Maiden Galaxy

Chapter 333: Rootless Qi

Chapter 333: Rootless Qi

"So it turns out that you're Sun Simiao."

"Heh, heh, do you worship This Lady now?" Sun Yingmeng proudly puffed out her chest.

"You're currently wet behind the ears, what would I worship you for." Chen Mo looked askance at her.

"This Lady is only refining medicine at Mount Hua, I'm just not in the mood to cultivate my Realm, that's all." Sun Yingmeng twitched her mouth, "This Lady recently wrote the ‘Formulas Worth A Thousand Gold.'¹ Just wait until it's finished, then you'll realize how amazing I am."

Chen Mo nodded. Truth be told, that Sun Yingmeng was the Star Name King Of Medicine Sun Simiao made him particularly surprised. After all, the nickname "King Of Medicine" was not undeserved; she had the qualifications to assume the title as one of the best spiritual energy Star Generals.

"No wonder your Defense One Qi is so effective. I came to find you because I wanted some things." Chen Mo recalled his objective in comign here. His spars with Lu Xiujing for the past half month were too taxing. Chen Mo would always drink a bit of Defense One Qi to rejuvenate his energy. Only by doing so was he able to keep up with the nonstop day to night cultivation process.

"Yingmeng, you actually gave that stinking man the Defense One Qi?" Li Xiao all of a sudden bolted up practically like a cat that had its tail stepped on. She could no longer stand the bitter taste in her mouth either.

"I told you, for four hours after ingesting the Four Opposites Soup, you can't get angry or exhibit any rebellious behavior, Li Xiao. Did you hear a thing This Lady said." Sun Yingmeng swatted her with a palm.

Li Xiao glared and said: "But you actually gave him the Defense One Qi?"

"Is the Defense One Qi very valuable?" Chen Mo said.

Li Xiao spat: "It's more than just valuable, it's one of the rarest things in the world, okay. Many cultivators search but can't get it. ‘Zhuangzi: The Great and Honored Master' says: ‘They are human with the creator, and they wander the world's one qi,' which can be said to be the most primordial force."²

Sun Yingmeng chuckled: "Don't pay attention to Xiaoxiao's surprise. It's just there is another effect of even faster comprehension and integration of abilities after a cultivator ingests it." 

"If can also have this effect?" Chen Mo was astonished. This was but a godly medicine.

"Were you sparring with Lu Xiujing these past few days? You didn't feel any different?" Li Xiao pursed her lips.

Chen Mo thought about it. Indeed he did. He was exhausted after each battle, so he would drink the Defense One Qi to restore his energy. Afterwards, the battle experience in his mind for the day would quickly sublimate into his consciousness and gradually assimilate. Even if he faced a Yellow Court Realm Peak Star General right now, he would have some confidence.

"Fuck, I even thought I was just exceptionally talented." Chen Mo said in dismay.

"Who are you kidding. A battle with a Star General cannot be grasped like with battles against warriors and cultivators just by fighting several bouts everyday. Unless you have an abnormal Innate Skill like Battle Doctrine. Otherwise, even if you practiced a hundred times, you can only accumulate a little bit at a time." Li Xiao looked down on Chen Mo and said: "The Defense One Qi is concocted by Yingmeng using her Dark Rank. That's why it has such a pronounced effect."

"Yingmeng, I owe you an enormous favor. If you have any trouble in the future, I'll brave scalding water and raging fire to help you." Chen Mo was grateful. The Defense One Qi was able to allow a Star Warrior and cultivator to possess the martial arts experience to contend against a Star General. Its worth was incalculable.

The King Of Medicine was deserving of her reputation, as expected.

"King Of Medicine" Sun Yingmeng proudly grinned. It's karma for you calling This Lady wet behind the ears.

"Since the Defense One Qi is so valuable, I'm sorry that I searched for more of what you need. I'll just give you these Cherished Spirit Drops that I picked." Chen Mo took out the Cherished Spirit Drops and handed them to her.

"You picked more, huh?" Sun Yingmeng wasted no time taking them. She just so happened to need them to concoct medicine.

"This Lady actually can help concoct more Defense One Qi for you." Sun Yingmeng continued: "It's only a Dark Rank, but concocting the Defense One Qi requires an ingredient like the ‘Rootless Qi.'"³

"Where can it be found?" Chen Mo asked.

