The Destructive Black Lotus, more precisely just a petal of it, spoke up: "No, I am not fooling you."

"The Fusang Continent is called that because there used to be a Fusang Forest, but the Fusang Forest disappeared."

"Back then, after you were influenced by the Power of Destruction and dug up the Immortal Phoenix Bone, you unknowingly touched some kind of power, a vortex opened nearby, and some vines emerged, wrapping the Immortal Phoenix Bone into that vortex."

"In that instant, I saw some plants inside there; they are no longer found on the Fusang Continent, but in my inherited memories, those were the plants of the once-existing Fusang Forest."

"In my understanding, after the Beastmen appeared, the Fusang Forest had already disappeared. The forests now on the Fusang Continent are not the original Fusang Forest."

Cui Liyi looked at the Destructive Black Lotus with only one petal and knew that it was not a complete Destructive Black Lotus.

Even the memories belonging to the Destructive Black Lotus were not complete.

It only had a bit of inherited memory.

"In my inherited memory, I also seem to come from there."

"When that vortex opened, I felt a strong sense of familiarity with it."

"Some of the Holy Trees of the Beast Clan also come from that place, and considering how powerful the Holy Trees are, it can be imagined how formidable the Fusang Forest was."

As if reminiscing about something, Cui Liyi said: "Back then, when the Cang Beast Continent was broken, the Giant Beast Clan and Dragon Clan were annihilated, the Black Dragon King’s Dragon Bone vanished, and the leader of the Giant Beast Clan disappeared. Did he also fall into the Fusang Forest?"

He remembered that at that time, a vortex also seemed to appear.

That vortex spewed countless vines; those vines were incredibly powerful, capable of creating illusion realms, disguising themselves as Snake Beastmen for slaughter, so that people could not discern they were merely vines.

But there was ultimately a time limit, and the vortex eventually closed.

"Why do you want to destroy the world?"

The Destructive Black Lotus listened to this and angrily responded: "Nonsense, from the depths of my being, I know I must destroy the world. As for the reason, I don’t need to think about it; destruction is the right path."

"It is the same for you; why do you need to find a reason?"

Cui Liyi’s expression was also confused. After becoming a Chaos Wild Beastman, his subconscious was also inclined towards world destruction.

He despised everything about the Beast World and wanted to annihilate it completely.

Those feelings were instinctual.

They were beyond his control.

The Destructive Black Lotus continued: "To find the Immortal Phoenix Bone, you must find the entrance to the Fusang Forest, but it’s not something easily found."

"In your current partially awakened state, you don’t have the power to locate such a place."

"Perhaps the Immortal Phoenix Bone has long been used, long disappeared."

Cui Liyi listened to these words, his expression indescribably dark.

The Destructive Black Lotus continued: "And if you’re not fully awakened, you can’t leave Chaos Mountain either."

"Even if we do not destroy the world, do you think the Beast World can survive for long? The pollution is worsening, mutated beasts and mutated spiritual plants are multiplying, the polluted zones in the Beast World keep expanding, the living territories for Beastmen are shrinking, food is becoming scarce; the Beast World will eventually be destroyed."

The Destructive Black Lotus couldn’t articulate why it wanted to destroy the world, only feeling that from its inception it had to do so.

It’s its mission.

And a task it must undertake.

As if by destroying the world, many things could be changed.

Just like the Creation Green Lotus, its existence is to create many things for the Beast World.

Cui Liyi cast a glance at the Destructive Black Lotus.

The voice of the Destructive Black Lotus fluctuated as it said: "However, there is still one chance, and that is the Taixu Secret Realm. Some things in the Taixu Secret Realm originate from the Fusang Forest."

...

Elsewhere

Lin Hualuo, gravely injured, was swallowed by a vortex and was eventually transported out.

When she, barely supporting herself through the severe injuries, returned to the Youluo Sword Sect, she immediately fainted.

