However, the spirit root was mainly transparent, with only its root tendrils appearing milky white.

"This little thing alone can nurture the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit'." Teng Qingshan marveled inwardly. In truth, Teng Qingshan was unaware... this Black Fire Spirit Root was not only responsible for nurturing the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit,' but even the birth of the 'Crimson Scale Beast' was closely connected to it!

The Black Fire Spirit Root, through its roots, continuously absorbed the Fire element energy from the surrounding heaven and earth. After constant absorption, a peculiar transparent energy was generated within the Black Fire Spirit Root through a special transmutation!

This transparent energy was quite miraculous.

It was because of this energy that the young Crimson Scale Beast was born, and the Crimson Scale Beast, in turn, was intrinsically linked to this 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit.'

Even their stages of growth were almost identical!

Across the vast continent of Kyushu, many people believed that while the 'Black Fire Spirit Root' was peculiar, it was far inferior to the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit.' This notion was completely wrong! The Black Fire Spirit Fruit contained the energy of a 'God,' capable of increasing the 'Shen' component within a person's 'Essence, Qi, and Spirit,' thereby strengthening one's 'Shen' and making it easier to step into the Innate realm.

The Black Fire Spirit Root was different!

The Black Fire Spirit Root actually contained an energy related to a 'Life Trait.' This energy could nurture the living 'Crimson Scale Beast' and could also nurture the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit.'

How strange!

Historically, some individuals consumed the 'Black Fire Spirit Root' and only discovered their physique strengthening, their bodies instantly gaining immense strength measured in tens of thousands of jin. Beyond that, they discovered nothing else... This couldn't be blamed on them, because they hadn't even fully tapped into the potential of the human body, so how could they unlock the energy of the heavenly treasure, the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit'?

"I wonder what the effect will be."

Teng Qingshan washed himself in the water, then bit down on the Black Fire Spirit Root.

"Crack!"

"Hmm? So hard!" The outer skin of the Black Fire Spirit Root was tough, but once bitten through, the inner flesh was surprisingly tender. It melted upon entering his mouth, and a searing hot power instantly surged down his throat. Teng Qingshan didn't hesitate, taking two more bites, then chewed the entire root system to pieces and swallowed it down.

"This energy is indeed potent, but with my body, bearing it should be no problem." Historically, there were no recorded instances of death from consuming the Black Fire Spirit Root.

With Teng Qingshan's robust physique, an accident was even less likely.

Teng Qingshan immediately sat down cross-legged, his breathing slowing dramatically. His entire spirit became completely internalized, and he meticulously felt every change in his muscles, tendons and bones, blood circulation, internal organs, and every other part of his body. That scorching, fiery energy traveled down his throat into his esophagus, then began to spread rapidly!

This energy quickly merged into the Five Viscera and Six Bowels, meridians, bones, muscles, and every fiber of his physical body, even permeating the surface layer of his skin which naturally absorbed this fiery energy.

"Boom!"

This energy also extended upwards, swiftly filling Teng Qingshan's skull. The skin on his face, eyes, ears, and so forth, all received this infusion of energy.

"Such miraculous energy." With Teng Qingshan's acute perception of his body, he clearly sensed that his physical form, which he thought had already reached its zenith and could advance no further, was now being irrigated as if by a magical life-giving water poured onto a great tree, causing it to rapidly grow taller again. His muscle fibers became even more vigorous.

Especially his bones—they were experiencing an intense, burning sensation like fire!

This sensation lasted for about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, and then it slowly dissipated.

The mystical energy derived from the Black Fire Spirit Root had completely integrated into every part of Teng Qingshan's body.

"Hoo!" Teng Qingshan stood up and drew the Samsara Spear planted beside him in the earth.

"Hah!"

Teng Qingshan’s physical strength erupted instantly. His right arm muscles visibly thickened by a degree, the fibers knotting together, brimming with boundless might. Teng Qingshan swung the Samsara Spear in his hand violently!

Boom!

An explosive roar echoed across the flat ground. The terrifying force of the Samsara Spear instantly compressed the surrounding air. When the spear stopped moving, the maximally compressed air violently burst outward, like invisible cannonballs blasting a wide swath through the bamboo forest ahead. Many green bamboos were instantly shattered.

"Eh, my strength has increased by nearly twenty thousand jin!" Teng Qingshan controlled his strength with precise accuracy, able to clearly perceive the change.

"Legend says that upon first eating the 'Black Fire Spirit Root,' one only gains ten thousand jin of strength?" Teng Qingshan contemplated for a moment, recalling the feeling of consuming the root. "Ah, yes, it’s like practicing Iron Sand Palm in my previous life; during practice, you must apply medicinal wine to truly absorb the effects. If ordinary people don't train their fists and feet, applying the wine is just a waste!"

"It's the same principle. The massive energy of the Black Fire Spirit Root integrates into the body, and to absorb it fully, one must actively train to draw it in! My body was already trained to an extremely high level and had nowhere else to go, creating an urgent need to absorb external energy. That’s why I absorbed it so violently, far surpassing ordinary people!"

An ordinary person’s body has less intense demand for the 'Black Fire Spirit Root' energy, so they absorb less naturally. Teng Qingshan’s body had a strong requirement, thus absorbing more.

"However, based on the feeling, it seems quite a bit of energy is lurking within my body." Teng Qingshan trusted his intuition; the energy of some heavenly spirit treasures is extremely difficult to fully utilize. It’s impossible to absorb one hundred percent just by swallowing it; certainly, a lot of energy must remain latent.

The absorption was only partial.

