jīn sè lì fāng tǐ guāng máng cuǐ càn ， lǐ píng de shēng yīn zài cǐ chù jué duì qī hēi de xiǎo shì jiè zhōng jiǔ jiǔ huí dàng 。
金色立方体光芒璀璨，李平的声音在此处绝对漆黑的小世界中久久回荡。
A massive black shadow surged like a flood, unstoppable and overwhelming. The yellow veins of the earth trembled instantly, turning dark as the ground was dyed by the shadows. A sharp explosion echoed from underground but was drowned out by the swarm of insects.
dāng běn néng de kǒng jù sàn qù ， sū yǔ qíng xīn zhōng shēng qǐ de què shì nán yǐ yì zhì de 、 duì jīn sè lì fāng tǐ zhōng bèi fēng yìn wù de jí dù kě wàng 。
当本能的恐惧散去，苏语晴心中升起的却是难以抑制的、对金色立方体中被封印物的极度渴望。
"Feeling the loss of one tentacle?" Lin Ling's eyes glinted with coldness.
shèn zhì fù zhōng tāi ér ， yì shì rú cǐ 。
甚至腹中胎儿，亦是如此。
"I can sever a thousand more for you," Wang Xuan smirked, understanding what she meant and cooperating to awaken the remaining fifteen insect swarms.
「 nǐ gēn zhè shàng zài yùn yù jué xǐng zhōng de xiǎo shì jiè tiān dào ， mǒu zhǒng yì yì shàng kě chēng tóng lèi 。 nǐ yǐ wéi shī chuán shòu zhī fǎ ， jiāng qí huǎn huǎn liàn huà xī shōu ， huò kě dǐ de shàng shù bǎi nián kǔ xiū 。」
「你跟这尚在孕育觉醒中的小世界天道，某种意义上可称同类。你以为师传授之法，将其缓缓炼化吸收，或可抵得上数百年苦修。」
The entire black earth trembled slightly as the veins of the earth were thrown into chaos due to fear. A hunched old man's shadow appeared before them.
suí zhe lǐ píng shēng yīn de zài dù xiǎng qǐ ， yī mén xuán qí miào fǎ yě fú xiàn zài sū yǔ qíng de nǎo hǎi zhōng 。
随着李平声音的再度响起，一门玄奇妙法也浮现在苏语晴的脑海中。
He looked at Lin Ling with a mix of terror and anger in his voice. "I came with good intentions, why do you harm me?"
shì mì shù ， ruò zhèn fǎ 。 yì huò zhě liǎng zhě jiān yǒu 。 xuán ào wú bǐ ， jí biàn yǐ sū yǔ qíng de wù xìng ， lǐ jiě qǐ lái yě yǒu xiē kùn nán 。
似秘术，若阵法。亦或者两者兼有。玄奥无比，即便以苏语晴的悟性，理解起来也有些困难。
Wang Xuan sized up this small, rather grotesque old man, finding it hard to connect him with the legendary ancient tree controlling the earth veins.
「 cǐ jiè duì wèi shī nǎi zhì zhěng gè dà qǐ ， dōu yǒu zhòng yào yì yì 。 nǐ jiāng cǐ jiè tiān dào yì shí tūn shì liàn huà hòu ， jiù kě qǔ ér dài zhī ， zài cǐ fāng xiǎo shì jiè nèi yōng yǒu wú shàng quán néng 。 yǒu nǐ bāng máng kàn zhe zhè lǐ ， wèi shī cái néng fàng xīn 。」
「此界对为师乃至整个大启，都有重要意义。你将此界天道意识吞噬炼化后，就可取而代之，在此方小世界内拥有无上权能。有你帮忙看着这里，为师才能放心。」
Lin Ling snorted derisively at the accusations. "Good intentions? I've followed my master for only a few years and have transformed from an ignorant, unaware consciousness into a formidable existence."
