Wu Pifu easily obtained several handwritten ancient texts from King Kang, which recorded the treasures of heaven and earth, extraordinary items, powerful magical artifacts, and legendary objects.
The three of them did not sleep.
After bringing back these basic ancient texts, they began to flip through them.
First to be excluded were the powerful magical artifacts.
All the magical artifacts in this dream world were eerie and terrifying ghostly artifacts.
They were either made from the bodily organs of humans or crafted by combining the souls of living beings with some precious treasures.
The descriptions indicated their immense power, but they required many years of cultivation or conditions from the Yin realm or ghost realm to be usable.
Next to be excluded were the legendary objects.
These were filled with myths and legends, resembling the ancient text "Shan Hai Jing."
The items designated by the mainframe had never been used by anyone.
If the designated item did not exist and the mainframe did not allow returns, then this opportunity would be wasted.
In the end, the three focused on comparing the treasures of heaven and earth and the extraordinary items.
Various extraordinary items looked impressive, but ancient people were known for exaggerating.
For example, one extraordinary item looked like oil but was recorded in the texts.
Once ignited, it was said to transform into a sea of fire that burned the heavens and earth, even turning a mountain range into a flaming mountain.
This was clearly boasting.
Thus, unable to determine the actual effectiveness, after some discussion, the three decided to designate two top-tier treasures of heaven and earth, combined with the original text of the Iron Refining Record designated by Yamada, which could significantly enhance Wu Pifu's combat power in a short time.
"From the descriptions of these treasures of heaven and earth, the older the recorded time, the more powerful the treasure seems to be, but it also has a higher chance of being 'out of stock.' We currently do not know if the mainframe will allow us to reselect if an item is out of stock or simply provide us with nothing. Both scenarios are possible, so it’s best to..."
Xu Shilan analyzed.
Wu Pifu interrupted her, saying, "No, even if it’s a risk, trust me, we must at least try to designate the top-tier treasures of heaven and earth. I know that their enhancement effects on the body are at least a hundred times, a thousand times, or even ten thousand times greater compared to those low-tier treasures of heaven and earth!"
Wu Pifu had read a large number of Xianxia web novels.
Looking at the illustrations of the Nine-Color Spirit Flower, the Twelve-Leaf Golden Lotus, and the Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse, then comparing them to the likes of Thousand-Year Ginseng and Thousand-Year Huangjing, did he really need to compare further?
The only pity was that some legendary treasures of heaven and earth were only legends, with records indicating that no one had ever obtained them, so they could not take the risk of designating them, such as the Peaches of Immortality from the Queen Mother of the West.
Xu Shilan pondered for a few seconds and then decisively nodded, "Alright, you are more familiar with this dream world than we are, so we will follow your lead. Moreover, we will have to try designating an 'unexisting' item sooner or later to see how the mainframe reacts. I will designate first; which treasure of heaven and earth do you choose?"
Wu Pifu looked at the top-tier treasures of heaven and earth, those that had records of being obtained by others.
After scanning around, he pointed to a fruit-type treasure called Phoenix Gall and said, "Let’s designate this one."
Xu Shilan nodded and said, "Mainframe, designate the acquisition of the fruit-type treasure Phoenix Gall, which grows on the innate Wutong tree, said to be nurtured by the breath of the phoenix."
After speaking, Xu Shilan told the other two, "It’s best to include detailed descriptions when designating, so as to avoid any ambiguity."
Both nodded, and they eagerly and anxiously looked at Xu Shilan.
At that moment, a faint flash occurred on the table in front of Xu Shilan, and without any dazzling effects, a semi-transparent fruit emitting a faint blood-red glow appeared there.
The three immediately focused on the fruit, and a peculiar fragrance wafted from it.
Just a whiff made them feel refreshed and comfortable, a warmth bursting forth from their bones.
"…Is this the treasure of heaven and earth?" Yamada exclaimed in surprise.
"I just smelled it, and I feel so comfortable; the drowsiness I had just vanished."
Xu Shilan was also astonished, while Wu Pifu looked at the Phoenix Gall fruit.
He nodded at Xu Shilan and said, "Mainframe, designate the acquisition of the root-type treasure Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse. This is a special ginseng created from the gathering of heaven and earth's spiritual energy, forming little people and little horses that run through the mountains."
As his voice fell, the three continued to look at the table, and sure enough, there was another faint flash.
A three-inch tall little person riding a small horse appeared, and as soon as it appeared, it immediately tried to run away but was caught by Wu Pifu.
The little person had hands and feet but no facial features, its body pure white like jade, struggling in his hand along with the small horse.
Similarly, a strange fragrance wafted through the room.
The more the little person and little horse struggled, the more intense the fragrance became.
The three felt their bodies swell, akin to the feeling after exercising, yet without any fatigue.
Wu Pifu held the little person and little horse, looking again at the Phoenix Gall.
He said, "The records state that Phoenix Dan can enhance a person's essence blood, significantly boosting the body's potential with the condensed phoenix blood, while Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse can enhance the root bone and strength. Even an ordinary person can gain the strength of five bulls. Given that one bull equals four hundred kilograms of strength, this could yield around two tons of strength."
As he spoke, Wu Pifu said, "Mainframe, assess the information on Phoenix Gall."
The mainframe's voice echoed in the minds of the three.
"Phoenix Gall."
"Produced by the innate Wutong tree, the phoenix nests in this tree. It blooms once every five hundred years, bears fruit once every five hundred years, and matures once every five hundred years, yielding only three fruits each time. Due to ******, after the early Zhou Dynasty, the phoenix departed from this realm, and there are no more Phoenix Galls in the world."
