Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

Three days later.

Outside No.2 Cave, Chen Jichuan left his Life Plate.

No.2 Cave is neither too big nor too small. With only a few hundred cultivators from the Seven Immortal Sects scattered within, how can the exact number of people be tracked? How can we know who has died and who is still alive?

The only solution is the 'Life Plate.'

If someone dies, their Life Plate shatters, and there's no way to fake it.

Chen Jichuan left his Life Plate, then passed through the entrance formation of No.2 Cave for inspection. His cultivation level, magical treasures, talismans, and other items were verified. After confirmation, he finally entered the cave.

…

Boom!

With a loud rumble, Chen Jichuan felt his entire body sink, as if a weight of a thousand kilograms pressed down on him. If it were an ordinary person, they would already be suffocated, unable to breathe.

However, Chen Jichuan's cultivation was profound, so it didn't affect him much.

Nonetheless, in this kind of environment with enhanced gravity, both speed and combat power would inevitably be impacted.

"Similar to the situation in No.5 Cave."

Chen Jichuan had spent 150 years in No.5 Cave, experiencing countless battles. He had long acclimated to such an environment.

After steadying himself, he looked around.

The scenery here was beautiful, with mountains and rivers at first glance not much different from No.5 Cave. But Chen Jichuan had No.2 Cave's regional map, and he knew that No.2 Cave was far smaller than No.5 Cave.

"This cave is narrow, stretching over a million miles east to west, but only 280,000 miles between its northern and southern poles."

"The map from the Heaven Mending Sect divides No.2 Cave into the inner lands and borderlands."

"I am now in the central area of the inner lands, approximately 100,000 miles away from the northern and southern borders."

Natural suppressions exist within the cave, making escape speeds only one hundredth of those outside.

Take Chen Jichuan as an example.

Given his current cultivation, if he used the Little Four Nine Wind and Thunder Escape Method, he could travel 80,000 miles per day, comparable to the speed of a Sixth Layer Heaven True Person. Yet inside the cave, he could only travel about 1,000 miles per day—nearly 100 times slower.

To traverse from his current position to the borderlands solely by flying would take over four months.

"Such a long travel time."

Chen Jichuan wasn't foolish.

He went directly to the Heaven Mending Sect's base, presented his Chamber Elder Token, and activated the 'Twenty-Four Bridge' Formation.

Green Stone Bridge spans 8,000 miles, allowing him to cover a journey of over 100,000 miles by crossing just 18 Green Stone Bridges smoothly.

The entire journey took less than a day.

"When Transmission Formations can't be set up, the 'Twenty-Four Bridge Formation' is indeed useful for traveling."

"But it's expensive."

Chen Jichuan glanced at the Spirit Stone Mountain in his Storage Bag, which had significantly diminished, and couldn't help but feel the pinch.

As a Chamber Elder of the Heaven Mending Sect, he could use the 'Twenty-Four Bridge Formation' in No.2 Cave, but activating it required Spirit Stones.

Each activation costs 20,000 Spirit Stones.

For this journey alone, he spent 360,000 Spirit Stones—equivalent to three or four Second-order Pills.

The expenditure was indeed substantial.

But there was no choice; spending money to save time was worth it.

"Hopefully, the borderlands won't disappoint me." Chen Jichuan left the last base, crossed the Meteorite Rift Valley, and officially entered the borderlands.

…

This was Chen Jichuan's first time in the borderlands of a cave.

In No.5 Cave, there were two Meteorite Rift Valleys at the northern and southern poles. Only after crossing them could one reach the borderlands.

In No.5 Cave, including Chen Jichuan, the Immortal Cultivators dared only to operate within the first Meteorite Rift Valley. They didn't dare enter the region of the second valley.

Let alone cross both valleys into the borderlands.

In No.2 Cave, there was only one Meteorite Rift Valley at each pole.

Standing in the borderlands, one could see endless barrenness. The cave's inner lands had mountains and waters, with terrains resembling the outside world.

But in the borderlands, green sights were rare; it was like standing in a desert plain, seeing nothing but wasteland and rocks.

