My Core is the Boss

"When my clan was destroyed, I barely escaped with my life, and fled to Great Shang. By coincidence, I ended up joining the Divine Radiance Sect," Lord Withered Tree said in a calm, detached tone, as though recounting another man's story.

Qi Yuan couldn't help thinking that "by coincidence", the sect master was referring to how he'd been captured by the Demonic Desire Sect, and was planted into the Divine Radiances Sect as a spy.

"My clan was wiped out, and a treasure of my clan was lost. It eventually became one of the prizes for those who make it into the top hundred of the Eastern Lands' Prodigy Ranking. Four years from now, when the ranking is finalized, I need you to enter the top hundred and retrieve that treasure for me."

Then, Lord Withered Tree explained the details. The Eastern Lands' Prodigy Ranking offered tremendous rewards to the top hundred, including chances to step into the Violet Palace realm. The higher the rank, the earlier one could apick their prize.

The treasure of Lord Withered Tree's clan was extremely special, but those who found it didn't know its true worth. Hence, they had treated it as just another valuable item, and included it among the ranking's reward treasures.

"Top hundred? That's no problem," Qi Yuan said confidently. "But Sect Master, what about that great opportunity you mentioned before?"

Lord Withered Tree's eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, flickered with a trace of pain. He took out a small gourd and explained, "The item is called the Void Soulwood. By consuming it, anyone below Violet Palace realm can raise their soul strength by a small tier."

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. That was an actual treasure. It was most useful for the late stage Nascent Soul cultivator attempting to break into the Violet Palace realm. After all, taking it greatly increased one's chances of surviving the Tribulation.

Lord Withered Tree had never used it himself, saving it for his own breakthrough. As fate would have it, he had to give it to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan uncorked the small gourd and saw a translucent, jelly-like rod inside. His eyes gleamed. "Sect Master, you really are a good man! Even if you are a spy from the Demonic Desire Sect, I'll still acknowledge you!"

This was exactly the kind of treasure he lacked most, a soul-strengthening treasure!

"This item is immensely precious," Lord Withered Tree said, twitching at Qi Yuan's words. "You'd best save it until you're on the verge of breaking into the Violet Palace."