The Heavenly Dao Tree was different from before. Not only was it noticeably larger, but the patterns on its leaves were also different. However, the larger Heavenly Dao Tree still bore a maximum of 9,999 fruits.
Back on the Tianwu Continent, it could only bear so many fruits at most. However, among these fruits, some were different from before—nine hundred ninety-nine different fruits, not a single one more, not one less.
Strange patterns appeared on them, and their aura was different from before. Looking at those fruits, Long Chen's heart raced wildly.
"The Heavenly Dao Tree possesses miraculous abilities. When the first-generation powerhouse is slain, it condenses into the Heavenly Dao Fruit.
In this Tianhong War, I slew countless first-generation beings from various realms, while the Heavenly Dao Tree could bear at most 9,999 Heavenly Dao Fruits.
Could it be that when the quantity reaches its limit, it will ... A qualitative change? Long Chen's voice trembled slightly. If his guess was correct, then the Heavenly Dao Tree truly was a defiant existence.
The nine hundred and ninety-nine Heavenly Dao Fruits on the Heavenly Dao Tree shimmered with flowing light, and a strange aura emanated from its body. Compared to the other nine thousand Heavenly Dao Fruits, they were truly extraordinary.
Long Chen approached a Heavenly Dao Fruit and carefully examined its patterns, which flowed like auspicious clouds.
"This aura is somewhat similar to the ancestor of Yuhua Palace. Could it be that eating it can alter one's constitution and allow me to directly advance to Spirit-grade Immortal King in the future?" At that moment, Long Chen seemed to hear only his own heartbeat.
Long Chen withdrew his mind from the chaotic space, forcibly pulled Luo Bing out of seclusion, and told her to use the teleportation array directly to return to the Tianlan Domain Main Academy, notifying Luo Changwu to secretly bring a thousand first-generation disciples to the Seventh Branch.
It can be said that having a teleportation array is much more convenient—there's no need to cross the Tianwu Ring Sea. Moreover, because Long Chen was in a hurry, he had Luo Changwu spend a large amount of resources to teleport directly from the Luo family to Lingxiao Academy, then take the exclusive teleportation array across domains.
When he arrived at the Seventh Academy, Luo Changwu was utterly stunned. Although he had heard descriptions of the academy's glory, seeing it with his own eyes still left him deeply awe-inspired.
Long Chen directly had the identity registration of these thousand Luo family disciples processed. From now on, they would be disciples of the Seventh Branch. Training them here would make them thrive.
Luo Changwu had absolute trust in Long Chen and was not worried that the academy would snatch away the Luo family disciples.
The Luo family disciples arrived at the Seventh Branch and felt the extremely dense spiritual energy in the air. The spiritual energy in the academy was several times denser than in their cultivation space. Here, even breathing could improve cultivation. For them, this place was like a paradise on earth.
After obtaining the identity badge, Luo Bing took them directly to the cultivation grounds, while Long Chen led Luo Changwu to his dean's main hall.
Luo Changwu gazed at the magnificent hall and couldn't help but sigh, "Father's judgment is truly admirable." Back
when the Chu and Luo families were at odds, Luo Zichuan left gracefully, handing the Luo family over to the two brothers. Later, Long Chen led them to destroy the Chu family, and only then did they realize that Luo Zichuan hadn't handed the Luo family over to them, but to Long Chen.
Long Chen rose step by step, and in just a few months, he had become the director of the Seventh Branch—a status of great honor and prestige.
Long Chen supported the Luo family so much. Luo Changwu was deeply grateful but also admired his father even more. His foresight was beyond imagination.
"Any news about the clan leader lately?" Long Chen asked, full of gratitude toward Luo Zichuan, but also full of worry.
Luo Changwu shook his head. Mentioning his father made him feel heavy-hearted, always feeling that his father's departure would likely bring grave danger.
"Uncle Wu, there's no need to worry. With the clan leader's abilities and wisdom, nothing will happen.
He has a useful body and would never do pointless things. His departure is likely to buy us more time.
What we need to do now is improve our strength as soon as possible. Once I advance to the Divine Lord Realm, I will go find the clan leader." Long Chen said.
"Do you know where Father went?" Luo Changwu was taken aback.
"I pretty much know." Long Chen said.
Luo Changwu had never climbed to the summit of the Sharpening Stone Staircase, nor had he seen the star map inside the stone house, so he didn't know the marked location.
Long Chen was almost certain that Luo Zichuan had gone there, but he didn't dare to go there now. Even if he found Luo Zichuan, it wouldn't help at all.
But once he advances to the Divine Lord Realm and activates the Seven-Star Battle Body, things will be different. So, he plans to find Luo Zichuan after perfecting the Seven-Star Battle Body.
Back then, because of his mother, the Luo clan's hopes were shattered, so he had to take the blame for her.
"Uncle Wu, you just broke through to Immortal King, and your aura is a bit unstable. I can't sense your rank. You must be an ordinary Immortal King, right?" Long Chen asked.
Hearing Long Chen's question, Luo Changwu awkwardly nodded: "Both your Uncle Wen and I have poor talent; we're both mortal Immortal Kings." Luo
Zichuan ascended from an ordinary-grade Immortal King to a Heaven-grade Immortal King in just a few hundred years. While it may not be said to be unparalleled throughout history, he is certainly one in a billion.
After Luo Zichuan advanced to the Heavenly Grade, he got married and had children. Given Luo Zichuan's talent, Luo Changwu and Luo Changwen had a certain chance of awakening directly as Earth-grade Immortal Kings, or at the very least Spirit-grade Immortal Kings.
But after advancing to Immortal King, the two discovered they were the most ordinary mortal immortal kings. They even wondered if they had picked them up and why they hadn't inherited the talent of the Zichuan Immortal King. After advancing to Immortal King, both were very dejected but dared not show it, feeling deeply pained inside.
Now, when Long Chen brought up this matter, he immediately felt extremely embarrassed and deeply hurt.
"Uncle Wu, don't be discouraged. Some things are not given to you by heaven. Just go snatch them yourself. Didn't the clan leader also rise from being an ordinary person?
I called you here this time precisely because of an opportunity to change your Immortal King rank. However, this might come with some risk. I wonder if you'd be willing to give it a try." Long Chen said.
Long Chen was uncertain about the mutation in the Heavenly Dao Fruit Tree. If Luo Changwu ate the fruit and his cultivation dropped to the Four Extremes Realm, he wondered if he would go mad. So, Long Chen had to clarify the risks first.
Only then did Luo Changwu realize that Long Chen was going to give him the heaven-defying divine fruit that would turn ordinary disciples into first-generation disciples. Without hesitation, he said directly:
"Don't be afraid, let me test it. If it succeeds, it will set a precedent and be of great significance."
Even if I fail, it doesn't matter. Even if I return to the Four Extremes Realm, I have experience. It won't be long before I can return to the Immortal King Realm, and at the same time, reinforce the foundation I hadn't worked hard before. That might not be a bad thing. Luo Changwu said, signaling Long Chen to rest assured.
Hearing Luo Changwu say this, Long Chen felt relieved and picked the top fruit from the 999 fruits.
Luo Changwu took the fruit, his expression instantly changing: "If I eat this fruit, I'll die." "