Chapter 289: Little Tree

Jiang Changkong certainly didn’t want anything to happen to his mineral veins—these were directly tied to his own advancement.

Soaring through the air, he went straight to find Xu Hengzhi, who had been assigned a top-tier eighth-grade mecha.

Currently, in terms of mineral vein extraction and protection at the base, he ranked first. There was another set in Professor Yun’s hands.

Even Lin Nanfeng, a Stellar Body Martial Artist, would be no match before a top-tier eighth-grade mecha.

The Jiang family had also arrived. Jiang Jiuqiao’s eldest son, Jiang Haisheng, was at the Star Body Peak.

He brought quite a few members of the Jiang family to assist in developing the Uncharted Land.

Jiang Changkong circulated his Star Power, condensing three light spheres each of the Divine Control Art, Taiji, Power Runes, Holy Sun, and White Cloud.

All were at full power. If thrown down, even an Early Star Constellation Stage expert would be forced to kneel here.

Xu Hengzhi was entrusted with one, while the rest were handed over to Professor Yun.

Without needing Jiang Jiuqiao’s reminder, Professor Yun had already set up Star Arrays and surveillance around the mineral veins. No one except their own people could sneak in unnoticed.

After completing these defenses, Jiang Changkong added another warning: “If you encounter something you can’t handle, let them leave, but remember who they are.”

“Don’t worry, Lord,” Xu Hengzhi said excitedly.

As a Star Spirit Peak Martial Artist, he now possessed a top-tier eighth-grade mecha and Jiang Changkong’s power at his disposal. This was the strongest he had ever been in his life.

Jiang Jiuqiao opened his mouth but ultimately remained silent.

Before leaving, he would also leave behind some power, but it would essentially only amount to three attacks.

If an enemy couldn’t be dealt with after three attacks, even he himself might not be able to handle it.

Yet Jiang Changkong had directly prepared fifteen attacks—enough to crush several Early Star Constellation Stage experts.

After completing all this, Jiang Changkong replenished his Star Power.

Late into the night, Jiang Changkong transformed into an invisible light sphere and quietly left with Jiang Jiuqiao.

“You really are cautious to the extreme, leaving so silently like this,” Jiang Jiuqiao remarked, unsure whether it was admiration or something else.

“I cherish every piece of Star Crystal, even seventh-grade ones,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Even if they were useless to him now, he could give them to friends rather than letting others steal or snatch them away.

Jiang Jiuqiao said nothing more and began giving directions.

Surrounded by white clouds, they rode the clouds away.

Riding the clouds was currently his fastest means of flight.

Within a few breaths, the two were already far from the territory.

“Is this within the Star Demon region?” Jiang Changkong asked, slightly surprised as he looked down at the endless deep mountains below.

Jiang Jiuqiao nodded. “Exactly. We’re sneaking over. A year ago, there was a mid-stage Star Demon there. It should still be the same one now.”

Jiang Changkong grew uneasy. “Could that Ancient Ruins be under that Star Demon’s control? Do you have a way to enter? Are we essentially poaching in someone else’s territory?”

“Territory only counts as territory if you control it. This place is so deep that unless it’s a Star Late Stage expert, no one could fight their way here.

As for the method to enter the Ancient Ruins, of course, I have one. However, others might know it too,” Jiang Jiuqiao whispered. “I accidentally learned a technique specifically for breaking through Ancient Ruins arrays.”

“There’s such a secret method?” Jiang Changkong was slightly astonished.

“Most Ancient Ruins are sealed by Star Arrays. As long as you resonate with the Star Array, you can open it.

Only a small portion are formed through the passage of time and changes in space. Those, I can’t handle,” Jiang Jiuqiao explained, then added proudly, “It was with this method that I founded the Jiang family, advancing from Star Spirit Peak to Early Star Constellation Stage.”

“You’re quite trusting of me, not afraid I’ll force you to hand it over.” Jiang Changkong shook his head.

Jiang Jiuqiao generously said, “It can only be used up to the Star Peak, and when encountering Ancient Ruins of the late stage or peak, you still need to prepare corresponding-level materials of the same attribute. If you like it, I can teach you.”

“Then forget it.”

