The woman could not resist at all, allowing the red hummingbirds, smaller than a human finger, to peck at her body. Bound by the wooden vines, utterly still, her mind, however, had reached a state of profound tranquility, without the slightest ripple in her spirit.

Zong Shou froze momentarily upon seeing this. In his sight before entering his meditative state, there had only been that hundred-mile-wide mass of black mist.

He had been entirely oblivious to the woman beside him, so close she could be touched. If not for the sudden arrival of these red hummingbirds startling him, he likely wouldn't have noticed her until he departed.

Seeing the woman already covered in wounds, Zong Shou frowned, waving his sleeve slightly. Hundreds of sword energies immediately erupted, causing the red hummingbirds to fall one after another.

More red hummingbirds were approaching from the distance. Startled by Zong Shou's fierce sword intent, they cried out and fled in disarray.

Only then did the woman finally raise her head in surprise. Her white hair moved without wind, tied at the back of her head.

She glanced at Zong Shou, confusion clouding her eyes, then broke into a smile: "Thank you, young man! These birds are incredibly annoying, and I have no way to deal with them.

Thanks to your help, I can finally have a peaceful day." Zong Shou was startled again, realizing that although this woman appeared to be middle-aged, her appearance and temperament marked her as exceptionally choice. There was even a faint sense of familiarity, as if she bore some resemblance to someone in his memories.

But who exactly, he could not recall. The power struggles within the Fen Kong Lu family were fierce, and they frequently waged war across various realms.

However, in this Nine Ultimate Death Prison, true good people were extremely rare. Yet, for some reason, Zong Shou felt an inexplicable closeness to the woman before him.

It felt as though their blood was connected; from the moment he noticed her, he had harbored no defenses or vigilance. Could it be— A thought flashed through his mind like lightning, but it vanished instantly.

When he tried to recall it carefully, it eluded him entirely. Zong Shou remained blank for a moment before his gaze regained focus.

After a moment's thought, countless shards of sword light shimmered around Zong Shou, shooting out in all directions. The thirty-seven Dragon Tooth Swords of Extinction instantly formed a sword array in a thousandth of a blink.

Enveloping ten miles, subtle, sharp sword auras swept out, slaying every last red hummingbird. He didn't know why, but he constantly felt the urge to do something for the woman before him.

As for those red hummingbirds, he felt an inexplicable, intense hatred! Since she claimed those vile beasts were bothersome, he would simply exterminate them all on her behalf.

Seeing this, the woman couldn't help but show gratitude: "Thank you, but young master, do not waste your effort. These red hummingbirds are being deliberately kept here by someone who wishes to make trouble for me.

Even if you slay them all, they will certainly return after a day or two. Not only will it not help me, but it will also cause that person to direct their anger toward you." Zong Shou frowned.

As for misplaced anger, Zong Shou never feared it. However, after careful consideration, he retracted the sword array.

Before finding Lu Hanyan, he truly did not wish to invite unnecessary trouble. Still, he felt a little apologetic toward the woman, his gaze shifting slightly.

This giant tree was not naturally grown; its roots were similarly connected to the Death Prison's restrictive formation. Zong Shou had seen many such devices used to restrain Lu family sinners and did not find it strange.

But when his gaze fell upon the woman's hair, noticing that the tips of those fine white strands were actually pierced into the tree trunk, Zong Shou couldn't help but show a look of admiration in his eyes. "You are using this tree to cultivate?" "Precisely!" The woman smiled: "My vital essence is drained daily.

If I didn't reclaim some to compensate myself, I would have turned to dry bones in this Death Prison long ago. Furthermore, I have an unfulfilled wish.

If I do not cultivate diligently to extend my lifespan, I fear I will never see my husband and child again." A flicker of something unusual crossed her eyes. She herself did not know why she was saying these things to Zong Shou.

Perhaps it was because she had been lonely for too long, and the youth before her felt overwhelmingly familiar. As she spoke, the foot-long white hair instantly transformed from pale white to jet black.

The woman's pale face regained a rosy hue, making her even more lovely and captivating. The wounds inflicted by the red hummingbirds healed in an instant, vibrant with life.

"Life-Death Cycle Reversal Art!" Zong Shou exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the technique the woman was employing with just one glance. The only difference was that this woman had found an alternative route, utilizing this tree to reverse the cycle of decay and renewal.

She hid her own vitality within this massive tree, drawing it back when needed. Furthermore, she used her three thousand strands of hair to forcibly seize blood essence and vital power from the restrictive formation.

He secretly wondered, however. He remembered this profound divine ability originating from the Cloud Realm, a secret technique of the Dao Ling Sect.

How could this woman know it? "You recognize it?" The woman first asked in shock, then nodded slightly: "That's right!

A figure like young master must be highly knowledgeable; it's not strange that you have visited the Cloud Realm." She then cautioned: "I don't know why you have come here, but judging by your situation, you are heading for the Ninth Layer of the Death Prison. I advise you not to force your way through.

Remember that the gate on the Eighth Layer is guarded by a Formless Divine Demon captured by the Lu family's Yan Yuan Sage Venerable in his early years. A ten-thousand-year servant contract was established to suppress it here.

It is said that at that time, this demon was only a single step away from the Saint Realm." Hearing the term Formless Divine Demon, Zong Shou felt a sense of familiarity. Even when she mentioned the word 'Saint Realm,' he didn't pay much attention.

After a moment of contemplation, a light suddenly sparked in Zong Shou's eyes. He did indeed possess memories within his mind, but they originated from the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Mystic Fox.

"The Formless Divine Demon, is it that Shadow God—no! Is it the Shadow Demon race?" "Precisely!

All members of the Shadow Demon race, upon reaching the Divine Realm, can become formless and shapeless, making their tracks difficult to trace." The woman replied doubtfully, noticing Zong Shou's face was filled with unconcealed joy. Zong Shou was indeed thrilled, and he felt a great weight lift from his heart.

If it were any other pinnacle Divine Realm expert, he would surely die. But against the Shadow Demon race, even a true Saint Realm expert held no fear for him.

The divine artifact forged by the sacrificial rituals of thousands of his Mystic Fox ancestors was precisely for resisting those Shadow Demons during the Cloud Wasteland conflicts. It could almost be called their nemesis, especially when forewarned.

If what the woman said was true, then entering the Ninth Layer gave him a ninety percent chance of success. Even if he couldn't defeat the enemy, he should at least be able to protect himself.

Filled with gratitude, Zong Shou glanced at the wooden vines, feeling an even stronger reluctance in his heart. Hesitating slightly, he nevertheless spoke resolutely: "With my sword arts, I should be able to sever the restriction.

Do you require me to rescue you?" If it had been the pinnacle Divine Realm expert from over ten days prior, Zong Shou would not have hesitated at all. However, toward this woman, Zong Shou instinctively did not wish to see her suffer further torment.

The woman was slightly surprised, then shook her head: "The Lu family's laws have their own rules. Because I committed an error, I must be imprisoned on the Sixth Layer for two thousand years.

But if I were imprisoned on the Eighth Layer, the term could be shortened to forty years. Escaping now would certainly bring ease, but it would negate all my previous efforts." She added: "Young master is a good person, but you need not worry about me.

No matter what, I will endure until my sentence is served. My lifelong obsession is to see my child just once.

These mere restrictive arts here are nothing in my eyes." Zong Shou’s consciousness felt hazy, and as if guided by some unseen force, he continued to ask: "May I perhaps learn the name of the senior?" The woman merely smiled: "No need to call me senior. My actual age is not that great.

You may simply call me Lu Hanyan."