"The gold cube radiated a dazzling light, and Li Ping's voice echoed in the absolute darkness of the Small World for a long time.
As her instinctive fear dissipated, what rose in Su Yuqing's heart was an uncontrollable, intense craving for the entity sealed within the gold cube.
Even the fetus within her womb felt the same way.
"With some meaning, you are kindred to the Heavenly Dao of this Small World, which is still awakening. The techniques I have imparted upon you will slowly refine and absorb it, perhaps equating to hundreds of years of arduous cultivation."
As Li Ping's voice rang out again, a Mysterious Method also emerged in Su Yuqing's consciousness.
Like Secret Art, like an Array Technique. Or perhaps a combination of the two. Utterly profound, even Su Yuqing's comprehension found it somewhat challenging to grasp.
"This world holds significant importance to me and to all of Da Qi. Once you have devoured and refined the consciousness of this world's Heavenly Dao, you can take its place and possess ultimate power within this Little World. With your assistance here, I can rest easy."
It was only then that Su Yuqing suddenly understood Li Ping's intentions.
Although it was a tough task, Su Yuqing was by nature a person of tranquil disposition, devoid of many worldly desires. Moreover, embodying the Heavenly Dao for cultivation was likely the fastest way for her to advance, and it was greatly beneficial for her daughter as well.
"I shall heed Master's command," Su Yuqing took a deep breath.
"Master, I don't want to stay here, either! It's so dark!" Daoist Child Liuli, on the other hand, desperately shook her head.
Li Ping evidently would not indulge her.
With a flick on Liuli's forehead, Li Ping said gravely, "Light and darkness are two sides of the same coin. Without darkness, light loses its meaning—and vice versa. As the Liuli Wisdom Fruit, cultivation should be easy for you. Yet, this is also your fatal flaw..."
Liuli, half understanding, looked up with wide eyes, listening. Her instincts told her that her somewhat fearsome Master was not lying.
Hurry Up and Get Those Flowers Out of the House...Open
"Quick progress in cultivation, but compared to human cultivators, your potential naturally faces restrictions. To break through limits, one must understand both the essence of 'Liuli' and 'wisdom.' And these two, you can gain from this place."
"As the youngest among my disciples, your gift will certainly not be lacking."
Another ball of light appeared in Li Ping's hand. Not a sealing cube like the previous gold one but a pure aggregation of energy.
Daoist Child Liuli involuntarily licked her lips, feeling her stomach grow hungry the instant she saw the light ball.
She reached out to grab it, but the light ball, like an illusion, wouldn't settle into her palm. Liuli was frustrated beyond measure, flailing her arms to no avail.
With such a delectable treat before her, yet being unable to consume it, Liuli was on the verge of tears.
"Master..." Liuli looked up at Li Ping with yearning eyes.
Li Ping smiled, "This ball of Essence of Source Power has two layers of Forbidden Formation placed by me. They will only break when you make any breakthrough in 'wisdom' or 'Liuli.'
"And once you break through your limits, this energy will help you fully stabilize the new form after your transformation."
Daoist Child Liuli stared tightly at the ball of Essence of Source Power and nodded vigorously.
"Heavenly Dao is unfeeling, viewing all beings as straw dogs. In controlling this world, nature must be your principle. Elevated above, it's best not to personally intervene in the petty affairs of mundane life unless absolutely necessary."
Li Ping's voice lingered long after his figure had suddenly shattered and disappeared from this realm.
Su Yuqing thought about her Master's usual demeanor before the people of Da Qi and couldn't help but ponder.
"The Ghost Tribe?" Su Yuqing began to review the various informations transmitted by her Master in her consciousness.
Meanwhile, Daoist Child Liuli kept looking around, eager to find the path to break through her limits, as her Master had mentioned.
...
Xuanhuang World.
Wang Xuanba had now returned to the underground of Yueyang State.
Lin Ling was with him.
Lin Ling was toying with the Turning Wheel given by Li Ping, seemingly detached about their mission to subdue the Leyline Ancient Tree.
"Sister, shall we begin?" Wang Xuanba, wary of his reticent Sister, asked cautiously.
"No rush, let's wait a bit," Lin Ling shook her head.
"Wait? For what?" Wang Xuanba was somewhat astonished.
To him, it felt like many of the sixteen clusters of Dao First Worm Swarm lurking in the seal were already awakening, restless to emerge.
"Master said to give It a chance. If it remains stubborn, it's not too late to act," Lin Ling explained patiently, slightly furrowing her brows.
"Then we'll listen to Sister," Wang Xuanba said with a cheery smile.
