The Azure-Veined Banyan.
A one-star spirit tree.
In the world of cultivation treasures, it's practically unknown.
However, this particular Azure-Veined Banyan on Longevity Mountain was quite unique.
It had developed a hint of sentience, a sliver of thought.
Moreover,
because the Azure-Veined Banyan was a spirit tree, it grew the fastest among a group of ordinary trees.
In just a thousand years, it had already become lush and leafy.
This filled it with joy and excitement, and the thoughts in its mind grew even more complex.
As a tree, it didn't know what it could do.
It could only grow taller.
"Legends say there are immortals at great heights."
"I want to see an immortal; an immortal will surely give me answers."
Thinking this, it grew even more diligently, and with greater delight.
The Azure-Veined Banyan finally reached a great height.
Alas, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
Before it could even experience the world or find an immortal, it was struck by a bolt of heavenly lightning.
A lightning bolt as thick as a bucket struck it fiercely, charring the Azure-Veined Banyan's trunk and leaving only one in a hundred of its vital forces.
Its clear thoughts completely vanished.
Only four emotions remained: joy, anger, sorrow, and fear.
Even its perception of the outside world was limited to a radius of three to five zhang.
Year after year, the Azure-Veined Banyan felt it was finally going to die.
Then, it sensed a human.
Humans were not common in Longevity Mountain.
As a gentle spirit tree, the Azure-Veined Banyan greatly admired and envied these beings.
— They were born with complex thoughts and abundant emotions.
It was simply like a gift from an immortal.
Being able to see a human before its death brought a hint of joy to this Azure-Veined Banyan.
Then, this human placed a hand on its damaged body.
The palm was very warm, as if it contained a strange power.
What happened next made it even more delighted.
The Azure-Veined Banyan felt an unusual sensation emanating from the human's palm.
In an instant, all the negative influences in its branches and trunk were absorbed.
At the same time, a powerful force of vital blood and the aura of green wood were transmitted to it.
This allowed the Azure-Veined Banyan to quickly recover its vitality, and even evolve into a Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan.
It became purer and stronger.
With its clear thoughts restored, the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan immediately sensed the figure beneath its roots.
"It must be an immortal!"
It thought to itself.
And, the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan finally understood the meaning of its existence.
— To serve the immortal!
— — — —
Li Zhuo stood with his mouth agape for a while.
He finally confirmed that everything that had just happened was real.
The Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan beside him had indeed become a five-star spirit tree, and it was fiercely loyal to him.
It even considered him an immortal!
Li Zhuo gently stroked the tree trunk, savoring the moment filled with a sense of security.
This was a five-star spirit tree!
Five stars!
Li Zhuo was so excited that he wanted to shout!
In the current cultivation world, whether it was cultivation techniques, elixirs, spirit beasts, or spirit plants…
Any item with a star rating could be called a treasure.
Li Zhuo's great-grandfather had been fortunate enough to learn a damaged fragment of a one-star cultivation technique, which allowed him to establish a small cultivation family.
To this day, his great-grandfather's greatest wish was for the family to obtain a star-rated treasure.
Li Zhuo hadn't expected to fulfill his great-grandfather's wish so easily.
Given the star rating of this banyan tree, it could serve as the foundation of a sect, not just for his original small cultivation family, but even for a medium-sized sect!
It could protect the sect and ensure its lasting prosperity.
Squatting under the tree, Li Zhuo took a few deep breaths and finally calmed his emotions.
He could indeed ensure his safety now, but trying to show off in the cultivation world with his golden finger was absolutely wishful thinking!
Li Zhuo was very self-aware.
He had no background and no strength; if he dared to display any treasure created by his golden finger in the cultivation world, he would definitely be captured by powerful cultivators and then dissected for research.
Therefore, he still had to follow his predetermined plan.
To hide in this deep mountain.
Using this Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan as the center, and with his golden finger, he would gradually transform this mountain and create an absolutely safe zone!
Only then could he, a novice, survive in the cultivation world.
Perhaps even glimpse the path to immortality, which he had never dared to aspire to before.
With a clear plan, Li Zhuo straightened up.
He picked a fruit and took a bite.
Sweet juice burst in his mouth, refreshing him immensely.
At the same time, a new page appeared in his mind.
【Individual Information: Miscellaneous - Fruit】
【Attributes】
Sweetness: 1
Satiety: 1
Impurities: 1
【Note】 The Attribute Modifier can be used once daily.
"It seems that items without any spiritual energy are categorized as miscellaneous, and I can only use the cheat once a day."
"However, from the previous cheat, if new attribute points are gained due to an upgrade or star increase, like with the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan, it seems I can add points a second time without restrictions."
"I'll try again tomorrow ~"
While eating the fruit, he studied his cheat.
Just like in games, the attribute modifier couldn't be used on himself, which completely dashed Li Zhuo's plan of modifying himself into a peerless genius.
He also tried placing his hand on the ground, hoping to see the attributes of the mountain range or even the continent.
Unfortunately, the page in his mind was not the information he expected.
【Individual Information: Miscellaneous - Soil】
【Five Elements Attributes】
Earth: 1
Water: 1
【Special Attributes】
Impurities: 1
Li Zhuo even placed his hand in mid-air, sensing the airflow.
This time, not even the item attribute page appeared.
"No shortcuts, huh."
Li Zhuo mumbled, not at all disappointed.
After experimenting with his cheat, he began to measure the land.
According to the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan's talent, the core area beneath its canopy possessed the effect of 【Endless Life】.
The Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan naturally designated Li Zhuo to share in this Endless Life.
However, Li Zhuo had not yet guided qi into his body, so he couldn't feel any difference.
Compared to the core area, the protected area was much larger.
According to Li Zhuo's measurements, the protected area extended westward to include about one-third of the grassland.
Southward, it reached the lakeside, also encompassing a lake area about the size of a room.
Northward, it crossed the arboreal zone and included a small shrub area.
Eastward, it was still the arboreal zone, containing three fruit trees.
Li Zhuo's activities in these areas would all receive the protection of the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan.
Although he couldn't share the 【Endless Life】 effect of the core area, it could still be considered a safe zone.
Looking at such a large safe zone, Li Zhuo felt incredibly secure.
Then, he turned his gaze to the corpses of the venomous snake and the tiger.
The fruit he had just eaten did not alleviate his hunger.
At this moment, Li Zhuo needed a lot of fat and carbohydrates.
"I need to start a fire, roast a snake, and smoke the tiger meat, otherwise it will spoil."
He mumbled, looking around and picking up a dead branch.
Looking at the scattered twigs and dead leaves beneath the canopy, Li Zhuo frowned:
"After eating and drinking my fill, I need to tidy up the 【core area】 properly, make it look like a home."
"I also need to plan the protected area, designating areas for spirit fields and spirit plants. Later, I'll transplant some spirit plants and spirit herbs or something."
"I also need to thoroughly explore the protected area. If I can find another spirit tree of the Dao-Born Azure-Veined Banyan level, I'll hit the jackpot ~"
"A stable food source is also very important."
Li Zhuo muttered about the things he needed to do next, finally walking over to the venomous snake.
"Let's eat first."