Within Undying Mountain, the golden path beneath Li Quan's feet continued to extend, and the formation patterns throughout Undying Mountain shattered one after another.
He led Yang Qing deeper into Undying Mountain step by step, walking on level ground as if he paid no heed whatsoever to the Sovereigns' threats.
Deep within Undying Mountain, the Sovereigns remained silent. Only after a moment did that same voice sound again.
"Saint Body, what exactly do you want?"
It was the same voice as before, still utterly devoid of emotion and cold beyond measure, yet the terrifying aura did not continue to spread.
Li Quan led Yang Qing onward. Before them stood an ancient tree three meters tall, its leaves swaying gently as radiant light filled the sky in a dazzling display.
This ancient tree was extraordinary. Its trunk was rugged like a horned dragon, its old bark cracked as though it had taken hundreds of millions of years to grow into its present form.
This is the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree? Yang Qing thought in stunned disbelief.
Many leaves grew upon the ancient tree before him, every single one distinct. All were crystalline and translucent, as though carved from jade.
Some leaves resembled small cauldrons, shrouded in mist; others resembled divine phoenixes, flickering with rosy light.
Upon careful counting, there were neither more nor fewer than one hundred and eight leaves, each glimmering with a hazy radiance.
Was this not the legendary Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree?
The Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree was an exceedingly special Immortal Medicine. It could not extend one's life, but it could aid one in comprehending the Dao.
Each leaf contained a kind of Dao. If brewed into tea and drunk, one could perceive the Dao contained within the leaf.
"You cultivate your understanding here. Your master will be back shortly!" Li Quan said with a smile.
Just as Yang Qing opened his mouth to say something, the golden path stretched into the depths of Undying Mountain, and his master vanished in an instant.
Though his heart was filled with worry, he could only take a deep breath and sit cross-legged before the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.
He knew very well that no matter what happened next, with his current strength, he would be utterly powerless.
The only thing he could do now was seize this rare opportunity, not waste a single moment, and cultivate diligently.
After all, his master had taken an enormous risk to give him this chance to cultivate beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.
Sitting cross-legged beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, Yang Qing instantly entered a state of ethereal clarity, and all the unease from earlier vanished.
That was the wonder of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. Near this ancient tree, one's heart would become utterly peaceful, without joy or sorrow.
In that tranquil and serene state, his entire being gradually wandered beyond the world, forgetting where he was.
Without realizing it, he seemed to catch the traces of the Great Dao, flowing quietly around him like running water.
He had originally been agonizing over what kind of vessel he should refine. Beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, enlightenment gradually came to him.
Master truly did this on purpose!
No wonder his master had told him not to rush into making a decision. He had been planning to bring him beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree to comprehend the Dao.
Beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, not only could one's heart remain calm, but one could also perceive the Great Dao, placing one's entire being in its optimal state.
In such a state, the choice one made would undoubtedly be the most correct one and the most suited to oneself.
A gentle breeze stirred, and the one hundred and eight leaves of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree swayed softly, scattering hazy radiance.
Suddenly, a figure appeared. Where he stood was a massive black hole, within which a jar engraved with a ghostly face rose and fell.
That aura made Yang Qing's entire body turn cold. The black hole seemed capable of swallowing everything, as though heaven and earth themselves were about to collapse.
Ruthless Great Emperor!
Across the endless ages, the Ruthless Great Emperor had once come to Undying Mountain and paused beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, leaving behind an indestructible imprint.
After countless years, that indestructible imprint reappeared, allowing him to witness the peerless bearing of an Ancient Great Emperor!
The Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree swayed, every leaf turning over as the entire tree shone. All manner of small cauldrons, immortals, trigrams, and more emerged.
Yang Qing suddenly understood. Not only had the Ruthless Great Emperor come to the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree and left behind an indestructible imprint, he had also inscribed Ancient Script.
Now, this Ancient Script resonated with the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, not only causing the Ruthless Great Emperor to reappear, but also manifesting the Ancient Script.
Or perhaps this had been deliberately arranged by his master, all to grant him a heaven-defying opportunity?
This was the Ruthless Great Emperor. Even the slightest trace he had left behind was enough to benefit later generations immensely.
For him to be fortunate enough to witness this now, it was no longer merely a matter of understanding what kind of vessel to refine. It would also be of tremendous help to his future cultivation.
Before he knew it, he had immersed himself in a deep state of Dao comprehension, forgetting everything beyond himself.
At the same time, the aura deep within Undying Mountain grew increasingly terrifying, accompanied by enormous rumbling sounds.
The entire Eastern Wasteland was shrouded by that dreadful aura. Countless living beings trembled uneasily, their eyes filled with terror.
"What exactly happened? With such a terrifying aura, could the Great Dark Upheaval be coming again?"
"It is coming from the direction of Undying Mountain. Could some supreme existence have emerged, with terrible events about to engulf the world once more?"
"No! No great battle has broken out. It is merely a supreme existence releasing its aura. Could Peerless Experts be confronting one another?"
The aura within Undying Mountain was simply too terrifying, as though it could shatter the heavens and destroy the earth, making countless people smell the scent of apocalypse.
In that oppressive atmosphere, countless people were filled with unease, and every minute and second became exceptionally difficult to endure.
After some time, the terrifying aura within Undying Mountain gradually subsided. Only then did the countless people drenched in sweat secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Within Undying Mountain, Yang Qing slowly opened his eyes and happened to see his master walking out from the depths of Undying Mountain.
"Master, are you all right?" Yang Qing immediately hurried over.
His master appeared no different from before, but Yang Qing did not know whether it was merely an illusion. He felt that his master's complexion had grown somewhat paler.
"Cough, cough! Let's go!"
Li Quan coughed once, his face growing even paler. Then he stretched out his hand and plucked every leaf from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.
Leading Yang Qing, he walked step by step toward the outside of Undying Mountain. Even after the two left Undying Mountain, it remained tranquil.
"What a pity," Li Quan murmured.
Hearing those words, Yang Qing's scalp instantly went numb. Was his master fishing? Or was he fishing?
He had thought his master had brought him into Undying Mountain to grant him the opportunity to comprehend the Dao beneath the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, while incidentally extorting Undying Mountain.
He had been wrong! Terribly wrong!
His master had actually already prepared himself for a life-and-death battle with the Sovereigns?
At the same time, deep within Undying Mountain, several gazes slowly dispersed only after watching Li Quan and Yang Qing leave Undying Mountain.
After a moment of silence, a voice rang out. "He has little time left. He is weak beyond measure. Why did we not act?"
The Great Accomplishment Saint Body had entered his twilight years. His vital blood had declined, and his strength was no longer at its peak. Killing him should not have been too difficult.
Moreover, the Great Accomplishment Saint Body had arrogantly strode into the depths of Undying Mountain, treating them as though they were nothing. Such domineering conduct truly deserved death!
"Will you make a move, or will we?"
The moment that voice sounded, the depths of Undying Mountain fell completely silent.
When it did not concern them, they stood aloof; when it concerned them, they said nothing!
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