The two remained still amidst the Leyline for half the day. Suddenly, Wang Xuanba once again felt the vast consciousness of the Leyline Ancient Tree sweeping past him.
However, unlike before, this time the Ancient Tree's consciousness lingered and seemed reluctant to leave.
Wang Xuanba noticed Lin Ling put away the Turning Wheel and her expression grew serious.
She appeared to be conversing with someone.
Wang Xuanba did not disturb their exchange, but his heart was wound tight like a string. At any moment, upon receiving a thought from Lin Ling, he would be ready to activate all the Dao First Worm Swarm.
Initially, it seemed to Lin Ling was just having a normal conversation with the Leyline Ancient Tree, even breaking into a smile now and then.
But without warning, Lin Ling's expression abruptly changed.
She declared coldly, "I recognized you as one of my kind and hence opened up to you. But why do you urge me to betray?!"
"Master's methods are beyond your measly, rotten old tree's comprehension!" Wang Xuanba had also received Lin Ling's transmission and scoffed coldly before awakening the slumbering swarm of insects under Yueyang State.
The Dark Shadow spread uncontrollably like a post-dike flood, unstoppable and sweeping across vast distances.
Visible to the naked eye, the surrounding yellow Leylines quickly turned dark. A sharp explosion reverberated faintly from underground, but it was drowned out by the surging army of insects.
"How does it feel to lose a tendril?" Lin Ling's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"I could sever thousands of your tendrils with ease."
Understanding Lin Ling's intention, Wang Xuanba woke the remaining fifteen groups of insects, still controlling them merely as a deterrent.
The entire Xuanyuan Land trembled imperceptibly – the Leyline Ancient Tree had lost control of the Leyline flows out of fear.
Before both of them, the spectral figure of a hunchbacked old man appeared.
He looked at Lin Ling with fear and anger in his voice, questioning, "I meant only goodwill, why would you harm me?!"
Wang Xuanba sized up the sly-looking old man in front of him, finding it hard to associate him with the legendary Leyline Ancient Tree that controlled the Lleylines of Xuanhuang World.
Faced with the accusation from the Leyline Ancient Tree, Lin Ling simply sneered, "Goodwill? I have been with my Master only a few years, and I have not only transformed from a naive and ignorant weak consciousness but also obtained this extraordinary cultivation base."
"How long have you been cultivating? I could kill you in an instant!" Lin Ling's cold gaze locked onto the Leyline Ancient Tree, and the Turning Wheel appeared and spun rapidly behind him.
The insects within the Leylines, as if sensing something, responded riotously. Even though they hadn't fully escaped their seals, those fifteen groups of shadows suddenly grew larger.
"Let's talk this over, let's talk this over," the bent old man said in a panic.
Your Sleeping Posture Will Tell Everything about You! UnthinkableOpen
Lin Ling ignored him, continuing his aggressive approach, "Your Mother Tree is not my Mother Tree. Your so-called 'turning from darkness to light' seems to me like sabotaging my path!"
"Those who obstruct my path will face relentless pursuit!" shouted Lin Ling fiercely.
Wang Xuanba chuckled and loosened the bonds on a group of insects.
The Leyline Ancient Tree's demeanor changed drastically. Before he could speak, one of his legs, as if suddenly broken by someone, lost balance and he stumbled and fell.
"It's a misunderstanding! Truly a misunderstanding! The Mother Tree is the source of all life in the world; not just for us Spirit Trees, but even humans..."
Before the Leyline Ancient Tree could finish speaking, another group of insects burst open, breaking his other leg. The hunchbacked old man looked up in a sorry state, panic clear in his expression.
"The source of all living beings in the world? Where is it now?" Lin Ling said disdainfully.
"Even if what you say is true, what does it matter?"
Lin Ling stepped forward, now in front of the Leyline Ancient Tree.
"Compared to my Master..."
"Nothing but chickens and dogs!" Lin Ling stamped heavily on the body of the Leyline Ancient Tree.
The spectral old man wailed. Although some of his body was eroded by the Dao Yi Bug, even with his remaining strength, he shouldn't be utterly defenseless—but the Leyline Ancient Tree didn't struggle.
Because the old man knew, the young individual of his kind standing before him wasn't wrong.
"What on earth are these things..." Though outwardly he had completely submitted, the Leyline Ancient Tree was secretly trying to resolve this strange black energy.
However, this power was unlike any known in the Xuanhuang World, and he found himself helpless.