The world boundlessly vast.

While humans infinitely small.

"The dangers of the borderlands' outskirts are just sandstorms for now."

"The deeper you go, the more perilous it becomes—it's hard to list them all."

Chen Jichuan spread his wings and skimmed close to the ground. His eyes watched all directions, remaining vigilant.

Exploring the borderlands was a monotonous task.

Since hazards could crop up at any time, caution was paramount, keeping one's mind constantly tense.

At the same time, mystical phenomena might appear at any moment here. Accompanying these phenomena, there might be various treasures.

Phenomena can aid cultivation.

Treasures are unpredictable—materials for refining, treasure medicines, Heaven and Earth Essence, or natural Magical Treasures...

Treasures emerge alongside phenomena.

When a phenomenon occurs, it might go unnoticed, thus the land may conceal hidden wonders, awaiting discovery by Chen Jichuan and others.

"Both defending against hazards."

"And seeking phenomena and treasures."

"No wonder some Mid-stage True Persons couldn't bear the stress and chose to quit or take 10 or 20 years off."

After ten consecutive days of tunneling, Chen Jichuan had a newfound respect for their struggles.

To stay perpetually tense mentally was admittedly taxing.

Moreover, conditions in the borderlands were harsh—Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi were violent and untamable. Cultivators couldn't easily absorb Spiritual Energy for cultivation or replenishment; they had to rely on the Spirit Stones, Spirit Crystals, and Pills they carried.

Those who weren't wealthy couldn't sustain it.

"If I came out empty-handed, it would've been a huge loss."

Chen Jichuan shook his head with a wry smile.

And pressed onward.

Just as the Heaven Mending Sect's notes described, dangers were scarce on the outskirts of the borderlands, and mystical phenomena were equally rare.

During the journey, Chen Jichuan only encountered danger twice.

Once was a surge of Primordial Qi—without warning, a cluster of Netherworld Fire erupted from below. This fire was insidious; once it touched someone, it would seep into their bones and Divine Soul, making it nearly impossible to eradicate, inflicting relentless icy torment and rendering life worse than death.

Fortunately, Chen Jichuan reacted quickly and evaded it in time; otherwise, even with his cultivation, being touched by this fire would've been unbearable.

If a Third Layer Heaven True Person encountered this, given the suddenness of the Netherworld Fire's emergence, they would likely have no chance to dodge.

They would undoubtedly perish.

"No wonder the Seven Immortal Sects initially never considered sending Low-level True Persons to the borderlands."

Chen Jichuan finally understood.

Netherworld Fire was perilous.

For a Third Layer Heaven True Person, it was deadly.

But for Chen Jichuan, it was a gift. The only regret was that it was rootless fire—without root or foundation. Otherwise, Chen Jichuan could extract and refine it into his 'Daluo Heavenly Fire,' further enhancing the power of this Absolute Skill.

Although, it could still be refined into the 'Flame God Banner,' slightly increasing its might.

Besides the Netherworld Fire.

Chen Jichuan also encountered a sandstorm. Whistling winds and flying stones—this was unlike ordinary dust storms. There was no place to hide, whether above or below ground; he could only endure.

Chen Jichuan summoned the 'Sixfold Golden Lotus' and easily overcame it, though it consumed considerable mana that had to be replenished with Spirit Crystals.

As he ventured deeper.

The dangers Chen Jichuan encountered grew more numerous—

Heavenly Fire.

Thunderstorm.

Northern Wind.

Cold Wave.

Endless threats, hard to guard against.

Enduring countless hardships along the way, he finally reached the fruits of his labor.

On the fortieth day of his journey into the borderlands.

He suddenly heard the sound of a gentle breeze, and then a bamboo forest appeared abruptly. Within the forest, green bamboo swayed, young shoots broke through the earth, and the bamboo soared section by section—a scene teeming with life.

"Phenomenon!"

Chen Jichuan saw it clearly. The bamboo forest seemed both real and illusory, alternating between substance and illusion. It was precisely the kind of phenomenon rumored to exist in the borderlands.

