“It is a pity there was no large-scale slaughter, but claiming one first-level Martial Saint is still a substantial gain.”
Lin Xiao sighed.
They had spread the information precisely to lure the enemy into coming together.
Even Long Tu Tian’s former third-level Martial Saint combat strength, combined with heavy artefacts, had failed to breach the tree demon’s defences in the slightest. Anyone below third-level Martial Saint who entered would have died without question.
Yet it seemed the enemy’s overwhelming power and the heavy artefacts they carried had prevented greater casualties.
Still, the death of one Martial Saint was a significant harvest for them.
After all, they had expended no effort whatsoever.
Lin Xiao glanced at the two corpses, used his spiritual power to draw them together, then flung out a skeletal palm. Controlling it with spiritual force, he sent it towards the bodies. He infused a weaker stream of spiritual energy to activate the Yellow Springs power, corroding all the flesh until only two bare skeletons remained.
He then drew the skeletons closer and stored them in his storage ring.
At the sight, Xuan Fei Ling’s face twitched involuntarily. Huo Ru Yan refusing to waste even the last traces of blood on the corpses was one thing.
But now Lin Xiao would not even spare the skeletons themselves. How was it that these humans seemed more sinister than demon beasts?
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
At that moment, three figures sped towards the group.
One wore a helmet. Another had a crab’s head and pincers, standing fully three zhang tall, its body clad in what looked like natural golden armour.
The third wore a resplendent golden-yellow robe, exuding the dignified bearing of an empress.
Seeing them, Lin Xiao and the others were all startled. The master of Cang Long Gate had come as well?
And brought two beast clan experts?
“Spirit Phoenix clan and Overlord Sky Crab!”
Chen Kun, Qing Yan, and Xuan Fei Ling fixed their gazes on the pair at once, eyes gleaming with competitive fire.
Yet the aura radiating from the two was far too powerful. Both were elders of the older generation, clearly far beyond anything the younger trio could challenge.
The Spirit Phoenix and Overlord Sky Crab also swept their gazes across the three. The elderly Spirit Phoenix woman could not help sighing. “It seems the Kun Mountain Lizard, Magic Frog, and Spirit Jackal clans have all produced extraordinary talents.”
“Humans are no less remarkable.”
The Overlord Sky Crab glanced over Lin Xiao and the others, his voice that of an aged elder.
Lin Xiao studied them in turn. Though they emitted no aura, even with his strength he could not discern their exact cultivation.
Yet he could sense that both were immensely powerful.
“Gate Master, these two are…” Long Tu Tian was the first to ask.
“This is the former patriarch of the Overlord Sky Crab clan, Ba Qiu.”
The Cang Long Gate master indicated the crab, then pointed to the golden-robed elderly woman. “And this is the former matriarch of the Spirit Phoenix clan, Huang Rong.”
At these words, Lin Xiao and the others were stunned.
These two were actually the former patriarch and matriarch of two major spirit beast clans?
Former leaders, at the very least the previous generation’s clan heads.
Their status was comparable to supreme elders of the great sects.
The Cang Long Gate master had actually brought two beast clan experts of supreme elder rank?
With their arrival, the combined strength gathered here grew even more formidable.
Of course, Lin Xiao had previously killed members of both clans.
But that matter was known only to Dan Tai Wen Jun and Wang Qi.
Dan Tai Wen Jun was now his slave, and Wang Qi would not betray him by informing the beast clans. The two should remain unaware.
Even if they did know, the deaths of elders and disciples below Martial Saint level would hardly drive them to outright enmity.
To experts of former patriarch or matriarch rank, ordinary clansmen beneath Martial Saint probably scarcely registered.
“Cang Long Gate disciple Long Tu Tian pays respects to the two seniors.”
Long Tu Tian bowed to them.
Lin Xiao, Huo Ru Yan, and the others followed suit, including Qing Yan and the other spirit beasts.
Though they harboured the urge to vie with the great beast clans, they also held genuine respect for them.
The pair nodded. The Spirit Phoenix matriarch Huang Rong asked, “How did you manage to enter this region?”
The Cang Long Gate master and Ba Qiu were equally curious. Even a seventh-level Martial Saint bearing heavy artefacts had been unable to force entry.
Yet Lin Xiao’s group could come and go unharmed.
They wondered what method had allowed it.
“Gate Master, seniors, we can enter because of my blood. It severely injures the tree demon. According to the demon itself, I am the Child of the Forest, and that is why it fears me. As for the precise meaning of Child of the Forest, I do not know.”
Lin Xiao answered honestly.
He watched the three closely, hoping to gauge whether they knew anything about the Child of the Forest.
He was disappointed. None showed the slightest surprise, only puzzlement.
“There is such a thing as a Child of the Forest?”
Huang Rong sighed in bewilderment.
“Human bloodlines and innate gifts are endlessly varied. A lineage capable of restraining the tree demon is perfectly plausible.”
Ba Qiu said, “I am more curious about what lies within.”
“Gate Master, seniors, please follow us.”
With that, Lin Xiao’s group led the three deeper inside.
Before long, they stood before the colossal ten-thousand-zhang tree stump.
At the sight of that vast stump, thousands of zhang across, all three stood stunned for a long while.
In all their long lives, they had never seen or heard of anything so immense.
“Those vines grew from this?”
Huang Rong asked, full of wonder.
Lin Xiao nodded. “A special stone tablet suppresses it nearby, preventing movement. This is an Enlightenment Tree that enhances comprehension. Seniors may fly up and experience it.”
“An Enlightenment Tree that improves comprehension?”
All three were astonished.
Benefits to cultivation or other practical uses would have been understandable.
But comprehension was innate, honed only through lifelong study. It was arguably the most difficult aspect of cultivation to improve.
Yet this stump could enhance it?
The three immediately flew upward.
At once, all felt invigorated, their thoughts clearer and sharper.
“Indeed. If I cultivate here long-term, there is still hope for further advancement.”
Huang Rong was both shocked and overjoyed, seized by the sudden urge to enter seclusion immediately.
“This journey was worthwhile.”
Ba Qiu agreed.
At the Cang Long Gate master’s suggestion, Lin Xiao then led them to view the stone tablet concealed within a chamber.
Yet even with their vast experience, none could discern anything remarkable about it.
“We came this time to guard against mishaps and extract you if needed. The plan requires further preparation. Since this Enlightenment Tree improves comprehension, we may cultivate here for a time.”
The Cang Long Gate master said.
Huang Rong and Ba Qiu nodded. Numerous new cultivation insights had already arisen in their minds. To delay practising them would feel like waste.
In truth, with several major forces now allying to invade, certain ideas had formed in Lin Xiao’s mind.
But considering their mobilisation speed would at best match the returning forces, and since the gate master had spoken, he held his tongue.
Rooms were promptly arranged for the three, who began cultivating without delay.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao set about refining combat skeletons.
This time, the five great forces had not only lost a Martial Saint but effectively delivered one straight to them.
A first-level Martial Saint combat skeleton. With Lin Xiao’s current Immortal Skeleton Technique, he could fully forge one possessing genuine first-level Martial Saint battle power.
Naturally, he would also refine the ninth-level Martial Emperor skeleton while he was at it.
Several hours later, a thousand-zhang boulder soared through the sky and came to rest over a certain region in the northeast of Saint State.