"How sacred is their Master, if even the disciples possess such methods? Could it possibly be an ancient power from the Ancient Times? We have no grievance, how could they suddenly target me? Maybe, it's to target..."
Lin Ling didn't leave the Leyline Ancient Tree much time to think.
"Those who know the times are wise. Considering that you're a Spirit Tree like me, I'll give you a chance. Submit to our Sacred Dynasty Da Qi!"
"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind taking your place as the Leyline Ancient Tree!" Lin Ling said coldly, her murderous intent chilling.
As she spoke, emerald-green roots extended from her feet, like countless tendrils entering the torrent of black insects.
A burst of pure green spread from Lin Ling's legs, rapidly turning the black into green.
Now in control of the imitated Beast Rotation Disc, Lin Ling and the swarm had become one. She was the swarm, and the swarm was her.
Where the Dao Yi Bug's black torrent passed, it became part of her body, everywhere her will reached.
Had the Leyline Ancient Tree still had a chance to reclaim those bodies previously infected by the Dao Yi Bug, all he needed was a way to completely eradicate them and keep washing with the Power of Ley Lines.
But now, that part occupied by Lin Ling...
The Leyline Ancient Tree's complexion slowly turned deathly pale.
Because it had completely lost the sensation of part of its own body. It even felt that right beside its original body, there was now a malevolent presence.
At any moment it could swallow the remaining part of itself!
This feeling was truly chilling, further confirming that Lin Ling's words were not empty.
There wasn't much time left for itself...
This thought flashed through the Leyline Ancient Tree's Spirit Consciousness.
But to seek refuge with that Sacred Dynasty Daqi would mean betraying its own father.
Ruo Mu's sinister face suddenly appeared in front of the Leyline Ancient Tree, causing it to shiver uncontrollably.
The intention to surrender, which had initially formed in its heart, immediately vanished again.
Just as the Leyline Ancient Tree was hesitating and couldn't decide, it faintly sensed a special intent from Lin Ling.
"Hmm?"
After carefully savoring it, and then recalling the increasingly mad demeanor of Ruo Mu lately, it finally made a decision.
"Old one…"
Lin Ling glanced slightly, and the Leyline Ancient Tree paused, then corrected itself, "I, submit to the Sacred Dynasty."
Wang Xuanba looked at the Ancient Tree with some suspicion. Lin Ling then commanded, "Then come with us to meet the Master."
There was simply no room for refusal.
Feeling the swarm of bugs within its body still eyeing it aggressively, the Leyline Ancient Tree couldn't help but agree reluctantly.
Its body materialized from a phantom state, appearing quite disheveled.
It honestly followed behind Wang Xuanba and Lin Ling.
The journey was smooth and they arrived within the Da Qi Miniature World.
The various profound auras emanating from different places made the Ancient Tree tread on thin ice, trembling with fear.
Both disciples were capable of subduing it completely, not to mention the Great Enlightenment Saint Emperor himself.
Inside the Saint Emperor Seat, the Ancient Tree's submission goes without saying.
Apart from falling into the "Gold Source Force Web" of the Emperor and thus losing its freedom of body and mind, becoming a servant of Da Qi, the Leyline Ancient Tree also revealed everything it knew about Ruo Mu.
But it had managed to save its own life.
The Sacred Dynasty hence officially acquired the method to locate Ruo Mu's true body.
"Your Majesty above, today I have leaked my father's aura, and he will surely sense this soon. Therefore, the key to success lies in speed," said the fully committed Leyline Ancient Tree as it voluntarily offered its advice to Li Ping.
"You are right. Therefore, I am already on my way,"
Li Ping's voice came from above, but what astounded the Leyline Ancient Tree was that the silhouette of the Faceless Saint Emperor was already fading and disappearing.
And it couldn't even perceive when the other had left.
"The Emperor's strength is truly unfathomable, even surpassing my father…"
"Hmph, the old madman is blessed this time."
For some reason, the Leyline Ancient Tree was beginning to feel somewhat anticipatory.
Meanwhile, outside the Saint Emperor's Seat,
Wang Xuanba looked at Lin Ling, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Just speak your mind. Always looking at me like that, I'm afraid I can't help but draw my sword,"
Lin Ling's sudden comment startled Wang Xuanba.
Scratching his head, Wang Xuanba looked at his junior sister and no longer hesitated, asking, "Just now, during that final moment of convincing the Leyline Ancient Tree to surrender, it seems like Junior Sister said something to it?"
Lin Ling revealed an expression of disdain as if to say, 'that's such a trivial question'.
"Just told it that if it surrenders, I could form an alliance with it, that's all."