Chapter 655 - 261: Spirit Monster Forest: Fellow Daoist, Save Me
Chapter 655: Chapter 261: Spirit Monster Forest: Fellow Daoist, Save Me
"Whoa, the casualties are that high?"
Xiao Chen was a bit surprised. In the best of times, at least three Cultivators had been lost in the Secret Realm, and in the worst, a full nine had perished.
After all, one had to obtain a Cangran Secret Order just to enter the Secret Realm.
This was no low bar, meaning that anyone qualified to be here was an elite, the cream of the crop.
However, despite such high casualties, the number of Dao Crystals brought out each time was quite limited.
Typically, only two or three were ever officially accounted for.
Even accounting for those who might have hidden their gains, the total was estimated to be double that at best.
However, Xiao Chen noticed something very interesting.
The year with the highest number of Cultivator casualties also saw the highest number of Dao Crystals brought out.
The official count alone was a whopping six.
Conversely, in a year where only four Cultivators died, the number of Dao Crystals recovered was at its lowest, with only two confirmed.
Overall, the two seemed to be directly correlated.
’What’s going on here? Does this mean there’s some kind of danger near the Dao Crystals?’
Xiao Chen continued to flip through the pages.
However, the entire booklet only contained two lines about the Blood Vine Forest.
Specifically, that it was located in the deepest part of the realm, and that it contained blood-sucking vines.
However, on the last page, the author had left three special tips.
The first tip: The sprawling Miasma Swamp serves as a natural landmark.
Though the initial Talisman Array scatters everyone, you can follow the border of the Miasma Swamp to find companions and face the dangers of the Secret Realm together.
But Xiao Chen had no need to seek safety in numbers.
The second tip: Spirit Monsters are more valuable than Demon Beasts.
In particular, the Tree Hearts from Tree Spirits and the pollen from Flower Spirits were valuable items that could fetch a high price.
’Tree Heart?’
Xiao Chen turned his head and looked at the fir tree behind him.
He casually dug a hole in the tree.
Unfortunately, it was just an ordinary fir tree, with no Tree Heart inside.
The third tip: a lucky few had found a Dao Crystal outside the Blood Vine Forest, but these were mostly unsubstantiated rumors.
To date, there was only one officially documented case.
So, for anyone seeking a Dao Crystal, the best bet was to head straight for the Blood Vine Forest.
’Not bad. Pretty thoughtful.’
Xiao Chen put the booklet away. He had to admit, the hundred Spirit Stones were well spent.
While he didn’t have much use for the first two suggestions, the third was definitely helpful.
Besides, with the map included, it was certainly worth the price.
’Let’s see... this should be the direction of the Blood Vine Forest.’
Xiao Chen got to his feet and quickly got his bearings.
He strode toward the deepest part of the Secret Realm.
The Cangran Secret Realm also had a No-Fly Restriction, limiting Cultivators’ flight. He had just tested it.
Strangely, Xiao Chen walked for a full day and night without encountering a single other Cultivator or any Spirit Monsters.
After all, the Cangran Secret Realm was teeming with life.
Not only were there numerous Spirit Wood, but every few miles one could find wild Spirit Fruits or Spirit Medicines hidden in the grass.
Including plenty of Tier Three Spirit Fruits and Spirit Medicines.
Even just gathering these items would be enough to trade for a considerable number of Spirit Stones outside.
From what Xiao Chen had seen so far, collecting everything would have netted him at least twenty or thirty thousand Spirit Stones, perhaps even more.
From what he knew, the Cangran Secret Realm’s duration was variable, but it typically remained open for ten to fifteen days.
The exact end would be signaled by the reappearance of the Talisman Array in the sky.
Once a Cultivator saw the array, they simply had to take out their Cangran Secret Order to be teleported back to the outside world.
Therefore, in theory, anyone who could stay in the Secret Realm for the full fifteen days could acquire Spiritual Objects worth at least 300,000 Spirit Stones, and likely more, just from gathering alone.
This explained why the Cangran Secret Order started at a high bid of 300,000 Spirit Stones at the auction.
And yet, strangely, Xiao Chen hadn’t seen a single trace of anyone gathering these things.
It was as if he were the only person in the entire Secret Realm.
’Or maybe... everyone else looks down on these things?’
Xiao Chen was here for the Dao Crystal, so he naturally wouldn’t waste time picking Spirit Fruits and Spirit Medicines.
Extrapolating from his own perspective, could it be that the other Cultivators all had the same idea?
After all, the Core Formation Daoists who entered the Cangran Secret Realm were all elites. It was entirely possible they truly scorned such a baseline profit.
Perhaps they were all aiming for High Tier Spiritual Objects, or maybe even exclusively for the Dao Crystals.
If that were the case, it would be bad news for Xiao Chen.
After all, the more competing Cultivators there were, the lower his chances of obtaining a Dao Crystal.
’Such fine Spirit Medicine, and they don’t even bother with it. What a bunch of prodigal sons!’
Muttering to himself, Xiao Chen ignored the Tier Three Spirit Fruit a mere eight hundred feet ahead and to his right, silently quickening his pace.
He walked for nearly twelve more hours without stopping.
As he passed between two large trees, a swirling white mist suddenly descended, shrouding everything before and behind him in an instant.
Instantly, Xiao Chen’s vision was severely hampered. He could see no more than thirty feet; anything beyond that was a vague blur.
At the same time, the suppression on his Divine Sense was even more severe.
It could only cover a ten-foot radius around him before being unable to extend any further.
He could even feel a distinct pressure within the flowing mist, actively resisting the spread of his Divine Sense.