to communicate with the wooden puppet, curious to see if it would respond to him.

To Ye Chen's surprise, the wooden puppet could indeed converse with him directly: "Treasure Hunter, you may call me 'Heavenly Wood Puppet'. My combat strength is at the late stage of the Heavenly Saint level, specifically designated to guard a Saint Grade, high-quality Wood Element Secret Treasure—the 'Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid'."

"The 'Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid' is the essence extracted from the Green Spirit Sacred Tree. It is of great benefit for comprehending the Wood-Attribute Divine Art and cultivating Wood Element skills."

Heavenly Wood Puppet?

Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid?

Upon hearing that the green box contained a Saint Grade, high-quality Wood Element Secret Treasure, Ye Chen's heart leaped with joy. Although it wasn't a Divine Artifact or a Divine Object, a Saint Grade high-quality Wood Element Secret Treasure was still incredibly precious!

Now, aside from the Gold Element treasures, Ye Chen had yet to find any of the other four types at the Saint Grade high-quality level. If he obtained the Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid, it would provide ample support for Ye Chen to properly cultivate the Wood-Attribute Divine Art "Wood Emperor Stacking Skill"!

What astonished Ye Chen even more was that the wooden puppet could actually reply to his questions. Heavenly Wood Puppet? Ye Chen's admiration for the master of the Divine Heritage Cave grew even stronger.

Being able to create a combat puppet with late-stage Heavenly Saint combat strength was already remarkable. The fact that this combat puppet could speak was utterly extraordinary, and now that it could even answer questions, this undoubtedly indicated that the puppet had developed a trace of consciousness.

To think that a puppet, an object crafted from various materials, could possess consciousness, was certainly eccentric and extraordinary!

As Ye Chen marveled, Bing Shiwu, one of the nine ice-bound guardians residing inside Ye Chen's Ice Jade Amulet, spoke up directly: "Lord Ye Chen, the combat strength of this 'Heavenly Wood Puppet', although not too strong, has still reached the late stage of Heavenly Saint. My lord, allow me to strike it down and seize the 'Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid' for you!"

"Lord Ye Chen, please let me do it!" Bing Shisi, Bing Shiqi, and other guardians also eagerly volunteered for combat.

Ye Chen looked at his nine ice-bound guardians with a smile, shaking his head: "Since entering the mid-stage of the Five Apertures Rotating Pill, I haven't engaged in a real battle yet. Not long ago, during my encounter with the 'Elemental Extreme Divine Light', I had an epiphany that greatly increased the Five Apertures Rotating Pills within my energy sea. I feel that, although my combat strength may not match a powerful late stage Heavenly Saint, I should be able to hold my ground against an ordinary one."

"Elders, I will personally battle the Heavenly Wood Puppet this time. If I am on the verge of defeat, then you can step in and help me acquire the 'Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid'!"

Having said that, Ye Chen's gaze turned towards the Heavenly Wood Puppet, as his fighting spirit soared visibly.

Seeing Ye Chen brimming with a desire to fight, the nine ice-bound guardians exchanged a look within the Ice Jade Amulet and smiled, "Lord Ye Chen is willing to personally engage with this late-stage Heavenly Saint level 'Heavenly Wood Puppet'. It seems, my lord's strength has improved further!"

Of course, the nine ice-bound guardians weren't worried about Ye Chen getting injured. Besides their protection, Ye Chen had True God-level talismans on his person.

Even if his combat strength fell short, and they couldn't intervene in time, Ye Chen would remain unharmed thanks to the True God talismans.

Knowing that Ye Chen wanted to test his own true combat strength, the nine ice-bound guardians naturally didn't hold him back.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Under the watchful eyes of the nine ice-bound guardians, Ye Chen stirred his True Qi and approached the Heavenly Wood Puppet and the Green Spirit Marrow Heart Liquid.

In an instant, Ye Chen had already stepped within three zhang of the small earthen platform.

Seeing the look of intense battle intent on Ye Chen's face, the Heavenly Wood Puppet knew that the Treasure Hunter intended to fight it for the treasure: "Treasure Hunter, it seems you won't be satisfied until I defeat you."

"In that case, try the power of the 'Heavenly Wood Puppet' for yourself!"

Boom!

As the Heavenly Wood Puppet spoke, its body immediately expanded, growing to an immense size of dozens of zhang while its giant hand reached out through the void towards Ye Chen, attempting to snatch him in its grasp!

With the overwhelming might of a late-stage Heavenly Saint puppet, the oddly powerful Heavenly Saint Space within it replenished its combat strength. As it waved its hand, the might it surged with whipped up a fierce storm in the thousand-zhang span of the treasure chamber!

As the colossal palm of the Heavenly Wood Puppet, now larger than his own body, was about to grab him, Ye Chen instantly summoned the Water-Attribute Divine Art, "Heavenly Origin Divine Water".

Hundreds of gloomy blue water beads appeared in front of Ye Chen's palm, which ultimately swirled together to form a huge Gloomy Pearl. Enveloped by Ye Chen's immense True Qi, it was hurled forcefully towards the Heavenly Wood Puppet's hand.

At the same time, Ye Chen's figure burst forward, charging directly towards the Heavenly Wood Puppet!

Ye Chen was intent on testing whether he had the strength to face off against a late-stage Heavenly Saint level puppet head-on!

Bang!

In this collision, the huge Gloomy Pearl, formed by Ye Chen's activation of the Water-Attribute Divine Art "Heavenly Origin Divine Water", was crushed by the Heavenly Wood Puppet's massive palm, and Ye Chen's body was also sent flying a hundred zhang away by another palm of the puppet!

Sent flying backward, his aura violently fluctuating with the impact, Ye Chen's eyes nevertheless gleamed even brighter, "The power of the late stage Heavenly Saint is indeed formidable!"

"Since that's the case, I shall unleash all my strength as well!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

All three hundred ninety-six Five Apertures Rotating Pills within Ye Chen's energy sea vibrated simultaneously as he halted his retreating form, suspending himself in midair.

At the same time, Ye Chen slightly pinched his finger upon a magic formula, and the dazzling lights of the Five Great Divine Arts began to violently gather within his palms.