By the Bishui Lake, the gentle breeze was not oppressive, and peach blossoms fluttered down like rain.

Jiang Yuebai tucked her hair behind her ear, gazing at the elegant and transcendental Tian Nanxing in his dark green attire.

He bore no trace of being a demon, only the appearance of a late-stage Nascent Soul human clan cultivator.

If he truly was an Orchid Herb Grass Demon, then his transformation was too perfect!

Jiang Yuebai sniffed the air; there was no trace of demon energy, only a natural orchid fragrance, very refined.

Could she also be like that?

Taking advantage of the demon clan bloodline while retaining a human appearance, Jiang Yuebai greedily yearned for it.

Tian Nanxing’s gaze swept across the two White Ganoderma on Jiang Yuebai’s head, and he praised, "It seems you’ve cultivated Tai Sui’s ’Immortal Grass Scripture’ quite well."

"Tai Sui? Have you met him?" Jiang Yuebai’s spirit lifted.

Tian Nanxing nodded, "Tai Sui emerged suddenly, and this little Earth Spiritual Realm couldn’t bear his calamity, so by the order of the Divine Tree, I have sent him to the Boundary River, to the Upper Realm."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, Tai Sui’s power was too strong, recalling that hapless Nascent Soul from the Hundred Yang Sect who almost destroyed the entire sect after encountering Tai Sui, it was terrifying.

Now Tai Sui, Ao Juan, True Monarch Fuyi have all gone to the Upper Realm, making Jiang Yuebai yearn for it even more.

But she had already promised the Supreme Elder to wait until Lu Nanzhi reaches the middle and late stage of Core Formation to go to the Upper Realm together, so for now, she could only withstand her restless heart and solve her own transformation issues first.

Initially deemed difficult, seeing Tian Nanxing now, Jiang Yuebai felt hopeful.

"May I ask, senior, what is your purpose in seeking me out?"

"To take you to see the Divine Tree, but before that, I’d like to chat with you." Tian Nanxing replied.

Jiang Yuebai was taken aback, "Wasn’t it said you were already..."

"Expelled from the demon clan, right?" Tian Nanxing asked calmly.

Jiang Yuebai felt somewhat embarrassed, "Seems like rumors cause trouble again."

Tian Nanxing looked at the calm lake, where petals fell and created tiny ripples.

"To say expelled is not quite accurate. I was indeed disliked by a considerable portion of the Grass and Wood Demon Clan, and before my service to the Divine Tree was completed, I myself left and went to the realm of humans to survive."

"Why?" Jiang Yuebai played the role of a competent listener, the key being she wasn’t too familiar yet, so she had to first build rapport before inquiring about his transformation.

Tian Nanxing’s eyes twinkled with stars and smiles, seeing through her but not exposing her.

"Ever since the Heavenly Calamity, the demon clan has suffered greatly, and thereupon gathered mist on the Illusionary Wave Sea, guarding the Qingqiu Demon Realm, staying in for tens of thousands of years to recuperate."

"Before the Heavenly Calamity, the demon and human clans were evenly matched in overall strength, but nowadays, the demon clan is far inferior to the human clan. Human clan cultivators are adept in various Daos, arrays, talismanic artifacts, and even music and painting Daos flourish everywhere."

"But within the demon clan, due to differences in bloodlines, each clings to its own demon arts and divine skills, slaughtering each other. Although it is the nature of the demon clan, if this continues, the demon clan will eventually eliminate itself."

"You humans have a saying, don’t you—’Study the techniques of the barbarians to withstand the barbarians,’ thus I stepped out of the demon clan to learn human strengths."

Jiang Yuebai felt a bit awkward, "Senior, is it really appropriate to tell me this? I’m part of the human clan, not the demon clan, and presently there’s not much interaction between humans and demons, no big conflicts?"

Tian Nanxing gazed deeply at Jiang Yuebai, causing an inexplicable sense of guilt in her.

"No conflicts? Where do the materials for human alchemy and artifact refining come from?"

"Ah, um..."

"You only see those in the demon realm that are born with spiritual wisdom, yet you haven’t seen those outside with low spiritual wisdom, wantonly hunted by humans. Are they not part of the demon clan? Are they not worthy of cultivation and seeking immortality?"

Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow, "Senior, all things born have their Dao, unrelated to right or wrong, all acting in self-interest. Even a saintly Buddha savior would act for reincarnation and self-enlightenment. There’s no point debating right or wrong, fit or unfit. I learned young: Weakness means being beaten!"

