Within the stele engraved with the word 'Forbidden Zone', Sword Intent energy flew wildly, leaving no room for evasion.
Qin Chu's gaze retracted from the Forbidden Zone, where Sword Intent energy flew, and fell upon the stele of the Forbidden Zone. He saw a vibrant green, and within the stele, there was a Sword Intent Plant much thicker than the Spiritual Plants he had collected in the past.
This discovery excited Qin Chu. Although the area around the Sword Intent Forbidden Zone's stele was filled with dangerous Sword Intent, he couldn't bring himself to give up.
"Senior Sister, wait in this pit. I'll go get that Sword Intent Plant," Qin Chu said, leading Shang Shuyu into a pit.
Shang Shuyu grabbed Qin Chu's arm, "Junior Brother, don't go. It's too dangerous inside. I'm a little scared!"
"Don't worry, Senior Sister, I won't act recklessly!" Qin Chu said to Shang Shuyu. He knew what Shang Shuyu meant by 'scared' – she was afraid something would happen to him.
Shang Shuyu looked at Qin Chu and said no more, seeing that his attitude was very firm.
After settling Shang Shuyu, Qin Chu left the pit and slowly walked towards the Forbidden Zone's stele.
Qin Chu had weighed some things. If this Sword Intent Plant was inside the Forbidden Zone, even if the distance wasn't great, he would have to give up. A Forbidden Zone was a Forbidden Zone; the frequency and intensity of the Sword Intent energy gushing out were too terrifying. Going inside would be certain death. But since it was next to the stele, a Sword Intent Plant that could be said to have grown relying on the stele, he couldn't let it go. Moreover, he had confirmed the quality of this Sword Intent Plant, which far surpassed what he had obtained before.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Sword Intent stele, Qin Chu activated his Sacred Blood Sword Wings, fully immersing his mind in the Sword Spirit Realm. He took out a long sword, a trophy from battle, and looked for an opportunity, preparing to dig out this Sword Intent Plant.
In the past, Qin Chu always used battle sabers from his spoils of war, but not now. The Sword Intent here was too strong, somewhat repelling battle sabers. Using a battle sword was most suitable. Also, this Sword Intent Plant was different from the Spiritual Plants that appeared before. Previously, they were carried up by Sword Intent energy, and he just needed to pick them up. But now, this one was growing next to the Sword Intent stele and needed to be dug out.
After waiting for two quarters of an hour, Qin Chu found an opportunity. A burst of Sword Intent energy shot up from near the Forbidden Zone's stele, leaving a gap.
With his Sacred Fire Sword Wings vibrating, Qin Chu swept close to the ground, arriving in front of the Sword Intent stele. Holding the battle sword, which was imbued with Sword Intent, he began to dig fiercely.
Qin Chu vigorously dug at the ground several times with his arms, then retracted his battle sword. He then used the Vermilion Bird Sky-Seizing Claws with both hands, plunging them into the soil near the Sword Intent Plant's roots, and with a scoop, he dug out the Sword Intent Plant.
Success!
When he looked up, Qin Chu noticed the back of the stele, where words were carved: "The end is also the beginning… Qin Changsheng."
At this moment, Qin Chu's scalp tingled. With a tremor of his Sacred Fire Sword Wings, he left the stele area and returned to the pit where Shang Shuyu was lying. And where he had originally been, a burst of Sword Intent energy shot up into the sky.
"Junior Brother, are you alright!" Shang Shuyu's eyes were full of worry; she noticed bloodstains on Qin Chu's chest.
"I'm fine. Let's quickly switch to another pit. This pit has been exposed for a bit too long," Qin Chu said to Shang Shuyu.
Shang Shuyu nodded and followed Qin Chu into a pit that had just released Sword Intent energy.
At this point, Qin Chu put down the Sword Intent Plant. He couldn't not put it down, because he had already been injured by the Sword Intent Plant. Just the pure Sword Intent had cut through the fabric on his chest.
"Senior Sister, this is a good thing!" Qin Chu said excitedly.
