Chapter 426: Chapter 385: Preparations for Departure

Coming out from the Divine Tree, Jiang Yuebai felt full of helplessness.

The Divine Tree reveres the Natural Path. It has the responsibility to protect the Demon Clan, yet it only leaves a spark for the Demon Clan in times of life and death.

At other times, it follows the Heavenly Dao, letting things develop naturally, just like the grass and trees in the forest, where thunder and rain are all blessings from the heavens.

If the heavens want to destroy the Demon Clan, then that would also be the Natural Path.

Every time Jiang Yuebai sees the Divine Tree, it resembles the figure of the Supreme Elder, perhaps because the Divine Tree and the Supreme Elder are indeed very alike.

Dao often acts without action, yet nothing is left undone. Dao gives birth to all things but does not dominate. This is the Supreme Elder’s path.

Jiang Yuebai, frustrated, scratched his head. Saying a thousand things, it boils down to one sentence: what Tian Nanxing does cannot be interfered with by the Divine Tree. If it leads to the destruction of the Demon Clan, the Divine Tree will only comply.

"It’s just you Demon Clan that has been in this mess for so many years!"

Jiang Yuebai said with anger that if it were peaceful times, the Demon Clan would be like a utopia, with all beings practicing according to the principles of nature.

But in times of turmoil, who knows if the Demon Clan can unite as one?

Perhaps, Tian Nanxing also could not tolerate this and wants to change the Demon Clan, even if it means using the power of the Ghost Clan.

Chirp~

The Three-Legged Golden Bird chirped on Jiang Yuebai’s shoulder. Jiang Yuebai inhaled and said, "Don’t worry, I will definitely go save him. The Divine Tree did not stop me from leaving the Demon Realm."

Before leaving the Divine Tree, it had instructed Jiang Yuebai to find Luling in the Ten Thousand Wood Forest to get the Demon Technique Collection of the Grass and Wood Demon Clan.

"Once I’ve been to the Ten Thousand Wood Forest, I will leave the Demon Clan. If there’s anything else you need to handle, do it quickly. We’ll meet on the shore of Peach Blossom Plain tomorrow morning."

Jiang Yuebai released the Three-Legged Golden Bird and also released the two Dragonfly Little Demons.

The two Dragonfly Little Demons decided to follow Jiang Yuebai. They were originally companions beside the Spirit Plant, and Jiang Yuebai, as a powerful member of the Immortal Ganoderma Clan, could provide them with nourishing energy needed for advancement, which they were reluctant to give up.

Bringing the two Dragonfly Little Demons back to the Qiye Lake shore of the Ten Thousand Wood Forest, the valley that was once full of blooming flowers now lay bare, with only a few Little Demons left.

The snow-white Luling lay lifelessly on the ground, blowing air with its nose against a small tender grass, watching it quiver in response.

Suddenly smelling the scent of Cloud Mushroom Grass, Luling instantly lifted its upper body, sniffing eagerly and seeing Jiang Yuebai, its eyes lit up.

"Say goodbye to your companions."

Jiang Yuebai let the two Dragonfly Little Demons go, watching Luling happily leap in front of them, circling and sniffing around.

"Lord Luling, by order of the Divine Tree, I’ve come to get the Demon Technique Collection of the Grass and Wood Demon Clan from you."

Jiang Yuebai, businesslike, took out the leaf given by the Divine Tree and handed it to Luling, as she was in no mood for play.

Upon hearing this, Luling looked at Jiang Yuebai with a mixture of resentment and grievance, finally vexed, biting off the leaf of the Divine Tree, angrily chewing it, and spitting it to the side.

With head held high, white light circling its antler-like branches, colorful flowers began blooming. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

A gentle breeze blew, petals fell like rain, swirling around Jiang Yuebai, finally resting on top of her head.

Petals grew into green branches, interwoven with her white hair, gathering half her loose hair at the back, with a green leaf white flower blooming at the temple, making Jiang Yuebai’s young face appear delicate and charming, full of spiritual energy.

