Chapter 85: Encounter with the Spirit of the Sacred Tree

At the intersection of eight directions, the very spot beneath Ji Yao’s feet, the moon’s radiance appeared uniquely different. As she studied the lunar wheel and the peculiar marks on the ground, Ji Yao suddenly felt something stirring beneath her, as if it were about to break through the earth. Startled, she leapt away from her previous position.

Eight streams of moonlight poured down and converged at the center, where the solid soil loosened, and a tender green sprout emerged. The sprout swayed under the moonlight, brimming with pride, an aura of faint light encircling it, expanding and contracting with its movements, as though it breathed.

From a distance, Ji Yao watched the sprout closely, observing as it slowly grew taller under the moon’s glow, transforming from a three-inch shoot into a pair of delicate leaves over a foot long. Such growth was astonishing, for the entire process took no more than a quarter of an hour.

“Hey! You’ve been coveting me from afar for quite some time. Are you planning to harvest me?”

What kind of remark was that?

Had she not witnessed it herself, Ji Yao would never believe that these two green leaves, just a fragile sprout moments ago, could suddenly transform and transmit their thoughts to a cultivator, becoming a little plant demon. Yet the abundant vitality emanating from this creature stirred a subtle longing within Ji Yao’s heart.

Indeed, the plant’s words weren’t wrong; she truly had been coveting it.

The situation was bizarre, far beyond Ji Yao’s understanding. Though she might not know everything, her years of study had granted her more knowledge than most. This was the Immortal Awakening Secret Realm, where beasts were restricted to the second tier. Even if a third-tier beast appeared, it likely descended from the upper trial grounds. As for spiritual plants, their ranks—based on pill grades—never exceeded the fourth tier.

Take the Immortal Awakening Grass, for instance. It was merely a second-tier herb, but due to its role in Foundation Establishment Pills, it had become invaluable in today’s cultivation world, its price soaring accordingly.

Still, even a beast that gains intelligence must reach at least the eighth or ninth tier to speak. For spiritual plants, gaining intelligence is far more difficult. Eighth or ninth-tier pills are already the highest in the cultivation world, used only by cultivators at the Integration or Tribulation stages. Only the spiritual herbs of such tiers might gain intelligence.

Notice: might. This means intelligent spiritual plants are mostly the result of rare coincidences and favorable environments, and even then, their intellect is rarely profound.

As for the plant before her, its appearance suggested it was a spiritual plant, but one that had gained intelligence and could speak had already transcended the boundaries of its species, becoming a true spirit—what people often call a wood sprite, belonging to the category of fae.

In the concept of fae, “yao” refers to beasts or any non-human entities that survive by consuming other species, while “jing” refers to entities born with intelligence, nurtured by heaven and earth, such as plants, stones, or elemental forces, growing by absorbing the essence of nature and the fundamental power of the sun and moon.

The latter contains purer energy, closer to the origin of the Dao, which is why cultivators pursue such beings even more fervently than beasts. They are universally regarded as treasures of heaven and earth. Encountering one is considered a stroke of fate, and acquiring it often means a direct leap in cultivation.

Thus, the words spoken by this little wood sprite were not out of place. Yet, it was unclear what tier of plant this immature creature had arisen from, or why it was here.

Thinking so, Ji Yao asked, “What kind of spiritual herb or medicine are you? I’ve never seen you in the compendium of spiritual plants. Even if I were to harvest you, I’d need to know what you are before I could use you.”

To her surprise, the seemingly fragile two-leafed plant—let’s call it grass for now—suddenly bristled.

“You’re the herb! Your whole family is the herb! Foolish human, you can’t even tell the difference between a divine tree and a herb! No wonder your kind has fallen so far that none have ascended in tens of thousands of years!”

The sharp voice echoed in Ji Yao’s mind, making her scalp tingle with embarrassment. The haughty tone and familiar banter gave her an oddly sour sense of amusement—how remarkable!

Yet, sourness aside, she caught the crucial point.

“Very well, so you’re not a herb. May I ask, what kind of divine tree are you?”

If this seedling truly was a divine tree, it would explain its intelligence. Divine trees are primordial species, born of heaven and earth at the dawn of time, with countless years to mature and gain wisdom.

Their intelligence predates humanity itself, and a mature divine tree is always among the most intelligent beings. Yet, divine trees are gentle and unobtrusive by nature. Unless their body is completely reduced to ashes and all vitality lost, even a sliver of life retained allows them to revive in the right environment, preserving some of their spiritual awareness.

“Foolish human, listen well: I am the Seeking Tree!” The two leaves waved vigorously, striving to appear imposing.

The Seeking Tree, indeed a divine tree—not a spiritual herb. Ji Yao had never heard of anyone using the Seeking Tree for pill refinement.

The Seeking Tree, growing by rivers, its branches spanning a thousand miles, reaching the clouds, casting shade in all directions, covering even the Abyss of Yu.

Yet, records and descriptions of the Seeking Tree in ancient texts are exceedingly rare, scant phrases that amount to almost nothing.

Therefore, no one knows the true purpose of this colossal divine tree that shades the four corners of the world.

Ji Yao gazed at the Seeking Tree, now just two leaves, unsure how to feel. She had just witnessed its remarkable growth, but it was a divine tree! Who knew how long it had spent absorbing the moon's power? She had never heard of previous visitors mentioning this peculiar sprout, not even Dongfang Shun, whose information came from the founder of the place, dating back to the early days of the ancient cultivation world. This meant the Seeking Tree predated the establishment of the trial grounds.

Hundreds of thousands of years—terrifying to contemplate.

Later news about this place came from Situ Jing’s disciple, Master Mu Tianheng.

Mu Tianheng? Heart of Wood!

Right! Ji Yao slapped her forehead, distracted by these incredible events, forgetting her original purpose here—to seek the opportunity for the Heart of Wood.

Could it be that this opportunity referred to the young Seeking Tree? Yet none of the information she had heard mentioned the existence of this sprout.

But since it had been here for so long, it must know something about the Heart of Wood.

“What kind of reaction is that? Even if you don’t kneel in worship, you should show some respect!” the Seeking Tree said, a hint of confusion in its voice.

Ji Yao wasted no time; rare opportunities must not be missed.

“May I ask, Lord Seeking Tree, have you heard any news of the Heart of Wood?”

“The Heart of Wood? What do you want with it? But you needn’t bother—it’s long gone.”

Thunderstruck!

All her efforts, what had they been for? Ji Yao was left utterly desolate.