Chapter 1448: Heaven-defying Shoes

Jiang Fan was stunned for a long while. He initially doubted his eyes, but a closer look confirmed it: they were indeed shoes! Not just shoe-like, but actual shoes!

The shoes not only had the texture of woven fabric but also exquisite embroidery. Furthermore, each shoe was unique. Some were red embroidered shoes, others black leather boots, and there was even a baby shoe.

What was even more absurd was that the shoes all had wrinkles and stains, looking as if they had been worn.

Had it not been for the distinct fruit stems on each shoe, connected to the tree trunk by a slender root, Jiang Fan would have found it incredibly hard to believe these were plants. No, even with that, he still found it hard to believe.

He rubbed his temples and asked, "Are these shoes for real?"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord's mouth twitched. "Heavenly treasures from beyond this realm are indeed quite peculiar," he said. "I heard that Black Dragon Grand Venerable used to curse while eating them."

Jiang Fan felt a wave of dizziness. Looking at the colorful shoes, he asked, "Are you sure Black Dragon Grand Venerable was reluctant to eat them? Or was it just hard to stomach?"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord touched his nose and coughed dryly. "Never mind that, let's just get them first!" he urged. "Don't let their creepy appearance fool you; these spirit fruits are incredibly potent!"

"Eating one grants different speeds depending on the shoe's size. See that large black leather boot? Black Dragon Grand Venerable once said that after eating it, one could achieve the speed of a Sage for a short period, capable of traversing an entire large province in mere moments!"

"Even the smallest baby shoe, once consumed, can grant the speed of a Twofold Tribulation Celestial!"

"Help me grab a few more shoes!"

The speed of a Sage? Jiang Fan was astonished, a fervent excitement welling up within him.

However, the thought of eating shoes that had been worn by others immediately sent shivers down his spine.

Holding the small black snake, he entered the crystal chamber. He casually picked a shoe, his face etched with disgust. "Eat shoes? Not even a dog would eat these!!"

"Dogs don't eat them, but rebels do, and the West Sea Prince does!" Jiang Fan's disgust turned into a smile as he tucked the shoe into his spatial storage device.

He then quickly harvested all ten shoes, big and small. He kept all of them except for the baby shoe.

"Here you go." Jiang Fan tossed the baby shoe to the Soul Shadow Demon Lord.

The latter froze. "You're only giving me this?" Jiang Fan rolled his eyes at him. "If you don't want it, give it back!"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord gritted his teeth. *Could this guy swear his guts weren't black?* However, recalling his plan to kill Jiang Fan later, he suppressed his vexation. "A small shoe it is, then," he conceded.

"I'll take you to the last treasure's location!"

He flashed to a nearby spot. Jiang Fan followed, rubbing his eyes before looking at the crystal chamber, just in case.

This crystal chamber, however, was not ancient; Black Dragon Grand Venerable had excavated it himself.

Inside was a patch of extremely fertile black soil, containing powerful nutrients. While not as miraculously potent as Xitu soil, it was far superior to ordinary earth. Stuck in the black soil was a bare, two-foot-long short wooden stick.

It was roughly the thickness of a woman's wrist, perfectly sized for a single grip. At the end of the stick was a small purple sprout.

"What is this now?" Jiang Fan muttered.

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord's eyes glowed with fervor. "This is a piece of divine wood Black Dragon Grand Venerable acquired from who knows where," he explained. "It's said to come from a divine tree that lived for ten thousand years. Black Dragon Grand Venerable cultivated it his entire life, and it only managed to grow a single sprout."

Ten thousand years old? Jiang Fan secretly clicked his tongue. The ancient tree in Hunyuan Province was only a thousand years old. If this one was ten thousand years old, what cultivation realm must it have reached?

He asked, "Are you planning to take the wood to continue cultivating it?"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord scoffed. "Do I look like I have that kind of patience?" he retorted. "This divine wood contains a power that suppresses the soul. A single strike can ignore a person's cultivation level and cause excruciating pain at the soul level."