"The Rootless Qi can be found on Mount Hua, however, it's produced only at specific times. Furthermore, there are Demon Beasts, so it's very dangerous. If you truly want to, then This Lady will notify you later."

The effects of this "Defense On Qi" were too good. Chen Mo was unable to stay unmoved. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Yingmeng."

"Heh, heh, from now on, you have to obediently listen to whatever This Lady says." Sun Yingmeng craftily winked.

"That depends on whether you were obedient or not first." Chen Mo laughed, unfazed.

Sun Yingmeng shot him a glare.

Li Xiao watched Yingmeng and Chen Mo chat. She was upset, but she could not have an outburst, "Oh, right, Junior Brother Chen Mo, you run around at Little Junior Sister's recently, what's your objective?"

"The environment at Little Senior Sister's isn't bad. I practice boxing together with her over there, and we exchange insight."

"The Red Fragrant Child has no skill, and her temper is crabby. Don't waste your kindness. She can't even handle one Human Immortal right now. Even if you teach her the Bagua Boxing Technique, she wouldn't feel grateful."

"We are in the same sect, we help each other. It's only natural." Chen Mo shook his head at Li Xiao's words.

"Li Xiao also helped the Red Fragrant Child in the past, and This Lady also helped concoct a few medicinal soups for her. But we were all refused by her." Sun Yingmeng explained why Li Xiao's attitude was not very good.

Li Xiao sneered: "Refused? She clearly chased us out, okay? I've truly never seen a person like this, to treat kindness with such ungratefulness."

"Little Senior Sister Fragrant Child has probably suffered many hardships and has become unwilling to have faith in other people." Chen Mo sighed.

"Embarrass yourself as you wish. Her Star Name has been in the gestational phase for several decades. If you want to waste time, do as you wish." Li Xiao words ended here, and she was disinclined to say anymore.

Chen Mo understood the girl's kindness and smiled.

After chatting with Sun Yingmeng for a while, Chen Mo then left the Supplement Pavilion.

"Why did you give Chen Mo the Defense One Qi?" Li Xiao wrinkled her brow.

Sun Simiao teased: "Are you afraid that your new Junior Brother will surpass you?"

Li Xiao was speechless, grumbling over the phrase, "He's my Junior Brother, what am I afraid he'll do."

Sun Yingmeng was serious: "I saw your battle with Chen Mo. The martial arts he wielded against a Star General are truly very astonishing. Your Mount Hua is currently facing myriad crises. Another helping hand is nonetheless a helping hand. This Lady doesn't want to have no place to live in the future."

"Then you truly plan to go help concoct the Defense One Qi for Chen Mo? The Rootless Qi is a bit problematic." Li Xiao wrinkled her brow. The King Of Medicine's "Heaven, Earth, Dark, Yellow" Techniques were not easy to practice.

"If you're afraid, I'll go with Chen Mo." Sun Yingmeng chuckled.

Li Xiao disdainfully said: "When was I scared. With me around, don't you even think of developing something with that man."

…

Although the name "Western Moon" Mount Hua was for the Mount Hua Sect, in truth, Mount Hua was had immense and tall peaks as well as frightening valleys, both areas too numerous to count.

At this moment, when the moonlight was at the correct intensity, Chen Mo, Sun Yingmeng, and Li Su set out for one of Mount Hua's valleys.

This valley was named "Rootless Valley"⁴ and was filled with swamps and a dense, cold air. Because of the topography, the feng shui was abnormal, causing the muddiest air for it year round. Consequently, the Demon Beasts in the valley roamed freely. Many powerful Demon Beasts dwelled here, and there were even some "Reincarnation Realm" Demon Beasts. Li Xiao loathed this place very much; owing to the dim starlight here, she felt very uncomfortable.

At the center of the Rootless Valley's marsh was a large tree. This was the Rootless Tree, one of Mount Hua's "Three Great Divine Trees."

If Sun Yingmeng wanted the Defense One Qi, then she needed the Rootless Tree's Rootless Qi. At the end of every month, the moonlight would be at its purest. The Rootless Tree would produce a kind of qi, and the Demon Beasts would absorb as much of this Rootless Qi as they could to refine into their own Demonic Qi.