Jiang Changkong shook his head. Late-stage Star, peak stage, and still needing to prepare special materials of the same level.

To hell with that, better not learn it. When there’s a use for it, just bring Jiang Jiuqiao along.

If this method could be applied to the top level, Jiang Changkong might have been tempted, but Star Peak? Forget it.

“We’re almost there, sneak over quietly using your Invisible Star Power.”

Jiang Jiuqiao whispered.

White clouds were too conspicuous at night, unable to hide from mid-stage Star Demons.

Jiang Changkong stirred inwardly, transforming into a Divine Control Art light sphere, carrying Jiang Jiuqiao as they shot through the air.

The Divine Control Art moved silently, arriving between several mountain peaks. Jiang Changkong transmitted a focused voice, “Where is it?”

“To the right, three hundred meters.”

Through transmitted voices, Jiang Changkong brought Jiang Jiuqiao to the spot three hundred meters to the right, where dense weeds grew.

“How is it?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“Wait a moment.”

Jiang Jiuqiao’s expression turned serious. Star Script appeared in his palm, slowly flying out and imprinting onto a weed.

Buzz

The weed swayed, a flash of emerald light shining as a suction force emerged, swallowing the two.

They offered no resistance, allowing the suction to engulf them. The two disappeared into the emerald light, and the weed returned to its original state.

Passing through the emerald weeds, their vision blurred as beams of light lit up, dazzling their eyes.

“So many Star Crystals, all low-grade ninth tier.”

Looking at those lights, Jiang Jiuqiao’s expression grew excited.

All low-grade ninth-tier Star Crystals!

Piled up like mountains, countless in number.

But there wasn’t a trace of Essence, Qi, or Spirit!

Jiang Changkong remained calm, placing a hand on the excited Jiang Jiuqiao. “Don’t move.”

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Jiuqiao was taken aback, calming down as he looked at the piled Star Crystals ahead. “Receiving such a grand gift right after entering is indeed abnormal.”

He had explored many Ancient Ruins, experiencing countless life-and-death crises.

After a moment of excitement, he quickly regained his composure.

However, though he knew there was a problem, he couldn’t see where it lay.

These Star Crystals contained the expected radiance, each with different colors and attributes.

“Let me take a look first.”

Jiang Changkong closed his eyes, spreading the Divine Control Art far and wide.

Soul perception!

Using the Soul Power of the Divine Control Art to examine those Star Crystals.

What appeared before him was no longer a mountain of Star Crystals but desiccated corpses, shriveled bodies!

A black, eerie small tree, covered in gray flowers, emitted no fragrance whatsoever.

Its branches pierced these shriveled corpses, as if absorbing the last trace of nutrients.

As if sensing danger, the eerie tree’s branches shot toward Jiang Changkong like sharp blades.

His five senses also signaled danger.

“Do you think you can absorb me?”

Jiang Changkong snorted coldly, his immense blood energy surging as he threw a punch at the small tree.

Boom

An invisible force descended, and the eerie tree exploded into countless fragments.

But the scene ahead remained unchanged—the small tree was rapidly reassembling.

Jiang Changkong raised his palm, Holy Sun shining brightly, incinerating the small tree.

Under the Holy Sun’s blaze, the tree turned directly to ash, leaving no trace behind.

A jade-green bead rolled out, emitting a vast wood-attribute power.

Essence, Qi, and Spirit: 10,000, cannot be extracted.

The mountain-like pile of Star Crystals had vanished, leaving only shriveled corpses.

“Was it this thing causing trouble?”

Jiang Jiuqiao walked over, picked up the emerald-green bead, and examined the ground. A small Star Array appeared: “It’s a wood-attribute Star Array.”

“No wonder. This bead already contains Early Star Constellation Stage power, but the tree didn’t have that level of strength.”

Jiang Changkong held the emerald-green bead and said, “I want this kind of bead. If there are other gains later, if you need them, I’ll give them to you, or compensate you with something else.”

“Take it, by all means. Just look after my Jiang family when the time comes,” Jiang Jiuqiao said with a laugh.

He knew very well that Jiang Changkong had a good relationship with Huo Qinglan—and Huo Qinglan was a wood-attribute cultivator!