Chen Tianyuan continued:
"This tree was discovered by chance by three disciples who were out on a mission. It grows in a secluded valley deep within the Azure Wolf Ridge."
"But the news has already leaked out, and the Nether Pavilion has received it."
Fang Han's brow twitched slightly. He looked up at Chen Tianyuan and asked:
"What does the sect leader mean?"
"Given the consistent style of the Nether Pavilion, upon learning of the appearance of such a treasure, they would never sit idly by. Even though they just suffered a great loss at the Grandmaster Banquet, they would never easily give up such Opportunity."
Chen Tianyuan's voice carried a hint of coldness.
He paused, his gaze falling on Fang Han, his voice carrying a questioning tone.
"So I want you to make a trip to Azure Wolf Ridge."
With Fang Han's current strength, even as the sect leader, he needs to consult with others before issuing tasks.
Thoughts flashed through Fang Han rapidly.
He has just found the Qi Pass and is planning to break through Qi Pass in one go. Going on a mission at this time will naturally delay the time to break through the Qi Pass.
However, the Bodhi Blood Tree is a priceless treasure to the Azure Profound Sect. If it were to be taken by the Nether Pavilion, the sect would suffer heavy losses.
As long as the Bodhi Blood Tree can be preserved for the sect, given the sect leader's personality, he will surely reward him handsomely afterwards.
These thoughts flashed through Fang Han's mind in an instant. He raised his head, met Chen Tianyuan's gaze, and spoke in a clear voice:
"This disciple is willing to go."
Chen Tianyuan nodded, the heavy lines between his brows relaxing slightly.
"With you going, I can rest assured."
He said seriously.
"It's urgent; you need to leave now."
Fang Han stood up, cupped his hands, and said:
"Disciple understands."
He turned around and strode out of the Sect Master's Hall.
After leaving the Sect Master's Hall, Fang Han walked along the mountain path towards the True Transmission Courtyard.
A chilly mountain wind, carrying fine snowflakes, swept towards me, causing the hem of my green robe to flutter loudly.
Without delay, he went straight back to the No. 35 Annex.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Qui Lan was slightly taken aback Fang Han hurriedly push the gate open and rush straight to the bedroom.
"Senior brother, are you going out?"
"Yes, I need to go out for a bit."
Fang Han didn't explain further. He walked through the courtyard into the bedroom, took out a blue cloth package from the cabinet, and stuffed in a few pieces of dried biscuits, a bag of water, and two bottles of healing Danyao, one inside and one outside.
He drew the Silver-Gray Longsword from its sheath, inspected the blade, and after confirming it was undamaged, sheathed it again, hanging it at his waist. He straightened his robes and then turned to leave.
As he passed under the corridor, he paused slightly and said to Qui Lan:
"I'm leaving. If anyone looks for me, tell them I'm out on business and will be back in a few days."
Qui Lan responded and was about to ask something when Fang Han's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate.
She gazed at the slightly swaying courtyard gate and swallowed her words.
"Whoosh!"
Fang Han left the mountain gate and unleashed the < Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps >, his figure transforming into a pale blue afterimage as he sped towards the direction of Azure Wolf Ridge.
The wilderness was desolate under the cold wind, with withered grass shivering in the cold wind, and distant mountains were covered with a thin layer of snow, gleaming with a silvery light.
The wind whistled in my ears, and the barren plains and hills on both sides rushed past.
Azure Wolf Ridge is located in the northern part of Qingyang Prefecture. It is a desolate mountain range that stretches for thousands of miles. The mountain is steep, the forest is sparse, and there are few people within a hundred miles.
This is why a Bodhi Blood Tree has been able to grow to this day without being discovered.
Fang Han traversed mountains and crossed rivers, rushing to the destination at top speed.
Just as Fang Han was heading towards Azure Wolf Ridge, the atmosphere in a secluded valley deep within the Azure Wolf Ridge had reached a breaking point.
The valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only a narrow opening on the south side for entry and exit, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The snow in the valley had not yet melted, and a strange tree, its entire body as red as blood, stood quietly on a relatively flat piece of ground at the bottom of the valley.
The tree was about ten feet tall, with a trunk as thick as a child's arm. Its bark had an almost glassy sheen and a warm, blood-red glow.
Several thumb-sized, bright red fruits hung on the branches, their skins thin and translucent, revealing the juice flowing inside.
It emitted a rich yet refreshing fragrance that could be clearly smelled even from dozens of feet away.
Beneath the tree, dozens of the Azure Profound Sect members tightly guarded the Bodhi Blood Tree in the center.
Standing at the very front was Shen Moyan, the Instruction Hall, who had once taken Fang Han to the Zhang Clan's birthday banquet.
He appeared to be around forty years old, dressed in a dark blue robe that fluttered in the cold wind.
He was First Grade Late Stage martial artist, the strongest among the Azure Profound Sect members present.
Besides him, there were two other Elder.
One was an old man with a thin face, a goatee, a long sword with a black sheath in his hand, and a gaze as deep and piercing as an eagle's.
It was Lu Songhe, a Second Grade Elder of the Azure Profound Sect.
The other was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a light blue outfit, with a pair of short blades hanging at her waist, and a cold and stern expression.
It is Tang Shuang, Elder of the Azure Profound Sect Third Grade.
Behind them were eight Deacon with cultivation levels of the fourth or fifth rank, and more than thirty disciples.