lǐ píng shuō dào zhè lǐ ， sū yǔ qíng cái huǎng rán míng bái guò lái 。
李平说到这里，苏语晴才恍然明白过来。
"How long have you been practicing? I could kill you in one thought!" Lin Ling's cold eyes locked onto the ancient tree as her wheel of transformation appeared, spinning rapidly.
suī shuō shì jiàn kǔ chāi shì ， dàn sū yǔ qíng běn jiù shì xìng qíng tián dàn zhī rén ， bìng wú tài duō shì sú yù wàng 。 gèng hé kuàng zài zhè lǐ shēn huà tiān dào xiū xíng ， kǒng pà shì tā xiū xíng zuì kuài de fāng shì le ， duì yú nǚ ér yě shì yǒu mò dà hǎo chù 。
虽说是件苦差事，但苏语晴本就是性情恬淡之人，并无太多世俗欲望。更何况在这里身化天道修行，恐怕是她修行最快的方式了，对于女儿也是有莫大好处。
The insects within the earth veins sensed something and responded in unison. Even without breaking free, the fifteen shadows grew significantly larger.
「 jǐn zūn shī mìng 。」 sū yǔ qíng shēn xī yì kǒu qì 。
「谨遵师命。」苏语晴深吸一口气。
"Talk properly," the hunched old man panicked. But Lin Ling ignored him, pressing on: "Your mother tree is not mine. Your so-called turning from darkness to light is nothing but destroying my path!"
「 shī hǔ ， wǒ yě bú yào zài zhè lǐ a ！ zhè lǐ hǎo hēi ！」 dào tóng liú lí zé shì fēng kuáng yáo tóu 。
「师虎，我也不要在这里啊！这里好黑！」道童琉璃则是疯狂摇头。
"Those who block my way will never rest until they are dead!" Lin Ling roared.
lǐ píng xiǎn rán bú huì fàng zòng tā 。
李平显然不会放纵她。
Wang Xuan chuckled and released another swarm of insects. The ancient tree's face changed dramatically, barely managing to speak before one leg was suddenly broken off, causing it to lose balance and fall to the ground.
qū zhǐ qiāo le qiāo liú lí de nǎo dài ， lǐ píng chén shēng dào ：「 guāng àn liǎng jí ， běn jiù shì yì tǐ liǎng miàn 。 ruò méi yǒu hēi àn ， guāng míng de cún zài yě méi le yì yì 。 fǎn zhī yì rán 。 nǐ shēn wèi liú lí zhì guǒ ， duì nǐ ér yán xiū xíng bù guò shì yì shì 。 dàn zhè yě tóng yàng shì nǐ de zhì mìng quē xiàn ……」
屈指敲了敲琉璃的脑袋，李平沉声道：「光暗两极，本就是一体两面。若没有黑暗，光明的存在也没了意义。反之亦然。你身为琉璃智果，对你而言修行不过是易事。但这也同样是你的致命缺陷……」
"Sorry! It's all a misunderstanding! The mother tree is the source of all life in this world. Not just us spirits, even humans..."
liú lí sì dǒng fēi dǒng ， dèng dà yǎn jīng líng tīng 。 zhí jué gào sù tā ， zì jǐ zhè wèi yǒu xiē kě pà de shī zūn bìng méi yǒu shuō huǎng 。
琉璃似懂非懂，瞪大眼睛聆听。直觉告诉她，自己这位有些可怕的师尊并没有说谎。
Before the ancient tree could finish, another leg was severed by an insect swarm. The hunched old man looked up frantically.
「 jìn jìng kuài ， dàn gēn rén lèi xiū shì xiāng bǐ ， shàng xiàn zé shì tiān rán shòu dào xiàn zhì 。 xiǎng yào dǎ pò jí xiàn ， yī shì yào cóng 【 liú lí 】 zhī lǐ ， yī shì yào cóng 【 zhì huì 】 zhī lǐ 。 ér cǐ èr zhě ， nǐ jiē kě cóng zhè lǐ yǒu suǒ shōu huò 。」
「进境快，但跟人类修士相比，上限则是天然受到限制。想要打破极限，一是要从【琉璃】之理，一是要从【智慧】之理。而此二者，你皆可从这里有所收获。」
"The source of all life? Where is it now?" Lin Ling sneered.