This was also the time when Demon Beasts were at their most numerous.

However, this actually was not considered very dangerous. Demon Beasts would spurn slaughter while absorbing the Rootless Qi and focus on refinement. So long as they were not disturbed, the Demon Beasts would mostly pay no attention. If you were a Star General, perhaps the Demon beasts would yield.

"This doesn't so hard." Chen Mo wrinkled his brow.

"It would be good if it wasn't hard. The Rootless Tree is but one of Mount Hua's Three Great Divine Trees, can it be so simple?" Li Xiao said.

As she said this, Chen Mo already spotted the Rootless Valley from upon his Flying Sword.

Although it was called a valley, it could be completely described as a flatland. The dark green swamps extended as far as the eye could see, as if it was a vast ocean.

Chen Mo felt his pores open, and the Demonic Qi in the valley skyrocketed.

Sweeping past the marsh, he flew further in and saw an ancient tree growing in the swamp. This was shaped like a pine or cypress, its branches twisting into many directions, its leaves luxuriant. However, a closer look showed that this tree grew above the swamp. Unexpectedly, there were no roots that grew anywhere.

This was the first time that Chen Mo had seen a tree that was not connected to Earthly Qi.

"The Rootless Tree doesn't touch the earth below, nor does it reach the heavens above. But it grows at Mount Hua, mixing Yin and Yang together. When the moonlight is purest, this tree's upper half will be clear and the lower half murky. Then, the qi it produces will be the Rootless Qi. This Qi is extremely beneficial for Demon Beasts and cultivators. Reportedly, absorbing this for several centuries could clear hundreds of pores, straighten life and death, undergo reincarnation." Sun Yingmeng clearly explained.

Several centuries.

Chen Mo thought to himself that a cultivator would have already passed away by then.

"However, because This Lady is the King Of Medicine, I can quickly use my Dark Rank to refine the Rootless Qi, which saves a lot of trouble." Sun Yingmeng proudly said.

Chen Mo noticed that hundreds upon thousands of Demon Beasts were indeed already gathered near this Rootless Tree.

Above were golden hawks and black cranes. Down below were fierce felines and bears. Even the fishes and insect fell over each other as they gathered around the Rootless Tree. Practically all manner of creature were here. Chen Mo used the Deva Eyes to look around.

The surrounding dozen li were filled with Demon Beasts.

There were so many Demon Beasts. He had no confidence in handling them all.

"These Demon Beasts are only Demon Qi Nine Turns, not a problem at all." Li Su stepped upon the marsh as if it were solid ground. The Star Crest on the girl's forehead flashed, and she released Star Energy.

These Demon Beasts sensed the might of Li Su's Star Energy, and they respectfully made a path at once.

When an Earthly Star martial general was in Yellow Court Realm, the earth was like her backyard. Their Fiend Qi was endless, they were invincible, and Li Su already had "Roadless" Realm. Her Earthly Fiend path was already smooth and unobstructed. How could these Demon Beasts dare be rash. They could only respectfully retreat to one side.

Chen Mo and Sun Yingmeng followed behind her, quite absurd display of foxes exploiting a tiger's might.

Chen Mo then wondered if his Black Turtle True Spirit's might would have this kind of effect.

The three of them very quickly arrived in front of the Rootless Tree. This tree was considerably massive. Chen Mo once again searched meticulously and honestly did not find any roots whatsoever. An indescribable air was emitted from the tree. At times, it was heavy and grave. Others, it was light.

This should be the Rootless Qi.

"The Rootless Qi is best with the upper half clear and the lower half murky. You two help protect me while I gather in the meantime." Sun Yingmeng took a deep breath.

Li Su took out her Star Weapon, and her eyes nervously eyed the surroundings.

"These Demon Beasts all are so scared of you, yet you're so anxious?" This was the first time he saw the girl look so grim.

"Of course I'm not afraid of these Demon Beasts. The one I fear is the master of the Rootless Valley." Li Xiao gravely replied.

"The Rootless Valley's master?"

"A Star General?" Chen Mo was taken aback.

"No, a Demon Immortal!!"⁵

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2. ?????????????????? is from the Zhuangzi. There are various translations that say "one breath", but I elected to keep consistent with how I've translated One Qi. ?
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