Ignores cultivation level? Jiang Fan paused, somewhat unsure. "What realm are you referring to when you say 'ignores cultivation'?"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord replied, "Black Dragon Grand Venerable once struck himself with it and was in so much pain that he cursed all day." "As for Sages... no one has tried, nor would anyone dare to. After all, to try is to perish."

Jiang Fan gasped. Even a Grand Venerable of the Fivefold Tribulation of Heaven and Man would be in pain from this?

At that level, their pain tolerance should be far beyond that of ordinary people. Even grievous limb injuries might not cause them to frown.

He found it hard to imagine what it would feel like to be struck by this divine wood. If Wang Chongxiao were here, it would be great. He would be the most authoritative on the matter.

This time, without the Soul Shadow Demon Lord needing to urge him, Jiang Fan approached the barrier, holding the small black snake. He noticed that the small black snake's color had dimmed considerably.

It seemed using it twice consecutively had depleted the small black snake's power. This meant he couldn't open all the barriers.

What a pity. Black Dragon Grand Venerable's collection truly astonished him. Each item was more extraordinary than the last, and he wanted them all.

As the barrier opened, Jiang Fan entered the crystal chamber and levitated the divine wood out of the soil. Only after confirming there were no issues did he dare to touch it. It felt cool and light as a feather in his hand, with no spiritual pressure whatsoever.

It looked just like an ordinary piece of wood. He could hardly believe it could make a Grand Venerable yelp in pain.

"Hey, you can't possibly keep this one for yourself too, can you?" the Soul Shadow Demon Lord said anxiously. Jiang Fan casually tucked it into the Heavenly Thunder Stone. "First, help me find Lingshu and Liuli," he said.

"Then, I'll give you everything, including the Black Lotus of Tribulation's lotus seeds."

Seeing Jiang Fan place it in the Heavenly Thunder Stone, the Soul Shadow Demon Lord subtly relaxed. The Heavenly Thunder Stone was a natural spatial storage device that could be opened without a magical incantation.

As long as he killed Jiang Fan next, the Black Lotus of Tribulation's lotus seeds, the pool of spirit liquid, the divine wood, and Black Dragon Grand Venerable's drop of venom would all be his!

Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed. Three items had been taken; the Soul Shadow Demon Lord was about to turn hostile.

Still in the crystal chamber, he didn't rush out. Instead, he probed, "Senior, you've taken so many things from Black Dragon Grand Venerable. What if he catches us and I get implicated?" "Maybe we should put everything back?"

As he spoke, he took out the divine wood and reinserted it. The Soul Shadow Demon Lord grew anxious at the sight. "At a time like this, why are you backing out?" he demanded.

"Rest assured, Black Dragon Grand Venerable can't sense me!"

Jiang Fan frowned. "You have to give me a reason to be at ease, don't you?" The Soul Shadow Demon Lord hesitated, reluctant to speak.

*Rumble!* Suddenly, the Throne World shook violently! Black Dragon Grand Venerable's voice resonated through the world.

"Both of you, hide well! Don't come out!"

The Soul Shadow Demon Lord's expression changed. "This is bad!" he exclaimed. "Black Dragon Grand Venerable and Golden Scale Grand Venerable are fighting inside the immortal's cave!"

"Hurry out! Otherwise, it'll be too late!"

Jiang Fan's expression shifted slightly. Then, he gazed deeply at the Soul Shadow Demon Lord, nodding. "Alright," he said. "Take me to Lingshu and Liuli!"

He put away the divine wood but then took out Black Dragon Grand Venerable's venom. Seeing this item, the Soul Shadow Demon Lord's eyes narrowed, filled with both greed and apprehension.

"Follow me!" he commanded. "They are in a crystal chamber within the crystal mine. And, I'll also grant them a stroke of good fortune!"