「 nǐ shì wèi shī jǐ gè dì zǐ zhōng zuì xiǎo de ， lǐ wù zì rán yě bú huì quē 。」
「你是为师几个弟子中最小的，礼物自然也不会缺。」
"Even if you're right, what does that matter?"
lìng wài yī tuán guāng yuán ， chū xiàn zài lǐ píng shǒu zhōng 。 bú shì zhī qián huáng jīn lì fāng tǐ nà bān de fēng yìn ， ér shì chún cuì de néng liàng jù hé 。
另外一团光源，出现在李平手中。不是之前黄金立方体那般的封印，而是纯粹的能量聚合。
Lin Ling stepped forward and stood before the ancient tree. "Compared to my master..."
dào tóng liú lí xià yì shí de tiǎn le tiǎn zuǐ bā ， zhǐ gǎn jué zì jǐ kàn dào zhè guāng tuán de shùn jiān ， dǔ zi jiù biàn è le 。
道童琉璃下意识的舔了舔嘴巴，只感觉自己看到这光团的瞬间，肚子就变饿了。
"Only a chicken or dog!" She stomped on the ancient tree's body with a green root sprouting from her feet.
shēn shǒu shì tú jiāng qí zhuā zhù ， nà guāng tuán què xū huàn bān ， bù rù shǒu zhǎng zhī zhōng 。 liú lí qì nǎo zhì jí ， bù duàn huī wǔ zhe shuāng shǒu ， zhōng jiū shì tú láo wú gōng 。
伸手试图将其抓住，那光团却虚幻般，不入手掌之中。琉璃气恼至极，不断挥舞着双手，终究是徒劳无功。
The old man's shadow howled in pain. Despite being partially corrupted by Daoist insects, it still had enough strength to resist. But the ancient tree did not struggle.
zhì zhēn měi wèi zài qián ， què zhǐ néng kàn bù néng chī ， dāng chǎng jiù chà diǎn bǎ liú lí wěi qū kū le 。
至臻美味在前，却只能看不能吃，当场就差点把琉璃委屈哭了。
It knew that what this young fellow said was true.
「 shī hǔ ……」 liú lí yǎn bā bā dì yǎng tóu kàn zhe lǐ píng 。
「狮虎……」琉璃眼巴巴地仰头看着李平。
"What are these things..." The ancient tree's surface submission masked its secret attempts to counteract the strange black energy.
lǐ píng xiào le xiào ：「 zhè tuán yuán lì jīng cuì shàng ， yǒu wéi shī fù jiā de liǎng zhòng jìn zhì 。 wéi yǒu nǐ zài zhì huì 、 liú lí èr zhě zhōng yǒu rèn yì tū pò ， jìn zhì cái huì jiě chú 。」
李平笑了笑：「这团源力精粹上，有为师附加的两重禁制。唯有你在智慧、琉璃二者中有任意突破，禁制才会解除。」
But this force was unlike anything in the earth veins of the Yellow Earth, leaving it helpless.
「 ér dāng nǐ tū pò jí xiàn zhī hòu ， zhè néng liàng yě jiāng bāng zhù nǐ chè dǐ wěn dìng xīn de tuì biàn hòu de xíng tài 。」
「而当你突破极限之后，这能量也将帮助你彻底稳定新的蜕变后的形态。」
"Only a few disciples have such power. Who is their master? Could it be one of the great powers from ancient times? We've had no grudge against them, so why attack now? Is it to target..." The ancient tree's mind raced with possibilities.
dào tóng liú lí sǐ sǐ dīng zhe yuán lì jīng cuì guāng tuán ， yòng lì diǎn le diǎn tóu 。
道童琉璃死死盯着源力精粹光团，用力点了点头。
But Lin Ling did not give the ancient tree much time to think.