"It can be consumed directly. After consumption, it moderately enhances all physical attributes and greatly boosts the potential limits of the body. Assessment in progress… assessment complete. After consuming Phoenix Gall, a one-level personal attribute enhancement (non-limit-breaking) reward can elevate the body to the fourth stage."
"The first consumption is effective; subsequent consumptions will see a significant reduction in effect."
The three listened to the mainframe's assessment of Phoenix Gall, and upon hearing the last part, they were all astonished.
Because a one-level personal attribute enhancement (non-limit-breaking) reward could only elevate the three fundamental physical attributes—body, soul, and perception—to the third stage, after which they could no longer rely on this reward to enhance their basic attributes.
They never expected that after consuming Phoenix Gall, they could continue using this reward to elevate their body to the fourth stage!?
The three exchanged glances, and Wu Pifu continued, "Mainframe, assess the information on Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse."
"Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse."
"Spirit Ginseng undergoes special evolution due to being nourished by the imperial sap, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth over a millennium, gradually developing plant-like intelligence. However, due to ******, the imperial sap was cut off, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth vanished, leading to the disappearance of Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse from the world."
"It can be consumed directly. After consumption, it greatly enhances all physical attributes, causing slight evolution in muscles and bones, increasing muscle density and bone density. Assessment in progress… assessment complete. After consuming Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse, muscle density can increase by 0.3, bone density by 0.8, and overall vitality can increase by 1.5 times."
"The first consumption is effective; subsequent consumptions will see a significant reduction in effect."
After reading this, the three were shocked.
Xu Shilan pondered and said, "The information is substantial. This dream world seems to have once had phoenixes and the so-called spiritual energy of heaven and earth, rather than the ghostly energy present now, but it has disappeared for some reason. Moreover, it can be confirmed that as long as something once existed, the mainframe will provide it upon designation, even if it is no longer available now… Wu Xiaodi, you should consume it now."
Wu Pifu was taken aback, "Here? Or should I wait until we return to Gaia to eat? In case something happens, we can use Gaia's medical pod."
"No."
Xu Shilan said seriously, "We have no idea about the situation in the Peace Hotel dream world. If we assume the worst-case scenario, we might return to Gaia only to find a level three or four nightmare waiting for us. So we must prepare for the worst. Consume it here immediately, then digest and adapt, and practice the Iron Refining Record preliminarily, at least to the entry level. Only then can we risk returning to Gaia while entering the Peace Hotel world!"
"We can't be too hasty; if your strength hasn't improved and we encounter a high-level nightmare, that would be suicidal. We also can't delay too long; if we prepare for a day, the situation may worsen for a day. So..."
Xu Shilan raised a finger, "Three days! Prepare within three days, and then we will return to Gaia!"
Next, Wu Pifu crushed the Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse and swallowed it.
Although the little person and little horse kept struggling, the crushed remnants released a plant juice that was sweet with a hint of bitterness.
As it entered his stomach, a warm current surged through his body, and his muscles and bones began to slightly move, with his joints cracking loudly.
Wu Pifu immediately began practicing punches, first performing several sets of Tiger Demon Skill, then focusing on the Green Python Shedding Skin Skill, and primarily practicing Human Immortal Martial Arts.
After a night passed, Wu Pifu remained energetic.
It wasn't until noon that the warmth from consuming the Spirit Ginseng and Spirit Horse finally dissipated.
In just half a day, Wu Pifu had grown nearly ten centimeters taller.
Now he stood at a height of nearly one meter ninety, and his body had proportionately grown wider and thicker.
Even without consuming any high-calorie food, his muscles seemed to have appeared out of thin air, weighing at least forty kilograms more, with muscle mass increasing by twenty to thirty percent!
At this point, Wu Pifu finally consumed the Phoenix Gall.
Upon entry, he felt a fiery heat surge down his throat, and then his body temperature soared to nearly fifty degrees, his skin turning bright red, with steam rising from his body.
This steam surprisingly carried hints of gray and black mist.
Wu Pifu did not dare to slack off and immediately began to punch vigorously, trying to absorb the effects of the Phoenix Gall as much as possible…
At the same time, as Wu Pifu consumed two top-tier treasures of heaven and earth and crazily enhanced his strength, in the Peace Hotel dream world.
Xu Rongyu smiled and greeted the hardworking villagers and craftsmen.
He looked at the Peace Hotel, which had mostly taken shape, and leisurely walked to the hillside outside the hotel.
As soon as he reached the hillside, Xu Rongyu's expression became dazed, his walking posture stiff, moving with both hands and feet.
He then stood still beside a group of people, gazing at the Peace Hotel being constructed below.
Beside him stood Lin Heier quietly, and next to Lin Heier were two burly men wearing Qing Dynasty official hats, a cold old eunuch, and nearby were the invincible fist master Li Shuwen and the Tiger Head Protector Sun Lutang…
On the other side of the hillside, out of sight from the craftsmen and villagers, rows upon rows of men and women stood silently, their expressions vacant, their eyes devoid of spirit, standing still in place, one row, two rows, three rows…
The line extended into the valley, with at least ten thousand people standing quietly and vacantly, while at the forefront, Lin Heier and others occasionally opened their mouths wide, over a meter long, with tongues extending several meters, snatching a person and dragging them back into their mouths, chewing a few times before swallowing them whole, skin and bones alike.
Above the heads of the crowd, dozens of yellow lotus fragments hovered in mid-air, with hundreds of threads hanging down from those yellow lotus fragments to the ground…
Completely surrounding the entire Peace Hotel within it!!
(End of Chapter)