"Whoosh! Whoosh—……," Around the massive vine coiled around the "Ancestral Celestial Luo…," six figures rapidly ascended, circling the colossal trunk again and again. Accompanying Nie Kong this time, besides his mother Mu Xueyi, were the four City Lords: Mu Yaotong, Mu Tianfei, Mu Yijun, and Mu Yushuang.

Upon reaching the Celestial Spirit realm, travel by air was entirely possible. Outside the Yin Ruins, Mu Yaotong and the others could reach the treetop in an instant, but within the pervasive influence of the "Ancestral Celestial Luo…," the only way to ascend to the peak of the Wood Ancestor’s true body was to dutifully climb the vine.

After being summoned back from the "Ancestral Court" by Mu Xueyi, Mu Yaotong and the other three tried their best to persuade Nie Kong once they heard his intentions.

From the spiritual impressions of the "Nightmare Spirit Black Demon Di" and the "Great Evolution Spirit…," they could already guess what kind of place the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" was. Mu Xueyi had only just managed to escape and reunite with her son; they truly did not wish to see Nie Kong meet with further misfortune.

If the spring water of the "Nether Fire Abyss…" could suppress the "Fluttering Jade Butterfly…" time and again, and if there were any other means to save Hua Mei’s soul, Nie Kong would naturally not venture into the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" for a dangerous quest. It was a pity that the efficacy of the "Nether Fire Abyss…" water was limited to the very first application, and aside from "Pill Soul Transformation…," there was no other way; achieving the Pill realm within two years seemed impossible…

The Abyssal Depths of Corruption—the journey was inevitable!

Seeing that Nie Kong showed no sign of changing his mind, Mu Yaotong and the other three could only accompany him and Mu Xueyi to this place.

Time flowed rapidly, and Nie Kong and the others finally arrived at the treetop, successively entering the spherical mass formed by the convergence of the vine tips. All six had awakened more than half of their Wood Spirit lineage bloodline, instantly appearing within the Wood Heart Space. The heart of the Wood Ancestor lay clearly before them.

"Nie Kong, have you truly thought this through?" Mu Yushuang couldn't help but ask again, and the gazes of the others also settled upon Nie Kong.

Compared to them, Mu Xueyi’s emotions were much calmer. She had not spent a long time with Nie Kong, but she understood his disposition quite well. By all accounts, Nie Kong’s decision was correct, yet as a mother, she naturally wished her son would consider his safety more deeply. However, she also knew that since Nie Kong had already resolved to act, any further persuasion would be futile.

Now, all she could do was hope that the Wood Ancestor possessed a better method to resolve Hua Mei’s soul issue, which would allow for a perfect outcome. Or perhaps, the Wood Ancestor also did not know the location of the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…," nor the method to enter it, which would also prevent Nie Kong from risking danger.

In Mu Xueyi’s estimation, the latter possibility was more likely. After all, even the Spirit God residing there could not personally visit the Celestial Spirit Continent; one could imagine how difficult it must be to travel freely between the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" and the Celestial Spirit Continent. Otherwise, that "Great Evolution Spirit…" would not have needed to attach only a wisp of spiritual thought to Mu Qingyi to scheme against the Wood Ancestor.

When asked by Mu Yushuang, Nie Kong did not speak, merely nodding quietly.

Mu Yushuang and Mu Yaotong exchanged a glance, sighing silently, and then sat down cross-legged around the Wood Ancestor’s heart. An instant later, four illusory figures of their heart-natures flashed out from between their brows, plunging into the dark green sphere in the center.

After a brief moment, the dark green sphere trembled almost imperceptibly. As the crests on the City Lords’ brows flickered more intensely, the intervals between the sphere’s tremors began to shorten continuously, while the amplitude of the tremors gradually increased.

"Bang…"

About fifteen minutes later, the seemingly dormant heart began to revive, its powerful beats echoing throughout this Wood Heart Space.

"Bang…"

"Bang…"

"…"

The sound grew increasingly violent, ultimately resembling roaring thunder and bursting lightning, making Nie Kong’s ears buzz incessantly. Before long, Nie Kong could hear absolutely nothing, as if suddenly deaf. This sensation lasted only a few short seconds before Nie Kong suddenly realized that the dark green sphere had calmed down—the four heart-nature phantoms swiftly reappeared, returning to the brows of Mu Yaotong and the other three.

At that moment, Nie Kong was enlightened; it was not that he had gone deaf, but rather that all sounds within the Wood Heart Space had abruptly ceased.

"Children, waking me so suddenly, has another change occurred in the Yin Ruins…"

Immediately following, the ancient voice of the Wood Ancestor permeated from the dark green sphere, carrying a hint of confusion in its tone. This was understandable; the Wood Ancestor had only slept for a few months this time, a mere blink of an eye for one who had lived for tens of thousands of years.

Seeing the Wood Ancestor inquire, Mu Xueyi quickly replied, "Wood Ancestor, please rest assured, everything in the Yin Ruins is as usual, it is just… Nie Kong has returned to the Yin Ruins and wishes to seek your guidance regarding the 'Abyssal Depths of Corruption…'." As she spoke, Mu Xueyi felt a degree of embarrassment.

Nie Kong’s matter was of immense importance to her, but to the Wood Ancestor, it was trivial—waking him from his slumber for such a small issue was indeed somewhat improper, yet it had to be done.

"Greetings, Wood Ancestor…"

Jikong hurriedly bowed, a trace of apology flashing through his eyes.