「 tiān dào bù rén ， yǐ wàn wù wèi chú gǒu 。 nǐ men zhǎng kòng cǐ jiè ， dāng yǐ zì rán èr zì wèi zhǔn zé 。 dāng gāo gāo zài shàng ， fán sú shēng mìng jiān fā shēng de zhǒng zhǒng ， bú dào wàn bù dé yǐ ， zuì hǎo bù yào qīn zì xià chǎng 。」
「天道不仁，以万物为刍狗。你们掌控此界，当以自然二字为准则。当高高在上，凡俗生命间发生的种种，不到万不得已，最好不要亲自下场。」
"Those who adapt to circumstances are wise. Out of respect for our fellow spirit, I'll give you a chance. Surrender to our Great Dynasty, Great Qi!"
lǐ píng de shēng yīn jiǔ jiǔ bù xiē ， tā de shēn yǐng yǐ jīng shū rán pò suì ， xiāo shī zài le cǐ jiè 。
李平的声音久久不歇，他的身影已经倏然破碎，消失在了此界。
"If not, I won't hesitate to take your place as the earth vein's master!" Lin Ling said coldly, her aura filled with killing intent.
sū yǔ qíng huí xiǎng qǐ shī zūn píng rì lǐ zài dà qǐ zi mín miàn qián de biǎo xiàn ， bù yóu ruò yǒu suǒ sī 。
苏语晴回想起师尊平日里在大启子民面前的表现，不由若有所思。
She extended green roots from her feet, merging with the black insect swarm like countless tentacles.
「 yōu zú rén ？」 sū yǔ qíng chá kàn qǐ le nǎo hǎi lǐ shī zūn chuán lái de zhǒng zhǒng zī liào 。
「幽族人？」苏语晴查看起了脑海里师尊传来的种种资料。
The pure green spread rapidly, turning the black into green. Lin Ling had become one with the insects, and they were part of her will.
ér dào tóng liú lí zé shì bù tíng guān chá zuǒ yòu ， jí zhe yào zhǎo dào shī zūn suǒ shuō de tū pò jí xiàn zhī dào zài nǎ lǐ 。
而道童琉璃则是不停观察左右，急着要找到师尊所说的突破极限之道在哪里。
Wherever Daoist's black flood went, it was where her will reached, becoming a part of her body.
……
……
If before, the ancient tree could have tried to reclaim its body by killing all the Daoist insects and purifying itself with earth veins. But now...
xuán huáng jiè 。
玄黄界。
The ancient tree's face turned pale as it lost control over a part of its body. It sensed an unwelcome presence beside its original form, ready to devour what remained.
wáng xuán bà rú jīn yǐ jīng chóng xīn fǎn huí le yuè yáng zhōu dì xià 。
王玄霸如今已经重新返回了岳阳州地下。
This feeling was terrifying, confirming Lin Ling's words were true.
hé tā yì qǐ de hái yǒu lín líng 。
和他一起的还有林灵。
Time was running out...
lín líng shǒu zhōng bǎ wán zhe lǐ píng zèng yǔ de zhuàn lún ， duì yú cǐ xíng shōu fú dì mài gǔ shù de rèn wù xiǎn de yǒu xiē màn bù jīng xīn 。
林灵手中把玩着李平赠与的转轮，对于此行收服地脉古树的任务显得有些漫不经心。
The ancient tree thought frantically. Surrendering to the Great Dynasty meant betraying his father.
「 shī mèi ， kě yǐ kāi shǐ le me ？」
「师妹，可以开始了么？」
The sinister face of Ruo Mu suddenly appeared before him, causing the ancient tree to shiver.
wáng xuán bà duì yú zhè wèi bù gǒu yán xiào de shī mèi yǒu xiē fā chù ， xiǎo xīn yì yì dì wèn dào 。
王玄霸对于这位不苟言笑的师妹有些发怵，小心翼翼地问道。
Its resolve to surrender vanished.
