Mist swirled over Moonlight Lake, and a towering ancient tree grew at the center of the lake. Its roots plunged deep into the ruins of the buildings, using them as a foundation to grow.
This was a moon tree. Su Xiao did not know exactly who had cultivated it. These trees possessed a unique ability: they absorbed the water-attuned source power, then grew explosively.
Before entering the Divine Village, Su Xiao had obtained several withered moon tree seeds. They had come from the underground passage beneath Bamboo Village, where someone had attempted to cultivate moon trees but failed. Exactly who had made the attempt was a secret the clan leader had never revealed, even unto death.
Su Xiao did not linger at Moonlight Lake. He followed the valley toward the abyss. He planned to find the Blind-Eyed Old Man first, exchange Ba's souls for rare items, and then decide what to do next—whether to take a risky gamble or settle for his current gains, complete the Main Quest, and return to Reincarnation Paradise.
Nothing unexpected happened along the way. Su Xiao had blown the Heavenly Palace to pieces, and the two Heavenly Ba leaders had both died in their own ways. It could be said that the latter half of the Source Village was basically safe now.
Before long, Su Xiao reached the area near the abyss. As soon as he arrived at the head of the suspension bridge, he saw a figure kneeling before it, her clasped hands pressed against her forehead as she prayed with her eyes closed.
The person kneeling and praying at the bridgehead was a woman. She wore a black robe and a black soft-cloth hood. Her skin was very fair, and her lips were red as blood. Kneeling there, she gave off a feeling