The Third Divine Acupoint

Morning sunlight scattered in golden rays, turning the dew on leaves and petals into crystal-clear pearls that rolled like scattered gems. A fresh breeze carried the clean scent of the forest.

Xiao Chen had already awakened. The vast dragon essence contained in the second Snake-Elephant Dragon egg had been fully refined. The Zhongting acupoint at the end of the chest's central axis was now completely divinized—the light point and the acupoint had fused into a perfect unity, shining like a bright lamp in the darkness compared to the others.

Two Snake-Elephant Dragon eggs had produced the third divinized acupoint!

In this moment, Xiao Chen could clearly sense a difference from before. His life essence seemed to have grown considerably. The Shangqiu acupoint on his left foot, the one on his right foot, and the Zhongting acupoint on his chest were now linked by threads of life energy! Under inner vision, he could not clearly see the flowing currents of life force, but he could dimly perceive them.

A wave of joy washed over Xiao Chen. What extraordinary things might come from this in the future, he did not know. But for now, his life essence had indeed grown stronger, and the benefit was immense.

They said a cat had nine lives because its life essence was sufficiently strong relative to its body. Even if its flesh suffered severe injury, it could ultimately survive. Xiao Chen did not expect to become an immortal nine-lived cat, but if he were wounded again, the abundant life vitality would surely speed his recovery.

As he stood up, his body felt lighter and his strength had increased noticeably. He flexed his limbs gently, leaving several afterimages in the forest as he moved. His hands swept out brilliant light-blades that sliced through giant trees, sending them crashing down with thunderous roars amid a storm of falling leaves.

His cultivation had advanced considerably. It took a long time for Xiao Chen to calm down. The divinized acupoints were beginning to show their extraordinary nature.

Previously, he had only been certain that his cultivation was at the Mortal-Shedding realm, but whether at the second or third Heavenly Tier, he could not confirm. Now, he was sure he had reached the third tier, or perhaps even the fourth. With his vigorous life essence added on top, he believed he could contend with a fourth-tier Mortal-Shedding expert, or even a stronger opponent.

Xiao Chen eagerly anticipated the day when all three hundred and sixty-five major acupoints would be fully divinized!

The ancient trees lay felled by his radiant light-blades, but despite such a disturbance, the three skeletons showed no reaction. Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang were gathered around the remaining dragon egg, watching something with intense focus.

Xiao Chen had been too absorbed in sensing his own transformation to notice his surroundings. Now feeling the anomaly, he quickly walked over. What he saw left him stunned.

The Seven-Colored Sacred Tree, barely a palm in height, had taken root on the jade-like dragon egg. Sacred light rippled like flowing water around it. The sapling's trunk looked even more weathered and strong, its large ink-jade leaf gleaming with dark luster. The smaller, crystalline white-jade leaf had grown significantly larger!

A divine and mysterious sacred tree! It could actually absorb the essence of a dragon egg and refine its vast draconic energy!

The glittering green eggshell gradually dimmed, then slowly cracked. Finally, with a soft "pop," it shattered completely. Within, there was no trace of essence—only a pool of golden liquid that spilled across the ground.

Xiao Chen lifted the Little Sacred Tree in his hands. Truly a divine treasure! He felt no regret for the lost dragon egg.

"Did you place it on the egg?"

The three skeletons shook their heads in unison.

"I'm not blaming you. On the contrary, you did well."

They shook their heads again, their jaws clacking as they gestured with their bone claws. After much effort, Xiao Chen understood: the Little Sacred Tree had rooted itself onto the dragon egg of its own accord.

How could that be? How could it move by itself? But the three skeletons had no reason to lie. It seemed the Little Sacred Tree had truly moved from the nearby giant tree and landed on the dragon egg by itself.

Something was strange. Xiao Chen felt perplexed.

Vaguely, Xiao Chen sensed a feeling of being reborn. The essence of cultivation was to continuously break the shackles of the human body, to achieve self-transformation and sublimation. He could clearly feel his physique gradually changing.

Meanwhile, after absorbing more than a dozen high-grade crystals and cultivating by the Little Sacred Tree through the night, the three skeletons also seemed different from before. The soul-light within their skulls had grown brighter, and their bones had taken on a subtle luster, becoming increasingly smooth.

Xiao Chen decided that from now on, no matter how many crystals he obtained, he would give them to the three skeletons first, letting them continuously transform and evolve toward stronger realms. As for his own path—divinizing his acupoints—the vast essence required could not be satisfied by ordinary crystals. Only dragon crystals would suffice; anything else would be like trying to fill a river with a cup.

After the Little Sacred Tree absorbed the essence of the Snake-Elephant Dragon egg, it was enveloped in seven-colored divine light, becoming even more mysterious. Soon, the white-jade leaf would likely grow to match the ink-jade leaf in size.

He placed the Little Sacred Tree deep in the swamp, then buried the broken jade-like eggshell. Xiao Chen and the three skeletons set out again. He had to resolve the problem of Zhao Lin'er and Gu Luo as soon as possible.

Just as they were leaving, he thought of the extraordinary giant apes. When Zhao Lin'er was rescued by the little unicorn sacred beast, the four-armed blood-colored ape had led the troop in pursuit. Perhaps they could provide important clues.

Before long, Xiao Chen and the three skeletons appeared near the stone forest where the giant apes dwelled. It was quiet here, unlike other areas filled with constant beast roars. Fragrant flowers bloomed among the stone pillars, birds sang melodiously, and many vines coiled around the rocks.

With a roar, a three-meter-tall old ape emerged from the stone forest, growling low at Xiao Chen and the others, displaying deep hostility.

This troop of giant apes had once had some acquaintance with Xiao Chen, but the death of one of their kind had gradually cooled the relationship.

Xiao Chen knew these apes were intelligent. He patiently gestured and explained, hoping they could provide information on Zhao Lin'er.

Young apes chittered from within the stone forest as a few juveniles bounded out, followed by another old ape. It seemed the adult apes had all gone out. Only two old apes remained to care for the young and guard the dwelling. They looked nervous.

Through persistent gesturing and explanation, the old ape seemed to understand Xiao Chen's meaning. One of them sped away, leaping into the depths of the primeval forest to find the others.

After about half an hour, more than a dozen howls sounded from afar. The Crimson Demon Ape appeared, leading a troop of a dozen giant apes. They circled Xiao Chen, growling lowly, filled with hostility.

Xiao Chen knew he could never come here again. The thin bond from before was completely severed.

After repeated explanations and gestures—even drawing pictures of Zhao Lin'er and the little celestial horse on the ground—the Crimson Demon Ape, being a spirit beast, finally understood. It roared at the other apes, then led Xiao Chen and the three skeletons in a certain direction through the primeval forest, leaping ahead.

They did not head deeper into the island but traveled westward along a parallel path.

The Crimson Demon Ape was born with extraordinary abilities, incredibly agile. Xiao Chen and the three skeletons could not match its sustained leaping among the branches, but they managed to follow at a steady pace through the forest.

After crossing several mountain ranges, the massive blood-colored ape stopped. Its claw pointed at a stretch of ancient forest undulating over mountain ridges ahead, letting out low growls. It would go no further. Danger lurked ahead, something it deeply feared.

Xiao Chen understood. The ape had done its duty. He nodded and let the Crimson Demon Ape leave.