「 bù jí ， zài děng děng 。」 lín líng yáo le yáo tóu 。
「不急，再等等。」林灵摇了摇头。
Just as it hesitated, a special intent from Lin Ling caught its attention.
「 děng ？ děng shén me ？」 wáng xuán bà yǒu xiē è rán 。
「等？等什么？」王玄霸有些愕然。
"Ah?"
zài tā de gǎn jué zhōng ， qián fú de yī shí liù tuán chóng qún yǐ jīng yǒu bù shǎo yǐ jǐn cóng fēng yìn zhōng sū xǐng ， chǔn chǔn yù dòng le 。
在他的感觉中，潜伏的一十六团虫群已经有不少已尽从封印中苏醒，蠢蠢欲动了。
After careful consideration and recalling Ruo Mu's increasingly erratic behavior recently, the ancient tree decided.
「 shī zūn shuō le ， gěi tā gè jī huì 。 ruò shì tā míng wán bù líng ， zài dòng shǒu yě bù chí 。」 lín líng zhòu le zhòu méi ， hái shì nài xīn jiě shì dào 。
「师尊说了，给祂个机会。若是它冥顽不灵，再动手也不迟。」林灵皱了皱眉，还是耐心解释道。
"I will submit..."
「 nà jiù tīng shī mèi de 。」 wáng xuán bà xiào xī xī de shuō dào 。
「那就听师妹的。」王玄霸笑嘻嘻的说道。
Lin Ling glanced at it. The ancient tree paused, changing its mind: "I will submit to the Great Dynasty."
èr zhě yú dì mài zhōng jìng lì le xiǎo bàn rì 。 hū de ， wáng xuán bà zài dù gǎn shòu dào xiān qián nà dào páng dà de shǔ yú dì mài gǔ shù de yì shí zài zì jǐ zuǒ yòu sǎo guò 。
二者于地脉中静立了小半日。忽的，王玄霸再度感受到先前那道庞大的属于地脉古树的意识在自己左右扫过。
Wang Xuan stared suspiciously at the ancient tree, while Lin Ling ordered them to go see their master.
bù guò gēn xiān qián bù tóng de shì ， zhè yī cì dì mài gǔ shù méi yǒu zhí jiē jiāng tā men hū lüè ， ér shì jiǔ jiǔ bù kěn lí qù 。
不过跟先前不同的是，这一次地脉古树没有直接将他们忽略，而是久久不肯离去。
The ancient tree, sensing the insects still watching him, reluctantly agreed and appeared in a solid form.
wáng xuán bà piē jiàn lín líng jiāng shǒu zhōng de zhuàn lún shōu qǐ ， shén qíng biàn dé yán sù qǐ lái 。
王玄霸瞥见林灵将手中的转轮收起，神情变得严肃起来。
Following Wang Xuan and Lin Ling obediently. They arrived at the small world of Great Qi without incident.
sì hū zài gēn shuí jiāo tán zhe shén me 。
似乎在跟谁交谈着什么。
Various deep, incomprehensible auras from all directions made the ancient tree feel on edge.
wáng xuán bà méi yǒu dǎ rǎo liǎng zhě zhī jiān de jiāo tán ， shí zé nèi xīn qín xián zǎo yǐ jīng jǐn bēng 。 zhǐ yào lín líng yī niàn chuán dá ， tā jiù pèi hé zhe jiāng suǒ yǒu de dào yī chóng qún quán dōu yǐn dòng 。
王玄霸没有打扰两者之间的交谈，实则内心琴弦早已经紧绷。只要林灵一念传达，他就配合着将所有的道一虫群全都引动。
Two disciples could easily subdue it, let alone the Holy Emperor of Great Qi.
lín líng zuì chū sì hū zhǐ shì gēn dì mài gǔ shù zài zhèng cháng liáo tiān 。 shèn zhì liǎn shàng hái bù shí fú xiàn chū xiē xǔ de xiào yì 。
林灵最初似乎只是跟地脉古树在正常聊天。甚至脸上还不时浮现出些许的笑意。
Before the throne, the ancient tree's submission was obvious.