"The latent energy is deep within the body; using the 'Tiger Form Divine Technique' should promote further bodily absorption." Teng Qingshan nodded internally. "When I return, I will start practicing the 'Tiger Form Divine Technique' again." The 'Tiger Form Divine Technique' absorbs internal energy from a minute, internal perspective. It should be usable to unlock the potential contained within the Black Fire Spirit Root.

"Time to go back!" Teng Qingshan, holding the Samsara Spear, transformed into a phantom and rapidly darted through the mountains and forests, disappearing into the distance after a few swift bounds.

Teng Qingshan hurried back toward the encampment at the foot of the Flame Mountain.

A cool breeze brushed past him, leaving Teng Qingshan in high spirits.

"Eh?" Teng Qingshan looked ahead and saw a contingent of troops—exactly the people from the Gui Yuan Sect, clustered together. "Commander Guan, why are you here?" Teng Qingshan flashed forward and flew over.

Guan Lü was leading his men, anxiously searching for Teng Qingshan.

They had searched the surrounding area for a long time without spotting any trace of him. But then, that familiar voice sounded, and that figure instantly appeared before them. Guan Lü couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Looking at Teng Qingshan, he sternly barked, "Teng Qingshan! Where on earth did you run off to while chasing that Wang Yun? We searched the entire vicinity, but couldn't see a shadow of you!"

"Commander Guan," Teng Qingshan chuckled, "I was chasing Wang Yun; wherever he ran, I followed. I don't even know where I ended up."

"Did you kill him?" Guan Lü inquired.

"No. That old fellow is too cunning," Teng Qingshan shook his head. Since he had already consumed the Black Fire Spirit Root, admitting to killing Wang Yun was naturally out of the question.

Guan Lü shook his head and sighed, "What a pity that the Black Fire Spirit Root got away with him. Forget it; one Black Fire Spirit Root isn't a major issue! You... your clothes are tattered. Are you injured?" Teng Qingshan's attire at that moment was worse than a beggar's rags; having withstood so many sword energy attacks, his body was fine, but his clothes had suffered.

"I'm fine," Teng Qingshan replied, shaking his head.

"Putting on a brave face," Guan Lü snorted, then ordered, "Commander Teng has returned. Back to the camp!"

Immediately, the group set off in a grand procession back to the base.

...

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Ji Hong was overjoyed to see Teng Qingshan return safely. He didn't put much stock in not acquiring the Black Fire Spirit Root. Having Teng Qingshan save his life in the magma lake this time, Ji Hong's attitude toward Teng Qingshan had improved by several levels. In the evening, the Gui Yuan Sect members enjoyed a hearty feast.

In the deep night.

By a bonfire, Teng Qingshan, Ji Hong, and Guan Lü gathered.

"Only one matter remains from this operation: finding the black scales shed by the Crimson Scale Beast!" Ji Hong stated. "Qingshan, Guan Lü, I suggest... for this final task, we assign a dozen or twenty men to stay behind and search. If we find it, great; if not, forget it. The three of us should lead the majority of the men back to Jiangning first."

Guan Lü frowned, "The scales shed by the Crimson Scale Beast are exceptionally large, enough to forge quite a few suits of battle armor! Furthermore, each suit of armor would be lighter than standard heavy armor yet offer stronger defense. We must take this 'black scale armor' seriously."

Since losing his arm, Ji Hong had lost much of his fighting spirit. He now only wished to return to Jiangning, recuperate well, perhaps guide a few junior disciples, and enjoy his twilight years. He was too exhausted!

"Those Crimson Scale Beast scales should possess defense slightly higher than my Cold Iron Inner Armor," Teng Qingshan commented. "And slightly less than Commander's Black Iron Battle Armor. However... the scales are visibly thinner, likely much lighter. And their flexibility would also be superior!" Handling the joints of ordinary heavy armor was always troublesome. But with the Crimson Scale Beast scales, the exterior was scales, and the interior was hide. Worn on the body, there would be no worry about gaps at the joints.

"You two mean you intend to seriously pursue the Crimson Scale Beast scales?" Ji Hong looked at them.

Guan Lü nodded. Teng Qingshan also nodded. Some things are difficult to obtain even with money, such as Black Iron, or higher-grade Myriad Year Cold Iron, Dark Gold Divine Iron, and so on; the Crimson Scale Beast scales fall into this category.

"Alas, I am old now," Ji Hong smiled upon seeing their resolve. "Now I must rely on you young men."

Ji Hong continued, "However, after consuming the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit,' the Crimson Scale Beast will regrow, becoming larger, and gradually undergoing metamorphosis... This process will likely take about another month. And a successfully metamorphosed Crimson Scale Beast will become terrifyingly powerful, something even Innate experts would dread! Stealing its scales will be extremely dangerous."

Guan Lü immediately countered, "The Crimson Scale Beast can't stay in its lair forever. We'll wait until it leaves its lair, then sneak in!"

"If we are careful, it should be fine," Teng Qingshan added. "Its volume is huge; when the time comes, we can find a small spot to squeeze into, and it won't be able to pursue us."

"You two..."

Guan Lü, having served as a commander for many years, understood that promising juniors needed to undergo tempering through successive trials. Growth in a state of constant protection was difficult.

"Very well, I will lead all the Black Armored Army soldiers back first! I will leave the thirty core disciples who are experts from the Gui Yuan Sect to you two! Those thirty have much superior lightness skill compared to the Black Armored Army soldiers. Let them assist you... Remember, do not easily venture into danger; be cautious and prudent in everything!"

"Yes!"

Teng Qingshan and Guan Lü responded in unison.