The farther they went toward the back mountain, the more they could feel the difference between inside and outside the Spiritual Garden.
Under Lu Shu's management, the arrangements within the Spiritual Garden lacked flexibility and seemed somewhat rigid, but they made perfect use of the terrain, leaving no blind spots or flaws.
Outside the Spiritual Garden, however, things were completely different. The moment they stepped out the gate, it was as though they had left the human world and entered a bizarre demonic realm.
A wild heaven and earth unfolded before them.
All things flourished. Countless plants grew with savage abandon. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants stirred and appeared amid branches and beneath blades of grass. The outlines of beasts and birds emerged in the distance, casting wary gazes their way.
Pure Source Matter surged through the air. Countless trees brimmed with life, making their eyes light up.
After growing accustomed to Gaia's rigid, barren desolation, returning to such a place made them feel as though they had come back to life in an instant.
"A spiritual land?"
Bai Zang's eyes lit up. Her hands explored the enormous trees and vines beside her. She even lay on the ground to study the flow of earth energy and the pulses of Source Matter, unconsciously becoming absorbed in it.
Zhu Ming drew a small knife, sliced through the bark, and sucked the sap from its blade. His eyes brightened.
"Wonderful."
Feng shui and geomancy were naturally forms of yin-yang transformation. Sword forging and heavenly craftsmanship, in particular, relied heavily on special environments and land.
Now, they could naturally sense that within this dark soil lay not only the vitality that nourished all things, but also an accumulation of pure deathly intent.
As life and death circulated through one another, they formed an