dàn háo wú zhēng zhào de ， lín líng què shì hū de miàn sè yī biàn 。
但毫无征兆的，林灵却是忽的面色一变。
After falling into the golden source power net of the Holy Emperor and becoming his servant, the ancient tree revealed everything it knew about Ruo Mu to save its life.
lěng méi zhà dào ：「 niàn nǐ nǎi shì wǒ tóng zú ， gù ér fāng cái gēn nǐ chǎng kāi xīn jiāo liú 。 què yòu wèi hé dà fàng jué cí ， quàn wǒ fǎn pàn ？！」
冷眉咤道：「念你乃是我同族，故而方才跟你敞开心交流。却又为何大放厥词，劝我反叛？！」
"Your Majesty, I have exposed my father's aura. He will sense this soon. The key is speed," the ancient tree, having surrendered completely, offered advice to Li Ping.
「 wǒ shī zūn shǒu duàn ， yòu qǐ shì nǐ yī xiǎo xiǎo de fǔ xiǔ gǔ mù néng chuǎi cè de ！」
「我师尊手段，又岂是你一小小的腐朽古木能揣测的！」
"I see your point. So, I'm on my way."
wáng xuán bà dé dào le lín líng de chuán yīn ， tóng yàng yě shì lěng xiào yī fān 。 ér hòu jiāng cǐ dì ， yuè yáng zhōu xià de chén mián de chóng qún huàn xǐng 。
王玄霸得到了林灵的传音，同样也是冷笑一番。而后将此地，岳阳州下的沉眠的虫群唤醒。
Li Ping's voice came from above, but what shocked the ancient tree was that the faceless Holy Emperor had already faded and disappeared.
hēi sè yīn yǐng pǔ tōng jué dī hòu de hóng shuǐ ， shì bù kě dǎng 、 yí xiè qiān lǐ 。
黑色阴影普通决堤后的洪水，势不可挡、一泻千里。
The ancient tree couldn't even sense when he left.
ròu yǎn kě jiàn de ， zhōu wéi huáng sè de dì mài bēn liú shà shí bèi rǎn hēi 。 yī shēng jiān ruì de bào míng zì dì xià yǐn yǐn chuán lái ， què yān mò zài xiōng yǒng de chóng qún dà jūn zhī zhōng 。
肉眼可见的，周围黄色的地脉奔流霎时被染黑。一声尖锐的爆鸣自地下隐隐传来，却淹没在汹涌的虫群大军之中。
"The power of the Holy Emperor is truly unfathomable, surpassing even a father..."
「 shī qù yī tiáo chù shǒu de gǎn jué rú hé ？」 lín líng mù lù shā qì 。
「失去一条触手的感觉如何？」林灵目露杀气。
"Hmph. Old madman, you're in for it now."
「 wǒ duàn nǐ qiān bǎi tiáo chù shǒu ， yě shì yì shì 。」
「我断你千百条触手，也是易事。」
For some reason, the ancient tree felt somewhat excited.
wáng xuán bà huì yì ， pèi hé zhe jiāng yú xià lìng wài yī shí wǔ tuán chóng qún huàn xǐng ， zhǐ shì réng jiù kòng zhì zhe tā men zuò wéi wēi shè 。
王玄霸会意，配合着将余下另外一十五团虫群唤醒，只是仍旧控制着它们作为威慑。
Outside the throne room,
zhěng gè xuán huáng dà dì ， wēi bù kě jué de zhèn chàn qǐ lái 。 nà shì dì mài gǔ shù yīn wèi wèi jù ér zào chéng de dì mài bēn liú zhěng tǐ shī kòng 。
整个玄黄大地，微不可觉的震颤起来。那是地脉古树因为畏惧而造成的地脉奔流整体失控。
Wang Xuan looked at Lin Ling, hesitating to speak.