The Grass and Wood Demon Arts contained within the petals were all imprinted in Jiang Yuebai’s Sea of Consciousness Divine Elixir, waiting for her to learn slowly.

As Jiang Yuebai browsed the nearly hundred Demon Arts, Luling suddenly nudged her with its antlers.

Stumbling backward, Luling proudly raised its head and left, stepping on petals and green leaves.

"Childish!"

Jiang Yuebai brushed the petals off her clothes, leaving the valley to visit the Little Demons she had spent half a year with in the Ten Thousand Wood Forest.

She found the Thousand Autumn Vine that had left Luling Garden, Jade Mushroom, and Mystic Frost Grass, all thriving, their leaves fuller and more radiant than before.

They already knew that Jiang Yuebai had earned the qualification of Divine Tree Servant and congratulated her.

Jiang Yuebai exchanged some of her Elixirs with the Grass and Wood Little Demons and a few Old Tree Demons in the forest for parts of their branches and leaves.

Her Elixirs, all purified Upper-Level Elixirs, were full of Spiritual Energy, much better when buried under their roots than the dung and urine of small beasts in the Ten Thousand Wood Forest.

Just as she was preparing to leave, the Dragonfly Little Demons returned with their little bundles, even bringing along two Butterfly Little Demons, two Bee Little Demons, and the two Mountain Monkeys doing odd jobs in Luling Valley.

All of them wanted to follow Jiang Yuebai, and she welcomed them all, housing them in the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven, letting them find their own place to take root.

Seeing there was still time, Jiang Yuebai collected some plants without Spiritual Wisdom from the Ten Thousand Wood Forest, moving them all to the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven.

Fortunately, Jiang Yuebai found a nest of Green Armor Bees, including the queen bee. She planted the entire tree they were nesting in into the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven. This way, the Green Armor Bees could continuously produce young bees and expand their colony.

If not for the sudden appearance of Lord Luling watching her, she would have caught some small beasts and thrown them in too.

As night deepened, Jiang Yuebai arrived earlier at the coast near Peach Blossom Plain, gazing upon the Illusionary Wave Sea, waiting for the arrival of the Three-legged Golden Bird.

Little Green was also recuperating in the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven, with no one around. Jiang Yuebai dared not enter the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven with her body because the Lotus Platform would have to be left outside.

"Looks like I need to think of a way to disguise the Lotus Platform. Otherwise, if I enter it and someone takes the Lotus Platform away, wouldn’t that be disastrous?"

She could first engrave the Turtle Breath Talisman and Divine Concealment Talisman on it, then add three to five layers of security.

"If only my Lotus Platform had spiritual wisdom like my master’s Treasure Tower, then it could hide itself and preserve its life."

Jiang Yuebai supported her face with her hand, pondering, not knowing how her master’s Treasure Tower had attained spiritual wisdom. Once she saved Xie Jingshan, she planned to ask her master.

"That’s right!" Jiang Yuebai sat up, "It’s been five years, I’m not sure if Mountain and Sea Building is aware of Xie Jingshan’s situation. The Asura Domain is full of dangers; I can’t go alone. I must notify Mountain and Sea Building and Sword Lord Guanhan. He is Xie Jingshan’s master and one of the top five Nascent Soul Sword Monarchs in the Earth Spiritual Realm, having him would be more secure!"

Jiang Yuebai immediately decided, to leave the Demon Clan and then write a letter to Sword Lord Guanhan, then go to Mountain and Sea Building to request reinforcements.

Sounds came from behind, Jiang Yuebai stood up and looked over. Thinking it was the Three-legged Golden Bird, she was surprised to see two people step out from the forest; it was Shen Huaxi and Maque.

Shen Huaxi was also surprised to see Jiang Yuebai, his eyes smiled, "You’ve emerged from seclusion? It seems your cultivation has greatly increased, nearly reaching mid-stage Golden Core, congratulations."

