Chapter 184: Rewards and Harvest
The choices lay before Chu Xiu:
1. Improve the foundation of the Great Dao
2. Receive 40 million divine stones.
3. Strengthen the physical body.
4. Gain the qualification to refine Mount Xumi.
Assessing the rewards, Chu Xiu prioritized them based on value. At the top was the improvement of the Great Dao foundation—essential for any cultivator aiming to transcend limits. Next was the qualification to refine Mount Xumi, undoubtedly a significant boon given the mountain's mythical status as a giant tree in the void, suggesting its transformation into a potent magical weapon. Strengthening the physical body was desirable but less critical, and lastly, the divine stones, while substantial, were the most straightforward of the rewards.
"I choose one and four," Chu Xiu declared, aiming to enhance his foundational strength and secure the coveted magical potential of Mount Xumi.
A momentary silence followed before the mechanical voice responded, indicating a complication. "Challenger, your foundation of the Great Dao has reached its current limit and cannot be improved further."
Chu Xiu was taken aback. "You can't do it either. I thought I could enhance it..."
"Please make a new choice."
With a thoughtful stroke of his chin, Chu Xiu reconsidered. His physical body was already robust, augmented by his ancient holy body. Reluctantly, he opted for the divine stones. "I choose two and four then."
"The choice is successful, and the reward is being distributed."
A mark of a green mountain materialized on Chu Xiu's right hand as divine essence stones cascaded down in a brilliant waterfall, catching the stunned onlookers off guard.
"Am I seeing this right?" one whispered, disbelief coloring his tone. "He just killed the eighth level of the Little Saint with one sword?"
Bai Susu and others were numb with shock. Yaoguang Saint speculated, "He must have used some forbidden technique to boost his power temporarily, likely at great personal cost."
Despite the theories, the feat was undeniable. Chu Xiu had triumphed over a late-stage Little Saint, bridging a gap that spanned nearly two realms—a tale so fantastical it would be dismissed as madness by any who heard it.
Yet here he was, collecting divine essence stones beneath their astonished gazes. The initial 30 million from the stone tablet in the square, now supplemented by another 40 million, summed to a staggering 70 million divine stones. Chu Xiu couldn't help but laugh; the wealth alone made his venture worthwhile.
Once the spectacle ended, Chu Xiu was teleported off the stage, leaving his audience in awe. "Your Highness, you are a god," Meng Tao declared, utterly convinced of Chu Xiu's supremacy.
Chu Xiu, however, was already focused on his next task. He secluded himself in a corner, sorting through his storage rings. He refined them one by one, categorizing the contents and discarding what he didn't need, such as the charm demon's original garments.
His loot from the ordeal was considerable. Beyond the divine stones, he tallied up possessions worth about 10 million Shenyuan stones. "The progeny of demons and barbarians indeed carry deep pockets," Chu Xiu mused, particularly impressed by the wealth of the charm demon Qianye.
Meanwhile, Yaochi Saint chose a different path. She opted for the Class B trial, leveraging the 36 Zhenwu moves she had mastered up to the 26th, breezing through with ease.
Chu Xiu's attention, however, was soon drawn to a lingering concern: the simulated puppet with a menacing black light between its eyebrows, standing ominously still. Its aura was disconcerting, prompting Chu Xiu to handle it with caution.
"This thing is a ticking time bomb," he muttered, sensing the instability of the Great Dao's curse emanating from it.
Determined not to take any risks, Chu Xiu used Wang Shanzhuo's halberd to maneuver the puppet. He pierced its chest and pushed it towards the exit of the space, then expelled it with a forceful thrust.
With a swift whoosh, the puppet was ejected from the light sphere, removing the immediate threat from Chu Xiu's vicinity.