Although Potian Eagle and Cheng Xiaofan had mentioned that the plants in the oasis could speak, he hadn't taken it to heart.
At the time, his main concern was when the prehistoric oasis on Earth would officially open to the public in the desert.
Now, Cheng Xiaofan was startled when he witnessed the old zelkova tree speaking to him.
"I never imagined an old zelkova tree could speak!" Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but exclaim.
Upon hearing this, the old zelkova tree said, "What a fuss over nothing! What's so surprising about that? The spiritual energy here is so dense that any plant with a little intelligence, nurtured by this spiritual energy, can ascend to become an advanced spiritual plant, capable of speaking like humans!"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and smiled, "It seems that spiritual energy can indeed make plants sentient; it's no longer just a legend!"
The old zelkova tree suddenly said with deep emotion, "Originally, I could have transformed into a human or ascended to godhood. Alas, I failed during my tribulation!"
Cheng Xiaofan glanced at the spot where the old zelkova tree had been struck by lightning and said in surprise, "You, an old zelkova tree, could transform into human form?"
The old zelkova tree replied, "Of course. I originally intended to transform into a beautiful young maiden, break through this barrier sealed by the formation, and go into the human world to marry a man, to experience the joy of love. But alas, my mortal desires stirred, and I was struck by lightning!"
"Alas, thinking of this brings tears to my eyes!"
Cheng Xiaofan was immediately bewildered and asked, "What? You have eyes?"
The old zelkova tree became displeased and said, "If I didn't have eyes, how could I recognize you as the fated person? It's just that my eyes are deeply hidden, and you wouldn't easily see them under normal circumstances!"
"How do you know I'm the fated person?" Cheng Xiaofan asked curiously.
The old zelkova tree said, "This is a place where Emperor Shennong often frequented. Anyone who can enter this prehistoric oasis on Earth must be his successor!"
Cheng Xiaofan was dumbfounded.
This was a place Emperor Shennong often frequented?
So, this oasis that opened in the desert was specifically for me?
He recalled how the residual soul he left behind on Earth in his dream, the sheath gifted by the Demon Ancestor, had instantly turned his demonic bone into a demonic bone sword.
And because of that, he had used the demonic bone sword to awaken the demonic beasts in the eighteen bronze coffins.
There was a reason for all of this!
He wondered what inspiration that Qing Dynasty missionary had received to attempt to awaken the demonic beasts in the bronze coffins using the golden core of earth cultivators' alliance!
"Fated one, what are you thinking about?" the old zelkova tree asked.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "I'm just curious. So, the oasis that has opened to the public is a place Emperor Shennong often frequented. In that case, it's truly a destined encounter!"
The old zelkova tree said, "Indeed. Some of the fruits and medicinal herbs that grow here were cultivated by Emperor Shennong himself back then."
"At that time, when Emperor Shennong was tired from his work, he would sit beside me, drink water, and smoke!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed, "What? Emperor Shennong also smoked?"
The old zelkova tree said, "What's so strange about Emperor Shennong smoking? He rolled his own cigarettes from the tobacco he grew. They were so fragrant! Every time I smelled that aroma, my entire tree would feel exhilarated."
"Emperor Shennong also enjoyed drinking. Every time he drank, he would invite me to taste it!"
Cheng Xiaofan said with a smile, "You like drinking too?"
The old zelkova tree swayed its branches and said, "Yes, I particularly like wine. Because of my fondness for alcohol, I kept asking Emperor Shennong for more, and I've gotten drunk several times!"
Cheng Xiaofan asked, "I still haven't seen where your mouth is. How do you drink?"
The old zelkova tree said, "I speak to you using ventriloquism, meaning my mouth is in the core of my trunk. As for drinking, you can just pour the wine at my roots."
"Oh, I see!" Cheng Xiaofan felt incredibly foolish. Didn't all plants absorb nutrients through their roots?
He took out a bottle of premium "Happy Wine" from his spatial storage and smiled, "Old zelkova tree, this is a happy wine I developed. Please try it and tell me how you like it!"
As he spoke, Cheng Xiaofan uncorked the bottle and poured the wine, worth a hundred billion, directly at the base of the old zelkova tree.
With a slurp, the wine was absorbed by the roots as soon as it touched the ground.
"Hahaha..."
The entire body of the old zelkova tree began to shake, and it said happily, "As expected of Emperor Shennong's successor! This wine tastes wonderful! I like it, I like it so much!"
"Only, the wine flavor is a bit too light. It would be better if it were stronger!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed, "I have some 'Thousand Day Drunkenness' wine here, it's a high-proof potent liquor. I wonder if you dare to drink it?"
The old zelkova tree immediately said, "In this world, except for poisoned wine, there is no wine that I, the old zelkova tree, dare not drink! Hurry and bring it out for me to taste!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan immediately took out two bottles of "Thousand Day Drunkenness" wine from his spatial storage.
He uncorked the bottles and poured them all at the base of the tree with a gush.
With another slurp, the wine was again completely absorbed by the roots.
Thud!
The old zelkova tree, which was so sturdy that seven or eight people couldn't embrace it, became as soft as mud and fell to the ground.
Huh!
It got drunk just like that?
"Old zelkova tree, are you drunk?" Cheng Xiaofan squatted down, reached out to push the trunk, and asked loudly.
The old zelkova tree swayed and mumbled with slightly slurred words, "Good wine, truly good wine!"
"Fated one, thank you for the wine. It's been so many years, I've forgotten the taste of wine. To thank you for the fine wine you shared with me, I will give you ten seeds of life that I have treasured!"
As soon as it finished speaking, ten golden seeds were expelled from the center of its trunk.
Cheng Xiaofan was dumbfounded, looking at the ten old zelkova seeds rolling on the ground.
Seeds grew on trees, didn't they?
Only when branches flowered could seeds be produced.
This old zelkova tree was too creative, spitting out seeds from its trunk?
"..." Cheng Xiaofan didn't know how to complain.
The old zelkova tree seemed to sense Cheng Xiaofan's confusion and said, "Fated one, these ten seeds of life were nurtured by my essence blood and soul. You can keep five of them, and the other five should be planted in a place with abundant spiritual energy."
"These are not ordinary zelkova seeds, so do not underestimate their value. If you were not Emperor Shennong's successor, I would absolutely not give them to you!"
"Old zelkova tree, thank you. I will accept them!" Cheng Xiaofan was not a fool; he could already tell that these were no ordinary zelkova seeds.
The ten golden seeds fell to the ground, then floated in mid-air, radiating a strong vitality. Each seed emitted a golden light.
Cheng Xiaofan beckoned, and all ten seeds, without a single one missing, landed in his palm. Immediately, a string of information flashed through his mind.
These ten so-called seeds of life were also called "Lei Jie Zi" (Lightning Tribulation Seeds). When the old zelkova tree was struck by lightning, ten seeds happened to be on the tree and fell into the crevices of the trunk, where they were absorbed by the tree.
Lei Jie Zi is a supreme spiritual medicine. Within seven days of a person's death, a Yang-Returning Pill made with Lei Jie Zi as the main ingredient can quickly restore the deceased to life!