yī dào tuó bèi de lǎo zhě xū yǐng chū xiàn zài wáng xuán bà èr rén miàn qián 。
一道驼背的老者虚影出现在王玄霸二人面前。
"Say what's on your mind. I'm afraid I'll draw my sword if you keep staring at me like that," Wang Xuan said nervously.
tā kàn xiàng lín líng ， miàn lù jīng kǒng 。 tóng shí yǔ qì zhōng hái dài zhe xiē xǔ de fèn nù ， zhì wèn dào ：「 wǒ běn shì yī piàn zhēn xīn hǎo yì ， nǐ hé gù hài wǒ ？！」
他看向林灵，面露惊恐。同时语气中还带着些许的愤怒，质问道：「我本是一片真心好意，你何故害我？！」
Lin Ling's sudden words startled him. He scratched his head and looked at his sister. Without hesitation, he asked: "At the critical moment of persuading the ancient tree to surrender, what did you say to it?"
wáng xuán bà dǎ liàng zhuó yǎn qián zhè zhǎng dé pǒ yǒu xiē wěi suǒ de xiǎo lǎo tóu ， hěn nán jiāng qí gēn kòng zhì zhe xuán huáng jiè dì mài de chuán shuō jí gǔ shù lián xì qǐ lái 。
王玄霸打量着眼前这长得颇有些猥琐的小老头，很难将其跟控制着玄黄界地脉的传说级古树联系起来。
Lin Ling gave a 'boring question' expression.
ér miàn duì dì mài gǔ shù de zhǐ zé ， lín líng zhǐ shì chī xiào yī shēng ：「 hǎo yì ？ wǒ gēn suí shī zūn bù guò shù zài ， bù jǐn cóng yī měng dǒng wú zhī wú shí de ruò xiǎo yì shí chéng gōng huà xíng ， ér qiě hái yōng yǒu le rú jīn zhè yī shēn bù sú de xiū wèi 。」
而面对地脉古树的指责，林灵只是嗤笑一声：「好意？我跟随师尊不过数载，不仅从一懵懂无知无识的弱小意识成功化形，而且还拥有了如今这一身不俗的修为。」
"Just told it that if it surrendered, I could form an alliance with it," she said dismissively.
A massive black shadow surged like a flood, unstoppable and overwhelming. The yellow veins of the earth trembled instantly, turning dark as the ground was dyed by the shadows. A sharp explosion echoed from underground but was drowned out by the swarm of insects.
"Feeling the loss of one tentacle?" Lin Ling's eyes glinted with coldness.
"I can sever a thousand more for you," Wang Xuan smirked, understanding what she meant and cooperating to awaken the remaining fifteen insect swarms.
The entire black earth trembled slightly as the veins of the earth were thrown into chaos due to fear. A hunched old man's shadow appeared before them.
He looked at Lin Ling with a mix of terror and anger in his voice. "I came with good intentions, why do you harm me?"
Wang Xuan sized up this small, rather grotesque old man, finding it hard to connect him with the legendary ancient tree controlling the earth veins.
Lin Ling snorted derisively at the accusations. "Good intentions? I've followed my master for only a few years and have transformed from an ignorant, unaware consciousness into a formidable existence."
"How long have you been practicing? I could kill you in one thought!" Lin Ling's cold eyes locked onto the ancient tree as her wheel of transformation appeared, spinning rapidly.
The insects within the earth veins sensed something and responded in unison. Even without breaking free, the fifteen shadows grew significantly larger.
"Talk properly," the hunched old man panicked. But Lin Ling ignored him, pressing on: "Your mother tree is not mine. Your so-called turning from darkness to light is nothing but destroying my path!"
"Those who block my way will never rest until they are dead!" Lin Ling roared.
Wang Xuan chuckled and released another swarm of insects. The ancient tree's face changed dramatically, barely managing to speak before one leg was suddenly broken off, causing it to lose balance and fall to the ground.
"Sorry! It's all a misunderstanding! The mother tree is the source of all life in this world. Not just us spirits, even humans..."
Before the ancient tree could finish, another leg was severed by an insect swarm. The hunched old man looked up frantically.