"Quickly put it away!" Shang Shuyu was also very excited; the Aura and essence emanating from this Sword Intent Plant were too strong.
Qin Chu took out an empty Storage Ring from the Storage Ring he wore on his hand, and with a thought, he transferred the Sword Intent Plant into the Storage Ring.
The Sword Intent Plant was put into the Storage Ring by Qin Chu, but in the blink of an eye, an anomaly occurred. The Storage Ring in his hand cracked, and the Sword Intent Plant fell out in front of Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu again.
The Storage Ring couldn't withstand the Aura and essence of this Sword Intent Plant and shattered.
"What should I do? If I carry it out like this, I'll definitely become an enemy of the world!" Qin Chu was a bit anxious.
Anxiety also appeared on Shang Shuyu's face. The current situation was very troublesome; this Sword Intent Plant was difficult to handle. If it wasn't taken out secretly, and was discovered, countless people would scramble for it. Even if Su Mu had no intentions and honored their agreement, protecting Qin Chu for a while, what about later? Qin Chu would have no peace in the future!
"Damn it!" Qin Chu wiped the blood from his chest, then flicked his hand.
With that flick, Qin Chu splattered blood onto the Sword Spirit Plant in front of him. The bright red blood and the emerald green Sword Intent Plant leaves formed a stark contrast.
Suddenly, Qin Chu's blood disappeared; it was absorbed by the Sword Intent Plant.
The Sword Intent Plant, having absorbed Qin Chu's fresh blood, floated and flashed, then shot towards Qin Chu's chest.
The Sword Intent Plant was too fast; Qin Chu couldn't dodge it at all. Just as Qin Chu was bracing for the Sword Intent Plant to pierce his heart, the Sword Intent Plant suddenly vanished.
Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu looked at each other, both stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Just then, a burst of Sword Intent erupted from Qin Chu's body, an incredibly powerful Sword Intent, but it appeared and disappeared quickly.
Qin Chu checked himself and found that the Sword Intent Plant had appeared in his Dantian, and was subtly connected to the sword bone in his chest.
"Senior Sister, it's inside my body, in my Dantian!" Qin Chu said to Shang Shuyu.
"It's a blood-drop recognition of its master!" Shang Shuyu recalled that Qin Chu's blood had splattered onto the Sword Intent Plant earlier.
"Yes, I can feel a connection between it and me. This will require further study," Qin Chu said.
Shang Shuyu glanced back at the stele with the 'Forbidden Zone' inscription. "We can't get close to what's inside; it truly is a Forbidden Zone. It's time to retreat."
Qin Chu nodded. This trip to Heavenly Sword Mountain had been a great harvest, so to speak. After giving Spiritual Plants to the people around him, he still had a lot of stock, all of which were in-demand resources.
Having made their decision, Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu began to retreat, continuing until they reached the Level Eight Sword Intent area before the pressure became manageable.
"The pressure in the Level Nine Sword Intent area is too great, and that Forbidden Zone is a place we absolutely cannot step into." Sitting on the edge of a pit, Qin Chu took a big gulp of wine. In the Level Eight Sword Intent area, the safety had increased significantly, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm so happy! I actually reached the Level Nine Sword Intent area and even saw the stele of the Sword Intent Forbidden Zone!" Shang Shuyu said, looking at Qin Chu.
"Me too, this trip has been a huge gain!" Qin Chu said.
Because the pressure was less, Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu found it much easier to chat.
"Qin Chu, I have four Spiritual Plants here. Besides giving one to Granny Yu, I can also give one to each of my parents. I believe they won't try to force any marriage contract on me anymore," Shang Shuyu said to Qin Chu.
"That's great! Is that enough? If not, I'll give you a few more. The marriage contract issue must be resolved. Don't let them pressure you anymore, Senior Sister. You should live happily and freely, and find someone you love. Most importantly, he must love you!" Qin Chu said, looking at Shang Shuyu.
"Four are enough for me, silly Junior Brother. You should also be good to yourself. Seeing you injured, Senior Sister feels very bad!" Shang Shuyu said, looking at Qin Chu.