The Sect Master of the Youluo Sword Sect, upon learning of Lin Hualuo’s severe injuries, hurriedly summoned the sect’s healers to treat Lin Huarou’s wounds.

But ultimately, the healers’ abilities were limited, and even pharmacists were no exception.

In this place, witch doctors are very rare; it is mostly healers and pharmacists.

"Master, Miss Lin’s meridians have been shattered; she cannot gather spiritual energy, her internal injuries are severe, and half of her Spirit Sea has collapsed. It’s a miracle she survived."

Hearing the healer’s words, the Sect Master was furious beyond words.

"Who dared do this, they must be courting death!"

"Whoever it is, they deserve to die."

The Sect Master’s eyes revealed a cold and vicious look.

He was enveloped by a strong murderous intent.

"Investigate what happened; anyone daring to harm Hualuo will face death without mercy."

"Yes!"

Upon the Sect Master’s command, naturally, someone within the Sword Sect took action to carry out the order.

But then someone came up to report something.

Master Lin’s expression darkened.

He immediately ordered: "Bring Mei Qingchen here."

"Yes."

Soon, Mei Qingchen was summoned to meet the Sect Master.

The Sect Master looked at Mei Qingchen, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He had to admit that Mei Qingchen possessed tremendous talent and innate abilities. If not for the control of Youluo Fragrance, someone like Mei Qingchen would never obey the orders of the Youluo Sword Sect, let alone him.

Since Mei Qingchen’s arrival at the Youluo Sword Sect, as long as he was in the sect, every day pharmacists would extract his blood for study, trying to figure out how to awaken the Golden Leopard.

But so far, no method had been found.

Even though they were all Netherworld Black Panthers from the same clan many years ago, uniquely, Mei Qingchen awakened as a Golden Leopard.

Master Lin’s eyes showed jealousy.

If possible, he would devour all of Mei Qingchen’s power.

But he feared backlash, so he dared not.

Moreover, with so many Black Panther Beastmen in the Youluo Sword Sect, people naturally wouldn’t allow him to monopolize this power.

However, if Mei Qingchen could be won over by Hualuo, he would become Hualuo’s Beast Husband, fully obedient to her, thus putting him in control of Mei Qingchen as a weapon.

Yet Mei Qingchen seemed to be thoroughly disgusted by even a glance at Hualuo.

One could tell from a male’s eyes whether he was moved by a female or not.

Master Lin looked at Mei Qingchen and said: "Mei Qingchen, that day you encountered a female, and now the sect commands you to capture her and bring her to me."

Master Lin issued the command in the name of the sect, so Mei Qingchen had to comply.

"Otherwise, the Youluo Fragrance in you will fully erupt, and no one will be able to save you then."

"You should understand the consequences better than anyone."

His daughter was likely injured because of that female.

Therefore, Mei Qingchen was also injured because of her.

Thus, Mei Qingchen was to personally capture that female and bring her back, killing her in front of Hualuo to quell Hualuo’s anger.

And to show Mei Qingchen the consequences of offending them.

Mei Qingchen had better truly pledge allegiance to them.

Or properly beg for his daughter’s forgiveness.

Mei Qingchen kept his head down; no one could discern his emotions.

He excelled at hiding his emotions.

...

Su Muyao knew nothing about this.

Ever since she dreamed of the scene where the Immortal Phoenix Bone was being excavated, she had been waking up with a very poor complexion.

This had persisted for several days.

With the time to enter the Taixu Secret Realm fast approaching, Yue Wuhen felt distressed for Su Muyao and accompanied her for a stroll to lift her spirits.

Since there were a few days left before the Taixu Secret Realm opened, there was no rush.

While they were shopping, after buying some things for Su Muyao, Yue Wuhen seemed to sense something, stopped in his tracks, and looked towards the distance.

Su Muyao, unsure of the reason, asked: "What’s wrong?"

Yue Wuhen said: "It’s Mei Qingchen’s aura."

At that moment, a burst of Sword Qi came directly toward them.