Illusory Realm

The distance was less than a thousand zhang. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Ling and Xun Er arrived, landing within a hundred zhang of the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Seeing this wondrous tree up close was even more shocking. Its trunk, thousands of zhang thick, stood like a pillar holding up the heavens, its body steeped in an ancient aura accumulated over countless ages—heavy and solid.

Its canopy spread out, blotting out the sky and sun, casting the entire plain beneath an emerald shadow. Sunlight poured down from the heavens, falling across the lush green trunk and leaves, refracting a gentle, crystalline radiance that flowed and shimmered.

Yet, upon examining it at such close range, their keen senses clearly detected something strange beneath that vast vitality—a faint, heart-palpitating eeriness, along with an elusive aura of misfortune quietly spreading around the ancient tree.

"Brother Xiao Ling, there's something wrong with this Bodhi Ancient Tree."

Xun Er's expression was solemn, her voice low as she raised a finger toward the tree. "Within that seemingly vibrant Bodhi pure aura, there are strands of cold gray qi hidden away. And within that gray qi are many emotions resembling the negative feelings of humans."

Xiao Ling was not surprised. He knew even more clearly that the gray qi was the negative emotion of a Dou Di expert. However, it was difficult to explain this matter to Xun Er in detail, so he merely nodded gravely.

"We'll investigate the exact cause once we get closer. Be more cautious from here on. I don't expect anything too serious to happen."

As his words fell, the boundless jade-green shade completely enveloped them. A deeply concealed chill floated in the surrounding air, seeping through skin and into bone in fine strands, carrying an inexplicable coldness.

Xiao Ling raised