They all rushed here from various nearby mission points after receiving an emergency order from the sect.
They stood in rows around the Bodhi Blood Tree, protecting it in the center.
"Master Shen, although we have repelled this group of the Nether Pavilion members, more Nether Pavilion warriors are arriving. If this continues, we may not be able to protect this Bodhi Blood Tree."
Lu Songhe tightened his grip on his sword slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction of the valley opening, and said solemnly.
Shen Moyan glanced at the direction of the gap with his gentle eyes and said:
"Don't worry, I've already received word that Fang True Disciple is on his way."
"Fang True Disciple is on his way? That's good!"
Lu Songhe felt a little relieved.
Although Fang Han was only True Disciple, he possessed strength surpassing that of ordinary grandmasters, and once crushed Ling Wuyuan, the newly promoted grandmaster of the Nether Pavilion, at the Grandmaster Banquet.
If Fang Han arrives, it will be useless for the Nether Pavilion to send more warriors.
Outside the valley, dozens of warriors from the Nether Pavilion had gathered, scattered in twos and threes among the rocks and dead trees at the valley entrance.
They were dressed in matching black robes, each with swords at their waists, their eyes fixed on the crimson Bodhi Blood Tree in the valley, their gazes filled with greed and resentment.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a gloomy face and Mid First Grade. His name was Chen Zhao, and he was one of the first people from the Nether Pavilion to arrive.
He stared at the tight defenses set up by the Azure Profound Sect members in the valley, his face ashen.
He had just led more than a dozen disciples in a charge, but was forced back by Shen Moyan, and a sword wound still remains on his left arm.
With reinforcements yet to arrive, he dared not launch a rash attack and could only linger and wait on the outskirts.
" Elder, are we just going to wait here like this?"
A young disciple couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Chen Zhao did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the valley.
"Just wait. I've already received word that the Pavilion Master will arrive soon."
His voice was hoarse and deep.
If possible, he would naturally prefer to personally seize the Bodhi Blood Tree in order to gain the greatest credit.
However, their current strength is insufficient to seize the Bodhi Blood Tree from the Azure Profound Sect, so they can only choose to wait.
Time passed slowly as the two sides stood in a standoff.
The afternoon passed quickly.
The wind from outside the valley rushed into the gap, whipping up the snow on the ground, which swirled and drifted away in the valley.
Finally, outside the breach.
A man dressed in a black robe appeared. He had a handsome face and looked young, but his eyes showed an age that did not match his appearance.
It was Ling Wuyuan, the Pavilion Master of the Nether Pavilion.
"The Pavilion Master has arrived!"
The Nether Pavilion disciples who had been hesitant outside the valley perked up and made way for them, their eyes filled with reverence and anticipation.
Ling Wuyuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over the narrow opening at the valley entrance and landing on the crimson Bodhi Blood Tree in the valley.
His face revealed no emotion, but a faint glint of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Then, he strode forward, walking slowly and deliberately along the narrow opening into the valley.
Each step caused the snow beneath their feet to tremble slightly, silently yet carrying a heavy sense of oppression.
Behind them, Chen Zhao and the others followed closely, their footsteps echoing clearly in the silent valley.
"Master Shen, Ling Wuyuan has come in person!"
Lu Songhe's expression suddenly turned serious, and his grip on the sword tightened slightly.
Shen Moyan remained silent, only turning his gaze to the black-robed figure slowly approaching, his expression more solemn than ever before.
At the Grandmaster Banquet, although Ling Wuyuan was defeated by Fang Han, he was, after all, a genuine Grandmaster.
Even as First Grade Late Stage first-rank martial artist, he had absolutely no chance of winning against a grandmaster.
"Sect Master Ling."
Shen Moyan stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting, and spoke in a clear and steady voice:
"This Bodhi Blood Tree was first discovered by disciples of my Azure Profound Sect, and according to the rules, it should be disposed of by my Azure Profound Sect."
"Rule?"
Ling Wuyuan stopped more than ten feet away, his gaze falling on the crimson Bodhi Blood Tree, his voice as calm as still water.
"Rare and precious materials belong to the strong. Whoever discovers them first will determine who owns them?"
Shen Moyan changed slightly, and he was about to speak again, but Ling Wuyuan had already raised his hand.
The movement was casual and unassuming, as if he were simply raising his hand to brush away a fallen leaf that had landed on his shoulder.
But a powerful, overwhelming pressure from a grandmaster had already spread out like a tangible tide, enveloping the entire valley.
"I don't want to waste my breath."
Ling Wuyuan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness.
"If you retreat now, you can still leave unscathed; if you insist on obstructing—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken threat sent a chill down the spines of all the Azure Profound Sect disciples present.
The power of a Grandmaster is something that no martial artist below the Grandmaster level can withstand.
Shen Moyan remained silent for a moment.
He glanced at the Bodhi Blood Tree behind him, then at Ling Wuyuan, who exuded a terrifying aura, took a deep breath, and slowly drew his longsword from his waist:
"Sect Master Ling, I am under orders to protect this tree, and there is absolutely no way I can retreat. Please forgive me for refusing."
Even if the other party is a grandmaster, it is impossible for him to hand over the Bodhi Blood Tree without even putting up a fight.
The two Elder, eight Deacon, and more than thirty disciples behind him, though silent, all stepped forward to protect the Bodhi Blood Tree even more tightly.
Although there was tension and fear on those young faces, not one of them backed down.