Maque nodded in salute, quietly standing behind Shen Huaxi.

"Why are you still in the Demon Clan?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

Shen Huaxi walked over and frankly said, "It’s still about Yu Xiao. Yu Xiao is dead, and the Tushan Clan is furious. The Divine Tree ignores me, leaving me no choice but to ally with the Yousu Clan, helping them select a Fox Demon from the clan to possess Yu Xiao’s body while his soul is newly departed, giving a chance to continue his Giant Barbarian Power."

"The Tushan Clan was originally hesitant about continuing Yu Xiao’s bloodline, but the Yousu Clan doesn’t care whether the bloodline is mixed. The Yousu Clan only cares about the clan’s strength. I came this time to routinely check Yu Xiao’s condition."

"Rest assured, no one knows how Yu Xiao died. The Divine Sacrifice Ceremony itself carries risks, and Yu Xiao wasn’t the only one who died."

Though Shen Huaxi spoke only a few words, Jiang Yuebai could still hear the helplessness and difficulties within.

"Then what about Yu Qing’er?"

Shen Huaxi’s gaze darkened, and Jiang Yuebai realized that Shen Huaxi couldn’t possibly leave Yu Qing’er alive. Without Yu Xiao, Yu Qing’er was worthless to the Tushan Clan.

The mother and son were indeed unfortunate, but in this cruel world, without strength, they could only be at the mercy of others.

Unconcerned with judging right from wrong, Jiang Yuebai hesitated for a moment before deciding to inform Shen Huaxi, "Xie Jingshan has been captured by Tian Nanxing, did you know?"

Shen Huaxi’s entire body shook, noticeably becoming frantic.

"How could that be? He returned to Kongfang City, right? I’ve also inquired about him through Mountain and Sea Building these past years. Mountain and Sea Building said he’s in seclusion, so they couldn’t respond to my letters."

Jiang Yuebai quickly explained the cause and effect, Shen Huaxi clenched his fists, his eyes flickering.

Maque nervously tugged on Shen Huaxi’s sleeve, "Mountain Lord, Iron Feather Country can’t do without you now."

Maque already knew what Shen Huaxi intended to do.

Shen Huaxi withdrew his sleeve from Maque’s grip, laughing bitterly, "Xiaoque, haven’t you been managing the affairs of Iron Feather Country all these years? I chose to be Mountain Lord because I promised your uncle to take care of you, to free the Extraordinary People from Human Clan’s enslavement. But aside from being Fufeng Mountain Master, I’m still Shen Huaxi."

Maque pursed his lips but eventually nodded, acknowledging that Shen Huaxi had been living exhaustedly. Perhaps it was time for him to live for himself.

"Very well, Mountain Lord, rest assured, I will certainly look after Iron Feather Country for you."

Shen Huaxi patted Maque’s head, "If there’s truly trouble, you can seek help from the Yousu Clan. They will assist Iron Feather Country out of respect for my dedication over the years."

Maque nodded, and Shen Huaxi turned to Jiang Yuebai.

"I’ll go with you. My mother dreams of returning to her former royal city. As her son and the Young Master of the Ghost Clan Soul Vein, I should make a trip to the Asura Domain for her."

Jiang Yuebai knew Shen Huaxi’s other identity; his mother was a direct descendant of the Ghost Clan Soul Vein. With him, their venture to the Asura Domain would be more advantageous, which is why she told him.

Screech—

The Three-legged Golden Bird flew from the horizon, landing on Jiang Yuebai’s raised arm, its aura more solid than before.

Jiang Yuebai turned, her gaze cutting through the churning mist of the Illusionary Wave Sea, looking far east as if she could see the Netherworld Sea and the wailing ghosts of the Asura Domain beyond.

Lu Nanzhi should still be cultivating there. Jiang Yuebai’s heart surged, filled with anticipation.

"No time to waste, let’s go!"