"The source of all life? Where is it now?" Lin Ling sneered.
"Even if you're right, what does that matter?"
Lin Ling stepped forward and stood before the ancient tree. "Compared to my master..."
"Only a chicken or dog!" She stomped on the ancient tree's body with a green root sprouting from her feet.
The old man's shadow howled in pain. Despite being partially corrupted by Daoist insects, it still had enough strength to resist. But the ancient tree did not struggle.
It knew that what this young fellow said was true.
"What are these things..." The ancient tree's surface submission masked its secret attempts to counteract the strange black energy.
But this force was unlike anything in the earth veins of the Yellow Earth, leaving it helpless.
"Only a few disciples have such power. Who is their master? Could it be one of the great powers from ancient times? We've had no grudge against them, so why attack now? Is it to target..." The ancient tree's mind raced with possibilities.
But Lin Ling did not give the ancient tree much time to think.
"Those who adapt to circumstances are wise. Out of respect for our fellow spirit, I'll give you a chance. Surrender to our Great Dynasty, Great Qi!"
"If not, I won't hesitate to take your place as the earth vein's master!" Lin Ling said coldly, her aura filled with killing intent.
She extended green roots from her feet, merging with the black insect swarm like countless tentacles.
The pure green spread rapidly, turning the black into green. Lin Ling had become one with the insects, and they were part of her will.
Wherever Daoist's black flood went, it was where her will reached, becoming a part of her body.
If before, the ancient tree could have tried to reclaim its body by killing all the Daoist insects and purifying itself with earth veins. But now...
The ancient tree's face turned pale as it lost control over a part of its body. It sensed an unwelcome presence beside its original form, ready to devour what remained.
This feeling was terrifying, confirming Lin Ling's words were true.
Time was running out...
The ancient tree thought frantically. Surrendering to the Great Dynasty meant betraying his father.
The sinister face of Ruo Mu suddenly appeared before him, causing the ancient tree to shiver.
Its resolve to surrender vanished.
Just as it hesitated, a special intent from Lin Ling caught its attention.
"Ah?"
After careful consideration and recalling Ruo Mu's increasingly erratic behavior recently, the ancient tree decided.
"I will submit..."
Lin Ling glanced at it. The ancient tree paused, changing its mind: "I will submit to the Great Dynasty."
Wang Xuan stared suspiciously at the ancient tree, while Lin Ling ordered them to go see their master.
The ancient tree, sensing the insects still watching him, reluctantly agreed and appeared in a solid form.
Following Wang Xuan and Lin Ling obediently. They arrived at the small world of Great Qi without incident.
Various deep, incomprehensible auras from all directions made the ancient tree feel on edge.
Two disciples could easily subdue it, let alone the Holy Emperor of Great Qi.
Before the throne, the ancient tree's submission was obvious.
After falling into the golden source power net of the Holy Emperor and becoming his servant, the ancient tree revealed everything it knew about Ruo Mu to save its life.
"Your Majesty, I have exposed my father's aura. He will sense this soon. The key is speed," the ancient tree, having surrendered completely, offered advice to Li Ping.
"I see your point. So, I'm on my way."
Li Ping's voice came from above, but what shocked the ancient tree was that the faceless Holy Emperor had already faded and disappeared.
The ancient tree couldn't even sense when he left.
"The power of the Holy Emperor is truly unfathomable, surpassing even a father..."
"Hmph. Old madman, you're in for it now."
For some reason, the ancient tree felt somewhat excited.
Outside the throne room,
Wang Xuan looked at Lin Ling, hesitating to speak.
"Say what's on your mind. I'm afraid I'll draw my sword if you keep staring at me like that," Wang Xuan said nervously.
Lin Ling's sudden words startled him. He scratched his head and looked at his sister. Without hesitation, he asked: "At the critical moment of persuading the ancient tree to surrender, what did you say to it?"
Lin Ling gave a 'boring question' expression.
"Just told it that if it surrendered, I could form an alliance with it," she said dismissively.