Nie Kong was momentarily unable to process what he was seeing. He had never imagined a tree could grow to such a terrifying scale! Though his current vantage point prevented him from taking in the colossal tree’s entirety, even a mere glimpse offered a profound impression. Countless thick branches extended from the massive trunk, a chaotic, sprawling network that blanketed the horizon, filling Nie Kong’s vision with an overwhelming sea of green.

“Such a tall, huge tree…” Qing Yue’s composure finally settled. She floated down to rest on Nie Kong’s shoulder, murmuring in awe, “Nie Kong, who knows how many ages this great tree has stood? It must already possess sentience, becoming a true Tree Spirit.”

“Tree Spirit?” Nie Kong started.

“Exactly.” Qing Yue looked utterly certain. “Otherwise, how could your grandmother sense the aura of this giant tree and that vine? It must have been concealed by the Tree Spirit. I don’t know the strength of this Tree Spirit; perhaps it has long surpassed the Heavenly Spirit realm.”

“Perhaps!”

Nie Kong nodded instinctively. Qing Yue, the Illusory Heart Orchid, had only taken a little over a thousand years to cultivate her soul to the Heavenly Spirit level. Yet, the diameter of this tree’s very first branch was thousands of meters, and the main trunk might measure tens of thousands of meters across. Such a colossal entity must possess an age far exceeding that of the Illusory Heart Orchid—not just thousands of years, maybe even tens of thousands. In such an immense span of time, it was hardly surprising that the giant tree had spawned sentience. Moreover, the overwhelmingly terrifying vitality Nie Kong had sensed while cultivating on the vine seemed to affirm Qing Yue’s assertion. After all, if it hadn't achieved sentience and begun its cultivation, a giant tree, no matter how much it grew, couldn't possibly harbor such potent life force.

But quickly, Nie Kong’s expression shifted. “Qing Yue, if this giant tree is sentient, doesn't that mean it knows our every move?”

“That’s hard to say.” Qing Yue hesitated. “Tree Spirits are different from Herb Spirits. An herb’s body is small, making cultivation easier. But for a Tree Spirit, especially one that has grown into the sight before us, the rate of cultivation must be incredibly slow. Once it gains sentience, it might utilize deep slumber to maximize the speed at which it absorbs spiritual energy. Once a Tree Spirit enters dormancy, even major disturbances might fail to wake it.”

She paused, then added with a smile, “Nie Kong, there’s no need to worry. Although your grandmother doesn't know what kind of tree this is, Tree Spirits are known for their exceptionally peaceful temperaments. Even if it truly noticed our presence, it wouldn't do anything to us—I can guarantee that.”

Seeing Qing Yue look as if she were swearing an oath, Nie Kong couldn't help but smile and tease her. “Qing Yue, how do you know Tree Spirits are the most peaceful? Did Ni Zhao Master from the Beast Taming Sect tell you, or did you read it in those books from the underground labyrinth?”

Qing Yue raised an eyebrow and sniffed haughtily. “Neither. I rely on my own feelings. Didn't I tell you when we first entered? This place feels like coming home. So, put your mind at ease, Nie Kong. Your grandmother wouldn't lie to you.”

“Fine, I’ll trust your feelings just this once.”

Nie Kong chuckled and turned back the way they came. Since he knew he was inside a giant tree, continuing along this branch would only lead to smaller and smaller offshoots; there was no way to find an exit that way. Returning to the main vine was the proper course of action. Whether to descend the vine or continue upward was a point worth considering.

However, once back at the base of the branch, Nie Kong had already made his decision: to continue upward. The tree trunk was bare of everything except the single, thick vine spiraling around it. Perhaps this was the path deliberately left by the inhabitants of the Yin Ruins for ascending the tree. Maybe at the pinnacle of this giant tree lay the method to leave this region; even if the trunk led nowhere, returning to the base would not be too late.

Nie Kong resumed using the Ethereal Shadow Evasion technique. The further he traveled, the shorter the time required to circle the trunk once, but the branches appeared with increasing frequency. Often, before one set of branches vanished from his sight, several new, thick limbs would jut out diagonally. Gradually, Nie Kong could see the tree’s leaves—meaning he was drawing nearer to the crown. Energized, Nie Kong swallowed another 'Hundred Spirits Pellet.' This was his fourth dose; barring unforeseen circumstances, this one should last him until the end.

“Hiss!”

Nie Kong moved like a shooting star, surging forward at incredible speed. Branches flashed past his vision as he circled the trunk, winding his way up. The vine was perfectly situated in its wraps around the trunk, always passing right along the top of the branch, never looping underneath close to the wood, nor suddenly ascending steeply. Nie Kong needed to dodge no obstacles, yet his vigilance never waned. At this height, one could not be too careful; if the vine suddenly vanished ahead, stepping into nothingness could easily result in utter annihilation.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, Qing Yue cried out crisply. Almost the instant her voice faded, Nie Kong’s stride halted. Here, the trunk’s diameter had significantly shrunk, estimated now at only a few dozen meters. The branches were far denser, and the lush leaves formed a canopy that blocked out the sky.