Tian Nanxing chuckled, "You’re quite perceptive. Yes, right or wrong doesn’t matter, it’s all about personal struggle, which is why I strive. But a significant portion of the Grass and Wood Demon Clan couldn’t comprehend me, calling me a ’mongrel’ for learning grafting techniques to combine various plant strengths."

"Ahem!" Jiang Yuebai coughed, choking on her saliva; indeed, she was insulted, "Cough, cough, carry on, please."

"...I can’t find a demon within the Grass and Wood Demon Clan brave enough and strong enough to break traditions, and you’ve studied the ’Immortal Grass Scripture’ and even learned my grafting technique, so you should know its advantages. Therefore, I want you to participate in the demon clan’s Divine Sacrifice so they can see the might of my grafting technique."

Jiang Yuebai was puzzled, "Isn’t this an internal matter for the demon clan? I’m human, why specifically me?"

Tian Nanxing looked earnestly at Jiang Yuebai, "You have an unresolved connection with the demon clan, and the underlying reason might only be known by the Divine Tree."

"A connection?"

Jiang Yuebai thought carefully, indeed, accidentally acquiring Jia Xiuchun’s bloodline, gaining the power of the Green Lotus in the Land of Azure Flame, encountering Tai Sui and obtaining the ’Immortal Grass Scripture’ in the Chaotian Domain, receiving enlightenment from the Ancient Rong Demon and being gifted the White Vine in the labyrinth of the Wind and Cloud Meeting...

Each event seemed like the Heavenly Dao was pushing her toward the demon clan.

Jiang Yuebai wiped her face, if she couldn’t escape it, then...

"What benefits do I get from participating in the Divine Sacrifice?"

Tian Nanxing smiled, "Truly human, starting anything with benefits in mind. Firstly, we naturally solve your current predicament."

Tian Nanxing pointed at the Little Ganoderma on Jiang Yuebai’s head.

"You can’t perfect your transformation because your demonic power is concentrated in the Ganoderma and hasn’t merged with the Divine Soul. According to your current level of demonic power, you haven’t reached the demon clan’s Divine Elixir Realm, equivalent to the human clan’s Golden Core Realm."

"You’re at most in the late-stage Foundation Establishment of the demon clan. If you wish to attend the Divine Sacrifice, in the next half year I’ll teach you Grass and Wood Demon Techniques. Once you reach the Divine Elixir Realm, you can merge the Ganoderma atop your head into the Sea of Consciousness to hide it."

"Besides, I will find suitable Spirit Plants for you and assist in grafting, giving your Little Ganoderma stronger powers, such as true resistance to all poisons."

Jiang Yuebai was quite tempted, though with some apprehension. Of course, she desired perfect transformation, but the hidden cost might be something she couldn’t bear.

The most important aspect was—she was human, not a demon.

"You’d better take me to see the Divine Tree first, let me understand everything clearly, and then consider whether to partake in the Divine Sacrifice."

Tian Nanxing wasn’t in a hurry either, waiting for Jiang Yuebai to leave a note for Xie Jingshan before sweeping his wide sleeve, turning them into seemingly a pair of leaves, drifting out of the Peach Blossom Plain.

Blown by the wind into the air, amidst the rolling clouds, revealing a corner of the enormous tree crown, leaves rustling, sunlight shining, countless tree vines hanging down from the clouds, penetrating mountains and rivers.

Jiang Yuebai ’gazed’ into the distance, seeing a giant tree connecting heaven and earth rooted at the center of distant land, merging with mountains.

On the mountain, waterfalls streamed down like white ribbons between the intertwined roots, creating water mist and rainbows rising.

Majestic and grand, extremely awe-inspiring.

Faint cries of phoenixes echoed for miles, Jiang Yuebai saw a bird resembling a phoenix soaring with wings spread, followed by a flock of birds, flying through tree vines and waterfalls.

"The Divine Tree is the first tree in the world since heaven and earth opened, even the Divine Tree itself can’t recall how many tens of thousands of years it has existed."

Tian Nanxing’s voice entered her Sea of Consciousness as they soon landed on a mountain beneath the Divine Tree, reverting to their original appearances.

Standing before it, Jiang Yuebai marveled even more at the enormity of the Divine Tree; the tree trunk before her was thicker than the mountain itself, yet it was just one of the roots the Divine Tree extended.

On the cliff by the mountain, a brick wall courtyard was built against the mountain, with a fenced herb garden and some tools for weeding and farming placed in the corners, very much alive.

"This is where I used to live, go on, place your hand on the tree root in front of you and perceive carefully, then you will ’see’ the Tree Spirit."