Chen Jichuan used his 'Insight Skill' to observe, but he couldn't discern its nature.

"Must be due to the limitations of my cultivation."

Chen Jichuan didn't dwell on it. He stepped forward into the bamboo forest. The sound of wind filled his ears, and bamboo leaves rustled. Before him was lush greenery, as the swaying green bamboo exuded vitality.

"Form follows mind."

"Phenomena of heaven and earth manifest differently to each individual."

Chen Jichuan stood amidst the bamboo forest, immersing himself. He watched the shoots push through the soil, the bamboo rise straight upwards, and the leaves shimmer in the wind.

In a trance, it seemed the shoots, leaves, and bamboo transformed into swords.

Swords of varying shapes and forms. Some remained sheathed, their sharpness concealed. Others were unsheathed, their edge irrepressible.

The 'Sword Map' operated as mana roared forth.

Bamboo leaves fell one after another, transforming into countless swords circling him. Meanwhile, green bamboo served as longswords, shoots as shortswords, manipulating a myriad of blades both externally and within as he practiced the 'Seven Elements Relieving Calamity Ruyi Tiangang Splitting Light Sword Technique.'

His mana surged.

His realm advanced.

Chen Jichuan inspected himself inwardly, noticing flashes of spiritual light as dozens of acupoints illuminated his mind. The elusive 'Ear Acupoint,' which he had sought for a long time, seemed to reveal itself.

Chen Jichuan was overjoyed.

Just as he was about to delve deeper and break through, clarity struck his spirit platform, and the bamboo forest around him vanished.

"What a pity."

Chen Jichuan muttered regretfully.

If the phenomenon had persisted a little longer, he might have pinpointed the 'Ear Acupoint' and advanced to the Third Realm of Enlightenment.

But the heavens didn't grant his wish; it fell just short.

"No point being overly greedy."

"My gains this time are significant. The insights I've gathered from this bamboo forest phenomenon have refined my mana and furthered my swordsmanship, equivalent to seven or eight years of hard cultivation."

"Moreover, I've gained some clues about the 'Ear Acupoint.' With more practice and introspection later, breaking through seems within reach."

Chen Jichuan's face lit up with a smile.

Now he truly understood the allure of heaven and earth phenomena, which the Seven Sects True People coveted deeply.

In comparison, the Divine Body and Divinity obtained from hunting Evil Gods seemed inferior.

"The improvement gained from comprehending phenomena stands out for being solid and secure, without the slightest drawback."

Chen Jichuan's thoughts flickered as he raised his gaze to the five individuals not far away. He shook his head helplessly: "Well, not entirely without 'drawbacks.'"

The bamboo forest phenomenon had emerged in plain view, visible within a hundred-mile radius. Although the borderlands were vast, such an observable occurrence naturally attracted other cultivators.

Chen Jichuan had sensed their arrival shortly after entering the bamboo forest.

Now that the phenomenon had dissipated, he finally faced them directly.

Chen Jichuan's glance swept over the five individuals before shifting to the sky.

The bamboo forest phenomenon had disappeared.

A piece of green bamboo floated down.

[Heavenly Heart Bamboo: A segment of the Third-grade Spiritual Plant 'Heavenly Heart Bamboo' can be refined into calming, mind-stabilizing Magical Treasures. Even holding it alone has the effect of calming the mind and enhancing cultivation.]

A segment of Third-grade Spiritual Plant was highly valuable.

Even without any refinement, it could rival an exceptional Second-order Magical Treasure.

If properly refined, it could easily become a Third-order Magical Treasure.

"Not bad at all."

At the moment the Heavenly Heart Bamboo appeared, Chen Jichuan swiftly swept his sleeve, collecting it.

Meanwhile.

"Heavenly Heart Bamboo!"

Among the five individuals who had arrived after Chen Jichuan, their leader moved to act, but grasped at nothing. Helplessly, he could only watch as the treasure fell into Chen Jichuan's possession, his expression instantly souring.

…