Furthermore, the vine beneath his feet was now only a meter wide, making passage across it perilous. Any person suffering from vertigo would surely be paralyzed by fear and fall.

However, the reason for Qing Yue’s shriek and Nie Kong’s sudden stop was not the height. Ahead, the vine suddenly exploded, shattering into countless soft, slender strands that twisted and curled around the branches, weaving themselves into a sphere ten meters in diameter. On the sphere was an aperture, flush against the vine, directly facing Nie Kong. It radiated an eerie, greenish glow, concealing an unknown entity within.

After a brief hesitation, Nie Kong took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the entrance of the sphere.

The closer he got to the opening, the more violently the mass of dark green blood within him surged, as if something inside the sphere was issuing a constant summons. The little fellow residing in his Jade Pool Acupoint could no longer float freely; it was repeatedly crushed against the bottom of the point by rising waves of blood, looking quite distressed.

“Aiya ya!”

With a muffled cry of annoyance, the little fellow attached its tender roots like suction cups to Nie Kong’s great acupoint, then coiled its stems and leaves into a tight ball, thus avoiding further disturbance from the surging dark green blood. The little fellow rotated its tiny flower bud, looking around quizzically, seemingly unable to comprehend why its cozy home was experiencing such an upheaval. Moments later, it retracted even the bud, but extended a thread of green energy, then began absorbing the red liquid bead within the Pet Pack.

By now, Nie Kong, having reached the sphere's opening, was hesitant. Crossing the threshold might mean successfully leaving this area, but it could also lead to an unforeseen calamity. Nie Kong did not fear death, but the sensation of being assimilated by vital energy while circulating the 'Yin-Yang Spirit Devouring Art' on the lower vine had instilled in him a genuine fear. Perhaps stepping into the sphere ahead would result in assimilation by the giant tree, turning him into nothing more than a wisp of its vitality, damned for all eternity.

“Nie Kong, since arriving here, my feeling of being home has grown stronger and stronger. There shouldn’t be any danger inside,” Qing Yue said.

“Feelings again…” Nie Kong smiled helplessly.

Qing Yue wrinkled her little nose and stated boldly, “My feelings are never wrong, Nie Kong. Are you perhaps scared?”

“Scared?” Having lived two lives and constantly proclaiming his fearlessness toward death, yet now, since entering the Yin Ruins, he had become tentative, inferior even to a minor Herb Spirit who had seen little of the world. In the end, it was his excessive attachment to gain and loss that had unsettled his spirit, making it less calm than before!

In certain aspects, the Herb Spirit’s instincts were indeed superior to his own, especially since Qing Yue’s soul power had once reached the Heavenly Spirit level. If even she wasn't afraid, why should he be? Moreover, the reaction of his own bloodline suggested the sphere was likely the exit. Since that was the case, he should gamble. If he forever hesitated, forever fearing trouble, what progress could he ever make, even if he succeeded in awakening his bloodline?

With that thought, Nie Kong felt his spirit suddenly clear, and the blockage in his chest dissolved.

“Qing Yue, you are right. I was indeed afraid. But now… even if there is danger inside, so what? This life I recovered, I can always give it back. Let’s go! We’re going in!” Nie Kong laughed loudly and strode into the sphere.

“Boom!” Instantly, the sphere shook violently.

Following this, the side of the sphere pressed against the giant tree seemed to suddenly rupture, and an incomparably fierce suction erupted from the tree, surging outward. In a flash, it enveloped Nie Kong entirely. Before he could offer any resistance, Nie Kong, along with Qing Yue clutching his collar, was sucked inside.

Once pulled in, Nie Kong experienced a sensation reminiscent of leaping off the ten-thousand-fathom cliff during the bonus test of the Six Palaces Grand Competition—his body plummeted thousands of meters. However, having made his choice, Nie Kong resolved to face the final outcome with composure, and his heart remained undisturbed.

Conversely, the mass of dark green blood within his Jade Pool Acupoint roared with increasing ferocity.

“Aiya ya?” The little fellow, curled against the acupoint, seemed to sense something as well. After a questioning cry, its stems and leaves slightly unfurled, and the green energy it was absorbing from the base of the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower’ retracted.

As the descent accelerated, the little fellow’s confused chirps suddenly turned somewhat excited.

“Hm?” Nie Kong was slightly surprised by the little fellow’s reaction. Its current cries contained no discernible intent, only a raw, instinctive excitement. This situation had occurred before. Could it be that there was something nearby capable of stirring such a reaction from the little one?

“Boom!”

Just then, Nie Kong’s rapidly descending body suddenly froze, while the Jade Pool Acupoint simultaneously exploded with sound. The mass of dark green blood broke free from the acupoint’s restraint, surging out like a devastating flood, and in an instant, it merged entirely into Nie Kong’s systemic blood…