Although his cultivation was inferior to Mu Yaotong and the others, his sense of vital energy was far stronger than theirs. The moment the Wood Ancestor spoke, he suddenly noticed that the three small black dots created by the "Dark Blood Spirit Worms" within the Wood Ancestor’s heart seemed to have expanded slightly.

"Your cultivation has grown swiftly; you’ve already reached the first rank of Spirit Control…" The Wood Ancestor’s voice held a hint of approval. "Little fellow, why do you suddenly wish to inquire about the Abyssal Depths of Corruption? Have you encountered something outside the Yin Ruins?"

"…"

Nie Kong quickly recounted Hua Mei’s situation. Although the Wood Ancestor was not a true Spirit God, he possessed strength no less than one, and crucially, he had lived long and seen much. Perhaps the Wood Ancestor could offer him some excellent advice; Nie Kong felt a surge of anticipation…

"I never expected the 'Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring' to be reborn in this manner…"

After a long pause, the Wood Ancestor’s long sigh emerged from the dark green heart. "In the past ten thousand years, many Spirit Masters have achieved the Spirit God rank, yet not a single one remains on the Celestial Spirit Continent now… Children, do you know why…"

Mu Xueyi and Mu Yaotong and the others instinctively shook their heads, then pricked up their ears. They had never heard the Wood Ancestor mention such a thing before.

Nie Kong, however, was somewhat puzzled: "I heard that there is still one Spirit God presiding in the Spirit God Hall?"

"Little fellow, I know the one you speak of; he cannot be considered a true Spirit God, only a Half-Spirit God…" The Wood Ancestor chuckled dryly. "For a ninth-rank Spirit Master on the Celestial Spirit Continent to achieve the Spirit God rank, one must undergo three Spirit Tribulations. I sensed his existence when he passed the first two tribulations, but in the past century, I have never detected him undergoing the third. I suppose he dares not attempt it lightly…"

"If he had become a true Spirit God, he would no longer be on the Celestial Spirit Continent…" After a pause, the Wood Ancestor’s voice carried a note of wistfulness. "Beyond the Celestial Spirit Continent, there exists a 'Supreme Spirit Realm'! That… is the final destination for all Spirit Gods…"

"Supreme Spirit Realm…"

Hearing these words, Mu Xueyi and the four City Lords subconsciously held their breath, as if afraid of disturbing the Wood Ancestor’s narration.

Nie Kong was also hearing of this place for the first time. He had always suspected where those Spirit Gods had gone, but he never imagined there was a "Supreme Spirit Realm." Amidst his astonishment, Nie Kong was also somewhat confused, wondering what connection this had to the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" he wished to inquire about?

"Ten thousand years ago, some unknown change occurred within that 'Supreme Spirit Realm,' leading to incessant warfare and massive upheaval, nearly causing human extinction. At that time, the Phantom Spirit Continent was divided into three parts: one is the current Celestial Spirit Continent, one lies two hundred thousand li to the east of the Celestial Spirit Continent… After ten thousand years, who knows what state that separated continent is in now…"

Saying this, the Wood Ancestor couldn't help but sigh deeply again before continuing, "…The boundless necrotic energy generated by the conflict within the 'Supreme Spirit Realm' settled on the third landmass. Subsequently, that continent, along with the humans upon it and the necrotic energy, was jointly sealed by the remaining Spirit Gods of the 'Supreme Spirit Realm' in the deepest part of the eastern sea of the Celestial Spirit Continent. This is the 'Abyssal Depths of Corruption'…"

"…"

Nie Kong and Mu Xueyi exchanged looks, never imagining that the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" had such an origin. It had actually been part of the same whole with the Celestial Spirit Continent and the continent two hundred thousand li to the east ten thousand years ago, which was then called the Phantom Spirit Continent.

They wondered what kind of change had befallen the "Supreme Spirit Realm" to necessitate sealing off one of its continents.

The Wood Ancestor did not continue that topic, but instead expressed surprise: "That 'Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring,' after achieving Spirit God rank several thousand years ago, already entered the 'Supreme Spirit Realm.' For her to return to the Celestial Spirit Continent in this manner, it seems her true body has perished…"

Her true body was dead?

Nie Kong was startled. Only other Spirit Gods from that "Supreme Spirit Realm" could cause a Spirit God's death! After the shock, Nie Kong quietly breathed a sigh of relief: If the true body of the "Fluttering Jade Butterfly…" was dead, then if the "Pill Soul Transformation…" could be successfully performed…

Then her soul would no longer be a threat!

"That’s right, only this explains it…"

The Wood Ancestor stated, "It seems a major accident occurred when the 'Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring' returned. Otherwise, her soul would have completed its transformation while still in the womb, and this situation of two souls coexisting would not have arisen…" After a brief pause, the Wood Ancestor added, "Little fellow, the 'Pill Soul Transformation' proposed by the Deputy City Lord of Spirit Control City is indeed the only method to resolve this issue. To stop the 'Fluttering Jade Butterfly Spring' from devouring that girl’s soul, the two souls must be completely separated…"

Hearing the Wood Ancestor also affirm the "Pill Soul Transformation…" technique, Nie Kong was elated. Before this, "Pill Soul Transformation…" had only been a theory, never practiced. Even though Wei Tian had spoken of it with absolute certainty, who knew if it would truly work? Now, having gained the Wood Ancestor’s recognition, the situation was entirely different. No matter how profound Wei Tian’s mastery of souls was, it could not compare to the Wood Ancestor’s accumulated knowledge.

Mu Xueyi and Mu Yaotong exchanged glances, both sighing inwardly. Given the current turn of events, if the Wood Ancestor also revealed the method to enter, Nie Kong’s journey to the "Abyssal Depths of Corruption…" would be absolutely settled!